Modern Writers Upon Freemasonry.—Iii.

to substitute a still more distant clay ; but it is decided that he cannot do so until the first amendment has been put , which , having been negatived , the original motion is declared to be carried , and C . is informed that his amendment cannot be entertained . "

Now , what does Dr . Oliver mean by this ? A motion carried because the amendment is negatived 1 It is true that he does add a kind of ex 2 ilanation , in which he says that C . should move his new amendment before the sense of the assembly is taken on the ori ginal motion , but even this does not remove the impression of incorrectness left on the mind by the sentence , " whicli , " ( i . e . the amendment ) ,

" being negatived , the ori ginal motion is declared to be carried . " The rules of any ordinary debating society as to amendments , riders , & c ., would surely solve this very easy question , even if the Constitutions contain nothing on the point . Page 221 , section 5 . "Marks of Disapprobation . "—The Book of Constitutions , it seems , properly enough forbids hissing , and Dr . Oliver ,

not improperly , deprecates groaning ; but he also cries clown exclamations , such as , "Oh , oh . '" " Hear hear ! " and dubious , or , as he calls them , derisive , cheers . Now members must really havo some way of showing their disapprobation of what they disapprove of , and indeed , unless there Avere somo such occasional manifestation , a speaker mi ght be sometimes not agreeably surprised to find a motion lost , in which he thought every ono concurred , owing to the absence of such signs of non-approval . Dr . Oliver deprecates almost every

known way of showing disapprobation , but though we agree with him with regard to the " growling" out of such words as "humbug !" " stuff ! " ifcc ., we think the doctor might as well have told us in what way the existence of this feeling might be shown . One thing is certain , viz ., that if good feeling will not stop the growling , & c , books will not- succeed in doing so .

Page 222 , section 6 . " Betting on Motions . "— " Not often practised wo hope . " Then why mention it , and so put it into the heads of men who probably would not otherwise think of such a thing . Page 231 , section 6 . " Smoking Prohibited . "—A most objectionable practice during Lodge business , ancl fully discussed in a correspondence in the Freemasons' Quarterly Eeview *

Page 247 . Further on , ( page 259 ) , Dr . Oliver says , in accordance ivith the Book of Constitutions , that " Private Lodges cannot Expel ;" nevertheless , in the page now open before us ( 247 , ) he represents the Master of a private Lodge , ( for in the very same section , viz ., section 2 , he mentions appeal to Grand Lodge , ) as putting the question of expulsion to his Lodge with regard to an offending member . " If , " he continues , " that is negatived , as it is pretty sure to be , t the Blaster will proceed gradually down the scale , " & c . " If it be suspension or exclusion , the accused may transfer the cause b y appeal to