VII. — THE REGULATION OF 1717.

PrestonJ informs us that, on St. John the Baptist's day, 1717, at the establishment of the Grand Lodge of England by the four Lodges in London, the fol- lowing Regulation was adopted :
That the privilege of assembling as Masons, which had been hitherto unlimited, should be vested in certain Lodges oi assemblies of Masons, convened in certain places ; and that every Lodge to be hereafter convened, except the four old Lodges at this time existing, should be legally authorized to act by a warrant from the Grand Master for the time being, granted to certain individuals by petition, with the consent
* Illustrations of Masonry, p. 180.
•f There is something in the phraseology of this regulation whic11 makes it irreconcilable with the facts of history. It is well known that, L xm the earliest periods, a speculative and an operative element were combine 1 in the institution, and that many distinguished princes, noblemen, prelates and scholars, who were not operative Masons, held high rank and position in the Fraternity. The most of the craftsmen were, however, undoubtedly, opera- tive or stone masons. The object of this regulation, perhaps, really was, to give an entirely speculative character to the institution, and completely to divest it of its operative element. Although not precisely so worded, this seems to have been the universal interpretation, and such has actually teen the result.
t Illustrations, p. 182.
54 THE WRITTEN LAW.
and approbation of the Grand Lodge in communication ; and that without such warrant, no Lodge should be hereafter deemed regular or constitutional.*
Till. — THE REGULATION OF 1720.
At a quarterly communication of the Grand Lodge of England, held on the 24th of June, 1720, the following new Regulation was adopted :
In future, the new Grand Master shall be named and pro- posed to the Grand Lodge some time before the feast ; and, if approved and present, he shall be saluted as Grand Mas- ter elect ; and every Grand Master, when he is installed, shall have the sole power of appointing his Deputy and Wardens, according to ancient custom.f