If the General Grand Chapter is itself subject to the same restrictions, in this respect, that it imposes upon the State Grand Chapters, and we see no reason why the rule should be otherwise, then it cannot grant authority to confer the appendant degrees, separate from a Chapter organization; and there can be no question that it has not the power to organize Chapters in Canada, or in any other foreign jurisdiction.

7. The remedy for this latter evil is not difficult, if there be a disposition to apply it. It is only necessary for the General Grand Chapter to amend its Constitution, if it have not the power already, so as to allow of the granting of Charters, emanating from itself," for instituting Lodges of M. E., P., and Mk. M., independent of a Chapter," in any "State, country, Republic, or Territory," where the conferring of those degrees is not authorized by some competent authority. Our Canadian Companions are ready and desirous to receive such authority, and to establish such Lodges. Let the General Grand Chapter grant them the power, on regular petition, and the Chapters there and in the United States, would immediately be placed upon an equal footing, and free and fraternal communication and intercourse between them established.

8. It is proper to use substitutes, either one or two, as occasion may require. Without this permission, one half of the Chapters in the country would not be able to maintain themselves, in consequence of not being able to work more than once or twice a year. They would die of inertia. We are fully aware that some intelligent Companions have entertained serious doubts as to the propriety of the practice of employing substitutes. We, however, cannot sympathize with them in this respect; for, if the practice be not strictly in conformity with the letter of the requirement, it cannot be doubted that it is in agreement with the spirit, and that the end proposed is more effectually attained by it. We are told that "the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." And, if we admit the negative of the question, this would be literally true in the case we are considering. A strict and literal conformity with the "letter," as it is understood by Companions who doubt the propriety of using substitutes, would most certainly "kill" a large portion of the Chapters to which " the spirit" now "giveth life," especially of those which are located in the interior towns. But we are not prepared to concede that the practice is not a literal compliance with the requirement, provided no distinction is made in the progress of the work. A thing done, is not the less done, because it had been done before, and there was, therefore, no absolute necessity for doing it again.

We have thus answered all the inquiries proposed by our correspondent, and we hope to his satisfaction.

*If deemed expedient, the conferring the degrees in these Lodges might be restricted to R. A. Masons, and those who propose to become such.

PAST MASTERS MADE IN R. A. CHAPTERS. Black Hawk, Miss., Dec. 12, 1847. COMP. C. W. MOORE :-Dear Sir :-A question arose in the Mount Moriah Lodge, to this effect:

Can a Royal Arch Mason, not an officer in any Lodge, open and close a Master's Lodge, in the absence of all or any of the governing officers, without the order of the W. Master, or the S. or J. Warden, he being a member of said Lodge? You will please give me your views on the subject, as there seems to be a difference of opinion here, and I want to be set right by acknowledged authority.

Yours, fraternally,

S. ATCHISON.

The Past Master's degree, as given in the Chapters, confers no privileges on the recipient, of which he can avail himself in a Lodge of Master Masons, except that of being present whenever the Lodge may have occasion to open on that degree. A Brother who, having been duly elected and installed, has served at least one year,* as Master of a subordinate Lodge, under the jurisdiction of some Grand Lodge, is, by ancient usage, alone entitled to the rank and privileges of a Past Master.

The degree, if such it be, as conferred in the Chapter, is to be regarded merely as a preparatory measure to further advancement in Masonry. It does not confer any of the privileges to which a Past Master, in the true sense of the term, is entitled. Brethren so receiving the degree, are not recognized as such by those Grand Lodges of which Past Masters, by virtue of their rank, are admitted as members. They are not Past Masters, in the true and legitimate sense of the phrase.

In our humble judgment, a great error was committed when the power of making nominal Past Masters, was conceded to, or assumed by, the Chapters. There was no necessity for it. The degree, or ceremony, or whatever else it may be called, has no actual or necessary connection with the Royal Arch, or any other degree conferred in the Chapters. But this is an error, if it be one, for which there is, probably, now no remedy, or at least none that will be likely to be adopted. We must, therefore, make the best of it, and endeavor to keep the evil within its present limits. To this end, we should not hesitate to reject at once, and decisively, all such claims as that set up in the case referred to by our correspondent. The Companion claiming the right as a Past Master to open the Lodge, was undoubtedly sincere in the belief that he possessed the authority; but he was mistaken. He possesses no powers which are not common to every other member of the Lodge who has attained to the rank of a Master Ma

son.

A commendable illustration of the principle involved in this question,

This is, in some parts of our country, reduced to six months; but this is not the old

usage.

recently occurred in connection with the Grand Lodge of New York. The Earl of Zetland, G. Master of the G. Lodge of England, was induced by some ulterior considerations, to appoint an obscure member of the Order, as his representative in the Grand Lodge of that State. On presenting his credentials, and not being able to show that he was a Past Master, in the constitutional sense, the quasi representative was rejected. And this was right. It was meeting the Earl on his own Constitutions, and administering to him a reproof for attempting to practise upon another Grand Lodge, that which he himself, by his own Constitutions, would be compelled to reject. He will probably be more particular in his observance of the laws, as well as in the choice of his representative, when he may next have occasion to act in any similar matter. We merely cite the case to illustrate the principle.

TYLERS OF LODGES.

A Brother writing from Nova Scotia, proposes the following inquiry, and requests an answer. We cheerfully comply with his request :

"Has the Tyler, when inside of a subordinate Lodge, a vote, and a right to express his opinion on any subject before the Lodge ?"

The proper answer to this inquiry must depend entirely upon the fact whether the Tyler is a member of the Lodge, or otherwise. Of this our correspondent has failed to inform us. If the Tyler be not a member, he has no more right to interfere with the business transactions of the Lodge, than other visiters and strangers. On the contrary, if he be a member, he is entitled to all the rights and privileges of full membership. The mere circumstance that he is the Tyler of the Lodge, does not, and cannot, affect his standing or his right as a member. These are secured to him, as to all other inembers, by the by-laws, and he cannot be deprived of them, except for delinquency. There would, however, generally be a manifest impropriety in the Tyler's voting in questions in relation to which discussions have arisen in the Lodge; because, from his position, he is not in a situation to participate in, or attend to, the discussions; and would, therefore, be obliged to vote without a full and proper understanding of the subject. It is not probable that any well disposed Brother would desire to do this; but if he should, and insist upon his right to vote, we know of no rule by which the right can be denied to him.

We apprehend that our correspondent may not have marked the distinction between the Tyler and the Serving-Brother,' as defined in the

English Grand Lodge Constitutions. The latter is not permitted to be a member of the Lodge that he serves, and if employed as Tyler would not be at liberty to vote. Nor can the Tyler of the Gr. Lodge be a member of that body. But this restriction does not apply to subordinate Lodges.

ADMISSION OF MEMBERS AND CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES.-RIGHT OF VISITERS TO VOTE. Holly Springs, Miss., March 10, 1848. DEAR BROTHER, We have lately had quite an animated discussion upon the question of application for membership to Lodges:-Whether any Lodge can reject by black ball any such application? There has, however, been no instance, I am glad to say, in our Lodge, which called up the question; but as it is an important one, I would be very glad to have your always valuable opinion.

It has been contended by some, that a Master Mason is entitled, as such, wherever he may be, to all the privileges enjoyed by Master Masons, until he shall be suspended or expelled; and that no member can black ball an application of a Master Mason for membership to any Lodge, if he produces his demit or diploma of good character, and passes the examination of a committee. While others say, they can black ball a Master Mason, and that he is under the same rules and regulations of an applicant for initiation; and by this latter course, a member rejected, is denied the right of trial or demand of specific charges, and is remedyless; and is thus suminarily disposed of.

Again: Have visiting Brethren a right to vote for the initiation of applicants for degrees? and ought any person to be received when it is known a Master Mason will black ball him, whether such Master Mason be a member of the Lodge or not, to which the application is made?

Yours, fraternally,

HANNIBAL HARRIS.

Lodges are composed of an indefinite number of Brethren-usually about fifty, some having more and some less-who are associated together, under the authority of a Charter from the Grand Lodge, for the purposes of Freemasonry. This Charter is granted to the petitioners, and such other Brethren as they may see fit to associate with them. It neither requires nor prohibits an increase of the number of members. The Lodge is not, therefore, under any obligations to do either, unless required by some special and unusual provision in the Constitution of the Grand Lodge. As a general rule, the Lodge is at liberty to admit or reject, as it sees fit. None other than Master Masons can properly be admitted to membership; and they cannot claim the privilege as a right. They must petition and be admitted by ballot. An opposite course would often be attended with dangerous consequences to the harmony and prosperity of the Lodge. The members must be allowed to select their own associates. There is safety in no other course. If an applicant is rejected, he has no appeal; but his standing in the Fraternity is not affected by the rejection. His privileges remain the same; nor should the circumstance, of itself,

be permitted to operate to his disparagement, either as a man or a Brother. His rejection may have been the result of personal dislike, the want of proper social qualities, or other similar causes, not affecting his moral character.

To the second inquiry we answer, that visiting Brethren have no right to vote on the admission of candidates for initiation. We are aware that such a claim has been agitated in certain quarters; but it is wholly inadmissible. If a visiter knows any reason why an applicant should not be admitted, it is his duty to communicate it to the Master of the Lodge, that the objection may be properly investigated; and this is all that he has occasion to do about it. He cannot be permitted to interfere further than this, with the transactions of the Lodge; unless he sees cause to enter complaint against it before the Grand Lodge.

To the third inquiry. If the Master Mason is a member of the Lodge, he should communicate his objection to the Master or the committee of investigation, or be present to exercise his right to negative the applicant, if he see good cause. If he be not a member, then he should communicate the nature of his objection to the Master of the Lodge. If neither of these be done, we see no sufficient reason to warrant the rejection of the candidate.

THE ARISTOCRACY OF FREEMASONRY.

"Nolite sapere plus quam oportet."

AMONG Freemasons, the number of those who cultivate their minds and adorn them with true knowledge, and who are industriously occupied in their search after truth, is certainly very small. In general, nine-tenths of those who are styled "Freemasons," have no right to the name beyond the titles they acquire; and if they do not leave the Order, they remain members with only a superficial idea of its principles and beauties.

It is truly a privilege equally rare and valuable, to have acquired distinct ideas of things; to have penetrated the mystic darkness which surrounds us, and to have eyes to see the LIGHT invisible to the mass, which "shineth in that darkness." Precious, indeed, the privilege to discover "the hidden riches of secret places," to fathom the principles of the moral and physical system, and to become, (if we may be allowed the expression,) initiated in the grand council of the Supreme Architect!

If there really existed a Lodge, whose members were all men of superior genius and talents, enlightened philosophers, who never advance a step without full evidence before them, and who preserve as a precious deposite the pure and unalterable charge of truth, by the discovery of which the human mind becomes capable of being elevated, it would be the most respectable body of men of which