Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS 515 Revision of the Book of Constitutions 516 History of the Present Book of Constitutions since the Union gi 6 Royal Masonic Institution for Girls 517 Royal Masonic Institution for Boys 518 The Duke of Albany at Hndderslield 519 Glasgow Municipal Buildings 519
Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex 520 Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Berks and Oxon 520 New Zealand 521 A Ladies' Night at the Ranelagh Lodge , No . 834 521 Freemasonry at Royton 52 t CORRESPONDENCE— . The Status of Past Masters 522 The New Book of Constitutions 522
CORRESPONDENCE ( Continued)—Another Question of Precedence 522 Bro . W . J . Hughan 523 Antient and Primitive Kite of Masonry —Memphis and Mizraim 523 "The Level and the Square" 523 Notes and Queries 523 Consecration of a New Mark Lodge in the
Isle of Man 523 REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry $ 24 Instruction 529 Royal Arch 529 Mark Masonry 529 Knights Templar $ 29 The Theatres 529 Masonic and General Tidings 530 Lodge Meetings for Next Week ... Page 3 Cover .
Ar00101
THE Girls School Election , which took place on Saturday last , was in some respects a remarkable one , and the observation was freely made that it was a very curious one . All prognostications and prophecies as to abnormally high polling were upset by the fact that the lowest , of the eight successful candidates polled only 1682 votes , the highest polling 3101 , and the second
2992 . There were 32 , 877 votes issued , and 2 , 133 brought forward . The Great Hall presented a very animated appearance the whole day . A very large number of " remanets" with high figures will affect to some extent the April Election , when , we understand , 23 candidates will be elected out
of a large list . I he Girls School authorities must not allow this " margin " to become a large or unmanageable one , but should endeavour , with some little rearrangement , that the number of scholars may be judiciously , if slightly , increased .
# » THE Boys' School Quarterly Court took place on Monday . The gathering was large and the polling animated . Voting ruled high . The first successful candidate polled 3237 j the lowest of the successful polled 2285-There were 47 , 769 votes issued , and 28 , 540 brought forward , giving a total of 76 ,
309-» AT the Quarterly Court of the Girls' School on Saturday Bro . TATTER - SHALL ' S motion for compulsory retirement of three members of the House Committee annually was negatived , as was to be expected , by a majority , and the proposition to grant Miss DAVIS ^ 50 for unavoidable
expenses , was both unanimously and warmly carried . Indeed too much praise cannot be accorded to her admirable work as head mistress j too much sympathy cannot be offered to her , under her absence through ill health , but which we are led to believe has happily passed away . Her services to
the School have truly been inestimable , and her directing influence and ability invaluable . At the Boys' School Court Bro . MATIER ' S resolution was carried after a slight opposition , and Bro . Binckes made a very interesting statement as to the Building Fund .
# * # As regards the Girls' School election , Bro . MATIER , Chairman of the Scrutineers , told us that 62 votes were lost . Of those , eight were not filled in , 13 were not signed , one voting paper was for April , 1883 , and one represented a deceased subscriber . The remainder were improperly filled in , in
excess of the number of votes . Is it not surprising that year after year we have to note and record such " laches " and haste , and ignorance , and inattention on the part of some . A similar mistake may lose the election . "Verbumsat . " In respect of the Boys' election , the same inexplicable carelessness prevailed . A large number of votes were again lost . Some were filled up even with a name not on the list of candidates .
* » IN the able memo relative to the Status of Past Masters elsewhere , we heartil y acquiese as well as in respect of that hasty innovation of the liability of lodges for joining members . We recommend to our readers one and all , very careful perusal of one of the ablest papers it has been our privilege to publish .
* * * THE installation ceremony and banquet of Bro . F . R . W . HEDGES , W . M . Montague Guest Lodge , passed over with great " eclat , " and present certain notable features worthy of attention . Bro . HEDGES has made so many friends that a numerous gathering might have been expected . One
of the principal incidents of a most pleasant and successful gathering was the very graceful and appropriate speech of the PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OV GENERAL PURPOSES . From no one could it have come with greater effect ° r more interesting reality . Bro . HEDGES , the zealous and successful Secretary of the Girls' School , was not elected to his important post unopposed . Indeed , his election was carried by what may freely be termed the
Ar00102
public opinion of the Craft against a most influential Committee and most active Masons . It was truly gratifying to note how Bro-Sir J MONCKTON on Wednesday week proclaimed in clear and unmistakeable terms his laudatory opinions of the Masonic career and thc official ability of Bro . HEDGES . His old friends may well be pleased and
proud that their selection , on purely Masonic grounds of merit and teaching , of fair acknowledgment for faithful and laborious services , has been found to be so sound and so befitting . Surely Freemasonry has some things
more in it than sciolist or scoffer like to allow , which can thus illustrate the true principles of candour , kindness , and generosity , which can so lighten up the dull path and often depressing routine of life with its own un fading and improving tenets of honour , justice , and truth .
# # THE services of Bro . Colonel CREATON to our Charities have been many and great ; indeed , there are few brethren , if any , who in various ways and for successive years have rendered more . Hardly an election passes but town and country brethren unite in greeting his presence and recognizing his merits .
Our good old friend Bro . J AMES BIRCH , of East Lancashire , once said the elections would hardly seem the same to us all if wc missed the familiar presence and kindly presidency of Bro . CRRATON . We feel sure we are
expressing the opinions of all subscribars to our great Charities when we add the hope , that many years may yet witness his always kindly and sympathetic presidency when we assemble to carry out , effectively and truly , the distinguishing characteristic of the English Freemason ' s heart , —Charity .
# * # WE called attention last week to the contribution by Bros . RIACH and HAWKINS placing the clauses in the old edition of the Book of Constitutions against those of the Revised Edition , and expressed our thanks for their labour , which cannot fail to be appreciated . We think however it would have
been better to have placed the clauses in the Revise in their consecutive order in the first column and the various parts of the old edition to which they refer in the second column . This would have presented the labours of the Committee in a fairer and more intelligible form , as we notice that in some instances an old rule is stated to be omitted when in fact it forms one of a
number of similar rules incorporated into one in the revised edition , and we observe several errors in their subsequent remarks into which the commentators would not have fallen had this form been adopted . It occurs to us , on reading the amendments suggested by Bros . RIACH and HAWKINS , thatjthey are , in the first place , too late to claim a hearing . The revised edition
was placed before Grand Lodge in June , 18 S 2 , and amendments were invited , which , by a resolution of Grand Lodge , were to be sent in not later than 28 th January , 1883 , but amendments were in fact received by the Board as late as the following May . We ourselves sent in a batrli of amendments as late as April , all of which were considered by the 11 > ard and many of them recommended for adoption .
As the first Special Grand Lodge for the consideration of the rules and the amendments was held in June , the revision was 12 months . before the Craft for consideration . There must be some limit , or amendments may go on " ad infinitum . " It is unreasonable to expect new amendments to be
considered after such a lapse of time . But in carefully loking over these suggestions , it is apparent that the brethren making them could not have been present at the Special Grand Lodges , as many of them , if not most of them , were then discussed and disposed of .
Most of the " suggestions not affecting the sense " were referred to by the President and simply acquiesed in , being too trivial for formal resolutions . We have not space to go through the whole of the suggestions , but will refer to a few .
7 6 . —The introduction of the new method of counting votes only replaced the old method , leaving the words " provided such demand appears reasonable to the Grand Master " untouched j the words will no doubt stand in the place suggested .
80 . —We are informed that a resolution will be proposed altering the words but retaining the sense of the amendment . 92 . —Was fully discussed . 102 . —The defining clause in Rule 2 renders this suggestion unnecessary . 11 9 . —We believe the brother who proposed this addition will move to make this exception .
121 . —This rule does not refer to a provisional warrant issued by a District Grand Master . 130 . —If the exception in the case of districts is carried ( see above , 119 ) , the rule as amended will be correct . It is proposed to alter the words of the addition . The amendment was evidently made without due consideration .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS 515 Revision of the Book of Constitutions 516 History of the Present Book of Constitutions since the Union gi 6 Royal Masonic Institution for Girls 517 Royal Masonic Institution for Boys 518 The Duke of Albany at Hndderslield 519 Glasgow Municipal Buildings 519
Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex 520 Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Berks and Oxon 520 New Zealand 521 A Ladies' Night at the Ranelagh Lodge , No . 834 521 Freemasonry at Royton 52 t CORRESPONDENCE— . The Status of Past Masters 522 The New Book of Constitutions 522
CORRESPONDENCE ( Continued)—Another Question of Precedence 522 Bro . W . J . Hughan 523 Antient and Primitive Kite of Masonry —Memphis and Mizraim 523 "The Level and the Square" 523 Notes and Queries 523 Consecration of a New Mark Lodge in the
Isle of Man 523 REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry $ 24 Instruction 529 Royal Arch 529 Mark Masonry 529 Knights Templar $ 29 The Theatres 529 Masonic and General Tidings 530 Lodge Meetings for Next Week ... Page 3 Cover .
Ar00101
THE Girls School Election , which took place on Saturday last , was in some respects a remarkable one , and the observation was freely made that it was a very curious one . All prognostications and prophecies as to abnormally high polling were upset by the fact that the lowest , of the eight successful candidates polled only 1682 votes , the highest polling 3101 , and the second
2992 . There were 32 , 877 votes issued , and 2 , 133 brought forward . The Great Hall presented a very animated appearance the whole day . A very large number of " remanets" with high figures will affect to some extent the April Election , when , we understand , 23 candidates will be elected out
of a large list . I he Girls School authorities must not allow this " margin " to become a large or unmanageable one , but should endeavour , with some little rearrangement , that the number of scholars may be judiciously , if slightly , increased .
# » THE Boys' School Quarterly Court took place on Monday . The gathering was large and the polling animated . Voting ruled high . The first successful candidate polled 3237 j the lowest of the successful polled 2285-There were 47 , 769 votes issued , and 28 , 540 brought forward , giving a total of 76 ,
309-» AT the Quarterly Court of the Girls' School on Saturday Bro . TATTER - SHALL ' S motion for compulsory retirement of three members of the House Committee annually was negatived , as was to be expected , by a majority , and the proposition to grant Miss DAVIS ^ 50 for unavoidable
expenses , was both unanimously and warmly carried . Indeed too much praise cannot be accorded to her admirable work as head mistress j too much sympathy cannot be offered to her , under her absence through ill health , but which we are led to believe has happily passed away . Her services to
the School have truly been inestimable , and her directing influence and ability invaluable . At the Boys' School Court Bro . MATIER ' S resolution was carried after a slight opposition , and Bro . Binckes made a very interesting statement as to the Building Fund .
# * # As regards the Girls' School election , Bro . MATIER , Chairman of the Scrutineers , told us that 62 votes were lost . Of those , eight were not filled in , 13 were not signed , one voting paper was for April , 1883 , and one represented a deceased subscriber . The remainder were improperly filled in , in
excess of the number of votes . Is it not surprising that year after year we have to note and record such " laches " and haste , and ignorance , and inattention on the part of some . A similar mistake may lose the election . "Verbumsat . " In respect of the Boys' election , the same inexplicable carelessness prevailed . A large number of votes were again lost . Some were filled up even with a name not on the list of candidates .
* » IN the able memo relative to the Status of Past Masters elsewhere , we heartil y acquiese as well as in respect of that hasty innovation of the liability of lodges for joining members . We recommend to our readers one and all , very careful perusal of one of the ablest papers it has been our privilege to publish .
* * * THE installation ceremony and banquet of Bro . F . R . W . HEDGES , W . M . Montague Guest Lodge , passed over with great " eclat , " and present certain notable features worthy of attention . Bro . HEDGES has made so many friends that a numerous gathering might have been expected . One
of the principal incidents of a most pleasant and successful gathering was the very graceful and appropriate speech of the PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OV GENERAL PURPOSES . From no one could it have come with greater effect ° r more interesting reality . Bro . HEDGES , the zealous and successful Secretary of the Girls' School , was not elected to his important post unopposed . Indeed , his election was carried by what may freely be termed the
Ar00102
public opinion of the Craft against a most influential Committee and most active Masons . It was truly gratifying to note how Bro-Sir J MONCKTON on Wednesday week proclaimed in clear and unmistakeable terms his laudatory opinions of the Masonic career and thc official ability of Bro . HEDGES . His old friends may well be pleased and
proud that their selection , on purely Masonic grounds of merit and teaching , of fair acknowledgment for faithful and laborious services , has been found to be so sound and so befitting . Surely Freemasonry has some things
more in it than sciolist or scoffer like to allow , which can thus illustrate the true principles of candour , kindness , and generosity , which can so lighten up the dull path and often depressing routine of life with its own un fading and improving tenets of honour , justice , and truth .
# # THE services of Bro . Colonel CREATON to our Charities have been many and great ; indeed , there are few brethren , if any , who in various ways and for successive years have rendered more . Hardly an election passes but town and country brethren unite in greeting his presence and recognizing his merits .
Our good old friend Bro . J AMES BIRCH , of East Lancashire , once said the elections would hardly seem the same to us all if wc missed the familiar presence and kindly presidency of Bro . CRRATON . We feel sure we are
expressing the opinions of all subscribars to our great Charities when we add the hope , that many years may yet witness his always kindly and sympathetic presidency when we assemble to carry out , effectively and truly , the distinguishing characteristic of the English Freemason ' s heart , —Charity .
# * # WE called attention last week to the contribution by Bros . RIACH and HAWKINS placing the clauses in the old edition of the Book of Constitutions against those of the Revised Edition , and expressed our thanks for their labour , which cannot fail to be appreciated . We think however it would have
been better to have placed the clauses in the Revise in their consecutive order in the first column and the various parts of the old edition to which they refer in the second column . This would have presented the labours of the Committee in a fairer and more intelligible form , as we notice that in some instances an old rule is stated to be omitted when in fact it forms one of a
number of similar rules incorporated into one in the revised edition , and we observe several errors in their subsequent remarks into which the commentators would not have fallen had this form been adopted . It occurs to us , on reading the amendments suggested by Bros . RIACH and HAWKINS , thatjthey are , in the first place , too late to claim a hearing . The revised edition
was placed before Grand Lodge in June , 18 S 2 , and amendments were invited , which , by a resolution of Grand Lodge , were to be sent in not later than 28 th January , 1883 , but amendments were in fact received by the Board as late as the following May . We ourselves sent in a batrli of amendments as late as April , all of which were considered by the 11 > ard and many of them recommended for adoption .
As the first Special Grand Lodge for the consideration of the rules and the amendments was held in June , the revision was 12 months . before the Craft for consideration . There must be some limit , or amendments may go on " ad infinitum . " It is unreasonable to expect new amendments to be
considered after such a lapse of time . But in carefully loking over these suggestions , it is apparent that the brethren making them could not have been present at the Special Grand Lodges , as many of them , if not most of them , were then discussed and disposed of .
Most of the " suggestions not affecting the sense " were referred to by the President and simply acquiesed in , being too trivial for formal resolutions . We have not space to go through the whole of the suggestions , but will refer to a few .
7 6 . —The introduction of the new method of counting votes only replaced the old method , leaving the words " provided such demand appears reasonable to the Grand Master " untouched j the words will no doubt stand in the place suggested .
80 . —We are informed that a resolution will be proposed altering the words but retaining the sense of the amendment . 92 . —Was fully discussed . 102 . —The defining clause in Rule 2 renders this suggestion unnecessary . 11 9 . —We believe the brother who proposed this addition will move to make this exception .
121 . —This rule does not refer to a provisional warrant issued by a District Grand Master . 130 . —If the exception in the case of districts is carried ( see above , 119 ) , the rule as amended will be correct . It is proposed to alter the words of the addition . The amendment was evidently made without due consideration .