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know ; and our good British and Masonic " diners out" find that they can geta better dinner at home vet y often at one-tenth of the cost . Bro . DAWKINS , who still superintends the " menage " at Freemasons' Tavern , knows exactly what his brethren wish , what they want , and what they need ; and we feel sure that under an enlightened regime Freemasons' Tavern will advance in the good opinion of its customers , alike for their own satisfaction and health in everv respect , and for the ultimate benefit of the new lessees .

WE entirely agree with a Past Master of No . 302 , and think the proposition very reasonable . Curiously enough , as Bro . GOULD could tell us , there were Grand Stewards for the Provinces , but they seem lo have

themselves given up the duty and the privilege . There is no reason why they should not be resuscitated . As our brother correspondent truly remarks , the appointments are very few , and there can be no possible objections to increasing the number of Grand Stewards—at least we should like to have them . *

* * IT appears that the copy of the warrant of No . 37 , to which allusion was made recently in our pages , was transcribed by a brother ( since deceased ) some years ago , and was accepted by the compilers of the excellent history of that lodge as a correct transcript ; but on a close examination of the original by Bro . J AMES NEWTON , he informs us that the signature is " MONTAGUE , " not " MONTACUTE . " Bro . NEWTON was led to carefully

scrutinize the document , after the review in the Freemason . ( We equally commend this fact to Bro . NORTON ' S attention ) . It may be possible that , after all . the correct reading in America is "M ONTAGUE , " not "MONTACUTE . " Here is a field for Bro . J ACOB NORTON ' S indefatigable energy . We are pleased to state that Bros . BROCKBANK and NEWTON have consented to the reproduction of their History in the pages of the " Masonic Monthly , " for which permission EDITOR and P UBLISHER tender their best thanks .

The Revised Constitutions.—Ii.

THE REVISED CONSTITUTIONS . — II .

The declaration of the " Unionists" in 1813 respecting the only Degrees recognised by the Grand Lodge of England , as usual , commences the Regulations , and is numbered as 1 . As an instance of the preciseness of the revision , the concluding sentence of Rule 2—re Grand Lodge and its constitution—may be noticed , which reads " and is hereinafter referred to as the Grand Lodge . " The general powers of all substituted authorities are

admirably defined in Rule 3 , and the clause is most clearly and definitely expressed . Under No . 6 comes the members of the Grand Lodge , according to their rank . We notice that the list of officers does not include the Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies , the two Grand Standard Bearers , and the past ditto of each ; and the Assistant Grand Secretary is likewise omitted . The

first two , however , occur under Rule 18 ( so it is possibly , simply omitted inadvertently ) ; but should also be inserted in the first enumeration of the Grand Officers . Past rank is given to the Grand Pursuivants , but not to the Assistant Grand Pursuivants . Surely , it would be as well , if not better , to allow all officers of Grand Lodge , after due service , to be entitled to past rank .

The Grand Pursuivant , we believe , was first appointed in 1833 , and Assistant Grand Pursuivant in 1859 . Two additional Grand Deacons were appointed from 1861 , and an Assistant Grand Secretary occasionally from 1854 . The present holder of the last-mentioned office has well earned the distinction .

The President of the Board of General Purposes does not appear to have been constituted a Grand Officer prior to 1862 ; and an Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies dates from 1829 . Past rank has been gradually extended in its application to several offices , and we hope soon to see it made general . _ , _ . , Festival

Rule 13 recites , " all regular Masons " may attend the Grand . Does that mean Apprentices and Fellow Crafts , or only Master Masons ? Some , we know , consider the latter ; but as apprentices , as such , become members of lodges , and may so continue for their lifetime , their regularity is decidedly proved . The conclusion to clause 13 , page 23 of Constitutions , 1873 ( now No . 13 ) , is left out , so that private lodges within the London district will now be allowed to have " Masonic feasts " on the day of the Grand Festival .

Rule 19 states that the Grand Treasurer shall be nominated in December and elected in March , the first condition being a new one . As No . 29 provides that the Grand Treasurer shall sign cheques , which must be countersigned by the Grand Secretary , and as all monies belonging to the Grand Lodge are now deposited in the Bank of England in the names of the Grand Master ( or Pro Grand Master ) , the Deputy Grand Master , and the Grand Treasurer , we are glad to see that clause 2 , page 35 , respecting " sureties , " is omitted .

The Grand Stewards remain eighteen for each year as before . We hear of a desire for the number being increased , and that the provinces should share in the honour , but we do not think that either longing is likely to be

gratified for the present . No . 53 varies , from its counterpart in article S , page 20 ( Const . 1873 ) , the latter being divided into some five distinct rules in the revision , and thus more precision is attained . The succeeding paragraph gives power to the Chairman of the General Committee to reject any notice of motion which , in his judgment , is not within the cognizance of the Grand Lodge , so long as he makes a due report to the Grand Master . We should suggest that the words Present and Past immediately precede the words " Grand Officers " in rule 37 , which relates to the issue of the

printed reports , & c . Rule 6 9 refers to the distribution and collection of balloting papers , under the superintendence of the Grand Director of Ceremonies , which , though appearing for the first time in the Constitutions , is practically not a new regulation ; and the same may be said of the next paragraph , which provides that the right of speaking twice is only to be the privilege of the mover

of an original resolution , unless in explanation ; and mentions that this rule does not apply to the Grand Registrar , as the adviser of the Grand Lodge . Whilst on the subject of the regulations affecting the Grand Lodge , we may as well state our desire lo see the orders of the Grand Master respecting Masonic prefixes and the precedence of Grand Officers , inserted in the

revised Book of Constitutions . The Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland , issued an order some twenty years since as to Masonic designations , which may thus be summarized : 1 . " Right Worshipful " is accorded only to the Deputy Grand Master , the Present and Past Prov . ( and District ) Grand Masters , and the Present and Past Grand Wardens . 2 . " Very Worshipful " is to be used only by the actual and Past Grand Chaplains , Grand

The Revised Constitutions.—Ii.

Treasurers , Grand Registrars , Presidents of the Board of General Purposes and Grand Secretaries . 3 . "•Worshipful" is accorded only to the other officers of the Grand Lodge , and the actual or Past Masters oi Lodges . 4 . All others are to be designated " Brothers . " In other words , the appointmr-nts of Prov . and District Grand Masters , as such , are not entitled to any

prefix beyond " Brother , " though as a matter of fact , even now it is not an unusual thing to find Deputy Prov . Grand Masters and others , designated "Very Worshipful . " Whatever custom prevailed before the Union of December 1 S 13 , is no law for our guidance now , and all brethren should loyally conform to the usage of the Grand Lodge , as evidenced for many years past in the published proceedings of that Body .

Readers of the Freemason will remember the long and warm discussion that was inserted in its pages , quite recently , as to the relative precedence of Grand and Provincial and District Grand Officers . On 9 th November , 1881 , the Grand Secretary , by command of the M . W . the Grand Master , communicated with the representatives of His Royal Highness in the provinces on the subject , and stated most emphatically that " Grand Officers

have a clear right of precedence , as such , over all Provincial Grand Officers , whether in their own province or not . " The letter also stated that such has been the established custom of the Craft for the last 150 years , the official records showing " that the Grand Officers of England , Present and Past , have always taken precedence of the local Masonic authorities , of whatever

grades ( other than that of Provincial Grand Master ) they may have been . " Of course , the Provincial Grand Master ( or District Grand Master ) is not a Provincial Grand Officer , but ranks , according to date of patent , immediately after the Deputy Grand Master , i . e ., immediatel y before the Grand Wardens .

The Rule 76 , respecting the mode of voting , has since been altered ; but , doubtless , will be given in the special issue of the revised Constitutions now being prepared . The new regulation was agreed to on the 1 st March , of this year , and is as follows ; "That the counting of votes on a division in Grand Lodge be conducted in future on the following system : 1 st . That there shall be eight tellers from the body of the hall , namely—the four

Grand Deacons acting for Grand Lodge , and the proposer and seconder of the motion , with two brethren nominated by them , for the resolution . 2 nd . That there shall be two tellers for the Grand Officers on the Dais , namely —the Assistant Director of Ceremonies for Grand Lodge and a brother nominated by the proposer for the resolution . 3 rd . That on a division being called for , a pair of tellers shall be placed opposite each of the four divisions of Grand Lodge and the Dais , who shall request the brethren of their

division to hold up their hand , first for "Ayes " and then for " Noes , " the tellers audibl y counting the numbers each time , which shall be at once noted on paper , initialled by both tellers , and handed up to the Grand Secretary , who shall announce the result after receiving and adding up all the scores . " Students of the " Revise " will notice that all fines for non-attendance are omitted . As a matter of fact we never remember one having been levied , so that the clauses as to such have practically been a dead letter for many years .

Whilst considering the laws relating to our Grand Lodge , it may not be amiss to say , that we have heard it suggested of late years , that Deputy Prov . Grand Masters should have a seat on the Dais , in Grand Lodge . Certainly it is well to raise the status of such important offices as much as possible in the provinces , but the way to achieve that object , is for Provincial Grand Masters to be most careful in their appointments of brethren to such

positions of influence and responsibility . We are of opinion , that a frequent change of appointment to that office is far from desirable , and that the more Past Deputy Grand Masters are created in a province , the less value will be set upon the dignity . As far as possible or convenient , it should be as much a life appointment as that of Prov . Grand Master , and when so recognized we fail to see any cause for complaint , or any plea offered for alteration in the present status of such brethren . Of late years , we have noticed

several Deputy Prov . Grand Masters appointed to Grand Lodge honours , and we have gladly greeted brethren who have thus been distinguished . It must be remembered , that an undue increase of offices , either in Grand or Provincial and District Grand Lodges , serves only to lessen the value of the dignity thus acquired , and that after all , to the great majority , the honour of serving their lodges faithfully as Worshipful Masters must be their chief distinction . The third article will be devoted to Provincial and District Grand Lodges .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MIDDLESEX .

The annual meeting of this important province -vas held under very favourable auspices , at the Masonic Rooms , Teddington , on the 30 th ult . Among the large assemblage of brethren present were Bros , the R . W . P . G . M ., Colonel Sir Francis Burdett , Sir Charles Bright , D . P . G . M . ; Raymond Thrupp , P . G . S . W . ; E . S . Baihie , P . G . J . W . ; H . Buss , P . G . Treas . ; H . C . Levander , P . G . Sec . : C . Arding , P . G . S . D . ; Gordon , P . G . I . D . ; Nash , P . G . D . C ; Lonsdale , P . G . A . D . C . ; Goodall , P . G . S . B . ; Dunkley , P . G . Org . ; Dixon , P . G . P . ; Inglis , C . Russ , 1 . Bird ,

Pearson , and Ockenden , Stewards ; Davison , P . P . G . W . ; Stedwell , P . P . G . W . ; E . Bright , P . P . G . W . ; Dr . P . H . Ernest Brette , P . P . G . Chap , ; W . Hammond , P . P . G . D . ; George Kenning , P . P . G . D . ; A . Day , P . P . G . D . ; John Mason , P . P . G . D . ; Briggs , P . P . G . R . ; Massa , P . P . G . S . of W . ; Tidcombe , P . P . G . D . C . ; Stephens , P . P . G . D . C . ; Lingall , P . P . G . D . C . ; E . Hopwood , P . P . G . S . B . ; T . C . Walls , P . P . G . S . B . ; Kehrenbach , P . M . 3 S 2 ; E . Poore , W . M . 1237 ; Kentish , W . M . 1293 ; Glnster , W . M . 1326 ; Woodward , W . M . 1691 ; Cawksley , W . M . 1702 ; Filler , W . M . 1793 ; McDoueall ,

P . M . 7 SS ; Hadham , P . M . 865 ; Argyle , P . M . 946 ; Vincent , P . M . 1 194 ; Tavener , P . M . 1237 ; George , P . M . 1309 ; Smiles , P . M . 1309 ; Archer , P . M . 1494 ; Larlham , P . M . 1777 ; Forge , P . M . 1793 ; Rev . T . D'Orsey , Chap . 1503 ; Featherstone , J . W . 1656 ; Goodchild , J . W . 1793 ; Briggs , I . G . 1503 ; Gilbert , P . G . Tyler . Among the visitors were Bros . Col . Shadwell H . Gierke , Grand Secretary ; James Terry , Secretary R . M . B . I . ; H . Potter , P . M . 11 ; Green , P . M . 27 ; Alfred Brookman , C . C ., W . M . 1657 ; and others .

' 1 he minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , the roll of Provincial Grand Officers and lodges was called . The report of the Audit Committee was then received and adopted . The balance to the credit of the General and Benevolent Fund was nearl y £ 400 . This gratifying announcement was greeted with considerable applause . The R . W . P . G . M . then in a short but effective address moved that the sum of ten guineas should be voted from the funds to each of the three Masonic Charities . This proposition having been seconded , was carried

" nem con . " W . Bro . H . Buss having been unanimously re-elected Treasurer , the motion proposed by Bro . Clabon , P . G . D ., in Grand Lodge , June 10 th , 1882 , was discussed , viz .: " That for the purpose of maintaining and extending the Fund of Benevolence , all the members of the lodges in the London District ( except Military Lodges ) , shad pay quarterly one shilling and sixpence each to the Fund , instead of one shilling , as fixed by the Grand Lodge held on the 2 nd March , 1814 . And that all members of lodges not within the London District ( except Military , Colonial and