The Masonic Mirror.

permission of the Grand Master . No visitor shall speak to any question without leave of the Grami Master , nor shall he , on any occasion , be permitted to vote . ' But there is not one word in the Book of Constitutions which provides , or gives power to Grand Lodge , propria motu , to adjourn . The Book of Constitutions , however , does provide for Grand Lodges of Emergency , and in page 21 , 6

article 10 , you will find , the Grand Master , in his absence , the pro Grand Master , in his absence , the Deputy Grand Master , or , in his absence , the Grand Wardens , may summon and hold Grand Lodges of Emergency , whenever the good of the Craft shall , in their opinion , require it ; the particular reason for convening such Lodge of Emergency shall be expressed in the summons , and no other business shall be entered upon at that meeting . ' Now , Brethren , you will observe by that law that special instructions are given as to the mode of holding

the Grand Lodges of Emergency , but not a word is said about the power of adjourning . I may go farther , and say that Private Lodges are governed by much the same laws as Grand Lodges , and that no meeting of a Private Lodge can be adjourned ; but the Master of a Private Lodge may , and does convene Lodges of Emergency . We have heard it said that there were before Grand Lodge questions of the greatest importance , which demanded an adjournment of Grand Lodge , but I have looked carefully through the business of that adjourned

Grand Lodge , and find no one of the questions analagous to the business of the last Quarterly Communication . I think it due to Grand Lodge that I should explain what I consider to be tbe real state of the case . In June , 1853 , the Grand Master summoned a Grand Lodge of Emergency , owing to a pressure of business , and that Special Grand Lodge was called by command of the Grand Master . That is a course which differs entirely from the course pursued in September last , because the Grand Master was not in the chair , but Grand Lodge

simply passed a resolution to adjourn the meeting , which they had no power to do . In 1854 ( April 26 ) the summons states , that that being the day of humiliation , the grand festival cannot he held , and that the Grand Master had appoiuted the 29 th of that month , and required the Brethren to meet on the 20 th , in order to adjourn till the 29 th of the same month . This adjournment was moved and seconded , and done by command by the Grand Master entirely . The Grand Master had previously fixed the day to which the adjournment should be made ,

and it was adjourned in consequence of his command . I may state farther , that , looking over the minutes of Grand Lodge , it appears to me that adjourn' is a term when used with respect to Grand Lodge , the same as when used in the House of Commons . In that House the question is , ' that the House do now adjourn , ' which means to the next legal day of meeting , and it is adjourned accordingly to the next day appointed by law for it to meet , and so when Grand Master adjourns , it means that it adjourns till the next Quarterly Communication .

I am prepared to stand by my own decision on this point , —that when Grand Lodge adjourns it adjourns to the next legal day , unless a Grand Lodge of Emergency be called by the Grand Master for special business , and on which occasion no other business can be done except such business as appears upon the circular convening that Grand Lodge of Emergency . I have taken some pains to ascertain the law of the case , and I find that in my view of the law of the case 1 am supported by the opinions of the present Grand Registrar , the Past Grand Registrar , and the Grand

Registrar before him ( heaij hear ); in fact , I have all the authorities with me . T think , therefore , in accordance with the obligations which I have taken an oath to perform , —viz ., to adhere to the ancient usages of the Craft , and maintain the law as , in my opinion , it stands , I can only come to the painful resolution to determine that the meeting of certain members of Grand Lodge , held on the 1 st October , was an illegal meeting , and that all the proceedings there were null

and void ; and I now call upon the Grand Secretary to take up the business of this evening at the point at which it had arrived when the Grand Lodge closed at its Quarterly Communication in September . " ( Applause ) . Bro . Hearn : " Most Worshipful Grand Master , with every deference ——" The Grand Master : " I shall not allow the point to be argued . " The C rand Secretary then read the minutes of proceedings and the Report of the Colonial Committee ,