The Revised Book Of Constitutions.

THE REVISED BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS .

Tho following circular , and lists of amendments , havo been issued : — "UNITED GRAND LODGE OI ? ANCIENT FUEE AND ACCEPTED M ASONS ov ENGLAND . " His Royal Highness tho Princo of Wales , K . G ., & c , M . W . Grand Master . * ' W . Master , —Your attendance is requested , together with your Wardens and Past Masters , at a special Grand Lodge , to bo holden at this placo , on Friday , the 29 th instantat half-past threo o ' clock in the afternoon , for tho purpose of receiving

, and considering the Report of the Board of General Purposes on tho amendments on tho proposed revision of the Book of Constitutions , referred to the Board by Grand Lodge at the quarterly communication ' of the 7 th March last , for considera . tion and report . The Graud Lodgo will be opened at four o ' clock precisely . By command of the M . W . Grand Master . —Shad well H . Gierke , G . S . " Freemason ' s Hall , W . C , 19 th June , 1883 . "

BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED IN GRAND LODGE . —Friday , 29 th June , i 883 . To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . Report of the Board of General Purposes on the Amendments to and suggestions on the proposed Revised Book of C . mstitutioiis . Tho proposed emendations broug ht , under the notice of the Board are upwards to in all

of S 00 in number , aud it has been found impossible distinguish cases between thoso that are intended as merely suggestions and those that are proposed to be brought before Grand Lodgo as amendments . Tho Board havo therefore treated them all alike , and havo given thorn thoir careful consideration . Many are of the same import , aud somo avo oven identical in phraseology ; they have therefore been classed accordingly .

To print thorn in , ccetenso would be attended , iu the opinion of the Board , with unnecessary expense . It is , therefore , proposed to treat them in a classified and condensed form , under the heads of tlio respective rules to which thoy refer . Tho Board are able to recommend to Grand Lodge the adoption of a large number of these suggestions . Some they do not recommend , and these aro left to

the discretion ^ Grand Lodge , in case the movers desire still to bring them forward . Of the 30 S Rules , 130 are untouched by any amendments , and these the Board consider may ho treated as passed by Grand Lodge without further discussion . The other Rules will uow bo treated consecutively , and the following suggestions , recommended by the Board , are before Grand Lodge for adoption or otherwise .

3—ist and 2 nd line , to omit' The Pro-Grand Mastcr , the Deputy Grand Master and , ' ' other Officers and , ' and in Sth line , ' other . ' 5— - / th line to omit ' in , ' and to substitute ' has ' for ' resides . ' 6—The Table of Precedence is altered according to tho recent order of the Grand Master . To add a foot note respecting tho prefixes and abbreviations used before the names of the respective Grand Officers .

9—6 th line , to insert ' such' before ' Lodge . ' 8 th line , insert English before ' Lodge . ' 12 th line to substitute ' duly served' for ' filled , ' and add ' such' before ' a Lodge . ' 12—4 th line , omit' and hold . ' 16—ist line , to add ' or resign' after' die , ' and 4 th line , to substitute ' summon ' for ' assemble . ' 18—To be altered to agree with the now Table of Precedence . 27—To add ' tho Pro-Grand Master or the Depnty Grand Master' after « Grand Master , ' and omit , ' or his Deputy . '

30—6 th line , to substitute ' elected annually in June hy the Grand Lodge , for 1 appointed hy the Grand Master . ' 35—4 th line , to substitute ' qualified ' for ' members of the Grand Lodge , ' and in last lino to omit ' as such . '

36—3 rd line , to read ' aU building p lans or works projected or undertaken . ' 37—To omit' in addition to his other duties has' and substitute ' shall have the arrangement and directions of all processions and ceremonies of tho Graud Lodgo and . ' 43—To substitute ' eligible' for ' presented . ' 50—4 th line , to road ' which shall cousist of the President of the Board of Benevolence , who , if present , shall act as Chairman , the Present and Past Grand Officers and the Master , & c . ' ' and meet , & c *

51—4 th line , to substitute ' any' for ' some . 52—Sth line , to add after ' committee , ' ' or by notice previously given or sent to the Grand Secretary . ' 54—3 rd lino , to add after ' is , ' ' scandalous , improper , irregular , or . 57—6 th line , to add after 'all , ' 'Present and Past , " and after 'Officers , ' ' Deputv Provincial Grand Masters , Provincial Grand Secretaries . ' 60—To substitute ' eight * for ' six' throughout . 74—3 rd lino , to substitute ' Wardens' for ' Officers . ' in elections ballot

76—6 th line , to add after' Grand Master , ' ' Except by . ' In Sth line , to substitute ' ono hand ' for ' one of his hands . ' In 10 th lino to add after ' counted ' ' tho couuting shall be conducted in tho following manner , ' and then to add the resolution passed in the Grand Lodge in Juno , 1882 . 7 8—After this rule , to introduce 104 as 79 altered as follows : ' In Colonies and foreign parts the terms District Grand Master and District Grand Lodge aro used to distinguish such officers and bodies from Provincial Grand Masters and Provincial Grand Lodges in England . '

80—In order to meet the many suggestions respecting the position of Past Masters in the Provinces to add after tho first paragraph , ' Provincial and District Grand Lodges may enact by their By-laws that , in addition to the above Past Masters of Lodges out of the Province or District who have joined Lodges in the Province or District shall be Members of the Provincial or District Grand

Lodge . 81—Sth line , to substitute ' whom he may think' for ' may be thought . 9 th line , substitute 'those' for ' that , ' and to add at the end ' except that of summoning tho Provincial or District Grand Lodge to meet for the purposes of his Installation . ' 83 to 95—To alter tho arrangement of these rules as follows ' : 90 , 91 , 92 , 83 , 84 , 93 , 95 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 94 , to bo 83 , 8 4 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 , 94 , 95-«

83 . —ist line , to substitute ' The Provincial or District Grand Master' for He . ' To givo power to appoint two Provincial or District Grand Standard Bearers . To add before the last paragraph , ' In addition to the above a District Grand Master is empowered to appoint a President of the District Board of General Purposes , who shall rank next to the District Grand Registrar , ' To add after the ist line in tho last paragraph , ' except the Deputy Provincial or District Grand Master . ' 84—To substitute ' thirty ' for ' forty . ' gf , —To substitute 'The Provincial or District Grand Master' for 'Ho . '

8 g—To substitute 'The Provincial or District Grand Master shall' for 'Ho is required by himself or his Deputy to . ' To omit ' together with a list of such Lodges as may have been constituted since his last return , and the fees duo therein to the Grand Lodge . ' p 0—T 0 read , ' To cusure the regular performance of tho duties of bis Office , nnd to , & c the Provincial or District Grand Master may appoint . ' 02—To add ' and to be resident within tho Province or District . ' 03—jet line , to add ' other ' after ' The , ' and ' or District' after ' Provincial . '

9 6—In order to meet several suggestions respecting Past Provincial or District Grand Stewards , to substitute the following rale : ' Provincial or District Grand Stewards while in Ollice are members of their own Provincial or District Giand Lodges . They do not take any rank out of their Provinces or Districts , and when out of Office they arc no longer membera oil the Provincial or District Grand Lodgo unless otherwise qualified . They aro , however , entitled to wear thoir clothing as Past Provincial or District Grand Stewards in all Masonic meetings . '

The Revised Book Of Constitutions.

101—4 th line , to substitute after ' province' ' the Provincial Grand Lodge ' for 'they '; and 5 th line , to omit 'their opinion . ' 102—10 th line , to add ' or part of a quarter . ' 12 th line , to add after 'initiated ' ' or who has joined from a Lodge not holding under the Grand Lod > 'e . ' nth line to add ' other' after ' every . ' ° 103—Sth line , to add after ' at' ' the Annual Meeting of . ' 105 , 106 , 107 , 109—To add ' or Board ' after 'Committee . '

115—To add before the last line ' not less than . ' 119—7 th line , to add after ' registered ' * master . ' 120—2 nd line , to substitute ' shall' for ' should . ' 4 th line , to omit 'Deputy and . ' 6 th line , to omit ' who shall choose some master of a Lodge to assist him . ' 124—ist line to read ' Every Lodge in a Province or District . ' 129—7 th line , to add after ' ono' ' regular . '

130- ist line , to substitute for ' at a stated period' ' on the day named in its By-laws for that purpose . " 4 th line , to omit ¦ duly , ' and add after ' served ' for one year , ' -and after ' of 'Master or . ' 5 th lino to add after ' Constitution , ' 'The Ballot shall be declared in favour of the Member thus qualified who obtains the largest number of the votes of the Brethren present and voting' 23 rd line , to omit ' of the Lodge . ' °

136—2 nd line , to add after ' appoint' ' and invest '; to substitute for ' except ' ' and invest . ' In the 5 th line , to add after ' and ' ' also . ' 138—To substitute for ' Master' ' Proprietor or Manager . ' 140—4 th line , to add after ' Meeting' 'seven days' notice thereof in writing having been previously sont to the Brother complained of . '

141—Sth and 9 th lino , to substitute for ' Election of Officers' ' Installation of Master , ' and in order to meet many suggestions respecting Past Masters in Lodges to add in nth line , after ' present' ' or if no Past Master of the Lodge he present , then the senior Past Master who is a subscribing Member of the Lodge shall , ' and in the 12 th line , to add after ' Master' ' who is a Member . ' 144—2 nd line , to substitute ' any' for ' every . '

14 S—To add , 'The Deputy Provincial or District Grand Master when visiting Lodges in his Province or District , shall , in the absence of tho Provincial or Dis ! trict Grand Master , rank for the time being as Provincial or District Grand Master , and take precedence accordingly . ' 146—To substitute for 'he may think proper , '' whenever he may think fit to do so . ' To follow 146— ' The Provincial or District Grand Master may send any of his

Provincial or District Grand Officers to visit any Lodge in his Province or District whenever he may think fit to do so . ' 148—2 nd aud 3 rd line , to omit' or recommended '; 10 th line , to substitute for ' continuance '' presence , ' and nth line for ' the' ' its , ' and omit' of the Lodge . * 153—3 i'd line , to substitute for ' conduct itself ' be conducted . ' 1 57 3 '"d line , to omit ' shall be given '; and to add after ' district' ' shall ha submitted for approval' : and sth Hue for ' or' to substitute ' and . '

160—Sth line , to substitute for 'Master' 'Secretary for the approval of tho Grand Master , being in the case of a Provincial or District Lod go sent through the Provincial or District G' -and Master for his approval previously to transmission . ' 5 th line , to omit ' and' ; to add after ' when' ' finally . ' gth line , to substitute for ' Master '' Secretary . ' 162—To add ' Suck By-laws shall also specify the regular Meeting for the Election of tho Master , Treasurer , and Tyler , ' aud also * Should the Meeting of

the Lodge fall on Christmas Day , Good Friday , or a Public Holiday , the Meeting may be held on tho day before or the day after , at the discretion of ths Master . ' 165—Sth and 9 th linos , to omit' to . ' 168—5 th line , to substitute for 'Master' 'Proprietor or Manager . ' 169—9 th lino , to add 'ages , ' to substitute for the latter part of the third paragraph ' with their Lodges and Masonic rank . ' 170—ist lino , to add after ' shall' 'keep a register for its members and . '

172—To add , 'but when the arrears are received , tho contributions to the Grand Lodge shall be duly paid . ' 173—To substitute the old rule ( P . 73 , A . 2 ) , altering 'country' to 'Provincial or District , ' and ' Master' to ' Secretary . ' 175—12 th line , to omit all after ' Grand Lodge . ' 179—3 rd line , to omit ' of a Lodge . ' 180—Last line to substitute for ' particular' ' several . ' 181—To add after ' name ' ' ago . '

182—4 th line , to add ' age , ' 14 th line , to omit' therefore . ' 183—1 st and 2 nd line , to omit 'in any Lodge . ' 186—nth lino , to add after ' the' ' clearance . ' 190—20 th line , to omit ' bo liable to . ' 193—To substitute for ' pay '' transmit . ' 19 6—ith . line to omit' on the same day or . ' 200—To omit all after 210 , and add ' or a Certificate of all dues having heen paid to enable him to join another Lodge for neither of which Certificates shall any charge be made . '

202—ist lino , to omit' presume to . ' 6 th line , to add or cause to be printed or published . ' 17 th lino , to substitute for 'matter' ' such case of Masonic complaint . ' 203—4 th line to add after ' Theatre' ' public . ' 8 th line , to substitute for ' per . mission' ' a dispensation . ' 206—ist line , to add after ' in' ' Lodge in . ' 212—ist line , to add after' against' ' Lodges or . ' 218—To add after ' Warrant' ' Books and papers . '

219—To omit this rule . 221—sth lino to add after ' Master , ' ' and two Vice-Presidents to be elected , ' and 9 th line , to substitute for ' Board of Masters' * General Committee . ' 223—To substitute for ' Board of Masters' ' General Committee . ' After 223—To add a rule similar to 258 . 225—To add after ' nominated ' ' for re-election . ' 230—4 th line , to add after ' related' ' nor upon the petition of a Brother or Widow of a Brother who is or was . '

231 —To add at commencement' except as hereinafter provided '; and 4 th line , to substitute for ' consideration' 'initiation or joining , ' and in 10 th line , for ' breaking or dislocating a limb' ' blindness or serious accident . ' 232—Last line , to omit ' duly . ' 237—3 rd lino , to substitute for ' two' ' five , ' and to add at the end ' and while such child or children is or are under age . ' 244—4 th Hue , to substitute for ' and ' or . '

256—6 th line , to substitute for ' theso ' ' tho . ' 267—6 th line , to add after ' of' ' receipts and . ' 270—To substitute for ' lt * ' The Board . ' 276—2 nd lino , to add after ' Lodgo' ' or . ' 277—To substitute lor this rule ' Any special matter referred to tho Board by the Grand Master or the Grand Lod go shall have precedence of any other business . ' 2 S 7—To add after 'plumb' ' rule . '

288—To add after isfc paragraph ' Pasfc Provincial or District Grand Master . Tho Compasses and Square only . ' 292—To describe the Jewels of tho Chaplain , Director of Ceremonies , Organist , and -stewards ; add ' rule' to ' plumb . ' 304—To add ' or iu their Provincial or District Grand Lodges . ' 306—2 nd line , 3 rd paragraph , to substitute for 'one aud a-half inch' 'not more than two inches ' 8 th line , 4 th paragraph , to add after ' ono inch . ' 6 th paragraph , to add after 'Stewards ' 'present aud past , ' and omit' While in Offico and in their own Provinces only . ' 308—To add after' Registration of a Mason' ' including Grand Lodgo Certificate , ' and in next lines to alter ' £ 1 is . ' to ' £ 1 7 s . 6 d ., ' ' JOB . 6 d . ' to ' ivs . 'and ' ioa . 6 d . ' to ' , 17 s . '