Modern Writers Upon Freemasonry.—Ii.

and candidates , and to the imprcssiveness of the ceremonies . We have , by the bye , been informed by a hig h Masonic authority , that the term " Director of Ceremonies " is applicable only to Grand , and Provincial Grand Lodge officers , " Master of Ceremonies" to the officer of a private Lodge . And we consider the office , indeed , of so great importance that it should always be held by an experienced Past Master .

We must , moreover , question the , to us , new and somewhat questionable orthography " saltier , " as used here ( p . 130 ); Gwillim and other heraldic authorities spell the word " saltire . " With regard to the jewels of the Secretary , ( on the same page ) , the Treasurer ( p . 138 ) , and Inner Guard ( p . 143 ) , we have usually seen one key only as the badge of office of the Treasurer , not two , saltire wise , as

indicated bj r Dr . Oliver , and one is ordered by the Book of Constitutions , ( page 111 , ed , 1355 ) . We have our doubts , moreover , as to the claim of a Tyler to the benefit of the general charity fund , unless he be a subscribing member of some Lodge ; and as no serving brother can be a member of the Lodge in which ho was initiated , many tylcrs make themselves subscribing members of some other Lodge , in order to entitle themselves and their families to these benefits . Neither did we ever hear before

that the Wardens' columns were under the superintendence of the Deacons . Practically ours never was so ; wo considered it our own duty to raise or lower it as mi ght be necessary . Bro . Noorthouck ' s observations with regard to Wardens ( p . 146 ) , may have been pertinent at the time at which they were made , but any regular attendant at Grand Lodge will see that they are scarcely

so now , at least not to any groat extent ; as every Past Master having a vote , and many exercising it , the number of installed Masters attending Grand Lodge is , usually , we should say , far larger than of Wardens of Lodges , as will indeed naturall y be the case where the number of Wardens in each Lodge is limited to two , and only actual Wardens have a vote , while the number of Past Masters is absolutely

without limit . And we cannot understand the permission given to a Warden at the beginning of this chapter on "Members of Grand Lodge , " ( p . 146 ) , to delegate a Past Master to vote for him . What if the Past Master—who is not like the Worshipful Master and Wardens , are presentative of the Lodge—should be intending to vote on his own account ?

The whole of the second section of this chapter is occupied by a long discussion of the powers of Wardens to occupy the chair , confer degrees , & c . All this seems to be a commentary on p . 72 of the Book of Constitutions ( ed . 1855 ) , sec . G . " If the , Master shall die , be removed , or be incapable of discharging the duties of his office , the Senior Warden , and in the absence of the Senior Warden , the Junior Warden , and in the absence of both Wardens , then the immediate Past Master , or in his absence the Senior fast Master , shall act as Master in summoning the Lodges until the next election of officers .