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Article Untitled ← Page 2 of 2 Article REVISION OF THE BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS. Page 1 of 1 Article REVISION OF THE BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS. Page 1 of 1 Article HISTORY OF THE PRESENT BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS SINCE THE UNION. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar00200
149- —The Masler has no doubt in many cases absolute power , and it is necessary that he should , as he is responsible for the due observance of the laws ( 133 ) - He is answerable for any abuse of power . 153 . —The omissien of the rule was explained in Grand Lodge , and the explanation accepted .
161 . —This was in the printed amendments , but not supported . 169 . —This is provided for b y Rule 133 . 179 . —This would be unfair ; it would give the Master the power of
placing two black balls in the box out of the three . 1 S 6 . —It is to be hoped that the addition of Rule 209 will not be confirmed , and we trust the same fate awaits the addition referring to Past Masters .
191 . — lhis was discussed and rejected . The other suggestions seem too immaterial to require comment . In conclusion we beg to express the hope that no action will be taken which will tend to delay the printing of the Book of Constitutions , a " consummation to be devoutly wished for by us all , " and an outcome all important for the
Craft . It is hopeless , we think , at this late period to put forward what practically amounts to a further revision , a " recomittal " of the whole Book . Fads , fancies , theories , and ideas must give way to the common welfare , and , therefore , we hope to announce in December , that with one or two needful " non" confirmations , the passing and acceptance of our carefullyrevised Book of Constitutions for English Freemasonry .
Revision Of The Book Of Constitutions.
REVISION OF THE BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS .
STATUS OF PAST MASTERS , & c . Two resolutions passed at the Special Grand Lodge in August , contrary to the recommendation of the Board of General Purposes , seem to require reconsideration , and it may be well to bring them under the notice of lodges meeting in November in order that they may have the opportunity of instructing their representatives how to vote on the question of confirmation at the Quarterly Communication in December .
A serious innovation is introduced into the laws by the following addition to Rule 186 : " Every joining member , if a Past Master , shall have the rank and position of a Past Master of the lodge , ranking next after the then Junior Past Master , and the Master of such lodge , providing he has not ceased subscribing to a lodge for twelve months . " This resolution may be objected to in limine as an illegal infringement of
the rights and privileges of lodges . It is urged on good authority that as every lodge has the constitutional and immemorial right of electing its Master andas a natural sequence—its Past Masters , the Grand Lodge is disregarding an ancient landmark and acting beyond its powers in declaring that certain brethren shall become Past Masters of the lodge without election as Master by its members . Supposing this objection is overruled , we have to consider the meaning- and effect of the resolution .
Bro . Ralph Gooding has started three pertinent questions : 1 , — Do Past Masters who joined a lodge before the passing of the law become by ils operation Past Masters of that Lodge ? 2 . — Can members who join a lodge hereafter , and who are not Past Masters at the time of joining , claim the rank of Past Master of that lodge by passing the chair of another lodge ? 3 . — Can an initiate join another lodge and then by passing the chair ( of that lodge ) claim the rank of Past Master of his mother lodge ?
The literal meaning of the words seems to be that a joining member must be a Past Master at the time of joining to claim the desired rank under this law , and if this is so , and the law is not retrospective , we may have in lodges five different classes of Past Masters : 1 . —Real Past Masters of the lodge , that is , those who have passed the chair of the lodge . 2 , _ Quasi Past Masters of the lodge , claiming to be so under this law .
3 . — - Past Masters of other lodges , who joined before the passing of the law . 4 . — Members who join the lodge after the passing of the law , not being Past Masters at the time , but who become Past Masters of other lodges afier joining . 5 . —Members who were initiated in the lodge , and ; who become Past Masters of other lodges . A condition of things which cannot fail to give dissatisfaction to four out of the five classes , and prove a fruitful source of jealousy and discord .
To prevent this it will become necessary either to black-ball every Past Master who offers himself as a candidate for joining , or—if the authorities will permit it—to enact a by-law prohibiting the proposition of any Past Master as a joining member . But the intention of its supporters is , we believe , that the law shall be retrospective , otherwise it will not remove the grievance of those individual
Past Masters who are dissatisfied with their position , and for whose especial benefit it would seem to have been proposed . If it is to be retrospective , we may see the singular p henomenon of an old member who joined as a Past Master many years ago , who rarely comes except to dine , who has perhaps some objectionable habits , and who in consequence would , were it possible , be gladly got rid of , suddenly becoming , by the
operation of this law , the senior Past Master of the lodge without having served a single office . From the correspondence which has appeared in this journal it would seem to be generally understood that the law will not only be retrospective , but will also include the other classes referred to . This , while it would no doubt prevent confusion , would multiply the objections to this extraordinary innovation .
We have reason to believe that the resolution , although proposed and carried by the provincial brethren who formed the majority at the Special Grand Lodge in August , by no means meets with general approval in the provinces , but it will probably be more strenuously opposed by those members of London lodges who have been accustomed to regard the position of Past Master of their particular lodges as one of the hig hest distinction .
In some of these lodges eligibility for the chair is made conditional on serving the Stewardship for the Charities , the office of Grand Steward , and of Warden of the lodge , and in order to make the distinction more difficult of attainment and consequently more highly prized , the Master is often required to serve two years in succession . In other lodges a thorough knowledge of the work is insisted upon as an indispensable qualification , yet while these lodges may be endeavouring to act in the spirit of the Ancient Charge , " All prefer-
Revision Of The Book Of Constitutions.
ment among Masons should be grounded on real worth and personal merit , " a member who never would or could so qualify himself may under this new law pass the chair in another lodge , the master of which is not expected lo work and—without being able even to open a lodge—claim the distinction of Past Master of his mother lodge . It is scarcely conceivable that these lodges will tamely submit to members who have never served an office , and who never would have been elected to the chair , being thus thrust upon them as their Past Masters .
Bro . II . Studholme Brownrigg in his letter to this journal , although writing in support of the resolution , says that he was a member successively of ten different lodges in India and frequently found himself the only brother present qualified to give a Degree , and adds : " Now in every one of these ten lodges I was always acknowledged as a Past Master of the lodge and sat as a member of the permanent or audit committee . "
So without any compulsory law joining Past Masters of intelligence and Masonic acquirements have hitherto been voluntarily accorded the respect and position due to their merits , and when their services are required those services are invariably acknowledged and properly appreciated . But the new law appears to be framed in the interest of the idle , the useless , and the disagreeable ; it gives to such , without the merit of earning it , and however much the members may object , " the highest honour the lodge has in its power to confer on any of its members . "
The Board of General Purposes in deference to the wishes of many provincial brethren recommended two resolutions which were passed at the Special Grand Lodge in June ; one gives to Past Masters joining provincial lodges membership of the Provincial Grand Lodge ; and the other gives to
all joining Past Masters the right of taking the chair in the absence of the Past Masters ofthe lodge , thus conceding to them precedence over all other members , and it is difficult to understand what substantial privileges beyond these will be gained by joining Past Masters under this additional law .
We have been informed that-one of the active promoters of ; the movement has admitted the real contention to be for a seat with the Past Masters of the lodge at the banquet , but surely it cannot be necessary to call upon Grand Lodge to make rules for the arrangement of the dinner table . It is quite within the power of a lodge , without any law on the subject , by a tacit understanding among the members , to give a place of distinction at the table to any brother whom they may desire to honour .
Brethren ambitious of claiming the fictitious rank of Past Master of a lodge in which they have never served an office have only to anticipate their unenviable position when standing up with the real Past Masters in response to the compliment which it is usual to pay them for services done to the lodge to realise the hollowness of their pretensions .
1 he other resolution , which it will be well to reconsider , is the addition to Rule 209 , " and any lodge failing to make due enquiry shall be liable for the arrears ( if any ) owing by such brother to the lodge from which he has been excluded . " In the case of members joining lodges in England from India
and the Colonies and joining in India and the Colonies from lodges in England it is almost impossible to do more than question the proposer as to his knowledge of the candidate ' s respectability . In India and the Colonies the rigid enforcement of this law would simply drive brethren into Scotch and Irish lodges .
Besides this , there is no limit to the liability . We have known lodges allow a member to be in arrear to the extent of sixty or seventy pounds before resorting to the extreme measure of exclusion , and it is possible that the same brother maybe excluded from half a dozen other lodges for arrears to the same extent , so that in accepting a joining member without direct enquiry , a lodge may incur liability of an unknown quantity , and in the case of a candidate , for joining who has been excluded for arrears b y five
lodges giving the name of a sixth where he is not in arrear , even if enquiry were made and the answer satisfactory , the lodge accepting him might be held responsible to the other five . We are informed that a proposition will be brought forward in the nature of a compromise of the question relating to Past Masters , but compromises rarely give satisfaction . In our opinion it would be better to let well alone , and vote against the confirmation of both these singular specimens of hasty legislation .
History Of The Present Book Of Constitutions Since The Union.
HISTORY OF THE PRESENT BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS SINCE THE UNION .
BRO . E . L . HAWKINS . In view of the interest aroused by the revision of the Book of Constitutions which is now proceeding , it has occurred to me that many readers of the Freemason might be interested by a sketch of the steps by which the existing book reached its present shape . * One of the earliest cares of the United Grand Lodge after the Union
was to provide for the drawing up of a suitable book of regulations , for , on December 27 th , 1813 , it was resolved that a new code for the government of the Craft be made out with all convenient speed , and the task of preparing it was entrusted to the " Commissioners for the Union . " ' This body seems to have given place to the Board of General Purposes , for , on February ist , 1815 , a Special Grand Lodge was held to receive the new code from this
Board . At this meeting the laws were read by the Grand Secretary , and it was ordered that six copies should be made , and should lie for inspection one month . On May 31 st , 1815 , a Special Grand Lodge was held to reconsider the new laws ; but as they had been much altered by the Board of General Purposes , in consequence of suggestions from persons who had perused them , these alterations only were read and agreed to , and it vvas resolved
that the laws should lie open for inspection for another month . The matter did not come again forward until August 23 rd , 1815 , when it was resolved " That the code of laws now presented , when approved , be in force for a period of three years from the first day of November next , and then be subject to revision and amendment . " The new laws were then approved and confirmed , and they were published in December , 1815 , suggestions for a new edition being invited in the preface . ( FIRST EDITION . )
On December 3 rd , 1817 , the Board of General Purposes was ordered to reportat the next Quarterly Communication what alterations were desirable , and to collect opinions Irom lodges and brethren as to the effect already produced by the new laws . This report was made on March 4 th , 1 S 18 , when it was ordered that the proposed alterations should lie for inspection until the first of May following ; and , after some further slight amendments had been sub-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar00200
149- —The Masler has no doubt in many cases absolute power , and it is necessary that he should , as he is responsible for the due observance of the laws ( 133 ) - He is answerable for any abuse of power . 153 . —The omissien of the rule was explained in Grand Lodge , and the explanation accepted .
161 . —This was in the printed amendments , but not supported . 169 . —This is provided for b y Rule 133 . 179 . —This would be unfair ; it would give the Master the power of
placing two black balls in the box out of the three . 1 S 6 . —It is to be hoped that the addition of Rule 209 will not be confirmed , and we trust the same fate awaits the addition referring to Past Masters .
191 . — lhis was discussed and rejected . The other suggestions seem too immaterial to require comment . In conclusion we beg to express the hope that no action will be taken which will tend to delay the printing of the Book of Constitutions , a " consummation to be devoutly wished for by us all , " and an outcome all important for the
Craft . It is hopeless , we think , at this late period to put forward what practically amounts to a further revision , a " recomittal " of the whole Book . Fads , fancies , theories , and ideas must give way to the common welfare , and , therefore , we hope to announce in December , that with one or two needful " non" confirmations , the passing and acceptance of our carefullyrevised Book of Constitutions for English Freemasonry .
Revision Of The Book Of Constitutions.
REVISION OF THE BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS .
STATUS OF PAST MASTERS , & c . Two resolutions passed at the Special Grand Lodge in August , contrary to the recommendation of the Board of General Purposes , seem to require reconsideration , and it may be well to bring them under the notice of lodges meeting in November in order that they may have the opportunity of instructing their representatives how to vote on the question of confirmation at the Quarterly Communication in December .
A serious innovation is introduced into the laws by the following addition to Rule 186 : " Every joining member , if a Past Master , shall have the rank and position of a Past Master of the lodge , ranking next after the then Junior Past Master , and the Master of such lodge , providing he has not ceased subscribing to a lodge for twelve months . " This resolution may be objected to in limine as an illegal infringement of
the rights and privileges of lodges . It is urged on good authority that as every lodge has the constitutional and immemorial right of electing its Master andas a natural sequence—its Past Masters , the Grand Lodge is disregarding an ancient landmark and acting beyond its powers in declaring that certain brethren shall become Past Masters of the lodge without election as Master by its members . Supposing this objection is overruled , we have to consider the meaning- and effect of the resolution .
Bro . Ralph Gooding has started three pertinent questions : 1 , — Do Past Masters who joined a lodge before the passing of the law become by ils operation Past Masters of that Lodge ? 2 . — Can members who join a lodge hereafter , and who are not Past Masters at the time of joining , claim the rank of Past Master of that lodge by passing the chair of another lodge ? 3 . — Can an initiate join another lodge and then by passing the chair ( of that lodge ) claim the rank of Past Master of his mother lodge ?
The literal meaning of the words seems to be that a joining member must be a Past Master at the time of joining to claim the desired rank under this law , and if this is so , and the law is not retrospective , we may have in lodges five different classes of Past Masters : 1 . —Real Past Masters of the lodge , that is , those who have passed the chair of the lodge . 2 , _ Quasi Past Masters of the lodge , claiming to be so under this law .
3 . — - Past Masters of other lodges , who joined before the passing of the law . 4 . — Members who join the lodge after the passing of the law , not being Past Masters at the time , but who become Past Masters of other lodges afier joining . 5 . —Members who were initiated in the lodge , and ; who become Past Masters of other lodges . A condition of things which cannot fail to give dissatisfaction to four out of the five classes , and prove a fruitful source of jealousy and discord .
To prevent this it will become necessary either to black-ball every Past Master who offers himself as a candidate for joining , or—if the authorities will permit it—to enact a by-law prohibiting the proposition of any Past Master as a joining member . But the intention of its supporters is , we believe , that the law shall be retrospective , otherwise it will not remove the grievance of those individual
Past Masters who are dissatisfied with their position , and for whose especial benefit it would seem to have been proposed . If it is to be retrospective , we may see the singular p henomenon of an old member who joined as a Past Master many years ago , who rarely comes except to dine , who has perhaps some objectionable habits , and who in consequence would , were it possible , be gladly got rid of , suddenly becoming , by the
operation of this law , the senior Past Master of the lodge without having served a single office . From the correspondence which has appeared in this journal it would seem to be generally understood that the law will not only be retrospective , but will also include the other classes referred to . This , while it would no doubt prevent confusion , would multiply the objections to this extraordinary innovation .
We have reason to believe that the resolution , although proposed and carried by the provincial brethren who formed the majority at the Special Grand Lodge in August , by no means meets with general approval in the provinces , but it will probably be more strenuously opposed by those members of London lodges who have been accustomed to regard the position of Past Master of their particular lodges as one of the hig hest distinction .
In some of these lodges eligibility for the chair is made conditional on serving the Stewardship for the Charities , the office of Grand Steward , and of Warden of the lodge , and in order to make the distinction more difficult of attainment and consequently more highly prized , the Master is often required to serve two years in succession . In other lodges a thorough knowledge of the work is insisted upon as an indispensable qualification , yet while these lodges may be endeavouring to act in the spirit of the Ancient Charge , " All prefer-
Revision Of The Book Of Constitutions.
ment among Masons should be grounded on real worth and personal merit , " a member who never would or could so qualify himself may under this new law pass the chair in another lodge , the master of which is not expected lo work and—without being able even to open a lodge—claim the distinction of Past Master of his mother lodge . It is scarcely conceivable that these lodges will tamely submit to members who have never served an office , and who never would have been elected to the chair , being thus thrust upon them as their Past Masters .
Bro . II . Studholme Brownrigg in his letter to this journal , although writing in support of the resolution , says that he was a member successively of ten different lodges in India and frequently found himself the only brother present qualified to give a Degree , and adds : " Now in every one of these ten lodges I was always acknowledged as a Past Master of the lodge and sat as a member of the permanent or audit committee . "
So without any compulsory law joining Past Masters of intelligence and Masonic acquirements have hitherto been voluntarily accorded the respect and position due to their merits , and when their services are required those services are invariably acknowledged and properly appreciated . But the new law appears to be framed in the interest of the idle , the useless , and the disagreeable ; it gives to such , without the merit of earning it , and however much the members may object , " the highest honour the lodge has in its power to confer on any of its members . "
The Board of General Purposes in deference to the wishes of many provincial brethren recommended two resolutions which were passed at the Special Grand Lodge in June ; one gives to Past Masters joining provincial lodges membership of the Provincial Grand Lodge ; and the other gives to
all joining Past Masters the right of taking the chair in the absence of the Past Masters ofthe lodge , thus conceding to them precedence over all other members , and it is difficult to understand what substantial privileges beyond these will be gained by joining Past Masters under this additional law .
We have been informed that-one of the active promoters of ; the movement has admitted the real contention to be for a seat with the Past Masters of the lodge at the banquet , but surely it cannot be necessary to call upon Grand Lodge to make rules for the arrangement of the dinner table . It is quite within the power of a lodge , without any law on the subject , by a tacit understanding among the members , to give a place of distinction at the table to any brother whom they may desire to honour .
Brethren ambitious of claiming the fictitious rank of Past Master of a lodge in which they have never served an office have only to anticipate their unenviable position when standing up with the real Past Masters in response to the compliment which it is usual to pay them for services done to the lodge to realise the hollowness of their pretensions .
1 he other resolution , which it will be well to reconsider , is the addition to Rule 209 , " and any lodge failing to make due enquiry shall be liable for the arrears ( if any ) owing by such brother to the lodge from which he has been excluded . " In the case of members joining lodges in England from India
and the Colonies and joining in India and the Colonies from lodges in England it is almost impossible to do more than question the proposer as to his knowledge of the candidate ' s respectability . In India and the Colonies the rigid enforcement of this law would simply drive brethren into Scotch and Irish lodges .
Besides this , there is no limit to the liability . We have known lodges allow a member to be in arrear to the extent of sixty or seventy pounds before resorting to the extreme measure of exclusion , and it is possible that the same brother maybe excluded from half a dozen other lodges for arrears to the same extent , so that in accepting a joining member without direct enquiry , a lodge may incur liability of an unknown quantity , and in the case of a candidate , for joining who has been excluded for arrears b y five
lodges giving the name of a sixth where he is not in arrear , even if enquiry were made and the answer satisfactory , the lodge accepting him might be held responsible to the other five . We are informed that a proposition will be brought forward in the nature of a compromise of the question relating to Past Masters , but compromises rarely give satisfaction . In our opinion it would be better to let well alone , and vote against the confirmation of both these singular specimens of hasty legislation .
History Of The Present Book Of Constitutions Since The Union.
HISTORY OF THE PRESENT BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS SINCE THE UNION .
BRO . E . L . HAWKINS . In view of the interest aroused by the revision of the Book of Constitutions which is now proceeding , it has occurred to me that many readers of the Freemason might be interested by a sketch of the steps by which the existing book reached its present shape . * One of the earliest cares of the United Grand Lodge after the Union
was to provide for the drawing up of a suitable book of regulations , for , on December 27 th , 1813 , it was resolved that a new code for the government of the Craft be made out with all convenient speed , and the task of preparing it was entrusted to the " Commissioners for the Union . " ' This body seems to have given place to the Board of General Purposes , for , on February ist , 1815 , a Special Grand Lodge was held to receive the new code from this
Board . At this meeting the laws were read by the Grand Secretary , and it was ordered that six copies should be made , and should lie for inspection one month . On May 31 st , 1815 , a Special Grand Lodge was held to reconsider the new laws ; but as they had been much altered by the Board of General Purposes , in consequence of suggestions from persons who had perused them , these alterations only were read and agreed to , and it vvas resolved
that the laws should lie open for inspection for another month . The matter did not come again forward until August 23 rd , 1815 , when it was resolved " That the code of laws now presented , when approved , be in force for a period of three years from the first day of November next , and then be subject to revision and amendment . " The new laws were then approved and confirmed , and they were published in December , 1815 , suggestions for a new edition being invited in the preface . ( FIRST EDITION . )
On December 3 rd , 1817 , the Board of General Purposes was ordered to reportat the next Quarterly Communication what alterations were desirable , and to collect opinions Irom lodges and brethren as to the effect already produced by the new laws . This report was made on March 4 th , 1 S 18 , when it was ordered that the proposed alterations should lie for inspection until the first of May following ; and , after some further slight amendments had been sub-