1873.J
Appendix.
43
etc. Except that, on appeal to Grand Lodge, the action of the Lodge may be reversed. Q. Pint. A Master Mason holding a dimit from a regular constituted Lodge of A.I". and A. M., and asking membership in the Lodge under whose jurisdiction he now resides, is it not the duty of said Lodge to receive him? Second. Should a Masonnnaking such a petition be black-balled is it not the duty of the brother casting a black-ball to prefer' charges, if said petitioner is g-uiltyof un-Masonic conduct? Thi1"d. Can such case be re-considered? Fourth. Can a new Lodge be chartered in a town whele one now exists? Fifth. Can a Lodge surrender its charter of its own accord? Sixth. If so, how, and under what circumstances? Seventh. In case of surrender 路of Charter, can it be returned on petition of any number of members of said Lodge?
A. .F'ir~t. 'rhe Lodge is at perfect, Iibert.y to receive or reject tile petitioner yet we are not doing our Masonic duty when we compel a worthy brother to remain non-affiliated. It would be much more manly and Masonic to prefer charges, if guilty of un- Masonic conductand un worthy of mem bersbip. Second. Answered above. Third. Such ballot can not be re-considered, but the petitioner may renew his petition at ever.y regular meeting of the Lodge, petition, of course. to go through the regular 10rm. }tou1"th. Not unless the population exceed ;~,500. Fifth. No Lodge can surrender it~ charter so long as seven members, Master Masons, elect to retain it, work it, and obey it. A Lodge may surrender its charter when there are not seven Master Masons (members) Who wish to retain it. Sixth. Answer above. Seventh. Upon proper showing and petition, the Grand Master may issue a dispensation 1'01' a new Lodge when the charter is surrendered. 'l'he Grand Lodge only can return or issue charters. Q. Has a Lodge the right to advance a Fellow Craft while under a written protest on file in tbe Lodge by a Master Mason, but since filing said protest has dimitted from the Lodge, and refuses to withdraw saId protest?
A. A member of a Lodge may ob,iect to ~he advance~entof a brotber, and his objection must be resl?ectE;d. When lus membershIp cea.ses, his right of objection is, by reason of hIS wItbdrawal, done away. An outSIder has no 1'ight to a voice in the management of the affairs of a Lodge., Q,. ]i'i1路st. What are the special duties of a. committee when appointed to try a brother, and when and how are they to act in the case? Second. At what. time lIm'ing the trial, 01' after the charges are preferred, shall the committee act?
A. Pi1'st. 'l'heir duties are to appoint a time for hearing the evidence and aiving due and timely notice, and no evidence is valid unless taken when the accused is present, either in person or by counsel, unless, of course, when be refuses to attend. Second. The committee act at any time most convenient to them, after allowing the accused the time he is entitled to, after the citatIOn. The committee to take, in writing, all the eVidence, both for prosecution and defense, and report. to the Lodge for acUon. Q. First. If a Past Master is called on by the .Junior Warden of a Lodge to preside in the absence of theftrst two officers of the Lodge, C<'1.n he overrule the wishes of the ,Junior Wa.rden? Second, Can the otficers of a Lodge be installed by prox~:, ~nd espe<:ially t!Je Master? . 'l'J.!i1路d. Has the Master of ~ Lodge any right, or IS It Ma~olllc, to dIsregard the WIshes of the Master-elect In regard to t.he time of installation, when the. sa~e does not materially affect the Craft, and aga.inst the wishes of a large ma,lonty of the membe.rs of the Lodge? .Fourth. Should I not demand to be installed before assuming the duties of Worshipful Mast.er of the Lodge, and if so, does it require a dispensHtioll of the Grand Master~
A. Ph'st. The Junior Warden, in the absence of the Master and Senior 'Varden is, for the time, Master, and he :,;hould have exercised his prerogatives, A room full of Past Masters could not depri ve him of his righ t of succession in the absence of his superior officers, and consequently, if he called a Past Master to preside, the latter would only do so under his supervision, and could not properly act contmry to his wishes. The Junior Warden 1I1UST, in tbe absence of his superior officers, take the responsibility and en,ioy the prerogatives of the chief otficers of the I.Jodge, and no one can f.ake them from hIm. Second. No officers of a Lodge can be installed by proxy. 'l'hird. It is the power of the Master to appoint the meeting for installation, if according to regulation. It 'wonl~, however, be in bad taste at least, to disregard the wishes of his Lodge and the Master-elect. FouTth. You MUST be installed be1'oreassuming the duties of Master, and it will require dispensation to install at any other time than that required by the By-Laws of the <:lrand Lodge. He paid a high and deserved tribute to the Masonic worth and assistance of Brother Parvin. In the Grand Secretary's report we find the following practical remarks relative to