Masonic Jurisprudence.

A short history of the lodge , with a list of Masters and Wardens , forms an interesting and useful appendix . As we have alread y stated , the fewer bye-laws the better . It has more than once happened that a lodge is hampered by its

bye-laws and regulations , and the Constitutions provide lor practically any point that may arise demanding a decision . The bye-laws provide for local conditions :, and should go no further .

Freemasonry In South Australia.

FREEMASONRY IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA .

I wrote a few lines on the South Australian Craft in the Freemason for September iSth , 1 S 97 , based on "The Masonic Guide of South Australia , 1 S 07-S . " Now the able Editor , the R . W . Bro . Philip Sansom ( Adelaide ) , Past D . G . M . of South Australia , has sent me the edition for 1900-1 , so we

can compare the statistics to be found in both issues , and thus note the continued prosperity of the organisation , as well as draw attention to the chief characteristics of this most useful , carefully-edited , and very interesting com - pilaiion , which is in its 17 th yearof publication , and assuredly indispensable for the South Australian Fraternity . "

There are 43 lodges on the register , returning 2498 members , being an advance of fiveand 220 respectively since 1 S 97-S . Besides which there is the " Duke of Leinster Lodge , No . 3 63 , " hailing from the Grand Lodge of Ireland , and constituted in 1855 , having now 17 S members . There is also a R . A . Chapter of the same Constitution , working a separate Mark lodge , both having been formed in the same year as the Irish Craft Lodge . It

seems to me that this is much to be regretted , and that the time has fully come for these brethren and companions to throw in their lot with the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of South Australia , which though prosperous , would , I feel sure , gladly welcome them into the fold , so that the Craft may be thoroughly united in one strong Governing Body , having the hearty MioDort of all the Brotherhood in the Province .

The M . W . G . M ., Sir Samuel James Way , Bart , P . C ., D . C . L ., LL . D ., Lieut . -Governorand Chitf Justice of South Australia , is universally esteemed , and surely our Irish brethren would like to gratify that worthy and distinguished brother by every means in their power . I venture to suggest their adhesion to the Grand Lodge , whilst Sir Samuel Way is in the chair , and show their respect for the Grand Master , by fraternally deciding to unite with members of the local Grand Lodge , thus doing their part to secure

complete unity and continued harmony in the jurisdiction . The valuable List of Lodges , Sec , with their nights of meeting during the official year ( a Calendar in miniature ) cannot fail to be most useful , as also the " Points from the Constitutions . " The latter illustrate wherein the Laws of the Grand Lodge of South Australia differ from those of England . Mostly , however , they agree . The Degrees recognised are those of the first three , the Mark , " and the Royal Arch , thus agreeing with Scotland as lo the Mark , with England as to the R . A ., and with Ireland as to both these

ceremonies . Grand Lodge Oflicers are nominated , and fined for non-attendance . Petitions for new Lodges must be sinned by at least 14 Master Maions ; no brother can be appointed to the ollice of Chaplain unless a Minister of Religion j brethren to be elig ible for thc chair must have served for one year as Master or Warden of a lodge in South Australia , or have served as

Master in any lodge under the constitution of a regular Grand Lodge . Candidates must on or before the night of election to office signify in writing their consent to act . Past Master certificates may be had for half-a-guinea each ( a good idea ) , and lodges may determine by their bye-laws whether they will elect , or the Masier appoint , the Wardens and other officers , and lodges must affix a seal to all official documents issued by the lodge ( also a good

plan ) , and a copy qf the seal sent to thc Grand Secretary . Candidates cannot be initiated until the minutes recording their election are confirmed , unless by dispensation . " A rejected candidate ( for five years after rejection ) is allowed to petition only to the lodge which rejected him , or to another lodge , with the consent of the rejecting lodge , by a resolution carried by a majority at a regular meeting , after due notice of such resolution has been given . "

" Memorable Dates" make an interesting do / en , or more , pages of special items of historical information . In "Grand Lodges of the World and Dales of their Organisation , " I wish Bro . Sansom would alter his reference to Egypt , as the Grand Lodge of that country is well established and recognised by the British Grand Lodges , and many other old Masonic authorities .

'Ihe "Masonic Guide" contains much else that I must not stay to enumerate , and a complete directory of Officers and Past . Masters ot the several lodges , chapters , ! kc ., in South Australia . Bro . Sansom has done his work well . W . J . HUGHAN .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

A LADIES' DAY AND A VISIT FROM THE BISHOP OF RIPON .

The half-yearly meeting of the \ V est Yorkshire Maik Province was held on Wednesday , the 12 th instant , at the Town Hall , Ripon , under the banner of the Prince Leopold Lodge , No . 352 . For the first time in the history of this Prov . G . Lodge a departure was made from the usual course of procedure . This consisted in an invitation being extended to the ladies .

A visit to Ripon and an excursion to Fountain ' s Abbey , combined with Masonic hospitality , it was thought might prove attractive . The event lull y justified the prediction , for at mid-day close upon 200 brethren and

ladies assembled at the Town Hall of that ancient city . On their arrival , the ladies were warmly welcomed by the Mayor and Mayoress ( Bro . Richard and Mrs . Wilkinson ) . The former kindly placed the whole resources of the building—Council chamber , Mayor ' s parlour , committee

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

rooms , Sec . —at the disposal of the brethren , whilst the latter undertook to provide occupation and entertainment for the ladies during tHe time the brethren were engaged in the usual routine of Prov . G . Lodge . After light refreshment the Mayoress conducted her guests on a tour of inspection of ihe Cathedral , where Bro . E . J . Crow , Mus . Doc , P . M . 352 , P . G . Org . Eng ., at the organ , treated them to some beautiful selections of music . Satisfied that their lady friends were in excellent hands , the brethren proceeded to business .

Prov . G . Lodge was opened at 12 . 30 by the R . W . Prov . G . Master , Bro . Charles Letch Mason . He was accompanied by Bros . John Barker ( his Deputy ); G . H . Parke , P . M . 110 , Past G . Treas . ; W . W . Clayton , P . M . 374 , G . Std . Br . Eng . ; and Dr . Crow , P . G . Org . The Prov . G . Officers present were :

Bros . T . Rowbotham , P . M . S 3 , P-S . G . W . ; W . Flockton , W . M . 111 , P . J . G . W . ; M . A . Brigg , P . M . 374 , P . G . M . O . ; T . W . Pattinson , P . M . ( T . I . ) as P . S . G . O . ; W .-C . Fox , W . M . 53 , P . J . G . O . ; B . S . Bailey , P . M . 374 , P . G . Treas . ; Joseph Matthewman , P . M . no , Prov . G . Sec ; G . Martin , P . M . ( T . I . ) as P . S . G . D . ; F .

Smith , P . M . 353 , as P . J . G . D . ; Wm . Chambers , P . M . 501 , P . G . I . of Works ; R . J . Smith , P . M . in , P . G . D . of C . ; G . C . Gamble , P . M . ( T . I . ) , as P . G . S . B . ; J . J . Simcox , P . M . 525 , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . Sykes , P . G . Org . ; Joshua Hill , W . M . ( T . I . ) , P . G . I . G . ; T . Ashworth , P . M . 14 , J . T . Thompson , S . W . ? 3 , J . H . Dyson , W . M . 137 , VV . B . Smith , W . M . 352 , Stwds . ; and T . F . Wheeler , " Tyler .

There were many Past Provincial Officers also , amongst whom were : Bros . F . Dateman , P . M . 352 , P . P . G . D . ; John Reed , P . M . 39 S , P . P . G . Treas . ; J . F . Dyson , P . M . 137 , P . P . G . D . of C . ; Alf . Leach , P . M . no , P . P . G . D . of C . ; and Alf . Gill , P . M . 137 , P . P . G . D . Brethren from all parts of the province assembled , comprising amongst others :

Bros . R . A . Pullan , S . W ., W . M . elect , Chas . Cromaclc , J . W .,- J . Forth , J . Dunlop , II . Brook , A . W . Hudson , S . D ., and Jos . Smith , Old York , T . I . ; J . T . Thompson , S . W ., W . M . elect , Chas . Stokes , J . W ., E . Rowbotham , Sec , Jas , Hastings , J . O ., E . J . Whiteley , Reg ., H . Cawood , I . G ., T , H . Vernon , A Truelove , G . L . Wood , and T . S . Wood , 53 ; J . P . Varlev , 5 S ; W . Fennel ! , no ; F . Hinchliffe , J . W ., and J . K . Cawthorn , J . O ., in ; J . " L . Sykes , S . W ., and ] .

Ashton Riley , 137 ; W . Waldon , S . W ., and Wm . Harrison , P . M ., 352 ; W . H . Rendell , 374 ; ] . E . Mann , W . M ., and C . H . Nicholls , I . G ., 457 ; Walter Davey , S . W ., Wesley Petty , S . O ., and W . H . Wainhouse , J . O ., ^ 5 ; and E . Foulds , S . W ., G . Whitaker , J . W ., Wright Wagstaffe , J . ., R . Barrett , and J . Driver , 535 . In the absence of Bro . the Rev . J . Lloyd Brereton , W . M . 127 , the Deputy acted as Chaplain .

After the usual salutes and the presentation of the minutes , the roll of lodges and of Provincial Officers was called . Several omitted to answer whose absence was unexpected . The explanation , however , was forthcoming when a telegram reached the Prov . Grand Secretary announcing that a party of 19 brethren , with 15 ladies , had missed the North Kastern connection at Holbeck , but were coining on b y special train . They came ,

but were unfortunately too laic for the meeting . These brethren comprised Bros . Jas . Milligan , W . M ., G . Tinker , I . P . M ., W . Crabtree , S . O ., P . Alderson , Reg ., J . Whiteley , Sec , A . Worsnop , S . D ., M . Greenwood , and Robt . Potter , all of 5 S ; also of the same lodge Bros . H . S . Holdsworth , W . M . 535 , P . M . 58 . P . P . G . W ., P . G . Std . Br . ; Richd . Hodgson , P . M ., P . P . G . W . ; W . J . Morris , P . M ., P . P . G . O . ; C . K . Rose , P . M ., Prov . G . Overseer ; and Thomas Robertshaw . P . M ., P . P . G . Treas . In addition

were Bros . Wm . Haigh , P . M . 14 , P . P . G . O . ; W . E . Smithies , P . M . 137 and 493 , P . P . G . W ., P . G . Stwd ., Chairman of the Charity Committee ; A . W . Law , S . O . ; and James Proude , 493 . But for this contretemps all the 16 lod ges in the province would have been represented except Portal , No . 127 , Barnsley . These brethren , however , with their lady friends , reached Ripon in time to take part in the after proceedings .

During the course of the meeting , the PROV . G . MASTER gave the following address :

Brethren , —It is not my intention , and I am sure that it is not youi wish , that I should take up much time in my remarks to you to-day . We have other and more attractive duties before us , not the least of which is to promote the pleasure of the ladies who have honoured us by joining our party . This is , I believe the first time in the annals of the Mark Lod ge of this province that we have invited ladies to take part in our proceedings . It is , therefore , an experimentand if it

, proves a success , as I have excellent reasons for believing it will , we may on other occasions be tempted to repeat the invitation . We meet to-day under the banner of Prince Leopold Lodge , No . 352 . Consecrated b y myself on the loth April , 1885 , though never numerically strong—as in the nature of things we could not reasonably expect—yet it has not lacked vitality . The founders of the lodge were Bros , the Rev . W . C . Lukis , Francis Smith , Dr . K . J . Crow , R . E . Collinson , Wm .

Harrison , Rev . I . 0 . Smyth , D . D ., C . E . Ruddock , and J . C . Wolstenholm . Of these eight brethren three resigned in less than three years from the formation of the lodge , and of the rest we have unhappily lost three by death . Through the energy of a few brethren the lodge has been kept going , though latterly I regret to say in a somewhat feeble way . The infusion of new blood by the addition ot more members is all that is needed to strengthen it and if each individual brother

would endeavour to promote this object , satisfactory improvement would speedily follow . With a Craft lodge of about 40 , thc Mark should at least have 25 , but this is not the case . I do trust that by the aid of such excellent and ellicieut brethren as Bros . Dr . Crow , F . Smith , the Worthy Mayor , and the present energetic XV . Master , distinct progress will shortly be shown . The popularity and success of the Mark Degree are steadily advancing . This is

clearly indicated by the increasing number of lod ges and the more genera ! support of our Benevolent Fund . We all hope that the Prince Leopold Lodge will not allow itself to fall behind in the onward march , and if it is a question of help I venture to say that it is only necessary to let that need be known , and brethren who arc well qualified will readily volumes . With you , brethren of the Prince Leopold , we all regret the loss of your staunch and faithful friend , Bro . Francis Smith . A Past Warden of the province , a founder and consistent supporter ot

your lodge , you will miss him greatly . But whilst you deplore his death , you can take example from his life , for he leaves behind him the record of a good and faithful servant and Mason . The kindness of Bro . Wilkinson , the worthy Mayor , in placing this building at our disposal , and the courteous consideration of Mrs . Wilkinson towards the ladies , are , I am sure , fully appreciated , and will later be Mi 1 l . 1 l Iy acknowledged . We will now close our business as briefl y as possible , and will proceed to carry out the programme which has been so kindly arranged for our benefit .

The W . Deputy , Bro . JOHN BARKER , on being asked lo say a few words , congratulated the province upon the very good attendance of the brethren that day . He thought the new departure they had taken in inviting ladies to their autumn meeting was a step in the ri ght direction ; it was a beginning and he hoped it would be followed by many similar gatherings . Though they were anxious to make the proceedings in Provincial Grand Lodge as brief aa