Bibles, &C., And Decapitation Of Bro. Melville (P. 129.)

his old work again , enlightening us with his usual amount of mistakes and false statements . I do wish Le would try to understand what he is writing about Jdinself before beginning to teach others . It is most amusing to watch how barefacedly he adopts all corrections as Masonic discoveries of his own ; nothing puts him about ; his career appears to

me to be that of one copying out bits of other people ' s hooks and ideas , without the ability to make up a connected and consistent whole . Hoping , and certainly wishing , that he may yet learn to write more sensibly and carefully—give him another chance hefore taking off his head . Yours fraternally , PICTUS .

Revision Of The Rituals.

REVISION OF THE RITUALS .

* I 0 THE EDITOR OP THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —I have lately seen , one or two notices—not in your columns , I believe—of an alleged revision of the Masonic Craft Ritual , under the authority of the Board of General Purposes , with an intimation that the matter is in so forward a state that the new form recommended has been introduced in the working of a

lodge near London . This is a subject which I have during- the last few years brought before your readers in various forms , and it is one of great importance . Certainly , if anything in the way of change be contemplated , it ought to bo done in the most public and authoritative manner , and proper means shoul d be taken to collect and compare the forms adopted by brethren of acknowledged literary acquirements , as well as of skill , reputation , and experience in the art .

Nothing should be done secretly or clandestinely , for the variety of opinions ancl practice is so great , that even under the most favourable circumstances it will be very difficult to satisfy , and to obtain the concurrence of , their respective advocates . In support of this remark , it may be observed that I have heard brethren express their intention to disregard the change in the titles of

two of the officers adopted by a resolution passed at tho June meeting of the Grand Mark Lodge , as to which there was much difference of opinion , and this is a failsample of what may be expected in the case of changes in the Craft and Eoyal Arch degrees . In tho latter especially , many hold that there is great cause for revision , which should be undertaken by scholars in Biblical

love and in Hebrew . Again , it will be vain to order such changes unless means be adopted to make them familiary known in all lodges working under English warrant . One course to this end , which appears to me imperative , is to have a recognised lodge of instruction in London , such as that of " Union ' s " under the sanction of the Lodge of "Emulation , " held every

Friday evening at tho Freemasons' Hall , which I imagine may be regarded as the best existing guide . In addition to this , there should be qualified and recognised instructors , as well as paid inspectors of all private lodges . It will be requisite , in order to secure efficiency , to adopt a considei'able amount of supervision , which will undoubtedl entail such to require great

y an expense as caution and consideration . Nevertheless , money so laid out would probably be well and wisely spent , in order to obtain uniformity ; this question was well ventilated in your columns some time ago , and some valuable suggestion were made . They may perhaps have given rise to the movement , if such there really be , for a revision of our ceremonies

. I lately heard of an opinion expressed by a Bast ¦ Master to the effect that it is not necessary for a W . M . to be acquainted with and able to work the several ceremonies ,-so long as there is any P . M . of the lodge who

Revision Of The Rituals.

can officiate for him . From this I so thoroughly dissent that I never vote for a brother to occupy the chair unless assured that he is able efficiently to conduct the whole of the work of the lodge , and I think that this ought to include the lectures on the different degeees . Many who hold the same opinion are satisfied with the promise of a candidate for installation that he will get up the ritual ,

a promise which is often not kept . The votes being taken by ballot , and there being sometimes many who are legally eligible and from whom the selection is made , there appears no opportunity of ascertaining the competency of each , except the preliminary question put on installation . " Are you able and willing to undertake the management of the lodge ? "—a question which is always

answei-ed in the affirmative , even when the brother is quite unacquainted with the rituals , a course I could not conscientiously follow . As it appears to me , no one should be elected to fill the first chair of a lodge until he has satisfied a competent tribunal that he can effectively perform all his duties , aud work the ceremonies with a considerable amount of impressiveness , so as really to

make a candidate feel that he is entering on solemn obligations and obtaining new and important light , not merely joining a body of jolly good fellows , who are obliged , for form's sake , to pass through a certain ordeal , which may become unmeaning and a mockery from the carelessness or ignorance of the administrator . Nothing tends so much to bring Freemasonry into contempt with

the uninitiated , as the knowledge that some of its rulers are men of but scanty mental qualifications , except perhaps the exhibition of moral delinquency and bad habits , which doubtless are at variance with our principles , but not under the circumstances assumed to be so by many of the external world . Allow me to add that , though probably opinions vary on the criticisms and suggestions

of your correspondent , " Crux , " he is doing good service by his articles on Masonic Discipline and Ritual . Tours fraternally , H . H .

New Lodges And New Members.

NEW LODGES AND NEW MEMBERS .

TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —It is evident that your correspondents have misunderstood each other ' s meaning on the subject of initiating candidates and affiliating brethren during the same evening in which the consecration is performed . The law upon the point , as well

as tho sense of the "Constitutions , " and the wording of the ritual are as clear as daylight . If a lodge meet for tho first time hij authorit y ^ it obviously can neither make nor affiliate persons . It matters nothing whether that meeting bo held by constitution , consecration , dispensation , or provisional warrant , provided it be the first meeting . Without a previous meeting of the lodge

under authority , the ceremonies of initiation and affiliation cannot be performed in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 of tho chapter relating to " Proposing members , " in the Constitutions . " The other ceremonies of passing and raising , for which no previous notice is required , may of course be performed . It is worth remarking here that there is no such term as " consecration of a lodge "

in the " Constitutions . " The word used is " constituting , " or constitution ; the word " consecrated" is employed only once in the description of the manner of conducting the ceremonial . The actual " consecration " is but a small part of the proceedings , and yet Masons have fallen into tho nol uncommon error of putting a " part for the whole" and therebdemonstratinwhat claims they

, y g have to being considered sound " geometricians . " In the " Irish Constitutions " the term " dedication " is also mentioned , and it is curious that , although there is not the slightest allusion to it in the "English Constitutions , " yet it is inserted in the " obligation " of the E . A ,