The Revised Book Of Constitutions.

As regards the proposed law No . 160 , we think it would be better if the first clause of the second sentence ran tlnis * . " The by-laws must be submitted to the grand master , and , in the case of provincial or district lodges , to the provincial or district grand master , before final submission to the grand

master for his approval . " It seems to us that to exclude the Provincial or District Grand Master from any voice in the approval of the by-laws of Lodges in his Province or District is to cast upon him an unnecessary slight . In all the organisations we are acquainted with , the sub

departmental heads approve first of all the recommendations of their subordinates , and then such recommendations are passed on to the departmental head for his crowning sanction and approval . Such a system has a decided advantage , in this respect , that it prevents improper or

unnecessary recommendations from being laid before the supreme authority , while those that do come under his notice have the impress of the intermediate functionary ' s approbation to recommend them . We would further amend the latter portion of the same sentence , so that it

may read " and when any alteration or addition shall be made , such alteration or addition must , in like manner , be submitted . " In such case , the next sentence would read " no law , or alteration or addition , will be valid until so submitted and approved . " With respect to the

presentation of a printed copy of the by-laws to the master on his installation , we are of opinion that the present law is preferable . It is more in accordance with the nature of a solemn pledge that it should be taken , not " deemed " to be taken , as though it were the observance of a mere form . Let

us take for instance the " Summary of the ANTIRNT CHARGES AUD REGULATIONS" which is " read hj the Secretary ( or acting Secretary ) , to the MASTER ELECT , prior to his Installainto the Chair of a Lodge . " When the reading has been concluded , we are told , at p VIII ., " the Installing Officer

addresses the Master Elect as follows : — ' Do you submit to and promise to support these Charges and Regulations as Masters have done in all Ages ? ' Upon his answering in the affirmative the Ceremony of Installation proceeds . " . We ask our readers if it is not more in

accordance with their idea of a solemn pledge that this summary of Charges and Regulations should be read , and the Master Elect be called upon to express verbally , in open Lodge , his readiness to " submit to and promise to support" them than that a printed copy of them should be delivered to

him , and that , " by his acceptance thereof , " he " shall be deemed " to express his readiness . The bye-laws of a private Lodge are not of the same importance as the " Antient Charges and Regulations " of the Craft , but they are of sufficient importance , as regards the limited sphere in

which they operate , to be worthy of the Master ' s solemn verbal pledge " to observe and enforce them . " So likewise as regards No . 161 . A grave formality , which is the outward and visible sign of a solemn undertaking , is observed , when a brother signs the code of by-laws on becoming a

member of a Lodge . But his mere acceptance of a copy of such by-laws , which is " deemed to be a declaration of his submission to them , " is a formality which we can hardly conceive it possible will awaken in the mind of the reci pient any serious sense of the responsibility he has undertaken .

No . 162 treats of the time and place of meeting , and corresponds with the first three lines of Art . 7 , p 64 , the words " except as herein otherwise provided " being rightly deemed a sufficient substitute for the remaining section of the present law . No . 163 , stating under what authority

" Lodges of emergency " may be held , agrees with Art . 9 , p 64 , the only difference in the provisions of tbe two Jaws being that the present law requires that the " business to be transacted " at such a Lodge shall be " recorded on the minutes " as well as " expressed in the summons , " while

the present law is content with requiring that it shall be " expressed in the summons " only . We do not think the omission is an improvement , though , doubtless , No . 169 is held to provide sufficiently for the " record on the minutes . "

Nos . 164 , 165 . 166 , and 167 concern the "Removal of Lodges . " It will be seen from the proposed and present rules , when placed as under , in juxtaposition , that there is a considerable divergence between them , the alterations , whether of omission or commission , being for the most part improvements .

REVISED EDITION . EXISTING EDITION . " 164 . Unless otherwise speci- ( 92 ) . "Any lodge may be re

The Revised Book Of Constitutions.

Red in tho warrant , any lodge may be removed from ono house to another provided tho following regulations bo strictly complied with .

" If at any regular meeting a notice of motion for fcho removal of tho lodge bo given and signed by not fewer than seven . subscribing members tho master

shall summon a special mooting of tho lodge for considering and finally deciding tho question ; such meeting to bo at least one week after the issninir of tho

summons . The proposition shall nofc be carried unless fcivo-thirds of the members voting shall agree to tho removal . If the master should fuil oi- refuse to issue the

summons that duty shall devolve on tlio senior warden , or failing him tho junior warden . "

moved from one house to another , within the same town or place , at the discretion of it ? - members ; bur , in order to prevent dispute-. * , and to ascertain how this power

is to be exercised , the following regulations must lie strictly com . plied with . " 1 . No lodge shall bo removed wit hunt tlie master ' s knowledge ,

nor shall any motion for removal be made iu his absence ; but , il tho motion bo regularly made and seconded , the master shall order summonses to be sent to

every member , specifying the business and appointing a day for hearing and deciding tho ernestion ; such day to be at least ono week after the issnin < r of the

summonses . Tho majority present shall determine tho question , provided tho master be ouo of that majority ; but , if ho be against removing , the lodge shall

not bo removed , unless the majority consist of two-thirds of the members present . " If the master should refuse to issue the summonses , either of

the wardens may do so , and if tho master neglect to attend , tho senior or junior warden may preside in determining the question . "

The proposed law has two decided advantages over the existing law . In tho first place it provides that the proposition for removal must be signed by tho respectable number of at least " seven subscribing members , " and in the next place the complex provision for voting the removal in accordance with which a mere majority is

sufficient if it includes the Master , but if it does not , a twothirds majority—gives place to the simple plan that the removal shall not take place unless it is supported by twotbirds of the members . No . 165 deals with "Temporary Removal under special circumstances , " and must be read with Art 2 , p 93 .

REVISED EDITION . " 165 . If tho meeting of a lodge at its regnlar place should , by any circumstance , be rendered impracticable or improper , the master shall forthwith apply

to the grand master or provincial or district grand master for a dispensation to hold a temporary meeting , or meetings , at

a apecified place , and there , if so authorised by the terras of the dispensation , to carry on the general business of the lodge or to determine in the manner of voting above prescribed , whether the lodge shall be permanently removed . "

EXISTING EDITION . 2 ( 93 ) . "If the meeting of a lodge at its usual place should , by any circumstance , be rendered impracticable or improper , the master may appoint any

other place for a meeting , to consult his brethren on the occasion , and whether a permanent removal may be expedient . "

We see no objection to the Master , in the circumstances stated , retaining the right to " appoint any other place for

a meeting . A Lodge might find it impracticable , for instance , to meet at its usual place on a single occasion , without the necessity arising , or being likely to arise , for removal to other quarters . To meet such a ' case as this it should be in the power of the Master to select " any other

place for meeting . " But in the more complex case , where removal becomes necessary or expedient , the request for a dispensation , as provided by the " new Rule , should be

imperative . _ In the latter part of the Rule , there appears to be a slip in the grammar . It should read , " and there , if so authorised by the terms of the dispensation , carry on the general business of the lodge or determine , " & c .

No . 166 embodies the provisions of Art . 7 , p 47 , Art . 5 , p 74 , and Art . 4 , p 93 , so far as they affect the " Consent required for removals . " We place the proposed and present Rules side by side for comparison .

REVISED EDITION . " 166 . No Loudon lodge , or lodge in the colonies or foreign parts not within a district , can be removed without the consent of the grand mister , and no provincial lodge can be removed without the consent of the grand master and the provincial grand

EXISTING EDITION . 7 ( p 47 ) . "He " -the provin . cial grand master— " has power , with the concurrence of the grand master , to give or to refuse consent for the removal of a lodge from town to town within his district , or from his district into another , or from another district