OLD REGULATIONS. particular lodge, which charity shall be kept by the cashier; also the candidate shall solemnly promise to submit to the constitutions, and other good usages, that shall be intimated to him, in time and place convenient. NEW REGULATIONS. VIII. Even brother con VIII. No set or number of brethren shall withdraw or sepacerned in making masons clanrate themselves from the lodge destinely, shall not be allowed in which they were made, or to visit any lodge till he has were afterwards admitted made due submission, even members, unless the lodge be-though the brother so admitted come too numerous; nor even may be allowed. then, without a dispensation None who make a stated from the grand-master or depu- lodge without the grand-masty; and when thus separated, ter's warrant shall be admitted they must either immediately into regular lodges, till they join themselves to such other make due submission, and oblodges that they shall like best, tain grace. who are willing to receive them, If any brethren form a lodge or else obtain the grand-mas-without leave, and shall irreguter's warrant to join in forming larly make, that is without the a new lodge, to be regularly grand-master's warra t, new constituted in good time. brothers, they shall not be adIf any set or number of ma-mitted into any regular lodge, sons, shall take upon them- no not as visiters, till they renselves to form a lodge without der a good reason, or make due the grand-master's warrant, the submission. regular lodges are not to countenance them, nor own them as fair brethren duly formed, nor approve of their acts and deeds; but must treat them as rebels, until they humble themselves as the grand-master shall, in his prudence direct, and until he approve of them by his warrant signified to the other lodges, as the custom is when a new lodge is to be registered in the grand lodge book. If any lodge within the limits of the city of London, cease to meet regularly during twelve months successive, and not keep up to the rules and orders of the grand lodge, its number and place shall be erased and discontinued in the grand lodge books; and if they petition to be inserted or owned as a regular lodge, it must lose its former place and rank of precedency, and submit to a new constitution. Seeing that some extraneous brothers have been lately made OLD REGULATIONS. NEW REGULATIONS. in a clandestine manner; that is, in no regular lodge, nor by any authority or dispensation from the grand-master, and upon small and unworthy considerations, to the dishonour of the craft. The grand lodge decreed, that no person so made, nor any concerned in making him, shall be an officer of any particular lodge; nor shall any such partake of the general charity, if they should come to want it. IX. Whereas several disputes have arisen about the removal of lodges from one house to another, and it has been questioned in whom that power is IX. But if any brother so far misbehave himself, as to render his lodge uneasy, he shall be thrice duly admonished by the master and wardens in that lodge formed; and if he will not re-invested, it is hereby declared, frain his imprudence, nor obediently submit to the advice of his brethren, he shall be dealt with according to the bye-laws of that particular lodge; or else in such manner as the grand lodge shall in their great prudence think fit, for which a new regulation may be afterwards made. That no lodge be removed without the master's knowledge, that no motion be made for removing in the master's absence, and that if the motion be seconded, or thirded, the master shall order summons to every individual member, specifying the business, and appointing a day for hearing and determining the affair, at least ten days before, and the determination shall be made by the majority; but if he be of the minority against removing, the lodge shall not be removed, unless the majority consists of full two thirds of the members present. But if the master refuse to direct such summons, either of the wardens may do it; and if the master neglects to attend on the day fixed, the warden may preside in determining the affair in the manner prescribed; but they shall not, in the mas OLD REGULATIONS. X. The majority of every particular lodge, when congregated, not else, shall have privilege of giving instructions to their master and wardens before the meeting of the grand chapter, because the said officers are their representatives, and supposed to speak the sentiments of their brethren, at the said grand lodge. XI. All particular lodges are to observe the like usages as much as possible; in order to which, and also for cultivating a good understanding among free-masons, some members of every lodge shall be deputed to visit other lodges, as often as shall be thought convenient.* NEW REGULATIONS. ter's absence, enter upon any other cause but what is particularly mentioned in the same summons. And if the lodge is thus regularly ordered to be removed, the master or warden shall send notice to the secretary of the grand lodge, for publishing the same at the next grand lodge. X. Upon a sudden emergency, the grand lodge has allowed a private brother to be present; and, with leave asked and given, to signify his mind, if it was about what concerned masonry, but not to vote. XI. The same usages for substance are actually observed in every regular lodge of real free and accepted masons, which is much owing to visiting brethren, who compare the usages.† It has been customary of late years, for the grand lodges, at their yearly communications, to appoint, among other officers, certain judicious and experienced brethren to act as inspectors of the work, whose duty it is to visit occasionally, the lodges which are placed under their immediate jurisdic tion; and to report the state of such lodges, as well relating to their orderly deportment, as their strict conformity to the regulations of the grand lodge-Compiler It is a truth beyond contradiction, that the free and accepted masons in Ireland, Scotland, and the ancient masons in England, have one and the same customs, usages, and ceremonies: but this is not the case with the modern masons in England, who differ materially, not only from the above, but from most masons under Heaven.* Since the publication of Mr. Dermott's work, a complete union has been formed, not only in England, but in Ireland and Scotland also. There the distinction between ancient and modern masons has subsided by a solemn league; some account of which is given in the present work.-Compiler. OLD REGULATIONS. XII. The grand lodge consists of, and is formed by, the masters and wardens of all the particular lodges upon record, with the grand-master at their head, the deputy on his left hand, and the grand wardens in their places. NEW REGULATIONS. XII. There must be no less than the masters and wardens of five regular lodges, together with one or all of the grand of ficers at their head, to form a grand lodge. No new lodge is owned, nor their officers admitted into the These must have their quar- grand lodge, unless it be reguterly communications, or month-larly constituted and registered. ly meetings and adjournments, All who have been or shall be as often as occasion requires, grand-masters, shall be memin some convenient place, as bers of and vote in all grand the grand-master shall appoint, lodges. where none shall be present but All who have been or shall its own proper members, with-be deputy grand-masters, shall out leave asked and given; and be members of and vote in all while such a stranger, though a grand lodges.* brother, stays, he is not allowed to vote, nor even to speak to any question, without leave of the grand lodge, or unless he is desired to give his opinion. All matters in the grand lodge are determined by a majority of votes, each member having one vote, and the grandmaster two votes, unless the grand lodge leave any particufar thing to the determination of the grand-master, for the sake of expedition. All who have been or shall be grand wardens, shall be members of and vote in all grand lodges. Masters or wardens of particular lodges, shall never attend the grand lodge without their jewels, except upon giving good and sufficient reasons. If any officer of a particular lodge cannot attend, he may send a brother of his lodge, that has been in that or a higher office before, with his jewel and clothing, to supply his room and support the honour of his lodge. XIII. At the grand lodge meeting, all matters that concern the fraternity in general, or particular lodges, or single brothers, are sedately and ma-to the next grand lodge. turely to be discoursed of. XIII. What business cannot be transacted at one lodge, may be referred to the committee of charity, and by them reported The master of a lodge, with 1. Apprentices must be ad- his wardens, and a competent mitted fellow crafts and mas-number of the lodge, assembled ters only here, unless by a dis-lin due form, can make mas Past masters of warranted lodges on record, are allowed this privilege, whilst they continue to be members of any regular lodge. OLD REGULATIONS. NEW REGULATIONS. pensation from the grand-mas-ters and fellows at discre ter.* tion. 2. Here also all differences It was agreed in the grand that cannot be made up, or ac- lodge, that no petitions or apcommodated privately, nor by peals shall be heard on the ana particular lodge, are to be se-nual grand lodge or feast day; riously considered and decided; nor shall any business be transand if any brother thinks him- acted that tends to interrupt self aggrieved by the decision, the harmony of the assembly, he may appeal to the grand but all shall be referred to the lodge next ensuing, and leave next grand lodge, or stewards' his appeal in writing with the lodge. grand-master, the deputy or grand wardens.† Hither also all the officers of particular lodges shall bring a list of such members as have been made, or even admitted by them since the last grand lodge. 4. There shall be books kept by the grand-master or deputy, or rather by some other brother appointed secretary of the grand lodge, wherein shall b recorded all the lodges, with the usual times and places of their forming, and the names of all the members of each lodge; also all the affairs of the grand lodge that are proper to be writ ten. 5. The grand lodge shall consider of the most prudent and effectual means of collecting and disposing of what money These lists are brought to the grand lodge every quarter, viz. on the first Wednesday in March, June, September, and December. This is a very ancient regulation, but seldom put in practice; new masons being generally made at private lodges; however, the right worshipful grand-master has full power and authority to make, or cause to be made in his worship's presence, free and accepted masons at sight, and such making is good. But they cannot be made out of his worship's presence, without a written dispensation for that purpose. Nor can his worship oblige any warranted lodge to receive the persons so made, if the members should declare against him or them; but, in such case, the right worshipful grandmaster may grant them a warrant and form them into a new lodge. †This was the custom in time of old; but ever since the institution of the office of grand secretary, all writings in the nature of appeals and petitions are left with him. This is a great stretch of power, not recognized, or at least, we believe, not practised in this country.-Compiler. |