Installation Op H.R.H. The Duke Of Connaught, P.G.S.W. , As Provincial Grand Master Of Sussex.

John Henderson Scott they had a thorough Freemason at heart . It was therefore with the greatest satisfaction that he appointed him his Deputy . Before sitting down he desired to express to him his appreciation of the admirable arrangements for the ceremonies of the day . They had been satisfactory in every respect . ( Applause . )

The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER thanked H . R . H . for the very kind way in which he had proposed his health , and the brethren for their hearty reception . He was deeply sensible of the great honour which the R . W . the Prov . Grand Master had conferred upon him that day by re-instating him in his old position as Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and of the increased responsibilities which had been placed upon his shoulders . He trusted that

when he was restored to health he might prove himself equal to the duties which devolved upon him . The brethren of Sussex regretted that H . R . H . was so soon about to leave this country—but during his absence they would endeavour to maintain the high dignity of Freemasonry in this province no that when H . R . H . came back "he might have no occasion to be displeased with them—of this he could assure H . R . H . that when he did return to his native

land he would be received and welcomed by the Masons of Sussex with the same heartiness with which when he departed they would wish him God speed . The remaining toasts were " The Visitors , " proposed by Bro . H . HALLETT , P . G . S . W ., and responded to by the GRAND CHAPLAIN of ENGLAND . The latter completed the toast list by proposing " The Provincial Grand Officers , " to which Bro . HALLETT responded .

The vocal selections , though somewhat curtailed from want of time , were thoroughly appreciated , and were admirably rendered by Miss Bertha Moore , and Bros . J . A . Brown , Montem Smith , Sidney Tower , and Chaplin Henry . Bro . W . Ardley , Prov . G . Organist , who presided so efficiently at the organ before and during the installation ceremony , presided at the piano , and must be congratulated upon the excellence of his arrangements .

The address on vellum presented to the Grand Master was an admirable specimen of fourteenth century illumination , and was executed at the office of the Freemason .

We have also much pleasure in announcing that , after the installation was over , a very successful photograph of the Duke of Connaught , as Prov . Grand Master of Sussex , with-the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., and the Grand Officers in a group , was taken by Messrs . Russell and Sons , of 199 , Brompton-road , South Kensington , photographers to the Queen and Royal Family .

Book Of Constitutions, 1723.

BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS , 1723 .

The premier Book of Constitutions of the oldest Grand Lodge in the " wide , wide world " was published in 1723 , and , as might be expected , is now one of the rarest and most valuable of Masonic works . It is not so scarce as a little pamphlet of the previous year , known as " Roberts' MS ., " which is a reproduction substantially of the " Harleian MS ., 1942 " ( British Museum ) , and was one of the " uniques" in the " Spencer

collection , sold by auction in July , 18 75 . It originally cost sixpence ; but I had to bid £ 8 los . for the copy to secure its being * ' knocked down" to me , on behalf of my lamented iriend Bro . Bower ,-the book now being in the famous library of the Grand Lodge of Iowa . As , however , the text is that of one of the " Old Charges" of the Operative Masonic regime , the volume of the year 1723 remains the senior and the original of all the

numerous Books of Constitutions issued from early last century to 1886 . As 1 have had queries sent me as to the style , size , & c , of this old volume , the following may be relied upon as its chief features from a bibliographical point of view : —Its size is that known as quarto , measuring nine and half inches by about seven five-eighths . The first five leaves are not paged ; but per page run as follows : 1 , " Constitutions ; " 2 , blank ; 3

blank ; 4 , frontispiece , " engrav'd by Iohn Pine , in Aldersgate-street , London , " representing , it is supposed , the Duke of Wharton handing a roll of Constitutions to the Duke of Montagu , Dr . Desaguliers and ovher celebrities being near these two noblemen . In the centre is the 47 th problem of Euclid , below being Evpeica . The background is composed of a series of columns gradually diminishing , with an emblematic representation

of the sun ( apparently ) above , the whole being surmounted by an arch , only partly visible . 5 , title-page— " The Constitutions of the Free-Masons , containing the History , Charges , Regulations , & c , of that most Ancient and Right Worshipful Fraternity . For the Use of the Lodges . —Vignette —London : Printed by William Hunter , for John Senex , at the Globe , and John Hooke at the Floiuer-de-luce , over-against St . Dunstan's Church in

Bleet-street , In the Year of Masonry—5723 , Anno Domini—1723 . " 6 , blank ; 7 , arms of the Duke of Montagu ; dedication commenced to his Grace the Duke of Montagu ; 8 , dedication continued ; 9 , dedication continued ; 10 , dedication ended by "Your Grace's Most oblig'd and Most obedient Servant and Faithful Brother , J . T . Desaguliers , Deputy Grand Master . "

Then follow pages 1 to 92 , all duly numbered from 2 to 91 . Pages one to forty-eight are devoted to " The Constitution , History , Laws , Charges , Orders , Regulations , and Usages of the Right Worshipful Fraternity of Accepted Free Masons , collected from their general records , and their faithful traditions of many ages , to be read at the admission of a new

brother , when the Master or Warden shall begin , or order some other brother to read . " This portion was written by the Rev . James Anderson . Pages 49-56 contain "The Charges of a Free-Mason , extracted from the ancient records of lodges beyond sea , and of those in England , Scotland , and Ireland , for the use of lodges in London : To be read at the making of new brethren , or when the Master shall order it . "

These " Charges , " slightly altered , are in the last Book of Constitutions , having been prir . ted in each edition from 1723 until now . In one issue , however , there were so many changes as to be virtually new creations in some respects . This was in 1738 only . It will be seen that they were

originally intended for London ; for in 1723 no warrants for any country or foreign lodges had been granted by the Grand Lodge of England . In 1724 , however , Bath and other cities and towns obtained charters ; since which period the regulations have been arranged for all parts embraced in the English Masonic jurisdiction .

... , •" ° f tscri P t" at p . 57 fills up a little space , and introduces a good tail piece . The important and valuable " General Regulations , " begun at p . 58 , continued to p . 70 , were " Compiled first by Mr . George Payne , Anno 1720 , when he was Grand-Master , and approv'd by the Grand-Lodge on St . fo / m Baptists , Anno 1721 , at Stationers' Hall , London , when the most noble Prince John Duke of Montagu was unanimously chosen our Grand Master for the year ensuing . " These rules were " digested into this new

Book Of Constitutions, 1723.

method , with several proper explications , for the use of the lodges in and about London and Westminster . The manner of constituting a new lodge , as practised by his Grace the Dukeof Wharton , & c , is duly described at pp . 71-2 ; in a "Postscript , " the two following pages containing the " Approbation , " subscribed to by the Dukeof Wharton , G . M ., the Deputy G . M ., Grand Wardens , and the

Master and Wardens of 20 lodges , numbered 1 to xx . ( without regard to precedence ); No . x . having no Master ' s name attached , and at No . xvii . the Master is described as "James Anderson , A . M . The author of this Book . " A number of Masonic songs are then printed from page 75 to 90 , six pages from the 85 th having the music for certain portions , and the 84 th

page has the famous " Enter'd 'Prentices Song" by " our late Brother Mr . Matthew Birkhead , deceas'd . To be sung when all grave business is over , and with the Master's leave . " Page 91 bears the following authorization by " Philip , Duke of Wharton , Grand Master . I . T . Desaguliers , Deputy Grand Master . "

" London , this 17 th day of January , 1722-3 . At the Quarterly Communication , this Book , which was undertaken at the Command of His Grace the Duke of Montagu , our late Grand Master , having been regularly approved in manuscript by the Grand Lodge , was this day produced here in print , and approved by the society . Wherefore we do hereby order the same to be published , and recommend it for the use of the Lodges . "

The last page is taken up with particulars of other works . " Printed for J . Senex , and J . Hooke . " Brethren who are unable to obtain the original Constitutions of 1723 should secure copies of an excellent reproduction—the first complete one of its kind published in England—forming Volume I . of Bro . " Kenning ' s Archaological Library . "

I he reprint forms a handsome volume , having the frontispiece , coat of arms , tail pieces , and initial letters ably reproduced , and moreover a verbatim et literatim transcript of the " Wilson MS . " is appended , with a facsimile of the few lines of that seventeenth century M . S ., all being pleasantly described by Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , M . A ., to whom its discovery , or at least its being known to Masonic students , was mainly due .

Thus by a happy combination , at the trifling outlay of a lew shillings , brethren can possess a faithful reproduction of the premier Book of Constitutions , bound up with an accurate transcript of one of the old MSS ., the predecessors of the Modern Regulations , and thus be able to compare their several clauses , note their important differences , and appreciate the chief features of both compilations . VV . J . HUGHAN ,

The New Mark Constitutions.

THE NEW MARK CONSTITUTIONS .

The Regulations for the Government of the "Order of Mark Master Masons , " now ready for issue , are to be had in two sizes ( as with those for the "Craft" ) , and most artistic volumes they are , the illustrations , which are a feature of this 1886 edition , being quite works of art . The new jewels have been drawn and engraved for publication wilh the Regulations , and certainly more beautiful specimens of the goldsmiths' art it has not fallen to our pleasure to examine , those for the Grand Master , the Pro

Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , Grand Treasurer , Grand Secretary , and the Grand Deacons being especially noteworthy . The latter in part is a reproduction of the old design of the Deacon ' s jewel for a Craft lodge—Mercury as the " Messenger of the Gods . " The chain of office also ( to be worn by the Grand Officers of the year and Provincial and Deputy Provincial Grand Masters during their term of office ) forms a handsome ' and conspicuous decoration , by which those distinguished members of the Grand Lodge will be easily recognised at all Grand meetings .

1 he new or revised laws have already been referred to at length in these pages prior to their final acceptance ; but some time having elapsed since their first and subsequent drafts were issued , we take this opportunity of again alluding to the most prominent alterations and additions . 3 . Masonic Prefixes . —The "M . W . " and "R . W . " accord with the usage in the Craft .. " V . W . " is to apply from the Grand Overseers to the

Grand Secretary , not Deputy Provincial Grand Masters , as so many seem to think . " VV . " is to be used by the remaining Grand Officers and Masters and Past Masters of lodges . 78 . Deputy Provincial Grand Masters rank immediately after the Grand Secretary ; but past rank in Grand Lodge cannot be obtained until three years have been served in such capacity . 8 r . Provincial Grand Wardens must have been Installed Masters , and

Provincial Grand Overseers must be Wardens or Past Wardens of lodges . 87 . Provincial Grand Lodge must assemble at least once a year ; but there is no need for Provincial Grand Masters to appoint new officers every year , for in small provinces that would be most undesirable . 96 . Warrants must be exhibited at all lodge meetings . 99 . Masters must be elected , and subsequently installed at regular meetings of lodges , unless by dispensation of the Grand Master or Provincial Grand Master .

117 . All By-laws , new or revised , must be submitted to the General Board ( through Provincial Grand Masters , if in Provinces ) for approval . 138 . A " Declaration " must be signed by Candidates for Advancement , according to the form provided . 145 . Mark Clothing or Jewels cannot be worn at any p lace of public resort , procession , funeral , or ball , without the requisite dispensation , so we presume from this that a Craft dispensation alone would not cover the Mark .

150 . Should a lodge not meet for a year it is liable to be erased . 180-196 . Rules for the ' * Fund of Benevolence " are most explicit . 223-4 . Provides for the " Educational Fund , " the By-laws clearly defining that excellent organization , and the qualification for donors . 225-6 . The By-laws ot the " Annuity Fund" are of a voluminous character , the qualification for donors being similar to that of the " Educational " Branch .

227 . Charity jewels are presented to Stewards in Grand Lodge by the M . W . G . M ., and ' •Bars " are to be added according to service . The value and usefulness of the work is much enhanced by a most extensive index of 18 pages of closely printed matter . We congratulate the

Grand Lodge on the issue of such a fine volume , which has been well printed and illustrated at "The Freemason" Printing Works , 16 , Great Queen-street , the general appearance of the work being such as to suggest that the Cralt Constitutions have generally been taken as lhe model for the perfect arrangement of its numerous paragraphs . The handsome jewels were manufactured by Bro . George Kenning , who has ably interpreted the exquisite designs we have already noticed .