Prerogative.

attached to my position ; " by something , no matter what , which is above the Constitutions—say these high and mighty men who , drest in their brief authority , play such fantastic tricks , —your will must bow to mine , - "fiat must be obeyed , nni resolution shall make vours of none effect !

Here , then , we have in both the upper and the lower strata of Masonic government , a vien of imperfect and faulty material , the removal of which is essential . In American Freemasonry they have a short and sharp way of dealing with the lower strata . They dig through to it ,

and hale it before the constituted authority on almost the slightest provocation , and are not long in disposing of it where it was probably least expected . And as to the higher strata , in which in America are included the Grand

Masters of several States forming the Union;—well , the following is but a mild quotation from the Voice vf liasonry on the subject of Prerogative : —' ¦ ' In Missouri our Grand Masters govern the Craft according to the written Constitution , and act within the limits of the law . If matters

come before them for consideration concerning which the law is silent , then they pass upon such questions and settle them according to the principles of right and justice . Such

cases are reported to the Grand Lodge , which body approves or corrects , by proper legislation , the rulings of the Grand Master , and thus precedents are established . The decisions of the Grand Master have the force and

effect of law until the meeting of the Grand Lodge and no longer . If his rulings arc approved , they become the law of the Grand Lodge by its own act , and not by any mighty ' power in me vested , ' as some Grand Masters phrase it . Are such acts by Grand Masters , ail interim , to be styled

' prerogatives ? " To meet a necessity not provided for by the law , and settle a principle for future guidance , would seem more like the exercise of administrative functions in the discharge of official duty than the use of what is called ' prerogative . ' If ' prerogative ' means the right on the

part of a Grand Master to do some proper thing not provided for by law , then it is not such a big thing after all , because the Grand Lodge will approve or disapprove his act . In doing so , the Grand Lodge shows itself to be a greater power than its Grand Master ,

and may annul his acts or rebuke his temerity . But this is not the kind of prerogative claimed and exercised by the ' higher law ' advocates . Their prerogative is a god above all gods , even above Constitutions , which must bow and cry loud and long , ' Great is Diana of the Ephesians . '

Excuse me , Diana . I . bow only to GOD and Law . It would be amusing , were it not so ludicrous , to observe the inflation of some brethren upon whom this dowry of power may chance to descend . With the placing upon them of the official jewel , they become dowered , and empowered

to do things ' Solomon in all his glory' never knew or heard of . 'A greater than Solomon is here . ' ' By the high power in me vested , ' Constitutions are broken . Masons are made at sight . Questions of time and residence are ignored . The rights of innocent candidates are trampled

upon , with many other things too tedious to mention . All these have been done in the name of ' Prerogative , ' and ' by virtue of the high power in me vested . ' Yes , and done in the face of Constitution and laws , promised obedience to which was required before the Grand Master could enter

upon an office that was to endow him with such rare and extraordinary power . Whence this investiture of ' power ? ' It is not derived from the law . If not , what is its warrant ? I was twice inducted into the office of Grand Master , and twice invested with an official jewel , but I received no such

' enduement' of power as some of my brethren claim who use the term ' by virtue of the high power hi me vested . ' It must have come upon them . They did not have it before , and the Constitution cried out 'Not in me . ' Now you don't have i ' . Now you do . Whence came it' ? You

say you are ' vested' with it . You ought not to say you have it unless you know it . If you are so confident of its possession , you ought to be equally clear as to whence it came . But it is the old truth , ' Yc cannot tell whence it cometh , nor whither it troeth . ' And like the wind thus

described , its claims and pretensions are varied , empty and blustering . Anything else in Masonry as useless , harmful and boastful , would be abolished by the Craft without

delay . ' By virtue of ih : > high power in me vested' an immature and inexperienced mind will perpetrate , things by suspending laws which were enacted by the best brains and ripened experience of the Grand Lodge . In defence oi

Prerogative.

your little god , whom even the Ephesians would no f worship , you plead abuse of power must not be charged to the power itself . It is sufficient to say , in reply , that any power liable to such abuses as ' prerogative ' h « sno business in Freemasonry . It should be abolished for the wrongs perpetrated ' by virtue ' of its existence . "

We shall resume our remarks upon Prerogative at some early opportunitv .

The Ritual.

THE RITUAL .

CONTINUATION OF CHAP . V . OF BRO . H . J . WHYMPER ' ; RELIGION OF FREEMASONRY . " Owing to pressure of other matter , ice are compelled to defer f . lri . s until ne . et iceeli .

Chiswick Lodge, No. 2012.

CHISWICK LODGE , No . 2012 .

INSTALLATION OF BRO . THE RIGHT HONORABLE LORD GEORGE HAMILTON , M . P ., AS WORSHIPFUL MASTER . The installation meeting of this lodge was held on Monday last , the 14 th inst .. at the Star and Garter Hotel . Kcw Bridge , when Lord George Hamilton , M . P ., First Lord of the Admiralty , was

installed as Worshipful Master of the lodge . Bro . Dr . Fredk . Lavvrance , W . M .., opened the lodge , supported by his officers and a full gathering of members . In the course of the evening there were as many as 20 !) brethren present , including the Lord Chancellor , a large number of Grand Officers , and some (> 4 Past Masters . There was a good afternoon ' s work performed in each of the three

degrees ; Mr . Calhngham , of Chiswick , being initiated ; Bros . E . Stretton , E . T . Spurr , and James Clarke passed ; and Bros . E . 0 . Fountain and W . Haskell raised . These ceremonials having been ably performed and other lodge business disposed of , Bro . Lord George Hamilton was presented and dmy installed by the V . W . the Grand Secretary of England , Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Gierke .

A valuable past master s jewel was presented to W . Bro . Lawranee on his retirement from the chair of K . S ., the W . M . Bro . Lord George Hamilton stating that he should endeavour to imitate his predecessor in the performance of his duties during his year of office . The officers having been aj _ pointed , and much regret expressed for the absence of Bro . George Everett , the Treasurer .

Father , and first master of the lodge , who was prevented by illness from attending , the lodge was closed , and an elegant banquet followed labour . The customary toasts were duly honoured , and we regret that the limits of our space preclude a lengthened report of some of the most interesting of the responses made thereto . It may interest the brethren to know that Lord George Hamilton

was initiated into Freemasonry in Ireland , and became a joining member of the Chiswick Lodge some three years ago . His brother is the Duke of Abercom , who is also M . W . Grand Master of Ireland . Another brother is Lord Claud Ham ' ilton . a Past Master of an Irish Lodge . We congratulate the Chiswick Lodge on the accession of so worthy a representative of a distinguished masonic family to the position of a Ruler in the Craft .

India.

INDIA .

INSTALLATION OF LORD CONNEMARA . D . G . M . MADRAS . —At a very large ; meeting of Indian Freemasons assembled at Madras on the 2 ( ith November last , His Excellency Bro . Lord Connemara was installed District Grand Master of Madras by Bro . Colonel Moore , the Deputy District Grand Master . After the installation ceremony , the District Grand Master , in a speech , made a touching allusion to

the late Bro . Lord Mayo , a distinguished Mason M ho lost his life while in exercise of that virtue which principally characterises a Mason—Charity . Congratulatory telegrams from His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught , as District Grand Master , Bombay , and others were read . A banquet followed , at which ISO members were present . Colonel Moore proposed the District Grand Master ' s

health , and Lord Connemara , in replying , especially mentioned the satisfaction he felt in seeing so many native brethren present . As Governor of Madras he was glad to note this , hoping that the principles of Masons would permeate the whole body of native society . He considered that the present ceremony was a sign that Freemasonry is a living force and power in India .

Review.

REVIEW .

Ih . i jhri ' iCi ; FuosimMe nf E . iyr . zved List of Lodges A . D . 1734 : a &> ur . ' .- / ur " of geofoen 1 [ % mt , " dedicated to th : M . 1 V . Bro , Si / . mt / el , Crocker Lawrence , P . G . M ., of Maxmrhuxettx . Bv William James Hughan , P . G . S . D . of England . P . G . S . W . of Iowa . & c , & c . Published by Bro . George Kenning , 10 , Great Q iceri S ; reet . E . C .

We have been favouri d by the receipt of an advance copy of this interesting work , especially interesting to masonic students and those of our craft who seek to be well-informed as to the existence of lodges in the earlier portion of the eighteenth century . The first thirty pages of the volume contain valuable information as to these , conveyed to the reader in the clear and concise language for which Bro . Ilughan is celebrated thoughout his works . A roll

of the lodges rofem-d to in the facsimile plates of Pine ' s engravings is most useful in pointing out the old lodges which still remain on the Grand Lodge register , whilst the reproductions in photozincography of the several plates are undoubted wo ks of merit , alike faithful and curious . The low price at which this interesting addition to masonic literature ( 5 s .. post free ) is published , brings it within the reach of all members of the craft , to whom we cordially recommend it .