Ad00804

NOTICE . The Subscription lo THE FREEMASON is now io . ? . per annum ,, post-free , payable in advance . Vol . I ., bound in cloth 4 s- 6 d . Vol . II ., < .: itj ... ... 7 s . 6 d . " ol . s III ., IV ., V . and VI each 15 s . od . Reading Cases to hold 52 numbers ... 25 . 6 d . Ditto ditto 4 do . ... is . fid . United States of . America . THE thKEMASON is delivered free in any part of the United States for 12 s . per annum , payable in advance . The Freemason is published on Saturday Mornings in time for the early trains . The price of the Freemason is Twopence per week ; animal Subscription , 10 s . ( payable in advance . ) All communications , letters , & c , to bc addressed to the Editor , 198 , Fleet-street , B . C . The Editor wis ! pay careful attention to all MSS . entrusted to him , but cannot undertake to return them unless accom panied by postags stamps .

Ad00805

MADAME TUSSAUD'S EXHIBITION , BAKER STREET . Special Attractions for the Christmas Holidays Now added , PORTRAIT MODELS of Dr . KENEALY ( from sittings ) , the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh , the Czar of Russia , Sir Gainet Wolseley , the Shah of Persia , Marshal liazaine , Marshal MacMahon , Mr . Charles Dickens , tor . 11 . M . Stanley , Dr . Livingstone ( some valuable relics belonging to the great African explorer ) , Sir Samuel Baker . Also new , superb , and costly Court Dresses . Admission is . Children under Twelve , Gd . Extra Rooms , 6 ( 1 . Open from ten a . m . till ten p . m .

Ad00806

p't & s , fHittriagcs imb gjcatfes . MARRIAGE . Kivo—RiiAsinn . —Dec . 3 , at St . Simon's Church , Leeds , hy fbe Rev- Thomas Whitby , James King ( of tile firm of -Messrs . J and J . A King , Cloth l- 'inishers , North Hall Mill ) , ID Emily J . inu Church , third daughter of Iiro . W . C . lirasui , 1 ' M , Treasurer Union Lodge ( 117 ) , Margate .

Ad00807

glnstocvs to tforrcsponbents . All Communications , Advertisements , & c , intended for insertion in the Number of the following Saturday , must reach the Office not later than 6 o ' clock on Wednesday evening . All Communications should he sent to 198 , Fleet Street , REMITTANCES RECEIVED . W . C . Howard , Qucenstown . t ape of Good I lope I' . O . O . zG / o Josh . Bushell , Zaiadatha , New South Wales ... „ 24 / 0 \ V . W . Austin , Richmond , Indiana „ 21 / 6 II . Wethcrell , Constantinople „ 17 / 4 G . I- ' . Newmarch , Naseby , Otago , N . Z 13 / 0 John Tait , Lukkur , East Indies „ 13 / 0

Ar00808

TheFreemason, SATURDAY , DECEMBER 19 , ^ 874 .

Bro. Warren's Letter.

BRO . WARREN'S LETTER .

We print in another column a long and able letter from Bro . H . G . Warren , and we are glad to welcome so familiar a name in our Masonic and friendly discussions . We are always ready to

ventilate any topic which seems to have a claim upon our space , subject of course to the supreme consideration of the welfare of the Craft , and as Bro . Warren is of opinion that he has a

constitutional basis of objection to certain proceedings of Grand Lodge , we readily afford him the asked-for space . Aluch may and possibly will be said on both sides of the question , but we

deem it right to state , as the questions have been raised in our columns what our view of the matter is , in all of good-will and friendly regard to Bro . Warren . It is an undoubted fact , as Bro .

Warren says , that no mention is made of " resignation " in the Book of Constitutions , and Bro . Warren also contends that no provision is

made for the occasion of a vacancy by any other cause than death . Hence his position is that the Grand Master cannot " resign , "

Bro. Warren's Letter.

that there was no ' vacation of the office , and that the Deputy Grand Master was constitutionally the ruler of the Craft , until the next annual installation . According to Bro .

Warren ' s argument , Lord Ripon ' s resignation ought only to have been recorded , not accepted , and no application to the Past Grand Master need have been made . This is , as we

understand , his explanation of the Book of Constitutions , and he has supported his views and argument with his customary ability . But though we admit that the word " resignation "

does not occur , yet we venture to think that our distinguished brother , the Grand Registrar was right in advising the course which Grand Lodge has pursued . Common sense certainly is with

the Grand Registrar , and the convenience of Grand Lodge is equally upheld by his views . Were Bro . Warren ' s proposition to hold good , a Grand Master might virtually resign after six

months , and whether Grand Lodge liked it or not , the D . G . M . must rule the Craft for the second half of the year . Now we think that the words '' when a vacancy occurs" cover somewhat

more than a mere vacancy by death , and may include a vacancy by resignation . Be this as it maj , the Book of Constitutions positively prohibits thecourse which ourgood Bro . Warrenconsiders the correct one to follow' in the event ofthe

death of the G . M . The Book of Constitutions orders that when a vacancy in the Grand Alastership occurs , " if there be a Pro Grand Alaster he shall forthwith act as Grand

Alaster until a new election at the usual period , but if there be no Pro Grand Master or Past Grand Master willing to act , then a day shall be fixed for the Grand Lodge to be summoned to

elect a Grand Master for the remainder of the year . " Under no circumstances is the Deputy

Grand Master to rule the Grand Lodge for the remainder of the year , and the reason for this is clear . The Deputy Grand Master is the creation and substitute of the Grand Master .

During the Grand Alaster ' s rule he exists , but he passes away with him , and hence Bro . Warren ' s illustration of an early precedent is not exactly to the point . Bro . Ward could act as

Deputy Grand Master , during Lord Weymouth ' s year of office , because appointed by him , and Lord Weymouth having been installed , and still actually Grand Master , though never

subsequently present , at the quarterly communications of Grand Lodge . There is , however , no evidence that he resigned the Grand A ' astership . The Deputy Grand Master has all the privileges ofthe

Grand Alaster , " during the GrandMaster ' s year of office , or during his continuance as Grand Alaster . If the Grand Master dies , the Deputy Grand Master , we apprehend , requires to be re-instated

by the new Grand Alaster , as it is a personal appointment , though the Deputy Grand Master is authorised to convene a Grand Lodge to record the death of a Grand Master , and to

nominate a new Grand Alaster . But the question comes in here—Can a Grand Alaster resign ? Bro . Warren bases his objection to the resignation of a Grand Master on the fact that a

Worshipful Master cannot resign . But though the word " resign " is equally not found in the regulations affecting Masters , yet the words " or be incapable of discharging the duties of his

Bro. Warren's Letter.

office " have been held to apply to a removal from the town by circumstances over which the W . M . had no control , to a military or a naval brother , for instance , called away on active

service- In Lord Ripon ' s case , he , by his joining the Roman Catholic communion , became , in his own opinion , " incapable of discharging the duties of his office , " because opt osed to his

conscience , and we apprehend , under these circumstances Grand Lodge was perfectly justified in treating the resignation as a death vacancy . On the whole we think thatourable Bro . Mclntyre ' s

legal opinion , always valuable , was perfectly correct , both as to the letter and the spirit of the Book of Constitutions . We have said nothing of the point that the Grand Master is not

bound by the laws affecting the W . M . or other officers , as we think , with all due submission to Bro . Warren , that fact arises " ex necessitate rei , " and from tbe position and prerogatives of the Grand Alaster himself . We confess that we do

not quite see how the Committee erred in doing what they did do . They seem to have acted strictly according to the Book of Constitutions . They invited the Past Grand Alaster to act as

Grand Alaster , which was virtually the offer to our Royal Brother of the actual Grand Mastership of the Order . If Bro . Warren ' s contention be correct that Lord Ripon could not resign , and

that the Deputy Grand Master could rule the Craft , then , of course , such an in vitation was unnecessary , as the contem plated vacancy had not arisen . Something

perhaps , might be said , after Lord Weymouth ' s , precedent , of the Deputy Grand Master ruling the Craft during the Grand Master ' s tenure of office , though never present at the Quarterly

Communications . But as Lord Ripon clearly intended to sever his connection with our Order at once and for ever , in obedience to his new spiritual directors , we apprehend that his direct

resignation of his office caused him to " become incapable to discharge the duties of his office ; " and , in that case , the " vacancy " had arisen

provided for in the Book of Constitutions . Of the wisdom of the course pursued by the Grand Lodge we have no doubt , of its importance for the best interests of the Craft we are certain .

We believe that all reflecting Alasons will , with us , be of one mind . We think , however , that discussion is salutary , within proper limits ; and

we are always glad to afford an opportunity to our brethren to express their opinions on passing Masonic events in a spirit of moderation and good feeling , and fair reasoning .

Masonic Jurisprudence.

MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE .

A somewhat important question was asked in our last impression , relative to the status of a non-subscribing P . M . It seems that a P . M . senior P . M . too , of a country lodge , for two years

intermitted from his lodge subscriptions , but at the expiration of that term he again became a joining member of tho lodge . The question is asked us , what is the effect upon him , of his two

years resignation and two years non-payment of subscription . It is quite clear that hehad lost his lodge membership , supposing that the bye-laws

so laid it down , and losing his lodge membership he lost , necessarily too , his qualification for Grand Lodge . Then what is his position on re