IV. A Lodge has the right to be represented at all

communications of the Grand Lodge. I have already said, in a previous part of this work, that -it is a Landmark of the Order that every Mason has a right to be represented in all general meetings of the craft.* The origin of this right is very inti- mately connected with an interesting portion of the history of the institution. In former times, every Mason, even " the youngest Entered Apprentice," 'had a right to be present at the General Assembly of the craft, which was annually held. And even
* See ante, p. 27
UNDER WARRANTS OF CONSTITUTION. 6'Z\
as late as 1717, on the re-organization of the Grand Lodge of England, Ave are informed by Preston that the Grand Master summoned all the brethren to meet him and his Wardens in the quarterly communica- tions.* But soon after, it being found, I presume, that a continuance of such attendance would render the Grand Lodge an unwieldy body ;t and the rights of the fraternity having been securely guarded by the adoption of the thirty-nine Regulations, it was determined to limit the appearance of the brethren of each Lodge, at the quarterly communi- cations, to its Master and Wardens, so that the Grand Lodge became thenceforth a strictly repre- sentative hodj, composed of the first three officers of the subordinate Lodges. The inherent right and the positive duty of every Mason to be present at the General Assembly or Grand Lodge, was re- linquished, and a representation by Masters and Wardens was substituted in its place. A few mo- dern Grand Lodges have disfranchised the Wardens also, and confined the representation to the Masters only. But this is evidently an innovation, having no color of authority in the Old Regulations.
The right of instruction follows, as a legitimate
* " The Grand Master then entered on the duties of his office, appointed his Wardens, and commanded the brethren of the four Ledges to meet him and his Wardens quarterly in communication/' — Preston, p. 182.
f Thus Anderson tells us that, in 1721, when the number of the Lodges vrere much less than twenty, for that was only the number recorded on the registry of 1723, " Payne, Grand Master, observing the number of Lodges to increase, and that the General Assembly required more room, proposed the nezt assembly and feast to be held at Stationers' Hall, Ludgate Street which was agreed to." — Anderson, seconded., 1738, p. 112.
14*
d22 POWERS OF LODGES WORKING
corollary, from that of representation, for it is evi- dent that a Lodge whose instructions to its officers for their conduct in the Grand Lodge should not be obeyed, would not, in fact, be represented in that body. Accordingly the right of instruction is, for that reason, explicitly recognized in the General Regulations of 1721.*