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London And The Craft.

London and the Craft .

AS illustrative of the interest which should be felt in the numerous questions which attend the discussion of the important question of government , it may be instanced that there are many clear indications of a desire for devolution or decentralisation . It is less a matter of principles than the

better employment of means , the general feeling being that while there should be one central and authoritative government , it should not be hampered by small details which 'demand local attention and merely lend to clog the works of the higher authority .

The title of this article may have already indicated that these remarks are intended to apply to the system of government exercised over the lodges located in London , more especially as it has been argued that the system is , to some extent , an anomaly . In discussing the question of the control of lodges it is first of all necessary to point out that the lodges in the

Provinces and the lodges in the Metropolis are divided into two classes ; on the one hand lodges outside the Metropolis ( comprising four-fifths of all the lodges under the English jurisdiction ) are controlled locally under the Supreme Authority by means of Provincial and District Grand Lodges , while the others , that is to say , the lodges in the Metropolis ,

are controlled directly by the Supreme Authority without the interposition of an } - subordinate authority whatever . This difference in system as between the Provincial and the London lodges would appear to be due to two causes , the first being the close proximity of the lodges in London

to the head-quarters of Grand Lodge , and the second , that the system has existed from the beginning , the constitutions of Masonry having been arrived at , like the constitutions of Great Britain , by a process of gradual growth . Let us examine these reasons for the variation in control

of the London and the Provincial lodges . The first reason , that is , the nearness of the London lodges to the head-quarters of Grand Lodge , is one which bears some analogy to the political government of London . Parliament does not control the local details of London for the reason that its time is required for the affairs of the

Nation . It may be argued with some force that the time of Grand Lodge which is occupied in the detailed management of lodges in London is required for the larger affairs of the whole Craft . In examining the second reason , which we have given for the immediate control by the Supreme Authority of lodges in London , viz ., that it is now as it was

in the beginning , it is necessary to consider the growth of London Masonry since the Union took place in 1813 . There were at that time 104 lodges meeting in London . At present , not including the number which has been added since the publication of the last list , there are 497 lodges in the

Metropolis . The lodges in live of the largest Provinces would be required to be added together to make the same total . It may be taken for granted that this growth in number will continue . Taking the London lodges during the last five years the average increase actually amounts to

no less than one new lodge per month . It can be imagined at such a rate of increase how much detail work devolves on Grand Lodge . A system , therefore , of London government , which in former days was found to amply provide for the needs of the time , is not necessarily beyond the scope of consideration in view of modern requirements .

In alluding to the ininulitr with which Grand Lodge has to deal in connection with the immediate control of lodges in London , it is of course somewhat difficult to exactly specify the almost microscopical details which are brought under its purview without any local assistance , but such matters as the consideration of appeals , questions as to the

formation of new lodges , of ritual , of petitions for relief , and the issuing of dispensations to meet local exigencies , form but a small portion of the matters which it is called upon to digest . The precedent supplied by the control of lodges in

Provinces and Districts by Provincial and District Grand Lodges would appear to be sufficient in the consideration of any change in the government of London . Such local government , existing as it has from earliest times in Provinces and Districts , would certainly seem to be worthy

of adoption in the government of the Metropolis . Moreover there would be an undoubted advantage to London Masonry in the creation of appointments in connection with similarly constructed bodies in London , resulting as it would in prominent London Craftsmen being called upon to

fill the necessary positions . It is obvious what an excellent incentive would be provided to perseverance and activity to London brethren in order to render themselves worthy of these honours .

In approaching a subject of so much importance to the well being of the Craft in London , and the work of the Grand Lodge of England , the writer is simply animated by a desire to open the way for discussion , and to content himself with this brief , and , it is hoped , clear resume of the main facts of the question .