Our Eighteenth Volume.

OUR EIGHTEENTH VOLUME .

/^ VXJR issue of this day is tbo firsfc of a new Volume . ^ - ' Judging from the fact of tho amounts realised at the three Festivals of the year , the great body of Freemasons are in a flourishing condition . Is it too much to suggest

that a little more interest might be taken by our Lodges iu supporting the journals thafc devote themselves to tho interests of the Craft ? We frequently hear from

brethren that they are too much engaged to find time for reading about Freemasonry ; to many of these we return answer , —The loss is yours . All men -who take an

interest in any society they are associated with should bo able to give some account of what is being done by thafc society . The Masonic journals of this country , we venture

to assert , are conducted on broad and sound lines , and we urge for them , thafc they are worthy the support of the members of tbe Craft .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

WE are of opinion tbe general body of Craftsmen have every reason to be satisfied with the result of the Special Communication of United Grand Lodge held on Friday last . It was apparent to any one in the habit of noting the state of Masonic feeling that the invasion of tho prerogative of Grand Lodge—as some thought fit to

express it—by the alteration of the Table of Precedence , was likely to be a theme for discussion , if nofc for dissension , for some considerable time to come . Most gratifying , therefore , must it have been to all well wishers of our grand Institution when ifc was announced by the Right

Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , tho Pro Grand Master , that he had been in conference with the Mosfc Worshipful the Grand Master on several occasions during the last few days , and that be was desired to say the G . M . did nofc desire

to make any change that would nofc be acceptable to the Craft . The Pro G . Master further stated that his Royal Highness bad since learned that the changes had not tnet with , that weneral assent be had been led

to expect . He was also aware that a question had been raised whether the Grand Master had even the power to alter the precedence , not of existing , but of future Grand Officers . The power which the Prince of Wales—acting "nnder advice—had exercised , was precisely that which all

successive Grand Masters , from tho Duke of Sussex , had exercised without Grand Lodge questioning it . By direction of the Prince of Wales , inquiry bad been made on the subject , and the result was to make ifc clear that the practice had been somewhat conflicting ; at one time the wand

Master , and afc another Grand Lodge , had conerred rank on brethren , and fixed their status iu Grand •^ wge . In the Book of Constitutions framed in 1815 , portly after the Union of the two Grand Lodges , Grand ocl ge took power to propose to the Grand Master three names for each of the offices of Grand Chaplain , Grand t reasurer , and Grand Sword Bearer , for selection there-

United Grand Lodge.

from by him , tbe Grand Master having the absolute right to select the other nine Grand Officers . This , however , was found not to work satisfactorily , and Grand Lodge , by resolution of 29 fch July 1818 , cancelled tho arrangement , and the Grand Master took power to appoint to all the

Graud offices except the Grand Treasurer , and this was embodied in the Book of Constitutions which was published in 1819 . Since then fche Grand Master had so appointed his Grand Officers , and had fixed and altered their status on more than one occasion , without complaint , let ,

or hindrance on the part of Grand Lodge . It might , therefore , be concluded , for the fact proved itself , that the G . Master had done this , and had continued to do ifc , with the sanction and approval of G . Lodge , ancl the custom had , in this as in many other cases , made the law , though that law

had not been recorded , as it ought to have been . On tbe other hand , Grand Lodge had every now and again , by specific resolution , conferred rank and station on different brethren . In September 1862 , it resolved to make the President of the Board of General Purposes a G . Officer ;

this he was not before , and his status was then fixed . The Pro Grand Master assured the members of Grand Lodge His Royal Highness had but one end in view , that waa to promote the interests of Grand Lodgo . Again , in June 1881 , it created the appointment of Deputy Director

of Ceremonies , and the Firsfc and Second Grand Standard Bearers . The Grand Master and Grand Lodge had afc different times exercised concurrent authority in tho matter . He exercised his powers and used his prerogative iu the name and for the sake of the Grand Lodge , and on a

question snch as this there conld arise no difference between fche Grand Master and Grand Lodge . Grand Lodge was naturally jealous of its privileges , and no one would bo moro watchful in guarding those privileges than the Grand Master . The great end and aim of tbe Prince of Wales iu

the position of Grand Master , conferred upon him by and over this ancient , honourable , and most useful institution , was to rule it well ; to promote as far as in him lay its best interests , and the welfare , content , and happiness of the brethren generally . Having received reliable information

thafc the changes made in April were not agreeable to the large body of the Craft , and his desire being to give effect to its -well-considered wishes , His Royal Highness now

cancelled the instructions he then gave . As a consequence the Table of Precedence will continue to stand as in the Book of Constitutions now iu force . The Earl of Carnarvon also stated that he fullv concurred in what the Prince

or Wales had done . The business of the day , the consideration of the amendments and alterations iu the Book of Constitutions , was then proceeded with , and somo hours were spent in discussing the several points . For ourselves , we do not

think any satisfactory result can accrue from theso discussions . The business is of too comprehensive and important a nature to be entrusted to so largo a body as Grand Lodge in conclave assembled . Indeed , wc will go further ; we think a great mistake was made when suggestions were asked for from tho members of the several

Lodges under the roll of the English Constitution . However , we have recorded our views on tho proposed Revision , and the result of our efforts is before the Crafc in the series of papers we published in this journal , and afterwards reprinted in pamphlet form . * We have received innumerable expressions of favourable ^ op inion on