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( JTuntcnts . PAGE . Settlement of the Ritual 221 The Haughfoot Lodge and Speculative Masonry 222 Masonic Government—By Crescent 223 Chips of Foreign Ashlar—By J . A . H 225 Masonic Notes and Queries 220 Correspondence ; 228

Masonic Moms 230 CRAFT LOBGB MEETINGS : — Metropolitan 231 Provincial 232 Scotland 230 Ireland 23 G Royal Arch 238 Royal Order of Scotland 238

Reviews - 238 Obituary 239 Poetry 239 Literature , Science , Music , Drama , and the Fine Arts 239 List of Lodge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week 240 To Correspondents 240

Settlement Of The Ritual.

SETTLEMENT OF THE RITUAL .

LONDON , SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 18 , 1869 .

The question of a standard or settled ritual was brought before Grand Lodge in a twofold shape at the last quarterly communication . First of all , the Board of General Purposes had been frightened out of its propriety by a W . M . who had announced

in his circular , that a distinguished brother intended to favour a lodge at its next meeting with the new working as settled or approved by tbe Board of General Purposes ; when tliis came to the ears of the Board , the Board summoned the W . M ., and although the W . M . affirmed he had so understood it from the brother in

question , the W . M . was reprimanded and reported to Grand Lodge for believing or misunderstanding the worthy brother . This was a queer affair altogether—a W . M . might well believe that the matter was under the consideration of the Board

of General Purposes , and he had really no means of knowing that some system of ritual had not been approved by the Board , for though the Board had not so reported publicly , it must be taken into account that the Board does not conduct its affairs

like other such bodies . Report , it certainly does ; a kind of fragmentary report , chiefly consisting of complaints against lodges and members , but the misfortune is , there is no regular and systematic report of the administration of Masonry from this

or any other administrative body . We have no blue-book , we have no visitor's report , and this is a great want . Once a year Ave ought to have a report on the whole state of our Masonic relations . The deficiency of this is a considerable

impediment to the effective action of Grand Lodge , which requires amendment in this and many other respects . *"

From want of it the W . M . in question was misled , and the Board horrified at being suspected of interfering with the Masonic instructors anri lodges of instruction . Hence the absolute duty of vindicating the Board by reprimanding tin

W . M . Unluckily many members of Grand Lodgi could not understand why the W . M . should bi reprimanded for having placed too much faith ii the Board and in his informant . This question , how ever , was not assisted bya speechfrom thePresideir

of the Board of General Purposes , and a most inge nious legal argument from the Grand Registrar Bro . Mclntyre . The latter distinctly told Gran < Lodge that it did not matter whether the W . M was , or Avas not , in the right . That might oi

might not be found out ; but what Grand Lodg > had then to do , was to consider him on sue ! evidence as the Board had up to that time chosei to receive . ¦

Whether this matter will ever work strai ght wi do not know , meanwhile it is hung up in thi limbo of metaphysics ; what immediately concern .-us is the declaration of the President and tin Grand Registrar , that the Board has never had ii

hand the unification of the rituals , and Avhilst paying great personal compliment to the supporters o the two systems of working the Board had given n < superiority or sanction to either , and does no undertake to decide on the few points of difference

An attempt was made , Avbile the topic was uncle discussion , to elicit by questions from the Presiden whether the Board will undertake the unification ., but the question being objected to as irregnlai this remained undecided .

There is great anxiety on the part of some ti obtain an authoritative and uniform , ritual , but uj to this time , perhaps for the good of Masonry , it has not been accomnlished .

There is one question yet to be decided as ; preliminary , and that is , whether there can be an ; authorised or absolute English verbal ritual Whether , in fact , a celebrant may not use his owi words , so long as the essentials of the ceremon ;

are complied with . This appears to be the casi for two or three reasons . One is , that the lau guage has varied at times , as all inquirers know Another reason is , that the English language itused for Masonry by several national Grand

Lodges claiming the same antiquity and legitimacy of ritual as the Grand Lodges of England , Scotland , Ireland , the United States , Canada , Novo Scotia , & c . Another ground is , that English is