The Revised Book Of Constitutions.

THE REVISED BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS .

( Continued from page 291 . ) "VTOTHING is said as to the powers and dnties of Grand J . 1 Deacons , Grand Sword Bearer , and Grand Standard Bearers . No objection can be taken to the omission of the paragraphs concerning the penalties for non-attendance to

which the first two are liable under the existing law ; but why omit the proviso that , to be eligible for the office of Grand Deacon , a brother " must have regularly served the office of warden of a private lodge ? " As a matter of fact , those appointed to the Grand Deaconships have invariably ,

though not necessarily , passed the chair , but under the proposed law , and in the absence of anything laid dowu to the contrary , a M . M . is eligible as a Grand Deacon . Here , and without apparent reason is an extension of the sphere of selection for this office , which extension is not noticeable ,

because nothing is said upon the subject . Again , under the existing law provision is made for the absence of the Grand Deacons— " if the grand deacons be absent , the grand master may appoint the master of any lodge to officiate pro tempore . " There is some inconsistency in

requiring a substitute to be of higher rank in the Craft than may be the officer for whom he is acting . On this ground we think the omission of any such or similar provision is an act of prudence . As to the G . Standard Bearers , no mention is made of them . In the existing edition is the following :

" grand standard bearers may be appointed by the grand master as occasion shall require . They must be master masons , and are to carry the standards of grand lodge , grand patron , and grand master , on all grand ceremonies . They are not , however , by their appointment , members of

the grand lodge , nor are they to wear the clothing of a grand officer . " And there is this paragrapb likewise " Any grand officer , entitled to have a standard , may , whenever it shall be necessary , appoint a standard bearer , who must be a master mason . " Last week we were

inclined to consider the omission from Rule 6— " Rank and precedence of members " of Grand Lodge—of tho Grand Standard Bearers and Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies as accidental , especially as they were included in the Jjjjt of the Grand Officers to be appointed by the Grand Master at his installation—Rule 18 . "We are not disposed | o alter this opinion , having in mind the grounds on which we recent increase in the number of Grand Officers was jnade to rest . It is obvious , however , that some insertions ln respect of these are necessary in order to make the law c | ear beyond the possibility of question .

-Kules 36 , 37 , and 38 , severally concerning the Grand superintendent of Works , tbe Grand Director of Ceremo-^ s , and the Grand Pursuivant , are substantially the same s m the existing Book . No . 39 concerns the Grand t ( y'er , and is the same as Art . 2 , p 41 , except that the words

. post , are inserted , thus giving him the option of deliering or posting all summonses to Grand Lodge , & c . „ ¦ 1 ) and Art . 3 , p 41 , the former defining his status and e manner of bis appointment , and the latter describing o j penalties he is liable to in certain flagrant derelictions aut y , have no place in the proposed code . Nos . 40-49

The Revised Book Of Constitutions.

affect tho Grand Stewards , and on comparison with Arts . 1-11 , " Of Stewards , " pp 42-44 , will bo found to all intents and purposes the same , Art . 8 , p 43 , as to his liability to

fine for non-attendance , being omitted . The Rules , however , are re-arranged , and , wo think , with advantage . Rules 50-60 concern tho " Business of Grand Lodge , " and their counterpart in the existing code will , in the main , be found at its pp 20-22 . It will bo as well , perhaps , if we reproduco them side by side .

REVISED EDITION . " 50 . Allbnsiness to bo brought uudev the consideration of tho grand lodge must be previously communicated to a general

committee , consisting of the present and past grand officer ? , and tho master of every regular lodge , which shall meet on the fourteenth day immediately

preceding each quarterly commauication . "

" 51 . If the master of any lodgo cannot attend the general committee , the immediate past

master may supply his place ; should that brother be finable to attend , some other past master of such lodge may act for him , but iu every case tho past master must

be a subscribing momber of that Lodge . "

" 52 . At this moetiug all reports and representations from tho grand master , or tho board of general purposes , or any board or committee appointed by tho grand lodge , shall be read ; and any member of tho grand lodge intending to make motion

therein , or to submit any matter to its consideration shall , at such general committee , state , in writing , the nature of such intended motion or matter , that notice thereof may be printed on the paper of business . "

" 53 . No motion , or other mat . ter , shall be brought into discussion in the grand lodge , nnles 3 it shall havo been previously communicated to the general committee , but it shall be competent for any member of tho grand lodge to move , ivithout previous notice being given , the adoption or otherwise of any report or recommendation contained in such

PRESENT EDITION . " 8 . It being essential to the interests of the craft that all matters of business to he brought under the consideration of tho grand

lodge should , be previously known to the grand officers and mast' . rs of lodges , that , throug h , them all the representatives of lodges mag be apprised of such business , and

be prepared , to decide thereon , without bciwj taken by surprise , a general committee , consisting of tho present nnd past grand officers , and the master of evorv regular

lodge , shall meet on tho Wednesday fortnight immediately proceding each quarterly communication . " .... " 9 . The general committee , when assembled , shall be governed by the laios enacted for preserving

order in the grand I : dge during the time of business . If tho master of any lodge cannot attend , the immediate past master may snpply his place ; should that

brother bo unable to attend , somo other past master of such lodgo may act for him , but in every case tho past master must be a subscribing member of that

lodge . " 8 " at which meeting all reports or representations from the most worshipful grand mister , or tho board of general purposes , or any board or committee appointed by tho grand lodge , shall bo read ; and any member of the grand lodge

intending to make motion therein , and to submit any matter bo its consideration , shall , at such general committee , slate , in writing , the nature of his intended motion or business , that tho same may be read . "

8 ' INo motion , or other matter , shall be brought into disenssion iu the grand lodge , unless it shall havo bscn previously communicated to this general committee . "

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