Ars Quatuor Coronatorum.*

Associations that Bro . Brough " accidentall y came across some particulars" of the lodge . These particulars constitute the paper which appears in this part , and will doubtless be perused with interest by our readers . There is also , we need hardly

say , a valuable contribution from the pen of Bro . R . F . Gould on the subject of "The 31 st Foot and Masonry in West Florida , " and a paper which was read b y Bro . Speth for thc author— -Count Goblet d'AIvicIIa , P . G . M . Belgium—at the lodge

meeiing on the 4 th May , on the "Quatuor Coronati in Belgium . This paper , which is also illustrated , is intended to serve as a kind of supplement to the discussion that followed the reading of Professor SWIFT JOHNSTON ' S paper as recorded in Volume XII .,

and as throwing light on a suspicion by Bro . XV . II . RYL .-VNDS , that "the legend about Solomon ' s Temple ori g inated ( rom a Miracle play in connection with some Guild of Masons—but that he was unable to trace it—adding that he never found any

evidence of the period when it entered into Masonic lore . " While deprecating the idea that he should be able to supply the " missing link , " Count D'ALVIELLA sets himself to the task of furnishing evidence that "the blemish Guilds ( ambaclilcn ) of

operative Masons were dealing with such plays as the sixteenth century— -at least a Guild from Antwerp which bore the name made famous in our days by the founders of our lodge , " namely , that of the " Quatuor Coronati . " To what extent the author

has succeeded in his object can onl y be gathered from a careful study of the facts which he has brought together , but tho student will be inclined very favourably towards his views b y the character of the discussion which followed and in which Bros .

C . PURDON CLARKE , G . W . SPETH , the Rev . J . W . HORSLEY , and others took part . The most important of the contributions will be found in the paper compiled by Bro . T . B . WHYTEHEAD

thoW . Master , on "The Relics of the Grand Lodge of Vork . " This , like all else we have had the privilege of reading from Bro . WllYTEHEAU ' s pen , has evidently been compiled with the utmost care , and as the W . M . is known for his intimate

acquaintance wilh all that relates to Masonry in connection wilh York , we can promise that our friends will be deli ghted with the style as well as edilied by the matier of the essay .

Moreover , as we mentioned last week , there is a wealth ol illustration in respect of the paper such as we do not often meet wilh even in the Transactions of this lodge , ami this materially enhances , in our opinion , the value of ( he compilation .

The other contents include tie usual " Notes and Queries " Chronicle , Reviews , and other matter , of which we need not say more than we have done alread y , to wit , that it is quite on a level wilh the standard of merit attained b y this publication .

There is , indeed , one ol the " Notes and Queries , " for which we are indebted to Bro . ( i . W . SPI-TH , entitled "A Curious Warranl , " aud having reference to earl y Masonry in the Stale ol Georgia , I ' . S . A . ( In this we have reason to believe we shall

In- able to oiler some remarks which may be acceptable to tin Bro . Jul . IKS L . BROWN , of Atlanta , who is mentioned bv Bro Si'KTil as being desirous of having any light thrown that maj be obtainable

Masonic Jurisprudence.

MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE .

[ COMMUNICATED . ] With regard to the day and hour of meeting , the lodge byelaw on the subject is generall y subjected lo a Provincial enactment that no lodge shall hold its meeting on the same day as that on which Provincial Grand Lodge meets . Article 16 5 providrs ( he following dispensing clause :

" . . . . il in any lodge il should become impossible lo hold the regular meeting on the day named in ihe bye-laws for lli . it purpose , the G . M . or the P . G . M . may grant a dispensation lor the holding of such meeiing on a day not more than seven days bclore or afler ihe day fixed bv ihe bye-laws . "

Such meeting is for all purposes a regular meeting , from whirl ) il would seem that \ uit \ fi : sinli circumstances a brother

might lake a higher Degree under a less period than four weeks without a special dispensation in his behalf . Article 10 = ; , how-1 , . 1 ..., :, - . 1 . ... ,: , .. , 1 " ... 1 . J \ he cannot Iml if the at three weeks

eer , . says ; meeting a interval is lo be regarded as a regular meeting , as explicit !) sialeil in Article 1 O 5 , common sense would suggest lliat Arlicli i ' i ~ , be interpreted will ) a saving clause , . and when the Constitu-

Masonic Jurisprudence.

tions arc revised thc matter should be made quite clear one way or the other . The latter part of Article 165 was added quite recently , having been brought up in Grand Lodge by V . W . Bro . the . Rev . F . N . B . Norman-Lee , P . G . C , and it was probabl y quite an accident that necessary modifications were not made wherever else necessitated .

In this connection an incident was reported some six years ago in an Australian contemporary which was not without its amusing side . In order to suit thc convenience of the Wor . Master elect , it was proposed to postpone the day of intallation for a week and the necessary dispensation was applied for . For

reasons whicli did not appear , a dispensation was refused . The lodge accordingly met on the proper day and was opened and routine business transacted , after which it was " called off" for refreshment , . and not " called on" again until a week had elapsed !

In making any alteration in the day of meeting care should be taken that such alteration does not effect the claim of the

Wardens to have held ollice for a whole year . It is quite possible that if the day of meeting were lo be altered , say from the fourth Monday to the lirst Monday , when the time of installation came round the Wardens , one of whom would probably be the W . M . elect , mi g ht lind the validity of the

election challenged under Article 130 . Such a ease actually came under the writer ' s notice , but the District Grand Master ruled that the " year " referred to in Ihe Article meant occupying

the Warden ' s chair during 12 regular meetings and the object ion was thus disposed of . The writer , however , oilers no opinion as to the . correctness of the ruling . It appears to he in accordance with common sense however .

The bye-laws then go on to refer lo the admission of members . As this very important in itter is alluded lo in detail in the Constitutions , the only room for variety is with regard to

the number of dissentient votes or black balls requisite to negative an election . Three are the maximum ( Article 190 ) , but the bye-laws may demand that an election shall be absolutely unanimous .

The schedule of fees generally comes next , and again the lodge has a practicall y free hand , Article 10 , 3 merel y prescribing the minimum fee for initiation , which is / , 5 5 s . in England , inclusive of fees for registration , and £ 2 3 s . abroad , exclusive of such fees . With regard to the formation of a refreshment

fund the lodge has also a free hand , Grand Lodge merel y offering the excellent example described in Article 43 , which prescribes that no expense shall fall on the Grand Lodge , and we mig ht also allude lo the further excellent example afforded b y Grand Lodge , whose members , after an exhausting

afternoon ' s work , partake of an " excellent entertainment " ( vide Grand Lodge reports ) , whereas the members of some small lodge , after the close of the labours of the evening ( which may have been confined to reading the minutes ) , repair to a " sumptuous banquet" ( vide reports which lind their way lo the public press ' .

The list of oflicers generally found in the bye-laws affords lillle room for variety , being but a reprint of Article 120 . Oliicers are classified as regular anil otherwise , and no brother may hold two ol the former at the same time , lie may ,

however , hold the oflices , say , of Deacon and Chaplain . The lengthy description of their duties , which sometimes runs to several pages , is somewhat unnecessary , and as they have been exhaustively discussed in a former series of articles , there is no necessity for further reference .

Every new member of a lodge must be supplied with a copy of its bye-laws , and should sign his name in acknowledgment of receipt in a special book for the purpose . Mar . y lodges have a Benevolent Fund , which , of course , must be regulated by byelaws , recent correspondence in the columns of this journal having shown that it is unsafe lo trust to tradition .

It is frequently prescribed in Provincial Grand Lodge byelaws that no lodge shall have attached to it any benefit fund from which as of ri g ht any brother can claim relief . This is to maintain the voluntary nature of our Charities , and also to keep

up the status of the lodge . A lodge which maintained a SICK club would be making a distinct bid lor a large membership , and the religious , speculative , and scientific aspect ol the Craft would In ; in danger of being entirel y lost sig ht ol . t

On his installation the VV M . not only p ledges himself ( observe the bye-laws , but also lo enforce them , anil he is responsible lo hig her authority for doing so . It is also in accordance wilh ancient usage that he reads the bye-laws in open lodge on < e durinii' his year of ollice .

Tin : appendices comprise copies of the formsof declaration , and application for admission lobe Idled up b y the candidate a" ' signed b y him , his proposer , and seconder . The former ne " onl y be signed by ihe candidate himself , and is shown in In" '" Article 1 S 7 .