Revision as of 16:54, 13 October 2013

GRAND CONSTITUTIONS, GRAND LODGE RULES

RULES FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE GRAND LODGE.

General References: 1918: 329 1930: 178

• GC1811: The following section appears in this revision: Chapter IV, Section 1: "All Grand Lodge records, heretofore made, and other Masonic papers, shall be safely deposited in the archives of this Grand Lodge, and they never shall be carried out but by the Grand Master's permission."

Rule I. VISITORS

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

References

II: 517 1918: 414

• GC1792: Section 2nd, Item 4, II-6; "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."
• GC1811: Chapter I, Section 14; II-517; "Petitioners, and others of the Fraternity, may be admitted as visitors by permission of the Grand Master, and in his absence by a vote of the Grand Lodge."
• GC1843: Part Sixth, Rule 1, VI-653; "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."
• GC1918: Rule I, 1918-414; "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

• GC1843: Part Sixth, Rule 2, VI-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

• GC1811: Chapter IV, Section 12, II-524: "No permanent Regulation shall be established at the meeting when it is proposed, nor until it has been duly considered by a committee, to be appointed by the Grand Master, or in his absence chosen by the Grand Lodge, for that purpose."
• GC1843: Part Sixth, Rule 3, VI-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

• 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."
• GC1811: Chapter IV, Section 11, II-523: "No vote passed in Grand Lodge can be reconsidered by a less number of voters than was present when the vote was passed, provided a return of the number of voters was made and recorded."
• GC1843: Part Sixth, Rule 4, VI-653; "All matters in Grand Lodge are to be decided by vote, each member having one vote, only, unless the question be taken by ballot, when, if he be entitled to two votes, he may give them. The Grand Master shall be entitled to one vote on all questions, and may also give the deciding vote, whenever there shall be an equal division."
• GC1843: Part Fifth, Section 20, VI-653; "No vote passed in the Grand Lodge, or in a subordinate Lodge, can be reconsidered by a less number than were present when the vote was passed, provided a return of the number of votes was made and recorded."
  • Amended 06/11/1856 to read: "Any vote passed in the Grand Lodge or by a Subordinate Lodge, may be reconsidered at the same meeting; or at the next subsequent meeting, provided notice of the intention to move for such a reconsideration shall be given at the meeting at which the vote was originally passed." (VI-28)
• GC1843: Part Fifth, Section 22, IV-653; "No permanent regulation of this Grand Lodge, shall be repealed, or amended, at the meeting at which such repeal, or amendment, is proposed, nor until it has been duly considered by a committee, to be chosen by the Grand Lodge, at a previous quarterly communication. A majority of two-thirds of the votes present shall be necessary for the adoption of any amendment."
  • Amended 09/11/1867 to read: "No permanent regulation of this Grand Lodge, shall be repealed, or amended, at the meeting at which such repeal, or amendment, is proposed, nor until it has been duly considered by a committee, to be chosen by the Grand Lodge, at a previous quarterly communication, and every Lodge under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge within the territorial limits of Massachusetts shall be served by the Recording Grand Secretary with an attested copy of such proposed repeal or amendment within thirty days after the meeting at which such repeal or amendment is proposed. A majority of two-thirds of the votes present shall be necessary for the adoption of any amendment." (VI-169)
• 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

1918: 414

• GC1843: Part Sixth, Rule 5, VI-654
• 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."
• GC1843: Part Sixth, Rule 6, VI-654; "No Brother shall peak more than twice to the same question unless in explanation, or the mover in reply, without permission of the Grand Master."
  • Amended 06/11/1856 by removing the words "or the mover in reply,". (VI-29)
• 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

• GC1843: Part Sixth, Rule 7, VI-653; "Every member who speaks shall rise, and remain standing, addressing himself to the Grand Master: nor shall any Brother presume to interrupt him, unless to address the Grand Master to order: or the Grand Master shall think fit to call him to Order."
  • Amended 06/11/1856 to read as at present. (VI-29)
• 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

1878: 51, 87

• GC1843: Part Sixth, Rule 8, VI-654; "When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received, except to amend, commit, lay upon the table, or adjourn."
• 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

• GC1843: Part Sixth, Rule 9, VI-654
• GC1918: Rule IX, 1918-415
• GC1930: Rule IX, 1930-179

Rule X. CALL FOR DIVISION

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

References

• GC1843: Part Sixth, Rule 10, VI-654
• GC1918: Rule X, 1918-415
• GC1930: Rule X, 1930-179

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

• GC1843: Part Sixth, Rule 11, VI-654
• GC1843 also includes the following rule: Part Sixth, Rule 12, VI-654; "No member, except one of the majority that decided the question, shall be allowed to move for a reconsideration."
• GC1918: Rule XI, 1918-415
• GC1930: Rule XI, 1930-179

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

• GC1843: Part Sixth, Rule 13, VI-654
• GC1918: Rule XII, 1918-415
• GC1930: Rule XII, 1930-179

Rule XIII. NO DEBATE AFTER MOTION

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

References

• GC1843: Part Sixth, Rule 14, VI-655
• GC1918: Rule XIII, 1918-415

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

• GC1843: Part Sixth, Rule 15, VI-655
• GC1918: Rule XIV, 1918-415
• GC1930: Rule XIV, 1930-179

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."
• GC1843: Part Sixth, Rule 16, VI-655
• GC1918: Rule XV, 1918-415
• GC1930: Rule XV, 1930-179

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

• GC1792: Section 10th, Item 2; II-11; Every Brother present at a Grand Feast shall be controuled by the Grand Master in everything that pertains to the decency and decorum of his conduct."
• GC1843: Part Sixth, Rule 17, VI-655
• GC1918: Rule XVI, 1918-416
• GC1930: Rule XVI, 1930-180

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

• GC1843: Part Sixth, Rule 18, VI-655
• GC1918: Rule XVII, 1918-416
• GC1930: Rule XVII, 1930-180

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

• GC1843: Part Sixth, Rule 19, VI-655
• GC1918: Rule XVIII, 1918-416
• GC1930: Rule XVIII, 1930-180

IV: 555

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