Masonic Jurisprudence.

First of all—on what occasions and under what circumstances does a Freemason , as such , come into contact with the outer world ? There is the banquet at which non-Masonic waiters may officiate , and to which non-Masonic guests are sometimes

invited . There are processions of various kinds , such as funerals and foundation-stone layings . There are services in churches from which it is impossible to exclude the profane . Then we have to consider the unauthorised publication of

Masonic proceedings , which as often as not include lists of brethren with their several Masonic distinctions . Under this head mig ht be considered the publication of illustrations of Masonic proceedings , and of brethren in Masonic clothing , which find their way into unauthorised journals .

All these points have been referred to , and decisions quoted , in previous articles { Freemason , July 7 and 21 , 19 , 00 ) , which dealt with offences against Article 205 of the Constitutions . As these articles exhausted the information then at the writer ' s disposal , there will be little to add beyond considering

the question from an ethical point of view . The public exhibition of Masonic clothing has been implicitly and explicitly condemned both by antient charges , by Grand Lodge , and the Grand Master . As regards banquets , it is still questioned whether the banqueting hall is a public place . Even in the face

of such statements of the law as we have described , it is far from uncommon to hear the Worshipful Master directing his officers to retain their collars during the period of refreshment , and the

chief officers are provided with their gavels as a seeming matter of course . In the face of the failure of the whole of the King ' s Bench to decide what a " place " is , the writer offers his opinion with exceeding diffidence .

If the refreshment is served in the lodge room during a customary interval for refreshment—that is when the lodge has been " called off " and is liable to be " called on "—or even if it

bean adjoining room , and under similar restrictions—then it is probable that it would not be in a " place " within the meaning of the law . At all events , the columns of the Senior and Junior

Wardens are in official evidence , and it might not unreasonably be asked how those officers are to be distinguished unless they are adorned with their respective collars and jewels . But if the refreshment be served under conditions which afford access to

the profane—whether guests or menials—there would be an infringement of Ihe law . The following cases may be quoted for reference : In Grand Lodge , June , 18 73 , it was decided that the

expression in the charges of a Master elect , which prohibited public processions of Freemasons , clothed as such , meant appearance in any public place whether there was an actual procession or not . This decision not only made the definition of a " p lace " desirable , but also the Masonic meaning of the word " public . "

In Grand Lodge , June 18 74 , a number of brethren were summoned to appear for holding a " club of instruction" —first of all , without any authority ; secondly , for holding it in an inn ;

and , thirdly , advertising its meetings in the local papers . This was a piling up of offences which causes one to consider that the brethren concerned vvere fortunate in only being reprimanded .

In Grana Lodge , December , 1885 , a case was considered on appeal which had reference to certain unbrotherly proceedings during the banquet . The alleged un-Masonic conduct occurred after the Tyler ' s toast , and whereas the Board considered the question on its merits , Bro . Philbrick , on behalf of the

Board , made a corresponding recommendation and moved the rejection of the appeal in accordance therewith . Grand Lodge looked into the matter from another point of view , and decided that after the Tyler ' s toast the brethren ceased to be under Masonic jurisdiction . Bro . Jabez Hogg thereupon moved that

the appeal be entertained , and Grand Lodge agreed with him , and one brother said that the brethren ought to be censured for being in Masonic clothing after the Tyler ' s toast . The natural inference would be that previous to that toast , they were in order in being clothed .

In Grand Lodge in June , 188 S , it was stated that a certain brother , a candidate for the Grand Treasurership , had been inviting his supporters to luncheon on the day of election , and

Grand Lodge expressed its disapproval This case hardly bears on our subject , but it is part of the literature bearing upon public appearances and is / therefore , included for the sake of completeness .

In Grand Lodge in June , 18 93 , the Board stated that the members of a certain lodge had appeared in Masonic clothing at a banquet of their lodge where ladies and other non-Masons

were present , without previously obtaining a dispensation , and had , moreover , given the usual toasts in Masonic form . In justification of such conduct the Master and Wardens said the practice was a common one . The lodge was reprimanded and

Masonic Jurisprudence.

it was stated that such offences would be very severely visited in future . ^ It is to be noted in this case that the giving of toasts in Masonic form , was part of the offence . This means that the archaeological phraseology so dear to Freemasons was employed and the inference is that the use of such phraseology on other than Masonic occasions is conduct deserving of censure .

Up to this point the law seemed to be that appearance in Masonic clothing at the refreshment table might be tolerated , provided non-Masons were not present , but that if such were present a dispensation might be obtained from the proper authority . ( Art . 206 . )

Attentionhas been drawn latel y , however , to the ease with which such dispensations were being procured . It was felt that Masonic distinction was in danger of becoming valued , not for its own sake , but for the opportunity it afforded of showing off

the possession of valuable and ornamental clothing to non-Masons , a practice which had the further objection of appearing to advertise the Order by means ol what—pace the brethre n referred to—was its least recommendation .

Whilst the Masonic banquet might be tolerated under certain restrictions—refreshment being as much a part of Freemasonry as labour—it was felt that the Masonic ball , the Masonic funeral , the ladies' night , the Masonic church parade , and the foundation-stone laying could not in any sense be

described as Freemasonry , and , accordingly , , about 18 months ago , the Grand Master issued a special edict , addressed to the Craft at large , but in reality to the Provincial and District rulers , which has had the effect of considerably reducing the facilities for obtaining dispensations .

As an illustration of the abuse it was intended to correct it may be stated that the bye-laws of one District Grand Lod ge still contain a clause providing that such lodges as were at a distance from headquarters " might act without waiting for the

dispensation provided they obtained one at the earliest possible opportunity . " What the exact legal effect of this enactment might be the writer cannot possibly suggest ! . We shall continue this subject .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

The following is the business to be transacted on Wednesday next , the 5 th instant : 1 . The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 6 th March for confirmation . 2 . The minutes of the Grand Festival of the 24 th April for confirmation . 3 . Report by the Grand Secretary of the presentation of address to his Majesty the King .

4 . Appointment and Investiture ot President of the Board of General Purposes . 5 . Election of members of the Board of General Purposes . 6 . Election of Grand Lodge Auditor . 7 . Election of members for the Committee of Management of the " Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons . "

8 . Report of the Board of Benevolence for the months ending March , April , and May , in which are recommendations for the following grants ,

viz .: A brother of the Blackheath Lodge , No . 1320 , London ... £ 50 o o A brother of the Lodge of Probity , No . 61 , Halifax ... 100 o o The widow of a brother of the Wear Valley Lidje , No . . 1 i 2 i , Bishop Auckland ... ... ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Afan Lodge , No . 833 ,

Aberavon ... ... ... ... 50 o o A brother of the Peckham Lodge , No . 1475 , London ... 75 o o A brother of the Castle Lodge , No . 1621 , Bridgnorth ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Abbey Lodge , No . 1592 , Bury St . Edmunds ... ... ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Percy Lodge , No . 1427 , Newcastle-on-Tyne ... ... ... 50 o o

The widow of a brother of the Avon Lodge , No . ' 1633 , Manchester ... ... ... ... 50 o o A brother of the Lewis Lodge , No . 1185 , London ... 50 o o A brother of the Ancholme Lodge , No . 1282 , Brigg ... 75 o o A brother of the Prudence Lodge , No . 15 so , Plymouth ... 100 o o The widow of a brother of the Earl of Zetland Lodge ,

No . 1364 , London ... ... ... ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Wellington Lodge , No . 54 8 , London ... ... ... ... 75 o o A brother of the Burdett Coutts Lodge , No . 127 S , London 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Stour Valley Lodge , No . 1224 , Sudbury ... ... .,, ... 50 o o

9 . REPORT OF THE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES . To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . The Board begs to report that it has received from Messrs . S piers and Pond ( Limited ) , an application for the renewal of the lease of Freemasons ' Tavem , which will expire Michaelmas , 1 905 .

The lessees would be willing to spend a sum of between , £ 20 , 000 and £ 30 , in alterations and improvements in order to bring the accommodation thoroug hly up to modern requirements , in accordance with plans which have been fully cc- " " sidered by the Grand Superintendent of Works . In order to enable the Board to advise Grand Lodge as to the best mode of dealing with the proposal , it has consulted an eminent firm of surveyors of g reat experience in connection with tavern property , and the Board hopes that at the next meeting of Grand Lodge it may be in a position to offer for its consideration a well considered scheme for dealing with the matter . In acknowledging the following presentations , the Board takes the opp ° ' tunity to report that the capacious and handsome room for the reception of the