Table Of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Future of Freemasonry in Ireland 255 Representation of the Grand Mark Lodge of England in American Chapters 2 5 ^ Centenary of Royal Gloucester Lodge , Southampton 257

Masonic Notes and Queries -59 CORRESPONDENCE : — Oration by Bro , , ] . Halford 259 Masonic Tidings—British , Colonial and Foreign 259 Grand Festival 260

CRAFT MASONRY : — Metropolitan 263 Provincial 26 3 Presentation to Bro Baird , St . Johns Lodge , Glasgow 26 3 Consecration of the Bective Lodgeof Mark Masters at

Keswick 263 The A . P . U . C . and Freemasonry 203 Laying the Foundation Stone of the new Infirmary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls 2 G 4 Masonic Meetings for next week 265 Advertisements 25 : 5 , 2 ^ ± , 2 ( 1 ; , 266 , 267 , 268

The Future Of Freemasonry In Ireland.

THE FUTURE OF FREEMASONRY IN IRELAND .

( Cimiimu-d fnim page \ 2 \ . J FOURTH ARTICLE . When we approach the consideration in detail , of the proposed new Masonic Laws , as published

by the Committee appointed to arrange them , Ave lind a great many points worthy of examination , and open to discussion , as to their advisability , and the effect of their

working , if carried , upon the future ot the Order . Many of those points may safely be left for settlement during tbe debates incidental lo tbe progress of the new Laws through Grand Lodge ,

but some of them , introduce , or interfere with princi ples to such an extent , as to require more than a passing allusion . In completing the present series of articles , I therefore purpose to consider somewhat in detail , the following

subjects : — The Prayers sanctioned by Grand Lodge . The Appointment of the Grand Officers . The Privileges of Grand Master ' s Lodge .

The Proposed Construction and Powers of the Board of General Purposes . The " Charities " of the Order . The Compact with the so-called "High

Degrees . In addition to the above , there are two ' proposed alterations in the practical working of the lodges , which require a short allusion , namely ,

the change Irom monthly to quarterly meetings of the Grand Lodge , ancl the election of" Officers in subordinate lodges annually , in place of halfyearly , as heretofore . Those changes I propose

to consider 111 the lirst instance . It is urged , and very fairly , that in making our Grand LodgeCommunieations quarterly , we would be coming more into unison with thc practice of

other Grand Lodges , and , would also afford opportunities to our country brethren of being jiresent at the meetings of all the governing bodies , which could be so arranged as to come

within the same week as the meetings of the Grand Lodge . The principal objection , as far as I can at present see , to quarterl y communications is , that the average amount of business to be

disposed of at our Grand Lodge meetings could not be fairl y dealt with once in three months , and 1 think that regular monthly meetings as at present , are prcfereble to emergency meetings ,

The Future Of Freemasonry In Ireland.

which I am disposed to think , would be often required , if the quarterly communications should be adopted . As regards the proposed change in the election of

officers of subordinate lodges , there is something to be said on both sidesof the question . A common complaint of tbe junior brethren at present is , the length of time during whicii they have to

wait for the honour of the chair , of course , if thc elections take place annitallij , that time would be doubled . Whether that is a good Masonic objection or not is a matter of opinion . But if

the change be . made , there is one reform in the practice ofthe lodges , whicii I think is imperative . At present the " usage"' is , for brethren to take office by seniority , unless there be some good

reason for passing them over , but if the Master is to bold bis position for a year , in place of for six months , I think this must be at least considably modified . I would suggest that the

elections of junior officers of the subordinate lodges , namely , the Inner Guard ( in some lodges this office is filled by the junior P . M ., ) and Junior and Senior Deacons , should be half-yearly as at

jiresent , and that the three principal officers should be elected annually by ballot from thc list of Past Senior Deacons . By this means an inducement would be held out to brethren to

take more interest in the working of the lodges , and if in addition , the rule , pretty general in theory but ignored in practice , of requiring the f . W . to be able to initiate , tbe S . W . to craft , and the

W . M . to raise , before taking office , were adopted , a standard of " merit , '" in lieu of seniroity , would be after a time established . Such a rule as to election would not clash with the annual

election of officers proposed 111 the new laws , as the officers recognised ny Grand Lodge are the Wardens and Mastei . The Secretary , Treasurer , and some other

officers are at present elected for the year . Coming now to the subjects more immedi ately indicated by the headings I have ahead ) given , we have to look at , in the lirst instance , THE PRVYEUS SANCTIONED BY GRAND LODGE

In the proposed new laws as published , we lind not only prayers to be used in lodges , hut also those for the use of Royal Arch Chapters , High Knights Templar Encampments , and Prince

Masons Chapters . This I assume must he an oversight , as Grand Lodge has nothing to do with the prayers of those degrees , and the several Orders alluded to are quite competent to

arrange their own official prayers . But in the prayers put forward for use in Craft Masonry , we find not only such prayers as are consistent and suitable by reason of their universality , bnt

also " alternative prayers ol a Christian character , ancl as such ., out of place in au Institution , one of whose fundamental principles is its unlimited universality as to the creeds of its members .

It is true , that it is not compulsory on the lodges to use those Christian prayers , but I contend that Grand Lodge has no rig ht officially to sanction them , when the onl y relig ious test

applied to initiates , is their belief in a Supreme Being , and the more especially that J have heard it stated , thai Christian prayers were selected for use purposely in a lodge where Jewish brethren were present , after the- attention of thc members

The Future Of Freemasonry In Ireland.

was called to the fact of tlieir presence ; such a proceeding ought not to be possible in Freemasonry . One of tbe first proceedings of the Grand Lodge of England in arranging the

Constitutions after its establishment m 1717 , appears to have been the elimination from the rules and charges of certain matter whicii might have offended the religious feelings of some of the

members of the Order , ancl there can be no doubt that the high position which Freemasonry holds at the present day , is in a large degree ,

owing to the scrupulous care with which it keeps aloof from polemics and politics , ancl regards the creed of its members as a matter between each

man s conscience and his God . I trust Grand Lodge will see the wisdom of sanctioning only such prayers as can be joined in by all Masons .

The next subject indicated is one on whicii a very strong feeling exists in many quarters , and I believe the objectionable usages in connection

with it are by no means confined to Irish Freemasonry . It is , THE APPOINTMENT OF THE GRAND OFFICERS

It has long been felt and often expressed that there is too much of monopoly in the arrangement of the official positions of Grand Lodge . All the offices , except that of D . G . M . are elective ; but

it is felt that some steps should betaken to throw at least some of them open more generally to the brethren at large , duly qualified to fill them . It is of course admitted that it is desirable that the

Grand Master and some few of the higher dignitaries , should be men of high social standing and position , so as to give a tangible guarantee to outsiders , that thc society is a good and proper .

one , and is not the conspiracy against law and order , that some of its audacious maligners attempt to paint it . But there are several junior offices in the Grand Lodge , that could and should

be filled by worthy brethren , as a reward for their Masonic worth , and as an incentive to others to imitate their zeal and efficiency , and it is very generally acknowledged that it is now a fitting

time to put an end to monopoly in that direction , by passing a law rendering those who have held office for say three years , ineligible for re-election , until after the expiration of a like , or some other

period . The order is not so poor in worthy brethren , as to render it necessary to stereotype its officers , or to wait till the removal , hy death , of a Grand

( ) fricer , opens an appointment for another brother , from anions : a number , in bonourinsr whom Grand Lodge would be also honouring itself , by

showing in practice its recognition of the spirit of one of its first principles , the perfect equality of its members .

It was distinctly understood that some such rule as that abovealludedto , should he embodied in the new laws , but as such has not been done , it will of course be easy , by an amendment , to

rectify the omission . We come now to the consideration ofa subject , second iu importance only to the connection of the " High Grades " with Craft Masonry , namely ,

THE PRIVILEGES OF GRAND MASTER S LODGE . Briefly stated these privileges arc principally , the wearing of { special " clothing , " almost identical with that of the Grand Officers ; Precedence over till other lodges , Exemption