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Contents .

PAGE . Masonic Discipline—By Crux 41 Palestine Exploration Fund 42 Extracts from the Minute Book of the Royal Veteran Encampment of Knights Templar 4-4 Ancient Lodges 44 . Alasonic Notes and Queries 45 Correspondence 47 Masonic Mems 49

CRAFI LODGE AIEETIXGS : — Aletropolitan 49 Provincial 50 Scotland 57 Royal Arch 57 Mark Alasonry 57 Alasonic Festivities 58 Obituary 58

Sermon by Bro . the Rev . G . R . Horwood 53 Poetry 59 Alasonic Lifeboat Fund 59 List of Lodge , & c , Aleetings for ensuing week CO To Correspondents GO

Masonic Discipline.—Xyi.

MASONIC DISCIPLINE . —XYI .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JULY 17 , 1869 .

BY CEUX . Every zealous member of the Craft will be ready to endorse the assertion " no one part of Masonry is repugnant to another , " or , in other Avords , " Masonry never contradicts itself . " As Ave

propose to searchingly examine the whole of the ordinary lodge ritual , and compare it with the " constitutions , " Ave shall not at the present incipient stage of our investigation , venture to assume the truth of our opening observation . It is to be

hoped that Ave shall perform our task impartially , but it is difficult , when the feelings and sympathies are engaged upon the one side , to listen , upon the other , solely to the voice of equity and justice . Nevertheless , we have undertaken the task , and it must be gone through . Reform in " Masonic Discipline " is imperatively needed . It has been

advocated earnestly and fearlessly in our columns , it may be truly said , nemine contradAcente , and it is only to be wondered , that Avhile there are none to dissent , there are also so few , so very feAV AVIIO have ventured to assent . Is it possible that the

brethren are absolutely reckless of the practice of Masonry ? What is the use of speculating about " Celestial Mysteries , " or indulging in dreams of the memories of by-gone days if Ave do not " act in the living present ? " If the correct-derivation of

the much questioned Avorcl " Freemason " were vouchsafed to us by an express revelation , would it practically advantage the Craft ? Would it improve the working of our lodges , Avould it raise the educational standard of our officers , would it better the fraternity in the eyes of outsiders , would it render us more working , and less playing

Masons . ? Not a jot . In our preceding articles , the subject of the lamentable decadence of " Masonic Discipline " has been generally placed before onr readers , ancl facts brought to their notice that admit , unfortunately , of no excuse ,

palliation , or contradiction . In our succeeding articles Ave shall enter more minutely into the same question . The modifications , the alterations that are self suggestive to any reflecting brother , will be offered iii that spirit Avhich always rules and

pervades our Institution , and the aid of those Avho are able by their experience , ability , ancl Masonic knowledge to assist us in the task is earnestly desired . It has been before stated that we clo not advocate extreme secrecy in Masonic matters , and

with the exception of the actual " signs , tokens , words , and perfect points of entrance , " there is little or nothinp- of the whole Masonic ritual

which mi g ht not be made public , and a great portion of it with advantage to ourselves ancl outsiders as well . It will probably startle many of our readers to inform them that the numerous discrepancies , in

the ritual , to Avhich Ave have generally alluded , commence ab initio . But having once concluded that there ought to be absolute uniformity , in at least that portion of the ritual Avhich includes Avhat may be termed the dialogue of the lodge

Avorking , all choice in the manner of interrogating and replying is stringently inadmissible . Moreover , it is not so much the mere Avording of the question and answer that is of consequence , as the reason why one phrase should be preferred to another . If Masons reflected more upon what they said ancl did , ancl endeavoured to discover the

meaning of their Masonic words ancl actions , there would necessarily ensue a much greater uniformity of actual phraseology than what at present prevails for speech is but the expression of our thoughts . Unfortunately , however , they do not think , they

do not reflect ; their thoughts are not in common , and as a natural consequence their language is not so either . To return to our statement that the first discrepancy in the ritual is to be found in the very first interrogatory of the W . M . in opening a

lodge . By discrepancy , is understood that the question , ansAver , or any part of the ritual is differently rendered in any two lodges . Although scarcely necessary , it may be remarked that Ave vouch our personal observation for any statements that may be made in reference to our present subject . The point to Avhich we UOAV draw atten-