The New Scottish Constitutions.

The New Scottish Constitutions .

r PHE Grand Lodge of Scotland is to be congratulated on I the publication of one of the finest Book of Constitutions ever issued , the largest size being a really noble volume , abundantly illustrated , ably arranged , and containing valuable appendices of a most important character . It is a remarkable fact that though the Grand Lodge of

Scotland was instituted in the year 173 6 , there was not a separate edition of its laws published until one hundred years later . Considering that on the roll of this Grand Lodge there are the oldest lodges in . the world , having records from the 16 th century onwards , and that many scores of lodges were

working in the northern part of the United Kingdom when the premier Grand Lodge was formed at London in 1717 , it is strange that the brethren were so slow to follow the example of England and Ireland in the issue of such needful guides .

JI . IV . Jino . n . man , c . SEC . There was an edition of the laws printed in 1804 , wilh the " History of Free-Masonry drawn from authentic sources of information , with an account of the Grand Lodge of

Scotland from its institution in 1736 to the present time , " nominally by Bro . Alex . Lawrie , Grand Secretary , but really by Mr . Brewster { subsequently Sir David Brewster ) , who undertook that duly on Dr . Irving declining . The first bona fide Book of Scottish Constitutions was

published in the year 18 3 6 , and besides other additional matter had a roll of lodges , having those existing arranged at the left-hand side , with original and present numbers to each , date of institution , and colour of clothing , & c . At the right is printed a list of the lodges struck off the roll , with

the years of expulsion , & c . A still more artistic volume was issued in 18 4 8 , with a reproduction of a full length portrait of William St . Clair of Roslin , "from the original in St . John ' s Chapel , Canongate Edinburgh , " and also several plates of the official jewels .

A number of important alterations for four years , from 18 4 8 , were subsequently printed and inserted in certain copies , bringing the work down to the year 1852 . A special large paper edition was also circulated of a most sumptuous character , having a very line portrait of the

Duke of Athole , Grand Master , in the frontispiece , with illustrations of the official jewels in appropriate colours , probably the linest volume of the kind ever issued .

The roll of lodges , as with the 18 3 6 edition , is most interesting , though faulty as a compilation . The enumeration of J 816 was changed in 18 35 , and is still continued , save as

to certain old lodges which have subsequently been granted exceptionally , but well deserved , high positions on the register . Other editions of the Constitutions were promulgated in 1863 , 1866 , 1868 , 1871 , 1874 , 1879 , 1881 , 1886 , and by far the best of this series in 18 9 6 . The latter was prepared by

my lamented friend , David Murray Lyon , as Grand Secretary , with the assistance of Brothers William Officer , S . S . C ., James Muir , and David Keid , ( then Grand Treasurer ) . On 14 th day of April , 1904 , the Grand Lodge in Special Communication assembled , authorised the esteemed Grand

Secretary , Bro . David Reid , " to prepare and publish an edition of the Constitutions and Laws , embracing the additions and alterations confirmed by Grand Lodge at dates subsequent to the issue of the edition of 18 9 6 . " By appointment , Bros . William Officer , S . S . C . ( P . G . D . ) , and Dr . George

Dixon , F . R . C . S . E . ( P . M . No . 1 ) , assisted the Grand Secretary accordingly , their special qualifications for such an important duly being as widely acknowledged , as they are fully recognized by Masonic students generally . Bro . James Smith ( one of the Grand Committee ) attended

to a revision of the list of lodges removed from the roll , and by dint of a careful examination of old registers , calendars , minutes , and other evidence , succeeded in discovering the names of several omitted from all previous reports ; the result being an invaluable register of all the known lodges , which at

one time or other , were on the roll of the Grand Lodge from 1 736 to 1892 , but erased for various reasons . The original and last numbers held by such lodges when discoverable are appended , and likewise notes of reference when required .

W . BRO . 1 VIJ . IJAM OFFICIO !! , S . S . C , P .. i . I > . I had the pleasure of helping my friend in this laborious and difficult work , which was rendered all the more complicated by the fact that the early records of the Grand Lodge are entirely silent as to the granting of some of the Foreign

Charters , which have been traced of late years , and not a few of the official descriptions have been found to be erroneous . Of the lodges omitted may be noted two in Virginia ( America ) , and one each in Denmark , Holland and France , 1753 lo 1756 . The changes in the Regulations ( duly sanctioned on 4 U 1

August , 1904 , ) are both numerous and important , many being far reaching in character , and calculated to raise the standard of membership considcrabty . The days of what is known as " Cheap Masonry" are over , and the " hop , skip and jump " method of conferring the Three Degrees in one night are also happily at an end . The mere cost , however , is but one