Transactions, Lodge No. 2076, London.

Our dear Bro . H . J . Whymper , CLE ., has also done good work in this direction . He has copied many Allahabad Fort Marks , and writen a valuable paper published in the " Masonic Record of Western India" for March and April , 1890 . The old " Freemasons Magazine " had often excellent articles

on the subject , as in 1862 and 1868 by the late Bro . E . W . Shaw , and a capital collection from Kilwinning Abbey , in Bro . D . Murray Lyon ' s notable history of that old lodge . In the Freemason for November 13 th , 1886 , will be found a number of

marks of the Masons then working on the Truro Cathedral , which I had from the clerk of the works ; besides which , many other sources of information might be enumerated , as most of us students have made independent collections .

The value ofthe Paper by Professor Lewis is that the classes of marks are carefully handled by a brother who has studied the subject for many years , and who makes important suggestions concerning their origin and character , both in this country and abroad . The Paper must be read and diligently studied to be

properly appreciated , and so should the two monographs by Dr . Westcott , S . D . 2076 , ancl Bro . F . F . Schnitger , C . C , in relation to the Cabballa of H . Cornelius Agrippa . Those who are inclined to slight the teaching of the "Occult Philosophy" by

that great writer may possibly give the work more attention after reading these two articles by experts in matters Rosicrucian and occult . I am not prepared to accept all their startling statements , though , at the same time , gratefully recognise the skilful manner they have handled the subject .

The "Mummersof Guisers , " by Bro . W . Simpson , I . P . M . 2076 , certainly confirms the statement of the gifted author that we need not confine our attention to the Eleusian mysteries for illustration of Rites allied to our own , and the " Mosaics at

Morton , " by Bro . S . Russell Forbes , is an able exposition of views on the question fully shared by me , and I thank him for thus so clearly defending and illustrating views which go to prove that the Mosaics at Morton are not Free Masonic .

Bro . Crows paper on "Freemasonry in Holland" will be gladly perused by not a few brethren who desire information about the Craft in the Netherlands , and yet scarcely know where to obtain reliable facts . The sketch , all too brief , is very readable , and the peculiar constitution of the Ruling Bodies in that

country is lucidly explained . The year 1731 is too early , however , for the beginning of Dutch Freemasonry by the chartering of a regular lodge at the Hague by the Grand Lodge of England

was not until 1735 as No . 131 . It was erased in 176 9 as No . 71 * There was a special lodge held in 1731 for the initiation of the Duke of Lorraine , but it was not warranted or constituted in the regular way .

lhe information afforded by Bro . Lad de Malczovich , of Budapest , is a most welcome contribution , but I fear the elaborate paper " Brahminical Initiation , " by Bro . W . Simpson , I . P . M . 2076 , would not be an easy matter to treat Masonically ,

and so I drop it , able as it is undoubtedly . The discussion which followed its reading was of a very remarkable character , and abundantly illustrated the far-reaching influence of the lodge .

Reviews , Notes and Queries , Obituary , and Chronicle , mainly by our model Secretary , Bro . G . W . Speth , complete a part which throughout is a great credit to the lodge ancl all concerned in its preparation . I am astonished to find that neither the

reprint of the " Constitutions , A . D . 173 8 , " nor the Vol . 2 , of the Trancripts of the " Cooke" ancl other MSS ., have yet been cleared out . It seems to me inexplicable , as a guinea charged for both , might well be asked for either volume .

The frontispiece to this part is a splendid portrait of our esteemed Treasurer , Bro . Walter Besant , who is loved by thousands for his labours on behalf of those who cannot hel p themselves , and who is always at home in our students' lodge . God bless him ! _ \ V . J . HUGHAN .

The Proposed New Code Of Laws For The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

THE PROPOSED NEW CODE OF LAWS FOR THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

( Conlinued from Page 115 . ) As ^ regards the further proposed new laws relating to " Quarterl y" and "Special" Courts we note that under Law XXXI ., paragraph 2 , it is provided that " Twelve members shall form a quorum , " which is certainly a more suitable provision than that contained in existing Law XXXII ., paragraph 2 , which enacts that only " Five members shall form a quorum . "

Proposed Law XXXIII . provides that " The Court shall decide by show of hands ; the Chairman , in his discretion , may direct the numbers to be counted . " There is no such enactment in the existing laws . Proposed Law XXXIV . and existing Law XXXIV . are set forth in language almost identical , only that the former includes " the suspension "• as well as " " the abrogation or alteration " of any existing law , as being among the things which cannot be done at a Quarterly Court unless due notice of motion to that end shall

The Proposed New Code Of Laws For The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

have been given at a previous Quarterly Court or Council , and advertised in three ofthe London daily papers 10 days—the existing law says " six days" —prior to such meeting . Both laws require that " the minutes of such proceedings as are specified in this law shall not take effect unless confirmed at a subsequent Quarterly Court , " and both enact that neither a " Quarterly" nor a " Special" Court " shall have power to cancel , or alter , the fundamental principle of the Institution—that its benefits shall be extended to the sons of brethren of every reli g ious denomination . "

Proposed new Law XXXV . enacts that " Patrons , Vice-Patrons , Vice-Presidents , Life Governors , Life Subscribers , and Annual Subscribers of one guinea of at least two years' standing shall alone be entitled to attend and vote at Quarterly or Special Courts ; " which , as there is no such provision under the existing laws , we presume is intended as a precaution against the manufacture of annual subscribers

for the purpose of rushing a particular motion through at some Quarterly or Special Court and securing its confirmation , in cases where necessary , at a subsequent Quarterly Court . If this is so , we see no objection to the proposed law ; but otherwise , it seems rather hard that annual subscribers of only one year ' s standing should be excluded from taking part in the business of Quarterl y and Special Courts .

Lastly , it appears desirable that the provision contained in paragraph 2 of proposed Law XXX ., which forbids the decision of a " Special " Court being reconsidered at a subsequent "Special" or " Quarterly " Court until after a period of 12 months has elapsed , should be extended to the decisions of " Quarterly " Courts . There is , in our opinion , no reason why a distinction should be drawn between the decisions arrived at by the two classes of Courts . If those of the "Special " Court are to remain valid for 12 months , so likewise should those of the " Quarterly " Court .

Laws XXXVI . and XXXVII . concern the " Council " and correspond with present Laws XXXV . and XXXVI ., which concern the " General Committee . " As regards the proposed substitution of the term " Council" for " General Committee , " we are not aware of any particular virtue attaching to the former which does not pertain to the latter . The body in question will do its work as effectively by whichever of the two designations it may be known , but , unless a special reason can be given in favour of the proposed change , we prefer that the title of " General Committee " should remain ,

The constitution of the " Council " under Law XXXVI . will be the same as that of the , " General Committee " under existing Law XXXV ., and the duties remain almost the same . It has , however , been already provided—see proposed new Law XXIX ., paragraph 1—that the Board of Management shall be elected by the Quarterly Court , and Law XXXVIII . enacts that the election of the said Board shall take place at the Quarterl y Court in April . Consequently , there must be an error in including the election of the Board of Management among

the duties of the " Council , " or else the assignment of such a duty to the " Quarterly Court" must be wrong . If , however , we assume that it is the " Quarterly Court" which will elect the said Board , it will still rest with the " Council " to fill up " extraordinary vacancies " on the same Board , as they are defined in proposed new Law XLIL , though it will certainly excite some curiosity to know why the Board should be elected by the Court and extraordinary vacancies filled up by the Council .

Under proposed Law XXXVII . the Council is to meet , not as the General Committee now does on the first Saturday in every month , September excepted , but on the first Friday , " except when that day shall fall on the Friday immediately before a Bank Holiday , when the meeting shall be held on the next following Friday , " there being , as now , no meeting in the month of September . It also provides that " seven shall form a quorum , " whereas the number under the existing law is " three . "

Laws XXXVIII . —LV . concern the proposed " Board of Management" wilh its Finance and Petitions Committees , and though they are not all of them perhaps as clearly defined as they mi ght be , there can be no doubt that the changes they introduce , if they are effectually carried out , will be a decided improvement on the present arrangements . These laws are intended to take the place of existing Laws XXXVII . —XLIX ., and a comparison of the two groups with each other will bear out what we have said as to the new proposals being calculated

to ensure a greater degree of efficiency in the management of the Institution . At present , as our readers are aware , the interior arrangements of the School are vested ( 1 ) , for general purposes of administration and disci pline , in a House Com ** mittee consisting of 12 Life Governors , elected at the June meeting of the General Committee , and ( 2 ) , for financial business , in a Finance and Audit Committee , consisting of nine Life Governors , elected also at the June meeting of the same General Committee . In the election of these House and Finance and Audit

Committees—to which indeed , in their respective spheres of duty , the full authority of the General Committee is delegated—no other restriction has been imposed than that the Life Governors so elected must be Freemasons . Hence , as London brethren are on tbe spot , while the Provincial brethren are scattered all over the country , it has only very occasionally happened that a country brother has been included among their members . The new laws , however , embody the

following proposals ; Firstly , instead of two Committees , one for administrative purposes , consisting of 12 Freemason Life Governors , and the other for finance and audit purposes , consisting of nine Freemason Life Governors , both being elected by the General Committee , there is to be a Board of Management , consisting of " 30 Life Governors , being Freemasons , " elected from the Council " at the Quarterly Court in April , " the Treasurer and Trustees being , as now ,

ex officio members . Of these 30 brethren it is proposed that " fifteen " shall be " members of London lodges and 15 shall be members of Provincial Grand Lodges . " Thus the Provinces , which certainly subscribe one half of the funds of the Charity , will have an equal voice with London in its general and financial administration , though it remains to be seen whether country members living at a distance will be as regular attendants at the Board meetings as their London

colleagues . The nominations of brethren to serve on this Board—see proposed Law XXXIX . —must be made at the meeting of the Council in April , that is on the first Friday , or in the event of that being the Friday preceding a Bank Holiday , on the second Friday in that month , London brethren being nominated by a London brother and Provincial brethren " from time to time by the Provincial Grand Secretary of each province on behalf of such province , not more than one

brother being nominated on behalf of any one province . " Proposed Law XL . provides that " the election shall be conducted in the manner prescribed by the Book ot Constitutions for the election of members for the Board of General Purposes "—see Book of Constitutions , Laws 255 and following—Scrutineers being appointed to take the poll , " which will remain open until 3 p . m . " Proposed Law XLI . provides that , except in the case of those first

elected , members shall be elected to serve for three years , but the members of the first elected Board will determine among themselves , "by ballot , " at their first meeting after election , which particular 10 brethren ( five London and five Provincial ) shall retire at the end of the first year , which 10 , similarly constituted , at the end of the second year , and which 10 , similarly constituted , at the end of the third year . By this arrangement the proposed Board will be renewed as regards one-third of

its members every year , while by providing that the retiring third shall always consist of London and Provincial brethren in equal moieties , the sub-division of the Board into equal moieties of 15 London and 15 Provincial members will be perpetuated . As there is nothing to the contrary contained in this or any other of the laws relating to the subject , we presume that the retiring one-third of the members will be eligible for re-election . ( To be Continued . )