The Provinces.

of General Purposes respecting the collars of Provincial Grand Officers , viz ., that , according to the correct reading of the Book of Constitutions , collars of garter-blue , embroidered or plain , are only allowed to be worn by present and past Grand Officers ; and that the two distinctive collars of Provincial Grand Officers are , for dress , ribbon of garter-blue with edging of gold lace , and for undress , the same , with a simple gold cord . With that decision I perfectly coincide . I have made some enquiries upon the subject , and have been informed that , as a body , Provincial Grand Officers have

always worn either gold lace or gold cord ; and that the plain garter-blue collar has been assumed only by some Provincial Grand Officers who reside within easy access of London . The law upon the subject , at page 112 in the Book of Constitutions , is as follows : — 'Deputy Provincial Grand Masters and other Provincial Grand Officers , present and past , wear collars of ribbon garter-blue , four inches broad , with narrow edging of gold lace or cord , but not bullion or fringe , or plain . ' I believe that most persons would say that , according to the plain reading of that law , the decision that

the Board of General Purposes arrived at is the correct one . Some Provincial Grand Officers , however , contend that the law ought to have been printed as follows : — 'Deputy Provincial , & c . & c ., wear collars with narrow edging of gold lace or cord , or plain , but not bullion or fringe , ' placing the words ' or plain' after the word 'cord ;' and that that reading gives them the privilege of wearing a plain garter-blue collar . Granted , for one moment , that their interpretation is the correct one , what is the result ? That it makes that law antagonistic to all the others that relate to Masonic clothing , the tenor of which is , to keep the dress of Grand Officers as distinct as possible . I consider it as great an honour for a Provincial Mason

to have attained rank in his Provincial Grand Lodge , as for a London Brother to have received the purple in the Grand Lodge ; and I do hope , for the future , that we shall see all Provincial Grand Officers proud of the honour of wearing the distinctive clothing of their own Grand Lodges , instead of assuming that of the G . L . I will conclude with a few words upon a subject somewhat-bearing upon this question . Many Provincial Grand Officers have complained to me that they have felt it a hardship that , when they attended the Grand Lodge , they should be obliged to wear the

plain blue collars of their private Lodges . I must confess that I think , in courtesy and in justice , the law that prevents them from wearing their Provincial clothing in Grand Lodge ought to be repealed . Many of these Brethren have rendered good service to the Craft in their provinces , and had they been resident in London , would , in many instances , have received office in the Grand Lodge . Their services have , however , been recognised in the provinces , and they have received high rank from the hands of their respective Provincial Grand Masters , the representatives of the M . W . G . M .

Surely , then , when they do attend Grand Lodge , it ought to be looked upon as a mark of respect to the M . W . G . M ., that they should wear the clothing with which they have been invested by his representative . No difficulty would occur if the distinct clothing were always adhered to , and it would require simply an alteration in the Book of Constitutions similar to this : at page 50 , after the words 'in all Masonic meetings , ' in fifth line , to add 'but on occasion of their attending Grand Lodge , they will lie required to sign , in virtue of their being members of it ; and , at page 112 , to leave out ' except in Grand Lodge , ' & c , as far as the words ' as members of Grand Lodge ' . —I remain , Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , A LONDON P . M . —London , Feb . 16 th , 1858 . "

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

To the Editor . Sir and Brother , —The question of privilege , raised by Bro . Beach in G . L . is deserving , in my opinion , of the greatest attention . It is not to the point , to consider whether or not the motion rejected by the presiding officer at the General Committee was or was not one which G . L . ought to entertain . The point is this and this only : — lias any inferior officer a right to prevent a motion being brought before G . L . ? In certain cases—i . e ., where ancient landmarks are

endangered , the Book of Constitutions gives to tho G . M . the power to refuse to put a motion from the chair . If he could have done it without tliis specific permission , the law would doubtless have been silent upon the point ; but as special provision was necessary in his case , much more is it necessary in the case of one inferior officer , not appointed by G . L ., but who claims ( if this is to bo taken as a precedent ) equal power with tho G . M ., though the Book of Constitutions is entirely silent upon the point . The General Committee , or Board of Masters , a select body from

Correspondence.

which all P . M . ' s and Wardens are excluded , is essentially a body for receiving information , and nothing more . Our laws are plain upon this point , and to give this close corporation , or to their chairman , the power to reject and accept what they please , is to destroy the authority of Grand Lodge , and to pu t a weapon into tho hands of a partisan or a faction , which would be entirely subversive of our constitution ! I am , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , To the Editor .

London , Feb . 4 , 1858 . Sir and Brother , —Perhaps you may agree with me that the following circumstance cannot be too widely circulated ; and if so , you may make any use of it you think proper . At a meeting of Craft Masons , I was invited as an avowed member of 173 , Mark Lodge , Newport , Isle of Wight ( and held under the Grand Mark Lodge of London ) , by Bro . Isaacs , R W . M ., of the Arnott Lodge , No . 4 , of Mark Masters , held at Bro . Seyd ' s , Masonic Hall ,

Finsbury Square , to attend their next meeting on the 28 th ultimo . Accordingly , I went at seven o ' clock , the time fixed , and after waiting three quarters of an hour , I heard that the R . W . M . was unavoidably prevented from being there ; and at the same time it was intimated to me by Bro . Hughes and another Brother—I believe the Hon . Sec . —that from " a schism" now existing in Mark Masonry , they declined to admit me , assigning as their reason , that they held their warrant under tho Grand Chapter of Scotland , and that * had I presented myself at their last meeting before my Lodge , 176 , joined

tire London Grand Mark Lodge , 1 shoul . 1 have been admitted as under the Grand Chapter of Ireland . Upon these representations , I at once decided on giving my Brethren the full benefit of " their conscientious scruples , " and left . Probably I might have been inclined to debate the matter with them , had there not been a Brother waiting to be advanced , who was exceedingly anxious to know why I , as a Mark Mason , could not stay with them ? and well indeed might he ask the question . I was fearful that any observations might fall that might cause him to pause before he enrolled himself under such unmasonio principles . I have the honour to be , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , Mark Lodge , 176 , Newport , GEORGE WILKINSON . Isle of Wight

Ad01603

gvlrktlki limits , PROVINCIAL MESS . D INNER is provided at 5-30 P . M . on ( lie clay of each Quarterly Communication , at P . M . Tavern , for any Provincial Brethren who signify their intention of dining by the morning of that day . Price , including wine , 5 s ., to those who subscribe for the year ; 7 s . 6 d . for others .

Ad01604

GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTERS OF ENGLAND AND WALES , AND THE COLONIES AND POSSESSIONS ' OF THE BRITISH CROWN . Bro . The LORD LEIGH , Grand Master . Bro . The EARL OF CARNARVON , Deputy Grand Master . T ODGES desirous of Uniting under the English Constita-¦ " - ' tion , and Brethren wishing to obtain New Warrants to work the Mark degree , are requested to communicate with Bro . W . L . COLLINS , the Grand Secretary , at the Office of the Grand Lodge , No . 40 , Leicester Square , London .

Ar01606

NOTICE . NOTICE TO Suiiscnimsns . — We have to request our Subscribers to forward tlie amounts for which application lias been made , either in Stamps , or by Tost Office Order , at their earliest convenience . The Masonic Obsener and Grand Lodge Chronicle is published on the 20 th of March , June , September , and December ; and may be obtained from the London Publishers , through all local booksellers . SuRSCnimias may be supplied direct from the Office , by sending their Subscriptions ( 2 s . per Annum ) in advance , to Mr . Peach , Bridge Street , Bath . ADVERTISEMENTS may be sent to Mr . Peach , Bridge Street , Bath , or to Mr . J . Clements , Little Pulteney Street , London , by the 15 th of March , June , Sept ., and Dec , and not later than one week after each G . L . of Emergency .

Ar01605

Bath : Printed and Published by BOBEIIT EDWARD PEACH , NO . 8 , Bridge Street . London : Published by SIJIPKIN , MAHSHAI . I ,, and Co ., Stationers' Hall Court , E . C ; and Sold by J . CLEMENTS , 21 , Little Pulteney Street , W . ; R . SPENCKR , Great Queen Street , W . C . ; and all Booksellers in London and the Country .