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Article THE REVISED CONSTITUTIONS. -IV. Page 1 of 1 Article THE REVISED CONSTITUTIONS. -IV. Page 1 of 1
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The Revised Constitutions. -Iv.
THE REVISED CONSTITUTIONS . - IV .
The rules as to " Private Lodges" naturally fall to be considered at more length than those respecting the " Grand Lodge" and the " Provincial and District Grand Lodges . " They come " close home to every one , "
and hence the various alterations and additions have been more keenly examined and criticised . Notwithstanding the severity of the examination , however , to which the new rules have been subjected , but few have been objected to , and all unite in generally supporting the revision .
There are several regulations , which , though they appear for the first time in the Book of Constitutions , have virtually been accepted as a portion of the " unwritten laws" of the Craft for many years . Of this class may be mentioned 121 . The Master and Wardens of a new lodge to be
constituted are those mentioned on the warrant , and no others . Hence , no alteration can be made in the names of either of these three brethren , " unless by special sanction of the Grand Master . " Evident as this clause appears to those versed in the laws , its absence from our Constitutions hitherto , has led sometimes to other brethren being substituted for Wardens than those
nominated on the warrant . Another of this class is No . 126 , which provides that a lodge must suspend its meetings should its warrant be lost or withheld by competent authority , until due restoration has taken place , or one of " confirmation " has been obtained .
Also No . 125 might be noted , respecting the possession of a Warrant of Constitution from the Grand Master , or a dispensation if in the Colonies or foreign parts , which is specially entrusted to the Master for the time being , " who is responsible for its safe custody and shall produce it at every
meeting of the lodge . " Exception is made in favour of the Lodge of "Antiquity , " No . 2 , and the " Royal Somerset House and Inverness Lodge , " No . 4 , which act under immemorial Constitutions . " As many will be aware , there were four lodges originally that required no warrants , as they were working prior to the institution of the Premier Grand Lodge , in 1716-7 .
No . 129 recites the titles of the regular officers of a lodge , viz ., " The Master and his two Wardens , a Treasurer , a Secretary , two Deacons , an Inner Guard , and a Tyler ; " and also states that the " Master may appoint a Chaplain , a Director of Ceremonies , an Organist , and Stewards . " It will be noticed that the appointment , or , at least , the investment with a
collar and jewel of an Assistant Secretary is not provided for , and consequently , is not legal . Also that the title of . " Master of Ceremonies " is changed to that of Director , which accords with the practice of lodges generally for years past , and presents the sameness of the title throughout , i . e ., in lodge , Provincial and District Grand Lodges , and Grand Lodge .
We apprehend that brethren may be appointed or elected to other duties in the lodge than those embraced under the regular officers , such as Almoner , Assistant Secretary , & c , but such members must not be invested with any collars or jewels indicative of their position , because none other officers than those stated in rule 129 are the actual officers of a lodge . The
last clause of this rule is new and beneficial in character , viz ,, " No brother can hold more than one office in the lodge at one and the same time . " We have been asked if the Immediate Past Master would be considered an officer of a lodge in this sense ; and our answer was , we think not , because all the officers are mentioned in the rule in question , and the Immediate
Past Master is not included in the category . The Immediate Past Master is not appointed by the Master , nor elected by the lodge , but is the creation of the "Constitutions " expressly . The prefix " Honorary " is most undesirable as applied to any officers of a lodge , and , therefore , objectionable in relation to the Secretary . The Constitutions were silent before the revision as to the service of the
office of Warden to be in a lodge " under the English Constitution , to constitute elegibility for the chair , but 130 is now emphatic thereon , as well as in declaring that " No Master elect shall assume the Master ' s chair until he has been regularly installed . " As a sample of how the regulations have previously been arranged , those
relating to Masters & c , might be cited , for clause 2 page 62 , and clause 1 page 7 6-7 must be consulted , whereas now the rule 130 embodies all that is requisite . The rules affecting other officers are still more widely distributed in the previous * editions , and are thus most awkwardly arranged for reference . Rule 148 , re visitors , is in a much improved form , and much more explicit
than formerly . It requires that no visitor shall be admitted into a lodge unless he be ( a ) personally known to ; ( b ) or recommended ; ( c ) or well vouched for by one of the brethren present ; ( d ) or until he has produced the certificate of the Grand Lodge to which he claims to belong ; ( e ) and has given satisfactory proof that he is the brother named in the certificate ;
(/) or other proper vouchers of his having been initiated in a regular lodge . The first rule as to visitors we meet in the records of Grand Lodge is dated February 19 th , 1724 , and is , in many respects , the present regulation in miniature . " No visitor however skilled in Masonry shall be admitted into a lodge , unless he is personally known to , or well vouched and recommended
by one of that lodge present . " (" Constitutions" 1738 ) . These sensible conditions ought to be well considered by the Masters of lodges , and should be faithfully followed . We much fear a laxity as to testing visitors has been gradually creeping into several lodges , and but little care is exercised , either in examining such brethren , or first of all making sure that their certificates
prove them to be regular Masons . As there are spurious Masons hailing from "home" as well as " abroad , " too much caution cannot well be followed on visitors presenting themselves for admission , and after the needful trials have been satisfactorily passed , the warmth of the reception can be commensurate with the exactitude of the previous ordeal . Clause 2 , page 89 , is altered , or rather extended , for the better , in Rule 149 which enables the Master , not onl y to refuse admission " to any visitor
The Revised Constitutions. -Iv.
of known bad character , " ( as before ) but also to object to any " visitor whose presence he has reason to believe will disturb the harmony of the lodge . " Brethren have at times sought to force their company as visitors upon lodges when their presence was objectionable to one or more of the members , and having been refused admission , they appealed to the " Board
of General Purposes , " but their appeals were dismissed . It is well , however , to have the rule inserted in the Constitutions , and so we are glad to see it is added to 149 accordingly . Rule 150 is made stronger than clause 3 " of visitors" ( 1873 ) , and now reads " no brother who has ceased to be a subscribing member of a lodge shall be permitted to visit any one lodge , more
than once , until he becomes a subscribing member of some lod ge . " It seems but fair to exclude non-contributing brethren from a regular attendance at lodge meetings , and it is a good motto to follow generall y , " no pay , no privileges . " As to the injury done to old Masons , who are poor and unable of themselves to subscribe , a private arrangement can always be
made by " well-to-do" brethren , so as to keep worthy but indigent members on the Roll of their lodge , by paying the annual subscription on their behalf . Any way , the only safe and legal method to follow is , that the non-payment of subscriptions must involve a loss of the privileges of membership .
The law as to the removal of incompetent officers , promulgated at page 79 of Constitutions 1873 ( as with the earlier editions ) , is far from satisfactory ; first , because it singles out the Wardens , as if to be treated differentl y to the others , and then virtually includes all the other officers , as also subject to the lodge decision , not the Master who appointed them ( save the
Treasurer and Tyler ) . The new rule ( 140 ) is commendably precise . The Master , if not satisfied with any of his officers , may lay the cause of complaint before the lodge , and if the majority of the members present consider there is sufficient justification , he shall have power to displace such officers
and appoint others . It also provides for the filling of vacancies in offices , other than Treasurer and Tyler . The two latter are only to be replaced after the lodge has had due notice , and has duly elected the successors for the remainder of the year .
The 141 st Regulation , referring to the " death or incapacity of the Master , " is very fully explained , and all possible contingencies are carefull y provided for . The concluding paragraph is worth noting— " When a Warden rules the lodge he shall not occupy the Master ' s chair , nor can initiations take place or Degrees be conferred , unless the chair be occupied by a brother who is a Master or Past Master in the Craft . "
Although this clause of No . 141 goes farther than any previous regulation on the subject , there are still many who do not consider it is sufficiently explicit , and they object strongly to any below the position of an " Installed Master " being allowed to give a degree . As it is now this rule expressly prohibits any Wardens or brother conferring a degree unless an Installed
Master occupies the chair . According , however , to a recent decision of our esteemed Grand Registrar , any Master Mason can confer a degree , so long as a regularly " Installed Master " is in the chair . In other words , the presiding of an Installed Master legalizes all the " work " that is done in the lodge , whether by a brother who has " passed the chair" or not . This is
practically the system adopted in Scotland , under which Constitution the degrees can be given by any Master Mason , only that in England the W . M . or a Past Master must occupy the chair . It has for long been a debated point as to the power of Wardens to confer degrees , but the Grand Registrar and the Rule No . 141 , evidently extend that privilege to all
Master Masons , so long as the condition named be observed . For our part we should much prefer a clause being inserted in the " Constitutions " prohibiting any degrees being conferred in Metropolitan or Provincial Lodges , save by Installed Masters { i . e ., Worshipful Masters or Past Masters ) , and allow the clause already noted to apply only to lodges in District Grand Lodges .
Rule 154 is made more emphatic respecting the initiation of others than the regular " material " for military lodges , by the concluding words , "by dispensation from the Grand Master , or Provincial or District Grand Master of the province or district wherein the lod ge may be held . " Rules 160 and 161 , relating to the by-laws of lodges , contain several
additions . According to the revise , the by-laws of lodges must be printed , and when any alterations are made , they will not be valid until submitted and approved as with the original code . It is quite true thatclause 5 , page 63 ,
is to a similar effect in 1873 edition , but then the preceding words neutralize their effect , viz ., " when any material alteration shall be made , such alteration must in like manner be submitted . " The word material is now omitted , and the paragraph reads as it should .
The Master at his installation , by his acceptance of the by-laws , " shall be deemed to solemnly pledge himself to observe and enforce them , " and in like manner the acceptance of a printed copy , which must be supplied to
every member , is deemed to be a declaration of submission to them . This system is adopted in preference to the " solemn pledge " in the one , and the " signature" in the other , and , being simple , as well as less easy of evasion or omission , we are glad to see these changes made . The fifth article will be devoted to " private lodges " ( 2 nd part ) and sundry regulations .
Note 1 . As we said before , we are glad to welcome all fraternal correspondence on the subject of the revised Constitutions , and so are pleased to see the letter by Bro . J . E . Le Feuvre ( Prov . Grand Sec . of Hants and Isle of Wight . ) We are not aware however , in what article of the series we " have proceeded to argue that Provincial Grand Masters are only entitled to the ' Worshipful . '" Will Bro . Le Feuvre kindly IAAIP Aft * Ava lift A n _& -- * 1 . Kt ~ - ~_«« - _ I . _ ~ _ - ^ 11 / . J . ¦ _ . * •*>• - ..-- --- * ¦ aruLic again at 54 state that
_ _ _ _ uun . . MIC « u . z page , ' , r we " Kight Worshipful , " as a prefix , is accorded to the Present and Past Prov . ( and District ) Grand Masters . We mention the fact that the appointments of Prov . and District Grand Masters are not entitled to any prefix beyond " brother , " unless the brethren possess other qualifications . We had a copy of the circular issued by the late Earl of Zetland , Grand Master , before us at the time , and we shall be glad to hear from our worthy Brother , that we are wholly correct in our estimate of its contents .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Revised Constitutions. -Iv.
THE REVISED CONSTITUTIONS . - IV .
The rules as to " Private Lodges" naturally fall to be considered at more length than those respecting the " Grand Lodge" and the " Provincial and District Grand Lodges . " They come " close home to every one , "
and hence the various alterations and additions have been more keenly examined and criticised . Notwithstanding the severity of the examination , however , to which the new rules have been subjected , but few have been objected to , and all unite in generally supporting the revision .
There are several regulations , which , though they appear for the first time in the Book of Constitutions , have virtually been accepted as a portion of the " unwritten laws" of the Craft for many years . Of this class may be mentioned 121 . The Master and Wardens of a new lodge to be
constituted are those mentioned on the warrant , and no others . Hence , no alteration can be made in the names of either of these three brethren , " unless by special sanction of the Grand Master . " Evident as this clause appears to those versed in the laws , its absence from our Constitutions hitherto , has led sometimes to other brethren being substituted for Wardens than those
nominated on the warrant . Another of this class is No . 126 , which provides that a lodge must suspend its meetings should its warrant be lost or withheld by competent authority , until due restoration has taken place , or one of " confirmation " has been obtained .
Also No . 125 might be noted , respecting the possession of a Warrant of Constitution from the Grand Master , or a dispensation if in the Colonies or foreign parts , which is specially entrusted to the Master for the time being , " who is responsible for its safe custody and shall produce it at every
meeting of the lodge . " Exception is made in favour of the Lodge of "Antiquity , " No . 2 , and the " Royal Somerset House and Inverness Lodge , " No . 4 , which act under immemorial Constitutions . " As many will be aware , there were four lodges originally that required no warrants , as they were working prior to the institution of the Premier Grand Lodge , in 1716-7 .
No . 129 recites the titles of the regular officers of a lodge , viz ., " The Master and his two Wardens , a Treasurer , a Secretary , two Deacons , an Inner Guard , and a Tyler ; " and also states that the " Master may appoint a Chaplain , a Director of Ceremonies , an Organist , and Stewards . " It will be noticed that the appointment , or , at least , the investment with a
collar and jewel of an Assistant Secretary is not provided for , and consequently , is not legal . Also that the title of . " Master of Ceremonies " is changed to that of Director , which accords with the practice of lodges generally for years past , and presents the sameness of the title throughout , i . e ., in lodge , Provincial and District Grand Lodges , and Grand Lodge .
We apprehend that brethren may be appointed or elected to other duties in the lodge than those embraced under the regular officers , such as Almoner , Assistant Secretary , & c , but such members must not be invested with any collars or jewels indicative of their position , because none other officers than those stated in rule 129 are the actual officers of a lodge . The
last clause of this rule is new and beneficial in character , viz ,, " No brother can hold more than one office in the lodge at one and the same time . " We have been asked if the Immediate Past Master would be considered an officer of a lodge in this sense ; and our answer was , we think not , because all the officers are mentioned in the rule in question , and the Immediate
Past Master is not included in the category . The Immediate Past Master is not appointed by the Master , nor elected by the lodge , but is the creation of the "Constitutions " expressly . The prefix " Honorary " is most undesirable as applied to any officers of a lodge , and , therefore , objectionable in relation to the Secretary . The Constitutions were silent before the revision as to the service of the
office of Warden to be in a lodge " under the English Constitution , to constitute elegibility for the chair , but 130 is now emphatic thereon , as well as in declaring that " No Master elect shall assume the Master ' s chair until he has been regularly installed . " As a sample of how the regulations have previously been arranged , those
relating to Masters & c , might be cited , for clause 2 page 62 , and clause 1 page 7 6-7 must be consulted , whereas now the rule 130 embodies all that is requisite . The rules affecting other officers are still more widely distributed in the previous * editions , and are thus most awkwardly arranged for reference . Rule 148 , re visitors , is in a much improved form , and much more explicit
than formerly . It requires that no visitor shall be admitted into a lodge unless he be ( a ) personally known to ; ( b ) or recommended ; ( c ) or well vouched for by one of the brethren present ; ( d ) or until he has produced the certificate of the Grand Lodge to which he claims to belong ; ( e ) and has given satisfactory proof that he is the brother named in the certificate ;
(/) or other proper vouchers of his having been initiated in a regular lodge . The first rule as to visitors we meet in the records of Grand Lodge is dated February 19 th , 1724 , and is , in many respects , the present regulation in miniature . " No visitor however skilled in Masonry shall be admitted into a lodge , unless he is personally known to , or well vouched and recommended
by one of that lodge present . " (" Constitutions" 1738 ) . These sensible conditions ought to be well considered by the Masters of lodges , and should be faithfully followed . We much fear a laxity as to testing visitors has been gradually creeping into several lodges , and but little care is exercised , either in examining such brethren , or first of all making sure that their certificates
prove them to be regular Masons . As there are spurious Masons hailing from "home" as well as " abroad , " too much caution cannot well be followed on visitors presenting themselves for admission , and after the needful trials have been satisfactorily passed , the warmth of the reception can be commensurate with the exactitude of the previous ordeal . Clause 2 , page 89 , is altered , or rather extended , for the better , in Rule 149 which enables the Master , not onl y to refuse admission " to any visitor
The Revised Constitutions. -Iv.
of known bad character , " ( as before ) but also to object to any " visitor whose presence he has reason to believe will disturb the harmony of the lodge . " Brethren have at times sought to force their company as visitors upon lodges when their presence was objectionable to one or more of the members , and having been refused admission , they appealed to the " Board
of General Purposes , " but their appeals were dismissed . It is well , however , to have the rule inserted in the Constitutions , and so we are glad to see it is added to 149 accordingly . Rule 150 is made stronger than clause 3 " of visitors" ( 1873 ) , and now reads " no brother who has ceased to be a subscribing member of a lodge shall be permitted to visit any one lodge , more
than once , until he becomes a subscribing member of some lod ge . " It seems but fair to exclude non-contributing brethren from a regular attendance at lodge meetings , and it is a good motto to follow generall y , " no pay , no privileges . " As to the injury done to old Masons , who are poor and unable of themselves to subscribe , a private arrangement can always be
made by " well-to-do" brethren , so as to keep worthy but indigent members on the Roll of their lodge , by paying the annual subscription on their behalf . Any way , the only safe and legal method to follow is , that the non-payment of subscriptions must involve a loss of the privileges of membership .
The law as to the removal of incompetent officers , promulgated at page 79 of Constitutions 1873 ( as with the earlier editions ) , is far from satisfactory ; first , because it singles out the Wardens , as if to be treated differentl y to the others , and then virtually includes all the other officers , as also subject to the lodge decision , not the Master who appointed them ( save the
Treasurer and Tyler ) . The new rule ( 140 ) is commendably precise . The Master , if not satisfied with any of his officers , may lay the cause of complaint before the lodge , and if the majority of the members present consider there is sufficient justification , he shall have power to displace such officers
and appoint others . It also provides for the filling of vacancies in offices , other than Treasurer and Tyler . The two latter are only to be replaced after the lodge has had due notice , and has duly elected the successors for the remainder of the year .
The 141 st Regulation , referring to the " death or incapacity of the Master , " is very fully explained , and all possible contingencies are carefull y provided for . The concluding paragraph is worth noting— " When a Warden rules the lodge he shall not occupy the Master ' s chair , nor can initiations take place or Degrees be conferred , unless the chair be occupied by a brother who is a Master or Past Master in the Craft . "
Although this clause of No . 141 goes farther than any previous regulation on the subject , there are still many who do not consider it is sufficiently explicit , and they object strongly to any below the position of an " Installed Master " being allowed to give a degree . As it is now this rule expressly prohibits any Wardens or brother conferring a degree unless an Installed
Master occupies the chair . According , however , to a recent decision of our esteemed Grand Registrar , any Master Mason can confer a degree , so long as a regularly " Installed Master " is in the chair . In other words , the presiding of an Installed Master legalizes all the " work " that is done in the lodge , whether by a brother who has " passed the chair" or not . This is
practically the system adopted in Scotland , under which Constitution the degrees can be given by any Master Mason , only that in England the W . M . or a Past Master must occupy the chair . It has for long been a debated point as to the power of Wardens to confer degrees , but the Grand Registrar and the Rule No . 141 , evidently extend that privilege to all
Master Masons , so long as the condition named be observed . For our part we should much prefer a clause being inserted in the " Constitutions " prohibiting any degrees being conferred in Metropolitan or Provincial Lodges , save by Installed Masters { i . e ., Worshipful Masters or Past Masters ) , and allow the clause already noted to apply only to lodges in District Grand Lodges .
Rule 154 is made more emphatic respecting the initiation of others than the regular " material " for military lodges , by the concluding words , "by dispensation from the Grand Master , or Provincial or District Grand Master of the province or district wherein the lod ge may be held . " Rules 160 and 161 , relating to the by-laws of lodges , contain several
additions . According to the revise , the by-laws of lodges must be printed , and when any alterations are made , they will not be valid until submitted and approved as with the original code . It is quite true thatclause 5 , page 63 ,
is to a similar effect in 1873 edition , but then the preceding words neutralize their effect , viz ., " when any material alteration shall be made , such alteration must in like manner be submitted . " The word material is now omitted , and the paragraph reads as it should .
The Master at his installation , by his acceptance of the by-laws , " shall be deemed to solemnly pledge himself to observe and enforce them , " and in like manner the acceptance of a printed copy , which must be supplied to
every member , is deemed to be a declaration of submission to them . This system is adopted in preference to the " solemn pledge " in the one , and the " signature" in the other , and , being simple , as well as less easy of evasion or omission , we are glad to see these changes made . The fifth article will be devoted to " private lodges " ( 2 nd part ) and sundry regulations .
Note 1 . As we said before , we are glad to welcome all fraternal correspondence on the subject of the revised Constitutions , and so are pleased to see the letter by Bro . J . E . Le Feuvre ( Prov . Grand Sec . of Hants and Isle of Wight . ) We are not aware however , in what article of the series we " have proceeded to argue that Provincial Grand Masters are only entitled to the ' Worshipful . '" Will Bro . Le Feuvre kindly IAAIP Aft * Ava lift A n _& -- * 1 . Kt ~ - ~_«« - _ I . _ ~ _ - ^ 11 / . J . ¦ _ . * •*>• - ..-- --- * ¦ aruLic again at 54 state that
_ _ _ _ uun . . MIC « u . z page , ' , r we " Kight Worshipful , " as a prefix , is accorded to the Present and Past Prov . ( and District ) Grand Masters . We mention the fact that the appointments of Prov . and District Grand Masters are not entitled to any prefix beyond " brother , " unless the brethren possess other qualifications . We had a copy of the circular issued by the late Earl of Zetland , Grand Master , before us at the time , and we shall be glad to hear from our worthy Brother , that we are wholly correct in our estimate of its contents .