Can A Warden Initiate, &C.

for a Warden to alter it , if the words be taken m their literal signification . And finally they maintain that neither in the ceremony of installation , nor in the ancient charges , is there any expression which limits the prerogative in question to the Master alone . With respect to these words , " rule the lodge , " it may not be improper to note , in passing , that at the last

Quarterly Communication , our distinguished and R . W . Brother the Grand Registrar , after previously conferring on Worshipful Masters an authority , as invidious as unnecessary , equally opposed to all Masonic precedent and to all Masonic courtesy , judicially pronounced that until the "W . M . elect " was installed in the chair , he had no right to rule the lod . " If our learned brother had qualified

ge this absolute expression by adding " in the presence of the W . M ., " he would have avoided the appearance of contradicting that law which it is more particularly his duty to expound and uphold . I have by no means endeavoured to set forth all the arguments adduced by brethren , on one side or the other , on this important point . It has been my object to give

a concise ( although , I fear , an imperfect ) account of the position in which the question now stands . On a review of the whole matter , I have no hesitation in concluding that the " Book of Constitutions , " under a strict interpretation , confers on the Wardens the power of performing our ceremonies . In fact , I havo no doubt that , when Grand Lodge framed thc particular Constitution in question , it employed the two disputed expressions as perfectly identical . With characteristic clumsiness , it

describes in one and thc same section the brother who supplies the Worshipful Master ' s place as " acting as Master , " " taking the chair , " and " ruling the lodge . " I am , however , fully convinced that it is inexpedient for the Wardens to exercise this power , which should be peculiarly the prerogative of the Worshipful Master ; and I much wish that some brother of standing and

influence would bring under the notice of Grand Lodge not only this section , but the whole " Book of Constitutions , " with a view to its thorough revisal . If our much-respected brother , Stephen Barton AVilson , or the able and eloquent Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes , would undertake this laborious and thankless taskhe would confer an inestimable boon on thc whole

, Craft . In all difficulties connected with our procedure , a perplexed Mason usually turns to the " Book of Constitutions ; " and frequently , after a longer or shorter interval , turns away again , a sadder and not a wiser man . Indefiniteness , incompleteness , and inaccuracy are the distinguishing characteristics of our authorised code of Masonic law . A late powerful and plausible agitator used

to profess his readiness to drive a coach and six through any Act of Parliament framed by a Whig Ministry . It would not be difficult , I imagine , to turn the Great Eastern in thc loose and clumsily-drawn clauses of many sections of our " Book of Constitutions . " Uncertain law is worse than no law at all . It perplexes those ivho are anxious to act legally ; it encourages those who like to act

wilfully ; and it inspires both with contempt for the legislative authority . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , ALFRED SMITH , W . M . 76 ( late 90 ) , Prov . Grand Registrar of Hants . Winchester , September 23 rd , 1863 .

An Impostor.

AN IMPOSTOR .

TO THE EDITOR OP TEE rilEEMASOXS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER ,- —I am desirous of cautioning the W . M . 's and relieving officers of lodges against an individual calling himself Captain Charles Bern , a Hungarian ( sometimes a Pole ) in distress , who has , I have reason to believe , for some years past traded on the sym .

An Impostor.

pathies of the brethren . He tells a sad tale of his sufferings iu Siberia , and is given to exhibiting an emaciated leg asan evidence of these sufferings . I gave this man relief in April last , not then having any reason to doubt the truth of his statement ; but after doing so I mentioned tho fact to a P . M . of the lodge , who at once stated that he had twice relieved the same individual

duringhis year of office . He has called on me again to-day ,, and , on mystating that I recollected him , and had previously assisted him , he in a most unblushing mannerasserted that he had only been in England twenty-five days , aud had never been in this town before in his life .. Unfortunately for him , I recollected his features perfectlyas did also a clerk in my officemoreoverhis

tale-, ; , was identical with that previously told , and I thereforesent him to the right about . I am a bad hand at description , and can only statethat thc man is rather tall , with a rugged , weatherbeaten face , and speaks a most execrable jargon of broken languages ( English I cannot call it ) . He may , however ,, be readily known by his leg and his namewhich he

does-, not seem to consider it politic to alter , viz ., Captain . Charles Bern . Yours fraternally , H . B . WHITE , W . M . 148 .

Provincial Grand Lodges.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGES .

TO THE EDITOB OP THE PBEE __ ASO _ . S MAGAZINE A _\ D MAS 02 . IC MIBBOB . Silt AND BROTHER , —By No . 4 of the " Ancient Charges " it is stated that " 'All preferment among Masons is grounded upon real worth and personal merit only ;" and we are led by a portion of our ceremenies to look upon those who ' ¦ ' prize honour and virtue above the external advantages of rank and fortune , " and that our

" privileges aro conferred upon worthy men alone . " Reading the reports of Provincial Grand appointments last year , I am led to think that the above quotations are fallacies ; that thc words require transposing and substituting others in the stead ; that the first should read , "All preferment is granted to those who possess real and personal property and private friendshi that rank and

p ; fortune are preferred before honour and virtue ; that our privileges arc conferred upon family connections , and that not nnfrequontly the highest official appointments are conferred upon brethren who have not merited them from Masonic talent or works , and iu some cases upon brethren who were incapable of thc common business of a lodge , and who never havo conducted either of our

ceremonies—creating thereby much dissatisfaction amongst the real workers in the Craft , and suppressing that spirit of emulation that we are taught to be the precursor of jireferment to office . Look out , therefore , Mr . Editor , upon the forthcoming , appointments . If the brethren so preferred have talent or Masonic skillor have rendered any good works in

, furtherance of the principles of the Craft , " hide it not under the bushel , " but let tho Masonic world be assured , that it is their qualifications , accordant with the " Book of Constitutions , " which has led to the honour of the appointments . Yours fraternally , T . B . Norwich , Sent . 28 th , 1863 .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . HENRY VAN BUREN . Bro . Henry Van Buren , on the 23 rd of August , died at Trinidad , aged 31- years , of apoplexy . Bro . Henry Van Buren was a member of Lodges Royal Philanthropic ( No . 585 ) and Royal Prince of Wales ( No . 1169 ) , Trinidad ; and in both lodges had served as S . W . He was also J ? rov . G . Dir . of Cers .. Bio . Van Buren was a solicitor at law , of considerable practice . He has left a young wielow and a very large circle of friends and brethren to deplore his loss .