Masonic Notes And Queries.

some petty jealousy of one who has clone more than any other six Masons put together , in either Jersey or Guernsey , for the general good of the Craft . Iu conclusion , I beg to state that the Grand Lodge of England resolved some time since , " That it is lite undoubted riht of every Masonwho is well known

g , or properly vouched for , to visit any lodge during the time it is opened for general Masonic business . '' To my mind this clearly establishes the view taken by my clear friend and Brother , Dr . Hopkins . — "W . J . HUGHAN .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . INITIATION OF CANDIDATES BY WARDENS . TO / TEE EDITOH OF THE 3 . _ U . 1 _ : __ A _ 0 _ . S' _ IAC . AZI _ ,-E A _ fD -JASO-. IC jUInnoE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In your report of the "

meeting of the Rutland Lodge ( No . 1 , 130 ) , at Melton Mowbray , Leicestershire , the J . W . is announced to have given the first degree . Is he a Past Master , and , if not , has he any authority to confer a degree which , I had been led to think , was the especial dut y and privilege of a Master ?

Tours fraternally , A KNIGHT . [ We have no desire to re-open the much-vexed question " Can a Warden initiate ? " The practice is not forbidden by the " Book of Constitutions , '' but still it is highly objectionable , and ought only to be

resorted to under very special circumstances , and by the courtesy of the W . M ., who either himself , or a P . M ., must occupy the chair , and is responsible for the regularity of the proceedings . Where no special circumstances are shown , it almost bears ' prima facie evidence upon it that the W . M . is incompetent to perform the duties . —En . P . M . ]

VISITORS TO LODGES . TO THE EDITOK OE THE IKEEJTASOSS' MAGAZINE AJTD MASONIC _ nBEO _ l . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —Fully appreciating , as I _ do , the Masonic knowledge and skill of Bro . A . 0 . Haye , which , I freely confess , are far beyond my own , therefore believing his opinion worthy of all

consideration , I regret that we differ on an important matter of Masonic , right . I brought the matter prominently forward , in the hope of having it settled , because I found no direct provision in the " Book of Constitutions , ! ' though , as already observed , the right to visit other lodges is there implied . It appears

that there are two simple questions to decide : First , can a visitor demand admission to any lodge ? Secondly , is there any lawful limitation by which there may be exclusion during part of the proceedings , and if so , ivhich part ? On the first question , though I cannot quote a definite authorit y , I have an

impression that appeals to Grand Lodge in eases of exclusion have been decided in favour of the appellant . On the second question , as before stated , I think no provision exists except that of gentlemanly propriety , which would suggest withdrawal , or at least , compliance with a request to withdraw , under certain circumstances . In this respect I did not in the par-

Correspondence.

ticnlar case commit myself . Tet I contend that visitors ought to be admitted during the reading or the minutes , as well as during the administration of Masonic rites , but may be called upon to retire during discussions upon them , ancl on matters of purely internal economy . Admitting that " each lodge is rs

family in itself , " I remark that it is also part of the province , under a Grand Lodge of the country , and as such all its acts , except those which concern only its internal arrangements , ought to be open to those under the same constitution . In the case of the Loyalty Lodge , which gave rise to this discussion ,

the question for decision was , whether the lodge should resist the authority of the Provincial Grand Lodge , and it was openly stated by P . M . ' s , that in case of determination to do so , and any penal action being taken thereon , allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England would be thrown off , and a , warrant

heobtained from a foreign Grand Lodge . The result did concern all in the province , and the threatened defection interested all under the same constitution , I still consider , therefore , that the . result of the discussion , as contained in the minutes , though not the discussion itself , should be open to all who choose to

attend . I agree with Bro . Haye , that a " lodge hasan unquestionable right to say who shall not be their associates , '' so for as regards its discussions and itssocial meetings after the closing of the lodge , but not I think as to the records of its proceedings and the administration of its rites . I am quite sure that the admission of Masons from other lodges may be a great safeguard against unconstitutional acts , such as I have sometimes witnessed , and therefore I deem it

very desirable , as well as legal . Should these letters meet tbe eye of the Grand Registrar , I hope he will kindly favour us with his opinion , which we must all respect . If it prove that I am wrong , I imagine that many with myself will feel a delicacy in intruding ona lodge to whicli we do not belong . As a rule I visit all lodges in a district where I may happen to bebut

, iu case of a decision that I cannot claim it as a ri ght , I shall have to consider the propriety of g iving it up in future . In some instances this may cause much inconvenience . I have within the last few montha repeatedly visited lodges when degrees were to be conferred , at which not more than four or five

members were present , and but for help thus obtained thework would not have been done . Bro . Haye has quoted the practice in America asopposed to my view . He will excuse me if I say that under some foreign constitutions there are manyarrangements which could not he admitted in

England , and that on a question of this kind we mustlook to the spirit and practice of our own constitutions , not of those abroad . It seems that Bros . Haye and Leigh are opposed ; to Bro . Hughan and myself , but all others whom I have privately consulted have fully endorsed my views ..

By the concessions of the former brethren , thequestion is now restricted to the presence of visitorsduring the reading of the minutes , the main point fop which I contended at first , and therefore it may be well in what may still have to be said , to limit the discussion to that subject , on which , however , I am not aware that I can add anything more . ' Tours fraternally , Kidderminster , May 13 th . H . H „