United Grand Lodge.

Bro . G LADWELL said that in a momentous matter like this , the revision of the Constitutions of the Order , he thought every member of the Craft should have an opportunity of considering what the proposed alterations were , and that for this purpose they should all have an opportunity of buying at a small price a copy of the proposed alterations . , He had much pleasure in seconding Bro . Perceval ' s amendment .

The Hon . Bro . J USTICE PRINSEP said , that although he was a stranger at Grand Lodge , yet from the position in which he was placed by this motion , he would be forgiven for saying a few words . The ACTING GRAND MASTER said that he would interrupt the speaker for one moment , for the purpose of introducing him to Grand Lodge . He

had the pleasure of welcoming the speaker , Bro . Justice Prinsep , District Grand Master of Bengal to Grand Lodge . Bro . PRINSEP said that the matter under consideration was one of very oreat importance . Those who , like himself , lived at a distance from England-brethren in the speaker ' s position-had no opportunity of attending

Grand Lodge , and would have no part in the discussion of this question , though they are anxiously concerned in it . The speaker said that he left Bengal in June last , and only learned recently from his District Grand Secretary that he had received a copy of the Constitutions as they were now

proposed to stand , and they were now in India . He had had the pleasure to visit a country lodge a few days ago , and heard the matter considered , but he had not himself had an opportunity of considering the amended Constitutions , and he thought that the proposed delay would be generally approved .

Bro . FENN said that he was sure he spoke the . sentiments of the President of the Board of General Purposes when he said that there was no wish on the part of the Board to hurry the consideration of this matter . It had taken the Board a very long time , for thev had been engaged for eighteen months upon the work . There could be no reason for haste ,

except that the edition of 1873 had been run out for some time past ; there was no other reason , except the necessity for having a new edition as soon as possible / and there was no other object in pressing this on the consideration of Grand Lodge . The motion which Bro . Perceval had proposed he thought wanted some little correction , because he wanted to bring it before

some other ordinary Grand Lodge , whereas it must be considered by a special Grand Lodge , as it will take some great time to get through this work . The Acting Grand Master suggested to Bro . Perceval that it could not be a usual , —it must be a special Grand Lodge , instead of " next Grand Lodge . " Bio . BRACKSTONE BAKER desired to know whether this motion before

Grand Lodge was intended to supersede a motion by Bro . Budden , that proof copies of the proposed revised Constitutions should be purchasable at the Grand Secretary ' s Office , or did that stand over for a time so as to be taken at its place on the agenda paper . The brother was understood to say that he was a member of the Board of General Purposes in 1866 , when

a great deal of time was devoted to the Book of Constitutions , and that they were made as perfect as it was possible . That was a long time ago , and in the course of events a Book of Constitutions admitted of considerable alterations and amendments . The Board of General Purposes had

taken a great deal of pains with the matter , and it was very desirable that every brother who desired to propose an amendment should do so before the 25 th September . He would , therefore , ask whether the brother proposed by the new resolution that the motion standing lower on the agenda paper should be abandoned . The ACTING GRAND MASTER said that he must hear the one question

first . Bro . BRACKSTONE BAKER ( resuming ) was understood to say that no time ought to be lost in going through the new edition . The attention of the brethren had been sufficiently called to the revision of the Book of

Constitutions , and he thought "that the mass of brethren , instead of proposing immaterial alterations of no moment , should accept the revision as effected by the Board of General Purposes . The former edition of the book was exhausted , and when a Book of Constitutions was wanted they could not get a copy of it .

Bro . BUDDEN requested permission to say one word . If the brother who proposed the ' postponement of the'Special Grand Lodge would take his ( Bro . Budden ' s ) notice as it stood at the bottom of the paper , he would be very pleased for that to be added to Bro . Perceval ' s resolution . They had

had very little time to consider the new Constitutions ; they had had only three copies in the whole province . He could not help thinking that the work was of far greater importance than to admit of its being performed in a hurried manner .

While Bro . Percival was writing out his proposed resolution , the ACTING GRAND MASTER said he would proceed with the notices of motion , whereupon Bro . Budden rose to propose in terms of the notice that he had given :

That the minute of the last Grand Lodge ( June 7 th , 1 SS 2 ; , containing the resolution Proposed by Bro . RAYNHAM STEWART to raise the Grand Lodge subscription to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution from £ Soo a year ( its present amount ) to £ 1600 a year be not confirmed ;

and to propose other resolutions in lieu thereof ; but the Acting Grand Master pointed out to him that the minutes had been already read and confirmed , and that no motion could now be made to unconfirm them ; the Proper time to have brought this matter forward was when the minutes were Put for confirmation .

Bro . BUDDEN said that it was done a little too sharp , and that owing to the extraordinary speed with which it was got through , he must now admit that he was out of court . The Acting GRAND MASTER : I have only to say , Bto . Budden , that

United Grand Lodge.

although I have sat here many times before , I never put the confirmation of the minutes in a more deliberate manner , but I see there is another motion of

yours . Bro . BUDDEN said his motion was in three parts , and that the two others must fall with the first . The ACTING GRAND MASTER said he wished to explain to Bro . Budden that , as regards those in which he was out of order , that was as to 1 and 2 . He could now go on with No . 3 .

Bro . BUDDEN said he had nothing to say as to No . 3 , which he desired to drop . No . 2 , at foot of the paper , would form part of Bro . Perceval ' s amendment . He would propose that any member of Grand Lodge be

permitted to purchase a proof-copy of the revised Constitutions , now under consideration of Grand Lodge , at a price not exceeding 2 s . per copy . If Grand Lodge could arrange for any member to be able to obtain a copy , he was sure that any member would be pleased to pay 2 s . for it .

The motion was duiy seconded , and supported by Bro . the Hon . Mr . Justice Prinsep , D . G . M . Bengal . Bro . FENN said he would ask the brother to postpone his amendment until he had heard Bro . Perceval ' s motion read . The ACTING GRAND MASTER then read the mojion . — " It is proposed

and seconded that the revision of the Book of Constitutions be postponed till February next , or until such time as the M . W . Grand Master may appoint ; and that amendments and additions be required to be delivered

to the Grand Secretary on or before the 28 th January , and that a copy be sent to each lodge , and every member be enabled to purchase a copy , if he so desires it , at a price not exceeding 2 s . " That has been moved and seconded .

Bro . FENN said there was onl y one suggestion that he would make , which was , that brethren who desired copies of this revised Book of Constitutions should give due notice of it , that it might be known how many copies would be required . There were some 5000 members of Grand Lodge , but

in all probability not more than 200 or 300 would be required to be purchased . He thought that the Grand Secretary should have a fortnight ' s notice from those desiring to have copies , otherwise he would not know how many to order .

The necessary addition having been made to the resolution , The ACTING GRAND MASTER read it as follows : " Members enabled to purchase a copy at a price not exceeding 2 s ., notice being given within six weeks from the present time . " The motion was then put to Grand Lodge and carried .

Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form , and with solemn prayer . Bro . E . M . Lott , P . P . G . W . Jersey , and P . M . 1929 , officiated at the oigan in the unavoidable absence ot Bro . VV . G . Cusins , Grand Organist .

Review.

REVIEW .

THE HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY . By Bro . R . F . GOULD , P . G . D . Thomas C . Jack , 45 , Ludgate-hill , E . C . First Notice . First Vol . This work , long expected , has at last appeared , and will demand , as we doubt not it will receive , the careful perusal of Masonic and non-Masonic

students . This century has witnessed the zealous lucubrations of Oliver , the elaborate efforts of Findel , the careful studies of Hughan , the important communications of D . M . Lyon , the eloquent pages of Fort , and now we have to hail the striking and remarkable labours of Bro . Gould , and certainly too high praise cannot be awarded to the scrupulous fidelity of his

researches , and the painstaking accuracy of his references . If Masonic writers and Masonic histories have been too often dubbed , unconsequential and unreferential , Bro . Gould is clearly determined that no one shall complain as far as he is concerned of any such grave delinquency , and he , therefore , with most commendable minuteness and patience sends us back

to the actual authorities he quotes from , the very evidences and assertions he makes use of . It is a very great virtue this carefulness , and this fulness of reference , and will be gratefull y remembered and realized by many who turn over his well-filled pages . The chief characteristic in Bro . Gould's new and very valuable work , probably his " magnum opus , " is its

originality . No one can accuse Bro . Gould of "sheep walking . " He has sketched out for himself a syllabus and programme of Masonic history , to fill up and fill in , and though not despising the adjuncts ready to his hands , he has gone to original sources and primal authorities for all that he puts iorward . Hence his book comes before us most real in character and

satisfactory in outcome . No mere padding , no deliberate book making , no borrowing from other people ' s works without acknowledgment , but the bright features of careful collation and laborious research mark his first volume from the first page to the last . And we shall , and must be struck , those of us who understand what the true difficulty

of the Masonic historian consists in , with this his most honest effort to go to the fountain head , and to lay before his readers , without any favourite fad or preconceived theory , all that history can unfold , all that facts can substantiate , all that veritable and lucid illustrations can exemplify or elucidate . Bro . Gould , in Volume I . goes through certain sources of assumed

or supposed Masonic origin . He deals most carefully and effectively svith the Ancient Mysteries , the Essenes , the Roman Collegia , and the Culdees . He then dwells upon the English Gild Legends , and then , as the Americans say , he " strikes oil" in three special divisions . No where else is so exhaustively treated before —( 1 ) the Steinmetzen of Germany ; ( 2 ) the Craft Gilds