Revision as of 15:37, 23 September 2013

GRAND CONSTITUTIONS, GRAND LODGE RULES

RULES FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE GRAND LODGE.

General References: 1918: 329 1930: 178

• GC1918:

Rule I. VISITORS

No visitor shall be admitted to Grand Lodge except by permission of the Grand Master.

References

II: 517 IV: 653 1918: 414

• GC1792: Section 2nd, Item 4, II-6; In this revision, the section reads: "No Brother shall be admitted into the Grand Lodge but such as are Members and Voters, excepting Petitioners and Witnesses or those called in by Motion; in neither of which cases shall they be admitted to sit at the table."
• GC1918: Rule I, 1918-414; In this revision, this section reads: "None but members of the Grand Lodge - past or present officers of other Grand Lodges excepted - shall be present at the opening of the same; nor shall any visitor be admitted during the session except by permission of the Grand Master."
• GC1930: Rule I, 1930-178

Rule II. SEATS IN GRAND LODGE

All members and visitors shall keep the seats assigned them except the Grand Marshal and officers whose duties may call them about the Lodge.

References

IV: 653

• GC1918: Rule II, 1918-414
• GC1930: Rule II, 1930-178

Rule III. RESOLUTIONS

All resolutions shall be submitted in writing before there shall be any debate upon them; as shall all motions, if the Grand Master or any Brother desire it.

References

IV: 653

• GC1918: Rule III, 1918-414
• GC1930: Rule III, 1930-178

Rule IV. VOTES

All matters in Grand Lodge shall be decided by vote. The Grand Master shall be entitled to one vote on all questions, and may also give the casting vote whenever there shall be an equal division.

References

IV: 653

• GC1792:
  • Section 2nd, Item 3, II-6; "No vote of the Grand Lodge shall be reconsidered by a less number of voters than were present at the passing the same."
  • Section 9th, Item 2, II-10; "All matters in Grand Lodge shall be determined by a majority of votes, excepting when other provision is made, and the Brother in the chair shall have the casting vote."
  • Section 9th, Item 3, II-10; "All differences that cannot be accommodated privately or made up in particular Lodges, are to be seriously considered and decided on in Grand Lodge; and if any Brother thinks himself aggrieved by the decision, he made appear at the Annual Grand Lodge next ensuing and leave his appeal in writing with the Grand Master, Deputy or the Grand Wardens."
• GC1918: Rule IV, 1918-414
• GC1930: Rule IV, 1930-178

Rule V. REQUIREMENT TO VOTE

Each member shall vote on all questions, except when he is personally interested, unless specially excused by the Grand Lodge.

References

IV: 654 1918: 414

• GC1918: Rule V, 1918-414
• GC1930: Rule V, 1930-178

Rule VI. SPEAKING TWICE ON SAME QUESTION

No Brother shall speak more than twice to the same question, unless in explanation, without permission of the Grand Master.

References

IV: 29, 654

• GC1792: Section 9th, Item 5, II-10; "No Brother is to speak more than twice to the same subject, unless to explain himself or when called upon, from the Chair, to speak."
• GC1918: Rule VI, 1918-414
• GC1930: Rule VI, 1930-178

Rule VII. PROTOCOL WHEN SPEAKING

Every member who speaks shall rise and remain standing, addressing himself to the Grand Master; nor shall any Brother presume to interrupt him except on a point of order.

References

IV: 29, 654

• GC1918: Rule VII, 1918-415
• GC1930: Rule VII, 1930-178

Rule VIII. MOTIONS DURING DEBATE

When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received except to amend, commit, or lay upon the table.

References

IV: 654 1878: 51, 87

• GC1918: Rule VIII, 1918-415
• GC1930: Rule VIII, 1930-179

Rule IX. MOTION TO AMEND PRECLUDES OTHER AMENDMENTS

A motion to amend, until decided, shall preclude all other amendments of the main question.

References

• GC1918: Rule IX, 1918-415
• GC1930: Rule IX, 1930-179

IV: 654

Rule X. CALL FOR DIVISION

Any member may call for a division of the question where the same will admit of it.

References

• GC1918: Rule X, 1918-415
• GC1930: Rule X, 1930-179

IV: 654

Rule XI. NO SUBSTITUTE MOTIONS

No new motion, which totally changes the subject-matter on which the original motion was intended to operate, shall be admitted, under color of amendment, as a substitute for a motion under debate.

References

• GC1918: Rule XI, 1918-415
• GC1930: Rule XI, 1930-179

IV: 654 1926: 303

Rule XII. POSSESSION OF STATED MOTIONS

After a motion is stated by the Grand Master, it shall be deemed to be in possession of the Grand Lodge, but may be withdrawn by the mover at any time before decision or amendment.

References

• GC1918: Rule XII, 1918-415
• GC1930: Rule XII, 1930-179

IV: 654

Rule XIII. NO DEBATE AFTER MOTION

There shall be no debate upon any question after it is put by the Grand Master.

References

• GC1918: Rule XIII, 1918-415

IV: 654 1930: 179

Rule XIV. MOTIONS AND REPORTS AT PLEASURE OF GRAND LODGE

All motions and reports may be committed at the pleasure of the Grand Lodge.

References

• GC1918: Rule XIV, 1918-415
• GC1930: Rule XIV, 1930-179

IV: 655

Rule XV. NO PRIVATE DISCOURSE DURING ADDRESS

While the Grand Master is addressing the Grand Lodge, or putting a question, or a Brother is speaking, no member shall entertain any private discourse, nor pass between the speaker and the Chair.

References

• GC1792: Section 9th, II-10
  • Item 4: "At the third stroke of the Grand Master's hammer, repeated by the Grand Wardens, there shall be a general silence; and whoever speaks without permission from the Chair, shall be publicly reprimanded, under the same penalty every Brother shall take his seat and keep strict silence whenever the Grand Master, or his Deputy shall call to order."
  • Item 5: "The Brother who addresses the Chair, shall rise and keep standing, and no Brother shall interrupt him - under the penalty of a reprimand; unless the Grand Master, finding him wandering from the point, sees fit to reduce him to order; and after being set right, he may proceed."
• GC1918: Rule XV, 1918-415
• GC1930: Rule XV, 1930-179

IV: 655

Rule XVI. DECORUM OF LANGUAGE

All communications, petitions, appeals, resolutions, propositions, and motions shall be couched in decent and respectful language, or they shall not be entertained in Grand Lodge.

References

• GC1918: Rule XVI, 1918-416
• GC1930: Rule XVI, 1930-180

IV: 655

Rule XVII. BROTHERS NOT TO LEAVE WITHOUT PERMISSION

No Brother shall leave the Grand Lodge during the session without permission of the Grand Master.

References

• GC1918: Rule XVII, 1918-416
• GC1930: Rule XVII, 1930-180

IV: 655

Rule XVIII. PENALTY FOR TRANSGRESSION

If any member shall have been twice called to order for transgressing these Rules and shall, nevertheless, be guilty of a third offense at the same meeting, the Grand Master shall peremptorily command him to take his seat, and he shall not be permitted to speak again during that session of the Grand Lodge.

References

• GC1918: Rule XVIII, 1918-416
• GC1930: Rule XVIII, 1930-180

IV: 555

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