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% \) t JttaMttti ; Mwc . THURSDAY , ^^^^^ MAY 2 , 1889 . Edited by W . BRO . JAMES STEVENS , P . M ., P . Z ., & c , & c .

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VOLUME I « In Masonic Cloth Cover—Now Ready —Price 3 s . 6 d .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

Without in any way holding ourselves responsible for , or oven approving of the opinions expressed , we freely throw open our columns for the proper discussion of all matters of a general character relating to Freemasonry . Correspondents must be as brief as possible , must write plainly , only ose one side of the paper , and cannot expect the return of rejected contributions . " Every contribution must be accompanied with the name of the writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .

"WORKING" IN LODGES .

To the Editor of THE MASONIC STAR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , It was with some surprise that I read your answer to " Jurisprudence " in your number of 4 th April , as to his questions 2 and 3 , and I have spent many hours endeavouring to satisfy my own mind upon the point ; and the conclusion I have come to is that "

Jurisprudence " would act wisel y in doing no business in a Lodge unless seven were present , as I cannot but think the question is not free from doubt . The statement of your contemporary the Voice of Masonry quoted in your last issue as to " every opening and closing , " must allude to some working unknown to me .

I cannot find much in the books on jurisprudence ; but the following extracts may interest your correspondent . Mackenzie ( Royal Mas . Cycle . ) says : " Quorum . The old law used to be , three rule a Lodge , fee form a Lodge , and seven are necessary to be present at any initiation , not including the candidate but it is not contrary to Masonic law to appoint

special committees of any uneven number , not less than three , for the settlement of special business . " And he defines a Lodge to be perfect when it contains " the constitutional number of members , " without further explanation . Bro . Woodford ( Kenninifs Cycle . ) says , '' Lodge , Just and Perfect . — Oliver tells us that the first symbolic definition of a Lodge which

he has found is'just and perfect by the numbers , three , five , and seven . ' Giidicke declares that ' three well-informed form a le ^ al Lodge , five improve it , and seven make it perfect . '" Bro . Robertson ( Digest of Masonic Jurisprudence ) says : "Quorum . Seven is the number necessary to form a quorum of a Lodge for the transaction of business . " Dr . Mackey , in his Encyclopaedia , states that

authorities differ , and the constitutions , and old regulations being silent he seems to consider that the ritual gives the answer , and says , " For whatever number compose a Lodge will supply us with the rule by which we are to establish the quorum in that degree . " But in his Masonic I ' arliamcntary Law , Dr . Mackey . after very fully discussing the whole question , arrived at a rather

different conclusion . He says that in 1857 , the editor of the Freemason ' s Magazine , in reply to an inquiry , ' affirmed that Jive Masons are sufficient to open a lodge , and carry on business other than initiation , for which latter purpose seven are necessary . This opinion , he says , appears to be the general English one , and

is acquiesced in by Dr . Oliver ; but there is no authority of law for it . And when in the year 1818 , the suggestion was made that some regulation was necessary relative to the number of brethren requisite to constitute a legal lodge , with competent powers to perform the rite of initiation , and transact all other business the Board of General Purposes of the Grand Lodge of England to

Original Correspondence.

whom the suggestion had been referred , replied , with an overabundance of cautious timidity ' that it is a matter of so much delicacy and difficulty , that it is thought advisable not to depart from the silence on the subject , which had been observed in all the Books of Constitutions . ' At a first glance the authorized ritual would appear to promise us a solution of the

problem . There the answer to the question in each degree . ' How many compose a Lodge ? ' ought to supply us with the rule by which we are to establish the quorum in that degree ; for whatever number composes a Lodge , that is the number which apparently should authorize the Lodge to proceed to business . The ritual has thus established the number which constitutes a ' perfect

Lodge , ' and without which number a Lodge cannot be legally opened . According to this rule seven constitute a ' perfect' E . A . P . ' s Lodge , five a F . C . ' s , and three a M . M . ' s . Without this requisite number , no Lodge can be opened in either of these degrees . . . But in the provision of the ritual we meet with certain practical difficulties , so far as symbolic Masonry is concerned . Thus , although

it has been prescribed that three are sufficient to open a Master ' s Lodge , it is evident to every one acquainted with , the ritual , that it would be utterly impossible to confer the Master ' s degree with that number ; and therefore , in this country ' ( America ) ' the authority of the ritual has not been generally recognized except for the mere act of opening .

•• Looking to the facts that the petition for a dispensation or charter must be signed by at least seven M . M . ' s ; that a Lodge of E . A . P . ' s must consist of not less than seven : and that originally all working or subordinate lodges were composed principally of E . A . P . ' s . and were , therefore , Apprentices' Lodges , the Grand Lodges of America which have adopted any explicit rule on the subject , have generally agreed to consider seven as the proper number to constitute

a quorum for business in a Master s Lodge . Chase seems . I think , to have adopted the proper view of the subject , when he says that ! ' the minimum number to whom a dispensation can be granted may be considered as the minimum number to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business . If seven be the number necessary to form a lodge , then seven is the number necessary to continue a lodge and to transact its business' ( Masonic Digest ) .

" In the absence of any landmark or specific ancient law , written or unwritten , on the subject , I am , therefore , inclined to think that seven should constitute the proper quorum for work or business in any of the symbolic degrees . A master would be correct in opening his lodge with two assistants on the third degree , because the ritual declares that three M . M . ' s constitute a ' perfect lodge . '" ( . ' )

'' But he would hardly be justified And as to work , although a candidate who had been elected at a previous communication might be present , the nature of the ceremonies would preclude the possibility of the master conferring the degree with only two assistants . It would be better , after the lodge had been opened with only three members , that the master , finding no accession to

the number by new arrivals , should close it without proceeding to business or work . " I have referred back to the Freemason ?* Magazine for 1857 , and find the exact questions and answers were" Is it absolutely necessary to have seven Masons present to open the Lodge and carry on business other than initiation . & c . '—It is

not . Five are sufficient . " Can less than seven open and close Lodge ?—Yes , as shown by previous answer . " It will be seen that in these answers there is no distinction drawn as to various degrees . A month , or two afterwards the answer was discussed very ably

by a correspondent of the Freemasons'' Magazine , who says he has always been taught to believe it correct "that five can open , transact business and close an E . A . or F . C . Lodge , but cannot furnish reasons to satisfy my own mind why it should be so , " and he asks , " can the Lodge thus organized , or held by five only , open , transact business and close ; ' Can five members , should the others

all die off or retire from the Lodge , hold the warrant and increase their numbers by balloting for , and admitting , joining members . ' ( I suppose it is not claimed that a Mason can be made or advanced when only five are present ) . Then why , if five can hold a warrant , keep it alive and work under it , must there be seven to receive that warrant originally '!"

The Editor's answer is a little remarkable . " Five legally hold a charter and may ballot for members who they cannot initiate unless seven be present . " There the matter seems , as far as this point is concerned , to have rested . I cannot understand where the authority for the five was found . But my letter has run to a great length already , and I would

merely say I should be grateful for any further comments or authorities you can give ; but I should like to ask whether you have ever known a case in practice , or found a case in any old Minutes where the 2 nd or 3 rd degree has been conferred with a less number than seven Brethren prtsent' ! Yours fraternally 29 th April , 1889 . LEX SCRIPTA .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

*»* Several Important communications and reports from esteemed correspondents have reached us , font pressure on our space this week prevents their publication . Wc will do our best to comply with all requests in next issue . SuuscKiiiKH . —Your letter in reference to the Koyal Masonic Benevolent Institu " tlon is in type , but there are circumstances in connection therewith which disincline us to publish it at the present moment . If you will call on us wc will explain them .

M . M . —We should think not at present , but in certain possible events the " chance" might arise . C . TAVI . EB , Dalston . —We will endeavour to comply with your request relating to Order of Masonic Degrees next week . A SunsCHiKKii . —Kindly refer to our remarks under "Our Trestle Hoard" in this issue . C . E . M ., Philadelphia . —Thanks for your communication , shall be pleased to hear from you at any time .