lodges; neither of which can be done, without, at least, one of the present grand officers, except in places at too great a distance from the seat of the grand lodge. this case, some faithful past master, &c. shall have a deputation under the seal of the grand lodge, if the order be made in the absence of the grand master and deputy, or under their private seals, if they are present; but such instrument must likewise, before it become valid, be countersigned by the grand secretary. Under such authority, the brother so appointed, shall act as grand master pro tempore, in visiting old lodges, or constituting new ones, in places far distant from the grand lodge, and in remote countries or beyond seas, where it would be impracticable, or, at least, highly inconvenient for the grand lodge to attend.

The brethren of all the regular lodges, under the same jurisdiction and grand communication, shall meet in some convenient place on St. John's day, to celebrate the festival, either in their own, or in such other regular lodge, as they shall judge most convenient; and any brethren, who are found true and faithful members of the ancient craft, may be admitted. Only those, who are members of the grand lodge, can be present at the election of grand officers.

SECTION 10.-PARTICULAR RULES OBSERVED IN THE

GRAND LODGE OF NEW YORK.

Every grand lodge has an inherent right to make local ordinances and new regulations, as well as to amend the old ones, for their own particular benefit, and the good of the fraternity in general; provided, however, that the ancient land marks be carefully preserved, and that such regulations be first proposed in writing for the consideration of the members, and at last, duly enacted by

the consent of the majority. This is a point which has never been disputed; as the members of every grand lodge, are the true representatives of all the fraternity in communication, and constitute an independent body, with legislative authority, provided, as has been already observed, that the grand masonic constitution be not violated, nor any of the old land marks removed.

. Upon these principles, the grand lodge of New-York, have made, or adopted, some particular rules, of which the following is an abstract.

1st. Quarterly communications* shall be held in the

* The following are the times and places at which communications are held, in the grand lodges of several of the United States; from the others, we have been able to obtain no certain information

Quarterly communications of the grand lodge of New-Hampshire, are held at Portsmouth, in the months of January, April, July, and October.

In Massachusetts, communications are held in Boston, on the second Mondays of December, March, June, and September.

In Rhode-Island, the quarterly communications are holden in Providence, on the last Mondays in February, May, August, and November.

In Connecticut, the communications are semi-annually, viz. in the months of May and October. It is believed, that they are held at Hartford.

The communication for the state of Vermont, is held annually, on the Monday preceding the second Thursday of October, at Windsor and Vergennes, alternately.

The annual communication for the state of New-Jersey, meets at Trenton, on the second Tuesday of November.

In Pennsylvania, the communications are held on the first Mondays in March, June, September, and December.

The grand lodge of Delaware, is held in the borough of Wilmington; but of the time of its meetings, we are not apprized.

The meetings of the grand lodge of Maryland, are holden in the eity of Baltimore.

The communication of the grand lodge of Virginia, is held annually at the city of Richmond, on the second Monday in December.

The grand lodge of North Carolina, meets annually in the city of Raleigh; but we know not the precise time.

city of New-York, on the first Wednesdays in March, June, September, and December, when the different lodges are to attend, by their proper officers or deputies.

2d. None except a past master of some regular lodge, who is a resident, or honorary member of the lodge he is chosen to represent, can be admitted as proxy for such lodge; and his commission must be under the seal of the lodge which appointed him, authenticated by the signature of the master and secretary.

3d. Every member of the grand lodge, must pay into the treasury, quarterly, the sum of fifty cents, and the same sum for non attendance, at a quarterly communica tion, unless he produce a satisfactory reason for his ab

sence.

4th. Every member of a lodge constituted under this grand lodge, shall pay quarterly, towards the general charity fund, the sum of twelve and an half cents; but the quarterly fees for members of lodges in the city of New York, are twenty-five cents.

5th. Every person initiated in any lodge, under the jurisdiction of this grand lodge, shall pay one dollar and twenty-five cents, towards the general fund of charity ; but those, who are initiated in the city of New-York, shall pay two dollars and fifty cents to the same purpose; all which dues shall be made good, by every particular lodge, at least once a year, at the communication

In South Carolina, communications are held quarterly, on the last Saturdays in March, June, September, and on the next Saturday but one, preceding the festival of St. John the Evangelist..

Concerning the meetings of the other grand lodges in the United States, we have only learnt, that the communication of the grand lodge of Georgia, is held at Savannah; that of Kentucky, in the town of Lexington; of Ohio, at Chillicothe; and Louisiana, at New-Orleans, Of the times when they meet, we have been able to obtain no information,

previous to the feast of St. John the Baptist. But in the city of New-York, all such dues are to be paid quarterly.

6th. Every brother, who shall be returned by his lodge, and registered in the books of the grand lodge, shall pay twelve and an half cents to the grand secretary for such registration.

7th. Every member of a subordinate lodge, who may require a grand lodge certificate, shall pay to the grand secretary one dollar and fifty cents; but no one can obtain such certificate, without a previous one from the lodge of which he is a member, setting forth that he has conducted himself with propriety, and that he has discharged all lodge dues.

8th. All petitions for warrants, shall come recommended by the officers of the lodge, nearest to the place where it is intended that the new lodge should be constituted.

9th. No charter, or dispensation for holding a lodge, shall be granted to any person or persons, residing out of this state, if within the jurisdiction of any other grand lodge.

SECTION 11.-REGULATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE OF

CHARITY.

1st. The committee of charity shall consist of all present and former grand officers, with the masters of all lodges, under the jurisdiction of the grand lodge; who are bound to take all petitions, &c. into consideration, and to order such relief to distressed petitioners, as their cases may severally require.

2d. All collections, and sums of money for charitable purposes, belonging to the grand lodge fund, are to be deposited in the hands of the grand treasurer, or of such other person, as the grand lodge may specially appoint;

no part of which fund must be expended, on any account, without an order from the committee of charity, which shall be entered on their book of transactions, with the names of the persons, to whom the same is given.

3d. No anonymous letter, petition, &c. shall be read in the committee; and only registered masons, who have, for twelve months, contributed to the general charity fund, and, for that time, been members of a warranted lodge, are to be relieved. Sojourners and travelling masons, when in distress, are to be assisted by private contributions, or out of the general fund, as the majority of the committee may think proper.

4th. All petitions, or recommendations for charity, should be signed by the master and wardens of the lodge, to which the applicant belongs; and, although any brother may send in a petition or recommendation, yet none can be admitted to hear the debates, except the stewards or members of the committee.

5th. It is the inherent right of the committee, which is commonly called "The Steward's Lodge," to dispose of the grand charity fund, to such as shall appear to them to be the most necessitous and deserving, in such manner as they shall deem most effectual for the relief of the distressed brother, or his family. It is, however, expressly enjoined on the committee, that no person initiated in a clandestine or unconstitutional manner, nor any one, who has assisted at such initiation or making, shall ever be entitled to receive any assistance from the said fund.

6th. The committee is likewise authorized to hear and adjust all matters, concerning freemasons and masonry, which may be laid before them, (except the making of new regulations,) and the determinations of the committee are final, unless an appeal be made to the grand lodge.