II. The Master of a particular Lodge has the right and

authority of congregating the members of his Lodge into a Chapter at pleasure, upon any emergency or occurrence, as well as to appoint the time and place of their usual forming ; and in case of sickness, death, or necessary absence of the Master, the Senior Warden shall act as Master pro tempore,
* The new Regulations, some of which were adopted as early as 1723, were wanting in this ingredient, that they were not adopted according to the pro- visions of the 39th Regulation of 1721, viz : That they should be offered at the Grand Feast to the consideration of all the brethren, even the youngest Apprentice. Seeing this difficulty, the Grand Lodge, in 1723, adopted a new Regulation, declaring that " any Grand Lodge duly met has a power to amend or explain any of the printed Regulations in the Book of Constitutions, while they break not in upon the ancient rules of the Fraternity." But I doubt the constitutionality of any alteration, except at an Annual Commu- nication, which has now taken the place of and represents the Grand Feast. At all events, this has been the modern usage, and accordingly, many of these General Regulations have been altered or amended by successive Grand Lodges.
t That is, says the new Regulation, only when the Grand Wardens ara absent ; for the Grand Master cannot deprive them of their office without showing cause. Such, by universal consent, has been the subsequent inter pretation of this Regulation.
68 THE WRITTEN LAW.
if no Brother is present who has been Master of that Lodge before ; for in that case the absent Master's authority re- verts to the last Master then present; though he cannot act until the said Senior Warden has once congregated the Lodge, or in his absence the Junior Warden.*