Masonic Discipline And The Ritual.—Xxii.

duties , " we pass on to the " obligation . " At the commencement of this a term is used for which there is no warrant in the < f Constitutions . The lodge is said to be " properly dedicated / ' In the English " Constitutions " there is no such term

used as " dedication . '' It is employed in the Irish Constitutions , but not in the Scotch . In the former its signification is not very clear . It appears to be a ceremony which may be performed or omitted according to circumstances , and its

omission does not impair the efficacy of the constitution of the lodge . Instead of " properly dedicated " the phrase should be either " properly constituted , " or " properly consecrated , " for the term consecration is employed in our "

Constitutions ' ' to denote a part of the ceremony of constitution . All lodges , it is true , are dedicated to St . John , the patron saint of modern Masonry ; but as this is never formally done , it- would be difficult to make it a pretext for the introduction of the

term alluded to . Moreover , if the " obligation " be considered to be anterior to that period , the conclusion will not hold good . A good deal of difference of opinion exists respecting the correct pronunciation of the word "hele . " It is often pronounced " hale . The correct pronunciation

is " hele / ' as will be evident on tracing it to its source . It is a corruption of the old Saxon verb "helen , " signifying to "hide / 5 In fact , the phrase here employed is a tautological redundancy , singularly apropos to the serious and

impressive character of the context , but not suited to ordinary prose composition . We never hear the words , " just , perfect , and regular , " without an inclination to ask the W . M . if he knows the meaning of what he is saying . If many

Masters were asked , what makes a lodge just , perfect , and regular , the chances are they would be unable to reply ? And why ? Simply because so very few Masters ever learn the " Sections , " which are the key to the whole of practical Freemasonry .

They consider themselves lucky enough to acquire the Ritual , without troubling their heads about the " Sections . ' So much for Masonic education ! There is very little doubt but that the principal reason that Masons , as a rule , are so careless about

their Masonic knowledge and education is , that , first of all , none is required of them , and secondly , there is no inducement , no stimulus , to rouse them to the acquisition of knowledge . The most ignorant member that ever walked , and got past the chair , can wear the jewel of a P . M . equally with

Masonic Discipline And The Ritual.—Xxii.

the brother who is an accomplished Mason . This clearly should not be . There ought to be some distinction , some order of merit , which should not be venal , but which should be acquired solely by ability and erudition , and the possession of

which should distinguish a brother as one who has given public proofs of his Masonic knowledge , labour , and talent . A distinction of this kind would be grudged by none , would be eagerly coveted by many , and open to all . We recommend the suo-p-estion to the notice and consideration £ 30 of the Grand Lodge .

Lodge Minutes, Etc.—No. 8.

LODGE MINUTES , ETC . —No . 8 .

By Bro . W . P . BUCHAN . ( Continued from page 282 ) . Extracts continued from the minutes of Glasgow St . Mungo Lodge No . 27 . On the 24 th Sept ., 1788 , there seems to have

been a large meeting , while the R . W . M . and sis other brethren have the letters " K . T . / ' * appended to their names ; after the signatures it goes on to say , " and a number of other brethereen , to the number of about one hundred and ten , all Master

Masons , being present . When Bro . Dowling , of Lodge No . 128 on the Registry of Ireland , gave a most excellent lecture on the three first parts of Masonry , viz ., that of Entered Apprentice , Fellow Craft and Master , which gave general satisfaction ,, being done in a very masterly manner , at eleven closed from labour to refreshment , and in a quarter

of an hour after , opened an Enter . Apprentice lodge , and concluded the evening with the greatest harmony and good humour . Finally closed at half-past twelve , 47 members present , and every man sober and happy . Same night Bro .

Dowling was made an honorary member of this lodge . .. On 4 th Nov ., 1788 , " Same night Bro . Joseph McLeod paid his dues of entry with this lodge , it being fifteen shillings and sixpence , which was lodged with the secretary , and this being the night

appointed by the magistrates for celebrating the memory of the revolution in 1688 several lodges met , the town was illuminated and a great number of bonfires were upon the streets . This lodge received and sent deputations to the Union and

Crown and St . David Lodges . The night was spent in the greatest harmony , and politicks entirely excluded the walls of our peacefull habita-