Provincial Grand Lodge Of Shropshire.

Shropshire , beg to express our gratification that the choice of His Royal Highness lias fallen upon you as our Provincial Grand Master , * and xve offer you our sincere and fraternal congratulations otx the auspicious event of to-day , feeling sure that it is but the precursor of the increase and general good of Freemasonry in your province . The zeal you have displayed in pursuing the objects of our organization from the period of your initiation in the privileges and mysteries of the Craft , xve cannot but remember xvith satisfaction , * and xve are deeply imbued xvith the conviction that the interests of our truly noble Order xvill be materially advanced under your guidance ;

xvhilst those xvho are unconnected xvith us by the ties of brotherhood xvill be satisfied , from the position you hold in your native country , that there is nothing in ' our principles inconsistent xvith true patriotism , active charity , pure religion , permanent order , and every social and domestic virtue . We pray that the Great Architect of the Universe may spare you to govern us for many years , and that the lodges under your rule may Hourish and increase . October 22 nd , 18 S 5 .

The address , which was read by Bro . VV . H . SPAULL , P . G . Sec , having been gracefully acknowledged by the P . G . MASTER , a vote of thanks xvas accorded by acclamation to Col . Shadxvell H . Clerke , G . Sec , for his valuable services as Installing Master , as xvell as to Bros . Rev . C . Spencer

Stanhope , Past G . Chaplain of England , xvho had acted as Prov . G . Chap lain ; F . Philbrick , Q . C , G . Reg . ; and Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., Prov . G . D . of Ceremonies of the day . Prov . Grand Lodge xvas closed , and a banquet xvas subsequently held , under the presidency of R . W . Bro . Sir Offley Wakeman , Bart .

It should be mentioned that the meeting xvas held at the Lion Hotel , Shrewsbury , and the banquet in the ball room of the hotel , and that everything from first to last passed off most satisfactorily .

Revised Mark Constitutions, 1885.

REVISED MARK CONSTITUTIONS , 1885 .

The new regulations for the control of Mark Masonry , under the protecting wing of the " Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown . " as recommended and approved by the General Board , 5 th Nov ., 1885 , xvill be submitted to a Special Grand Lodge on Monday , Nov . 30 th . The revision

consists of 226 laxvs , xvith distinct clauses respecting the Educational and Annuity Funds , and the arrangement is decidedly superior to the last edition of 18 S 2 , besides xvhich not only are several new rules introduced , but old ones have been retouched and improved . The nexv Constitutions , therefore , for 'he Mark Degree will require special study , and most careful examination ;

for it is quite evident that the authorities are determined not only to secure the adoption of more stringent regulations , but xvill enforce a strict obedience to their several details . Evidently the model of the Revisionists has been the Craft Constitutions of 1884 , and there will thus be an advantage obtained by the txvo sets of laxvs being arranged on similar lines , as far as

possible , for xvhat affects the Craft will in like manner generally appertain to the Mark . Several of the nexv clauses are familiar already to students of the Craft Constitutions , such as the regulations respecting the Pro Grand Master , President of the General Board , Grand Assistant Secretary ( after the Organist ) , and Assistant Grand Inner Guards ( Pursuivants ) . The Rule s

respecting the Mark prefixes is a xvelcome addition and accords xvith the Craft usage , and xvisely so , appointments in Provincial Grand Lodges conferring no distinctive prefixes . As xvith the Craft Grand Lodge , so xvith lhat of the Mark , the clauses referring to the conduct of the business is xvell

defined under the management of the General Board ( or Committee ) , membership of the Grand Lodge is forfeited on ceasing for a year to subscribe to a Mark Lodge ( E . G . ) , and all possible contingencies are provided for under clearly expressed regulations .

Rule 36 is extended , so as to read that a Prince of the Royal Blood may continue as Grand Master so long as re-elected ; but the Pro Grand Master cannot be retained for a longer period than three years in succession . This new provision seems to point to an impending change ere long , and certainly , if our surmises are at all justified , Mark Masonry may be

congratulated . The election of Grand Treasurer is to be by ballot , not by show of hands , as heretofore , and cheques xvill be signed by that officer , and countersigned by the Grand Secretary ( who xvill hold office during the pleasure of Grand Lodge , after appointment by the Grand Master ) . No

brother xvill be alloxved to hold more than one office in Grand Lodge at one and the same time . The number of Stewards is to be 14 , being an addition of txvo , and the fines are made uniform for non-attendance by the insertion of half a guinea . They had better have been omitted , as in the revised Constitutions of the Craft .

There must be , at least , three lodges to form a Province , not one or more , as previously , and Deputy Provincial Grand Masters xvill have to serve for three years to entitle them to past rank . Several of the new rules as to Provincial Grand Lodges could not possibly be better , and were much needed .

Thc changes are neither fexv nor unimportant respecting " Private Lod ges , " and it is much to be desired that W . Masters xvill do their utmost to become acquainted with the nexv rules , so that they may be thoroughly efficien t * . — ( 1 ) Warrants must be produced at each of the meetings .

( 2 ) The Master can only be elected and installed at regular meetings ; bL * t a discretionary power is given to Provincial Grand Masters for holding such meetings within seven days before or after the regular days . Masters cannot be elected 01 installed , be it observed , at lodges of emergency .

( 3 ) Lodges of instruction must be sanctioned by regular , xvarranted lod ges . ( 4 ) Any alterations of by-laws must be submitted to thc General Board . IS ) Public holidays are provided for as in the Craft Constitutions .

Revised Mark Constitutions, 1885.

„ . _ —— ' s ( 6 ) Notice of removal of lodges must be sent to Grand Secretary and Prox'incial Grand Sect etary for Provinces . ( 7 ) Minutes cannot be confirmed at lodges of emergency . ( 8 ) Returns to the Grand Secretary are to be made before 31 st March in each year of all advancements aud contributing- members up to the 31 st December previously .

( 9 ) And the usual return must also be made im mediately after the Master ' s' installation .

( 10 ) Clause 135 is not so clear as it should be , the last fexv xvords— " aud after election by ballot" —requiring the insertion of "he may then be advanced" immediately before the xvord "after . " ( 11 ) Joining members can only be proposed at one regular meeting , and elected at the next regular assembly .

( 12 ) The clothing cannot be xvorn as Mark Masters , save in Mark lodges , unless by special dispensation . The " Fund of Benevolence , " the " Educational Fund , " and the " Annuity Fund " are each to receive a third of all contributions obtained for the benevolent purposes of the Order , and the numerous clauses adopted

for the purposes of these Funds are xvell arranged , and calculated to ansxver the ends desired . They suggest an enormous extension of the Mark Degree and objects , and prove that the General Board is marching xvith the timer . As might have been expected , the " fees of honour " are much increased . Warrants are to cost five guineas , and registration of a joining member is

to be 2 s . 6 d ., instead of is . The annual fees are xvisely unaltered . It is impossible noxv to even glance at the rules for the three great Funds mentioned , or at the clauses respecting the regalia , but , beyond question , either a glance at the revision or careful study will prove that the Mark

Constitutions have been xvell arranged , and the best thanks of the members of the Degree are due to the General Board and the official staff for such an excellent , complete , and much needed compilation . W . J . HUGHAN .

Lodge Dues.

LODGE DUES .

Previous to the year 1717 it was the practice in England for the Masons to assemble at any convenient place for consultation or work , and by immemorial usage they xvere accustomed at such assemblies to practice the riles of Masonry , and receive into the Fraternity Brothers and Fellows . In their conduct they were regulated solely by the ancient charges . The Master of

the lodge was elected " pro tempore , " and his authority terminated xvith the dissolution of the assembly . The Felloxv Cralts at that time constituted the body of the Fraternity , and the principal object of all assemblies appears have been for the settlement of difficulties betxveen Craftsmen and to ' ¦ make

Masons . Doubtless a gieat incentive to attendance upon these occasional assemblies \ x * as the banquet provided at the close of the assembly at the expense of the nexvly-made Masons , in lieu of a fixed fee , as generally practised at the present time .

lhere being at that time no permanent lodge organisation , there xvas no necessity of the members of the Fraternity contributing to the formation of a permanent fund for charitable or other purposes . Each Mason , xvhen appealed to for assistance by a needy brother , contributed to his reliet such amount as his ability would permit , or the occasion seemed to require .

Accordingly , the old Constitutions contain no regulations lor the payment of dues ; but xvhen the Grand Lodge was formed , the Craft voluntarily surrendered their inherent right of assembly , vesting the same in the newly-formed body , xvhich immediately granted warrants of Constitution authorising the formation of lodges to be permanently located at the places designated therein .

With the organisation of a permanent lodge arose the necessity for providing a fund for its maintenance : and as all the members were equally interested in its support , it appeared but just that all should be equally assessed for that purpose ; and thus arose the system of lodge dues , xvhich at the present time is universally prevalent .

'Ihe payment of lodge dues is not a general Masonic duty , in which thc Mason is affected toward the xvhole body of the Craft , but is to be regarded simply in the light of a pecuniary contract , the only parties to xvhich arc thc lodge and its members . It being a purely family matter , the Grand Lodge does not assume the right to dictate to the lodges what the amount of such

dues shall be , but does exercise the right to prescribe by statute that each member of a lodge shall pay dues and gives the lodge the poxver to enforce the collection of such dues as may be provided for b y its bye-laws . In has been proposed that the system ot collecting annual dues from the member be abolished , and the Degree fees be made the sole support of

the lodge . The argument in favour of this proposition is based upon the assumption that as the receipts from Degree fees xvould be sufficient for thc proper maintenance of the lodge , the members , freed from enforced payments , would donate more liberally to the charitable and other purposes of the Craft by voluntary contributions .

This proposition , if adopted , would in many localities virtually amount to prohibition ; in other places in xvould confine Masonry exclusively to men of wealth , and thus the accomplishment of the great purposes of thc Fraternity xvould be frustrated . It is the experience of observant Masons that voluntary subscriptions to

any Masonic purpose are generally made by the faithful fexv , xvho are alxvays present at lodge meetings , while the large mass of the members , whoseldom visit the lodge , are virtually exempt . That the burden may beequally distributed among those entitled to receive the benefits of Masonry ,, the plan of annual dues has been adopted , and proves eminently satisfactory .. Keystone .