Masonic Jurisprudence.

• with £ uch a " roving commission ? He should remember that his duty is not one of investigation , nor should he visit a lodge with the idea that his business is to pre-suppose irregularities , and then try to verify his supposition . He has no right to investigate lodge accounts . The Grand Master himself has no

right to do that . A lodge may spend its money as it pleases , and it appoints its own Auditor . He can , however , make a general statement , e . g ., he may refer to the absence of a Charity fund , but even then only by way of affording information . But he . may , and ought to , refer to defaulting brethren , unpunctiiality in paying dues , because these are matters which come in the returns . ¦ :

In some foreign jurisdictions it is the custom for the visitor to take the chair and invite complaints from any brother who may have a grievance against the W . M . or Wardens . It is to be deprecated , however , even though it be but a convention . It is not his business to stir up strife .

He should carefully water , the ceremonial working and his remarks on this head when he addresses the lodge will not only be interesting but valuable . He should allow lrrmself time to read the minute book at leisure , and he should also inspect the attendance book—ascertain that declarations have been duly

filed and also—most important—that a signed declaration exists for every initiate , lt is not unusual—even in English lodgesto find that this has been omitted , and the writer has been in an influential lodge where the declaration was solemnl y signed , in open lodge , at the same time that the Grand Lodge certificate

was handed to thc candidate . Nothing in the lodge should escape , the visitor ' s notice , inasmuch as in remote districts , thc most extraordinary errors get perpetuated . Officers are adorned with each others' jewels , the warrant put away safely somewhere and not seen for years , the Tyler not even a Freemason at all ,

no Book of Constitutions in lodge , columns mixed up , candidate passed to the Degree of a F . C . without the lodge having been opened in that Degree , or , at all events , without any intimation of the fact appearing in the minutes , candidates for joining ,

balloted for , " pending produclion of their papers , and , in one case , " pending payment of fee . " All this , and much more , has the writer seen , and , therefore , he repeats that nothing in the lodge is too unimportant to be noticed , if the visitation is to be a real one . ( To be continued . )

Knights Templar.

Knights Templar .

GREAT PRIORY .

The half-yearly meeting was held at Mark Masons' Hall on Friday , the 14 th instant , when there were present—Sir Knights the Earl of Euston , G . C . T ., M . E . and . S . G . Master ; Captain N . G , Philips , G . C . T ., Prov . Prior East Anglia j the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P ., K . G . T ., Prov . Prior Cheshire ; the Rer . Canon John Walker , G . Prelate ; R . Loveland Loveland , Q . C , G . C . T ., G . Chan . Rev . Canon Brownrieg , G . C . T .,

as ist G . Constable ; Richard Clowes , P . G . C , as and G . Constable ; R . Clutton , G . C . T ., G . Treas . ; Frank Richardson , G . C . T ., G . Reg . ; C . F . Matier , K . C . T ., G . Vice-Chan . i C . Belton , K . C . T ., G . Marshal Ven . Archdeacon W . McDonald , Sinclair , G . Almoner and Chaplain ; E . O'Connor Terry , 0 . Herald ; Felix S . Knyvett , G . Std . Br . ( Beau . ); B . A . Smith , G . Std . Br . ( V . 8 . ); A . Woodiwiss , K . C . T ., as G . Master ' s Banner Br . ; Major T . W . Richardson , as G . S . B . ; A

Sidall , G . Aide-de-Camp j J . C . F . Tower , as G . Aide-de-Camp- H . Nicholls , and G . C . Kent , G . Captains of Guard ; H . R . Rose , G . Org . . Rev . H . G . Morse , G . C . T ., Rev . C . E . L . Wright , and Rev . C . Chetwynd Atkinson , P . G . Prelates ; F . H . Goldney , Capt . H . W . H . Eitves , and Col . G . Walton Walker , K . C . T ., P . G . Heralds ; Baron de Ferrieres , K . C . T ., and H . H . George , P . G . Std . Brs . ; A . C . Haycraft , P . G . Master ' s Banner Br . ; R . A . B . Preston , P . G . S . B . ;

Col . J . D . Murray , K . C . T ., and W . B . Lethbridge , P . G . Aide-de-Camps * A . H Bowles and W . J . Ebbetts , P . G . Captains of Guards ; and others . The knights having formed the arch of steel , the Most Eminent and Supreme G . Master , attended by the Great Officers , entered and ascended the throne . A Chapter of Great Priory was opened in ample form . The GREAT REGISTRAR called the muster roll . The minutes of the meeting of Great Priory of the nth May were read

by the GREAT VICE-CHANCELLOR , and declared to be correctly recorded . The GREAT VICE-CHANCELLOR : Before we proceed with the consideration of the Report of the Council , may I , most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master , ask you to have the honour of reading the gracious reply of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales to the vote which this Great Priory passed on the last occasion of its meeting , congratulating his Royal Highness on his escape from assassination :

Marlborough House , Pall Mall , S . W . Sir Francis Knollys is desired by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to thank thc Grand Master and Knights of the United Religious and Military Orders ofthe Temple and Hospital in England and Wales for their kind address of congratulation on his merciful preservation upon the occasion of the recent

attempt on his life . May 24 th , 1900 . The GREAT CHANCELLOR : I beg to move that the gracious reply of his Royal Highness be entered upon the minutes . The GREAT MARSHAL : 1 beg to second the proposal . The motion was carried .

Knights Templar.

On the motion , of the GREAT CHANCELLOR , seconded by the GREAT REGISTRAR , it was resolved to take as read-the following -A '

REPORT OF COUNCIL . Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master , ' - ' - . Your Council have the honour to report that in accordance with the unanimous recommendation of the Finance Committee , the sum of ^ 400 , at a cost of £ 398 1 is ., has been invested in India 8 per cent . Stock , on behalf of the General Fundmaking the total invested capitaA . 4200 on that account . :

, There is also invested in Metropolitan 2 J- per cent . Consolidated Stock the sum of ^ 250 O 0 n behalf of the Benevolent Fund . : - ¦ " ' . ; : ; ' -. ! ' ¦¦ ' Your Council beg to report with the utmost pleasure , the continued increase , not only in numbers , but also in influence and prosperity , of : the ¦ l / nited Orders , and are happy to say that this Great Priory is on terms of the most amicable and fraternal character with every legitimate Body ofthe Temple in the world . ' *!• " >•¦

The fifth Annual Conference of the Three Governing Bodies in the United Kingdom of the United Orders of the Templer and Hospital , was held in Londc ^ , on ioth May , 1900 . ¦ ..,-. '* , ' ' ' The Chapter General of Scotland was ' represented by : Sir Knights Sir * James Buchanan , Bart ., K . C . T ., G . Constable ; Col . James T . Stewart , K . C . T . ; i

G . Almoner ; Major F . W . Allan , K . C . T ., G . Chancellor ; L .. Mackersy , K . C . T ; ,, G . Secretary , & c ; Herbert B . Ezard , K . C . T ., G . Chamberlain , * ' W . . W .-Robertson , K . C . T ., G . Beaucennifer ; and Robert K . Inches , K . C . T ., G . Stwd . The Great Priory of Ireland was represented by : Sir Knights Lt .-Col . A . V . Davoren , G . C . T ., G . Chancellor ; Col . M'Cammon , K . C . T ., G . Marshal ; Sir James Creed Meredith , K . C . T . ; and R . H . Walker , Vice-Chancellor .

The Great Priory of England was represented by : The Supreme Grand Master , the Earl of Euston , G . C . T . ; Sir Knights the Earl of Lathom , G . C . T ., Great Seneschal ; Capt . N . G . Philips , G . C ; T ., Prov . Prior ; Frank Richardson , G . C . T ., Great Registrar ; Ralph Clutton , G . C . T ., Great Treasurer ; J . Woodall Woodall , K . C . T ., Prov . Prior ; and C . F . Matier , K . C . T . ( Scot , and Eng . ) , Great Vice-Chancellor . '

The Conference was presided over by the M . E . the Earl of Euston , G . C . T ., Supreme G . Master in England , & c . The minute of last Conference was read . The delegates from Scotland reported that the Chapter General had adopted

the unanimous recommendation of the last Conference , and had enacted arid ' declared that no countenance should be given to the spurious , body styling itself ) the Great Priory of Victoria , Australia , or to any one belonging to it , and that , notice of this was given in their Annual Report . - * A similar report was made by the delegates from Ireland . '»

The Conference then resumed consideration o ( the : Report of the Joint Committee upon the Ritual of Ihe Degree of Knights of Malta . The delegates from Scotland reported that , as the English and Irish Great Priories , as well as those of America and Canada , were agreed as to the password from the Medi-i terranean Pass , they were prepared to recommend the Chapter General , for the sake of uniformity , to adopt the same password . 1

A question of some interest was then discussed , and it was as follows : ' By the Statutes of the Temple , no one except a Royal Arch Mason can be received as a candidate or admitted into the Order of the Temple , but these Statutes do not define which Royal Arch is meant . There are two Degrees of that name . One conferred by the Grand Royal Arch Chapters , and which , without being ; numbered , comes after the Third Degree of Craft Masonry . In England this

Degree is conferred upon Master Masons . In Scotland it must be preceded by the Mark Master ' s Degree and the Excellent Degree . In Ireland , it is believed , a similar practice to that of Scotland prevails . In America , there is a Degree called the Super-Excellent , which , it is believed , also comes before it . The Second Royal Arch Degree is the 13 th of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite . It differs in many respects from the other Degree of tho same name . In

the diplomas issued by the Supreme Councils of England and Scotland , the candidate , say for the 18 , is described as a Royal Arch Mason , and the question was put—If a candidate presents to a preceptory his di ploma as a Royal Arch- Mason from a Supreme Council , is he entitled to be admitted , or must he take the first mentioned Degree ? Undoubtedly , this position of matters creates an anomaly , and it would place the Supreme Councils in an invidious position were , their

diplomas disregarded . It is evidently a matter for arrangement , and there should be a declaration by the Great Priories either ( 1 ) that only one of 'he Degrees qualifies , or ( 2 ) that either Degree is sufficient . This question does not affect the Great Priory of Ireland , as no one can be admitted to the 18 ° until he be a Knight Templar , therefore , he must take the Royal Arch under Grand Chapterbut in England and Scotland matters are different . In these . countriesa Master

, Mason can apply for the 18 ° without reference to the Temple , and should he afterwards apply for the Temple , he may produce his diploma from the Supreme Council certifying that he is a Royal Arch Mason . In view of the importance of the question , it was resolved not to offer any opinion at this time , but to consider it until next Conference , and meanwhile to inquire what is the practice of the American priories .

It was resolved that the next Annual Conference should take place at Edin burgh in the month of April , 1901 . On the motion of V . E . Sir James Buchanan , K . C . T ., seconded by V . E . Lieut .-Col . Davoren , G . C . T ., a cordial vote of thanks was given to the Supreme Grand Master , the Earl of Euston , for presiding .

On the following day the V . E . and E . Knights from Scotland and Ireland were received at the half-yearly chapter of Great Priory , and were most heartily welcomed by the Grand Master . , They were afterwards entertained at a banquet presided over by the Barl of Euston , which was very numerously attended . ••' -.: 1 The following gracious reply has been received from his Royal Highness the " Prince of Wales , K . G ., G . C . T ., Most Eminent Sovereign of the United Orders , in answer to the unanimous resolution of Great Priory at the last meeting 1

" Marlborough House , „ o . r . ,, ,. . . ' pa » Wall , S . W . Sir Francis Knollys is desired by his Royal Hi ghness the Prince of Wales to thank the Grand Master and Knights of the United Religious and Militay Orders of the Temple and Hospital in England and Wales for their kind addre of congratulation on his merciful preservation upon the occasion of the recent attempt on his life . ' i 1 "May 24 th , 1900 . " -. ..

You have heen pleased to make the following appointments andi oca * motions r To be Honorary Knight Grand Cross- ¦ • : ¦ - ¦ .-i . -. His Royal Highness Prince Joachim Charles William Frederic Leopold of Prussia Past Grand Master -England , and Protector and Grand Master of the Grand Lodges at Berlin , ,

And you have been pleased to appofnt the V . E . Knight the Hon . Alan da Tatton Egerton , M . P ., K . C . T ., Provincial Prior for Cheshire , to be your Rebresentatiye and the Representative of Great Priory for the purpose of investing his Royal Highness with the Ribbon and Star of the rank .- ¦ ¦ ' To be Knights Commander 1 , Z ^ e X' £ £ Lt - ' lames Qaoiel Murray . The V . E . Knt . Lt .-CoU George Walton Walker ,