ACT OF INCORPORATION
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
DECISIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
OF THE
M .'. W.\ GRAND LODGE
A. F. & A. M.
OF THE
JFrcewa^'-ns
STATE OF OREGON.
ORDERED PUBLISHED AT THE ANNUAL COMMUNICATION.
1900.
. t■
PORTLAND, OREGON:
F. W. BALTES AND COMPANY, PRINTERS.
1900.AN ACT
To Incorporate the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and
Accepted Masons of Oregon.
Section i. Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the
Territory of Oregon, That the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons of the Territory of Oregon be and is hereby
created and declared a body corporate and politic, with perpetual
succession, by the name and style of ‘'The Grand Lodge of
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Oregon.”
Sec. 2. That said corporation shall have power to acquire,
receive and possess, by bequest, payment, gift, grant or purchase,
property, real, personal and mixed, and the same to hold, have
and enjoy, or to sell, rent, grant, convey or otherwise dispose of
at pleasure; to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded in all
courts of justice, both at law and in equity; to have and use a
common seal, and change the same at pleasure; to retain, and to
make, ordain and establish, such ordinances, resolutions, rules and
regulations, as may be deemed necessary or expedient for the good
government of said institution, its officers and members, and its
prudential, financial and charitable concerns; Provided, that such
ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations do not, and shall
not, contravene any provision of the Constitution and laws of the
United States or of this territory.
Sec. 3. That all deeds and other instruments of conveyance, in
order to their validity, shall be authorized by the Grand Lodge,
signed by the Grand Master, and by him acknowledged in his
official capacity, and attested by the Grand Secretary with the
seal affixed.
Sec. 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and
after its passage.
Passed Council January 7, 1858.
Passed House January 12, 1858.
‘IRA F. M. BUTLER,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
H. D. O’BRYANT,
President of the Council.
r 31CONSTITUTION
OF THE
Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted
Masons of Oregon,
Adopted at the Annual Communication, June 14th, 1895.
Whereas, This Grand Lodge is sovereign within the State of
Oregon, and possesses the inherent power to form a Constitution
as the law of Masonic action, to amend or alter the same; to enact
By-Laws from time to time, and to make such rules and prescribe
such regulations for the administration of its subordinate lodges
as will insure the prosperity thereof, and to promote the general
good of Masonry. This power is the supreme Masonic power
and authority in the State of Oregon, and is derived from organized
Masonic bodies or subordinate lodges, through their legally con-
stituted representatives, and gives to this Grand Lodge all the
attributes of sovereignty and government, legislative, executive
and judicial, limited only by a strict adherence to the ancient land-
marks of the order, and by the provisions of its own Constitution
and regulations; therefore, upon these principles, which are indis-
putable, the Grand Lodge of Oregon does hereby ordain, establish
and promulgate the following Constitution for its future govern-
ment:
ARTICLE I.
Section 1. This Grand Lodge shall be entitled “The Grand
Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Oregon.’'
Sec. 2. It shall have a seal, bearing such device and inscription
as by it has heretofore been, or may hereafter be, determined,
which shall be affixed to all instruments issued under its authority.
There shall be a seal known as the “Grand Master’s Seal,” to be
used by him on all official instruments which he may issue in his
capacity as Grand Master. Said seal shall bear the device it now
has, or as may hereafter be determined.
,	ARTICLE II.
OF ITS MEMBERS AND THEIR QUALIFICATIONS.
Section 1. This Grand Lodge shall consist of the following
officers and members:6
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
A Most Worshipful Grand Master.
A Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master.
A Right Worshipful Senior Grand Warden.
A Right Worshipful Junior Grand Warden.
A Right Worshipful Grand Treasurer.
A Right Worshipful Grand Secretary.
A Right Worshipful Trustee of the Educational fund.
A Right Worshipful Grand Chaplain.
Right Worshipful District Deputy Grand Masters, the number
of whom and districts to be defined by law.
A Grand Senior Deacon.
A Grand Junior Deacon.
Three Custodians of the Work.
Two Grand Stewards.
A Grand Orator.
A Grand Standard Bearer.
A Grand Sword Bearer.
A Grand Marshal.
A Grand Tyler.
Most Worshipful Past Grand Masters.
Right Worshipful Past Deputy Grand Masters.
Right Worshipful Past Grand Wardens.
Right Worshipful Past Grand Treasurers; and
Right Worshipful Past Grand Secretaries.
The Worshipful Masters and Wardens for the time being of the
several chartered and constituted lodges under the jurisdiction of
this Grand Lodge, or their legally appointed proxies.
Sec. 2. Whenever the Worshipful Master and Wardens of any
lodge (or either of them) shall be unable to attend the Communica-
tions of the Grand Lodge, they or either of them who cannot so
attend may depute any member of their own lodge as a proxy to
represent their lodge in the Grand Lodge. Such deputation shall
be in writing, and signed by the officer deputing him.
ARTICLE III.
POWERS OF THE GRAND LODGE.
Section I. This Grand Lodge may grant dispensations and
charters for holding lodges of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons,
with the right to confer therein the several degrees of Entered
Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason, and when deemedCONSTITUTION.
7
expedient and for good cause, may annul, revoke or amend such
dispensation or charter, or any pre-existing dispensation or charter
Sec. 2. This Grand Lodge has original and exclusive jurisdic-
tion over all subjects of Masonic legislation and administration;
appellate, judicial and administrative jurisdiction from the decisions
of the Grand Masters, or Worshipful Masters, and from the
decisions and acts of lodges, and, when expedient, has original
judicial jurisdiction over its officers, members and Worshipful
Masters; and its enactments and decisions upon all questions shall
be the supreme Masonic law of the jurisdiction of Oregon.
Sec. 3. This Grand Lodge may assign the limits and fix the
location of each lodge under its jurisdiction, and settle all contro-
versies that may arise between them, and has the final decision and
determination of all matters of controversies or grievance which
may be brought up by appeal or otherwise.
Sec. 4. It may make and adopt general laws and regulations for
the government of the several lodges under its jurisdiction, and at
pleasure may alter, amend or repeal the same.
Sec. 5. It may assess and collect from the several lodges under
its jurisdiction such sums of money annually as may be provided
for by law and found necessary for the support and maintenance of
the Grand Lodge.
Sec. 6. It may supervise the state and condition of its own
finances, and adopt such measures in relation thereto as may be
deemed necessary.
Sec. 7. It may reprimand, suspend or expel any member from
its own body for violation of the Constitution, By-Laws and reg-
ulations of the Grand Lodge, or for any other un-Masonic conduct,
and may suspend or expel any accused person upon trial by appeal.
Sec. 8. At each Annual Communication this Grand Lodge shall
consider and review the reports and doings of its Grand Officers
for the past year, as well as those of the several lodges under its
jurisdiction.
Sec. 9. This Grand Lodge may establish a mileage and expense
rate for its officers, delegates and members and Standing Commit-
tees upon a reasonable and just basis.
Sec. 10. And, finally, may do whatever may be considered
necessary to the well-being and perpetuity of Ancient Craft
Masonry.8
GRAND DODGE OF OREGON.
ARTICLE IV.
MEETINGS.
This Grand Lodge shall hold an Annual Communication in the
City of Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday following the second
Monday in June, each year, unless otherwise ordered by a majority
vote of members of the Grand Lodge present.
ARTICLE V.
QUORUM.
This Grand Lodge shall not be opened for business unless there
be present the representatives from at least seven of the chartered
lodges; less than a quorum may assemble from day to day, for
two days, and, if the requisite number of chartered lodges are not
represented, the Grand Master shall declare the Grand Lodge
closed until the next Grand Annual Communication, in course, in
which case the Grand Officers will hold over for another term.
ARTICLE VI.
eligibii.it Y.
No brother shall be eligible to hold office in this Grand Lodge
who is not, at the time, a member in regular standing of a chartered
lodge subordinate to this Grand Lodge, and no brother shall be
eligible to the office of Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Grand
Warden or District Deputy Grand Master who lias not been duly
elected and installed Worshipful Master and has presided over a
subordinate lodge.
ARTICLE VII.
VOTES, ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS.
Section I. At each Annual Communication there shall be
elected, on the first day, by ballot, a Grand Master, a Deputy Grand
Master, a Senior Grand Warden, a Junior Grand Warden, a Grand
Treasurer, a Grand Secretary, and a Trustee who shall b,e ex-officio
Chairman of the Committee on Educational Fund and Custodian
of the Work, as provided; all other Grand Officers shall be ap-
pointed by the Grand Master-elect. They shall be installed before
the close of the Grand Lodge.
Sec. 2. In all elections, and upon all questions before the Grand
Lodge, each lodge shall be entitled to three votes by its proper
officers casting each one vote, or, in their absence, by proxies duly
appointed, each Grand Officer for the time being and each Past
Elective Grand Officer when present shall be entitled to one vote.
Sec. 3. In all questions, excepting those decided by ballot, in
case of a tie, the presiding officer shall have the casting vote.CONSTITUTION.
9
Sec. 4. Electioneering for the election of Grand Officers is
expressly forbidden, and is hereby made a Masonic offense, and any
delegate to the Grand Lodge or a member thereof, who shall
engage in electioneering for the election by the Grand Lodge of
any brother for any office therein, shall be ineligible to an office
within the same; and if the brother guilty of so doing holds an
office in the Grand Lodge he shall be deprived of the same at once
by suspension by the Grand Master, and the decree of the Grand
Lodge, upon proof of guilt, and any delegate to or member of
the Grand Lodge violating this provision shall be debarred from
attending the session of the Grand Lodge of which he was a
member. The Grand Lodge shall take cognizance of these offenses
and award the penalties.
Sec. 5. The yeas and nays shall be ordered upon'the demand of
five representatives. In taking the yeas and nays, the lodges in
their order shall.be called first, the members secondly, and the
Grand Officers last. In all votes and elections a majority shall
govern, unless otherwise provided by law.
ARTICLE VIII.
VACANCIES.
Section 1. In case of the death, absence or disability of the
Grand Master, the Deputy Grand Master shall fill his place; in
case of the death, absence or disability of both, the Senior Grand
Warden shall fill the place of the Grand Master; in case of the
absence of all three, the Junior Grand Warden shall fill the place
of the Grand Master, and in case of the absence of all Grand
Officers mentioned, the Master of the oldest lodge shall be Grand
Master.
Sec. 2. All vacancies shall be filled by the Grand Master for the
time being. The office of Grand Master is never vacant.
ARTICLE IX.
SOVEREIGNTY AND JURISDICTION.
Section 1. This Grand Lodge is the only source of authority,
and exercises exclusive jurisdiction in all matters pertaining to
Ancient Craft Masonry in the State of Oregon.
Sec. 2. Any organization, association, parties or persons profes-
sing to have any authority, powers or privileges in Ancient Craft
Masonry, within the State of Oregon, not derived from this Grand
Lodge, are declared to be clandestine, and all intercourse with or
recognition of them or any of them, is prohibited.10
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
ARTICLE X.
POWERS OP THE GRAND MASTER.
First—To convene the Grand Lodge in Special Communication
in case of emergency.
Second—To preside at all Special and Regular Communications.
Third—To exercise the executive functions of the Grand Lodge
when not in session.
Fourth—To decide all questions of usage under Masonic law.
Fifth—To require the attention of, and information from, any
Grand Officer respecting his office.
Sixth—To convene any lodge within the jurisdiction, and in per-
son, or by deputy, to preside therein, with the Master on the left
hand, inspect their proceedings and require their conformity to
Masonic rules.
Seventh—To issue his dispensation to any regular lodge to
make a Mason, or to confer any degree at sight. _
Eighth—To suspend the functions of any lodge for good cause.
Ninth—To command every Grand Officer, and to call on any of
them for advice and assistance on business relative to the Craft.
Tenth—In person, or by deputy, to constitute lodges, dedicate
Masonic halls, lay corner-stones of Masonic halls, public buildings
and structures.
Eleventh—To appoint representatives, by warrant, in any other
recognized Grand Lodge, and receive and accredit each representa-
tive from other Grand Lodges.
Twelfth—To command the Wardens or any member of a lodge
which he may visit to act as Warden for the time being.
Thirteenth—To see that the ancient landmarks and charges are
observed, and to do and perform the duties of Ancient Grand Mas-
ter agreeably to the requirements of Masonry and this Grand
Lodge.
ARTICLE XI.
NEW LODGES.
Section i. No petition for a new lodge shall be considered by
any lodge until it has laid over for four weeks for consideration and
consultation. Every petition for a new lodge must have the rec-
ommendation of a chartered lodge nearest to the place where the
new lodge is proposed to be established.
Sec. 2. Every petition for a new lodge shall be signed by not
less than twelve Master Masons. Upon these conditions, the Grand
Master, if no valid objection arises, shall grant the petitioners aCONSTITUTION.
11
dispensation to form said new lodge, and confer the degrees of
Masonry. And, upon the return of the dispensation of the new
lodge, as above, to the Grand Lodge at its first Annual Communi-
cation, after granting the same, if the work and proceedings shall
prove satisfactory, the Grand Lodge may order the issue of a
charter to such lodge, and assign it such name and number as
shall be deemed proper, and said lodge shall be duly constituted
within sixty days.
Sec. 3. A lodge shall consist of a Master, a Senior Warden, a
Junior Warden, a Treasurer, a Secretary, Senior and Junior
Deacon, two Stewards and a Tyler, and such other officers as its
■ By-Laws may provide.
ARTICLE XII.
POWERS AND DUTY OP A LODGE.
Section 1. The powers and duties of a lodge are such as are
prescribed in its dispensation or charter, by the Constitution and
regulations of the Grand Lodge, and by the general regulations of
Masonry.
Sec. 2. It must be composed of Master Masons. One indi-
vidual Mason being equal to another in the rights and privileges
of Masonry, and in the exercise of the prerogative to receive or
reject a candidate for the degrees of Masonry by ballot, which
ballot, when exercised, shall be unquestioned, and every lodge
shall protect ever)' brother who exercises this right without inquiry
as to who exercised this privilege, or into the motives or action
that caused the result, whatever it may be. The prerogative is
sacred to every Master Mason, and it cannot be abridged or taken
from him so long as he is a Master Mason and member of a lodge
of such. It is the right of jurisdiction of every Master Mason over
a profane, unquestionable by Master Mason or a lodge of Masons,
unless proven to be used to the scandal of Masonry.
Sec. 3. That an applicant who has been rejected may apply
again for the degrees at the expiration of six months after rejection.
That no lodge shall receive the petition of a candidate for the
degrees of Masonry who has been rejected by another lodge with-
out first obtaining the unanimous consent of the lodge that rejected
him.
Sec. 4. This Grand Lodge does not recognize dual membership
in lodges, therefore a Master Mason cannot be a member of more
than one subordinate lodge in this jurisdiction. This does not
apply to honorary membership.12
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
Sec. 5. Each lodge shall have not less than one stated meeting
in each lunar month', but may hold such other meetings as it may
determine, or the Grand Master may direct. All business, except
the examination of candidates and conferring of the subordinate
degrees, shall be done in a lodge of Master Masons at stated
meetings:	Provided, any lodge failing to hold stated meetings for
six consecutive months shall forfeit its charter and the Grand Mas-
ter shall arrest the same.
Each chartered lodge shall be entitled to representation in the
Grand Lodge at every Communication by its proper officers or
duly accredited proxies.
Each chartered lodge shall transmit to the Grand Secretary a
full and correct report of its transactions for the twelve months
next preceding the first week in May, of each year; and each lodge
under dispensation shall transmit a similar report from the date of
its organization to the date of the holding of the next Annual
Communication thereafter of the Grand Lodge. Every lodge shall
accompany such report with payment of its dues to the Grand
Lodge for the past year.
The By-Laws of each subordinate lodge must be approved by
the Grand Lodge.
Each chartered lodge shall have a seal with suitable devices
inscribed thereon.
Each lodge having concurrent jurisdiction with another lodge,
or lodges, shall at once notify such lodge, or lodges, of any appli-
cation it may receive for the degrees. Two or more lodges located
near each other may consolidate into one upon such terms as may
be agreed upon by themselves, and having the approval of the
Grand Lodge as to the name and number, and all matters connected
with the act of consolidation.
For the neglect or violation of any duty imposed upon a lodge
in this Constitution, its charter may be suspended or forfeited:
The lodge shall be held responsible for the duty imposed on its
Secretary.
OF PROHIBITION.
No lodge shall remove its place of meeting from that named in
the dispensation or charter without due notice given at a stated
meeting, which notice must lay over one month, and then be
approved by two-thirds of the members present.CONSTITUTION.
13
No lodge in this jurisdiction shall receive a petition for the
degrees of Masonry unless the applicant has resided within the
jurisdiction of the lodge applied to one year immediately preceding
the presentation of said petition, except in the case of a person
belonging to the army or navy of the United States, whose applica-
tion, though he has not that qualification of residence, may be
received by dispensation from the Grand Master:	Provided, that
no petition shall be entertained by any lodge in this jurisdiction
from an applicant who has been previously rejected by any lodge
without the consent of the lodge which rejected him; nor until six
months shall have elapsed since his former rejection.
No lodge shall ballot upon a petition unless it shall have been
referred to a committee, whose duty it shall be to make strict
examination into the moral, mental, physical and other proper
qualifications of the applicant, and report thereon. If the report of
the committee, or of any member thereof, be unfavorable, no ballot
shall be had, but the Master shall, upon the reception of such
report, declare the candidate rejected. If the report be favorable,
a ballot should be had, and it shall require a unanimous ballot to
elect. If but one black ball apppear in the ballot-box, the Master,
without declaring the result, shall at once order a second ballot
for the purpose of correcting a possible mistake, which ballot shall
be the last; but, in no case, after one ballot has been had, shall any
discussion be permitted in the lodge before the second ballot is
had; nor shall the second ballot be postponed to another meeting
of the lodge. If the committee find the applicant disqualified, in
consequence of insufficient residence or physical ability, and find
no other objection to him, they shall make a special report there-
upon, in which case the Master may direct the withdrawal of the
application. No dispensation shall be issued to a lodge to receive
and act upon the petition for degrees of a person belonging to the
army or navy of the United States who has not the qualification of
residence, unless the application therefor be made by the lodge by
a unanimous ballot; and, should the dispensation be issued, the
petition shall take the usual course of reference atid ballot in the
lodge.
No lodge shall have more than one ballot for the three degrees,
the exercise of which shall be regulated by law.
No lodge shall advance an Entered Apprentice, or Fellow Craft,
to a higher degree until after a strict examination, in open lodge,14
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
he shall have given satisfactory evidence of entire proficiency in a
knowledge of preceding degrees. After the first degree is taken,,
the remaining degrees may be taken, when occasion requires it, in
other lodges through a favor to the first lodge and candidate.
No lodge shall confer degrees upon more than five candidates at
any one meeting, nor shall confer more than one degree upon any
one candidate at any one meeting.
No lodge within this jurisdiction shall confer the three degrees
for a less fee than thirty dollars. The fee for each degree shall be
regulated by the subordinate lodge, and the fee for Entered
Apprentice degree shall accompany the petition, and the fees for
each of the following degrees shall be paid before the respective
degree is conferred.
No lodge, nor any Mason, shall appear in Masonic clothing in
any public procession or at any public meeting or place, without
permission from the Grand Lodge, except for the burial of a
brother or the performance of some other strictly Masonic duty
or ceremony.
No lodge shall expel or suspend a member for non-payment ot
dues, but in case any member shall have refused or neglected to
pay his regular dues during a period of one year, he may be
notified by the Secretary, that unless at the nexf stated meeting
either his dues be paid or sickness or inability to pay be shown as
the cause of refusal or neglect, he will be dropped from the roll
and deprived of all lodge rights and privileges. But any Mason
thus dropped from the roll may, at any time, restore himself by
paying the arrearages due at the time he was dropped from the
roll, and such other dues as may be imposed upon him by law.
No lodge shall receive an application for affiliation unless it be
accompanied by a proper dimit from the lodge of which the appli-
cant was last a member, or satisfactory explanation in writing of
his inability to furnish it.
No lodge or Mason shall hold Masonic communication with any
lodge which has been declared illegal by the Grand Lodge, or with
any person who is a member of such lodge.
No lodge shall receive a visitor without due inquiry or examina-
tion, nor if there be any objection made to such admission by a
member of the lodge.
No lodge shall recognize any body purporting to be a Masonic
body that is not recognized by this Grand Lodge.CONSTITUTION.
15
No lodge shall recognize, as a Mason, any person who, being
at the time a resident of this state, has received, or claims to have
received, the degrees of Masonry from any source beyond the juris-
diction of this Grand Lodge without the .proper permission, until
the lodge nearest his place of residence shall have received him as
a member. The proper permission above mentioned may only be
given by the lodge nearest his place of residence, and in the manner
necesssary for an election to receive the degrees.
No lodge, until chartered and duly constituted, shall be entitled
to representation in the Grand Lodge, but a lodge under dispensa-
tion may send delegates thereto who may be admitted to seats and
be permitted-to speak, but shall have no vote.
ARTICLE XIII.
DISTRICT DEPUTIES AND CUSTODIANS.
Section I. Whenever the Grand Lodge shall create Masonic
districts in this jurisdiction, it shall be the duty of the Grand Master
to appoint a District Deputy Grand Master for each district, who
shall be a resident of his respective district, and a Past Master of
some Masonic lodge.
Sec. 2. The duties of the Custodians shall be such as the
Grand Master may generally or especially assign to them, and they
may be defined by law.
The Custodians of the Work shall be thoroughly instructed in
the work and lectures already adopted by this Grand Lodge.
That at the Annual Communication in 1901, and at each alter-
nate Annual Communication thereafter, there shall be elected one
Custodian of the Work for the term of six years. That such Cus-
todian shall be elected from the district where a vacancy will
occur by reason of the expiration of the term of office of the
retiring Custodian of the Work, and by the delegates from such
district; subject, however, to ratification by the Grand Lodge.
That, for the purpose of this section. Eastern Oregon shall
comprise the Counties of Wasco, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wal-
lowa, Baker, Malheur, Crook, Sherman, Grant, Wheeler, Gilliam
and Harney.
Southern Oregon shall comprise the Counties of Klamath,
Lake, Jackson, Curry, Coos, Josephine and Douglas.
The Willamette shall comprise the Counties of Lane, Linn,
Benton, Lincoln, Tillamook, Polk, Yamhill, Marion, Clackamas,
Multnomah, Washington, Columbia and Clatsop.16
GRAND DODGE OF OREGON.
ARTICLE XIV.
OF COMMITTEES AND THEIR DUTIES (AMENDED SESSION, 1900).
Section i. The. appointment of the necessary committees to
serve the Grand Lodge .shall be made by the Grand Master, or the
Grand Lodge, in accordance with the By-Laws of the Grand Lodge.
ARTICLE XV.
OF THE REVENUES.
Section i. The revenues of the Grand Lodge shall be derived
from the following sources:
From contributions levied upon lodges, which shall always be
equal and uniform, in proportion to their membership; from degrees
conferred; from fees charged for dispensations and charters, and
books.
The fee for a dispensation for each new lodge shall be fifty
dollars.
For a charter following a dispensation, twenty-five dollars; for
the seal of the Grand Lodge, one dollar; for books, the cost of
them.
The annual dues and charges for degrees confericd shall be such
as shall be fixed by law, and the Grand Lodge may levy, in addition
to the above, such other contributions as in its judgment may be
required.
In the case of the dissolution of a lodge, the Grand Secretary
shall at once proceed to receive its funds on hand, collect its out-
standing dues, and dispose of its jewels, furniture and other prop-
erty of every kind, in such manner as shall seem to him most judi-
cious, and he shall place the proceeds thereof, after the payment of
all just debts and necessary expenses, among the funds of the Grand
Lodge.
ARTICLE XVI.
By-Laws shall be adopted by this Grand Lodge to enforce the
provisions of this Constitution, define the duties of officers and
committees, and to regulate such other matters as to the Grand
Lodge may seem pertinent.
ARTICLE XVII.
AMENDMENTS.
Section i. This Constitution may be amended in the following
manner only:	The proposed amendment must be submitted in
writing at some Annual Communication of this Grand Lodge,CONSTITUTION.
17
seconded by the representatives present of at least two subordinate
lodges of this Grand Lodge, and shall in all cases be referred to a
committee who shall report before a vote be taken. After the report
of the committee, if the vote in favor of such proposed amendment
be unanimous, it shall be declared adopted. But, if the vote be not
unanimous, but there be a majority therefor, it shall lie over one
year, and shall be published with the proceedings, and at the next
succeeding Annual Communication, if it shall receive two-thirds
of the vote given thereon, it shall be declared adopted, and shall
thenceforth be a part of this Constitution.
Sec. 2. Regulations, rules of order, code of jurisprudence and
standing resolutions may be appealed, altered or amended at any
Regular Communication by a majority of the legal vote present.
2APPROVED DECISIONS
Not Otherwise Provided for in Constitution or By-Laws.
1.	A lodge cannot suspend the operation of a By-Law to meet
special or emergent cases.—(Earhart, G. M., 1880; page 23.
2.	It is not proper for a lodge to confer the first section of a
degree and then defer the remaining section until a subsequent
meeting.—(Earhart, G. M., 1880; page 24.
3.	The charter of a lodge cannot be surrendered by the Wor-
shipful Master upon his own motion and without consent of the
members of the lodge.—(Earhart, G. M., 1880; page 23.
4.	A man who has been regularly made a Mason remains a
Mason forever, unless expelled from the order by proper authority
after due trial and conviction.—(Malcolm, G. M., 1895.
5.	An applicant who has lost the sight of one eye, if other-
wise qualified, is eligible for the degrees of Masonry.—(Clifford,
G. M., 1897.
6.	Q. Two*lodges possess concurrent jurisdiction; a third
lodge grants a waiver of jurisdiction over a profane to one of the
first two lodges. Does this waiver confer jurisdiction over the
profane upon the other lodge, to which the waiver did not run?
Ans. No.—(Cleland, G. M., 1899.
7. Q. A Master Mason removes from the jurisdiction of one
lodge to that of another. How long is he required to be a resi-
dent of the new jurisdiction before he can petition for affiliation?
Ans. No term of residence is required. He is eligible as soon
as he has proved himself worthy.-—(Cleland, G. M., 1899.
8.	Q. A member of a lodge has signed a petition for a
new lodge, and the application is referred to his lodge for recom-
mendation. Has this member a right to vote on the question of
recommendation ?
Ans. No; he is a petitioner and directly interested in the
question, therefore has no right to vote.—(Cleland, G. M., 1899.
9.	A Mason under sentence of indefinite suspension for keep-
ing a saloon or tending bar is not eligible for reinstatement so long
as he continues in the business.—(Hodson, G. M., 1900.
10.	Application for waiver of jurisdiction must be made by
the lodge desiring to receive the petition.—(Hodson, G. M., 1900.
11.	In case of slight mutilation of the right hand, a candidate
must be able to comply literally with the requirements of the
ceremonies in receiving and giving the grips. If he can thus com-
ply he is eligible.—(Hodson, G. M., 1900.
[18]STANDING RESOLUTIONS
Not Embraced in Constitution or By-Laws.
1.	Resolved, That one lunar month shall intervene between
conferring degrees upon a candidate.—(1859.
2.	Resolved, That all petitions for initiation shall have em-
bodied in the petition whether or not the applicant has petitioned
any other lodge.—(1874.
3.	Resolved, That no lodge shall receive the petition of a
candidate for the degrees who has previously been rejected by
another lodge, without first obtaining the unanimous consent of
said lodge.—(1876.
4.	Resolved, That in case a candidate shall not present himself
for initiation or advancement within one year from the date of
election, another ballot shall be had.—(1877.
5.	Resolved, That a member of a subordinate lodge who joins
in a petition to form a new lodge ceases to be a member of the
old lodge when a charter is granted to the new.—(.1857.
6.	Resolved, That every brother who may join in a petition to
form a new lodge shall file with the Grand Secretary a dimit, from
some regularly constituted lodge, or a certificate, under seal, that
he is a member in good standing of some lodge of this jurisdiction,
and clear of the books.—(Amended, June, 1889.
7.	Resolved, That whenever one lodge shall request another
to waive jurisdiction over an Entered Apprentice or Fellow Craft,
that said request lie over one communication, and that the ballot
be spread, and if clear, the waiver be granted:	Provided, however,
that no previous objection to the advancement of the candidate
shall have been made, in which case the request shall be withheld
until such time as the objection shall have been waived by the
objecting brother, or cease to exist by reason of his death or dis-
mission from the lodge, or expiration of six months, in which
event the ballot shall then be spread, if no further objection is
made.—(1876.
8.	Resolved, That it is improper for the Worshipful Master
of a lodge to draw a warrant upon the treasury of his lodge, except
when in particular cases he is so authorized by the By-Laws.—
(1881, page 79.
[19120
GRAND DODGE OF OREGON.
9.	Resolved, That the Worshipful Master has the right to
place either of the Wardens, or a brother from the floor, in the
East, and permit him to confer either of the degrees, after having
opened his lodge.—(1868, page 14.
10.	Resolved, That at the time of making the annual returns
of subordinate lodges to this Grand Lodge, that the Masters of
each and every lodge in this Grand Jurisdiction be required to
certify to the Grand Secretary, annually, that the records of their
respective lodges are kept strictly in conformity with the form
adopted by this Grand Lodge.—(1886.
11.	Resolved, That it is the duty of the Worshipful Master to
approve the records of the proceedings, and to sign the same;
and it is the duty of the Secretary to attest the approval of the
Master. This should be done as soon as possible after the work
of thd lodge is closed. Masters of lodges should be careful and see
that their records show that their lodges were closed in a proper
manner, and that they were properly tiled.—(1874, page 146.
12.	Resolved, That a non-affiliate shall not be elected to mem-
bership in a subordinate lodge in this jurisdiction, without visit-
ing said lodge and satisfying the same that he is a Master Mason
in good standing, and was so prior to offering his petition for
affiliation.
13.	Resolved, That the Secretaries of subordinate lodges in
this jurisdiction furnish to the Grand Secretary the names of the
officers elected and installed annually hereafter, which list shall be
authenticated by the seal of the subordinate lodge sending said list
to the Grand Secretary.—(1873.
14.	Resolved, That, on the death of a Master Mason, in good
standing in this jurisdiction, the subordinate lodge of which said
brother was a member at the time of his death shall grant a cer-
tificate of the Masonic standing of said brother to his family, if he
have one, which certificate shall be issued under seal of said lodge.
—(June, 1877.
15.	Resolved, That when a member’s name of a subordinate
lodge under this jurisdiction is stricken from the roll of member-
ship, for the non-payment of dues, it shall not be competent for
said lodge to reinstate such member until such member shall first
pay to the lodge all dues charged against him upon the books
of the lodge at the time of striking his name from the roll, and shallAPPROVED DECISIONS.
21
also pay, in 'addition thereto, dues at the rates charged active mem-
bers during the time intervening from the striking off of his name
from the roll until such reinstatement. Provided, however, the
accumulated dues of a brother may be remitted by the lodge when
his inability to make payment thereof is made manifest to the sat-
isfaction of the lodge.—(1881, page 80.
16.	Resolved, That while this Grand Lodge recognizes the
universality of Masonry, yet it cannot recognize any man as a
true Mason who does not affirm his belief in the existence of God
and the immortality of the soul, and that subordinate lodges under
the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge are strictly enjoined not to
admit as visitors, or to treat in any manner as true and lawful
brethren, any professed Masons who may come to us from such
lodges as either deny or ignore the existence of God or the immor-
tality of the soul.
17.	Resolved, That the keeping of what is commonly known
as liquor saloon, or the attending to the barr of the same, shall
be considered as sufficient ground for the indefinite suspension of
Masons engaged therein, and that any candidate for the degrees
engaged in such business shall be deemed ineligible.
18.	Resolved, That drunkenness shall incapacitate a member of
the fraternity to hold the office of Worshipful Master in a subordi-
nate lodge; and, should it come to the knowledge, satisfactorily, of
the Most Worshipful Grand Master that the Worshipful Master
of any subordinate lodge under the jurisdiction of this Grand
Lodge, during his term of office, shall have been, from and after
this session of the Grand Lodge, culpable in this particular, he
shall be, by the Most Worshipful Grand Master, suspended from
the functions of his office. Further;
19.	Resolved, That it shall be the imperative duty of the Wor-
shipful Master of each and every subordinate lodge to,report to
his lodge any instances of culpability on the part of any member
of his lodge which may come to his knowledge satisfactorily; he
shall cause the Junior Warden to prefer charges against said
brother, and said brother shall be put upon his trial in the lodge
in whose jurisdiction he may reside, and be dealt with as our penal
code provides.—(1876, page 51.
20.	Resolved, That a lodge, in this jurisdiction may not, upon
waiver and request of his lodge, during a temporary residence in
the state, confer the Master Mason degree upon a Fellow Craft22
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
from another state, where he is engaged in an occupation pro-
hibited to Masons by our penal code, notwithstanding the restric-
tion does not exist in the Grand Lodge from wnich he hails.—
(1881, page 26.
21.	Resolved, That the present Grand Master and Wardens-
elect, as Trustees, are hereby authorized and empowered to take
from Brother J. C. Ainsworth an assignment of his stock in the
Masonic Building Association of Portland, Oregon; said assign-
ment to be in trust for the use and benefit of the Most Worshipful
Grand Lodge of Oregon.—(1879, page 54.
22.	Resolved, That the Trustee of the Educational Fund be
and is hereby required each year to give a bond, with sufficient
surety, to be approved by the Grand Master and the Jurisprudence
Committee, in the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, for the
faithful performance of his duty and the safe keeping and turning
over to his successor of all funds and property now in or coming
to his hands.—(1899.
23.	Resolved, That whenever the Master of a subordinate lodge
shall find a child of a Mason in the jurisdiction of his lodge which
needs assistance in obtaining an education, it shall be his duty
to report the same to the Grand Master. The Grand Master and
Committee on Educational Fund shall examine into all such cases,
and on the 1st of September and February of each year shall appro-
priate to such children such sums as in their judgment are required
for their assistance:	Provided, that the total amount so appro-
priated shall not exceeed the total amount of the income from the
Educational Fund for the preceding six months.—(i8gg.
24.	Resolved, That the Chairman of the Educational Fund be
allowed to exercise his discretion as to the further purchase of stock
in the Masonic Building Association, and the best use to be made
of the funds in his hands for the benefit of said fund.—1899.BY=LAWS.
PART I.
Relative to the Grand Lodge.
ARTICLE I.
COMMUNICATIONS, EJECTION, INSTALLATION, APPOINTMENT
OF COMMITTEES.
Section I. The Grand Lodge may be convened in Special
Communication in case of emergency, in which case the Grand
Master shall fix the time, appoint the place, and cause the Grand
Secretary to give such reasonable notice to officers and members
of the Grand Lodge as shall enable them to be present at the
Special' Communication.
Sec. 2. An Occasional Grand Lodge may be assembled by the
Grand Master or his representative whenever and wherever the
same may be necessary for the celebration of any of the regular
Masonic ceremonies or the performance of Masonic work. The
Grand Master or his representative may assemble such number of
Master Masons in good standing as may be necessary for the
purpose of conducting the business and ceremonies of an Occa-
sional Grand Lodge according to ancient usage.
Sec. 3. The Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge shall
be held on Wednesday following the second Monday in June,
commencing at 10 o’clock A. M., at the Masonic Temple in the
City of Portland, unless otherwise ordered by a majority vote of
the Grand Lodge at the last Annual Communication.
Sec. 4. The annual election of Grand Lodge Officers shall be
held at 2 o’clock P. M. on the first day of each Annual Com-
munication, and shall be conducted as prescribed in Article VII of
the Constitution.
Sec. 5- The installation of Grand Officers shall take place on
the last day of the Annual Communication, at such hour as the
Grand Master or the Grand Lodge shall appoint.
Sec. 6. At each Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge
in the afternoon of the first day, the Grand Master shall announce
the names of the brethren appointed to serve during the session on
the following Regular Committees, viz.:
[23]24
GRAND DODGE OF OREGON.
First—On Credentials, the Grand Secretary as Chairman.
Second—On Grand Master’s Address.
Third—On Reports of Subordinate Lodges.
Fourth—On dispensations, Charters and By-Laws.
Fifth—On Finance.
Sixth—On Fraternal Dead.
Seventh—On Records of Subordinate Lodges.
Said committees shall each consist of five members; the first-
named brother of each committee shall be the Chairman thereof.
Sec. 7. Before the close of each Annua! Communication, and
immediately after the installation of the Grand Officers, the Grand
Master shall appoint the following Standing Committees, to serve
for the ensuing Masonic year:
First—On Masonic Law and Jurisprudence.
Second—On Appeals and Grievances.
Third—On Foreign Correspondence.
The Committee on Foreign Correspondence shall consist of one
member; the others of five. The first-named brother of each
committee shall be the Chairman thereof.
Sec. 8. The Trustees shall be ex-officio a Committee on Print-
ing and on Charity.	#
Sec. 9. Special Committees may be appointed by the Grand
Master whenever the Grand Lodge shall so direct. Unless other-
wise ordered, Special Committees shall consist of three mem-
bers; the first-named brother shall be Chairman.
ARTICLE II.
THE GRAND OFFICERS.
Section i. The Deputy Grand Master, Senior Grand Warden
and Junior Grand Warden shall perform such duties as are incum-
bent on these respective Grand Officers by ancient Masonic usage.
Sec. 2. The Grand Treasurer shall have charge of all the
funds and securities of the Grand Lodge. It shall be his duty, viz.:
First—To attend the communications of the Grand Lodge, and,
when required, to meet the Grand Officers, the Trustees of this
Grand Lodge, and committees of the Grand Lodge, with his books
and all necessary documents relating to his office.
Second—To keep full and accurate accounts of all money
received and disbursed by him, and to preserve such accounts in
permanent and substantial books, which, together with all docu-BY-LAWS.
25
ments pertaining to the official business of the Treasurer, shall be
transmitted to his successor in office.
Third—To pay all warrants drawn on him by authority of the
Grand Lodge, or during recess by authority of the Grand Master
or Trustees, certified by the Grand Secretary.
Fourth—To present, on the first day of each Annual Com-
munication, an itemized report of the receipts and disbursements
and the amount of funds and other property in his hands.
Fifth—At the commencement of his term of office, to execute
and file a bond with the Grand Master in the sum of five thousand
dollars, or such larger sum as the Grand Lodge may direct, said
bond to be furnished by some reliable assurance company, the
cost of which shall be paid out of the funds of the Grand Lodge
and be renewed as to the amount whenever required by the Trus-
tees of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons
of Oregon, the Grand Master or the Grand Lodge, and shall be
conditioned that he will faithfully discharge the duties of his office
and will deliver, on demand of the Grand Master, the Trustees of
the Grand Lodge, or the Grand Lodge, all moneys remaining on
hand, together with all books, papers, vouchers, securities, etc., in
his possession belonging to the Grand Lodge. On surrendering
his office he shall take duplicate receipts from his successor for all
money, books, papers, vouchers, securities, etc., belonging to the
Grand Lodge, one of which shall be delivered to the Grand Secre-
tary. The bond of the Grand Treasurer shall be approved by the
Grand Master and the Committee on Masonic Law and Jurispru-
dence before .that officer is installed.
Sixth—He shall receive for his services such sum as the Grand
Lodge may determine at each Annual Communication.
Sec. 3. The Grand Secretary shall:
First—Attend upon the communications of the Grand Lodge,
observe and record the proceedings thereof, and preserve the
same in suitable books kept for that purpose.
Second—He shall receive all moneys due the Grand Lodge,
and pay the same over to the Grand Treasurer, taking his receipt
therefor.
Third—He shall keep suitable and permanent books of account,
and carefully record therein an account of all moneys received
and disbursed by him, and all accounts of the several lodges.
These books he shall transmit to his successor in office.26
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
Fourth—He shall keep a Grand Lodge Registry, and inscribe
therein the names and Masonic records of all new members reported
to him in the annual lodge returns by the Secretaries.
Fifth—He shall receive all petitions, applications and appeals,
and lay them before the Grand Lodge.
Sixth—.He shall have the custody of the seal of the Grand
Lodge and the Grand Lodge jewels.
Seventh—He shall procure for the use of the Grand Lodge
blank charters, dimits, dispensations and diplomas printed upon
good parchment.
Eighth—He shall provide and furnish at cost to the lodges of
this Grand Jurisdiction, blank petitions for the degrees, affiliation
dimits, and all other blanks necessary and proper for lodge use,
the form of the same to be approved by the Grand Master.
Ninth—He shall prepare, sign and duly seal all charters, dis-
pensations, certificates, commissions or other instruments of writ-
ing emanating from the Grand Lodge or the Grand Master.
Tenth—He shall preserve among the archives of the Grand
Lodge the original manuscript of the proceedings of the Grand
Lodge for each communication.
Eleventh—He shall, within twenty days after each Annual
Communication of this Grand Lodge, communicate to the Grand
Lodges in correspondence with this Grand Lodge, and to the
lodges of this jurisdiction, the names of the Grand Officers-elect,
duly authenticated by the seal of the Grand Lodge.
Twelfth—He shall quarter-yearly certify to the Grand High
Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Oregon, the Grand
Commander and the Grand Commandery, Knights Templar of
Oregon, and the Active Inspector General of the A. & A. Scottish
Rite of Oregon for the Southern jurisdiction of the United States,
the names of all Master Masons suspended, expelled or dropped
from the rolls, as reported by the lodges of this jurisdiction.
Thirteenth—He shall, in the Journal of the Proceedings of each
Annual Communication, upon suitable memorial pages set apart
for the purpose, make special mention of the name of each brother
of this jurisdiction who has departed this life during the preceding
year, in good standing as a man and Mason.
Fourteenth—He shall procure a sufficient number of copies of
the engraved portrait of each Grand Master, present and future,
and cause the same to be bound in the Journal of Proceedings ofBY-IyAWS*
27
this Grand Lodge. He shall place upon each portrait the name
and term of service of the said Grand Master. He shall make
only a single publication of any portrait, unless otherwise ordered
by the Grand Lodge.
Fifteenth—He shall report, on the first day of each Annual
Communication, the amount of money received by him, by items,
and the specific sources from which it was received; also the
lodges that have neglected to render proper returns and are in
arrears.
Sixteenth—He shall superintend the printing of the annual
proceedings of the Grand Lodge and all other documents ordered
printed, and see that the contract for the printing thereof is
faithfully performed; shall, with all convenient dispatch, forward
three copies of the printed proceedings (one bound in cloth, two
bound in paper) to each constituent lodge in the jurisdiction; one
copy (cloth-bound) to each Elective Grand Officer and Past Elec-
tive Grand Officer; three copies (one cloth-bound, two paper-
bound) to each of the Grand Lodges in the United States and
Canada; one copy (paper-bound) to each Grand Representative,
and one copy (cloth-bound) to the Grand Lodges of such foreign
countries as may be in correspondence with this Grand Lodge.
Seventeenth—He shall append to the proceedings each year a
list of all the Grand Officers, Past Grand Officers, Grand Repre-
sentatives and members of the Grand Lodge present at its com-
munication; also a tabular statement exhibiting the name and
number of the several lodges, the time and place of their regular
meetings, the number initiated, passed, raised and affiliated in
each, and the total number of members of each lodge; also a list
of deaths, suspensions, expulsions, reinstatements, with" a list of
the Entered Apprentices, Fellow Crafts and Master Masons made
in each lodge during the year immmediately preceding the Annual
Communication. In the year 1905, and each fifth year thereafter,
he shall append a full roster of each lodge, showing name, number
and location, time of meeting, and the names of the officers and
members thereof.
Eighteenth—He shall furnish to each lodge duplicate blanks for
annual returns, both to be filled, one to be returned to the Grand
Secretary, the other to be retained by the lodge.
Nineteenth—He shall conduct the correspondence of the Grand
Lodge, and report quarterly to each lodge all rejections, suspen-28
GRAND LODGE OP OREGON.
sions, expulsions, reinstatements, etc., within this Grand Juris-
diction, and shall officially notify each lodge of all decisions ren-
dered by the Grand Master and approved by the Grand Lodge, and
of amendments to the Constitution and laws of this Grand Lodge
adopted at an Annual Communication, within twenty days after
the close of the Annual Communication.
Twentieth—He shall, the first day of each Annual Communica-
tion, report to the Grand Lodge the condition of the lodges and
the Craft in the jurisdiction, as may be proper for the information
of the Grand Lodge and necessary for its action.
Twenty-first—He shall be (by virtue of his office) Grand
Librarian, and shall have charge of the Grand Lodge Library,
subject to such regulations as the Grand Lodge may prescribe.
Twenty-second—He may, with the approval of the Grand
Master or the Grand Lodge, appoint an Assistant Grand Sec-
retary, for whose official acts he shall be responsible, and who
shall receive such compensation for his services as the Grand Lodge
may from time to time direct.
Twenty-third—He shall, at the commencement of his term of
office, execute and file with the Grand Master a bond in the sum
of five thousand dollars, or such larger sum as the Grand Lodge
may direct, said bond to be furnished by some Reliable assurance
company, the cost of which shall be paid out of the funds of the
Grand Lodge, conditioned that he will faithfully discharge the
duties of his office and will deliver, on demand of the Grand
Master or the Grand Lodge, or the Trustees of the Grand Lodge,
all funds, securities, jewels, vouchers, books, papers and other
property in his possession belonging to the Grand Lodge. On
surrendering his office to his successor he shall take duplicate
receipts for all funds, jewels, vouchers, books, papers and other
property in his possession belonging to the Grand Lodge, one of
which shall be delivered to the Grand Treasurer.
Twenty-fourth—He shall attend, on request, upon the meet-
ings of the Trusteees of the Grand Lodge, and record their pro-
ceedings in a suitable book kept for that purpose, and these
entries shall be deemed a part of the records of the Grand Lodge
and be printed with its proceedings.
Twenty-fifth—He shall upon receipt from the Board of Trustees
of reports of the claims audited by them under Part I, Article VII,
Section 4, of these By-Laws, draw warrants upon the Grand Treas-BY-UAWS.
29
urer in favor of the several claimants for the amounts allowed
them by the Board of Trustees.
Twenty-sixth—He shall each year, at least thirty days before the
Annual Communication, notify one-third of the constituent lodges
to produce their records at the next Annual Communication for
examination, and this he shall so continue that at the end of each
three years all the lodges shall have been notified and required to
produce their records before the Grand Lodge.
Sec.	4.	The	Grand	Secretary shall receive as	compensation
for his services the sum of one thousand dollars per annum,
payable monthly.
Sec.	5.	The	Grand	Chaplain shall attend the	Annual Com-
munication, especially at the opening and closing, and offer prayers
at the request of the Grand Master, according to ancient usage.
Sec.	6.	The	Grand	Orator shall attend the	Annual Com-
munication, and	at such	times as the Grand Master shall order, and
at public installations, dedications or other public occasions, de-
liver a suitable address.
Sec. 7. The Grand Marshal shall arrange and conduct public
and private processions of the Grand Lodge, attend the Grand
Festivals, and assist the Grand Master in ordering and arranging
the same. He may appoint one or more assistants.
Ses. 8. The other appointed Grand Officers shaii perform such
duties as by ancient usage and custom pertain to their respec-
tive offices; and, in adddition thereto, the Grand Stewards shall, in
case a division is demanded and granted upon any vote taken
in the Grand Lodge, count the votes, under tlu direction of the
Grand Marshal; the Grand Stewards, Grand Standard Bearer and
Grand Sword Bearer, under the direction of the Grand Marshal,
shall perform the duties of Tellers at the election of officers of the
Grand Lodge.
ARTICLE III.
DUTIES OF COMMITTEES.
Section 1. The duties of the several regular Standing Com-
mittees are as follows:
REGULAR COMMITTEES.
First—On Credentials. This committee shall receive and
examine the credentials of the representatives to the Grand Lodge
and report thereon at the first day’s session, at 2 o’clock P. M.30
GRAND DODGE OF OREGON.
Second—On Grand Master’s Address. To this committee shall
be referred the annual address of the Grand Master for comment,
distribution and report thereon in the afternoon of the first day’s
session.
Third—On Reports of Subordinate Lodges. To this committee
shall be referred the returns of lodges, their Grand Lodge dues,
etc. It shall carefully examine into their correctness and adjust
the same.
Fourth—On Dispensations, Charters and By-Laws. It is the
duty of this committee to examine the records, work and returns
of lodges under dispensation, and report to the Grand Lodge the
character and merits of each, together with such recommendations
as may seem best, and to examine such other matters of like
character, including cases where charters have been arrested, as
may be referred to them. This committee shall also examine and
report upon the By-Laws of constituent lodges, and the proposed
amendments thereto, and point out any want of conformity to the
Constitution and By-Laws of this Grand Lodge.
Fifth—On Finance. This committee shall examine into and
report upon the financial reports of the Grand Officers and all
matters touching the finances of the Grand Lodge, including the
amount of mileage and expenses to be paid to representatives and
members of the Grand Lodge. To this committee shall be referred
all subjects involving an appropriation of the Grand Lodge funds,
and without such reference and report no appropriation of money
shall be made.
Sixth—On Fraternal Dead. This committee shall report and
comment upon the death of deceased brethren in this and other
Grand Jurisdictions.
Seventh—On Records of Subordinate Lodges. To this com-
mittee shall be referred the records of chartered lodges to examine
the same and report thereon.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
Eighth—Masonic Law and Jurisprudence. To this committee
shall be referred all questions of Masonic law arising in the busi-
ness coming before the Grand Lodge or any of its committees, and
all decisions of the Grand Master. To this committee shall also
be referred all propositions to amend the Constitution and By-
Laws of the Grand Lodge, and all questions relative to the usages,
privileges and customs of the fraternity.BY-LAWS.
31
Ninth—On Appeals and Grievances. To this committee shall
be referred all appeals to the Grand Lodge and all matters of
grievances which are required by law to be referred thereto, or
which in the judgment of the Grand Lodge should be so referred.
This committee shall make a separate and distinct report on each
and every subject or case referred to it for consideration.
Tenth—On Foreign Correspondence. It is the duty of this
committee to inquire into the character and status of all foreign
Grand Bodies who may hereafter apply for recognition, and to
ascertain whether or not they will recognize and maintain the
doctrine of absolute and exclusive Grand Lodge jurisdiction, and
to report specifically thereon. To this committee shall be referred,
immediately after their receipt by the Grand Secretary, all printed
proceedings of sister Grand Lodges and all foreign communica-
tions, and such miscellaneous matter as may not be specifically
disposed of otherwise. The committee is authorized to print his
report prior to the Annual Communication, under the supervision
of the Grand Secretary, and is allowed for his services two hun-
dred and fifty dollars per annum. The report must be made on
the first day of the Annual Communication, and shall not exceed
one hundred and fifty pages of printed matter. The report may
be amended by the Grand Lodge and printed with the proceedings
if it shall so direct.
ARTICLE IV.
CUSTODIANS OF THE WORK.
Section i. Three Custodians of the Work shall be elected by
the Grand Lodge, as provided in Section I, Article VII, of the
Constitution, who shall hold office as prescribed in Section 2,
Article XIII, of the Constitution.
Sec. 2. The Grand Master shall, upon the resignation, death,
removal from the jurisdiction, neglect of duty, or other disability
of any of the Custodians of the Work, appoint his successor to serve
for the unexpired term.
Sec. 3. The Custodians of the Work, or any of them, shall
have authority to enforce the practice of the Standard Work as
adopted by the Grand Lodge, in all the lodges in this Grand
Jurisdiction.
Sec. 4. Each Custodian of the Work shall receive as com-
pensation for his services the sum of three hundred dollars per year,
the same to be paid quarter-yearly.32
GRAND LODGE OK OREGON.
Sec. 5. There shall be held in each of the districts known as
Eastern Oregon, Southern Oregon and the Willamette Valley,
schools for instruction in the work and lectures of the fraternity.
Such places shall be chosen as will furnish a safe and suitable
room and be most convenient for the several lodges convened
for the purposes stated. The school shall be in charge of the
Custodian of the Work for the district, and shall be held within
thirty days after the Festival of St. John the Evangelist. The
Custodians of the Work shall make such rules and regulations as
to the duration and general management of said schools as may
seem best for the accomplishment of the purpose for which they
are held, which is declared to be the uniform rendition of the
work of the ritual throughout this Grand Jurisdiction.
Sec. 6. It is hereby made the duty of each lodge within the
districts named wherein such school is held, upon notice from
the Custodian of the Work, to send to the school the Master and
Wardens of the lodge, for drill and instruction in the work and
lectures of the fraternity.
Sec. 7. Each Custodian of the Work shall, at least once during
each Masonic year, visit each lodge in his district for the purpose
of inspection and instruction, and each Custodian shall report to the
Grand Lodge, on the first day of each Annual Communication,
the result of such inspection and instruction, together with a
statement of the proficiency of each lodge in the work.
Sec. 8. It is hereby made the duty of the Custodians of the
Work to attend upon the Annual Communication of the Grand
Lodge, and to exemplify and conduct the work and ceremonies
of each of the three degrees during each Annual Communication.
ARTICLE V.
GRAND LIBRARIAN.
Section 1. It shall be the duty of the Grand Librarian:
First—To take charge of the library, and have such volumes
present at any communication of the Grand Lodge as may be
required for the use of the Grand Officers, committees or members.
Second—To take receipt for every volume delivered, and in
case of failure to duly return to require of the lodge of which the
delinquent is a member payment in double the amount of the value
of such volume, to be collected with the annual dues of such lodge.
Third—To select, and, with the consent and approval of the
Board of Trustees, purchase such books, charts, magazines andBY-I.AWS.
33
other documents as may be deemed necessary and proper, and
procure the binding of such volumes and documents as may be
deemed expedient, provided the expense of such purchase and
binding shall not exceed the sum of one hundred dollars in any
one year, unless special appropriation therefor shall have been made
by the Grand Lodge.
Sec. 2. The Grand Librarian may appoint a Deputy Librarian
to serve during the Annual Communication only, who shall receive
such compensation for his services as the Grand Lodge may order.
Sec. 3. To make a complete catalogue of the Grand Lodge
Library, and report to the Grand Lodge at each Annual Com-
munication.
ARTICLE VI.
REVENUES.
Section 1. The revenues of this Grand Lodge shall be derived
from the following sources:
First—For dispensation to form a new lodge, the sum of fifty
dollars.
Second—For a charter to perpetuate a new lodge, the sum of
twenty-five dollars.
Third—For a dispensation to confer degrees, five dollars.
Fourth—For any other dispensation, two and one-half dollars.
Fifth—For the seal of the Grand Lodge, one dollar.
Sec. 2. The following contribution shall be paid as annual
dues by each lodge, whether chartered or under dispensation:
First—For each degree it shall confer during the year, one dollar.
Second—For each Master Mason reported a member of a
constituent lodge in its annual returns, the sum of one dollar.
Dues shall be paid by subordinate lodges upon all members
stricken from the rolls between January 1 and the 30th day of
April in each year. Exemptions from the payment of dues and
Grand Lodge dues are found in the following section.
Sec. 3. Any Master Mason in good standing in this jurisdiction,
who has been a contributing member to a subordinate lodge or
lodges therein for twenty years or more, at the option of the
particular lodge of which he is then a member may be relieved from
all lodge dues, and such action of the lodge shall relieve the subor-
dinate lodge from the payment of Grand Lodge dues on account of
any member so exempted from the payment of dues. The exemp-
tion of a brother from the payment of dues under this regulation
334
GRAND DODGE OF OREGON.
does not affect his standing as a Master Mason, but he retains all
his rights and privileges as a member of the lodge, including those
of voting relief and burial, etc., unimpaired. Any lodge may, upon
the application of a brother Master Mason, when it appears that the
brother is unable to pay his annual dues for the current year, by a
majority vote of the lodge, relieve a brother from a payment thereof,
and in case of such action by a lodge, no Grand Lodge dues shall
be exacted on account of a brother thus relieved during the period
for which the lodge has excused him from the payment of dues.
Sec. 4. The Grand Lodge may levy upon its constituent lodges
such contribution as may be required to defray proper expenses,
which shall always be equal and uniform in proportion to the mem-
bership of the lodges.
Sec. 5. Any sums realized out of the property of dissolved
lodges.
Sec. 6. The income from any money or property given or
devised to the Grand Lodge.
Sec. 7. The Masonic fiscal year shall commence on the 1st day
of May and end on the 30th day of April in each year.
ARTICLE VII.
EXPENDITURES.
Section 1. No proposition contemplating the appropriation or
expenditure of any money shall be put upon its final passage until
it shall have been considered and reported upon by the Finance
Committee as prescribed in Part 1, Article III, Section 1, Subdivi-
sion 5th of these By-Laws.
Sec. 2. Every account against the Grand Lodge shall be in
detail and show upon its face each item composing the whole claim
and the name of the person or persons by whose order or authority
the indebtedness was created.
Sec. 3. Every Grand Lodge officer shall be entitled to be re-
imbursed for any money actually expended in the necessary dis-
charge of his official duties, but in all cases the claims for such
reimbursement shall be subject to the requirements of Section I
of this Article.
Sec. 4. When Masonic relief shall have been afforded by any
lodge or board of relief in this jurisdiction to any brother Master
Mason in good standing belonging to any lodge in any foreign
Grand jurisdiction, his widow or orphans, the lodge or board ofBY-LAWS.
35
relief shall be entitled to present a claim for reimbursement to the
trustees of this Grand Lodge as herein provided.. The lodge or
board having furnished relief as above contemplated, shall for-
ward its claim or claims with such proofs as may be available to the
Grand Secretary. The claim or claims, if in favor of a lodge shall
be certified to be correct by the Worshipful Master and Secretary
and be authenticated by the seal of the lodge; if in favor of a Board
of Relief, a like certificate shall be made by the President and Sec-
retary. Such claims shall be examined, and those found cor-
rect audited and allowed at the regular quarterly meeting of the
trustees of the Grand Lodge, held on the first Saturday of August,
November, February and May of each year, and no claim shall be
considered or audited unless received by the Grand Secretary at
least five days before the date fixed for such meeting. The amount
appropriated to the payment of such claims is two hundred and
fifty dollars for each quarter or so much thereof as may be required
to pay the claims presented each quarter. In case the amount of
claims presented and allowed in any quarter shall exceed the amount
of two hundred and fifty dollars payment upon the said claims
shall be made pro rata and no further or other payment shall be
made thereon. The trustees shall promptly, after each quarterly
meeting, certify to the Grand Secretary the result of the examina-
tion of such claims as may have been presented with a statement
showing the amount allowed upon each claim.
Sec. 5. The Grand Officers, the members of the Standing Com-
mittees on Masonic Law and Jurisprudence and on Appeals and
Grievances, and one member of each subordinate lodge shall each
be allowed actual and necessary traveling expenses, including meals
and sleeping accommodations in going to and returning from the
Grand Lodge. In no case shall any greater sum be paid to any per-
son than the actual disbursements by him made for traveling ex-
penses by the ordinary route from the seat of his lodge or from
his residence within this jurisdiction to the Grand Lodge and return
thereto. All allowances under this section shall be audited by the
Finance Committee.
ARTICLE VIII.
LODGES UNDER DISPENSATION.
Section 1. No dispensation shall be granted for the formation of
a new lodge except upon the petition of twelve known and approved
Master Masons in which the First Master and Wardens shall be36
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
nominated, which petition shall be accompanied by a recommenda-
tion for the lodge nearest to the place in which the new lodge is to
be maintained.
Sec. 2. Any constituent lodge recommending the dispensation
for the formation of a new lodge shall require the brother named
as Master and one of the Wardens to appear in open lodge and be
examined as to proficiency in the opening and closing ceremonies
and the work of the three degrees in Masonry, and shall certify
to the Grand Master or the Grand Lodge the result of such exami-
nation. Before such examination is held the Custodian of the
Work of the district shall be invited to be present and conduct the
examination.
Sec. 3. Any petition to the Grand Lodge or the Grand Master
for a new lodge must be accompanied by a duly authenticated cer-
tificate from a custodian of the work or the Master of the lodge rec-
ommmending the petition, stating explicitly that the examination
as directed in the preceding section has been held, the result thereof,
and that the brethren petitioning for the dispensation have pro-
vided a suitable and safe lodge room.
Sec. 4. A petition for a new lodge when presented to a sister
lodge for recommendation shall be read at the first meeting there-
after and then lie over until the next stated meeeting, at which
time it shall be submitted to the lodge for action, and in no case
shall recommendation be given by less than a two-thirds vote. No
vote upon the recommendation of a new lodge shall be’taken unless
there shall be present at least twelve members of the lodge acting
upon the petition.
Sec. 5. Lodges working under dispensation may exercise all
the rights of chartered lodges except that of electing the three prin-
cipal officers, granting dimits and sending representatives to the
Grand Lodge; but they may send the Master and Wardens or
either of them as delegates.
Sec. 6. Each lodge under dispensation shall, return the dispen-
sation to the next Annual Communication after the date, thereof,
together with its records and all other books, its petition for a
charter, if desired, but no charter shall be granted to any such
lodge unless it shall have conferred the degrees of Entered Appren-
tice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason.
Sec. 7. Lodges under dispensation shall have the same terri-
torial jurisdiction as chartered lodges.BY-LAWS.
37
Sec. 8. Every dispensation shall be copied at length upon the
records of the lodge, and the charter when issued shall be recorded
in like manner.
Sec. 9. Every lodge under dispensation shall be set to work
by the Grand Master or his special representative. The Master
shall appoint all officers of the lodge and may fill any vacancies
occurring in their places, except the Treasurer and Secretary, who
shall be elected by the members. The officers of a lodge under dis-
pensation shall not be installed.
Sec. 10. Every newly chartered lodge shall be duly constituted
and its officers installed by the Grand Master or his special repre-
sentative, assisted by an occasional Grand Lodge, before said new
lodge can work or do any business under its charter, except to elect
officers.
ARTICLE IX.
BOARD OP TRUSTEES.
Section 1. The Board of Trustees of the Grand Lodge shall
consist of the Grand Master, the Senior Grand Warden and Junior
Grand Warden and their successsors in office.’ In these trustees
shall vest in trust for the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Ac-
cepted Masons of Oregon, the title of all its property, real and
personal.
Sec. 2. The Trustees shall exercise a general supervision over
the property, both real and personal, of the Grand Lodge, shall
receive and hold the title thereto as trustees, shall execute
all conveyances for and on behalf of the Grand Lodge and
shall make all contracts, leases and agreements in their own names
as trustees as they may be authorized by acts of the Grand Lodge
or by law, and they are expressly authorized whenever in their
judgment or that of a majority of them it shall be necesssary to in-
stitute and prosecute legal proceedings in their own names for the
preservation and protection of the property or rights of the Grand
Lodge, and to defend all legal proceedings brought against the
Grand Lodge or in which it may have any interest.
Sec. 3. During the recess of the Grand Lodge they shall have
power to make such orders and contracts as may be from time to
time deemed necessary for the preservation and protection of the
property of the Grand Lodge, the necessary expense whereof, when
properly certified by them, shall be paid by the Grand Treasurer
upon the order of the Grand Master, attested by the Grand Sec-
retary.38
GRAND DODGE OF OREGON.
Sec. 4. The Trustees shall hold regular quarterly meetings on
the first Saturday of August, November, February and May of
each year for the transaction of such business as may regularly
come before them and for the consideration of the business and
affairs of the Grand Lodge. It shall be the duty' of the Trustees
at each of these quarterly meetings to examine and audit such claims
as they shall find to be just, which may have been presented to the
Grand Secretary under the provisions of Section 4, Article VII,
Part 1, of these By-Laws. The Trustees shall pass upon the claims
presented each quarter, and promptly at the close of each quarterly
meeting certify to the Grand Secretary the amount allowed upon
each claim. This action by the Board of Trustees shall be sufficient
authority to the Grand Secretary to authorize him to issue the war-
rant to the claimant for the amount allowed.
Sec. 5. The Trustees shall make all contracts for printing the
proceedings of the Grand Lodge, the reports of committees, the
Constitution and By-Laws, standing resolutions and all other mat-
ters ordered printed by the Grand Lodge. Before making any
contract for the year’s printing the Trustees shall secure bids from
responsible and reliable printing houses and shall award the con-
tract for the current year to the printing house which the Trustees
may determine to be entitled thereto.
Sec. 6. The Trustees shall investigate all applications for
assistance from the Grand Lodge and draw upon funds of the Grand
Lodge through the Grand Treasurer for such amounts as in its
’judgment are necessary, providing that not more than one hundred
dollars shall be donated to any one applicant unless by special
order of the Grand Lodge, and, provided further, that all donations
voted in the Grand Lodge shall be concurred in by a majority
vote of all the members present at the Annual Communication.
Sec. 7. The Trustees shall on the first day of each Annual
Communication make a report to the Grand Lodge setting forth
in detail all their acts and doings by virtue of the provisions of this
article, together with such suggestions and recommendations in
relation to the property of the Grand Lodge as may to them seem
necessary for its best interest.
Sec. 8. The actual and necesssary expenses of the Trustees,
while engaged in the discharge of the duties devolving upon them
by virtue of the provisions of this article, shall be paid by the
Grand Treasurer in the manner as provided in this article.BY-LAWS.
89
Sec. g. The Grand Master shall preside at the meeting of the
Board of Trustees. The Grand Secretary, when present, shall keep
the records, but the Trustees may appoint any other Master Mason
of good standing to keep the records of their proceedings in the
absence of the Grand Secretary.
ARTICLE X.
GRAND REPRESENTATIVES.
The Grand Master may appoint Grand Representatives to the
various Grand Lodges in correspondence with this Grand Lodge.
It shall be the duty of such Representatives to cultivate more
friendly intercourse betweeen the several Grand Lodges, but they
shall not exercise any other official authority in behalf of this Grand
Lodge except by special order of the Grand Lodge or the Grand
Master. The Grand Master at his pleasure may remove any Grand
Representative and cancel his commission.
ARTICLE XI.
RULES OF ORDER.
Rule I. At the first stroke of the Grand Master’s gavel there
shall be a general silence, and he who breaks silence without leave
from the chair shall be subject to a general reprimand; under the
same penalty every brother shall keep his seat and observe strict
silence whenever the Grand Master or presiding officer shall call
to order.
Rule 2. No brother is to speak more than once on the same
question unless by permission.
Rule 3. If in the Grand Lodge any member is twice called to
order at one session for transgressing these rules, and is guilty of a
third offense of the same nature, the chair may peremptorily order
him to leave the lodge room for that day.
Rule 4. Whoever shall be so rude as to ridicule a brother or
what another says or has said, may be forthwith solemnly excluded
from the communication and declared incapable of ever being a
member of the Grand Lodge for the future, unless he publicly own
his fault and be excused.	■
Rule 5. All members shall keep their seats except the Grand
Marshal and other Grand Officers, who are allowed to move from
place to place in the discharge of their duties.
Rule 6. Every brother who speaks shall rise and remain stand-
ing, addressing himself to the “Most Worshipful Grand Master,’’40
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
and no member shall interrupt him unless to call him to order; but
after he has been set right he may proceed if he observes due order
and decorum. No brother shall speak until he is recognized by the
Grand Master.
Rule 7. While the Grand Master is addressing the Grand
Lodge or putting a question, or a brother is _ speaking, no brother
shall entertain any private discourse or pass between the speaker
and the chair.
Rule 8. Committees shall not sit while the Grand Lodge is
actually in session unless on leave obtained.
Rule 9. After the Grand Master has called the Grand Lodge to
order on the first day of the Annual Communication, the following
order of business and proceedings shall be observed:
First—Calling the Roll of the Grand Officers and Lodges by the
Grand Secretary.
Second—The usual solemn ceremonies of opening the Grand
Lodge in Ample Form.
Third—Reception of Grand Representatives.
Fourth—Address of the Grand Master.
Fifth—Appointment of the Committee on the Grand Master’s
Address.
Sixth—Appointment of Committee on Credentials.
Intermission.
Seventh—Report of the Committee on Credentials.
Eighth—Election of Grand Officers.
Ninth—Reading and approving the Minutes of any previous
Communications not before read and approved.
Tenth—Report of the Committee on Distribution of the Grand
Master’s Address.
Eleventh—Appointment by the Grand Master of the Committees.
Twelfth—Report of the Grand Treasurer, Grand Secretary, and
action thereon.
Thirteeenth—Reports of Trustees and other Grand Officers and
Committees, with action thereon.
Fourteenth—Miscellaneous Business.
Rule 10. After the order of business provided in Rule 9 shall
have been finished the daily order of business during the Annual
Communications shall be as follows:
First—Reading and approving Minutes of the preceding session.BY-I,AWS.
41
Second—Reports of unfinished business of previous Communi-
cations.
Third—Presentation and reference or other disposition of
Memorials, Petitions and Communications.
Fourth—Motions and Resolutions and References or other dis-
position of the same.
Fifth—Reports of Standing and Regular Committees and action
thereon, the Committee on Law and Jurisprudence having the
preference.
Sixth—Reports of Special Committees and action thereon.
Seventh—Special Orders.
Eighth—Unfinished business of previous sessions.
Ninth—Reports of Trustees and action thereon.
Tenth—Miscellaneous business.
Rule ii. Should the order of business not be concluded at the
session at which it is first called it shall be commenced at the suc-
ceeding sesssion where it was left off, and so on throughout the
Communication, taking up the order of business as in Rule io.
Rule 12. All reports of committees of the Grand Lodge shall be
reduced to writing in a legible hand, on one side only of legal
cap, and signed by at least a majority of the committee, provided
that a dissenting minority may also submit a report in similar form
and manner.
Rule 13. Every resolution or motion submitted to the Grand
Lodge shall be reduced to writing and referred to an appropriate
committee. All proposed amendments to these By-Laws and the
Constitution must be proposed in writing and referred to the proper
committee.
Rule 14. No motion shall be debatable until seconded and stated
from the chair, when it shall be in the possession of the Grand
Lodge, and cannot be withdrawn except by the mover with the
consent of the second previous to decision or amendment. The
question after being put by the Grand Master cannot be debated.
Rule 15. No motion to close or call off is admissible, that
responsibility resting alone with the Grand Master, who is obliged
to allow the occurrence of nothing tending to interrupt or to defeat
the regular course of any business legitimately coming before the
Grand Lodge.42
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
Rule 16. On. all other matters the rules which govern delibera-
tive assemblies shall be observed, except as to the previous question,
which is not permissible.
Rule 17. No vote of the Grand Lodge shall be reconsidered, if
in the judgment of the Grand Master a less number of members
are present when reconsideration is moved than were in the Grand
Lodge when the original vote was taken.
Rule 18. When voting is required by show of hands or rising
the votes shall be counted by the Grand Stewards under the direc-
tion of the Grand Marshal.
Rule 19. No member of the Grand Lodge shall leave the lodge
room during the session or absent himself from the city during the
Communication, without permission from the Grand Lodge or
Grand Master. Before the question on the original motion is put
its mover may demand the counting of the members present and
again on a motion for reconsideration.
Rule 20. No appeal to the Grand Lodge from the decision of
the Grand Master upon any question arising in Grand Lodge shall
be entertained.
ARTICLE XII.
PENAL JURISDICTION OF THE GRAND LODGE.
Section 1. The Grand Lodge in the exerase of jurisdiction
over its officers (except the Grand Master), members and the
Worshipful Masters of its constituent lodges may entertain, hear
and determine charges against them or either of them for abuse of
power, violation of the Constitution, By-Laws or Regulations or
for un-Masonic conduct of any kind.
Sec. 2. Charges may be preferred against the Worshipful Mas-
ter of a lodge by any three members of his lodge, by the Junior
Grand Warden or by any Master Mason member of a lodge in this
jurisdiction at the direction of the M. W. Grand Master. Charges
against any other Master Mason subject to the jurisdic-
tion of the Grand Lodge may be preferred by the Junior Grand
Warden or by a Master Mason member of a lodge in this jurisdic-
tion at the direction of the Grand Master.
In every case the charges shall be in writing signed by the officer
or persons authorized to make the same, and shall be presented to
the Grand Lodge if in session, otherwise to the Grand Master.
Sec. 3. Upon the presentation of such charges the Grand
Lodge or the Grand Master, as the case may be, may at once
appoint and summon not less than five or more than seven disin-BY-LAWS.
43
terested Worshipful Masters or actual Past Masters to assemble
as Commisssioners to hear and determine the matters involved in
the charges, and shall summon the accused to appear and answer
the charges at such time and place as may be most convenient for
the hearing. The summons shall fix the time and place for hearing
and require the accused to appear and answer the charges at the
time and place so fixed. The summons with a copy of the charges
shall be served upon the accused personally, if he is a resident of this
jurisdiction, ten days before the date set for the hearing. If the
accused is not a resident of this jurisdiction the summons and copy
of the charges shall be served upon him thirty days before the date
set for hearing.
Service may be made upon a non-resident by registered mail;
the communication being directed to the last known postoffice ad-
dress of the accused.
Sec. 4. The Commissioners shall assemble at the time and
place fixed for the hearing, and organize by selecting one of their
number to preside and another to act as Secretary. The Commis-
sion chosen to preside shall have authority to summon witnesses
at the request of either the accused or the accuser. Witnesses if
Masons shall testify upon their honor as such. The testimony of
witnesses not Masons shall be taken in the form of depositions in
writing before an officer authorized by the statutes of the state
where the deposition is taken to administer oaths. The testimony
of an expelled Mason shall not be received. The party seeking to
take testimony by deposition shall give to the other party such
reasonable notice of the time and place, when and where the same
is to be taken as may be fixed by the Commissioner chosen to
preside.
Sec. 5. The Commissioners may adjourn the hearing and trial
from time to time at their convenience or for good cause, shown
by either accused or accuser, provided, however, the Commissioners
shall complete and perform their duties within ten days after the
day fixed for hearing by the summons, unless the Grand Master
for good cause shown shall grant an extension of time.
Sec. 6. Any Master Mason in good standing may, at the re-
quest of the accuser or accused, appear as counsel and assist in
the prosecution or defense. If either accused or accuser shall fail
to select counsel, the Grand Master shall appoint a brother to act
for the party not represented by counsel.44
GRAND DODGE OF OREGON.
Sec. 7. After all the testimony shall have been received the
Commissioners shall proceed to deliberate upon their judgment
and sentence with none present but themselves. The judgment
of a majority of the Commissioners shall be taken as the decision
of the whole number, and shall be conclusive unless an appeal be
taken, to the next Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge.
Sec. 8. The penalties which may be inflicted by such Commis-
sioners may be either deprivation of office, suspension or expul-
sion, as in their judgment shall be deemed proper.
Sec. 9. The Commissioners shall keep a complete record of
their proceedings and of their judgment and transmit the same to
the Grand Secretary at the conclusion of the trial, and the judg-
ment shall at once be carried into effect by order of the Grand
Master.
Sec. 10. An appeal to the Grand Lodge may be taken, to be
heard at its next Annual Communication, by either party, if notice
of appeal be given to the Grand Secretary within thirty days after
the Commissioners have made their judgment.
ARTICLE XIII.
DUTIES OP MASONS AND LODGES.
Section 1. Any Mason who shall willfully violate the moral
law or any of the charges of a Free Mason, or the Constitution, or
laws of the Grand Lodge, or the laws of the lodge to which he
belongs, or laws of the country in which he may reside, or disre-
gard his obligations and the established usages of the Fraternity, or
do any act which shall tend to impair the purity of the institution
of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, shall be guilty of an offense
against the body of Masonry, and on due trial and being found
guilty shall be punished in such manner and to such extent as the
lodge or Grand Lodge may determine; provided, no other penalty
shall be inflicted than reprimand, suspension or expulsion from
the rights and privileges of Masonry.
Sec. 2. The Grand Lodge may revoke the charter of a subor-
dinate lodge for disobedience of its orders, rules or laws, for in-
subordination to the authority of the Grand Lodge or the Grand
Master, for willful disobedience to the Constitution and laws of
the Grand Lodge, or a departure from the original plan of Ma-
sonry, or negligence to meet in annual communication for two
consecutive j'ears, or failure to make annual returns and pay its
obligations to the Grand Lodge for two years, or for negligence toBY-LAWS.
45
procure the authorized work through the custodians of the work
and practice the same, or whenever in its judgment the condition
of the lodge as to discipline or otherwise is such that its longer
existence is deleterious to the honor or usefulness of the Craft, or
whenever its depreciated condition as to numbers, finances or inter-
est in the work shall render it proper.
And on due trial and being found guilty the lodge shall forfeit
its warrant of Constitution, and it is expressly provided that every
lodge so found guilty shall forfeit and transfer its funds and prop-
erty of every kind and character whatsoever to the Grand Lodge.
Sec. 3. For any of the reasons stated in the foregoing section
the Grand Master, during the recess of the Grand Lodge, may arrest
the charter of a subordinate lodge, but in such case he must report
his action to the Grand Lodge at its next Annual Communication
with his reasons therefor, for its approval or disapproval, and at
such time the lodge may be heard in its own behalf.
Sec. 4. The Grand Lodge upon final hearing may approve or
disapprove the action of the Grand Master in making the arrest;
it may restore the charter without revocation if satisfied that the
discipline is already sufficient and the good of the Craft will be
thereby subserved, it being the intention that the Grand Lodge in
such cases may exercise a full discretion, having in view the advan-
tages of a wholesome discipline and the welfare of the craft.
Sec. 5. The Grand Lodge is in no sense responsible for the pay-
ment of the debts or obligations of subordinate lodges in any case
where the lodge becomes extinct either by the surrender or revoca-
tion of its charter. The assets available therefor shall be used for
the payment of its obligations under the direction of the Grand
Master or some Master Mason member deputized by him, and for
that purpose they may, if necessary, be converted into money or
otherwise applied at its discretion.
Section 6. If the Grand Lodge upon final hearing shall revoke
the charter it may afterwards restore it, provided that application
therefor be made at the next Annual Communication, but in such
case the restoration must be made to the identical lodge in name
and number and with the right to every member thereof at the date
of revocation yet unaffiliated who continues in good standing to
membership therein.
Sec. 7. Concurrent original jurisdiction for the discipline, trial
and punishment of Masons: charged with any offense against the46
GRAND DODGE OF OREGON.
body of Masonry, limited only as hereinafter provided, is vested in:
First The lodge of which the accused is a member.
Second—The lodge within whose territory the offense may have
been committed.
Third—The lodge within whose territory the accused may be
found, provided that whenever the attention of the Grand Secretary
shall be called to any Masonic offense committed by any non-
afffliated or non-resident Mason, the same shall be referred to the
Grand Master for his action thereon.
Sec. 8. The Grand Lodge shall prescribe rules of procedure in
matters of discipline, controversies between lodges and Masonic
trials and punishment which shall be applicable, as nearly as may
be, to causes before the lodge and to causes before the Grand
Lodge; and it shall also prescribe general forms for the proceed-
ings. The Grand Lodge has prescribed the rules and forms of
conduct of private and public ceremonies of the craft as the same
are contained in Mackey’s Manual of the Lodge, and the same shall
be respected and obeyed accordingly, except that hereafter it shall
not be necessary for a Master elect to receive the degree of Past
Master before being installed Master of a constituent lodge.
Sec. 9. Representatives of constituent lodges who are not
officers of the Grand Lodge shall appear at its communication
clothed with the jewels which they are entitled to wear in their
respective lodges.
ARTICLE XIV.
PENAL CODE.
Section 1. Every violation by a Mason of his Masonic obliga-
tions, every violation of the moral law, to wit:	Drunkenness,
profane swearing, idleness, brawling, fighting, cheating, gambling,
engaging in any business that tends in any way or manner to cor-
rupt public or private morals, the violation of the statutes of the
state involving moral turpitude is a Masonic offense for which- the
offender shall be subject to such punishment as the tribunal having
jurisdiction in the case shall adopt.
Sec. 2. Masonry will not take cognizance of offenses ecclesi-
astical or political in their nature nor of a breach of contract or
claim at law between Masons or between one Mason and another
unless the same involves moral turpitude in the offender.
Sec. 3. Whenever a member of a lodge or a member residing
or sojourning in this jurisdiction shall be accused of any offenseBY-LAWS.
47
which, if proved, would subject him to reprimand, suspension or
expulsion, the proceedings in the premises shall be conducted sub-
stantially according to the following rules:
Rule i. All charges for un-Masonic conduct shall be made in
writing, signed by the accuser, specifying with reasonable certain-
ty the character of the offense alleged, and delivered to the Secre-
tary at a stated Communication of the lodge, who shall then read
and enter the charges in full on the minutes. At the next stated
Communication it shall be the duty of the Worshipful Master to
cause to be elected by ballot and by a majority of those present
five of its members (three ot whom shall constitute a quorum;,
who shall assemble as Commissioners to hear and determine upon
the charges at such time and place convenient to the parties as the
Worshipful Master shall appoint.
Rule 2. If the residence of the accused is known and within
ten miles of the seat of the lodge having the matter in charge, then
and in that case a certified copy of the charges and a summons
to appear and answer shall be personally served upon the accused
ten days before the trial. If the residence of the accused be at a
greater distance than ten miles from the place where the lodge
having the matter in charge is located, either within or with-
out this grand jurisdiction, then and in that case a certified
copy of the charges and the summons to appear and answer shall
be forwarded to him by registered mail directed to his last known
postoffice address thirty days before the trial. If his residence be
unknown or he neglect or refuse to obey the summons when
service has been had, the lodge shall proceed ex-parte, the Wor-
shipful Master having first appointed some Brother to act as the
Attorney for the accused and conduct the proceedings to a final
determination.
Rule 3. When any member of a lodge (except its Master or
Grand Master) or any Mason residing within the jurisdiction shall
be accused of un-Masonic conduct, charges to the effect may be
preferred by any Master Mason in good standing, but to further
the administration of justice it is made the special duty of the
Junior Warden, in the absence of other accusers, to prefer all
charges for offenses committted when the lodge is not at labor,
but the negligence or refusal of the Junior Warden to perform such
duty shall not prevent any other member from preferring any
charge of un-Masonic conduct which may come to his knowledge.48
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
Rule 4. In all instances where offenses are committed while the
lodge is at labor the foregoing rules requiring notice and delay may
be dispensed with, and the Worshipful Master is authorized to
order the offending brother to show cause at once why he should
not be properly dealt with, in such case it is made the special duty
of the Senior Warden to prefer charges for the offense committed
when the lodge is at labor and to prosecute the same.
Rule S. Every lodge has jurisdiction over its own members
and all non-affiliated Masons residing or sojourning in its jurisdic-
tion. If the offender hold membership in another lodge in this
Grand Jurisdiction, the charges may be sent to that lodge for trial.
If such lodge refuse to entertain the charges or waive the right of
trial, then, and in that case, the lodge under whose jurisdiction the
offense was committed shall proceed to the trial of the accused.
Rule 6. The Commissioners shall assemble at the time and
place appointed, and shall be presided over by the Worshipful
Master, who shall decide all questions of Masonic law which may
arise during the trial. These meetings of the Commissioners shall
also be attended by the Junior Warden or by a member of the
lodge appointed by the Worshipful Master, who shall act as prose-
cuting Attorney, and by the Secretary or some member appointed
for that purpose by the Worshipful Master, who shall keep a cor-
rect and full record of the proceedings of the trial.
Rule 7. The Worshipful Master, shall, at the request of either
party, summon such witnesses as are Masons residing within the
jurisdiction of his lodge, to appear and testify before the Commis-
sioners. Whenever the attendance of a witness who is a Mason and
who resides without the jurisdiction of the lodge in which the trial
is had cannot be procured, his testimony may be taken before
the Worshipful Master of the lodge within whose jurisdiction
he resides upon such notice to the adverse party as the Worshipful
Master of the lodge in which the trial is to be had shall fix, and
the attendance of such witness may be compelled by summons, his
testimony shall be reduced to writing signed by him and authenti-
cated by the certificate of the Worshipful Master before whom it was
taken, under the seal of his lodge. The testimony of witnesses who are
not Masons shall be taken upon the application of the party desir-
ing the testimony, by deposition before some officer authorized by
the laws of the state wherein he resides to administer oaths, and at
such time and place and upon such notice to the adverse party asBY-LAWS.
49
shall be designated by the Worshipful Master. Whenever the
testimony of a witness residing out of this state is desired, it shall be
taken upon interrogatories, direct and cross, agreed upon by the
parties or approved by the Worshipful Master. Witnesses who are
Masons in good standing shall testify upon their honor as such,
and all others shall testify under oath or affirmation. The testi-
mony of an expelled Mason shall not be received.
Rule 8. Any Master Mason in good standing may, at the
request of the accused or the accuser, appear as his counsel and
assist in the prosecution or defense. If either accuser or accused
shall fail to select an Attorney or counsel the Master shall appoint
a Brother to act as Attorney for the accused or accuser. The
Commissioners may adjourn from time to time at their own con-
venience- or for cause shown by either party, provided that the
period within which their duties shall be concluded shall not ex-
ceeed ten days, unless for good reasons shown the Worshipful
Master shall grant them further time.
Rule 9. After all the testimony shall have been received the
Commissioners shall proceed to deliberate upon their verdict and
sentence with no one present but themselves. The judgment of a
majority of the Commissioners shall be taken as the decision of
the whole. Their decision and findings shall be final, and shall be
signed by them and be presented to the Worshipful Master, who,
at the next stated Communication of the lodge shall announce the
result and direct the Secretary to record the same as the judgment
of the lodge and file the record for safe keeping among its
archives.
Section 3. Penalties which may be inflicted are reprimand in
open lodge, suspension or expulsion. If the sentence be repri-
mand the Worshipful Master shall summon the convicted brother
to appear at the next stated Communication when the reprimand
shall be administered. If the sentence be suspension or expulsion
it shall at once go into effect, and the Secretary shall immediately
notify the person suspended or expelled and the Grand Secretary
thereof.
Sec. 4. An appeal may be taken to the next succeeding Annual
Communication of the Grand Lodge by either party, but not unless
a notice of such intended appeal shall be given to the Worshipful
Master in writing within thirty days after his announcement of the
result of the trial. In all appealed cases and in all cases of expul-
4.50
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
sion or suspension whether appealed or not,'the Worshipful Master
shall cause the Secretary to prepare a transcript of the record of
the trial and immediately transmit it to the Grand Secretary with
information of the appeal intended, if any there be.
Sec. 5. All judgments from which an appeal may be taken,
and all transcripts of trial records where the punishment is expul-
sion or suspension, shall, if possible, be sent to the Grand Secretary
at least thirty days prior to the Annual Communication, and shall
be reviewed in the Grand Lodge or before a committee thereof
during its session upon the record sent up, and upon such other
proper documents as may be submitted; and the Grand Lodge may
affirm, modify or reverse the judgment of the lodge or may make
such other order relative thereto as shall be deemed proper, and its
decision shall be final and conclusive.
Sec. 6. The sentence of suspension shall be for an indefinite
period, and after the sentence has been announced the Secretary
shall inform the Grand Secretary thereof. The lodge may at a
stated Communication by vote of two-thirds of the members present,
annul any such sentence of suspension pronounced by itself and
restore the Mason thus suspended to all his Masonic rights and
privileges, provided, that notice of a resolution for such restoration
shall be given at the stated Communication next preceding. In
all cases of restoration the Secretary shall notify the restored party
and the Grand Secretary thereof.
Section 7. The Grand Lodge may at any Annual Communica-
tion, if good cause therefor be shown and proof be given of the
notice hereinafter prescribed, restore to the rights and privileges of
Masonry a Mason who has been suspended or expelled within its
jurisidction; but such restoration shall not restore him to member-
ship in the lodge by which he was suspended or expelled, but he
shall receive from the Grand Secretary a certificate, under the seal
of the Grand Lodge, showing his good standing.
Sec. 8. Whenever any Mason suspended for any un-Masonic
conduct desires to petition the Grand Lodge for restoration to the
rights and privileges of Masonry, he shall first make application for
such restoration to the lodge by which he was suspended, if it still
be in existence. If his application be there refused, it may then be
made to the Grand Lodge, provided that notice in writing be
given to the lodge of such intended application not less than forty
days preceding the Annual Communication. In case the lodgeBY-LAWS.
51
by which he was suspended has ceased to exist no previous notice
of the intended application is necessary to be given to any lodge.
Sec. g. Whenever any expelled Mason desires to petition the
Grand Lodge for restoration to the rights and privileges of
Masonry, he shall, in writing, notify the lodge which expelled him
if it be still in existence, of his intention so to do at least sixty days
before the Annual Communication at which his petition is to be
presented, accompanying such notice with a copy of the intended
petition. And before said petition shall be considered by the
Grand Lodge proof of the giving of said notice to the lodge shall
be furnished. In case the lodge which expelled the petitioner has
ceased to exist the notice required by this section shall be served
upon the lodge held nearest the location of the lodge which pro-
nounced the sentence of expulsion.
ARTICLE XV.
Section I. All resolutions, approved decisions and laws of this
Grand Lodge consistent with the provisions of the foregoing arti-
cles from I to XIV, inclusive, are hereby declared to be incorpor-
ated in and evidenced by said fourteen articles, and all resolutions
and approved decisions heretofore passed and adopted by the
Grand Lodge inconsistent with the foregoing fourteen articles are
hereby revoked and repealed.
Sec. 2. Any amendment, alteration or change of these By-Laws
shall be proposed in writing at an Annual Communication, referred
to the committee on Masonic Law and Jurisprudence for its con
sideration and report, and if approved by a two-thirds vote of all
the members present at the Annual Communication shall become a
part of these By-Laws and be in full force and virtue after its
passage.	_______________
PART II.
Relative to Lodges.
ARTICLE I.
COMPOSITION AND ORGANIZATION OF A LODGE.
Section I. Every lodge shall consist of a Worshipful Master, Se-
nior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer and Secretary (who shall be
elected as provided in Section I, Article V, Part II, of these By-
Laws), Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Senior Steward, Junior52
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
Steward and Tyler, and may have a Chaplain, Marshal and Organ-
ist (who shall be appointed by the Worshipful Master on or before
the date of installation), and of as many members as it may find
convenient.
Sec. 2. No lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons can
legally assemble in this jurisdiction unless authorized so to do by a
dispensation from the Grand Lodge or Grand Master or a charter
granted by the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons
of Oregon.
Sec. 3. No lodge shall be permitted to assume the name of any
person during his life.
Sec. 4. All circulars and communications between lodges within
this jurisdiction, and all communications made by lodges of
this Grand Jurisdiction to lodges of other Grand Jurisdictions must
be transmitted through the office of the Grand Secretary, and must
in all cases be approved by the Grand Master.
Sec. 5. No lodge is permitted to incorporate under the laws of
Oregon. Any lodge which shall hereafter presume to incorporate
or attempt to become a corporation under and by virtue of the
laws of the State of Oregon, shall thereby be liable to discipline,
and the Grand Lodge or Grand Master may for that cause alone
suspend and forfeit the charter of the lodge so«bffending.
ARTICLE II.
INHERENT POWERS OF A LODGE.
Section 1. The powers of a lodge are such as are prescribed in
its charter or dispensation; by the Constitution, By-Laws and Regu-
lations of this Grand Lodge; the General Regulations of Free-
masonry, and, when not in conflict therewith, its own By-Laws.
ARTICLE III.
DUTIES OF A LODGE.
Section 1. It shall be the duty of a lodge—
First—To hold at least one regular meeting in each calendar
month.
Second—To provide for its meetings a safe and suitable lodge-
room.
Third—To keep a full and proper record of its transactions.
Fourth—To transmit to the Grand Secretary during the first
week of the month of May each year its annual return in such
form as the Grand Secretary shall provide, which shall embrace a
list of officers and members, of present and past Grand Officers, ofBY-LAWS.
53
initiations, passings, raisings, admissions, dimissions, rejections,
suspensions, restorations and deaths, with their respective dates,
which returns shall be signed by the Master and Secretary and at-
tested under the seal of the lodge, and with such annual returns
shall pay to the Grand Secretary all sums due the Grand Lodge.
No lodge shall be entitled to representation in Grand Lodge unless
it has complied with the requirements of this section, and if a lodge
refuses to comply with them for two successive years, its charter
shall be suspended and the effects of the lodge disposed of for the
benefit of the Grand Lodge; provided, that upon showing satis-
factory excuse for failure to comply with the aforesaid regulations,
and upon making full returns and paying all back dues the charter
and other effects of such lodge may be restored by the Grand Lodge
by vote of the majority of the members present at an Annual Com-
munication.
Fifth—To keep a Lodge Register, the spaces of which shall
correspond with the Grand Lodge Register, in which, shall be en-
tered and consecutively numbered the names of all members and
their Masonic record.
Sixth—To keep a “Black Book” in which shall be entered the
names contained in the quarterly report of the Grand Secretary.
Said book shall be so arranged as to show, in alphabetical order
and by appropriate columns, the names of the persons, name and
number of lodge, date of rejection, suspension or expulsion, as the
case may be, the cause therefor and the date of reinstatement when
notified thereof.
Seventh—To have a code of By-Laws which shall conform to
the Constitution and By-Laws of this Grand Lodge and the Gen-
eral Regulations of Freemasonry, the same to be approved, as pro-
vided in Section 5, Article XII, Constitution.
Eighth—To notify the Grand Secretary of all rejections, sus-
pensions, expulsions and reinstatements immediately after the meet-
ing at which the transaction has occurred.
Sec. 2. No lodge shall remove its place of meeting from the
city, town, village or place named in its charter or dispensation,
except by special authority of the Grand Lodge or Grand Master
granted upon the written petition of the lodge. No petition for
removal of the place of meeting of a lodge shall be allowed or
granted unless it shall appear that notice of the application and
petition was given at a stated meeting of the lodge and considera-54
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
tion thereof postponed one month, and also that the petition and
application was approved by two-thirds of the members of the
lodge present when action was taken upon the petition or appli-
cation.
Sec. 3. No lodge shall remove its place of meeting from one
room or hall to another in the same town, village or city, except
by special dispensation of the Grand Lodge or Grand Master.
Sec. 4. No lodge shall levy a special tax or assessment upon its
members other than the dues or assessments prescribed in its By-
Laws, except by the authority of the Grand Lodge or special dis-
pensation of the Grand Master.
Sec. 5. The discussion of political, sectarian or other subjects,
not strictly of a Masonic character, is prohibited in every lodge in
this Grand Jurisdiction.
Sec. 6. No lodge, officer or member thereof shall grant a cer-
tificate whereby any Mason may in an itinerant manner apply to
sister lodges,<whether in this or sister jurisdictions, for relief.
Sec. 7. Every lodge shall have all official communications from
the Grand Master or Grand Secretary read in open lodge, at the
stated Communication next following their receipt. Communica-
tions from the Grand Master shall be transcribed at length in the
minutes of the meeting at which they were received.
Sec. 8. It is the duty of every lodge to punish, by reprimand,
suspension or expulsion, any member who may be found guilty of
drunkenness or gambling.
Sec. 9. Each lodge shall be represented in every Annual Com-
munication of the Grand Lodge.
Sec. 10. No lodge shall appear in public procession on any
other than purely Masonic occasions.
Sec. 11. Each lodge is required to present to the candidate at
his initiation a lambskin or white leather apron, with the date
thereof and his name inscribed thereon, which shall be his for
preservation.
ARTICLE IV.
MEETINGS OF THE LODGE.
Section 1. The meetings of a lodge are stated and special.
Sec. 2. Stated meetings are those held at the time prescribed
by the By-Laws; and at such meetings all general business, such
as receptions of petitions, balloting for applicants for the degrees
or membership, election of officers and the discussion of questionsBY-LAWS.
55
relative to the interests of the lodge or the fraternity, shall be
transacted in a lodge of Master Masons.
Sec. 3. Special meetings may be called, in the discretion of
the Master, by giving due notice thereof; but no business except
conferring degrees or ceremonial observances (including the nec-
essary examination of candidates for advancement) shall be trans-
acted therein; provided, however, that if urgent business should
require immediate action at a special meeting, the Grand Master,
upon the petition of the Master and Wardens of a lodge showing
the necessity of such a meeting, may grant a dispensation for the
purpose; and, provided further, that all resident members be noti-
fied of such meeting, that the minutes shall show all the facts in
full, and that no other business except that specified shall be trans-
acted at such meeting. A special meeting for examination of a
candidate or work in a particular degree may be opened on the
appropriate degree only, and need not be opened on any other
degree.
Sec. 4. No lodge in this jurisdiction shall be convened on
Sunday, except for funeral purposes, or for the purpose of cele-
brating St. John’s Day by appropriate ceremonies.
Sec. 5. No lodge shall remain closed beyond the time pre-
scribed in its laws for holding stated meetings, except by dispen-
sation of the Grand Lodge or the Grand Master.
Sec. 6. The only competent authority to open a subordinate
lodge is the Worshipful Master, or, in his absence, the legally
chosen Wardens by priority, and in the absence of the Master and
both the Wardens, a lodge cannot be opened for any purpose, ex-
cept by the Grand Master or his representative. In case of the
death of a brother Master Mason during the session of the Grand
Lodge, the Master and Wardens, or in case of the absence of the
Master and Wardens, then a Past Master shall have the power to
assemble the members of the lodge within whose jurisdiction the
brother died, and sojourning brethren, and bury the deceased
brother with Masonic ceremonies. If the officer conducting such
funeral rites be not Master or Warden of the lodge, he shall make
report of the burial at the next stated communication of such lodge,
and the report shall be entered upon its records. Except as in this
section provided, no subordinate lodge shall be opened during the
annual communication of the Grand Lodge.
Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of the Master of any lodge, when
notified of the intended official visit of the Grand Master or his56
GRAND DODGE OF OREGON.
representative, to convene the lodge, extend to him the appropriate
courtesies, and, when called upon, to submit for his inspection the
By-Laws and records of the lodge, and furnish such facilities as
may be necessary for the proper discharge of his duties.
Sec. 8. It shall be the duty of the Master of every lodge to
convene his lodge for instruction in the work whenever notified so
to do by the Custodian of the work in the district.
ARTICLE V.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
Section i. Each constituent lodge shall choose the following
elective officers (including Trustees, if provided for in its By-Laws)
annually by ballot at the regular meeting next preceding the anni-
versary of St. John the Evangelist, namely:	A Worshipful Master,
Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer and Secretary.
No member is entitled to a vote, nor can he be elected or ap-
pointed to any office, who is not clear on the books of the lodge.
A majority of all the votes cast shall be necessary to a choice, and
blanks shall not be counted as votes.
Sec. 2. Each lodge shall, within five days after the installation
of officers, transmit to the Grand Secretary or Grand Master a list,
duly certified under the seal of the lodge, of the names of the newly
elected and installed officers, with the dates of their installation and
the name and title of the installing officer, and also the postoffice
address of the Master and Secretary.
Sec. 3. In case any lodge shall fail to elect its officers as pre-
scribed in Section i of this article, it shall forthwith apply to the
Grand Master for a dispensation to hold an election as soon there-
after as may be practicable. Good cause being shown, the Grand
Master may grant such a dispensation.
Sec. 4. Neither the Master nor a Warden of a constituent lodge
can resign or dimit during his official term, except as provided in
Section 7 of this article, but the resignation of any other elected
officer may be accepted by the lodge, and. if desired, a dimit
granted. The vacancy shall be filled by special election, held under
authority of a dispensation from the Grand Master.
Sec. 5. Resignations of appointed officers may, for good cause,
be received and dimits granted. The Master shall appoint and in-
stall officers to fill the vacancies.
Sec. 7. In case of the death or removal from the Grand Juris-
diction of the Master or either of the Wardens, the lodge shall stateBY-LAWS.
57
the facts to the Grand Master, who may grant a dispensation for a
new election.
Sec. 8. Electioneering in any way for office is positively pro-
hibited.
ARTICLE VI.
ELIGIBILITY AND INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS.
Section i. No brother shall be eligible to the office of Master
in any chartered lodge unless he is an actual member thereof, nor
unless he has been duly elected and regularly installed as a Master
or Warden of some legally chartered lodge; provided, that in case
of an emergency the lodge may elect any member not so qualified,
but no brother so elected can be installed except by a dispensation
from the Grand Master, applied for by a duly authenticated peti-
tion of the lodge, signed by the Master.
Sec. 2. Any member of a lodge qualified to vote in the elec-
tion of officers shall be eligible to any office in the lodge, except
as provided in Section I of this article.
Sec. 3. No member shall hold more than one office in the lodge
at the same time.
Sec. 4. The Worshipful Master of each lodge must be installed
on or before St. John’s day, in December of each year; provided,
that if a lodge fails to do so for unavoidable reasons, it may peti-
tion the Grand Master for a dispensation to install its Worshipful
Master after that date. A Worshipful Master may install the subor-
dinate officers at his convenience, without dispensation therefor.
Sec. 5. Officers of a constituent lodge must be installed as often
as re-elected.
Sec. 6. No officer of a lodge can be legally installed by proxy.
Sec. 7. No brother is Masonically qualified to install the offi-
cers of a lodge except one who has been duly elected and installed
as Master of a chartered lodge working under the jurisdiction of
some recognized Grand Lodge, and who is, at the time of exer-
cising such official authority, an actual member in good standing of
some regular lodge.
ARTICLE VII.
THE MASTER.
Section 1. The Master shall have power—
First—To convene his lodge in special meeting whenever he may
deem it proper and necessary.
Second—To preside at every meeting of his lodge.58
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
Third—To cause to be issued all notices and summonses which
may be required.
Fourth—To appoint all non-elective officers of his lodge.
Fifth—To appoint all committees.
Sixth—To fill a vacancy in any office for the term of any meet-
ing of his lodge, or as provided in Section 6, Article V, Part II, of
these By-Laws.
Seventh—To discharge all the executive functions of his lodge.
Eighth—To perform such other acts as by ancient usage per-
tain to his office, which shall not contravene any of the provisions of
the Constitution, Laws and Regulations of this Grand Lodge or
order of the Grand Master.
Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the Master—
First—To convene his lodge in stated meeting at the time pre-
scribed in these By-Laws and the By-Laws of the lodge.
Second—To superintend the official acts of the officers of his
lodge, see that their respective duties are properly performed, and
to rule and govern his lodge.
Third—To carefully guard against any infraction of the By-
Laws of his lodge, the written laws of the Grand Lodge, or the
general regulations of Masonry, and suffer no departure therefrom
upon the plea of convenience or expediency, except in cases of
emergency, and then only by dispensation of the Grand Master.
Fourth—To see that proper returns of work, etc., are annually
transmitted to the Grand Secretary, and that the Grand Lodge dues
are promptly paid.
Fifth—To cause summons to issue only when the welfare of
Masonry, the interests of the lodge or the rights of a brother de-
mand, and to take special care that disobedience of a duly served
summons be promptly followed by discipline, unless the offender
render excuse for the offense satisfactory to the lodge.
Sixth—To cause all necessary notices to be issued in the pre-
scribed manner and form.
Seventh—7T0 permit no appeal from his decision to be made to
the. lodge.
Eighth—To have the printed proceedings of the Grand Lodge
read in open lodge, that no brother can plead ignorance of the acts
of the Grand Lodge.BY-LAWS.
59
ARTICLE VIII.
THE WARDENS.
Section I. It shall be the duty of the Waldens to assist the
Master in the discharge of his duties, and to perform such other
acts as Masonic usage has assigned to their respective stations.
Sec. 2. In the absence of the Master, the duties of his office
shall be discharged by the Senior Warden, and if both are absent,
by the Junior Warden.
Sec. 3. No Warden can call a special meeting of the lodge
while the Master is within the territorial jurisdiction thereof and
able to authorize a call.
ARTICLE IX.
THE TREASURER.
Section 1. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer—
First—To receive and safely keep all moneys or property of
every kind which shall be placed in his hands by the Secretary, or
by order of the lodge, and to give proper receipts therefor.
Second—To disburse or transfer the same, or any part thereof,
upon the order of the Master, with the consent of the lodge, duly
attested by the Secretary.
Third—To keep a book or books which shall contain a cor-
rect statement of his receipts and disbursements on account of the
lodge.
Fourth—To make to the lodge, as its By-Laws may require,
annual or semi-annual reports of its receipts, disbursements and
financial condition.
Fifth—To perform such other duties appertaining to his office
as the By-Laws may require or the lodge at any time may direct.
Sixth—The lodge may require of him a bond, conditioned that
he will faithfully discharge the duties of his office, and will deliver,
on demand of the Master or the lodge, or his successor in office,
all moneys remaining on hand, together with all books, papers,
vouchers, securities, etc., in his possession and belonging to the
lodge. Said bond may be furnished by some assurance company,
the cost of which shall be paid out of the funds of the lodge.
ARTICLE X.
THE SECRETARY.	•
Section 1. It shall be the duty of the Secretary, under the di-
rection of the Master—
First—To record all the proceedings of the lodge proper to be
written, including its current receipts and disbursements, and all60
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
financial reports, and to submit such record to the lodge at its
next stated meeting for approval or correction, and to the Master
for his signature.
Second—To prepare and to transmit a copy of such record, or
any part thereof, to the Grand Lodge or the Grand Master, when
required.
Third—To collect and receive all moneys due the lodge, giving
receipt therefor, and to pay the same promptly to the Treasurer,
taking his receipt for the same.
Fourth—To make to the lodge annually or semi-annually, or
otherwise, as its By-Laws may direct, a report of its work, of the
condition of its accounts with its officers and members, and of all
other matters relating to its finances or business which may be
under his care.
Fifth—To keep a cash-book and ledger, and deliver the same,
with all other books and records appertaining to the office, to his
successor.
Sixth—To keep the seal of the lodge, and to affix the same,
with his attestation, to all papers issued under its authority, or in
obedience to the requirements of the Constitution and Laws of the
Grand Lodge.	»
Seventh—He shall preserve the By-Laws of the lodge, the book
on Constitutions and Regulations of the Grand Lodge, its pub-
lished proceedings and ceremonials.
Eighth—He shall notify any member of the lodge who may
have been suspended, expelled or reinstated, immediately after the
action of the lodge.
Ninth—He shall study the rules and forms prescribed by the
Grand Lodge, and keep the records, books and other papers in
accordance therewith.
Tenth—The lodge may require of him a bond conditioned in
the manner and form as the bond of the Treasurer.
ARTICLE XI.
OTHER OFFICERS.
Section I.' All other officers of a lodge shall perform such du-
ties therein as may be directed by the Master and Wardens, not
conflicting with the By-Laws of the lodge, the Laws and Regula-
tions of the Grand Lodge, and the usages and general regulations
of Masonry.BY-LAWS.
61
ARTICLE XII.
MEMBERSHIP.
Section i. Membership in a lodge may be acquired—
First—By having regularly received the degree of Master Mason
therein.
Second—By a Master Mason petitioning a lodge for affiliation,
and upon due election to membership.
Third—By having been named in a charter issued to a lodge
under dispensation.
Sec. 2. No Mason shall be an actual member of more than one
chartered lodge at the same time; and no title of honorary mem-
bership as -distinguished from actual membership shall be recog-
nized by any lodge.
Sec. 3. Membership in a constituent lodge can only be termi-
nated—
■ First—By dissolution of the lodge.
Second—By voluntary formal dimission therefrom.
Third—By becoming a charter member of a new lodge.
Fourth—By death, suspension or expulsion.
Sec. 4. It is the duty of every Master Mason to be a member
of some lodge.
ARTICLE XIII.
LODGE JURISDICTION.
Section 1. Every constituent lodge shall have certain personal
and territorial jurisdiction.
Sec. 2. The personal jurisdiction of a lodge shall extend over
all its members (except its Master, or the Grand Master, if a
member thereof), wherever they may reside; and over its unfin-
ished work, wherever dispersed.
Sec. 3. The territorial jurisdiction of a lodge extends in each
direction to such boundary line as shall be equi distant between
it and the nearest lodge in that direction, but in no case beyond
the boundaries of this Grand Jurisdiction. Every lodge has ex-
clusive original jurisdiction over all candidates for the mysteries
of Masonry residing in its territory, and the exercise of penal powers
over all Masons, unaffiliated as well as affiliated, within its terri-
torial jurisdiction, for any violation of moral or Masonic law; pro-
vided, that when two or more lodges are located in the same
village, town or city, they shall have concurrent territorial juris-
diction and concurrent original jurisdiction over candidates, as
well as Masons not members of such lodges.62
GRAND DODGE OF OREGON.
Sec. 4. By the Masonic residence of an applicant is meant a
permanent, settled domicile or fixed abode from choice, and as a
rule is identical with his legal residence.
ARTICLE XIV.
THE QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATES.
Section 1. Every candidate applying for the degrees of Ma
sonry must—
First—Be a man, free born.
Second—Have the senses of a man.
Third—Be a believer in the Grand Architect of the Universe.
Fourth—Be of mental worth, and have a record of a moral and
upright life.
Fifth—Be able to pay the fees in cash from his own funds.
Sixth—Possess physical ability to earn a livelihood, and to con-
form substantially to the forms and ceremonies of Masonry, and
be instructed and give instruction in its mysteries.
Sec. 2. No lodge shall receive a petition from an applicant for
the degrees in Masonry who is less than twenty-one years of age at
the time the petition is received, or unless the applicant has re-
sided within the jurisdiction of the lodge applied for one year
immediately preceding the presentation of the petition; provided,
that a person belonging to the army or navy o? the United States
not so qualified by residence for one year may present a petition
subject to all the terms of the title of “Prohibitions,” Section 5,
Article XII, Constitution.
ARTICLE XV.
PETITIONS.
Section 1. All petitions for the degrees or for membership by
affiliation, or for advancement, shall be made in writing and signed
by the applicant with his own hand, with his given name or names
in full; shall state his place of nativity and present residence, age
and occupation, and shall be accompanied by the fees prescribed
by the By-Laws. The petition shall state whether the applicant
has ever petitioned and been rejected. Every petition shall be rec-
ommended in writing by two members of the lodge, and be pre-
sented at a stated meeting, and entered in substance upon the
records; provided, that no lodge shall receive the petition of any
applicant who is at the time a proprietor of or a vendor at an
establishment where malt or spirituous liquors are sold as a bev-
erage.BY-LA. WS.
63
Sec. 2. Every petition for the degrees shall be referred to a
Committee on Investigation, consisting of three members of the
lodge, who shall diligently inquire into the moral, mental and
physical qualifications of the applicant, and whether he has been an
actual resident within the jurisdiction of the lodge for one year
immediately preceding the presentation of his petition.
The Committee on Investigation shall make a written report,
and the proceedings thereon shall be as provided in the title of
“Prohibitions,’" Section 5, Article XII, Constitution.
No member of the Committee on Investigation shall ask the
applicant any questions relative to his petition, nor shall any mem-
ber of the lodge disclose to any profane the name of any member
of a Committee on Investigation. No one may demand from the
Committee or any member thereof the reasons for the report and
conclusions of the committee, or the facts on which the same were
based. Members of a lodge who recommend the applicant cannot
be appointed on the Investigating Committee.
Sec. 3. No ballot shall be taken upon any petition for the de-
grees or for affiliation in less period than one lunar month from
the time the same is referred to the Committee on Investigation.
Sec. 4. A petition from an Entered Apprentice or Fellow Craft
Mason for advancement shall state the name, number and location
of the lodge in which he received such degrees, and the name of
the Grand. Lodge under which such lodge is or was working.
Such petition shall be accompanied by a duly authenticated certifi-
cate or waiver of jurisdiction from the lodge in which the applicant
has received such degrees; provided, that no lodge can receive
such a petition unless the applicant has resided within its juris-
diction one year immediately preceding the presentation of the pe-
tition.
Sec. 5. All petitions for membership by affiliation shall state
the name, number and location of the lodge of which the applicant
was last a member, and the name of the Grand Lodge under which
such lodge is or was working; also the name of the lodge in which
he received the Entered Apprentice degree. Such petition shall
be accompanied by a dimit or other satisfactory evidence that the
petitioner has lawfully withdrawn from the lodge of which he was
last a member, or if such membership has been lost in any other
manner, or if the applicant hails from a jurisdiction where no dimits
are issued to members he must submit other satisfactory evidence64
GRAND DODGE OF OREGON.
of his standing in the fraternity. A petition for affiliation or for
advancement must be proceeded with in all particulars as a peti-
tion for the degrees.
Sec. 6. A non-affiliated Master Mason residing in the State of
Oregon may petition for affiliation in any lodge in this Grand
Jurisdiction.
Sec. 7. Whenever a lodge shall grant permission to any other
lodge to receive a petition of a person residing within its juris-
diction, or of an Entered Apprentice or Fellow Craft, it shall thereby
be held to have permanently relinquished the same, and the lodge
receiving such permission shall thereby acquire lawful jurisdiction;
provided, that all such petitions shall be subject to the laws gov-
erning original petitions for the degrees, as defined in Section 1 ot
this article.
Sec. 8. A lodge may, at the duly authenticated request of a
sister lodge of this or any other Grand Jurisdiction, confer a de-
gree or degrees upon a candidate of the requesting lodge, and in
such case, the lodge can have no jurisdiction over the candidate it
has conferred a degree or degrees upon; it has simply performed
an act of Masonic courtesy.
Sec. 9. Proceedings upon petitions are regulated by the title
“Of Prohibitions,” Section 5, Article XII, Constitution.
Sec. 10. The petition of a brother Master Mason applying for
membership may be withdrawn or returned prior to the committee’s
report, upon written application therefor and the concurrence of a
majority of the members present at a stated meeting of the lodge.
ARTICLE XVI.
BALLOTING.
Section 1. No ballot shall be taken upon a petition for any
degree or for affiliation at any other than a stated meeting.
Sec. 2. There shall be but one ballot for the three degrees,
which must be free and secret, and in balloting for the degrees or
for affiliation, if more than one black ball appear, the balloting
shall cease and the candidate shall be declared rejected. Further
regulations on the subject are contained in the title “Of Prohibi-
tions,” Section 5, Article XII, Constitution.
Sec. 3. In balloting upon petitions for the degrees or for affilia-
tion, each petition shall be acted upon separately, and every mem-
ber of the lodge present must vote, and any Master Mason in good
standing, being a member of a lodge in this jurisdiction, may vote
on a petition for the degrees.BY-LAWS.
65
Sec. 4. After the ballot has been taken as provided by law,
and duly examined, first by the Wardens, and finally by the Mas-
ter, the result shall in all cases be final and conclusive, and shall
be then and there so declared by the Master. The result only—
viz., “elected” or “rejected”—shall be made known and recorded,
and such result cannot be set aside by the lodge, the Master, the
Grand Master or the Grand Lodge.
Sec. 5. Any brother whose application for affiliation has been
rejected may renew his application to the same, or to any other
lodge in this Grand Jurisdiction, and is not limited as to time or
restricted in his choice of location of the lodge. The rejection of
the petition of a brother for affiliation shall not affect his Masonic
standing.
Sec. 6. Any Entered Apprentice or Fellow Craft whose petition
for advancement has been rejected may renew his petition at any
time to the lodge which rejected him, or to any other lodge, after
residing within its jurisdiction one year, under the conditions pro-
vided in Section 2, Article XII, Constitution.
Sec. 7. When any candidate is declared rejected, notice thereof
shall be communicated to him by the Secretary forthwith, and the
fee shall be returned to him with the communication.
Sec. 8. Any Mason shall be deemed guilty of an offense against
Masonry, and be subject to Masonic discipline, who shall know-
ingly recommend for initiation a candidate who has been rejected
by di lodge within this jurisdiction within six months from the date
of such rejection, and any candidate who may by false represen-
tation or deception procure or receive either of the degrees shall be
deemed guilty of an offense against Masonry and be subject to
trial and punishment therefor as the lodge may determine.
ARTICLE XVII.
OBJECTIONS.
Section i. Any member of a lodge in this Grand Jurisdiction
may raise well-grounded objections to the initiation or advance-
ment of candidates in any lodge.
Sec. 2. If any Master Mason in good standing, being a member
of a lodge in this jurisdiction, shall express, verbally or in writing,
to the Master of a lodge any objection to the initiation of a can-
didate in the lodge governed by such Master, even after such can-
didate shall have been elected, such objection shall be respected, nor
shall the objector’s reasons be demanded by the Master or the
566
GRAND DODGE OF OREGON.
lodge, or his name be made known; but the fact that objection is
made shall be entered upon record, and the objection shall stand
as a bar against the candidate for the term of six months, unless
sooner withdrawn by the objector. The fee accompanything the
petition shall in such case be immediately returned to the candidate.
If the objection be not withdrawn, the candidate may again peti-
tion for the degrees as provided in the preceding article and in
the Constitution.
Sec. 3. Whenever a Master Mason in good standing, being a
member of a lodge in this Grand Jurisdiction, shall express to the
Master of a lodge any objection to the advancement of a brother
in the lodge governed by such Master to the second or third de-
gree, the reasons therefor must be made known to the lodge or the
Master, and the matter shall be referred to a committee of three
members. The Master shall appoint such committee, and it shall
have power and it is its duty to inquire into such reasons and re-
port thereon to the lodge as soon as possible. Upon the reception
of the report of the committee, the lodge shall proceed to consider
the same. If the reasons assigned be, in the opinion and judg-
ment of a majority of the members of the lodge present, insufficient,
the lodge may confer the degree in the same manner it would
have proceeded if the objection had not been made; but if the
reasons assigned shall be deemed sufficient to stay the degree, the
candidate shall be entitled to a trial upon the objections alleged.
If upon such trial the objections are sustained, the candidate shall
be subject to such penalty as may be imposed, but if the objections
are not sustained, the candidate shall be entitled to receive the
degree.
Sec. 4. No candidate whose advancement is stayed by personal
objections shall be recorded or published as rejected, and the
lodges are not required to report such stay to the Grand Secretary.
ARTICLE XVIII.
FEES.
Section 1. No lodge shall charge any fee for affiliation. The
fees for degrees shall not be less than the minimum fixed in Section
5, Article XII, Constitution.
Sec. 2. A lodge may retain the fee of a candidate elected to
receive the degrees if he does not present himself for initiation
within twelve months after election.BY-LAWS.
67
Sec. 3. A lodge shall drop from its roll any Entered Apprentice
or Fellow Craft who does not present himself for advancement
within a period of two years.
Sec. 4. Any brother thus dropped may be reinstated upon his
petition therefor. The petition in such a case shall conform to the
requirements for a petition for affiliation so far as the same are
applicable, and shall be received, considered and disposed of by the
lodge in the same manner it would dispose of an application for
affiliation. The lodge may grant waiver of jurisdiction to one so
reinstated.
ARTICLE XIX.
VISITOR—VISITING.
Section 1. It is the privilege of every Master Mason in good
standing to visit a lodge, subject, however, to the right of the
lodge, or any member thereof, to object to his admission as a
visitor.
Sec. 2. No visitor shall be admitted to any lodge under this
jurisdiction unless lawfully vouched for as a Master Mason in
good standing. Documentary evidence alone shall not be sufficient
to justify avouchment. In addition to strict trial and due examina-
tion of his knowledge of Masonry, every lodge or committee shall
require a strange visitor to affirm that the lodge of which he is or
was formerly a member is working under and by virtue of a charter
or dispensation issued by a Grand Lodge, or Grand Master recog-
nized by this Grand Lodge as having jurisdiction over the country,
state, province or territory in which such lodge may be situated.
ARTICLE XX.
DIMITS.
Section 1. All applications for dimits shall be made in person
in open lodge, or by written application presented at a regular
meeting of the lodge, when, if the applicant’s dues are paid and
no charges are pending against him, a dimit shall be granted.
Sec. 2. A dimit shall date from the lodge record when the
same was granted, and membership ceases from and after that
hour. The Brother so dimitted shall be entitled to a certificate,
but should the Secretary neglect to furnish it, or the brother refuses
to receive the same, such neglect or refusal shall not in any manner
invalidate the joint action of the applicant and the lodge.
Sec. 3. If any brother shall lose the certificate of his dimission,
the Secretary of the lodge shall, upon request and satisfactory proof68
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
of such loss, furnish him another certificate, with the original date,
and the fact of reissuance, which shall be entered upon the record.
Sec. 4. Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts shall not re-
ceive dimits; but a lodgp may grant them a certificate or waiver of
jurisdiction setting forth their status in the lodge.
ARTICLE XXI.
NON-AFFILIATED MASONS.
Section 1. It is contrary to the spirit and precepts of the Ma-
sonic fraternity for a non-affiliated brother to reside within this
Grand Jurisdiction without making an effort to become a mem-
ber of a lodge.
Sec. 2. All non-affiliated Masons in this Grand Jurisdiction shall
have the privilege of visiting lodges for a period of six months;
but such non-affiliates shall petition some lodge within thirty days
thereafter for membership, and if rejected shall contribute to some
chartered lodge in this Grand Jurisdiction its regular dues, and in
case of non-compliance shall be debarred from all Masonic rights
and privileges, as follows:
First-—They shall not be allowed to visit any lodge.
Second—They shall not be allowed to appear in any Masonic
procession.	*
Third—They shall not be entitled to Masonic charity.
Fourth^They shall not be entitled to Masonic burial.
This section shall be printed on the back of each dimit granted
in this jurisdiction.
Sec. 3. Non-affiliated Masons shall be subject to the discipline
of the lodge in whose jurisdiction they may reside for any viola-
tion of moral or Masonic law.
ARTICLE XXII.
SPECIAL DISPENSATIONS.
Section 1. All applications to the Grand Master for dispensa-
tions for any purpose shall emanate from a lodge at a stated
meeting, and be concurred in by a majority vote of the members
present at such meeting; and such application shall set forth fully
and clearly the emergency, under the seal of the lodge, and be
signed by the Master and Secretary.
Sec. 2. In case of special emergency, where the provision of
the preceding section cannot be complied with, application for a
dispensation may emanate from the Master.BY-LAWS.
69
Sec. 3. The fee for a dispensation shall accompany the peti-
tion therefor, and shall be sent to the Grand Secretary.
Sec. 4. Every dispensation shall be entered upon the records of
the lodge, and prompt report made to the Grand Master of the
action taken by authority thereof.
ARTICLE XXIII.
DISSOLUTION OF LODGES.
Section 1. A lodge may be dissolved—
First—By the voluntary surrendering of its charter.
Second—By a revocation of its charter by the Grand Lodge.
Sec. 2. The charter of a lodge may be surrendered, if the propo-
sition be presented at a stated meeting thereof, and the same be
acted upon at a subsequent stated meeting, of which all the mem-
bers whose residence is known shall have due and timely notice;
but no charter can be surrendered as long as twelve Master Ma-
sons, members of the lodge, desire to continue work under it, in
accordance with the laws of Masonry and the Laws and Regula-
tions of this Grand Lodge.
Sec. 3. The charter of a lodge may be revoked or suspended—
First—For disobedience of any provision of the Constitution,
Laws or Regulations of the Grand Lodge.
Second—For violation or neglect of the generally recognized
usages of the Craft.
Third—For disregard of the lawful authority of the Grand Mas-
ter.
Fourth—For a failure to meet during a period of six successive
months.
Fifth—For a failure to make returns or pay its dues to the Grand
Lodge for two successive years.
Sec. 4. Upon the revocation or suspension of the charter of any
lodge, or if from any other cause a lodge shall become dormant, it
shall be the duty of the last Master, Treasurer and Secretary there-
of to surrender to-the Grand Secretary (subject to the orders of the
Grand Master), the warrant, books, papers, jewels, furniture, mon-
eys, or other property belonging to said lodge, within two months
from the time of such revocation, suspension, or becoming dor-
mant, and every member of a lodge who shall refuse to make such
surrender, or who shall, by vote or otherwise, make any other dis-
position of said effects than as herein designated, shall be liable
to Masonic discipline for violating the laws and regulations of the70
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
Grand Lodge. All moneys accruing as herein prescribed shall be
placed in the funds of the Grand Lodge.
Sec. 5. If at any time it shall be found necessary to suspend or
revoke the warrant or charter of any lodge under this jurisdiction,
for irregular or un-Masonic conduct, the members of such lodge
implicated in such conduct shall be subject to discipline by the
lodge acquiring jurisdiction, under the direction of the Grand Lodge
or Grand Master.
Sec. 6. Upon the dissolution of a lodge for any cause, its mem-
bers, who are not subject to the provisions of the last preceding
section, upon payment of any back dues to the Grand Secretary,
shall be entitled to a certificate from that officer, setting forth their
Masonic standing, which certificate shall be recognized in this juris-
diction in lieu of a regular dimit.
Sec. 7. Whenever any lodge shall cease to work for six months,
the next nearest lodge or lodges, upon giving notice to the Grand
Secretary of their intention so to do, may exercise jurisdiction over
the territory, and act upon petitions from citizens residing therein,
unless cause for such cessation shall be presented to and be deemed
satisfactory by the Grand Lodge or the Grand Master.
Sec. 8. When a lodge has taken action in any matter, and has
afterwards ceased to exist, any further action required or authorized
by law shall be performed by the lodge acquiring jurisdiction.
Sec. g. Any Mason who shall be present at or assist in the work
of a lodge, knowing its charter or warrant to have been suspended
or revoked, shall be liable to Masonic discipline and punishment.
Sec. to. When any charter shall be declared vacated by the
Grand Lodge, it shall be erased from the register, and its number
shall not be again used upon a charter in this jurisdiction, unless
the charter is restored by the Grand Lodge.
ARTICLE XXIV.
CONSOLIDATION OF LODGES.
Section i. When two or more lodges desire to consolidate as
one, they shall proceed as follows: The question of such consoli-
dation shall be presented in each lodge at a stated meeting thereof;
the Master shall then announce that the question will be for action
by the lodge at the next stated meeting, it shall then be the duty
of the Secretary to notify each member of the lodge of the ques-
tion, and the time when action will be taken thereon.BY-LAWS
71
Sec. 2. At the stated meeting to which the members are invited
to appear, the Master shall submit the question: “Shall the lodges
be consolidated as proposed?” If two-thirds of the members pres-
ent vote “Yes,” then the vote of the lodge shall be recorded in
favor of consolidation. If less than two-thirds vote “Yes,” the
vote shall be recorded against consolidation. The vote in such
cases shall be by ballot.
Sec. 3. If the vote in each lodge is in favor of consolidation,
then such lodges are consolidated, and shall constitute but one
lodge. In such case, the property and effects of the several lodges
become the property of the lodges consolidated. There shall be
no consolidation unless all the lodges vote therefor.
Sec. 4. The number of the consolidated lodge shall be that of
the oldest lodge consolidated, and such name as may be selected by
the consolidated lodge.
Sec. 5. Every proposition for consolidation shall state the pro-
posed location of the lodge if consolidated.
Sec. 6. The fact of the consolidation shall not constitute any
particular officers the officers of the lodge as consolidated, but all
the offices thereof shall be declared vacant except that of Master
of the senior lodge consolidated (considering the date of the char-
ter), who shall be Master of the consolidated lodge until a suc-
cessor shall be elected and installed.
Sec. 7. In case of the consolidation of lodges, the stated meet-
ings of the lodge as consolidated shall be at the time fixed for the
stated meetings of the lodge consolidated having the oldest char-
ter, but such time may be changed at the pleasure of the consoli-
dated lodge.
*
Sec. 8. In case of the consolidation of lodges, there shall be
an election for officers thereof, including that of Master, at the
first stated meeting thereof, and the officers shall be installed at
once, or not later than the next stated meeting. The term of such
officers shall be to the next annual election, as provided by law.
Sec. 9. When any consolidation shall have been effected and
the Grand Lodge or the Grand Master officially informed of the
same, a new special charter shall be issued without fee, containing
the names of the new officers and bearing the number of the oldest
lodge consolidated, and such name as may have been selected by
the consolidated lodge.72
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
ARTICLE XXV.
CHARTER.
Section i. The charter of a lodge must always be in the lodge-
room when the lodge is open and at work.
Sec. 2. Whenever the charter of a lodge shall be destroyed,
stolen, or surreptitiously taken and detained, it shall be the duty
of the Grand Lodge or Grand Master to cause a duplicate charter
to issue, without fee, bearing the original name and number, to-
gether with the names of the original Grand Officers and charter
members, supplemented with the cause of its issue, and signed by
the Grand Master and Grand Secretary, and attested by the seal of
the Grand Lodge.
Sec. 3. Whenever the charter of a lodge shall become so defaced
or illegible as to be unfit for use, the Grand Lodge or Grand Mas-
ter may, upon satisfactory proof of such condition, and the pay-
ment of $5.00 into the Grand Lodge treasury, cause a new charter
to issue in the manner and form provided in the last preceding
section.
ARTICLE XXVI.
SUMMONS.
Section 1. Every summons issued by a chartered lodge shall
be written or printed, attested by the seal of the lodge, and signed
by the Master and Secretary; and shall be served either personally
or by registered mail; no other matter than the requisition to
attend a meeting of the lodge need be inserted.
Sec. 2. Every Mason shall faithfully obey a summons issued
by a lodge and duly served upon him, if within his power; and
for a failure so to do shall be liable to discipline in the manner pro-
vided by law, unless excused for reasons satisfactory to a majority
of>the members present at a stated meeting of the lodge.
Sec. 3. The Master of every lodge shall require due return
to be made upon a summons of the service thereof.
Sec. 4. No general summons shall be issued except for pur-
poses of importance to the lodge or Masonry.
ARTICLE XXVII.
NOTICE.
Section 1. Whenever a lodge receives a petition from an appli-
cant for the degrees or for affiliation, the Secretary shall, the fol-
lowing day thereafter, copy in a book the full name, age, occupa-
tion, place of nativity, and residence of the applicant, and theBY-LAWS.
73
names of the investigating committee, which book shall lie open in
the Tyler’s room at each meeting of the lodge for the inspection
of the brethren: Provided, That when two or more lodges meet
in the same hall or room, but one such book may be kept by all
the lodges.
Sec. 2. All notices sent to members to attend lodge meetings,
or any other document or paper designed for Masonic use, ema-
nating from a lodge, to be valid, shall have an impression of its
seal and be attested by the Secretary, and must be transmitted to
the member or members in a sealed envelope.
Sec. 3. No lodge is permitted to use postal cards for any notice
of a Masonic nature, except for invitations to Masonic festivals.
ARTICLE XXVIII.
APPEALS.
Section 1. Any appeal by a member of a lodge to the Grand
Lodge from a decision of its Master shall be made in open lodge,
state the facts of the case, be duly authenticated and transmitted
by the Secretary to the Grand Secretary at least ten days before
the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge.
Sec. 2. A member of a lodge cannot appeal from the decision
of the Master to the lodge. Only the Grand Master or the Grand
Lodge can be appealed to.
ARTICLE XXIX.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
Section 1. No Mason under this jurisdiction shall appear in
any public procession, nor in any private or public assembly, with
Masonic clothing, unless under the auspices of some regular lodge;
nor shall any lodge take part in any public procession, except to
perform or assist in some ceremony recognized as strictly Masonic.
Sec. 2. No Mason shall give the Masonic name to any business
concern, association or calling organized or prosecuted for profit
or for a livelihood. No Mason shall use or be a party to the
using of the Masonic name as a part of the style and title or des-
ignation of any business firm, concern or company, association or
enterprise, unless such business shall be the printing or publishing
of Masonic books, papers or periodicals, or the manufacture and
sale of Masonic supplies.
Sec. 3. The use of Masonic emblems and devices on business
cards or signs, or by way of advertisement, except for legitimate
Masonic purposes, is strictly forbidden.74
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
Sec. 4. All lodges, and the members thereof, are strictly for-
bidden to give, or attempt to give, the aid or countenance of Ma-
sonry, in organized or individual form, to any lottery or gift
enterprise.
Sec. 5- No lodge shall loan money to a member thereof on a
promissory note or any other kind of security.
Sec. 6. Any Master Mason in good standing, and a member
of a lodge in this jurisdiction, is entitled to a diploma, duly authen-
ticated by its Master, Wardens and Secretary, under the seal of
the lodge, and by the Grand Secretary under the seal of the Grand
Lodge.
Sec. 7. Masonic crimes, trials and punishments for the same,
restorations and appeals resulting therefrom, shall be governed by
the Trial Code adonted by this Grand Lodge.
Sec. 8. "The Charges of a Freemason,” herewith published, this
Grand Lodge does hereby recognize and adopt as the funda-
mental laws, rules and regulations for the government of all Masons,
and declares that they should be frequently read and perused by
Masters, and all other Craftsmen, as well within as without lodges,
to the end that none may be ignorant of the excellent principles and
precepts they inculcate.
ARTICLE XXX.
FUNERALS.
Section I. No Mason shall be buried with Masonic honors un-
less he was at the time of his death a Master Mason in good
standing.
Sec. 2. All Masonic burials must be by the Grand Lodge or a
lodge of Master Masons, and no Entered Apprentice or Fellow
Craft shall be admitted in the procession.
Sec. 3. The burial of a deceased brother is Masonic work; it is
therefore necessary that during the whole service the lodge be "at
labor.”
Sec. 4. When the lodge has formed the circle around the grave,
none can be admitted within it save the Fraternity, the clergy, the
mourners and pall-bearers, who are not Masons.
Sec. 5. A lodge, because of the antiquity and dignity of the
Masonic institution, shall claim precedence over other societies
when they participate in a funeral. In such cases it is best to have
some amicable understanding. If the preference is for some otherBY-LAWS.
75
order, then the brothers should attend only as friends, not as
Masons.
Sec. 6. On funeral occasions white gloves and aprons with the
usual badge of mourning and the sprig of acacia shall be the only
regalia worn by Master Masons as such.
ARTICLE XXXI.
AMENDMENTS.
Section i. All resolutions, approved decisions and laws of this
Grand Lodge consistent with the provisions of the foregoing arti-
cles numbered from I to XXX, inclusive, are hereby declared to
be incorporated in and evidenced by said thirty articles, and all
resolutions and approved decisions heretofore passed and adopted
by the Grand Lodge inconsistent with the foregoing thirty articles
are hereby revoked and repealed.
Sec. 2. No amendment to these By-Laws shall be adopted ex-
cept as provided in Section 2, Article XV, Part I, of these By-Laws.THE TWENTYFIVE LANDMARKS
OF FREEMASONRY.
I.	The modes of recognition.
II.	The division of symbolic Masonry into three degrees.
III.	The legend of the third degree.
IV.	The government of the fraternity by a presiding officer
called a Grand Master, who is elected from the body of the Craft.
V.	The prerogative of the Grand Master to preside over every
assembly of the Craft, wheresoever and whensoever held.
VI.	The prerogative of the Grand Master to grand dispensa-
tion for conferring degrees at irregular times.
VII.	The prerogative of the Grand Master to grant dispensa-
tions for opening and holding lodges.
VIII.	The prerogative of the Grand Master to make Masons
at sight.
IX.	The necessity for Masons to congregate in lodges.
X.	The government of every lodge by a Master and two
Wardens.
XI.	The necessity that every lodge, when congregated, should
be duly tiled.
XII.	The right of every Mason to be represented in all gen-
eral meetings of the Craft, and to instruct his representatives.
XIII. The right of every Mason to appeal from the decision
of his brethren in lodge convened to the Grand Lodge or General
Assembly of Masons.
XIV.	The right of every Mason to visit and sit in every reg-
ular lodge.
XV.	That no visitor, not known to some brother present as a
Mason, can enter a lodge without undergoing an examination.
XVI.	That no lodge can interfere in the business or labor of
another lodge.
XVII.	That every Freemason is amenable to the laws and reg-
ulations of the Masonic jurisdiction in which he resides.LANDMARKS OF FREEMASONRY.
77
XVIII.	That every candidate for initiation must be a man,
free born, and of lawful age.
XIX.	That every Mason must believe in the existence of God
as the Grand Architect of the Universe.
XX.	That every Mason must believe in a resurrection to a
future life.
XXI.	That a book of the law of God must constitute an indis-
pensable part of the furniture of every lodge.
XXII.	That all men in the sight of God are equal, and meet
in the lodge on one common level.
XXIII.	That Freemasonry is a secret society, in possession of
secrets that cannot be divulged.
XXIV.	That Freemasonry consists of a speculative science
founded on an operative art.
XXV.	That the Landmarks of Masonry can never be changed.
These constitute the Landmarks, or, as they have sometimes
been called, “the body of Masonry,’" in which it is not in the
power of apy man, or body of men, to make the least innovation.ANCIENT CHARGES
Extracted from the Ancient Record of Lodges beyond the sea,
and of those in England, Scotland and Ireland, for the use of the
lodges in London. T° be read at the making of new brethren, or
when the Master shall order it.*
THE GENERAL HEADS, VIZ.:
I.	Of God and Religion.
II.	Of the Civil Magistrate, Supreme and Subordinate.
III.	Of lodges.
IV.	Of Masters, Wardens, Fellows and Apprentices.
V.	Of the Management of the Craft in working.
VI.	Of Behavior, viz.:
1.	In the Lodge while Constituted.
2.	After the Lodge is over and the Brethren not gone.
3.	When Brethren meet without Strangers, but not in a lodge.
4.	In Presence of Strangers not Masons.
5.	At Home and in the Neighborhood.
6.	Toward a Strange Brother.
I. CONCERNING GOD AND RELIGION.
A Mason is obliged, by his tenure, to obey the moral law, and
if he rightly understands the art, he will never be a stupid atheist
nor an irreligious libertine. But though in ancient times Masons
were charged in every country to be of the religion of that country
or nation, whatever it was, it is now thought more expedient only
to oblige them to that religion in which all men agree, leaving their
particular opinions to themselves; that is, to be good men and true,
or men of honor and honesty, by whatever denominations or per-
suasions they may be distinguished whereby Masonry becomes the
center of union, and the means of conciliating true friendship
among persons that must have remained at a perpetual distance.
" Note by the Editor.—These charges were prepared and presented to the
Grand Lodge of England in 1721 by Dr. Anderson and Dr. Desaguliers, and
having been approved by the Grand Lodge on the 25th of March, 1722, were
published in the first edition of the Book of Constitutions. They have always
been held in the highest veneration by the fraternity, as embodying the most
important points of the ancient written, as well as unwritten, law of Masonry.
[78]ANCIENT CHARGES.
79
II.	OF THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE, SUPREME AND
SUBORDINATE.
A Mason is a peaceable subject to the civil powers wherever he
resides or works, and is never to be concerned in plots and conspir-
acies against the peace and welfare of the nation, nor to behave
himself undutifully to inferior magistrates; for, as Masonry hath
always been injured by war, bloodshed and confusion, so ancient
kings and princes have been much disposed to encourage the
Craftsmen, because of their peaceableness and loyalty, whereby they
practically answered the cavils of their adversaries, and promoted
the honor of the Fraternity, who ever flourished in times of peace.
So that if a brother should be a rebel against the state, he is not to
be countenanced in his rebellion, however he may be pitied as an
unhappy man; and, if convicted of no other crime, though the loyal
brotherhood must and ought to disown his rebellion, and give no
umbrage or ground of political jealousy to the government for the
time, being, they cannot expel him from the lodge, and his relation
to it remains indefeasible.
III.	OF LODGES.
A lodge is a place where Masons assemble and work; hence that
assembly, or duly organized society of Masons, is called a lodge,
and every brother ought to belong to one, and to be subject to its
by-laws and the general regulations. It is either particular or gen-
eral, and will be best understood by attending it, and by the reg-
ulations of the General or Grand Lodge hereunto annexed. In
ancient times, no Master or Fellow could be absent from it, espe-
cially when warned to appear at it, without incurring a severe cen-
sure, until it appeared to the Master and Wardens that pure neces-
sity hindered him.
The persons admitted members of a lodge must be good and
true men, free born, and of mature and discreet age, no bond men,
no women, no immoral or scandalous men, but of good report.
IV.	OF MASTERS, WARDENS, FELLOWS AND
APPRENTICES.
All preferment among Masons is grounded upon real worth and
personal merit only; that so the lords may be well served, the
brethren not put to shame, nor the Royal Craft despised. There-
fore no Master or Warden is chosen by seniority, but for his
merit. It is impossible to describe these things in writing, and80
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
every brother must attend in his place, and learn them in a way-
peculiar to this Fraternity; only candidates may know that no
Master should take an Apprentice unless he has sufficient employ-
ment for him, and unless he be a perfect youth, having no maim
or defect in his body, that may render him incapable of learning
the art of serving his Master’s Lord, and of being made a Brother,
and then a Fellow Craft in due time, even after he has served such
a term of years as the custom of the country directs; and that he
should be descended of honest parents; that so, when otherwise
qualified, he may arrive at the honor of being the Warden, and then
the Master of the lodge, the Grand Warden, and at length the
Grand Master of all the lodges, according to his merit.
No brother can be a Warden until he has passed the part of a
Fellow Craft;, nor a Master until he has acted as a Warden; nor
Grand Warden until he has been Master of a lodge; nor Grand
Master unless he has been a Fellow Craft before his election, who
is also to be nobly born, or a gentleman of the best fashion,' or
some eminent scholar, or some curious architect, or other artist,
descended of honest parents, and who is of singular great merit in
the opinion of the lodges. And for the better, and easier, and more
honorable discharge of his office, the Grand Master has a power
to choose his own Deputy Grand Master, who must be then, or
must have been formerly, the Master of a particular lodge, and has
the privilege of acting whatever the Grand Master, his principal,
should act, unless the said principal be present, or interpose his
authority by a letter.
These rulers and governors, supreme and subordinate, of the
Ancient Lodge, are to be obeyed in their respective stations by all
the brethren, according to the old charges and regulations, with all
humility, reverence, love and alacrity.
V. OF THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CRAFT IN
WORKING.
All Masons shall work honestly on working days, that they
may live creditably on holy days; and the time appointed by the
law of the land, or confirmed by custom, shall be observed.
The most expert of the Fellow Craftsmen shall be chosen or
appointed the Master, or Overseer, of the lord’s work; who is to
be called Master by those that work under him. The Craftsmen
are to avoid all ill language, and to call each other by no disoblig-ANCIENT CHARGES.
81
ing name, but brother or fellow; and to behave themselves cour
teously within and without the lodge.
The Master, knowing himself to be able of cunning, shall under-
take the lord’s work as reasonably as possible, and truly dispend
his goods as if they were his own; nor to give more wages to any
brother or apprentice than he really may deserve.
Both the Master and the Masons receiving their wages justly
shall be faithful to the lord, and honestly finish their work, whether
task or journey; nor put the work to task that hath been accus-
tomed to journey.
None shall discover envy at the prosperity of a brother, nor
supplant him, or put him out of his work, if he be capable to finish
the same; for no man can finish another’s work so much to the
lord’s profit, unless he be thoroughly acquainted with the designs
and draughts of him that began it.
When a Fellow Craftsman is chosen Warden of the work under
the Master, he shall be true both to Master and Fellows, shall care-
fully oversee the work in the Master’s absence to the lord’s profit;
and his brethren shall obey him.
All Masons employed shall meekly receive their wages without
murmuring or mutiny, and not desert the Master till the work is
finished.
A younger brother shall be instructed in working, to prevent
spoiling the materials for want of judgment, and for increasing and
continuing of brotherly love.
All the tools used in working shall be aoproved by the Grand
Lodge.
No laborer shall be employed in the proper work of Masonry:
nor shall Freemasons work with those that are not free, without
an urgent necessity; nor shall they teach laborers and unaccepted
Masons, as they should teach a brother or fellow.
VI. OF BEHAVIOR, VIZ.:
1. IN THE LODGE WHILE CONSTITUTED.
You are not to hold private committees, or separate conversa-
tion, without leave from the Master, nor to talk of anything im-
pertinent or unseemly, nor interrupt the Master or Wardens, or
any brother speaking to the Master; nor behave yourself ludicrously
or jestingly while the lodge is engaged in what is serious and sol-
emn; nor use any unbecoming language upon any pretense what-
682
GRAND LODGE OF OREGON.
soever; but to pay due reverence to your Master, Wardens and
Fellows, and put them to worship.
If any complaint be brought, the brother found guilty shall
stand to the award and determination of the lodge, who are the
proper and competent judges of all such controversies (unless you
carry it by appeal to the Grand Lodge), and to whom they ought
to be referred, unless a lord’s work be hindered the meanwhile, in
which case a particular reference may be made; but you must never
go to law about what concerneth Masonry, without an absolute
necessity apparent to the lodge.
2.	BEHAVIOR AFTER THE LODGE IS OVER AND THE BRETHREN
NOT GONE.
You may enjoy yourselves with innocent mirth, treating one
another according to ability, but avoiding all excess, or forcing
any brother to eat or drink beyond his inclination, or hindering him
from going when his occasions call him, or doing or saying any-
thing offensive, or that may forbid an easy and free conversation;
for that would blast our harmony and defeat our laudable purposes.
Therefore no private piques or quarrels must be brought within the
door of the lodge, far less any quarrels about religion, or nations,
or state policy, we being only, as Masons, o| the catholic religion
above mentioned; we are also of all nations, tongues, kindreds and
languages, and are resolved against all politics, as what never yet
conduced to the welfare of the lodge nor ever will. This Charge
has been always strictly enjoined and observed; but especially ever
since the Reformation in Britain, or the dissent and secession of
these nations from the communion of Rome.
3.	BEHAVIOR WHEN BRETHREN MEET WITHOUT STRANGERS, BUT
NOT IN LODGE 'FORMED.
You are to salute one another in a courteous manner, as you
will be instructed, calling each other Brother, freely giving mutual
instruction as shall be thought expedient, without being overseen
or overheard, and without encroaching upon each other, or dero-
gating from that respect which is due to any brother, were he not
a Mason; for, though all Masons are as brethren upon the same
level, yet Masonry takes no honor from a man that he had before;
nay, rather it adds to his honor, especially if he has deserved well
of the brotherhood, who must give honor to whom it is due, and
avoid ill manners.ANCIENT CHARGES.
83
4 BEHAVIOR IN PRESENCE OF STRANGERS NOT MASONS.
You shall be cautious in your words and carriage, that the most
penetrating stranger shall not be able to discover or find out what
is not proper to be intimated; and sometimes you shall divert a
discourse,'and manage it prudently for the honor of the Wor-
shipful Fraternity.
5. BEHAVIOR AT HOME AND IN TOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
You are to act as becomes a moral and wise man; particularly
not to let your family, friends and neighbors know the concerns
of the lodge, etc., but wisely to consult your own honor, and that
of the Ancient Brotherhood, for reasons not to be mentioned here.
You must also consult your health by not continuing together too
late, or too long from home, after lodge hours are past; and by
avoiding of gluttony or drunkenness, that your families be not
neglected or injured, nor you disabled from working.
6. BEHAVIOR TOWARD A STRANGE BROTHER.
You are cautiously to examine him, in such a method as pru-
dence shall direct you, that you may not be imposed upon by an
ignorant false pretender, whom you are to reject with contempt
and derision, and beware of giving him any hints of knowledge.
But if you discover him to be a true and genuine brother, you
are to respect him accordingly; and if he is in want, you must
relieve him if you can, or else direct him how he may be relieved;
you must employ him some days, or else recommend him to be
employed. But you are not charged to do beyond your ability,
only to prefer a poor brother, that is a good man and true, before
any other poor people in the same circumstances.
Finally, all these Charges you are to observe, and also those
that shall be communicated to you in another way; cultivating
brotherly love, the foundation and cap-stone, the cement and
glory, of this Ancient Fraternity, avoiding all wrangling and quar-
reling, all slander and backbiting, nor permitting others to slander
any honest brother, but defending his character, and doing him all
good offices, as far as is consistent with your honor and safety, and
no further. And if any of them do you injury, you must apply
to your own or his lodge; and from thence you may appeal to the
Grand Lodge at the q'uarterly communication, and from thence to
the annual Grand Lodge, as has been the ancient laudable conduct
of our forefathers in every nation; never taking a legal course, but84
GRAND,LODGE OF OREGON.
when the case cannot be otherwise decided, and patiently listening
to the honest and friendly advice of Master and fellows when they
would prevent you going to law with strangers, or would excite you
to put a speedy period to all lawsuits, that so you may mind the
affair of Masonry with the more alacrity and success;'but with
respect to brothers or fellows at law, the Master and brethren
should kindly offer their mediation, which ought to be thankfully
submitted to by the contending brethren; and if that submission is
impracticable, they must, however, carry on their process or lawsuit
without wrath and rancor (not in the common way), saying or
doing nothing which may hinder brotherly love and good offices to
be renewed and continued; that all may see the benign influence of
Masonry, as all true Masons have done from the beginning of the
world, and will do to the end of time.
Amen. So mote it be.