Masonic Jurisprudence.

sideration of " communications , " as they are called . At the first rising it is usual for the Worshipful Master to enquire if there is any Communication from Grand Lodge . Such would be a letter from the Board of General Purposes , or a notification by the Grand Master , or a notice of meeting . At the second

rising a similar question is put with regard to Provincial Grand Lodge . The summons to the Quarterly Communication of P . G . Lodge would most fitly be read at this stage . No motion can be founded on any of these , as they generally take the form of instructions to be implicitly carried out , and

therefore a motion , even to the effect that such instructions would be obeyed , would be both unnecessary and improper , because the possibility of an adverse vote would be inferred—a possibility not to be contemplated . Very often the appeals sent out by the Secretaries of the Institutions are read after the first rising . If

so they should not be read as the answer to the enquiry whether there were anything from Grand Lodge . But their proper place seems to be after the third rising . The question has often been asked what right has a brother to offer the hearty good wishes either of Grand Lodge or any

private lodge of which he may be a member ? It is purely a matter of traditional courtesy , but if strictly enquired into , it would seem as if a brother who presumed to convey any message at all on behalf of his lodge , should have been especially deputed to do so , and the most that a brother can do is to offer

his own good wishes . The exception might be in the ease ol the Master and Wardens of a neighbouring lodge being asked to a festival . Their acceptance is t /// a . si-olYic ' ui \ , and their hearty

good wishes may possibly be regarded as representative . Still , there is absolutely no lex scripta on the point , and very little tradition except of the oral kind , so that brethren must continue to please themselves .

It may not be out of place to refer to the habit , which is becoming one frequently noticed , of correcting the Worshipful Master and his officers in the discharge of their duties . Whilst the newly-installed Master , in the language of courtesy , tells the Immediate Past Master , when investing him , how much he will

rely upon his assistance and co-operation during the year—it certainly does not mean that the I . P . M . is to stand ready to interpolate the " missing word" in season and out ol season . There are , of course , times when it may be done unobtrusively , and when necessary the LP . M . is the person

to do it . But how frequently , when the Master halts for a moment , or even differs in a trifling manner from traditional ceremonial language , one hears a subdued chorus , not only on the dais , but even from the south and west , interpolating tincorrection . The only way in which the Master can cure his

predecessors of this habit is by giving them work to do on their own account , and thus give each of them something else to think about . Thus one may deliver the charge , another present the working tools , another give the lecture , and a fourth explain the tracing board .

We have included in this a-rticle one or two points which are not strictly included in its title , but they are all germane and possibly not sufficiently numerous to deserve an article to themselves .

Consecration Of The Dartmouth Mark Lodge, No. 545, At Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire.

CONSECRATION OF THE DARTMOUTH MARK LODGE , No . 545 , AT SLAITHWAITE , WEST YORKSHIRE .

Freemasonry during the iolh century will doubtless some day find an able historian , and by no means the least important portion of that writer ' f duly will be to point out the marvellous social influence it has exercised . This especially during the past 50 years . Working quietly , and seldom appearing above the surface , it has moved the hearts , stirred the minds , and awakened sympathy in the breasts of men who , hardened by business 01

professional cares , struggling to hold their own , might otherwise have had their best impulses stifled and their noblest aspirations <] uenched , Man , it is , of course , a truism to say , is a gregarious animal ; he delights to mix with his brother man , as the numerous " associations " of all possible kinds throughout the world demonstrate . In some of these he is brought in contatt wilh superior minds perhaps , and so gains knowledge , experience ,

benefit ; in others it may be he is himself looked up to , and is able to administer mental or even spiritual help in time of need ; but in none does b . 2 find anything equivalent to the five points of fellowship . Freemasonry properly understood and worthily exemplified brings its disciples mort closely together than perhaps any other merely human system could do , and therefore all Freemasons rejoice when they witness an attempt judiciously

to expand its influence . We use the word " judiciously " advise Jly , for wt contend that a most serious responsibility rests on the shoulders of tht founders of new Masonic lodges . This ha ? , of course , been rep-atedl ) insisted upon by all the authorities , from the Most Worshipful Grand Maslei downwards ; no words of ours therefore could strengthen that warning , but ; reiteration of the caution is perhaps not out of place . Assured that the n < - \\

lodge is in the hands of good and worthy men ; that it is sanctioned and ap proved by those whose duty it is to look into such matters ; and convince ! moreover that it supplies a long-Ielt want , we are all ol us willing to tende an encouraging hand . These conditions , we believe , are amply fulfilled in the case of the new Mark lodge which so successfully commenced its career on the lOth instant .

Consecration Of The Dartmouth Mark Lodge, No. 545, At Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire.

Slaithwaite , it may be perhaps necessary to say for the information of -some of our readers , is a manufacturing village in the valley of the Colne , ind not far from the flourishing town of Huddersfield . Hemmed in by ths hills , the inhabitants of the Yorkshire valleys early developed strong local characteristics , and notwithstanding railways and electricity many of these itill obtain . Not the least striking of them is their thorough belief in

themselves . They have a confident impression , in this particular instance , that no better worked lodge exists than their own . It is true that many other brethren ' . stimate the work of the lodges to which they happen to balong equally highly , and who would interfere with such a comfortable belief ? There is no doubt , however , that they strive hard , and good , honest work alwaystells . The Colne Valley Lodge and Chapter are very prosperous , and there is every

reason to believe that the new Dartmouth Mark Lodge will also flourish . The six founders are Bros . Walker Dyson , Edwin Dean , M . D ., A . G . Webster , M . D ., A . E . Cotton , D . J . Bailey , and Thos . Mallinson , and these brethren having obtained the courteous consent of the noble Earl decided the lodge should be called the Dartmouth . Some reference to this is made in the Provincial Grand Master ' s address . It may here be mentioned that an

authorisation having been obtained , 11 candidates were , previous to the consecration , advanced to the Degree of Mark Master by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . John Birker , assisted by volunteer offhers from the mother Lodge of Truth , and other parts of the province . The lew lodge numbered , therefore , 17 members , which enabled them to commence with a full complement of officers .

Amongst those present on the occasion , besides the six founders abive named and the 11 new members who figure in the list of officers , there

were—3 ros . C . Letch Mason , Prov . G . Master ; John Barker , Deputy Prov . G . Master ; f . W . Monckman , J . P ., P . M . ( T . I . ) , P . P . G . W ., P . G . O . j W . E . Smithies , P . M . 493 , P . P . G . W ., P . G . Stwd ., Chairman of the Charity Committee ; Thomas <* owbotham , P . M . 53 , Prov . S . G . W ., Vice-Chairman of the Charity Committee ; C . E . Rose , P . M . 58 , Prov . S . G . O . ; Rev . J . L . Brereton , W . M . 127 , Prov . G . Chip . ; Joseph Matthewman , P . M . no , Prov . G . Sec ; T . G . Howell , P . M .

137 ami 493 , P . P . G . D . ; H . Beaumjnt , P . M . 14 , P . P . Q . Treas . j J . F . Dyson , P . M . 137 , P . P . G . D . C ; Joe Sykes , Prov . G . Org . ; John Brook , P . M . 493 , P . P . G . Org . ; Joshua Hill , P . M . ( T . I . ) , Prov . G . I . G . ; Geo . J ackson , P . M . 137 , P . P . G . S . B . ; Joe Naylor , P . M . 137 , P . P . G . I . G . ; W . B . Smith , W . M . 352 , Prov . G . Stwd . j Geo . Whitaker , J . W . 535 ; James Milligan , W . M . 58 ; H . Bonser , W . M . HI ; Jas . H . Dyson , P . M ., and J . Pyrah , Sec . 137 ; W . H . Rendell , 374 ; ind Geo . Hoyle , M . D ., W . M ., and J . W . Broadhead , 493 .

There were representatives from all the lodges in the province except two . The consecration and constitution were carried out with full ritual and : eremonial by the Prov . G . Master . Most valuable and efficient help was endered by Bro . the Rev . J . Lloyd Brereton , W . M . 127 , Vicar of St . Peter ' s , Barnsley , and ( for tne second time ) Prov . G . Chaplain . In the

ibsence , through illness , of Bro . R . J . Smith , Bro . J . W . Monckman kindly undertook the duty of Director of Ceremonies , and did the work in the way or which he has so long been renowned . Other brethren who took minor parts were Bros . W . H . Rendell , 374 ., who carried the corn ; C . E . Rose , | - > . M . 58 , the wine ; Jas . Milligan , W . M . 58 , the oil ; and H . Bonser , W . M . in , the salt . During the ceremony a very eloquent oration was given by the Chaplain ,

illustrating the valuable lessons underlying the ritual of Mark Masonry , I'his , we regret , we are hot at this moment able to reproduce ; perhaps later ve may do so . The reverential and careful manner in which every detail was carried out deeply impressed the brethren , and universal admiration resulted . We should not omit to state that Bros . John Brook and Joe Sykes attended to the musical portion of the ceremony , and contributed a generous share to the general success .

All completed , the PROV . G . MASTER , as is customary , gave an address He

said—Brethren , —The Dartmouth Lodge is the 17 th on the roll of the Prov . G . Mark Lodge of West Yorkshire . In August , 18 71 , when the province was constituted at Halifax , there were in all only seven Mark lodges . One was added that same year , but it was not until 1873 that the entire province became united , there being then eight lodges on the register . This number remained unaltered for I 2 yeais , ¦ vhen , in 1885 , Prince Leopold , No . 352 , was formed in Ripon . Progress has

continued since that date , and we have this afternoon made our number into 17 . It is not my intention to take up much of your time to-day , but I will , however , lor a few moments call your attention to the subject of lodge names . Of course , many lodges receive their names only from the fancy or caprice of the founders ; but it will more frequently be observed that there is some ground or reason underlying the name by which a lodge may be called . Take

Old York ( T . I . ) , the first on our West Yorkshire list . York is traditionall y , as we all know , the original cradle of Freemasonry in England , but why it should be specially associated with Bradford does not seem so clear : but when I remind you that before the Grand Lodge of England was formed , before the foundation of the oldest present existing lodge in West Yorkshire—in the year 1713 , in fact , a Masonic community existed in Bradford , and that the Masons

lorming that lodge were " made" by a deputation of brethren from York—you will not find much difficulty in agreeing with me that the name Old York is by no means either far-fetched or inappropriate . As to Prince Edward , the next on our list we note that it completes a triad of princes giving names to lodges in the neighbourhood . There is Prince Frederick ( Craft ) at Hebden Bridge , taking its ippellation from Frederick Duke of Sussex , first Grand Master of the United

Grand Lodge of England ; Prince George ( also Craff ) at Eastwood , doubtless called after the Prince Regent , afterwards George IV ., who whilst Prince of vVales was Grand Master of the 'Moderns "; and , finally , there is Prince Edward ( Hark Lodge ) , also at Eastwood , The Prince Edward here mentioned vas , of course , Edward Duke of Kent , who for some time held the position of Grand Master of the " Ancients , " and who , aided by his brother , brought about the

union of the two Grand Lodges in 1813 . He is , however , better known as the ather of our present illustrious Queen . To finish the Princes we will next take Prince Leopold . He , it is almost needless to say , was Duke of Albany , and youngest son of her Majesty . He was a distinguished Freemason , and a most jopular prince . Many ot you here probably were present on the occasion of his 'isit to Huddersfield when he accepted an address from the brethren of the town ind neighbourhood . This was shortly before his death in 1884 . Prince

Leopold was a Mark Mason , received the rank of Past Grand Master , and it was nost suitable and proper on the part of this province to keep his name in nemory by the institution of Prince Leopold Lodge . Britannia , 53 , Sheffield ; integrity , no , Wakefield ; and Truth , 137 , Huddersfield , appear to have taken neir naino-s from the Craft lolgis from which they originally sprung . The two tst illustrate the tendency , on-: e so common , almost universal in fact—of calling lodges after some abstract i ) lality or virtus . I need not give instances , as doubtless many will readily occur to you both in lodges and chapters . Fearnley , 58 , Halifax ; Copley , 111 , Leeds ; and Portal , 12 7 , Barnsley , worthily