Masonic Jurisprudence.

Director of Ceremonies has recently addressed a circular to the Board , in which he expresses his opinion that rank , honorary or otherwise , conferred by a foreign Grand Lodge does not confer in itself any precedence on the brother receiving it , who must , if

reg istered on the rolls of the Grand Lodge of England , be content with exactly such precedence as that Grand Lodge has given him , or as he may have attained to by his Masonic merits . This , of course , does not apply to occasional visitors of distinction .

He can call Grand Lodge whenever he pleases , and can , of course , dismiss it . Now , Provincial Grand Lodges emanate from the Provincial Grand Masters by virtue of authority vested in them by the Grand Master ( Article 77 ) . The brother in the street might be

forg iven for supposing , by parity of argument , that Grand Lodge emanated from the Grand Master . It is not , of course , outside the bounds of possibility that Grand Lodge might conceivably becomeacreatureof the Grand Master , just as the Sovereign can at

any time make the House of Lords a creature of the Crown , by the simp le process of creating new peers . But the one possibility is far more remote than the other . In many other ways the prerogatives of the Grand Master are analogous to those of the Crown .

And last of all , though not generally recognised , whilst Grand Lodge is the fountain of law , and both makes and suspends and abrogates laws and regulations , it is the Grand Master who sets the stamp of his approval upon all by-laws , both in District and Provincial Grand Lodges and of private lodges ( Article 162 ) .

It is much to the advantage of English Freemasonry that our Grand Master has been so frequently a member of the Royal Family . No accusations of disloyalty , such as are freely made against Freemasons and other secret societies on the Continent , can possibly be made against a body governed by

the Heir Apparent . His exalted position makes it impossible for him to be the subject of cabals and intrigues , nor is it possible to suppose he is ever actuated by any other motive than the ultimate good of the Craft . He has nothing to gain from it from a material point of view . The only thing he can gain , as

a Freemason , is the esteem and respect , the love and affection , of every member of the Craft , and these have been assured to him by his wise rule of nearly a quarter of a century . From 17 82 to 1813 a Royal Prince governed the Grand Lodge of England for 31 years , and from 1813 to date United Grand Lodge has been similarly governed for over 54 years . ( To be condnitcd . )

Consecration Of The Bronte Mark Lodge, No. 535, At Haworth.

CONSECRATION OF THE BRONTE MARK LODGE , No . 535 , AT HAWORTH .

On Saturday , the 17 th inst ., notwithstanding the inclement weather , the Mark Masons of West Yorkshire in considerable numbers journeyed to Haworth . It is needless to explain the exact locality of this moorland town . Approached by a single line of railway which comes to an end at the next station , Haworth appears to be on the road to nowhere . It is a quaint , interesting , primitive sort of place , and both in its appearance and its

inhabitants exhibits the rugged Yorkshire characteristics in a marked manner . Herein its full and vigorous use may be found the West Riding vernacular , and here , too , though to the southerner the tongue may sound harsh and the manner seem rough , is exhibited genuine good feeling combined wi : h warmest hospitality . It is a curious fact that in moorland villages like Haworth and in secluded valleys like those of the Calder , Freemasonry has

existed for a considerable period . Amongst the oldest lodges in the West Hiding were those of Steeton in Craven and other isolated districts . The Three Graces , now a flourishing lodge in Haworth , was founded at Barnoldswick in 1792 . Removed to Haworth in the early part of the century , it has plodded steadily on , doing good Masonic work in a simple but thoroughly Iiearty manner . Possessing a Royal Arch chapter and a K . T . preceptory , one or two of its more enthusiastic members conceived the idea that there

was room for a lodge in the Mark Degree . They set to work and the result was the ceremony of last Saturday . The R . W . Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Charles Letch Mason , attended by a large number of his officers , performed the ceremony . At four o ' chek in full procession , singing " Hail Eternal ! " they entered the lodge room , which soon presented a crowded but very animated appearance .

The R . W . Prov . Grand Master took the chair , V . W . Bro . G . H . Parke , P . M ., P . P . G . W ., P . G . Treas ., in the absence of W . Bro . John Barker , through illness , acted as Deputy . The officers present were—Bros . W . W . Clayton , P . M . 374 , S . G . W . ; R . Ho . lgson , P . M . 5 8 , P . P . G . W ., as J . G . W . ; G . Martin , P . M . ( T . I . ) , M . O . ; T . Norfolk , P . M . ( T . I . ) , as S . O . ; VV . I . Morris , P . M . 58 , as J . O . ; J . Leech Atherton , P . M . ( T . I . ) , P . P . G . W ., as Chap . ; Robertshaw

I . , P . M . 58 , P . P . G . Treas ., as Treas . ; Joseph Matthewman , P . M . no , Prov . G . Sec . ; T . G . Howell , P . M . 137 , P . P . G . D ., as S . D . ; M . A . Brigg , P . M . 374 , J . D . ; J . W . Monckman , J . P ., P . M . ( T . I . ) . P . P . G . W ., P . G . O ., as D . C . U H . Schofield , P . M . 457 , as I . of Wks . ; J . W . Smith , S . W . 374 , P . P . G . S . B ., as S > B . j Geo . C . Gamble , P . M . ( T . I . ) , Std . Br . ; S . Whiteley , P . M . ( T . I . ) , P . P . G . W ., as Org . ; J . Naylor , P . M . 137 , l . G . j A . G . Mabin , P . M . 457 ; Joshua Hill , W . M . \ :, ' •) i J - Milligan , W . M . 58 , and W . Fielding , J . W . 58 , Stwds . ; and T . F . Wheeler , Tyler .

Consecration Of The Bronte Mark Lodge, No. 535, At Haworth.

There were also in attendance—Bros . H . S . Holdsworth , P . M . 58 , P . P . G . W ., P . G . Std . Br ., a founder and W . M . designate of the new lodge : W . S . Milligan , P . M . 58 , Prov . J . G . O . ; Wm . Flockton , W . M . in , P . P . G . O . ; Geo . Greenwood , S . W . 58 ; E . L . Frazer , J . W ., and F . Long , Sec . of 374 ; R . A . Pullam , S . W . ; Charles Cromack , J . W . ; Lewis Crossley , M . O . ; G . Whitaker , Joseph Sharp , John Spencer , Joseph Smith , Wright Wagstaffe , Edwin Foulds , C . Mason , and Walter Whitley , all of Old York ( T . I . ) .

After opening a lodge and receiving the usual salutes the R . W . Prov . G . Master explained that , in consequence of illnesses and engagements which could not be postponed , the attempt to obtain a Provincial Chaplain for this occasion had been unsuccessful and that , at his personal request Bro . J . Leech Atherton had kindly consented to act in that capacity . The Prov . G . D . C . and the Prov . G . Organist were also amongst the apologists for absence , and their places were most efficiently supplied by Bros . J . W . Monckman and S . Whiteley respectively .

The 10 founders of the new lodge were Bros . H . S . Holdsworth , Edwin Foulds , Geo . Whitaker , Walter Whitley , Charles Mason , Joseph Sharp , Wright Wagstaffe , Joseph Smith , John Spencer , and Wm . Woodiwis . Of these all were present but Bro . Woodiwis , and being arranged in order , the PROV . G . MASTER briefly addressed them and then called upon the' Prov , G . Secretary to state their wishes .

This done and the petition and warrant having been read , the consecration ceremony was carried out , the Consecrating Officer being assisted by Bros . G . H . Parke , W . W . Clayton , R . Hodgson , and Thos . Norfolk , who bore the vessels containing the corn , wine , oil , and salt respectively . After solemnly dedicating and constituting the lodge , the PROV . GRAND MASTER gave the following address :

Brethren , just as it is the duty of every Mark Mason , so far as he can , to prevent the admission of any one to our Order except he be , according to Masonic definition , a lit and proper person , so it is equally incumbent upon both Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge not to sanction , support , or encourage the formation of any new lodge unless it can be clearly demonstrated , first , that there is need for it ; that it supplies . a want more or less long felt ; and , secondly , that its promoters are brethren with whom the management and concerns of the

lodge may be safely entrusted . Now , brethren , I have gone carefully into both these points , and have come to the conclusion that my recommendation to Grand Lodge to grant this warrant will find speedy justification . Craft Masonry , I may remind you , has taken root and flourished in this locality for many years . In 1767 , betore any of the lodges at present existing in Leeds were formed , a lodge was opened at Steeton , which , I believe , is not very far from Haworth . In 1788 the Duke of York was commenced at Bingley , and the Royal Yorkshire at Keighley ,

In 1792 your own lodge—the Three Graces—was founded at Barnoldswick , and in 179 C a lodge was inaugurated at Pateley Bridge . It is true that though all these lodges were on the roll at yet Union of the two Grand Lodges in 1813 , several have become extinct , yet , on the other hand , others have arisen in their stead , though not all on the same sites . There appears , however , to have been no Mark lodge in these parts—the nearest old one being Prince Edward at BoUoms . Now , with flourishing Craft lodges at Bingley ,

Keighley , and Skipton—the membership of which amounts to 150 , added to the 48 brethren of the Three Graces—there should surely be ample material from which to make a thoroughly strong and vigorous Mark lodge , and , therefore , I think I may venture to say that there is room for the establishment of Mark Masonry in this region , and that I have made good my first point . As to the second , there are 10 founders of the new lodge , at the head of whom stands pro minently forth a thorough Masonic veteran . Bro . Holdsworth ' s name is well

known in the Province of West Yorkshire and beyond it . He has large experience , a complete knowledge of Masonic ritual , and a capacity for the beautiful rendering of our Masonic ceremonies which it would be difficult to surpass . With such a brother at the helm , progress will be sound and certain . He is well supported , too . His colleagues , it is true , are all of them , compared with himself , young Masons ; but that is no fault , brethren ; the exuberance of their youth will be allowed full play , but it will be restrained and directed for wise and beneficent

purposes , and it will , I trust , show itself in kecness of interest in the welfare of the lodge , and a determination to make the work exhibited as perfect and complete as possible . I note also—and I wish specially to emphasise this point—that all the 10 founders are Royal Arch Masons , and that some of them belong to other Degrees or Orders with which many of us are associated . This being so , again I think I may say that my recommendation is justified , for I have not the slightest hesitation in leaving the future of the infant iodge in hands at once so enterprising and so capable .

It will , doubtless , be expected that I should make some reference to the name selected for the new lodge . The village of Haworth has been made famous through its association with the Brontii family . Previously unknown and cbscure , it will ever be remembered as the home of the sisters Bronte . Though these gifted daughters of the Rev . Patrick Bronto ( then styled Curate or Minister of Haworth ) were not born in this moorland town , yet they spent a large part of their quiet and secluded lives here , and they knew and loved the moors and rocks by which it is surrounded .

This is not the time , nor is it the place , in which to enter upon a disquisition as to the position of literary renown to which Charlotte Bronto and her gifted sisters have attained ; suffice it to say that the books which came from their pens have given delight to thousands wherever the English language is known , and their names will be placed on that illustrious roll which records the glories of a Scott , a Thackeray , a Bulwer Lytton , and a Dickens . But what , I can imagine you saying , brethren—what has the tragic lives and the

literary skill of the Sisters Bronte to do with Freemasonry ? The connection is not too apparent nor is it usual to associate female names and lodge nomenclature , I admit that it is to the daughters of the family that honour is chiefly due and that without the Sisters Brontii , Haworth would never have attained its present reputation ; but in the father , the Rev . Patrick Bronto , there was also no mean ability . A steadfast , God-fearing , upright man , stern , perhaps , and unbending , as the fashion was , to his children , yet just , honest , and affectionate . He enjoyed

considerable reputation during his lifetime for his sermons , which were characterised not so much by fervid eloquence as by conscientious conviction . He left behind him little in the way of literature by which to keep his memory green , and , perhaps , the highest tribute we can give him is that he lived and died an honest man . As to the son , also called Patrick , but more commonly known as Bran wel Bronti . —his mother ' s maiden name—we will not say much . In his case I will keep within the four corners of the old Latin

maxim—De Mortttis , nil nisi bonum . Branwell Bronte was not without ability—had ( some say ) talent— 'Others even genius j but if the definition or distinction between these qualities is correct , viz ,, that talent does what it can , but genius does what it must , I fear we cannot claim much of either one or the other for Patrick Bronte . Genial , pleasant , full of

anecdote , witty , sometimes brilliant , at his best Branwell Brontii was a charming companion . Well read , apt in speech , we can easily imagine his character ; always going to do something , yet never accomplishing it . He was at one time a member of the Thre e Graces Lodge , and for some short period acted as its Secretary . There are I am to Id minutes extant in his handwriting ; but , as in other things so in Freemasonry , he made no mark , left behind him no abiding monument , not even a