The rule that a lodge cannot adjourn, but remain in session until closed by the Master, derives an authoritative sanction also from the following clause in the fifth of the Old Charges.
"All Masons employed shall meekly receive their wages without murmuring or mutiny, _and not desert the Master till the work is finished_."
Section V.
_Of the Appointment of Committees._
It is the prerogative of the Master to appoint all Committees, unless by a special resolution provision has been made that a committee shall otherwise be appointed.
The Master is also, _ex officio_, chairman of every committee which he chooses to attend, although he may not originally have been named a member of such committee. But he may, if he chooses, waive this privilege; yet he may, at any time during the session of the committee, rea.s.sume his inherent prerogative of governing the craft at all times when in his presence, and therefore take the chair.
Section VI.
_Of the Mode of Keeping the Minutes._
Masonry is preeminently an inst.i.tution of forms, and hence, as was to be expected, there is a particular form provided for recording the proceedings of a lodge. Perhaps the best method of communicating this form to the reader will be, to record the proceedings of a supposit.i.tious meeting or communication.
The following form, therefore, embraces the most important transactions that usually occur during the session of a lodge, and it may serve as an exemplar, for the use of secretaries.
"A regular communication of ---- Lodge, NO. ----, was holden at ----; on ----, the ---- day of ----A.: L.: 58--.
Present.
Bro.: A. B----, W.: Master.
" B. C----, S.: Warden.
" C. D----, J.: Warden.
" D. E----, Treasurer.
" E. F----, Secretary.
" F. G----, S.: Deacon.
" G. H----, J.: Deacon.
" H. I----, } Stewards.
" I. K----, } " K. L----, Tiler.
_Members._ Bro.: L. M---- M. N---- N. O---- O. P----
_Visitors._ P. Q---- Q. R---- R. S---- S. T----
The Lodge was opened in due form on the third degree of Masonry.
"The minutes of the regular communication of ---- were read and confirmed.[54]
"The committee on the pet.i.tion of Mr. C. B., a candidate for initiation, reported favorably, whereupon he was balloted for and duly elected.
"The committee on the application of Mr. D. C., a candidate for initiation, reported favorably, whereupon he was balloted for, and the box appearing foul he was rejected.
"The committee on the application of Mr. E. D., a candidate for initiation, having reported unfavorably, he was declared rejected without a ballot.
"The pet.i.tion of Mr. F. E., a candidate for initiation, having been withdrawn by his friends, he was declared rejected without a ballot.
"A pet.i.tion for initiation from Mr. G.F., inclosing the usual amount and recommended by Bros. C. D.---- and H. I.----, was referred to a committee of investigation consisting of Bros. G. H.----, L. M.----, and O. P.----.
"Bro. S.R., an Entered Apprentice, having applied for advancement, was duly elected to take the second degree; and Bro. W.Y., a Fellow Craft, was, on his application for advancement, duly elected to take the third degree.
"A letter was read from Mrs. T. V.----, the widow of a Master Mason, when the sum of twenty dollars was voted for her relief.
"The amendment to article 10, section 5 of the bye-laws, proposed by Bro.
M. N. ---- at the communication of ----, was read a third time, adopted by a const.i.tutional majority and ordered to be sent to the Grand Lodge for approval and confirmation.
"The Lodge of Master Masons was then closed, and a lodge of Entered Apprentices opened in due form.
"Mr. C. B., a candidate for initiation, being in waiting, was duly prepared, brought forward and initiated as an Entered Apprentice, he paying the usual fee.
"The Lodge of Entered Apprentices was then closed, and a Lodge of Fellow Crafts opened in due form.
"Bro. S. R., an Entered Apprentice, being in waiting, was duly prepared, brought forward and pa.s.sed to the degree of a Fellow Craft, he paying the usual fee.
"The Lodge of Fellow Crafts was then closed, and a lodge of Master Masons opened in due form.
"Bro. W. Y., a Fellow Craft, being in waiting, was duly prepared, brought forward and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason, he paying the usual fee.
Amount received this evening, as follows:
Pet.i.tion of Mr. G. F., $5 Fee of Bro. C. B., 5 do. of Bro. S. R., 5 do. of Bro. W. Y., 5--Total, $20
all of which was paid over to the Treasurer.
There being no further business, the lodge was closed in due form and harmony.
E. F----,
_Secretary._
Such is the form which has been adopted as the most convenient mode of recording the transactions of a lodge. These minutes must be read, at the close of the meeting, that the Brethren may suggest any necessary alterations or additions, and then at the beginning of the next regular meeting, that they may be confirmed, after which they should be transcribed from the rough Minute Book in which they were first entered into the permanent Record Book of the lodge.
Book Third.
The Law Of Individuals.