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Article UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND. ← Page 2 of 2 Article UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND. Page 2 of 2 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF EAST LANCASHIRE. Page 1 of 2 →
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United Grand Lodge Of England.
officer of a lodge , nor was the I . P . M ., although he was invested and had certain duties to perform , but he was so much like an officer that it was almost impossible to discover the difference . This nicety of distinction was probably overlooked by the framers of this law , and it was thought that the word " officer " covered the past officers , which P . M ' s . undoubtedly were . It seemed incredible , at least to him ( Bro . Fenn ) , how any other
interpretation could have been placed upon this law , because it would have been a very strange anomoly indeed that a past officer had greater privileges or rights than a present officer—that a P . M ., for instance , should have permission to wear his collar wherever and whenever he wished , when the Master of a lodge , who was a greater man for the time being than a P . M ., had not the privilege . He wished to make it quite clear to Grand Lodge
that the Board of General Purposes did not at all purpose to make any alteration in the law , they simply wished to define the meaning of the law as it stood in order that it might be unmistakeable and indisputable . A revised edition of the Book of Constitutions , as it emanated from the Committee , was sent to every lodge under the English Constitution , and criticisms , objections , and suggestions were freely invited , and when the
replies were received it was found they were freely offered . There were only two objections by the provinces to this rule , and one would hardly be called an objection , it was merely a suggestion for some modification of it , when the question was discussed in Grand Lodge , which it was very freely and exhaustively , and the Grand Lodge was composed very largely of provincial brethren , those objections were overruled . The Board would
hesitate to recommend , and he hoped Grand Lodge would not sanction without the gravest reason any alterations in these rules so approved , which were the outcome of a general consensus of opinion of all members ofthe Craft under the English Constitution throughout the world . He was now about to move the two first recommendations , and would leave the first to be discussed with the notice of motion by Bro . Nicholl . If all P . M . ' s were required to wear collars in Grand Lodge and in Provincial and
District Grand Lodges it seemed reasonable that those collars should be described in the Book of Constitutions , and therefore he would move that Rules 304 , and 307 should read— "The Officers and Past Masters of the Grand Stewards' Lodge wear collars of crimson ribbon four inches broad . The collars of the Officers and Past Masters of private lodges to be light blue ribbon four inches broad ; if silver chain be used , it must be placed over the light blue ribbon . " Bro . PHILBRICK , G . Reg ., seconded the motion .
After some observations by Dr . POCOCK . and Sir ALBERT WOODS , the motion to alter rule 304 was put and carried , as was also No . 307 . " The collars of the officers and Past Masters of private lodges to be light blue ribbon four inches broad ; if silver chain be used , it must be placed over the light blue ribbon . " Bro . FENN then moved 308— " The collars of the officers and Past Masters of private lodges are to be worn only in their own lodges , or when
attending the Grand Lodge , or their Provincial or District Grand Lodge as Masters , Past Masters , or Wardens . " This did not propose any alterations in the law , but was simply an addition of the words " Past Masters , " as an explanatory term , and the alteration in the word afterwards , referring to representing their lodges , was necessary , because Past Masters were not all representative members of Grand Lodge . That would not therefore be rejected . Bro . PHILBRICK . seconded .
Bro . NICHOLL then moved his amendment— " In line 1 , after the word ' officers , ' insert the words * below the rank of Wardens , ' and omit the last three lines beginning ' or when representing their lodges , & c . ' He thought that any brother who was permitted the honourof attending G . Lodge , do either in his individual capacity under articles 6 and g , or as the representative of
his W . M . or this lodge simply , he ought to be shorn of his right when he attended in a private lodge . If he was it was like a man appearing in full dress in his own house , and when he went on a visit wearing a smock frock . He wished the Board to put the rule in a more permissive tone . If a brother was allowed and compelled to wear his insii > na in Grand Lodge , it was an insult to strip him of his adornments if he visited sister lodges .
Bro . PHILBRICK did not think the words of the amendment carried out the wishes of Bro . NICHOLL , who evidently desired that the P . M . might on all Masonic occasions wear his collar , as well as the Wardens . He had better word his resolution so as to carry that . Bro . NICHOLL understood that this notice of motion had been before the Committee and approved ol by them , and as far as he believed he had no right to put it in any other form .
Bro . PHILBRICK said if the Board proposed a motion which was in order the General Committee had no right to alter or touch it . If a motion was in order a brother had a right to have it in his own words . The Rev . THOS . COCHRANE , P . G . Chap ., said they had heard a good deal about stripping P . M . ' s of their insignia on certain occasions , but it appeared to him they had omitted the practical part of the matter , that the
reason why the P . M . 's and officers of lodges wore their blue collars in Provincial Grand Lodge , and Grand Lodge was to mark the distinction between them and the officers of Provincial Grand Lodge and of Grand Lodge , and when they appeared in private lodges the officers of those lodges wore their blue collars to denote that they were officers of that private lodge , and if it
was permitted for P . M . 's or other officers of other private lodges to wear in every Masonic assembly and in every private lodge their blue collars , at once there was thrown away the distinction , and it could not be discovered who were the actual officers of that private lodge which they visited . That seemed to him the practical way of looking upon this question .
Bro . SAMUEL PO . E , Q . C ., G . D ., said Grand Lodge had already passed a resolution sanctioning the wearing of collars by P . M . ' s of private lodges , but the question where those collars were to be worn was totally different , and if he followed Bro . Nicholl ' s motion it would amount to this , that while officers below the rank of Wardens were prohibited from wearing their collars , except in accordance with the laws , officers of that or above that
rank would be left to somebody ' s discretion to wear them where they pleased . He doubted whether this was a desirable alteration to make in the law , and he thought the brethren had a little misunderstood what the character of thc law was . The collar of an officer was not an indication of rank but of office , and it was worn only in those places and on those occasions when he attended by virtue of his office . The reason collars were
worn in Grand Lodge were two—first , because Masters and Wardens of private lodges were alone qualified to attend Grand Lodge ; and , secondly , because Grand Lodge , being a lodge presided over by the highest authority r j Craft , every respect was paid to him by every member who attended Jjrand Lodge . But , when a Master or his Wardens accepted an invitation to attend another lodge than their own , they did not attend officially , they
United Grand Lodge Of England.
did not attend in the character of Master or Wardens , but only as brethren accepting the genial hospitality of their brethren of the lodge ; and that that was the law was perfectly right , because the very nature and essence of the thing was to restrict the wearing , not of any indication of rank . Brethren might wear their decorations or jewels ; if they held Provincial Grand rank they might wear the purple which had been conferred upon them ; but the
blue collar of the Master or Wardens was not rank ; it was office , and it only ought to be worn ( cries of " No , no " ) . It was only office . They were invested with their collars on being the Master or Wardens of the particular lodge in which they served . ( Hear , hear . ) He had the honour to wear now the indicia not of rank but of office as an existing Grand Deacon
of Grand Lodge ; but it would be absurd if he were to attend a private Jodge wearing his chain of office , and why ? (" No , no . ") Yes ; because it represented his office , his rank ; that which he wore to represent his rank was the purple that had been conferred upon him . Therefore , it was quite right , logical , true , consistent , to limit the wearing of the official collars to when brethren attended officially .
Canon PORTAL , amidst cries of " vote , " said whatever else they might doubt about , he thought they would all agree that it was important that this question should be put upon a definite basis which they could vote upon . After the nisi prius address chey had just listened to , it seemed to him that the question was one of custom or of precedent , or Masonic landmarks . He denied altogether that when the Master , Past Master , or Wardens of a
lodge in the same town attended a sister lodge , that they attended simplyas visitors , they attended as officers of the sister lodge . ( No . no . ) Very well , he did not dispute at all the opinion of brethren who differed from him . Years ago , when he had the honour of filling the chair of the Apollo University Lodge of Oxford , they were only too glad to see the officers of the great city lodges of Oxford among them with their collars , jewels , and chains representing those lodges , and showing their sympathy with the
University Lodge . He would put the motion of Bro . Nicholl ' s in a definite form— " That the Master , the Past Masters , and the officers of a lodge shall be at liberty to wear their collars and jewels upon all Masonic occasions . " Bro . J . S . EASTES , D . Prov . G . M . of Kent , seconded Bro . Portal ' s amendment . Speaking for his province he might say the brethren would consider it a grievance if they were not allowed to wear their collars in lodges they visited . Bro . NICHOLL accepted the amendment .
Bro . PHILBRICK said that in the Province of Essex , of which he was Dep . G . M ., the feeling was different . The Grand Lodge divided , when there appeared
;—For Bro . Fenn s motion ... ... ... ... 211 For Bro . Portal ' s amendment ( accepted by Bro . Nicholl ) ... 210 Majority 1 A question arising whether the brethren in the gallery had had their votes
taken—The PRO GRAND MASTER said he was assured the division had been carried out with the strictest and most rigid accuracy . The other amendments of Bro . Nicholl were not seconded , therefore were declared by the M . W . Pro Grand Master to have fallen through . Bro . RAYNHAM VV . STEWART , P . G . D ., postponed till . March , his motion — "That this Grand Lodge do hereby vote the sum of £ 1000 from the Fund of General Purposes as its contribution towards the proposed Imperial Institute of the Colonies and India as the memorial of her Majesty ' s Jubilee . " } The Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form .
Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF EAST LANCASHIRE .
The half-yearly meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire was held on Wednesday , the 24 th ult ., in the Baths Assembly Rooms , Lower Bridgeman-street , Bolton . Bro . Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , the Prov . Grand Master , presided , supported by the Dep . Prov . G . M ., Bro . George Mellor . Bros . W . O . Walker , P . G . S . W ., and James Beard ,
P . G . J . W ., were also present , and there was a large attendance of Prov . G . Officers , Present and Past . Ol the 59 lodges in the province , only four were not represented . An important subject for consideration was as to the most desirable method of commemorating , by the province Masonically , the Jubilee of her Majesty ' s reign next year .
The PROV . GRAND MASTER said that several suggestions had been made as to the form such commemoration should take . One was that the Masons of the province should carry out a portion of the work of restoration at the Manchester Cathedral . He had been personally to see what was the nature of the work , and he learned that there was a portion which they might undertake at a cost of £ 1200 , and as an alternative there was the required
muniment room which would entail an outlay of ^ 3000 . Another proposition had been made that as there was a g reat want lelt in the metropolis of the province of a temple for the Masonic Order , an effort should be made to raise the money wherewith to build a more dignified and more commodious place of assembly than they now had in Manchester , where they might hold their lodges , their encampments , and their various high Degrees more conveniently than they could in the existing Masonic Hall .
Bro . J CHADWICK , PIOV . G . Secretary , read the minutes of a Committee meeting , held in October last , wilh regard to the Jubilee Commemoration . From that meeting a circular was sent to the lodges of the province asking for their opinions . At an adjourned meeting of the Committee on Monday , replies from twenty-four lodges read Of these
were . , eleven were in favour of the establishment of a university scholarship for the sons of Masons in the province , five were in favour of the erection of a Masonic Temple in Manchester , five lodges expressed no definite view beyond their desire to act upon the feeling of the province , one of the replies suggested the erection of almshouses , another that an effort be made to increase the Benevolent Fund
to £ 10 , 000 , and a third that a wing be added to one of the Masonic Charitable Institutions . After considering the replies the Committee decided to recommend that whatever amount could be raised in the province should be applied to the purchase of presentations or votes in the Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows . They further recommend that a great Masonic Festival , in the shape of a reception and ball , be held next year in Manchester , and that a Committee be appointed to carry out the arrangements for such festival .
The PROV . GRAND MASTER said that , recognising the fact that they did not all belong to the Church of England , he thought the subject of Cathedral restoration was not one for them . There were difficulties in the way of the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
United Grand Lodge Of England.
officer of a lodge , nor was the I . P . M ., although he was invested and had certain duties to perform , but he was so much like an officer that it was almost impossible to discover the difference . This nicety of distinction was probably overlooked by the framers of this law , and it was thought that the word " officer " covered the past officers , which P . M ' s . undoubtedly were . It seemed incredible , at least to him ( Bro . Fenn ) , how any other
interpretation could have been placed upon this law , because it would have been a very strange anomoly indeed that a past officer had greater privileges or rights than a present officer—that a P . M ., for instance , should have permission to wear his collar wherever and whenever he wished , when the Master of a lodge , who was a greater man for the time being than a P . M ., had not the privilege . He wished to make it quite clear to Grand Lodge
that the Board of General Purposes did not at all purpose to make any alteration in the law , they simply wished to define the meaning of the law as it stood in order that it might be unmistakeable and indisputable . A revised edition of the Book of Constitutions , as it emanated from the Committee , was sent to every lodge under the English Constitution , and criticisms , objections , and suggestions were freely invited , and when the
replies were received it was found they were freely offered . There were only two objections by the provinces to this rule , and one would hardly be called an objection , it was merely a suggestion for some modification of it , when the question was discussed in Grand Lodge , which it was very freely and exhaustively , and the Grand Lodge was composed very largely of provincial brethren , those objections were overruled . The Board would
hesitate to recommend , and he hoped Grand Lodge would not sanction without the gravest reason any alterations in these rules so approved , which were the outcome of a general consensus of opinion of all members ofthe Craft under the English Constitution throughout the world . He was now about to move the two first recommendations , and would leave the first to be discussed with the notice of motion by Bro . Nicholl . If all P . M . ' s were required to wear collars in Grand Lodge and in Provincial and
District Grand Lodges it seemed reasonable that those collars should be described in the Book of Constitutions , and therefore he would move that Rules 304 , and 307 should read— "The Officers and Past Masters of the Grand Stewards' Lodge wear collars of crimson ribbon four inches broad . The collars of the Officers and Past Masters of private lodges to be light blue ribbon four inches broad ; if silver chain be used , it must be placed over the light blue ribbon . " Bro . PHILBRICK , G . Reg ., seconded the motion .
After some observations by Dr . POCOCK . and Sir ALBERT WOODS , the motion to alter rule 304 was put and carried , as was also No . 307 . " The collars of the officers and Past Masters of private lodges to be light blue ribbon four inches broad ; if silver chain be used , it must be placed over the light blue ribbon . " Bro . FENN then moved 308— " The collars of the officers and Past Masters of private lodges are to be worn only in their own lodges , or when
attending the Grand Lodge , or their Provincial or District Grand Lodge as Masters , Past Masters , or Wardens . " This did not propose any alterations in the law , but was simply an addition of the words " Past Masters , " as an explanatory term , and the alteration in the word afterwards , referring to representing their lodges , was necessary , because Past Masters were not all representative members of Grand Lodge . That would not therefore be rejected . Bro . PHILBRICK . seconded .
Bro . NICHOLL then moved his amendment— " In line 1 , after the word ' officers , ' insert the words * below the rank of Wardens , ' and omit the last three lines beginning ' or when representing their lodges , & c . ' He thought that any brother who was permitted the honourof attending G . Lodge , do either in his individual capacity under articles 6 and g , or as the representative of
his W . M . or this lodge simply , he ought to be shorn of his right when he attended in a private lodge . If he was it was like a man appearing in full dress in his own house , and when he went on a visit wearing a smock frock . He wished the Board to put the rule in a more permissive tone . If a brother was allowed and compelled to wear his insii > na in Grand Lodge , it was an insult to strip him of his adornments if he visited sister lodges .
Bro . PHILBRICK did not think the words of the amendment carried out the wishes of Bro . NICHOLL , who evidently desired that the P . M . might on all Masonic occasions wear his collar , as well as the Wardens . He had better word his resolution so as to carry that . Bro . NICHOLL understood that this notice of motion had been before the Committee and approved ol by them , and as far as he believed he had no right to put it in any other form .
Bro . PHILBRICK said if the Board proposed a motion which was in order the General Committee had no right to alter or touch it . If a motion was in order a brother had a right to have it in his own words . The Rev . THOS . COCHRANE , P . G . Chap ., said they had heard a good deal about stripping P . M . ' s of their insignia on certain occasions , but it appeared to him they had omitted the practical part of the matter , that the
reason why the P . M . 's and officers of lodges wore their blue collars in Provincial Grand Lodge , and Grand Lodge was to mark the distinction between them and the officers of Provincial Grand Lodge and of Grand Lodge , and when they appeared in private lodges the officers of those lodges wore their blue collars to denote that they were officers of that private lodge , and if it
was permitted for P . M . 's or other officers of other private lodges to wear in every Masonic assembly and in every private lodge their blue collars , at once there was thrown away the distinction , and it could not be discovered who were the actual officers of that private lodge which they visited . That seemed to him the practical way of looking upon this question .
Bro . SAMUEL PO . E , Q . C ., G . D ., said Grand Lodge had already passed a resolution sanctioning the wearing of collars by P . M . ' s of private lodges , but the question where those collars were to be worn was totally different , and if he followed Bro . Nicholl ' s motion it would amount to this , that while officers below the rank of Wardens were prohibited from wearing their collars , except in accordance with the laws , officers of that or above that
rank would be left to somebody ' s discretion to wear them where they pleased . He doubted whether this was a desirable alteration to make in the law , and he thought the brethren had a little misunderstood what the character of thc law was . The collar of an officer was not an indication of rank but of office , and it was worn only in those places and on those occasions when he attended by virtue of his office . The reason collars were
worn in Grand Lodge were two—first , because Masters and Wardens of private lodges were alone qualified to attend Grand Lodge ; and , secondly , because Grand Lodge , being a lodge presided over by the highest authority r j Craft , every respect was paid to him by every member who attended Jjrand Lodge . But , when a Master or his Wardens accepted an invitation to attend another lodge than their own , they did not attend officially , they
United Grand Lodge Of England.
did not attend in the character of Master or Wardens , but only as brethren accepting the genial hospitality of their brethren of the lodge ; and that that was the law was perfectly right , because the very nature and essence of the thing was to restrict the wearing , not of any indication of rank . Brethren might wear their decorations or jewels ; if they held Provincial Grand rank they might wear the purple which had been conferred upon them ; but the
blue collar of the Master or Wardens was not rank ; it was office , and it only ought to be worn ( cries of " No , no " ) . It was only office . They were invested with their collars on being the Master or Wardens of the particular lodge in which they served . ( Hear , hear . ) He had the honour to wear now the indicia not of rank but of office as an existing Grand Deacon
of Grand Lodge ; but it would be absurd if he were to attend a private Jodge wearing his chain of office , and why ? (" No , no . ") Yes ; because it represented his office , his rank ; that which he wore to represent his rank was the purple that had been conferred upon him . Therefore , it was quite right , logical , true , consistent , to limit the wearing of the official collars to when brethren attended officially .
Canon PORTAL , amidst cries of " vote , " said whatever else they might doubt about , he thought they would all agree that it was important that this question should be put upon a definite basis which they could vote upon . After the nisi prius address chey had just listened to , it seemed to him that the question was one of custom or of precedent , or Masonic landmarks . He denied altogether that when the Master , Past Master , or Wardens of a
lodge in the same town attended a sister lodge , that they attended simplyas visitors , they attended as officers of the sister lodge . ( No . no . ) Very well , he did not dispute at all the opinion of brethren who differed from him . Years ago , when he had the honour of filling the chair of the Apollo University Lodge of Oxford , they were only too glad to see the officers of the great city lodges of Oxford among them with their collars , jewels , and chains representing those lodges , and showing their sympathy with the
University Lodge . He would put the motion of Bro . Nicholl ' s in a definite form— " That the Master , the Past Masters , and the officers of a lodge shall be at liberty to wear their collars and jewels upon all Masonic occasions . " Bro . J . S . EASTES , D . Prov . G . M . of Kent , seconded Bro . Portal ' s amendment . Speaking for his province he might say the brethren would consider it a grievance if they were not allowed to wear their collars in lodges they visited . Bro . NICHOLL accepted the amendment .
Bro . PHILBRICK said that in the Province of Essex , of which he was Dep . G . M ., the feeling was different . The Grand Lodge divided , when there appeared
;—For Bro . Fenn s motion ... ... ... ... 211 For Bro . Portal ' s amendment ( accepted by Bro . Nicholl ) ... 210 Majority 1 A question arising whether the brethren in the gallery had had their votes
taken—The PRO GRAND MASTER said he was assured the division had been carried out with the strictest and most rigid accuracy . The other amendments of Bro . Nicholl were not seconded , therefore were declared by the M . W . Pro Grand Master to have fallen through . Bro . RAYNHAM VV . STEWART , P . G . D ., postponed till . March , his motion — "That this Grand Lodge do hereby vote the sum of £ 1000 from the Fund of General Purposes as its contribution towards the proposed Imperial Institute of the Colonies and India as the memorial of her Majesty ' s Jubilee . " } The Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form .
Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF EAST LANCASHIRE .
The half-yearly meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire was held on Wednesday , the 24 th ult ., in the Baths Assembly Rooms , Lower Bridgeman-street , Bolton . Bro . Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , the Prov . Grand Master , presided , supported by the Dep . Prov . G . M ., Bro . George Mellor . Bros . W . O . Walker , P . G . S . W ., and James Beard ,
P . G . J . W ., were also present , and there was a large attendance of Prov . G . Officers , Present and Past . Ol the 59 lodges in the province , only four were not represented . An important subject for consideration was as to the most desirable method of commemorating , by the province Masonically , the Jubilee of her Majesty ' s reign next year .
The PROV . GRAND MASTER said that several suggestions had been made as to the form such commemoration should take . One was that the Masons of the province should carry out a portion of the work of restoration at the Manchester Cathedral . He had been personally to see what was the nature of the work , and he learned that there was a portion which they might undertake at a cost of £ 1200 , and as an alternative there was the required
muniment room which would entail an outlay of ^ 3000 . Another proposition had been made that as there was a g reat want lelt in the metropolis of the province of a temple for the Masonic Order , an effort should be made to raise the money wherewith to build a more dignified and more commodious place of assembly than they now had in Manchester , where they might hold their lodges , their encampments , and their various high Degrees more conveniently than they could in the existing Masonic Hall .
Bro . J CHADWICK , PIOV . G . Secretary , read the minutes of a Committee meeting , held in October last , wilh regard to the Jubilee Commemoration . From that meeting a circular was sent to the lodges of the province asking for their opinions . At an adjourned meeting of the Committee on Monday , replies from twenty-four lodges read Of these
were . , eleven were in favour of the establishment of a university scholarship for the sons of Masons in the province , five were in favour of the erection of a Masonic Temple in Manchester , five lodges expressed no definite view beyond their desire to act upon the feeling of the province , one of the replies suggested the erection of almshouses , another that an effort be made to increase the Benevolent Fund
to £ 10 , 000 , and a third that a wing be added to one of the Masonic Charitable Institutions . After considering the replies the Committee decided to recommend that whatever amount could be raised in the province should be applied to the purchase of presentations or votes in the Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows . They further recommend that a great Masonic Festival , in the shape of a reception and ball , be held next year in Manchester , and that a Committee be appointed to carry out the arrangements for such festival .
The PROV . GRAND MASTER said that , recognising the fact that they did not all belong to the Church of England , he thought the subject of Cathedral restoration was not one for them . There were difficulties in the way of the