Masonic Jurisprudence.

his rights ) , and also commented upon thc way in which lie was silenced in District Grand Lodge ( in which he was quite wrong ) . This was issued to subscribers—who unfortunately for the writer of the circular—included many non-Masons . The District Grand Master pulled him up very sharply , and after compliance

with the usual formalities , suspended him for 12 months . This was a very severe sentence , and , doubtless , there were local considerations to account for it . It appeared that the appellant had written to the late Grand Secretary on the subject , and had been told that the question was not one for District Grand

Lodge but for the subscribers , and his defence was that in issuing the circular he was acting upon Colonel Gierke ' s advice . Colonel Clerke , however , did not advise him to include in his circular any criticism or review ot District Grand Lodge

proceedings . In advising Grand Lodge to dismiss the appeal both Bro . Philbrick and Bro . Fenn went thoroughly into the merits of the case , and did not allow it to be complicated by any side issue at all , and in so doing expressed their opinion in very unmistakeable language .

Shortly after the introduction of post cards into the postal system of the country , the reprehensible practice of printing the lodge summons on the back of a post card became somewhat common , and in September , 18 70 , Grand Lodge laid down that

such a practice was a violation of Article 205 , and in future would be severely dealt with . The practice still obtains in many lodges , the writer having frequently received notice of supplementary agenda in the interval between the issuing of the summons and the lodge meeting .

Jn the face of the above decision , this is quite wrong , more especially as the object is only to save a few shillings in postage and printing . Even the lodge summons is not altogether a privileged document , notwithstanding that it may be enclosed in a sealed

envelope , and delivered into thc hands of the person most concerned . It occasionally happens that part of the agenda is r consideration of a motion for the exclusion of a brother . If such motion have been given notice of , it is bound to go into thc summons . That cannot be helped . But ought the reasons to

be given ? In 1880 certain brethren had " been guilty" ( to quote the phrase employed in the correspondence whicli followed ) of black-balling a candidate , in which , it maybe again remarked , they were exercising a constitutional right . Their names

transpiring , a motion for their exclusion was brought forward , and thc following intimation appeared in the summons : " To consider the following motion by Brother A , that Brothers B , C , and D , be excluded from this lodge for the following unworthy and un-Masonic conduct , viz . . . . "

Here followed a description of the alleged un-Masonic conduct . This summons came lo Brother B's place of business and was opened by his clerk , and presumably its contents became public property . A libel action followed with the highly unsatisfactory result

that Brother B got a farthing damages and each party was cast in his own costs . Further proceedings followed , and eventually Brother B got a verdict which satisfied him , and Brother A found he had about £ 150 to pay in costs . The matter found its way to Grand Lodge in the form of an application by Brother A , ior a grant of that sum .

The applicant was referred to the Board , who subsequently refused to entertain his request , and the only statement on the subject made in Grand Lodge was the opinion expressed by the Grand Registrar that to insert the name of a brother , who was

proposed to be excluded , in the summons , was not libellous . Common sense would indicate , however , that in describing the alleged reason , nothing more is necessary than a reference to the Article of the Book of Constitutions alleged to have been

infringed . Whilst permission to print Masonic intelligence is not denied by the Grand Master to any responsible person , and a person , moreover , who is under his jurisdiction , it must be remembered

that the only authoritative publications are the Book of Constitutions and the printed proceedings of the Quarterly Communications , which are issued to those entitled lo receive them . In September , 1883 , it was proposed in Grand Lodge that notice of future meetings should be advertised in certain

Masonic journals . The proposition was lost , but at the same time the insertion of such information as an item of intelligence is perfectly legal , and in fact , constitutes the chief raison d ' etre of a Masonic

journal . An advertisement , however , which is paid for becomes an authoritative communication , and Grand Lodge saw in it a constructive infraction of Article 205 . In so doing Grand Lodge set an example to all private lodges . It is not at all uncommon to see an advertisement , even in profane journals , of

Masonic Jurisprudence.

a forthcoming meeting , especially when part of the proposed business is a presentation or a testimonial . In December , 18 S 5 , a dispute between two brethren exercised the attention of Grand Lodge , which sheds a little li ght on the other side of the question . One of them was the editor of a

paper , and the other some public person whose conduct—from thc political point of view—was very strongly criticised in it . The latter sought for satisfaction and redress to every Masonic

authority he could , and found none , and eventually appealed to Grand Lodge , and alleged that his opponent , in using the columns of his journal to criticise him , had violated his obli gation as a Master Alason .

Grand Lodge held that all these obligations only existed between Masons as such , and dismissed thc appeal , and in so doing acted against the advice of the Board . One more case , and we conclude this part of our subject . This arose out of the blackballing of a candidate , and some cor- !

respondence passed between interested parties , not very conciliatory in its tone . One of the parties printed the corres . pondence , and tried to raise a discussion on it in lodge . The

W . M . refused to permit it . On appeal , the District Grand Master censured the brother for infringing Article 205 , and on appeal to Grand Lodge in March , 1 S 86 , the censure was affirmed .

This concludes the information the writer has managed to collect regarding Article 205 . In the absence of information in the article itself actual cases decided are valuable . There

must be many more such , and as this particular branch of Masonic jurisprudence is most interesting the writer would be glad to hear of further cases which may have come to the knowledge of readers . ( To be continued . )

Consecration Of The Kirby Lodge , No. 2818.

CONSECRATION OF THE KIRBY LODGE , No . 2818 .

The ceremony of consecration of the above lodge took place at Freemasons' Hall on Monday , the 9 th instant , the Consecrating Officers being Bro . Letchworth , F . S . A .., G . Sec , assisted by the following distinguished G . Officers .- Bros . Sir Joseph Dimsdale , P . G . Treas ., as S . VV . ; Chas . E . Keyser , as J . W . ; Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , P . G . C , as Chap , j F . Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . of C . ; and Richard Clowes , P . G . Std . Br ., as I . G .

Between 90 and roo brethren had assembled in the lodge room when the procession of G . Officers entered , and the solemn and interesting rites were immediately commenced . Needless to say , under the guidance of the abovementioned experienced brethren , the ceremony was conducted in a masterly and impressive manner , it being generally felt that in inaugurating a lodge composed of expert workers in ordinary lodge ceremonial , the Consecrating Officers had excelled themselves in the dignity and solemnity with which they performed the duties of their high offices .

The musical portions of the ceremony were sung by Bros . May , Strong , Gawthrop , and Sutton Shepley ( of her Majesty ' s Chapel Royal ) , the bass solo in the anthem ' •B : hold how joyful and good a thing " being splendidly rendered by Bro . Shepley . The new lodge having been consecrated , dedicated , and constituted , the

ceremony of installation was proceeded with , the G . Secretary , Bro . Letchworth acting as Installing Master , and Bro . Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . C , the solo " Be thou faithful " being sung by Bro . Jas . Gawthrop , with organ and 'cello accompaniments , with very impressive effect , after th obligation .

The newly-installed Master having been duly saluted by the brethren , he invested his officers as follows : Bros . W . R . Bennett , I . P . M . ; George Rankin , S . VV . ; VV . H . Oldham , l . W . ; F . T . Rushton , Treas . ; D . D . VVest , Sec ; J . M . Payne , S . D . ; II . Wakerell , J . D . ; A . Slee , I . G . ; C . Lewis , D . of C ; J . Curran , Org . ; and Wedmore and Appleton , Stewards .

The Consecrating Officers were elected hon . members of the lodge , and were presented with founders' jewels in commemoration of the occasion , the same being acknowledged in graceful language by the G . Secretary and Bro . Brownrigg . The lodge being closed , the brethren adjourned to the banqueting room adjoining , where an elegant an I sumptuous repast was enjoyed .

The toasts of " The Oueen and the Craft " and " The Most Worshipful Grand Master , " having been duly and enthusiastically honoured , thi brethren settled down to a very enj lyable programme of music , under the direction of Bro . C . H . Kempling , P . P . G . Org . rijsex , and Bro . J . Currai , F . C . O ., Orgatvst of the lodge .

Songs were given by Bros . Bennett , May , and Gawthrop ; a ' cello silo by Bro . Geverding ; two violin solos by Mr . Pollitzer ; and two exijjisite gkes by the quartet above mentioned , wh jse services , both at the consecration and after the banquet , were very greatly appreciated by the brethren .

Thetoastof " The Grand Officers" was submitted by Bro . CiiAitr . ES LEWIS , who said that while this gave them an opportunity of showing loyalty to the Grand Officers as a body , they desired especially to do honour to the distinguished brethren who had favoured them by their presence on that occasion .