CHAPTER II.

OF A LODGE, AND ITS GOVERNMENT.

SECTION 1.

of a Lodge.

A lodge is a place where masons assemble and work: hence that assembly, or duly organized society of masons, is called a lodge:* and every brother ought to belong to one, and to be subject to its by-laws and the general regulations. It is either particular or general, and will be best understood by attending it, and by the regulations of the general or grand lodge hereunto annexed. In ancient times, no master or fellow could be absent from it, especially when warned to appear at it, without incurring a severe censure, until it appeared to the master and wardens, that pure necessity hindered him.

SECTION II.

Of Officers and Members, in general.

A lodge ought to assemble for work at least once in every calendar month; and must consist of one master, two wardeus, senior and junior, one secretary, one treasurer, two deacons, one or more stewards, a tyler, and as many members as the master and the majority of the lodge shall think proper: although more than forty or fifty (when they can attend regularly, as the wholesome rules of the craft require) are generally found inconvenient for working to advantage; and, therefore, when a lodge comes to be thus. numerous, some of the ablest master workmen, and others under their direction, will obtain leave to separate, and apply to the grand lodge for a warrant to work by themselves, in order to the advancement of the craft, as the laws hereafter to be delivered will more particularly shew.

Every member of a working lodge should be a master

mason.

So the word church is expressive both of the congregation and the place of worship.

SECTION III.

Of the Master-his Election, Office, and Duty.

All preferment among masons depends on real worth and personal merit only, that the society may be well served, and the royal craft maintained.

No brother should be master till he has first served a lodge acceptably in the office of warden; unless in extraordinary cases, or when a new lodge is to be formed, and no past or former warden is to be found among the members. But, three master-masons, although they have served in no such offices, if they be well learned, may be constituted master and wardens of such new lodge, or of any old lodge in the like emergency; and it shall be their first duty to qualify themselves thoroughly for their office.

The master of every lodge shall be annually chosen by ballot, on some stated lodge night. Each member hath one vote. And when the ballot is closed, the former master shall carefully examine the votes, and audibly declare him who hath the majority to be duly elected. In like manner shall the lodge proceed in the choice of all the other officers; great care being taken, that none be put in nomination, for favour or affection, birth or fortune, exclusively of the consideration of real merit, and ability to fill the office, for the honour and advancement of masonry. No mason chosen into any office can refuse to serve, unless he has served in the same office before. The master of every regular lodge, thus duly elected and installed, has it in special charge, as appertinent to his office, duty and dignity, to see that all the by-laws of his lodge, as well as the general regulations from the grand lodge, be duly observed; that his wardens discharge their office faithfully, and be examples of diligence and sobriety to the craft; that true and exact minutes and entries of all proceedings be made and kept by the secretary; that the treasurer keep and render exact and just accounts at the stated times, according to the by-laws and orders of the lodge; and, in general, that all the goods and monies belonging to the body be truly managed and dispensed, according to the vote and direction of the majority.

The master shall also take care that no apprentice or fellow craft be taken into his house or lodge, unless he has

sufficient employment for him, and finds him to be duly qualified, according to the rules before laid down, for learning and understanding the sublime mysteries of the art. Thus shall apprentices be admitted, upon farther improvement, as fellow crafts; and, in due time, be raised to the sublime degree of master masons; animated with the prospect of passing in future through all the higher honours of masonry, viz. those of wardens and masters of their lodges, and perhaps at length of grand wardens and grand masters of all the lodges, according to their merit.

The master of a particular lodge has the right and authority of calling his lodge, or congregating the members into a chapter, at pleasure, upon the application of any of the brethren, and upon any emergency and occurrence, which, in his judgment, may require their meeting; and he is to fill the chair when present. It is likewise his duty, together with his wardens, to attend the grand lodge, at the quarterly communications; and such occasional or special grand communications as the good of the craft may require, when duly summoned by the grand secretary, and within such reasonable distance of the place of holding the grand lodge, as the laws of the same may have ascertained. When in the grand lodge, and at general as well as special communications, the master and wardens, or either of them, have full power and authority to represent their lodge, and to transact all matters, as well and truly as if the whole body were there present.

The master has the right of appointing some brother, who is most commonly the secretary of the lodge, to keep the book of by-laws, and other laws given to the lodge by proper authority; and in this book shall also be kept the names of all the members of the lodge, and a list of all the lodges within the same grand communication, with the usual times and places of their meeting.

SECTION IV.

Of the Wardens of a Lodge.

1. None but master-masons can be wardens of a lodge. 2. The senior warden succeeds to all the duties of the master, and fills the chair when he is absent. If the master goes abroad on business, resigns, or is deposed, the senior warden shall fill his place until the next stated time of election. And although it was formerly held, that in

such cases the master's authority ought to revert to the last past master who is present, yet it is now the settled rule, that the authority devolves upon the senior warden, and, in his absence, upon the junior warden, even although a former master be present. But the wardens will generally honour a past master that may be present, and will call on him to take the chair, upon the presumption of his experience and skill in conducting the business of the lodge. Nevertheless, such past master still holds his authority under the senior warden, and cannot act until he congregates the lodge. If none of the officers be present, nor any former master to take the chair, the members, according to seniority and merit, shall fill the places of the absent officers.

The business of the wardens in the lodge is, generally, to assist the master in conducting the business, and managing the craft, in due order and form, when the master is present. Particular lodges do likewise, by their bylaws, assign particular duties to their wardens for their own better government; which such lodges have a right to do, provided they transgress not the old land marks, nor in any degree violate the true genius and spirit of masonry.

SECTION V.

Of the Secretary of a Lodge.

The secretary shall keep a proper register or record of all transactions and proceedings of the lodge, that are to be committed to writing; which shall be faithfully entered in the lodge books, from the minutes taken in open lodge, after being duly read; amended, if necessary; and approved of before the close of every meeting; in order that the said transactions, or authentic copies, may be laid before the grand lodge, once in every quarter, if required.

In particular, the secretary shall keep exact lists of all the members of the lodge, with the admission of new members; and shall prepare, and send to the secretary of the grand lodge, the list of members, together with all expulsions and rejections for the time being, to the intent that the grand secretary, and consequently the the members of the grand lodge, may be at all times enabled to know the names, and number of members in cach lodge under their jurisdiction, with the hand writing

of the different officers, and to pay all due respect to the brethren recommended by them.

SECTION VI.

Of the Treasurer of a Lodge.

The treasurer is to receive and keep exact accounts of all monies raised, or paid according to rule, for the advancement of the lodge and benefit of the brethren, and to pay all orders duly drawn upon him by the authority of the lodge. He is to keep regular entries, both of his receipts and expenses; and to have his books and vouchers always ready for examination at such stated times as the by-laws require, or when specially called upon by order of the master and brethren.

The treasurer is likewise to have the charge and custody of the chest, jewels and furniture of the lodge; unless when the master and majority may judge it more convenient to appoint some other responsible brother for that particular duty; or when the officers of the lodge may take the charge immediately upon themselves. But the warrant or charter is in the custody of the master.

SECTION VII.

Of the Deacons of a Lodge.

The deacons are to assist the master and wardens in the execution of their duty, to examine and welcome visiting brethren, to prepare candidates, and to perform such other services as are assigned them.

SECTION VIII.

Stewards.

The stewards are to provide refreshment, and make a regular report of the expense to the treasurer; and to see that the regalia of the lodge are in good order, and always ready for use.*

In many lodges, particularly in those where refreshments are rarely or never used, the office of steward is not recognized.