Masonic Jurisprudence.

in Canada there are three lodges , numbered 374 , 440 , and 640 , meeting at Montreal , and Lodge Combermere still meets in the very heart of the Victorian Constitution , whilst the Cambrian Lodge , No . 656 , has triumphed over all its ' enemies , and meets under a warrant which has been the subject of the most

interesting chemical experiment ever sanctioned by the authorities . A number of English lodges meet in New Zealand , but it will not be surprising if in course of time they became absorbed

into the local Grand Lodge . The latter are still subject , in the first instance , to District Grand Lodges , but those first-named , together with 52 other lodges in various parts of the world , make their returns direct to the Grand Secretary .

With these few prefatory remarks , we shall next discuss the legislative and executive functions of the Grand Lodge and the Board .

Masonic Jottings During The Siege Of Ladysmith.

MASONIC JOTTINGS DURING THE SIEGE OF LADYSMITH .

Oct . 26 th . —Dundee Column arrived safely . Oct . 2 Sth . —Boers cut off water supply . « - Oct . 30 th . —Boers began to shell the town . Nov . 2 nd . —Boers cut telegraph and railway lines . Nov . gth . —Royal salute of 21 guns fired with live shell , in honour of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ' s birthday . Nov . 20 th . —Klip River County Lodge , No . 2401 .

Nov . 25 th . —Ladysmith Lodge of M . M . M ., No . 52 S . . Nov . 29 th . —Klip River County Lodge , No . 2401 . Nov . 30 th . —Bro . Jones " At Home . " Dec . 4 th . —Ladysmith Lodge of M . M . M ., No . 52 S . — Regular Meeting . Dec . iSth . —Klip River County Lodge , No . 2401 . —Regular Meeting . Dec . 23 rd . —Ladysmith Lodge of M . M . M ., No . 528 . Jan . 22 nd . —Klip River County Lodge , No , 2401 . —Regular Meeting . —

No meeting ; no room available . Feb . 19 th . —Klip River County Lodge , No . 2401 . —Regular Meeting . Mar . 5 th . —Ladysmith Lodge of M . M . M ., No . 52 S . — Regular Meeting . Relieved February 28 th .

The Klip River County Lodge , No . 2401 , met at Ladysmith on Monday , the 20 th November , 1 S 99 , being the 29 th day of the s ege . The attendance was not so large as was anticipated , owing , no doubt , to many brethren being absent on " outpost duty , '' and to the fact that the town had been heavily shelled by the Boers just previous to the meeting . Amongst those present were W . Bro . Capt . G . Hearn , P . M ., P . G . S . B . of England , in the

chair ; Bros . R . King , J . W . ; Dr . Rouillard , S . D . ; Burrow , J . D . ; C . J . Jones , I . G . ; and C , Lewis , Tyler . Amongst the visitors were the following brethren : Bros . Lieut . Waters , S . D . Natalia Lodge , No . 1665 ; J . Wallace Bradley , S . W . Addington Lodge , No . 19 ^; John Gorton , Transvaal Lodge , No . 1747 ; Stanley W . Sutton , S . J . Prince Alfred Lodge , No . 956 ; W . Udal , St . Cuthberga Lodge , No . 622 ; and F . A ,

Barrett , St . Andrew's in the East Lodge , No . 702 ( S . C ) . Mr . Thomas Cairns was duly elected for initiation , but was unavoidably prevented from being present . A vote of condolence was passed to the parents of the late Bro . Hendley , who was killed at the engagement at Eland ' s Laagte , and also a vote of sympathy to Bro . A . C . McLachlan ( Lieutenant iSth Hussars ) , who was severely wounded at the Battle of Talana Hill on the 20 th October .

" Hearty good wishes were given by the visiting brethren , and the brethren having sung the National Anthem , the lodge was closed . An emergency meeting of the Ladysmith Lodge of M . M . M ., No . 52 S , was held on Saturday , the 25 th day of November ( the 27 th day of the siege ) , for the purpose of advancing two candidates—Bro . Butler , the Sergeantat-Arms of the Legislative Assembly , Maritzburg , and Bro . W . Udal , of

Cape Town . The W . M ,, W . Bro . Capt . G . Hearn , P . A . G . D . of C , presided , and was supported by Bros . R . King , as S . W . j T . Wallace Bradley , Dist . G . Sec , as J . W . ; C . J . Jones , T . B . Surgeson , C . Lewis , H . R , Burrow , Military Lodge , No . 54 ; J . S . Dunn , of Johannesburg , Love and Honour Lodge ; and others . The candidates were duly " ad ranced , " and there being no other business , the lodge was closed .

On Wednesday , the 29 th November , an emergency meeting of the Klip River County Lodge , No . 2401 , took place at Ladysmith . The odge rooms having been taken over by the Military , Bro . C . J . Jones , the landlord of the Royal Hotel , kindly placed his premises at the disposal of the brethren , and here amongst the devastation caused by Boer shells—no less than five Cinch shells have struck the hotel , and unhappily on one occasion killing

one of the visitors—took place one of tne most unique proceedings in the annals of Modern Masonry , viz ., the initiation of a gentleman aged 55 into the mysteries and privileges of Freemasonry on tbe 31 st day of the siege , in the presence of about 50 brethren , nearly all of whom were wearing the uniform of her Gracious Majesty the Queen . W . Bro . T . Clegg presided , and was supported by W . Bro . Capt . G . Hearn , P . G . S . B . of Eng . j Bros . R . King , W . H . Miller , C . J . Jones , H . R . Burrow , Ronald Bailie , j .

Meming , C . Lewis , and the Rev . Duncan McVarish , and among the visitors were Bros . T . C . Dunn , Love and Honour Lodge , No . 73 ; O . Davis , Newcastle Lodge , No . 57 S ; W . Udal , St . Cuthberga Lodge , No . 6 O 2 ; Capt . Lang Sims , Goodwill Lodge , No . 711 ; F . J . Greenwood , Bute Lodge , No . 960 ; J . Gillman and E . Button , Prince Alfred Lodge , No .

956 ; F . Davenport , Royal Edward Lodge , No . 892 ; Major Pitchford Buller , F . G . Waters , S . D ., and Dr . Buntine , Natalia Lodge , No . 1665 ; E . J . W . Ashe , Capt . A . Hair , and G . W . Neveill , Skelmcrsdalc Lodge , No . 1729 ; J . Wallace Bradley , S . W . Addington Lodge , No . 19 . 37 ; J . R . GortonJ Transvaal Lodge , No . 2313 ; A . J . Knox , I . P . M ., Capt , Ritchie , S . W ., D . Brown , jun ., and S . A . Brown , Duguza Lodge , No ,

Masonic Jottings During The Siege Of Ladysmith.

2461 ; C . J . Wilson , P . M . Biggarsberg Unity Lodge , No . 20 S 4 ; F . E Foxon , S . W . Ixopo Lodge , No . 2515 ; Major C . Savile , Royal Artillery ) St . John and St . Paul Lodge , No . 349 ; McClellan , I . G . Umbazi ; and the following brethren of lodges under the Scotch Constitution—Bros . Cant . Sparks , Rothsay Lodge , No . 712 ; Capt . A . Lyle , P . M . St . Andrew ' s Lodge , No . 701 ; Laing and W . Chalmers , Douglas Lodge , No . 799 . The lodge having been opened , the W . M . in the chair gave a hearty greeting

to the visitors , and said how pleased the Klip River County Lodge were to see so many visitors present , not only was nearly every lodge in the district represented , but lodges from all parts of the world . The ceremony of initiation having been most impressively performed , " Hearty good wishes " being tendered by the visiting brethren , the lodge was closed , " God save the Queen" having been sung , thus bringing to a close a meeting I hat is not likely to be forgotten by those brethren who had the good fortune to be present .

Bro . C . J . Jones , mine host of the Royal Hotel , celebrated his birthday on Thursday , November 30 th , St . Andrew ' s Day , by inviting his Masonic friends and several laymen to an " at home . " Liquor of any sort in Ladysmith is now at a premium , and in fact money will not procure it , however Bro . Jones had managed to save sufficient champagne , brandy , and beer from Boer shell to entertain all his friends , and needless to say there were a goodly number present . Alas there was no whisky , and as one poor folorn

gentleman hailing from North of the Tweed , remarked , how was he to make a speech and drink a toast on St . Andrew ' s Day on a brandy and soda ; but strange to relate he managed to do both . " The Queen " having been drunk , Bro . Jones' toast was given with Highland honours . Several excellent songs were sung between the toasts , a piper of the Gordon Highlanders being in attendance . Early hours being the order of the day . " Auld Lang Syne " was sung at 9 . 30 . On November Sth , a telegram was sent by Bro . Sir George White , V . C .,

G . C . B . ( by carrier pigeon to Maritzburg ) , to the M . W . the Grand Master ,

H . R . H . the Prince ol Wales , wishing him many happy returns of his birthday , and informing him , that punctually at noon the next day , a Royal salute of 21 guns would be fired with " live shell " into the Boer lines . This was accordingly done by the Naval Brigade , and must have somewhat astonished our friends , the Boers . At the termination of the salute , three

cheers were given by Captain the Honble . — Lambton , R . N ., commanding the Naval Brigade , which was carried on by the troops right round the heights ; a really unique experience in Royal salutes . On November iSth , was received , by native runner , the following telegram : " Sandringham , Many thanks congratulations , wish you all success . Albert Edward . "

Under somewhat unusual circumstances , the newly-formed Ladysmith Lodge of Mark Master Masons , No . 528 , held its regular meeting on Monday , the 4 th day of December , 1 S 99 , being the 36 th day of the siege . The Masonic Hall having been taken over by the Military authorities , Bro . Jones again placed his hotel—the Royal—at the disposal of the brethren , or to be more accurate , all the hotel that Boer shell had left standing . In

consequence of an order issued by Bro . Sir George White , V . C ., G . C . B ., commanding the troops , that all inhabitants be in their houses and all lights extinguished by 8 . 30 p . m ., the meeting was called for 7 p . m . ; but owing to exigencies of the service , it was nearly 7 . 30 before most of the brethren arrived . The chair was taken by the W . M ., W . Bro . Capt . G . Hearn , P . M ., P . A . G . D . of Cer ., who was supported by W . Bro . I . WalUce Bradley ,

Dist . G . Sec ; Bros . R . King , Dr . Rouillard , W . Udal , C . Lewis , C . J . Jones , W . H . Miller , and P . J . H . Butler , and amongst the visitors were Bros . Jno . Gillman , Dist . G . Supt . of Works , Treas . Natalia Lodge , No . 252 ; Bro . Capt . Ashe , Thistle Mark Lodge ( S . C ); Major Savile , Royal Artillery , Keystone Lodge , No . 107 , Malta ; Major Whickham ( Indian Staff Corps ) , and Wickham ( Indian Ordnance ) , of Malet and Chisel Lodge , No .

134 , Poona ; and others . Bros . O . Davis , of Ingogo , T . J . Greenwood , of Johannesburg , S . W . Sutton , of Maritzburg , were duly elected , and had the honour of being " advanced" to the Honble . Degree of M . M . M ., under circumstances peculiar , to say the least of it , " since the formation of the Order , etc ., " and the ordinary routine work of the lodge was completed ere the " curfew bell " began to ring .

Ihe second regular meeting , since the commencement of the siege of Ladysmith , took place at the Royal Hotel , on Monday , the iSth December . W . Bro . G . Clegg , P . M ., took the chair , and was supported by the following members of the lodge : W . Bro . Capt . G . Hearn , P . M ., P . G . S . B . of Eng . ; Bros . R . King , Wm . Miller , C J . Jones , A . G . Smith , H . R . Burrow , J , F . Fleming , and Chas . Lewis . Amongst the visitors were Bros .

Lieut . J . H . Lang Sims , Goodwill Lodge , No . 711 ; Captain Waterman ( 5 th Lancers ) , P . M ., P . D . G . D . of C Bengal ; P . J . H . Butler , E . W . Wodehouse and Major Pickford , Dist . G . Org ., Natalia Lodge , No . 1665 ; Capt . E . Lucas , P . M . Carnarvon Lodge , No . 1648 ; Capt . A . Hair , Skelmesdale Lodge , No . 1 729 ; J . R . Gorton , Transvaal Lodge , No . 1 747 ; Commander Tatum ( Natal Naval Volunteers ) , and J . Wallace Bradley ,

S . W . Addington Lodge , No . 1937 ; J . A . McClellan , Umlazi Lodge , No . 1937 i A . F . Wickham , P . M . Malwa Lodge , No . 1994 ; L . H . S . Jones , P . M ., and O . Davis , Newcastle Lodge ; A . M . Holloway , Johannesburg Lodge , No . 2313 ; Major Whickham , P . M . Quetta , No . 2333 ; Dr . A . W . Hornabrook , Corona Lodge , No . 2731 ; Capt . Foxon , S . W . Ixopo Lodge , No . 2515 ; Squadron-Sergt .-Major Hurst , 5 th Dragoon Guards ,

( Charity ) Lodge , No . 570 , Irish Constitution ; Captain Currie , Depute Master , and W . T . Rochester , St . Andrew ' s Lodge , No . 701 , S . C . The lodge having been opened , and the minutes read and confirmed , the \\ . M . feelingly alluded to the sad occurrence that had happened early that morning , viz ., the bursting of a 6-in . Boer shell in the lines of the Natal Carabineers , whilst the men were " at stables , " killing five of them and wounding

• six , 12 horses were also killed . A vote of condolence was passed to the relatives of the late Bro . Miller , Innisfail Lodge , No . 58 . Manitoba , and of sympathy to Bro . Gillam , who was severely wouaded . The ballot was then taken for Mr . Reid , of Ladysmith , and he was duly inducted into the mysteries of Freemasonry . Bro . Lieut . Lang Sims , Volunteer Staff Officer , and Lieut . Hornabrook , Volunteer Medical Stall , were then passed to the Second Degree . The Rev . Duncan McVarish , who should also have been

" passed , having to read the funeral service over the men who had been killed that morning , was consequently unable to be present . Bro . Major-Genera ! Sir Archibald Hunter , D . S . O ., K . C . B ., Chief of the Staff , and several other brethren sent letters of apology for not being able to be present . The lodge was subsequently closed . " Hearty g < iod wishes " Kw-v h ¦ n given by the various visiting brethren , an I ih ,. > r •¦ having sung the National Anthem .