., 1926.]
Grand Lodge of Ailissouri
21
laws, how should the vote be taken on a resolution to increase the dues, by secret ballot or the usual voting sign of show of hands? Ans. Section 5 of the Grand Lodge By-laws provides that voting in the Grand Lodge is by show of hands except in the election of Officers. This is the usual provision of local Lodge By-laws. If your Lodge did not have a By-law fixing the manner of voting, but the usual voting sign of your Lodge was by show of hands, your Worshipful Master would not have a right to change the custom on a special resolution to increase dues. 3. Is ,it mandatory that all Lodges use the uniform receipt prepared by the Grand Secretary? Does the word "uniform" refer to size, wording an~ color? Has the Grand Secretary th~ right to allow a Lodge to print its own receipts, provided they follow exactly the prescribed form? Ans. It is mandatory that all Lodges use the uniform receipt prepared by the Grand Secretary. The word "uniform" applies to size, wording and color. The Grand Secretary has no right' to allow a Lodge to print its own receipts even though they follow exactly the prescribed form. See Section 12, Grand Lodge By-laws 1921, Paragraph o. 4. A Brother of a Lodge who was elected and received the Entered Apprentice Degree in 1906, at which time the fees were $40.00 for the three Degrees, one-half accompanying the Petition, now desires to. try to learn the proficiency lectures and receive the other Degrees. The fees of the Lodge are now $60.00, $10.00 of which is the Masonic Home Fee. Would he be liable for the Masonic Home Fee or should we charge him the difference of $30.00 between the amount which accompanied his Petition tion and our present Fee less the $10.00, or would he be liable for $20.00, the amount he would have paid if he had advanced at the proper time? Ans. In 1906 Section _66 of the By-laws of the Grand Lodge specified (a) the minimum charge to be made by a Lodge for conferring the three Degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry, (b) that one-half the amount must accompany the petition, and (c) that the balance may be divided as the Lodge may direct, provided that no Degree shall be conferred until the sum required therefor shall be paid. There was in 1906 no By-law requiring payment of a Masonic Home Fee.