Obituary.

the ruler of the Craft , is one of many melancholy reflections . It is true that , on his appointment , he addressed letters to most of those who were associated with him in the government of the Craft , in his own cordial stj-le and humorous vein ; but he knew us not , and few of us knew him . Thus associated by intimate ties , yet severed by distance , his rule was brief , —its termination sudden , melancholy , and disastrous . We use the last term advisedly ; for it is no trifling calamity

for a whole province to find itself , by the death of its ruler , without a government ; its whole executive machinery unhinged , scattered , and powerless ; and its parliament and high court extinct . Yet such is the deplorable condition in which the Boole of Constitutions dooms such a distant province as ours , if we would read it strictly , and hind ourselves to the letter of its provisions and laws . Many brethren might suppose that English Masonry being so widely extended over the globe , the Book of Constitutions , which is intended to be the law to girde

the whole Craft , should certainly provide for every probable contingency that might arise to create a difficulty in the more distant colonies ancl provinces , particularly in so far as to prescribe a provisional government in the likely event of the death of a Provincial Grand Master ; but on turning over its pages they will find it is not so . There are only two clauses which " bear upon the subject . One of these is at page fiftythreeand runs thus : —

, " The Provincial Grand Lodge , emanates from the authority vested in the Provincial Grand Master , and possesses no other powers than those specified . It therefore follows that no Provincial Grand Lodge can meet but by the sanction of the Provincial Grand Master or his Deputy , and that it ceases to exist on the death , resignation , suspension , or removal of the Provincial Grand Master , until a brother is duly appointed or empowered

to perform the functions of a Provincial GraifU Master , by whose authority the Provincial Grand Lodge maj be again established . " Now this lav . - , which is evidently intended for the provinces in and near England , whence rapid communications with the seat of a Masonic imperial government would be easy , and by means of which the province would be saved from disorganisation , is obviously wholly inapplicable to us , situated at such a

distance from the Grand Lodge that the most prompt and energetic measures taking in such unhappy circumstances could not possibly rescue our Provincial Grand Lodge from utter confusion and anarchy , for the spate of three months at the very least , even if the Grand authorities in England were as prompt iu their reply as we should be in our apppeal : otherwise our difficulties would be extended to any unlimited period that might be considered necessaiy to weigh and determine the

momentons question of providing a successor for the government of this large and important province . . It is clear , however , that the Grand Lodge of England never intended that any province should be , for a considerable period , without a ruler ; for at page thirty-five it is enacted that , — "The Grand Master may , by a written document , direct the Grand Registrar to take charge of any province for which there is not a Grand Masterand he shall thereby be empowered to

, appoint a Deputy Provincial Grand Master and other Officers , with the same authority and privileges , and under the same regulations , as if they had been appointed by a Provincial Grand Master , and shall perform all other functions of a Provincial Grand Master for that province . "

But here again the distance of India from the seat of Masonic rule renders this necessary law , which is so effectual aiul salutary within the immediate intlueuce of the Grand Lodge of England , wholly nugatory as far as wc in Bengal are concerned . How then are wc to read the law ? The literal rendering' cf it is quite inapplicable to our condition , and would abandon us to utter confusion , and the most complicated embarrassment . We find that the Constitutions

do recognise the necessity of laying down precautionary measures for a provisional Government in case of an extreme contingency arising near home ; and since these measures do not strictly apply to us , the great question is " should we not be justified in understanding the Constitutions in the spirit in which they were promulgated , and in constructing such a provisional Government for ourselves as would be consistent with the palpable intention of the Constitutions , and warranted ,

nay demanded , by the circumstances of the case . We have a precedent for such a course—a provisional Government having been formed in this province in the last century , on the occasion of an exigency like the present , and that the proceedings of that

Obituary.

provisional Government were confirmed by the Grand Lod ge of England . Indeed , it cannot be denied that there was in the present instance a palpable necessity for the formation of a pro visional Government , in spite of the objections of some few . The majority of lodges would most assuredly have supported any judicious scheme that might have been proposed for the maintenance of Order ; and thus our Masonic bark would have heed saved from the dangers which aro within sight , and into

which , we fear , it is fast drifting . Hesitation to act in spite of the want of perfect unanimity , reluctance to assume temporaril y a position of authority which might ultimately and permanentl y be bestowed upon another , the attraction which a state of disorder presents to some , doubt and uncertainty as to tho wisest course to be pursued , leading to total inaction—these are the principal causes which forced the announcement that the Grand Lodge was extinct . And so , we fear , it is beyond remedy or

recall . Its executive powers have certainly become paralyzed for the present , and we do not see how its ministerial functions are to be carried on . There being no Finance Committee , and the Treasurer ' s office being suspended , to whom and under what authority are the returns of the several lodges to be rendered ? And to whom arc the Grand Lodge fees and assessments , and the contributions on account of the Fund of Benevolence , to bo p . dd ? Ami yet these sowveos of supply being cut off , whence is the rent of the hall and its establishment , even for the

convenience of private lodges mooting there , to be paid ; and whence are the numbers of indigent , helpless , aged women , who depend wholly on the Fund of Benevolence for a bare subsistence , to be supported ? This is the state of utter clisorganisatian iu which the action taken in the emergency has landed us . Our eyes sweep the Masonic horizon to catch the glimpse of a friendly sail which , shall bear up to us and lead us from threatening shipwreck into safer waters ; but all in vain . The past officers are

reluctant , perhaps , to come to the fore , and the present officers , in all probability , read tho Constitutions too literally , or are , it may be , bound over to other interests ; and so , we fear , the Grand Lodge is for the present really and in very truth extinct . Still , in the midst of our difficulties , we cannot but turn with deep sorrow and regret to the memory of him whose sudden loss has plunged tho whole Craft into such apparently inextricable disorder , and at the same time in such unfeigned grief .

We mourn the loss of our Ruler ; but being dead , he j-et speaks to us , in language which should be ever associated with him , and ever marat-A-aWe—language traced by his own hand , and very recently contributed , as if it were a prophecj-, to the pages of this Magazine : — Adieu my friends , my brethren all—I bid a long farewell ! What blessings are reserved for us , or sorrows , who can tell ; But should we never meet again , my final wish shall he , That one ancl all will kindly speak , ancl kindly think , of me .

Freemasons At Law.

FREEMASONS AT LAW .

ALLA . Y V . 3 IOESE 1 * . This was a judgment summons , at the Sheriffs' Court , Sept . 13 th , and on the behalf of defendant , Mr . Buchanan said : There can be no defence to this case as it is a judgment summons , but there are some very singular circumstances surrounding it , and I think the court will be induced to deal leniently with inj' client . Defendant is a Freemason—( laughter)—and plaintiff was anxious to become a member of

that very int-uential hodj * . ( Renewed laughter . ) Well , my client made his creditor a Freemason—( roars of laughter)—and after plaintiff had obtained a verdict in this court he said to defendant , ' You have taken a great deal of trouble in this matter , and I shall release you from the debt . " At the same time he tore up his plaint note , and defendant was most astonished at a judgment summons . His Honour : Of course you do not set this up as a defence ?

Mr . Buchanan .- Oh ! no , sir . His Honour : Well , plaintiff , did he turn you into a Freemason ? ( Great laughter . ) Plaintiff : Yes , he did , hut at the expense of rolO , to say nothing of the bother . I did not tear up the plaint note nor release him from the debt . His Honour : Welldefendantwhat do you say ?

, , Defendant : I will pay 10 s . a month . Plaintiff : That is too little . His Honour : Oh ! I think you ought to take 10 s . a month , under all the circumstances ; and , besides , j * ou are now brother Mason . ( Roars of laughter , dining which the parties retired ) .