Table Of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS .

PAGE THB DUMFS , POWERS , PRIVILEGES , AND EESPO »* SIBIL 1 TIES OS TUB MASTKR OF A LODGE ... 27 V CONSECRATION of THE STABILITT CHAPTSR , No . 217 278 THE

CHAFFMetropolitan .. 2 ( S Provincial 273 Scotland 279 O RDERS OP CHIVALRYKnights Templar 279 Eed Cross of Rome and Constantine ... ... 279

ANCIENT AND AccuriKD RITE 279 MEETINGS FOR NEXT WEEK 279 BIRTHS , MARRIAGES , AND DEATHS 280 MULTCM IN PAIIVO 280 ST . JOHNS D . -, 2 S 0

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCEFreemasonry and the Papacy ... 281 Bro . Finch , P . M ., 217 2 S 1 ANCIENT AND MODERN MYSTERIES 281 & 282 GRAND CONCLAVE OF KNIGHTS TESIFLAR 282 PRESENTATION TO Buo . G . H . CROOKES , PROV . G . S ., DURHAM 2 S 2 & . 283 THE NECESSITY OF A GOOD MASTER 283

The Duties, Powers, Privileges, And Responsibilities Of The Master Of A Lodge.

THE DUTIES , POWERS , PRIVILEGES , AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MASTER OF A LODGE .

BY CIPES . The Master of a Lodge holds a relation to the lodge similar to that which the Grand Master holds to the whole Masonic bod y of the country . He has similar powers and prerogatives , subordinate of course to the Grand Lodge and the

Grand Master . The Master is elected annuall y from the bo ly of the Craft , but generally alter having served for a year or two in sonic of the minor offices . According to strict rule , indeed , no one should be elected to the office of Master ¦ who has not first filled the office of Warden ,

although this rule is sometimes dispensed with . The Master may be ve-elccted year after year , and this may often take place . In Scotland , the Master of a Lodge is always styled the Ri g ht Worshi pful Master : the installation service is

somewhat similar to what is known in Royal Arch Masonry , and in the lodges of other countries , as that of a Past Master . On entering upon thc dut ' es of his office , the Right Worshipful is installed according to the rules laid clown by the Grand Lod ge of Scotland , in tho following manner .

The lodge having been opened in tho first degree—Entered Apprentices being allowed to be present—and the tenets , & c , of the lodge placed before the retiring Right Worshipful Master , who presides at the installation of the Master-Elect , desires him to step forward to the altar , and addresses him as follows : —

BROTHER , —Having been elected by the membera of your lodge to the office of Ri ght Worshipful Master , I have much pleasure in installing you therein * , but previous to your installation it is requisite that you assent to some of the charges and regulations which point out the duty of a Master of

a lodge : 1 ; You agree to be a good man and true , and atrictly to obey the moral law . 2 . You agree to be a peaceable subject , and cheerfully to conform to the laws of the country in which you reside . 3 . You promise not to be concerned in plots or conspiracies against Government , but patiently to

submit to the decisions ofthe Supreme Legislature . 4 . You agree to pay a proper respect to the Civil Magistrate ; to wor * diligently , live in credit , and act honourably with all men . 5 . You agree to hold in veneration the original rulers and patrons of the Order of Masonry , and their regular successors , supreme and subordinate ,

according to their stations ; and to submit to the awards mid resolutions of your brethren in Grand Lodge assembled , in every case consistent with the constitutions of ( he Order ; and that you will not , in Scotland , practise or recognise iu connection with Lodges of . St . . John ' s Masonry , any degrees except those of Apprentice , Fellow-Craft , and Master-Mason .

6 . You agree to avoid private quarrels , and to guard against all intemperance and excess . 7 . You agree to be cautious in your behaviour , courteous to your brethren , and faithful to your lodge .

The Duties, Powers, Privileges, And Responsibilities Of The Master Of A Lodge.

• rr 8 . —You :. promise—to-respect true - and faithful brethren , aud to discountenance all impostors and dissenters from the original p lan ofthe institution . 9 . You agree to promote the general good of society , to cultivate the social virtues , and to propagate the knowledge of the art of Masonry , so far as

your influence aud ability can extend . 10 . You admit that it is not in the power of any man , or body of men , to make alteration or innovation in Freemasonry . 11 . You promise to submit to the M . W . the Grand Master for the time being , and to his officers

when duly installed ; and strictly to conform to every regulation of the Grand Lodge that is not subversive ofthe princip les of Masonry . 12 . You admit that no lodge can be constituted without a charter from a Grand Lodge , or other Supreme Body entitled to grant them , nor any

countenance given to an irregular lodge , or to any person clandestinely initiated therein ; and that no procession , consecration , or other ceremonial of Masons , clothed with the badges of the Order , can tike place without the special licence of the Grand Lodge , or ofthe Provincial Grand Master of the

District , or ( in his absence- ) of his Depute or Substitute . l : J . You admit that no person can be reguhvly made a Mason , or admitted a Mason of any lodge , without previous notice aud due inquiry iuto his

character . 14 . You promise that no visitors shall be received into your lodge without due examination , or producing proper vouchers of initiation iu a regular lodge .

The presiding Brother then addresses the Master Elect thus : — Do you now , Brother , cheerfully submit to these several Charges and Regulations of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland , and promise to support them , as all good Masters have done 1

The Master-Elect having signified his assent , the presiding Brother then proceeds as follows : — Then , Brother , in consequence ofthe recommendation I have received of you , and your cheerful conformity to thc Charges and Regulations rehearsed ,

and since it is the will and pleasure of the brethren of this lodge that you become Master thereof for the usual time , ai they confide in 3 * 0111 * known good behaviour , aud think you a tit and proper person to discharge the duties of the said office , 1 must

inform you that you are not only to walk uprightly before God and linin , and strictly to follow the rules and constitutions of Freemasonry in general , but also to adhere to the bye-laws of this lodge in particular .

You -will now step forward to the Altar and take the oath defideli , viz . : — *• I . . . . in the presence of the G . A . ofthe U ., do solemnly promise to perforin the duties ofthe oflici ; of R . W . Master , faithfully , zealouslj , mid impartially , to thc best of my ability , during the

ensuing twelve months , unless a successor shall have been previously appointed and installed in my stead . That while in the chair , I will not permit or suffer any deviation from the ancient customs and landmarks of the Order recognised by the Grand Lodge of Scotland , nor administer , or cause to be administered , any ceremony contrary to , or subversive of our

Constitutions . That I will maintain pure and unsullied the genuine tenets of the Order . That I will observe , and as far as lies in my power , strictly enforce , those Charges and Regulations to which I have now given my assent , and otherwise conscientiously perform my duty as Master of the Craft . So help mo God !••

Brother , —You have been elected "Master of this lodge . I invest you with this jewel belonging to that office . It consists of the Square and Compasses , an arc of a circle , and a star , representing the Sun . The Square denotes iu a moral sense that you are to regulate vour actions by rule and line , and to lmrmonko

yourcouductby the principles of nioralityand virtue ; and the compasses , that although you have been called to the high position of Right Worshipful Master of this lodge you arc not to rule tyrannically , but to behave courteously to the brethren ; As the Compasses on the arc of a circle indicate that it is the

duty of every Master to lay down plans for his worknii'ii , so they teach that however exalted be your stition in socie' . y you have certain dutiea to perform to those who are not so fortunate as yourself , and for the fulfilment of which you must one day give an account to the All-seeing Eye , on which , typified

by thc sun or star on the jewel , you ought at all tiinei to place your reliance . The Holy Bible , which is never shut iu a lodge , teaches us to love God ; and nolens our motives be founded on that love , aud our actions spring from it , all the morality in the world is ol no avail . Tho Right Worship ful Master having been installed , his duties at once commence . All

The Duties, Powers, Privileges, And Responsibilities Of The Master Of A Lodge.

documents , deeds , and the -whole propertyof'the lodge are under the immediate charge of the R . W . Master , and ought to be delivered to him on his instillation that he may look after them , and see that every office-bearer has the books and paraphernalia pertaining to his office . He

is responsible for them , and bound to hand them over to his successor in the same condition in which he found them ; due allowance , however , being made for their use during his term of office , aud for any change which may have been made either bv a law of the Grand Lodge or by

enactment of the lodge itself duly assembled . It is the chief duty of the Ri g ht Worship ful Master to direct , govern , and instruct his brethren in all their various parts in the different departments of lodge duties . He opens and closes the lodge , he initiates all candidates on admission into the

lod ge ; he presides in all meetings of the lodge , he represents the lodge in the Grand Lodge assembled . It is his duty also to attend all Committee Meetings of Grand Lodge and meet-O * 3 ings of the Benevolent Fund , if in the metropolitan district ; to head all deputations from

the lodge on visitation to other lodges ; to represent the lodge at the annual meeting of St . Andrew ' s Festival , in the Grand Lodge ; to head it at all ceremonials , at the laying of foundationstone , key-stones of bridges , cope-stones of buildings ; to preside at any funeral lodge , and at the

interment of any brother who may have given written notice of a desire to be buried with the honours of the Craft . The Master also conducts the ceremonial of installation in his lodge , and the consecraton of any hall or lodge-room for the meetings of the lodge , if its place of meeting

should be changed during his term of office . It may also become his ri g ht and dut y to preside in Grand I odgc , at its quarterly meetings , in the absence ofthe Grand Muster and other qualified office-bearers . This ri g ht is determined by his number on the roll , the Master having the first

number being entitled to preside . The powers of a Ri ght Worship ful Master may be described as resembling those of the chairman of any well-regulated society ; with this important difference , however , that his brethren , if they should happen to have any fault to find

with him , are not entitled to become his judges , but must refer the case simplicita to the Grand Lodge , or Provincial Grand Lodge , who alone have the power to dispose of it . No lodge can try a case as to ihe conduct of the Master of a

lodge j it belongs to- the Provincial or Grand Lodge alone to do so . The powers of a Master of a lodge are regulated by the same landmarks which govern a Grand Master ; but thoso of a Master of a lodge are of course inferior to those of tho Grand

Master . Ho may order anything to be done which is in keeping with tho rules of the Older , aud this ho may do without the possibility of a challenge , except by complaint to the Grand Lodge , as already mentioned . No special meeting of the lodge can be called without his

consent , although tlie regular meetings necessarily take place according to the bye-laws at their proper times , and for these no exercise of his authority is required . According to strict rule , a special meeting ought only to be summoned by the authorit y of the R . W . Muster to the

Secretary in writing ; but in practice , this rulo is often dispensed . with , and g iven merely verbally , and the lodge is convened accordingly , which may do well enough so long as it passes unchallenged , although it may be doubted what the result would be if the legality ofthe meeting

were called in question . There is no question , however , that any meeting , except a regular meeting held in accordance with the bye-laws , held without the authority of the Master , is illegal , informal , and unauthoritative ; and any member of tlie brotherhood who takes part in convening such such a meeting , or knowingly

attends it , is liable to such punishment as the lodge when duly constituted may see fit to impose . It is one of tho privileges nnd rig hts of the R . W . Master of a lodge , that he has a seat iu the Grand Lodge , and is de facto one oi its members . On resignation of his office , also , lie becomes a Past Master , and is entitled to be so styled , having many honours , without the actual