Can A Warden Initiate, &C.

" How can the ancient landmarks be preserved if they have been , as he tells us at the beginning of his letter they were , altered , repealed , and abrogated" ? I have carefully endeavoured to show a distinction between " the ancient charges of a Freemason " at the commencement of the " Book of Constitutions , " and " The regulations for the government of tho Craft , " which follow . The " ancient

charges " were extracted from all the known records of lodges in the world , and contain tho most important landmarks of the Order , which may not be touched . A company is incorporated by Act of Parliament , they make by-laws for their own government . The Act of Parliament contains their landmarks , which they may not remove ; their by-laws they may alter at pleasure .

Just so withMasonry ; the ancient charges , its charter , the regulations , its by-Jaws . The task I had undertaken was to prove that a Warden cannot initiate , pass , or raise . I have done so to my own satisfaction , and will not follow "M . 0 . " in his lugubrious mood as to the effects of the union of 1813 ; yet I should like to know , are wo to have a Masonic " repeal of the

union " agitation , — " For if such is to he , May I be there to see . " One parting word , for I do not intend to write again on this subject . What the mistakes are to which " M . 0 . " alludes I do not know . What I have endeavoured to do I know . It is this . To call the attention of all to tho

letter and spirit of Masonry as promulgated in the "Book of Constitutions . " To read and judge for themselves ; not to be implicitly guided by any one , however high in office or distinguished in the Order . If they do this , if to tho "Book of Constitutions " they give a serious perusal , not a difficulty will arise , but that book will set them riht .

g I remain , clear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , WILLIAM BLACKBURN , P . M ., Secretary to Crystal Palace ( 742 ) , member of Dobie , Kingston ( 889 ) , Prov . G . S . B . Surrey .

10 THE EBITOIt OS THE 1-llEEMASOXs' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIItHOR . DEAR SIR AXD BROTHER , —In several of the late numbers of your periodical , the question has been agitated " Whether a Warden can initiate ; " but it does not appear to me that the answers have been conclusive , or tho subject properly treated . In treating questions as to Masonic lawwe must bear

, in mind that , as the present system of symbolical and speculative Freemasonry was instituted between 1717 and 1721 , aud did not previously exist in its present form , it is impossible to seek for what is actually the law in any source anterior to tho Constitutions of Desaguliers and Anderson ; ancl , in point of fact , it is the last edition of the " Constitutions" sanctioned bGrand

, y Lodge , that must rule in all questions of legality . It is , however , possible that questions may arise upon which the " Constitutions" are silent , and in such cases , I imagine , we must admit the principle that was is not forbidden—is permitted—provided always ibbenot contrary to the spirit of the institution . To ascertain this last point , it may be necessary to

examine the antient documents and usages of the fraternity , in order to ascertain not only their nature bub also whether they are consonant with the laws and regulations actually in force . In former days , when the Craft was essentially operative , the degrees of Master Mason and of Apprentice were unknown . The whole body of the Craft consisted

of Fellow-crafts . The Master of a lodge was simply a Fellow-craft chosen for his abilities to preside over and govern the Fellow-crafts , employed in some construction or other . The Wardens ivere , therefore , also Fellowcrafts ; the Apprentices servants , not yet admitted to the privileges and secrets ofthe Guild .

When the degree of Master Mason , with all its peculiar privileges , was instituted , as long as the Wardens of a lodge could be Fellow-crafts , it is clear they could notexercise all the rights or powers of the Master , howeverqualified they may have been to rule the lodge in hisabsence . But from the moment that it was enacted that the

Wardens of a lodge must be Masber Masons , it appears to me that the Wardens could , in the absence of the Master , exercise all the rights and perform all the duties inherent to the office , unless a rule of the authorised " Constitutions" expressly forbade it , oibher in toto or in part . It does not appear that any rule ofthe " Constitutions "

now in force will bear this stringent construction , nor does it seem to me that any peculiar quality or privilege is conferred upon the Master of a lodge at , or bj ' , hisinstallation , except that of having the right to be present , and assist in the installation of future Masters . .

Perfectly acknowledging that the practice of Masonry within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England and Wales must bo governed by tho law of that Grand Lodge , it would , nevertheless , probably be advantageous ,, if in doubtful cases , where tho law has nob spoken , before attempting to lay down the law , some reference were made to the customs prevalent in other jurisdictions .

In Switzerland , at least in those lodges which formerly held under the anthorityof the GrandLodge of England , and which recognise only the three Craft degrees , it is competent for any Master Mason , with the consent of the Master of the lodge , to initiate , pass , and raise ; and although this privilege is rarely acted , upon in this latitude , ib is a constant practice for tho Senior Warden to

perforin part of the duty of the Master , oven in his presence , at his request-, should ho be fatigued or otherwise indisposed , or , in his absence , the whole of the work before the lodge . Ib is no light task for the Master of a lodge to perform all the work himself , when the business to be transacted occupies the lodge for hours together ,, and is succeeded by a lengthened official banquet . I

have often made use of this privilege to invite the Senior Warden of my lodge to perform part of the work at initiations , particularly when several candidates were prepared , or when the business before the lodge was unusually heavy . And let me here observe , that the practices observed in those foreign lodges , which take their origin directly

or indirectly from tho Grand Lodge of England , and which continue to recognise solely the three Craft degrees , are worbhy of all abtention , as there is great probability that those practices are iu accordance wibh the working recognised by the Grand Lodge of England prior to the system adopted at the Lodge of Eeconciliation , when we know changes were introduced , not all of which were for the better .

That such is actually the case , in some instances , must be evident to any brother who has visited such lodges ,, and paid moderate abtention to their working . Therefore , in doubtful cases , when it is necessary to refer to ancient usage for elucidation , I believe more real information will be found in tho working of foreign lodges , than , can now be attainable iu England .

Iu that excellent work , Mackay ' s "Text Book of Masonic Jurisprudence , " p . 346 , Bro . B . B . French is quoted as follows .- — "Lodges can only do business with the Master in the chair ; for , let who will preside , he is , while occupying the chair , Master—invested with supreme command , and emphatically governs the lodge . " If it should be decided that nobodbut the Master

y of a lodge de jure , or a Past Master in his absence , can initiate , pass , or raise , let the Grand Lodge enact a specific rule to that effect ; but , until that is done , I look upon the question raised as at least an open one , not tobe decided in the negative by any individual authority . Yours fraternally , E . J . S .