Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

SECTION VIII.

General Rules for conducting the business of the Grand Lodge, in case of the absence of any of the Grand Officers.

If the grand master is absent at any meeting of the grand lodge, stated or occasional, the deputy is to supply his place.

If the deputy be likewise absent, the senior grand warden takes the chair, and in his absence the junior grand warden. All grand officers, present and past, take place of every master of a lodge, and the present grand officers take place of all past grand officers. Nevertheless, any of them may resign their privilege, to do honour to any eminent brother and past master, whom the lodge may be willing to place in the chair on any particular occasion.

If the grand officers are not present at any grand lodge duly summoned, the master of the senior private lodge who may be present, is to take the chair, although there may be masters of lodges present, who are older masons.

But to prevent disputes, the grand master, when he finds he must be necessarily absent from any grand lodge, usually gives a special commission, under his hand and seal of office, countersigned by the grand secretary, to the senior grand warden, or in his absence to the junior, or in case of the absence of both, to any other grand officer, or particular master of a lodge, past or present, to supply his place, if the deputy grand master be necessarily absent.

But if there be no special commission, the general rule of precedence is, that the junior grand warden supplies the place of the senior in his absence; and if both are absent, the oldest former grand wardens take place immediately, and act as grand wardens, pro tempore, unless they resign their privilege.

When neither the grand wardens of the present, nor of any former year, are in company, the grand master, or he that legally presides in his stead, calls forth whom he pleases to act as deputy grand master and grand wardens, although the preference is generally given to the master or past master of the oldest lodge present. The presiding grand officer has the further privilege of appointing a secretary or any other grand officer, if neither the stated officers, nor the deputies of such of them as have a right to nominate a deputy, be present.

In case of the death of a grand master, the same order of succession and precedency takes place, as is above set forth, until a new grand master is duly chosen and installed.

Old grand officers may be again chosen officers of private lodges, and this does not deprive them of any of the privileges to which, as old grand officers, they are entitled in the grand lodge; only, an old grand officer, being the officer of a private lodge, must depute a past officer of his particular lodge to act for him in the grand lodge, when he ascends to his former rank in the same.

SECTION IX.

Of Grand Visitations, Communications, Annual Feasts, &c. The grand master with his deputy, the grands wardens and grand secretary, shall, if possible, annually, go at least once round, and visit all the lodges under his jurisdiction; or, when this laudable duty becomes impracticable, from the extent of his jurisdiction and large number of lodges, he shall, as often as necessary, and if possible annually, appoint visiters, of different districts, composed of his grand officers, and such other assistants as he may think proper, who shall make faithful report of their proceedings to the grand lodge, according to the instructions given them.

When both the grand masters are absent, the senior or junior grand warden may preside as deputy in visiting lodges, or in constituting any new lodge.

The brethren of all the regular lodges, in the same general jurisdiction and grand communication, shall meet in some convenient place on St. John's day, to celebrate their festival; either in their own or any 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. But only those who are members of the grand lodge must be present during the installation of grand officers.

ANCIENT CEREMONIES.

CHAPTER I.

Ceremony of constituting and consecrating a Lodge, installing the Officers, &c.

ANY number of master masons, not under seven, re solved to form a new lodge, must apply, by petition to the grand master; setting forth, "that they are regular* masons, and are at present, or have been, members of regular lodges: that, having the prosperity of the fraternity at heart, they are willing to exert their best endeavours to promote and diffuse the genuine principles of masonry: that, for the conveniency of their respective dwellings, and other good reasons, they have agreed to form a new lodge, to be named, and have nominated, and do recommend A. B. to be the first master: that, in consequence of this resolution, they pray for a warrant of constitution, to empower them to assemble as a regular lodge, on the of every month, at, and then and there to discharge the duties of masonry in a regular and constitutional manner, according to the original forms of the order, and the laws of the grand lodge; that, the prayer of the petition being granted, they promise a strict conformity to all the regulations and commands of the grand master, and to all the constitutional laws of the grand lodge."

This application being properly signed, and recommended by brethren of approved reputation, who are acquainted with the petitioners, is to be laid before the grand lodge; and, if it meet their approbation, a warrant

By regular masons, is to be understood persons initiated into masonry in a constitutional manner, agreeably to the ancient charges and regulations of the order.

It is usual for those who petition for a new lodge, to be recommended by the brethren of three lodges, nearest to the place where the new lodge is intended to be holden; or by the masters of them.

is granted. In case the grand lodge is not in session, the grand master, or, in his absence,, his deputy, can form the said brethren by dispensation, which, however, cannot remain in force any longer than the time specified therein.

FORM OF A WARRANT.

From high and undoubted Authority.

The following form of a warrant is copied verbatim et litteratim from a warrant, now in the possession of the compiler of this work, issued by Lawrence Dermot, Esq. D. G. M. of the G. L. of England:

To all whom it may concern:

WE, the grand lodge of the state of T. E. W. of the most ancient and honourable fraGrand-Master. ternity of free and accepted masons, according to the old institution duly established, constituted and organized for the said state, according to the resolutions, and by the authority of a grand convention, held at in the year of masonry do hereby constitute and appoint our trusty and well beloved brethren, A. B. master, C. D. senior warden, and E. F. junior warden of a new lodge, number, to be held at

6.

9

and we do hereby authorise and empower our said trusty and well beloved brethren to hold their lodge, at the place hereby directed and appointed, at such times as they shall think necessary and convenient, and according to the constitutions of masonry, and to admit and make free masons according to the most ancient and honourable custom of the royal craft in all ages and nations throughout the known world, and not contrarywise-and we do further authorize and empower our said brethren and their successors to hear and determine all and singular matters and things relating to the craft, within the jurisdiction of the said lodge, number; and lastly, we do hereby authorise and empower our said trusty and well beloved brethren A B, C D, and E F, to nominate, choose, and install their successors, to whom they shall deliver this warrant, and invest them with all their powers and dignities as free masons, and such successors shall, in like manner, nominate, choose, and install their successors, &c. &c. &c. such in

stallations to be upon or near St. John, the evangélist's day, during the continuance of this lodge, forever. Provided always, that the said above named brethren, and their successors, pay due respect to the right worshipful grand lodge, from whom they have their authority, otherwise this warrant to be of no force or virtue.

-

this

Given under our hands, and the seal of the grand lodge, at day of —, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and and of masonry, five thousand seven hundred and

[ocr errors]

W. H. W. Senior Grand Warden.
C. W. Junior Grand Warden.
E. G. W. Grand Treasurer.

P. L. Deputy Grand Master.

B. C. H. Grand Secretary.

COPY OF A DISPENSATION.

To all whom it may concern:

WHEREAS it appears to me from the petition of sundry brethren of --9 within the state of -9 who are recommended and vouched to me as worthy and fit master masons, by the master, wardens, and other members of —, constituted under our jurisdiction, that the congregation of the said petitioners and others, whom they may think proper to admit into their society, will have a tendency to further and promote the craft; and as such a congregation can be formed during the recess of the grand lodge, by virtue of a special dispensation only-I, therefore, -, G. M. of the said grand lodge of, do hereby, as right worshipful grand master of the said grand lodge, and agreeably to the constitution of Ancient York Masons, grant this dispensation, thereby authorising and empowering our trusty and well beloved brother

in the town of 9

9

[ocr errors]

Esq. to congregate a sufficient number of worthy brethren at some certain place in the town of to form and open a lodge after the manner of ancient masons, and in the said lodge, while thus open, to admit, enter and make free masons according to the true ancient custom, and not otherwise, with the sole intent and view, that the brethren so congregated, admitted, entered, and made, when they become a sufficient number, may, in good order and time, be duly warranted and constituted for being and holding a regular lodge for the further promot

« AnteriorContinua »