The Foreign and Colonial Committee investigates and reports on all matters concerning Scottish Masonry in the colonies and foreign countries (Rule 118).

The Petitions, Complaints, and Appeals Committee examines and reports on all cases of dispute between Lodges or brethren (Rule 119).

The Visitation Committee consists of thirteen members, whose duty is to visit annually the lodges in the metropolitan district, examine the books, inquire into their mode of working, and report to Grand Committee (Rule 120).

In addition to the Grand Committee, there is also the Committee of the Fund of Scottish Masonic Benevolence, consisting of the Office Bearers of Grand Lodge, the actual and Proxy Provincial and District Grand Masters, the Grand Stewards, and the Masters and Proxy Masters of the subordinate Lodges (Rule 221). The fund distributed by this Committee is raised by means of annual contributions, payable on the 1st of February of each year, from the office bearers and members of Grand Lodgeone shilling out of the registration fees for each initiate, and such voluntary contributions as may be made from time to time. All charity petitions must be sent to the Grand Secretary at least three days before the last Thursday in each month, on which day the Committee meets, and the applicant must be either a brother (or his widow or child) whose name has been enrolled in the books of Grand Lodge for at least two years, unless in case of shipwreck or capture at sea, loss by fire, or breaking or dislocating a limb. Relief may also be afforded to brethren (and their widows or children) whose names had been less than two years on the roll, provided they were initiated, or affiliated, in a regular Scottish Lodge before August 3rd, 1846, when the fund was established (Rules 220-236). In extraordinary cases, brethren (or their

widows or children) under the Constitutions of other Grand Lodges may be relieved from this fund.

By means of these two Committees the affairs of Grand Lodge are controlled with perfect regularity and order.

The official home of the Grand Lodge of Scotland is in George Street, Edinburgh, where are the offices of the Grand Secretary and Treasurer, the Great Hall, and numerous smaller apartments for private Lodge meetings and other purposes. The Great Hall is a very handsome room, the prevailing tone of which is green, that being the colour of the Grand Officers' clothing, &c. Around the walls are handsome marble busts of former Grand Masters, and numerous paintings, presented by various Lodges some years ago when the Hall was re-decorated. The room is thoroughly worthy of its purpose, and will well repay a visit.

CHAPTER III.

Subordinate Lodges.

HE term "Subordinate " is applied to ordinary Lodges in contradistinction to Grand Lodge] and Provincial Grand Lodge. In order that the newly-raised Brother may duly understand the working of his Lodge, it is necessary that he should know the names of the various officers, with their duties and stations.

First in rank and dignity comes the Master. Seated in the East, he is the supreme governor of the Lodge whilst in office. His ruling is absolute on all points of order, and he is only accountable to his Provincial or District Grand Lodge (if any) or to Grand Lodge for his actions, hence every Brother must submit to him entirely in the Lodge, subject to the right every Mason has to appeal if he feels himself to be treated unjustly. The Masonic knowledge and tact of the ruler of the Lodge is, however, in the majority of cases such, that although this "right of appeal" is one of the ancient landmarks of our Order, it is rarely necessary to resort to it. The Master is always addressed as "Right Worshipful Master."

The distinctive jewel suspended from the Master's collar is the Square and Compasses, Segment of Circle, and the Sun.

Next to the actual Master of the Lodge ranks the "Immediate Past Master,' or The Past Master; the original title was "The Old or Past Master." As the name implies, this office can only be filled by the Brother

C

who was in "the chair "* immediately before the present Master, but should this officer have ceased in any way to be a member of the Lodge, the senior Past Master should occupy that position. The Immediate Past Master sits on the left of the Right Worshipful Master, and in the Master's absence it is his duty and right to occupy the chair. His collar jewel is composed of the Compasses, Square, and Segment. He should be addressed as "Right Worshipful Immediate Past Master," with or without the addition of his name.

The Depute Master ranks next, and in the absence of the R.W. Master and Past Masters he rules the Lodge, his distinctive jewel being the Compasses and Square.

Then comes the Substitute Master, who rules in the absence of all the before-named officers, his jewel being the Square.

The next officer of the Lodge is the Senior Warden. His seat is in the West, where he is placed to close the Lodge, by command of the Worshipful Master. In the absence of the Master and Past Masters and Depute and Substitute Masters, it is his constitutional right to rule the Lodge, although he cannot initiate, pass, or raise a Mason, simply as Senior Warden. He should be addressed as 'Worshipful Brother Senior Warden."

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collar jewel is the Level.

His

Next to him ranks the Junior Warden, whose seat and pedestal are in the South. In the absence of Master, Past Master, Depute and Substitute Masters, and Senior Warden, it is his right to rule the Lodge, under the same restrictions as those named for the Senior Warden. His collar jewel is the Plumb Rule, and his style "Worshipful

Brother Junior Warden."

* Although the Wardens also occupy special chairs, the term "the chair," is always understood to mean "the Master's chair." In a few Scottish Lodges the Wardens both sit in the W., the S.W. towards the N., and the J.W. towards the S.

Then comes the Treasurer who has charge of the funds of the Lodge. His collar jewel is a Key. He is usually seated in the North-East part of the Lodge, and by his side is the Secretary, who, under the control of the Worshipful Master, manages the affairs of the Lodge, and issues the summonses for all meetings, keeping a record of all the business of the Lodge for future reference. All correspondence on Lodge business should be addressed to the Secretary. His jewel is Two Pens, crossed and tied.

It may be here mentioned that when in Lodge all officers should be addressed by their official titles, e.g., "Brother Secretary," "Brother Senior Deacon," "Brother Inner Guard," and so forth.

As all Freemasons are taught to hold the volume of the Sacred Law in the highest veneration, it is fitting that the Chaplain should, as he does, rank next to the Secretary. He offers prayer in the Lodge whenever necessary, and is usually a clergyman. His jewel is an irradiated eye within a Triangle, and his station is in a convenient place in the East.

Next in rank is the Senior Deacon, who sits at, or near the right of the Worshipful Master, whose special attendant he is, when not engaged in conducting the candidate.

The Junior Deacon performs similar duties at the right of the Senior Warden, and each Deacon usually wears a Mallet and Trowel as his collar jewel.

Then comes the Steward, his jewel being a Cornucopia and cup, followed by the Architect, who wears a Corinthian Column on a segment of 90° as his jewel.

Next ranks the Jeweller, wearing a Goldsmith's Hammer, and the Bible-Bearer, wearing a miniature Metallic Bible.

Then comes the Organist (if the Lodge appoints one) who has charge of the musical portion of the ritual, his symbolical jewel being a Lyre.