Grand Lodge de gree, not to be conferred except for service. ARTICLE 29. State Grand Lodges are prohibited from con- Grand Lodges. ferring the Grand Lodge Degree for a pecuniary consideration, with a view to increasing their revenue, or for any other consideration except the regular performance of the duties of the Noble Grand's chair-the said degree having been designed as a reward for faithful service in the subordinate lodges, and cannot legitimately be reached by any other means. initiating persons ARTICLE 30. State Grand Lodges and Grand Encamp- Prohibition from ments shall provide laws to protect their brethren in adjoining from distant or distant states, by prohibiting the subordinates under their states. jurisdiction from initiating persons at places remote from their permanent residence, while lodges and Encampments are known to be located in their immediate neighborhood. to wear regalia ARTICLE 31. Past officers of every description, and mem- Members entitled bers in possession of the Encampment degrees, and all other according to rank. members of the Order, when visiting Grand or subordinate Lodges under this jurisdiction, are entitled to wear the regalia and jewels pertaining to the highest degrees which they may have taken, if they think proper to appear in such regalia. ARTICLE 32. Any alterations or amendments to these By- of amendments. Laws must be proposed in writing, at a regular annual communication, and may be considered and acted upon the same session, but not on the day they are offered. ARTICLE 33. All former laws and regulations inconsistent Repealing clause. with the provisions of these general laws are hereby repealed. RULES OF ORDER. 1. The presiding officer having taken the chair, the officers and members shall take their respective seats, and at the sound of the gavil there shall be a general silence. 2. The business shall be taken up in the following order :-The Grand Lodge shall be opened as directed by the Constitution and By-Laws. 3. The Grand Recording Secretary will report on certificates of Representatives, which shall be referred to a committee. 4. The minutes of the last annual and intervening meetings shall be read and passed upon. 5. The Grand Sire shall then appoint the following committees, each to consist of three members, viz:-Committee on the State of the Order; Committee on Petitions; Committee on Finance; Committee on Returns and Reports of Grand Lodges and Grand Encampments, and Subordinate Lodges and Encampments; Committee of Correspondence. 6. The Grand Sire shall also appoint a committee, consisting of three members, whose duty it shall be to take in charge, and prepare for the action of the Grand Lodge, all business appertaining to state Grand Lodges or Grand Encampments, which shall not be represented by the personal attendance of delegates. 7. Report of Grand Sire as to his acts and doings during the recess of this Grand Lodge. Of which report, the Grand Sire be authorized to have two hundred copies printed, provided the work can be done in time to place the copies on the tables of members, at the proper time for laying that annual document before this body, but not otherwise. 8. Annual reports of the Grand Corresponding Secretary and Grand Treasurer, in which the latter officer shall submit a statement of all the receipts and expenditures, on account of his office, during the year, designating in detail the sources from whence the moneys are received, and the objects for which they are expended; both of which reports may be printed, either together or separately, as may be most convenient, in the same manner as is above provided, for the annual report of the Grand Sire-it not being intended, however, that the presentation of either of these reports shall be delayed, in order to have them printed. 9. Petitions presented, read and referred. 10. Other communications presented and read. 11. The above order of business may be dispensed with at the discre tion of the Lodge. 12. Election and installation of officers for the ensuing term shall take place on the second day of the session. 13. During the sitting of the Grand Lodge, each Representative or visitor, on entering or leaving the Lodge, shall address the presiding officer with the sign of the R. P. Degree. 14. No motion shall be subject to debate until it shall have been seconded and stated by the chair-it shall be reduced to writing at the request of any member. 15. When a question is before the Lodge, no motion shall be in order, except to adjourn, for the previous question, to lie on the table, to postpone indefinitely, to postpone for a certain time, to divide, to commit or amend; which motions shall severally have preference in the order herein designated. 16. On a call of the Representatives of three states, districts or territories, a majority of the Lodge may demand that the previous question shall be put, which shall always be in this form: "Shall the main question be now put?" and until it be decided, shall preclude all amendments and all further debate. 17. When the reading of any paper or other matter is called for, and the same is objected to by any member, it shall be determined by vote of the Lodge, without debate. 18. Before putting a question, the presiding officer shall ask, "Is the Lodge ready for the question?" if no member rise to speak, and a majority of the Lodge are ready for the question, he shall rise and put it. While the presiding officer is putting a question, or addressing the Lodge, none shall walk out of, or across the room, nor entertain private discourse; and after he shall have risen to put it, no member shall speak upon it. 19. The presiding officer, or any member doubting the decision of a tion, may call for a division of the Lodge. ques 20. No member shall be permitted to speak or vote, unless clothed in regalia, according to his rank and station. 21. In the election of officers, the Grand Sire shall put the question of the nomination of Grand Sire, and the election shall proceed before the nomination of Deputy Grand Sire, and so with the other officers. During the progress of a ballot for an officer, no motion can be entertained, or debate or explanation permitted. 22. Every officer and member shall be designated by his proper title or office, according to his standing in the Order. 23. Every member, when he speaks or offers a motion shall rise and re spectfully address the presiding officer; and while speaking he shall confine himself to the question in debate, avoiding all personalities and indecorous language, as well as all reflections upon the Lodge, or any of its members. 24. Should two members rise to speak at the same time, the chair shall decide which is entitled to the floor. And no member shall interrupt or disturb another while speaking, unless to call him to order for words spoken. 25. If a member while speaking, shall be called to order, he shall, at the request of the chair take his seat until the question of order is determined, when if permitted he may proceed again. 26. The decisions of the chair on points of order, may be appealed from by any member, and in such cases the question shall be, "Shall the decision of the chair stand as the judgment of the Lodge?" which shall be decided without debate. 27. No member shall speak more than twice on the same question, until all the members wishing to speak have had an opportunity to do so. 28. When any petition, memorial or communication is presented, a brief statement of its contents shall be made by the introducer or the chair. And after it has been read, a brief notice of its purport shall be entered upon the journal. 29. When a blank is to be filled, the question shall be taken first upon the highest sum or number, and the longest or latest time proposed. 30. Any member may call for a division of a question when the sense will admit. 31. When one-fifth of the members rise in favor of taking a question by Yeas and Nays, they shall be ordered and recorded. 32. The vote by states may be called on any question, if required by two states. 33. All committees shall be appointed by the chair, unless otherwise ordered. 34. Any member who voted with the majority may call for the re-consideration of a vote, at the same session in which it was passed. And if sustained by a majority of all the votes, the re-consideration shall be carried. For decisions on Constitution, By-Laws and Rules of Order, see Journal, viz: |