Masonic Jurisprudence.

would be necessary . This question , the withdrawal of a brother whose conduct is under discussion , whether with reference to exclusion or anything else , has been raised more than once and

his rig ht to be present in lus own lodge so long as he is a member of it , whatever be going on at the time , seems to the writer to be unassailable . As to good taste , of course , that is another matter , but taste and law arc two different things .

An interesting discussion took place in Grand Lodge m December , 1 S 88 , regarding Article 210 , which a certain brother wished to amend b y bringing in some proviso about registered lei lers .

His arguments were not very convincing , and a second proposition , which would have altered a material section of the article , and made it read "present and voting , " seemed to lend colour to the idea that he wished to facilitate the process of exclusion .

Bros . Philbrick and Fenn took'a very opposite view . Thc latter said :

"The object of this proposition is to make exclusion more easy , but consider thc terrible consequences to a brother . Virtually it is a vote of extinction so far as Masonry is concerned ; and it is clearly in its

results so injurious to a man ' s character and social position that it is necessary to hedge the process of a brother ' s exclusion with every precaution against injustice or malice , or , it even may be a conspiracy , asaint him . "

This is strong language from a brother who occupies such a high position in the counsels of Grand Lodge as Bro . Fenn does , and it may be looked upon as expressing the sense of Grand Lod'i'e on the subject . Bro . Philbrick , in the course of his

remarks , said there was no difference between a registered letter and any other , but we very diffidentl y venture to suggest that in the one case the Secretary procures evidence of having nosted it , and in the other no such evidence is forthcoming .

What are the consequences so very forcibly referred to by Bro . Fenn ? They do not . altogether involve extinction , as there is ahvavs the opportunity of the brother making such amendment and reparation as the brethren think lit , and eventually being reinstated . The stigma remains for a time , but even that may come lo lie forgotten .

Article 212 says that any excluded brother shall not be eligible lo join any other lodge , without informing such lodge of what has happened . Practically , he is also debarred from visiting any oilier lodge if the "Tyler's obligation" be in existence , which calls upon any candidate or visitor to take oath that he has nol been expelled , excluded , or suspended .

A question arose in a lodge at which the writer was present whethera brother who had been excluded , and subsequently readmitted could resume the rank and dignity he had previously held as a Past . Master and Provincial Officer . No such question has , within the writer ' s knowledge , been decided . If the period

of absence exceeded 12 months , then Article 9 would deprive him of bis membership of Grand Lodge . lie might be a member of several lodges , and exclusion from one would not effect his status in the rest , unless corresponding action was taken . In other words , he would have to be excluded from each lodge of which he was a member , by separate process .

Exclusion is only the outcome of relations * het \ veen a brother and the members of his own lodge . If those relations , or if the brother ' s conduct be of a kind which affects the Craft at large , then a recommendation for expulsion ought to follow , not an exclusion .

Let us now consider for what reasons a brother may bi ¦ xcUided . One in particular is so very frequent , that Article 212 specially refers to it when speaking of arrears . Probabh ihe great majority of exclusions are for non-payment of dues

Dues , of course , include all payments referred to m the lodge iv-laws , and if the by-laws specified what payments were to be made lo the Steward ' s account , then an unpaid dinner bill would rank as such , but not otherwise .

In June , iXXt , a case was before Grand Lodge- of a somewhat ¦ singular kind . A certain brother was in the habit of paying his lues at irregular intervals . His method was to send a lump SH : M to the Treasurer whenever it occurred to him to do so , and lave hi .- , account crediled with it as far as it went .

In cuurse of time he left the country , and after a two vears ' il ^ emr he relumed , and sent a s-. im ol money to the treasurer o cover , as lie though ! , current dues and provide something lo lis credit . He appears lo have thought that absence from the

• ouiil IT absolved him Irom payment during ihe period of absence . irother Treasurer applied ihe amount lo extinguish the dues ! ial had aeeiiimilaleil , and wrole lor a luiiher remitlanee . This ¦ i | lo argiinieni , and tin . brother was eventuall y excluded . Grand . oeT'o confirmed the exclusion .

Masonic Jurisprudence.

Il is not legal to compound for lodge dues by any one pay . ment . This has been decided twice by Grand Lodge—in June 18 73 , and in the case of a Devonshire brother early in 18 96 . With regard to the Colonies , however , some modification of this ruling appears to be desirable , and the writer laid the question

before the Board of General Purposes , in thc form of a minute in 18 97 , but did not succeed in altering their opinion . There is no doubt but that the absence of power to compound , in certain cases , has accounted for considerable losses in our membershi p . We have , some time ago , referred to the mistaken kindness

which allows brethren to go on accumulating dues until they reach an impossible amount before excluding him . The exclusion , when it does come , is much more serious than it would have been at an earlier date , because the payment of arrears has become practicall y impossible .

The writer knows of a lodge which made a grant to a brother from its Benevolent funds to permit of his paying his dues . No cash ever reached the brother in question . The transaction was merely a bit of book-keeping , and meant , in effect , that the lodge recouped itself any possible loss by transfers from its Charity fund .

English Knight Templary.

ENGLISH KNIGHT TEMPLARY .

I he completion of the first volume of the Liber Ordinis Tempii by the publication of Part 5 , offers a suitable pause in which to look around , and take stock , so' to speak of thc Organisation . 'The present Great Priory dates , in one form or other , from

February , ' 79 ' , when Thomas Dunckerley was elected Grand Master , and installed on the 24 th June in that year . Thc succession is as follows , allowing for brief periods In which acting Grand Masters did duty : 2 , Lord Ranclilfe ( T . B . Parkyns ) , 179 6 ; 3 , H . R . H . Duke of Kent , K . G ., 1805 ; 4 , Waller

Rodwell Wright , 1807 ; 5 , H . R . H . Duke of Sussex , K . G ., 1 S 12 ; 6 , Colonel C . Kemeys-Tynte , 18 4 6 ; 7 , William Stuart , G . C . T ., 1861 ; 8 , Earl of Limerick , G . C . T ., 1873 ; 9 , Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot , G . C . T ., 1 X 76 ; 10 , Earl of Lathom , G . C . T ., 18 77 ; and 11 , Earl of Euston , G . C . T ., from 1 S 9 6 .

On December 13 th , 18 72 , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., & c , & c , was elected Grand Master of the Convent General and installed 7 th April , 1 X 73 . Also proclaimed Sovereign of tho United Orders in Great Britain and Ireland and the Colonies

and Dependencies thereof , 19 th July , 1895 . At the banquet held 7 II 1 April aforesaid , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Grand Master announced that her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria , the daughter of the third Grand Master , had accepted the position of Grand Patron .

'The " Convent General , " established in 1872-3 , was abolished by consent of Il . R . II . the Prince of Wales 19 th July , 1 S 95 , and the Great Priory accordingly resumed its [ lowers as an independent Sovereign Body , having H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , his Majestv the King of Sweden and Norway , H . R . H . the Crown

Prince of Denmark , U . K . H . the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn , and II . II . Prince John of Gliicksburgon its roll as Knights Grand Cross . Besides these of the Blood Royal , there are 13 other Knights similarly decorated , and over 30 enjoy the distinction of

being Knights Commander in the Great Priory of England , the only honorary K . C . 'T . being General John Corson Smith , ol Chicago , Representative at the Grand Encampment of U . S . A . This latter Body , with those of Canada , Scotland , and Ireland , mutually exchange Representatives with England and Wales .

We cannot tell when the Degree of Knight Templar was first worked in this country , the oldest known reference to it being in the minutes of the old R . A . Chapter No . 3 ( now 257 ) , Portsmouth , of October 21 st , 177 8 , as noted in Bro . " Howell ' s History of the Phoenix Lodge , No . 257 , " &< :., of A . D . 1 S 94 .

1 here was , however , a " Supreme Grand and Royal Encampment of tht ; Order of Knights 'Templars" existing at Bristol in 17 X 0 , which by " Charter of Compact " ( still preserved and g iven in my " Origin of the English Rite , " 18 X 4 ) was constituted as such for England ; also in Bro . John Yarker's most interesting

" Notes on the Temple and St . John " ( 1 X 69 ) are particulars ol a " Royal Encampment " at work in Manchester in 1 7 S 6 , also warranted by the '' Grand Royal Encampment of All Eng land held at York" on the 10 th October of that year , and duly opened and constituted as No 15 , seven days later by properly delegated authority .

Brethren who are familiar with my " Masonic Sketches ami Reprints " ( 1 X 71 ) will be aware that the York Knig hts Tempi'' "' assembled in the Grand Lodge Room , 1 Mb February , 17 X 0 , am

that the Grand Lodge of all England , held at York , conlirim' ' its authority over " Five Degrees or Orders of Masonry" 20 th June , I ' XO . 'The Presiding Officers of the Grand Lodge " > Ihe other Degrees presided also in the Grand Encampment . I '"'