Provincial Grand Lodge Of Dorset.

inviting ladies to be present at the banquet which takes place after the business of the annual Provincial Grand Lodge is concluded , and what steps should be taken therein . " In this case the brethren by a majority of one approved of the idea , but referred the whole question to a Committee consisting of the proposer and seconder ,

the two P . G . W . ' s , and the W . M . ' s of the various lodges to consider and report to the Provincial Grand Master what steps should be taken therein . The Prov . Grand Master then appointed and invested his Prov . Grand Officers for the ensuing year as under :

Bro . J . S . Webb , W . M . 136 7 , P . P . J . G . W ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ J . Andrews , P . M . 136 7 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . W . Reeve Smith , 137 ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ R . D . Thornton , P . M . 417 ( re-elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas .

„ J . J . Roper , S . W . 707 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ R . Case , P . M . 417 ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ J . A . Sherren , P . M . 170 , P . P . G . Purst . ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ C . G . Purkiss . P . M . nS ? . P . P . G . Purst . ... ... Prov . T . G . D .

„ T . Farrall , P . M . 1168 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W „ Albert Taylor , P . M . 1146 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ W . Watts , W . M . 1266 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ E . Mills , P . M . 1037 ... •¦• ••• Prov . G . S . B . „ F . C . Compton , P . M . 137 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org .

„ C . J . Woodford , P . M . 137 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ D . Hitching , S . W . 137 „ W . Osborne , 665 ,, H . J . Groves , J . W . 170 ... ... ... _ , n < _ . -, „ H . Maunder , S . W . 1637 Prov . G . Stwds .

„ K . K . Sansom , J . W . 136 7 „ N . Bengefield , J . W . 472 ... ... ... J „ F . Long , 707 ( re-appointed ) ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . The Provincial Grand Master next presented Bro . S . R . Baskett , P . P . G . Reg .

with the Charity jewel and clasp , in pursuance of the following resolution passed at the Provincial Grand Lodge , held at Bridport , on Sth September , 1881 , Bro . Baskett having as Steward served for this province forthe R . M . L for Girls in 1885 , the R . M . B . I . in 1888 , and the R . M . L for Boys in 1889— " It was unanimousl y

resolved that all brethren in this province , who , during the past year and in future years , mi ght act as Stewards to two or more of the great Masonic Charities , and thereby become entitled to wear the Charity jewel , that such jewels shall be presented to them at a Provincial Grand Lodge , and such jewels be paid for out of the funds of Provincial Grand Lodge . "

The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER submitted the following votes of thanks for adoption : To the W . M ., P . M . ' s , and brethren of the Beaminster Manor Lodge for accommodating Provincial Grand Lodge on that occasion ; to the managers of the Beaminster Elementary Schools for the loan of their schools for this purpose ; and to the visitors .

Bro . G . J AMES , P . P . G . D . C . Somerset , suitabl y responded . Bro . Baskett was appointed Steward to represent the province at the next Festival of the R . M . I . B . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed . The brethren then adjourned to the White Hart Hotel , where a capital banquet was provided by Bro . G . Squire . In the unavoidable absence of the Provincial Grand Master , who had to leave early to catch a train , the chair was taken b y Bro . J . M . P . Montague , P . G . D ., and a most enjoyable evening was spent .

The Proposed New Code Of Laws For The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

THE PROPOSED NEW CODE OF LAWS FOR THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The Sub-Committee entrusted b y the Provisional Management Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys with the task of revising the laws of the Institution appear to have done their work with great care , and in the main extremely well . We are not prepared to accept all their amendments or modifications of the existing laws . There is at least one material alteration—in the laws relating to boys educated out of the establishment—to which we think it

more than probable that serious exception will be taken , and there are others which are likely to provoke a considerable amount of discussion ; but , as we have said , in the main the work of revision has been well and carefully done , and there can be no doubt that the new code , as it will be submitted for approval at the next and subsequent Quarterly Courts of Governors and Subscribers , will be looked upon as an improvement on the code it is intended to supersede . The laws have been

methodicall y arranged ; their meaning and intent is more clearly expressed ; and , speaking generally , the changes that have been introduced with a view to exercising greater efficiency in administering the affairs of the Institution are , in our opinion , well calculated to have the desired effect . The supreme authority will be vested , as heretofore , in the Quarterly Court of Governors and Subscribers ; the general business of the Institution will be transacted by a General Committee or

"Council" as it is proposed to designate it for the future ; while the more immediate conduct of affairs will be in the hands , not as hitherto of a House Committee and Finance and Audit Committee , but in those of a Board of Management , of which one half will be composed of London and the other half of Provincial brethren , with two Sub-Committees of its own , of which one will give its attention to the financial bu-jiness of the Institution and the other examine into and report

to the Council upon the petitions for the admission of candidates . In addition , there will be an Auditor , who must be a chartered accountant , and whose duty it will be to see that the books of the Institution are properly kept and to prepare an annual statement of accounts and balance-sheet . The qualifications , & c , of donors and subscribers , and the privileges conferred on brethren who serve the office of Steward , or who obtain subscriptions for the Institution without so

serving , remain for the most part unaltered , and the same may be said as to the Laws relating to the Qualifications of Candidates for admission to the benefits of the school . In short , as regards things essential , only such changes are proposed as seem calculated to secure greater efficiency , and for the majority of these changes we may reasonably claim the approval of the general body of Governors . However , in order that our readers may know what these are and in what estimation we

hold them , we purpose going through the whole of the proposed code and submitting , as we proceed , such comments in favour of or in opposition to any particular alteration or amendment as may appear to us necessary or desirable . Laws I . —XXVII . of the proposed code , corresponding with existing Laws I . — XXVIII ., in which are set forth the title , object , and Constitution of the Charity , with the qualifications and privileges , & c , of the various grades of Donors and Subscribers , call for very few remarks .

In Law III . — "Constitution "—the word "Presidents" occurs by a printer ' s error for " President . "

^ The ' ex-officio" of existing Law IX . has been erroneously altered in new Law IX . into " ex-officiis" under the false impression that because the number of officers specified in the law is plural , the number of offices which confer the distinction must be plural likewise . If the Pro Grand Master and Deputy Grand Master were Vice-Presidents under this law , by virtue of their holding each of them two or

The Proposed New Code Of Laws For The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

more offices , then" cx-officiis" might pass unchallenged , but it is the one office which each holds that confers upon them this distinction , and therefore , with all deference to the Committee " ex-officio" should stand . It is correct to speak of ex-officio Vice-Presidents , and it cannot be less correct to speak of those who are Vice-Presidents ex-officio .

Existing Law XX . lays down that " every Life Subscriber "—i . e . , every brother who has subscribed five guineas in one sum and enjoys in consequence " the privilege of one vote at all elections of Boys . " " upon payment of a further sum of five guineas in one sum , shall become a Life Governor , " which is reasonable and just ; but new Law XXI . provides that " a Patron , Vice-Patron , Vice-President , Life Governor , or Life Subscriber being individual donors of the sums respectively

payable for qualifying as such , and who subsequently subscribe five guineas and upwards in one payment shall receive two votes at all elections of Boys for every five guineas so subscribed . " In other words , the brother who pays ten guineas in two sums of five guineas each will obtain the privilege of three votes at all elections of Boys , namely , one vote for his first five guineas and two for his second five guineas ; while under existing Law XIII . and proposed new Law XL , " every

individual donor of ten guineas by one payment or in sums of not less than five guineas each shall be a Life Governor and have two votes at all elections of Boys . " Thus , under proposed Law XL , the brother who subscribes ten guineas in one sum or in two sums of five guineas each becomes a Life Governor with the privilege of two votes ; while under proposed Law XXL , the brother who has already qualified as a Life Subscriber by paying one five guineas , becomes , on

payment of a second five guineas , a Life Governor—though it is not stated in so many words—and what is still more important , receives three votes for his money . This may be very encouraging to the Life Subscriber , but it is not reasonable and just to the Life Governor . A somewhat similar remark will apply to proposed new Law XXII ., which provides among other things , that " a lodge , chapter , or society , " which has already qualified as a Life Subscriber , that is to say , has paid

ten guineas in one sum or in two sums of five guineas each , " shall receive one vote at all elections of Boys for every additional five guineas thereafter subscribed . " Here it is proposed that after payment of 15 guineas "a lodge , chapter , or society , or any offices therein , " shall have the privilege of two votes , while under Clause 3 of proposed new Law XL—corresponding with Clause 2 of existing Law XIII . —it is provided that " a lodge , chapter , or society ,

or any office therein shall enjoy the privilege of a Life Governor "—that is , two votes— " on completion of the payment , under similar conditions "—that is , in one sum , or in sums of not less than five guineas each— " of twenty guineas . " Thus under new Law XL , Clause 3 , it requires payment of 20 guineas to secure the privilege of two votes , while under new Law XXII . the same privilege is secured on payment of 15 guineas .

A further examination of the new laws just referred to will show that a similar muddle has been made in the case of Life Governors ( both individuals and " Lodges , Chapters , or Societies" ) who have qualified as such by paying ten guineas ( or twenty guineas in the case of Lodges , & c . ) At present these are entitled to only one additional vote for every additional five guineas they may

contribute up to fifty guineas , the number of votes allowed to each Vice-President being ten . Under new laws XXI . and XXIL , however , each individual and corporate Life Governor , by the time he or it has paid eig ht ( or sixteen ) additional sums of five guineas each in addition to his or its original qualification of ten ( or twenty ) guineas , and has become a Vice-President , will be entitled to eighteen votes .

Laws XXVIII .-XXXV . relate to "Courts "both "Quarterly" and "Special , " their days and place of meeting , their Constitution , the business they transact , their power of adjournment , & c , & c , & c . As regards their days of meeting , they remain as now— "the last Friday in January , April , July , and October , but exception is made in respect of that day when it happens to be " the Friday immediately before a Bank Holiday , " in which case the Court " shall be held on the next

following Friday . " The business of a Quarterly Court under new Law XXIX . will be pretty nearly the same as under existing Law XXX ., except that it will elect " the Board of Management , " which takes the place of the old House and Finance and Audit Committees , and will not elect the Medical Officer , who , in future , will be appointed by the Board of Management . It will have the power of adjournment , but the clause or paragraph 2 . which confers this power is

somewhat clumsily constructed , and might with advantage be re-written . It reads thus : " A Quarterly Court has the power of adjournment , and may at such Adjournment transact all the business which that Quarterly Court could'have entertained ; its acts shall for all purposes be deemed as valid as if done on the regular day of meeting . " In our opinion the second clause or paragraph of existing Law XXX . mi g ht be retained . "A Quarterly General Court has the power of adjournment . " If , however , our legal brethren are of opinion that

something further is required in order to give validity to the business transacted at such adjourned meeting , we would suggest that the new paragraph should read somewhat as follows : "A Quarterly Court has the power of adjournment , and its acts done at such adjourned meeting shall be deemed and shall be for all purposes as valid as if done on the stated day of meeting , provided always that no business shall be transacted at the adjourned meeting , which was not set down in the agenda for the regular meeting so adjourned . "

Proposed new Law XXX ., in four paragraphs , relates to Special Courts , and corresponds with existing Law XXXI . The time fixed for the Secretary to call such a Court must be " not less than fourteen days from the delivery to him of a requisition in writing by either the President , Treasurer , a Trustee , three Patrons , Vice-Patrons , Vice-Presidents , or members of the Board of Management , or nine Life Governors , or by a resolution of the Council , " and "ten days' notice " of such

Court must be given "by advertisement in three at least of the leading London daily papers , notice being also sent to every Provincial Grand Secretary . " Under the existing law the Court must be called by the Secretary " not less than ten days" after his receipt of a requisition in writing from " the President , Treasurer , a Trustee , three Vice-Patrons or Vice-Presidents , or nine Subscribers , or by a resolution of the General Committee , " while only " six days' notice " is to be

given by advertisement . Both the existing and the proposed new laws require that the business to be transacted at such Special Court , must be " specified in such requisition or resolution , " but whereas the existing law is clear as to the decision at which such Special Court may arrive not requiring to be confirmed in order to give it validity—except in certain cases , as provided for in another law—there is in the proposed law a direct conflict of statement on this point ; paragraph 1 laying it

down that " confirmation of minutes of proceedings of any such Special Court shall not be required to give them validity , " except in certain cases , as provided for elsewhere , while paragraph 2 begins " The decision of a Special Court when confirmed at the next Quarterly Court . " Unless , indeed , we are driven to assume that " the confirmation of minutes of proceedings" and the confirmation " of the decision " arrived at by such Court , are intended to refer to two different matters , the former having regard to the accuracy of the record in which the proceedings

are described , and the latter to the subject—matterof the proceedings asso recorded . We do not , however , consider the framers of the new law can have intended to make any , such distinction , for the reason that we do not see how it is possible " to give validity" to the minutes of proceedings without at the same time giving validity to the decision arrived at in the course of such proceedings . Paragraph 4 of Law XXX , gives to every Special Court " the power to adjourn , either to a special day , of which notice shall be given , or to the next Quarterly Court , as it may seem best , " whereas no such provision is made in the existing law . (' To be Continued ) .