The Revised Book Of Constitutions.

future prospeots , the position he has held in the Craft , and any matter that may guide tho board in adjusting the distribution of relief from its funds . The

application of widows or children to be accompanied with a like certificate so far as practicable , with the probable disposal of the funds if relieved . Every brother

certifying- shall also state that he is not aware of any circum . stances disentitling the applicant to relief , or which ought to be disclosed to the board of

benevolence before it doals with the application . In all London cases the brother giving the cer . tificate , or some other brother

who has visited the case , shall attend the board of benevolence on the consideration of the petition .

N . B . — Masters of lodges or visiting brethren are earnestly requested to forward the fullest particulars of each case , to enable the board to relieve applicants to the utmost extent of its means . "

[ every application for relief from the Lodge of Benevolence . Tho master or visiting brother of any lodge recommending a case for relief at the lodge

of benovolence shall , to the hest of his information and belief , certify in writing , to the actual condition of the applicant , his age , profession or calling , means

of subsistence , what aid ho receives from his family , his future prospects , tho position he has hold in the craft , and any matter that may guide the lodgo of

benevolence in adjusting the distribution of volief from its funds , The application of widows or children to be accompanied with

a like certificate so far as prac ticable , with the probable dis posal ^ of the funds if relieved , "

The " N . B ., " in italics , is common to both proposed and present Rules , and has therefore been reproduced under the former only . Nos . 243— "Time of presenting petition ; " 244— "

Petitioner to attend . Exceptions ; " and 245— " Second applications "—correspond exactly with Articles 12 , 13 , and 14 , p 103 ; and No . 246 , " Sums which may be given , " is Art . 15 , pp 103 , 104 , the word " lodge , " where necessary , being in these and all cases replaced by "board . "

The four remaining rules , namely , No . 247— " Extraordinary cases ; " No . 248— " Votes requiring the confirmation of the board ; " No . 249— " Exceptional grants ; " and No . 250— " The laws to be read in January "—as they embody the present Regulations of Grand Lodge , and go no further , require no comment .

Rules Nos . 251 to 278 , both inclusive , relate to the Board of General Purposes . There is in them a considerable re-arrangement of the existing Rules , but the alterations are few and comparatively immaterial . We note , however , an entire absence from the marginal notes of the

reference numbers to the existing Rules , though tbey are contained in the Synopsis . Nos . 251-254 correspond with Art . 1 , p 107 , the word " appointed , " with reference to the President and ten of the twenty-four members , being substituted for " nominated . " No . 255 agrees with Art . 2 ,

p 107 , but for the words , " and for that purpose the names of the several brethren intended to be put in nomination are to be delivered in writing , " we have the following : " and for that purpose the names of the several brethren put in nomination , together with the names and numbers

of their lodges , and whether at the time of such nomination they are masters or past masters , and in the case of a master , the date of his installation , are to be delivered in writing , " while the said names " shall be printed al phabetically , " instead of " may be printed " in a list , & G . In

No . 256 , which corresponds with Article 3 , page 108 , the number of " scrutineers" to be respectively elected and nominated is in each case " eight" instead of "four , " bat we are at a loss to understand why the sentence , " These scrutineers " should not read " These

sixteen scrutineers" unless the Revision Committee is afraid to commit itself to the simple addition of eight to eight . No . 257 corresponds with Art . 5 , p 109 , and No . 258 with Art .-4 , p 108 . In the case of the latter proposed Rule , we would suggest , as preferable from a

grammatical point of view , that for " the vacancy shall be filled up . If one appointed by the grand master , then by the grand master ; and if one elected by the grand lodge then by the grand lodge at the next quarterly communication , " Ave should read " the vacancy shall be filled up ;—if of one

appointed by the grand master , then by the grand ' master , but if of one elected by the grand lodge , then by the grand lodge , " & c . Nos . 259 , corresponding with Art . 6 , p 108 , and 260 , corresponding with Art . 7 on same page , as to the " Meetings " and " Quorum " respectively , require no

comment . No . 261— " Power to inspect the grand lodge books , & c . "—is Art . 9 , p 110 reproduced , and the same remark applies to No . 262— " Care of building , & c . "—present Art . 19 , p 112 ; No . 263— " May originate improvements "—present Art . 21 , p 113 ; No , 264— " Care of the cor-

The Revised Book Of Constitutions.

respondence of the grand lodge "—present Art . 20 , p 113 No . 265— " Charge of the finances "—present Art . 10 p 110 ; and No . 266— " Quarterly accounts "— -present A . rt . 11 , p 110 . In No . 267 , which relates to the " Audit " of accounts , and corresponds with Art . 12 , p 111 , the

clause , " and shall , at the quarterly communication in March , state the amount of receipts and expenditure under their respective heads , " is altered into " and shall , at the quarterly communication in March , state the amount of expenditure , " & c . We see no valid reason for the

exclusion of the " receipts " from the operation of the proposed rule , especially as we are told later on that its object is " to give tho grand lodge full information respecting the receipt and application of its funds . " Doubtless the omission is the result of an oversight . No . 268 is Art . 13 ,

p 111 , and Nos . 269 and 270 together correspond with Art . 8 , p 109 . No . 271 , " To summon lodges and brethren , " is the same as Art . 14 , p 111 ; No . 272 , " When to be in masonic clothing , " as Art . 16 , p 112 ; No . 273 , " Mode of Procedure , " as Art . 17 , p 112 ; No . 274 , « Complaints affecting members , " as Art . 18 , p 112 -, and No . 275 ,

" Communications to the Board , ' as Art . 15 , p 112 . Nos . 276 , " Communications from the Board ; " 277 , " Pre . cedence of business , " and 278 , " Minutes , " are textually reproductions of Articles 22 , 23 , and 24 , pp 113 , 114

respectively . As regards the six Rules—Nos . 279-284—which affect the Colonial Board , its constitution and functions , they correspond in all material respects with Articles 1 to 6 at pp 114 , 115 .

What remains of the Revised Book is grouped under the two heads of " Regalia , Clothing , Insignia , and Jewels , " and " Fees and Contributions . " On these we have nothing particular to remark . We do not understand why such a formidable array of words as " Regalia , " & c , should be

used , when two of them certainly will suffice . Further , there is a rule at the end of the same section , after particulars have been given as to the " aprons " to be worn , which is to the following effect : " In addition to the foregoing , grand officers and past grand officers wear garter-blue silk

gauntlets with the emblems of their respective offices or past offices embroidered in gold . The same rule applies to provincial and past provincial grand officers . In private lodges gauntlets of light blue silk with silver embroidery may be worn by the officers . "

We shall close our lengthened commentary by offering one further remark , namely , that all such words and terms as " Officers , " " Lodges , " Grand Oflicers , " " Grand Wardens , " " Provincial Grand Masters , " " Masters , " " Secretaries , " & c . & c . & c . should uniformly be printed with capital

letters . No rule appears to have been followed hitherto but the whim or caprice of the Revision Committee or their copyist , " Grand Master , " " Grand Lodge , " " Grand Secretary , " & c . sometimes figuring with capitals and sometimes with small letters . As they are " proper names , " they ought to appear with the former .

We regret , with reference to the letter we published last week , from Bro . Lawton , that our comments on the said Rule have not secured his favourable opinion , more especially as he appears to confine his criticism to the wording of the proposed and present Rules ; for this we are not

responsible . Nor can we congratulate him on his criticism , which is directed principally against the literal interpretation of the said Rules , and not against their spirit , which is manifest . There is not the slightest objection , in our opinion , to the first clause of the proposed Rule , " Every

Lodge must receive as a member , without further proposition or ballot , any brother initiated therein . " Membership does not , as a matter of courBe , follow initiation in a Lodge , for a candidate may be initiated in one Lodge and received into the membership of another . As far as our

opinion , goes , the language of both Rules , subject to what we said a fortnight back , is unobjectionable . A brother having been initiated in a Lodge , has the right to claim membership thereof , but he need not exercise such right . If he wishes to join another Lodge , he must make a statement to

that effect " on or before the day of his initiation , but because the law lays this down , it does not constitute him a brother before he has become one by actual initiation .

The law in fact , speaks in general terms , and , to a certain extent , necessarily , in the past tense , nor , as far as we can see , is there the slightest possibility of any one being misled by the language it employs .