The Legality Of Our Lodges.

Act shall become a member of any such society , or who , being a member of any such society at the passing of this Act , shall afterwards act as a member thereof , and every person who after the passing of this Act shall directly or indirectly maintain Correspondence or intercourse with any such society , or with any divisionbranchcommitteeor other select

, , , body , president , treasurer , secretary , delegate , or other officer , or member thereof , as such , or who shall , by contribution of money or otherwise , aid , abet , or support such society , or any members or officers thereof , as such , shall be deemed guilty of an unlawful combination and confederacy . ' '

The penalties provided by the Act are , —• " That every person being convicted of any such offence on the oath of one or more credible witness or witnesses , by such Justice or Justices as aforesaid , shall be by him or them committed to the common gaol or bouse of correction for such county , stewartry ,

riding , division , city , town , or place , there to remain without bail or mainprize for the term of three calendar months , or shall be by such Justice or Justices adjudged to forfeit and pay the sum of £ 20 , as to such Justice or Justices shall seem meet .... and every person convicted of any such offenceupon

, indictment by due course of law , shall and may be transported for the term of seven years , in the manner provided by Jaw for transportation of offenders , or imprisoned for any time not exceeding two years , as the Court before whom such offender shall be tried shall think fit . "

This Act , I believe , is not repealed , and it remains a question whether the members of all Craft lodges established since the passing of the said Act , 1799 , are not liable to the penalties therein contained . But it seems to me that all the newly-established Masonic Orders unrecognised by the Grand Lodge of England , are clear ]} ' liable to the heavy penalties of this Act , if

any " one or credible witness or witnessed" take the trouble to move in the matter . The 13 th section imposes a penalty of £ 5 on any one who permits the meetings of such societies to he held iu his house ; and as one moiety of the fines ( which may not be reduced more than one third ) goes to the informer , it is likely that some day such might be the case .

The sixth section provides—< _ ' That this exemption . shal ] not extend to any such society unless two of the members composing the same shall certify upon oath ( which oath any Justice of the Peace or other magistrate is hereby empowered to administer ) that such society or lodhas before the

ge passing of this A . ct been usuall y held under the denomination of a lodge of Freemasons , and in conformity to the rides prevailing among the societies or lodges of Freemasons in this kingdom , which certificate , duly attested by the magistrate before whom the same shall be sworn , and subscribed by the persons so

certifying ^ shall , within the space of two calendar months after the passing of this Act , be deposited with the Clerk ofthe Peace for the county , stewartry , riding , division , shire , or place where such society or lodge hath been usually held : Provided also , tbat ' this exemption shall not extend to any such society or lodge , unless the name or denomination thereof , and the usual place or places , and the time or times of its

The Legality Of Our Lodges.

meetings , and the names and descriptions of all and every the members thereof , be registered with such Clerk of the Peace as aforesaid within two months after the passing of this Act . and also on or before the 25 th day of March in every succeeding year . " I haye never heard of this provision being complied with , and I much doubt if it has ever beeu clone , If

not , then it is a fact that all onr lodr / e mcetinr / s are unlawful combinations and confederations . I should like to hear the opinion of our Grand Registrar or some other learned legal brother upon the matter . Being a peaceable subject , aud loyal to the laws and government of my countryI hesitate to

, again attend my lodge for fear of being convicted of " unlawful combination and confederacy . " Yours fraternally , PEOGBESS .

The Summer Fete At The Boys' School.

THE SUMMER FETE AT THE BOYS ' SCHOOL .

TO THE EDITOR Ol ? THE EREEMASONS' _>[ . _ . O-AZINE AND MASONIC MIKROB . Dear Sir and Brother , —Permit me to correct an error which , hy some means , has crept into your report ofthe above evidently very successful and pleasant gathering . In two places the name of Bro . Brown appears as

D . Fro v . G . M . for Leicester-Aire and Rutland . As I have performed the duties c _ ' that office during the fourteen or fifteen years I had the privilege of holding it , under the late exeei . e .-t P . G . Ms ., Sir Jf . S . Fowke , Bart ., aud Earl Howe . I have not thought it consistent with my dutysir .-: ; I have had the high

, honour of being appointed i _ i the chief rule of the province , to throw my labours ou a deputy , out have doue , ancl intend to do , them myself ; consequently no appointment of a deputv has been made at present . '

The worthy Bro . George Erc-wn is the first W . M . of the recently formed lodge at Oakham , and at the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge at that town in September iasc , for his installation , & c , lie hacl conferred upon him , ac-eording to local custom on such occasions , the ran ! : of P . G . " Junior Warden . However Avorthy and energetic Bro . Brown may be

, nevertheless , he being only the YOI . of the youngest lodge in the province , we have , of course , many no less worthy P . Ms , and Past Provincial Grand Wardens , many years his senior , who have done long and excellent service to the Craft . As the appointment of so young a man and so young

a Mason as Bro . Brown , if made , would naturally be a great slight upon those brethren , by their superior claims to preferment being ignored , I think it a duty I owe both to them and to lviyeeif to request that this error of description may be rectified . Yours fraternally . "WILLIAM KELLY , Prov . G . M . Leicestershire and Rutland . Leicester , July 19 th , 1 S 70 .

[ The Visitors' Book Avas not signed on the occasion of the Festival , which prevented a complete list of the brethren in attendance being- given . Our reporter , through the courtesy of a brother connected with the School , had several brethren named as being in attendance , and thus the error arose . —En . Freemasons' Magazine . ]