The Revised Constitutions.

THE REVISED CONSTITUTIONS .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As you have been kind enough to allow us , —the compilers of the comparison of thc old and revised Book of Constitutions now appearing in your columns , —space to call the attention of the brethren generally to certain points whicii in our opinion call for further revision , we beg to lay the following suggestions before yourself and your numerous readers .

We trust that those readers will find that their attention has been drawn by us to all material points of difference between the two codes ; but wc wish , before submitting those suggestions , to impress upon thc members of Grand Lodge the importance of allowing a further interval to elapse before the final adoption of the new code , for the following

reasons ist . —Although the revision as originally issued by the Board of General Purposes has been in thc hands of the Craft for several months , yet the amendments adopted by Grand Lodge in June and August were only published ten days before the last quarterly communication , when it was proposed to confirm them , and were then so published as to render it difficult to comprehend their full bearing .

and . —If the brethren in this country have had but scanty time , as we think , in which to realize the full force of all these amendments , still less have the brethren in colonial districts , such as India or New Zealand , /;;;* whom we arc legislating , as well as for ourselves , had an opportunity of recording their opinions thereon , and many of them will not have had reasonable time to do so before the quarterly communication in

December . 3 rd . —Wc think that the attention of the brethren generally has not been sufficiently called to thc many important alterations introduced by the Board of General Purposes , by means of the insertion or omission of apparently unimportant words and paragraphs , in tlieir first revision .

4 th . —We think also that many brethren who would have wished to express their opinions and to record their votes on the amendments laid before Grand Lodge were prevented from doing so owing to the time of year at which the two Special Grand Lodges were held , as was shown by the subsequent rejection of the motion to confirm the minutes of those meetings . 5 th . —Nothing can be lost , no harm can be done to any lodge or brother , by delay , whilst precipitate action may cause evils as yet wholly unforeseen .

Cth . —It is easy now to reconsider disputed points ; it will not be so when the code has been adopted . And lastly , we are aware of no valid reason which has yet been brought forward either in Grand Lodge or elsewhere for an immediate decision . The following are the points which , in our opinion , require further consideration

before the new code is irrevocably settled : — ( To avoid , confusion , our suggestions follow the order of the clauses iu thc revision . ) Rule 9 ( Old Book , p . iS , f 1 ) . —The words " rank as a past master " should find a place in this as in the old rule , for by their omission the definition of a past master is lost .

Rule 11 . —Would it not be desirable to avoid the possibility of grand lodge falling upon Ash VVednesday ? Rule 16 . —This rule , in certain cases , gives thc grand wardens the power of fixing a day for the election of grand master , when that ofiice is vacant , a power which by the old rule was vested in grand lodge .

Rule 26 . —By this rule , and by the omission of the old rule , p . 3 S , § 2 , the chair of a grand warden or of a grand deacon may be temporarily occupied by a brother who is not an installed master . Rule 76 , ( Old Book p . 2 S , § 9 ) . —The last clause of the old rule , " provided such demand appear reasonable to the grand master , " should follow after the words " votes be counted , " because by its omission any two members can obstruct all the business of grand lodge , the evil of which is far greater than the danger of a misuse of his power by the grand master in the chair .

Rule So . —The last clause was introduced in order to make past masters joining a lodge In another province or district , members of provincial or district grand lodges . This was already provided by page 73 , § 3 , in the old book , and can now be attained far more ¦ simp ly by omitting the last clause of the new rule , and by altering the words " of all lodges" in line 6 of the new rule , into " subscribing to any lodge . "

Rule 83 . —In the last clause it would be better to insert after the words grand treasurer" the words " who is to be elected , as provided in Rule 103 , " and also to state his rank in the provincial or district grand lodge . Ruleg 2 . —Is it desirable that a deputy provincial or district grand master should be nonresident even with dispensation , as by rule 93 ? The board of general purposes recommended grand lodge to reinsert the old provision . Rule So contains the other provision as to his being a subscribing member of some lodge in his province or district .

Rule 102 . —It would be better to insert the words " of England" after the words " holding under the grand lodge . " Rule 116 ( Old Book , p . 126 ) . —In the eighth line , after the words " regular lodge , " the following words should be inserted : "in the same town , province , or district , " as it is most desirable that every petition for a new lodge should be supported by brethren who are well acquainted with thc circumstances .

Rule 119 ( Old Book , p . 127 ) . —In the colonies and foreign parts might not the qualification of the first master of a new lodge , namely , ' , that he must be a | past warden , be umitted , under a dispensation from the district grand master ? Rule 121 . —Would it not be well to add at the end ot this rule "or \> f the district gran J master ?" Ru ' . 126 . —What does the " withholding " of a warrant mean ? and what " masonic authoritj " is " competent" to withhold one , and under what circumstances ?

Rule 127 ( Old Book , p . 70 , § 2 S ) . —In order to define the new term ** masonic Offence" the words " under Rule 204 " should be added . Ruleizg . —Why should not the masterbc permitted toappoint more than oncdirector of ceremonies , if the size of his lodge requires them ? Rule 130 ( Old Book , p . 62 , § 2 , and 7 C , § \) . —( a ) Fourth line , as Rule ny provides that the first master of every new lodge must have served as warden , the words " master or " inserted by grand lodge on June 29 are unnecessary , ( b ) In the new clause introduced

by grand lodge , for " as per by-laws , " read " as provided by the by-laws . " ( c ) In the Same clause , why should not power be also given to anticipate the regular date of meeting In any case , a new clause is needed to extend this privilege to London'lodges and ^ to pro-Vide that such change in the date of installation shall not disqualify any brother affected thereby from being a member of grand lodge under Rule 9 . ( d ) Again in the same clause , as the words now stand , a deputy provincial or district grand master can approve a postponement of meeting , though representation on the subject can be made only to the provincial or district grand master .

Rule 141 ( Old Book , p . 78 , § 6 ) . —( a ) The alteration of " election of officers" into "installation of master" is rendered necessary by Rule 130 , depriving the master elect Of the power of ruling the lodge , ( b ) Clause 2 gives a past master iu but not of the lodge the right to take the chair in certain circumstances , which right is new . ( c ) Clause J . Would it not be well to state more clearly the position in the lodge a warden is to

The Revised Constitutions.

occupy ? and might not wardens in districts be given power to confer degrees after dispensation ? Rules 144 , 145 . —These rules would be better placed under the heading " provincial and district grand lodges , " to follow Rule 9 S . Rule 146 . —This rule should be divided , and the portion referring to the grand master be placed , along with Rules 142 and 143 , immediately after Rule 15 ; whilst the portion referring to provincial and district grand masters should be placed , along with Rules 144 and 145 , immediately after Rule 9 S .

Rule 147 ( Old Book , p . 67 , § ig ) . —As by rule 156 "the mode of working adopted " must have " received the sanction of grand lodge , " would it not be well to retain the first portion of the old rule in this place ? Rule 14 S ( Old Book , p . S 9 , § 1 ) . —Might not this rule be broken up into paragraphs with advantage , so as to show the alternatives more clearly ?

Rule 149 ( Old Book , p . S 9 , § 2 ) . —The alteration in this rule , by giving to the master alone the power of refusing admission to a visitor , extends to him an arbitrary power whicii hc may easily abuse . Rule 151 . —This rule does not clearly state that London lodges are not under any provincial jurisdiction , as was stated in . the old rule on page 72 .

Rule 153 ( Old Book , p . 74 , and 75 , § 1 ) . —There is now no penalty specified for the breach of the special regulations for military lodges , and such lodges can now be formed without the consent of the commanding officer , which seems to be very undesirable . Rule 161 ( Old Book , p . 63 , § 5 ) . —In order to lessen the prevailing ignorance of the Book of Constitutions , it would be very desirable to add the following clause : " A copy of the Book of Constitutions shall also be supplied to every brother on his initiation or on joining from a foreign jurisdiction . "

Rule 162 ( Old Book , p . 64 , § 7 ) . —Ash Wednesday ought also to be provided for , in the clause added by grand lodge ; and , if a public holiday falls on a Monday , would the previous Saturday be held to be " the day before " ? Rule 165 ( Old Book , p . 93 , § 2 ) . —Is it not a pity to deprive the master of the power to call a meeting for the purpose of consultation only ?

Rule 16 3 ( Old Book , p . 63 , § 6 ) . —( a ) As the requirement that the ages ol candidates should be recorded was practically a dead letter ; is it any use to retain it ? ( b ) Should not the master still be made responsible for the observance of this rule , as he was before ?

Rule 179 ( Old Book , p . 62 , § 2 ) . —( a ) In the event of two black balls and two white balls only appearing upon a ballot for a candidate , is the master to give a casting vote , provided the by-laws of the lodge do not enact that two black balls shall exclude ? ( b ) As , under rule 141 , a warden may be presiding , the words " master in the chair " in line four should be " brother presiding . "

Rule 1 S 0 ( Old Book , p . 82 ) . —By the alteration in this rule there is no longerjany special penalty attached to the improper admission of members ; the old penalty was very stringent , and ought to be maintained . We may as well here observe that almost all the special penalties provided by the old constitutions are omitted in the revision , their place being supplied by rule 204 , which , however , is of a much milder nature .

Rule lSG ( Old Book , p . S 3 , § 1 ) . —( a ) In line 3 , the words " at a regular meeting " seem to have crept in in consequence of a misconstruction of the words in the old rule , and , as introduced , entirely alter its meaning , by preventing a joining member being proposed at an emergency lodge , for which there appears to be no good reason . ( 6 ) In order to ensure the production of the " clearance certificate" mentioned in this rule , it would be well to add a note at the end to the following effect , namely : — "N . B

It follows from this that the election of a joining member , in whose case the certi . ficate required above has not been produced , is absolutely void . " Grand lodge has already endeavoured to emphasize this point by making the electing lodge liable for such joining brother ' s arrears ( by rule 209 ) , but it seems very doubtful if this liability could ever be enforced , ( c ) Clause beginning " every such joining member . " Would not the following emendation of this clause satisfy all parties with reference to the status ot

joining past masters , namely : — " Every such joining member , if a past master , may have conferred upon him , by vote of the lodge , the rank and position of a past master of such lodge , ranking , & c , & c . " This would enable every lodge to create its own class of honorary past masters without infringing upon the status of those who have actually held the chair .

Rule 191 ( Old Book , p . 87 , § 9 ) . —The words " or joining , " should be added at the end of this rule . Rule 202 ( Old Book , p . 80 , § 3 ) . —Here again the special penalty is omitted . Rule 206 ( Old Book , p . 67 , § 20 ) . —In this case the old penalty is almost entirely done away with .

Rule 207 ( OldBook , p . 6 S § 21 ) . —Last line , alter" secretary " into " master , " because it is essential that every report of . exclusion [ should certainly reach the provincial or district grand master . Rule 20 S ( Old Book , p . 47 , § 4 ) . — -This rule should be restored to its old , place after rule 87 . Rule 21 S ( Old Book , p . 70 , § 27 ) . —Does not the alteration in the last clause of this rule trench on the prerogative of the grand master ?

Rule 240 ( Old Book , p . 102 , § 10 ) . —( d ) Is it desirable that a petition from a member of a lodge in a district should not require the report of the district grand secretary ? ( b ) For " of foreign lodges , " read " under other foreign jurisdictions . " Rule 247 ( Old Book , p . 104 , § 16 ) . —From " recommendations" to "forthwith . " These two clauses would be made clearer if thus consolidated : "Grants of any sum exceeding £ 40 must be approved by the grand lodge ; on such approval , if the sum do

not exceed £ 50 , it maybe paid forthwith . " Rule 2 S 9 ( Old Book , p . 121 ) . —Is it possible to enforce the alteration in this rule ? Besides the above criticisms and suggestions we beg to call the attention of yout readers to the opportunity now offered for settling a much debated point , namely , what is the smallest number of brethren requisite , First , for the opening of a lodge , Second , for the conferring of degrees ? We think this point should be cleared up by a clause under the heading of private lodges .

ln concluding this somewhat lengthy communication we would like to be allowed to state that in making the preceding remarks we have endeavoured to avoid as far as possible prejudging the points referred to , but have been content to direct attention to such questions as appear to us , from the careful study which we have made of the Old and New Books of Constitutions , to need further discussion before the new code becomes law . —We beg to remain , yours fraternally , HUGH H . RIACH , S . VV . 111 S , P . M . 1523 , P . Prov . G . Sec . Oxon . E . L . HAWKINS , P . M . 357 and 478 , Prov .. S . G . Warden Oxon .

On Monday afternoon the foundation-stone of a new tabernacle in connection with Battersea-park Baptist Chapel was laid by Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall , C . C , in the presence of a large congregation and friends . The pastor , the Rev . T . Lardner , presented a silver trowel to Bro . Marshall , who laid the stone , and then presented the pastor with a cheque for £ 100 . Two donations of a similar amount were received from Messrs . J . T . Olney and Joseph B . Mead . Both the county members , Sir Henry Peek and Sir Trevor Lawrence , also forwarded cheques for £ 5 . Over 80 purses were also laid on the stone from the various agencies connected with the chapel .