Masonic Notes.

Bro . J . Ross Robertson's motion , to which , and the criticisms referring to it

by the Canadian Craftsman , we had occasion to refer last week , does not seem to have experienced the same condemnation in Grand Lodge Canada which was meted out to it in the columns of our contemporary . Indeed , the motion was approved by a majority of the brethren present , but not by a two-thirds majority , and therefore the limitations which Bro . Ross Robertson proposes to enact as regards

foreign working will not be imposed . It is , however , satisfactory to us to find from the vote of Grand Lodge that a majority of its members are of the same mind on this subject as Bro . Robertson . It is reasonable enough to be allowed to exemplify in Canadian lodges other than Canadian work under certain welal

devised restrictions , but if our Canadian' brethren attach any particular value to their own ritual—and it is evident from the vote of Grand Lodge that they dothey will assuredly not desire that their lodges should be free to submit any and every foreign kind of work to be exemplified at their meetings .

It may be as well , perhaps , that we should offer some explanation upon the concluding remarks in bur final note last week on this subject . We said , "But there is no reason why each jurisdiction should not have its own standard or system of work , and forbid the introduction into it of anything peculiar to other standards or systems . " At first sight , this may appear to suggest that every

jurisdiction has its own mode of work , and people will naturally ask whai becomes of the unity of Freemasonry , if every country works differently- or different jurisdictions in the same country have different systems of work ? Of coursje , our remarks were intended to apply only to the comparatively unimportant details of the work , not to the essentials , which are the same for all jurisdictions . Every

jurisdiction is justified in setting up its own standard or method of work , provided the heart and soul , as it were , of that work remain unaffected . And as we have said before , every jurisdiction has the right to insist on its owii standard or system being maintained to th'e exclusion of all other standards or systems , save under certain proper restrictions and for the harmless purpose of illustration .

We learn from the report of the last Quarterly Convocation of the United Grand Lodge of Victoria and the Report of the Board of General Purposes which was then presented , that sundry badges under the Victorian jurisdiction " have introduced innovations in the ceremonies of opening and closing the Board of Installed Masters , " and that in consequence it has drawn "the special attention

of Worshipful Masters of Lodges to the fact that such practice is opposed to the antient usage and established customs of Freemasonry , and was ruled irregular by the Grand Lodge of England some years ago . The 'Board , therefore , strongly deprecates such practice by any lodges in this jurisdiction . " The passages we

have quoted were contained in a circular addressed by the Board to the Worshipful Masters of lodges in consequence of the complaints which had been made to it upon the subject , and we are glad to see that the clause of the Report dealing with the matter was ultimately adopted .

But it was not adopted until after a long discussion , in the course of which Bro . W . B . Edwards , P . G . D . C , was very pers'istent in his opposition , and even went so far as to call in question the act of the Board in issuing such a circular , his point being that the Board had no authority to issue it . "The United Grand

Lodge of Victoria had declined to authorise a ritual . How then cotild the Board without the authority of the Grand Lodge tell the Worshipful Masters what ceremonies they should not perform ? " Bro . Edwards' argument seems ingeniou ; but the President of the Board had no difficulty in combating it successfully .

What were Bro . Edwards ' s reasons for opposing the action of the Board in issuing the circular we are unable to see . He himself quoted a clause from a letter wii . ten by the Grand Secretary of England , in whi ch it was laid down distinctly that " the ceremony of qpening and closing , which you mention as having been recently introduced into your district by a brpther from England , is quite

irregular and unauthorised by the Grand Lodge of England or by the leading Masonic authorities . It imposes fresh and additional qualifications quite unknown to the general body of Installed Masters , thus placing them in a false position . It is practised in a few instances in our outlying districts of England , but on reference here it has always been ruled to be quite irregular , and you would be fully justified in forbidding its use in your district . "

After such an expression of opinion from so high an authority we fail to see What object Bro . Edwards can have had in questioning the action of the Victorian Board of General Purposes . However , if he wishes further information on the subject , he had better consult that valuable little work " Notes on the Ceremony of Installation , " by Bro , Henry Sadler . After reading that he will see his Way , perhaps , to approving the action of the aforesaid Board .

We notice that in the number of the Australasian Keystone containing the report on which we have been commenting , there is a letter from Bro . W . F . Lamonby on the subject of " Uniformity of Working . " Bro . Lamonby , so far as our memory serves us , is in the main correct as to his facts . The Grand Lodge of England did adopt a motion , which , we believe , was brought forward

by Bro . James Stevens , in favour of uniformity , and at the Quarterly Communication next ensuing that portion of the minutes containing the resolution was non-confirmed . But it is equally true that the installation working which Bro . Lamonby tells us he is not ashamed of having introduced into Victoria has been

declared irregular by our late Grand Secretary , and also by his successor , the present Grand Secretary , nor will the Grand Lodge of Victoria be wrong if it prefers adopting the official declarations of a responsible officer of our Grand Lodge to that of a brother who , however estimable and capable a Mason he may be , is not the accepted authority on ritual in this country .

It is quite true the installation ceremony is worked in some of our lodges in the manner in which Bro . Lamonby is proud of having introduced into Victoria , and far be it from us to suggestthat the lodges in which this mode of working has been adopted are not " well . worked lodges . " But it is equally true that the method

Masonic Notes.

has been declared irregular , and if our Grand Lodge is in no hurry to enforce the declarations of its responsible officers , it must be because it is prepared to show respect for established usage , and is Willing lo permit a certain amount of latitude in details , provided the essentials of our work are upheld . We can only repeat

the advice we have already given in a previous note . Let Bro . Lamonby stud y carefully Bro . Sadler's " Notes on the Ceremony of Installation . " He will soon discover that his method of working the installation ceremony is beyond all question what it has been officially pronounced to be—irregular .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

| We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . J

CANDIDATES FOR INITIATION . To the Editor of the " Freemason , " Dear Sir and Brother , Rule 184 of the Book of Constitutions provides for the name , address ,

age , and occupation of a candidate , with names of the proposer and seconder being printed and sent with the summonses to the members of the lodge for the meeting when the ballot is to be taken . Among certain lodges it is customary , prior even to the proposition , to put upon the lodge circular , as part ot the business to be transacted , a notice as follows :

" Bro . Smith will propose , as a Candidate for Initiation in the Lodge , Mr . John Johnson , of & c , & c . " An experienced P . M . recently stated that such a notice was altogether wrong , and that the name of a candidate ought not to go upon the lodge summons until after he had been proposed at a regular lodge . I disagreed with him , as I considered such a notice most useful , a . s by such means every member of the lodge would get notice of the candidate coming forward , and in case of objection , he might be withdrawn , and avoid a Black Ball .

My ohject in submitting this point to the readers of the Freemason is to elicit opinions regarding the propriety , or otherwise , of the notice referred to . —Yours fraternally , EX . SECRETARY . P . M .

THE COLONIAL BOARD . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Will you permit me the opportunity of saying that I lodged an appeal to Grand Lodge , at its ensuing Communication , asking Grand Lodge to decide whether I am or am not entitled to a seat ort the Colonial Board , under

the provisions of Article 283 , " Book of Constitutions , " I being a Past Master ot two Colonial lodges , whereas , as at present constituted , the Board includes two members only who have passed the chair of lodges abroad . The appeal was laid before the General Committee of Grand Lodge to-day ( Wednesday ) , when , on the recommendation of the Grand Registrar , it was rejected , as not being within the cognizance of Grand Lodge .

Under these extraordinary circumstances , three months have been cut to waste , for those who were present at the June Communication will remember that the Deputy Grand Registrar remarked , in reply to a question from Bro . J . S . Cumberland ,. D . G . S . B ., that the attempt * to explain the meaning of Article 283 would be " an insult to common sense , " and that a ruling could not be given until after the elections .

Now , simple matter as it appeared in the words of the Deputy Grand Registrar , no decision whatever was given after the election . On the other hand , I was officially informed that I must appeal to Grand Lodge for a ruling , I have appealed , and the General Committee , on the advice of the V . W . Grand Registrar , decline to allow said appeal to come before Grand Lodge .

The fact is , those immediately concerned have landed themselves in a dilemma , and in this opinion I am strengthened , in view of the peculiar incident that the V . W . Grand Registrar appeared to avoid in his arguments before the General Committee any reference to the important words " if practicable , " in Art . 28 3 . whether

As matters stand , no official opinion whatever has been given as to or no I am entitled to be a member of the Colonial Board , and , as I am precluded —unwarrantabl y , as 1 think—from asking Grand Lodge to say " yea " or " nay , ' the question is still in abeyance . However , I am not yet done with the subject in dispute , and shall soon put it to another test . — -Yours fraternally , W . F . LAMONBY . August 21 st . '

MASONIC VAGRANTS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I enclose an extract from the New Zealand Craftsman on the subfor

ject of " Masonic Vagrants , " which has engaged so much of your attention several months . It will be seen that other jurisdictions besides England are afflicted with this pest , and , what is more to the purpose , it shows likewise that other jurisdictions do not consider it beneath their dignity to take measures for the prevention of its ravages . —Yours faithfully and fraternally .

London , 20 th August . «• The following is the extract : "The Grand Orient of Italy has been obliged to take stringent measures to put down ' begging ' Masons , who may not be worthy of assistance . It is unfortunately the case in all countries , and New Zealand is not exempt in this respect ] there are always a number of brethren who travel Irom place to place , relying on t " adiclST ,,. / . a ' wtftn l-n t- \ , nm n , i vn . it / . \\\ t i \\ a I * " * ra ff Mortw mtv Af . fif . rup hftln . bllt

large number are generally impostors , and this is the class Which the Granel Or" *" of Italy is endeavouring tt » put down . Instructions have been issued to its lodg 1 * not only to . adopt the usual precautions , by examining diplomas and papers w « e an application is made for relief , but to obtain from the applicant particulars respecting the address of the Iodge to which he states that he belonged . ' "i papers are not satisfactory , a wire is immediately sent to the address indicate ;

asking if the case is a deserving one , and in a great number of cases the rep ? has exposed the impostor . The plan adopted by the Grand Orient of Italy b " ' being tried by the German and Swiss lodges , and is reported to be working sati factorily . It may be mentioned that if an Italian Mason leaves his lodgs , he m within 12 months join another one , otherwise he is posted as being an irregu Mason . "

v . A NUMIIKR of old-pattern muzzle-loading brass guns , weighing ha'f-a-ton e *^ have been shipped from Bombay for London , where they will be melted do * vn . converted into a statue of Bro . Lord Roberts , which is about to be ercc . ed in Cal cutI '