CHAPTER VI

PROVINCIAL AND DISTRICT GRAND LODGES
ProvinciaL Grand Lodges emanate from the Provincial Grand Masters by virtue of the authority vested in them by their patents of appointment from the Grand Master. It therefore follows that Provincial Grand Lodges possess no other powers than those specified in the laws and regulations con- tained in the Book of Constitutions, and can- not meet but by the sanction of the Pro- vincial Grand Master or his Deputy.
In Colonies and foreign parts the terms District Grand Master and District Grand Lodge are used to distinguish such Officers and Lodges from Provincial Grand Masters and Provincial Grand Lodges in England.
A Provincial or District Grand Lodge consists of the Provincial or District Grand Master, the present and past Provincial or District Grand Officers, the Provincial or
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District Grand Stewards for the year, the Master, Past Masters, and Wardens of all Lodges in the Province or District, and Past Masters of any Lodge under the English Constitution, if members of Grand Lodge; but no Brother can be a member of a Pro- vincial or District Grand Lodge unless he is a subscribing member of a Lodge within such Province or District.
Provincial and District Grand Officers must all be resident within the Province or District, unless by Dispensation from the Grand Master.
District Grand Lodges fix stated times for their regular meetings, not exceeding four times in the year; but the District Grand Master may summon and hold a special District Grand Lodge, whenever, in his judgment, it may be necessary.
Provincial and District Grand Officers do not take any rank out of their Province or District, but are entitled to wear the clothing at all Masonic meetings.
Provincial or District Grand Stewards do not take any rank out of their Province or District, and when out of Office are no longer members of the Provincial or District Grand Lodge unless otherwise qualified, but are
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Freemasonry and its Etiquette
entitled to wear the clothing at all Masonic meetings.
When the Provincial or District Grand Master presides, the Provincial or District Grand Lodge is to be declared open in due form. Tf the Deputy or any other Brother preside, in form only. (B. of C., 100.)
In many Provinces and Districts the Pro- vincial or District Grand Lodge is invited by the different Lodges to hold its meetings one year in one locality and another year in another. In some Provinces two meetings are held in the year. The Lodge which is honoured by a visit is expected to make— under the direction of the Provincial Grand Secretary, assisted by the Prov. G. Director of Ceremonies—all arrangements for the proper reception and accommodation of the Provincial or District Grand Lodge, and for the Members of the various Lodges.
The meetings being as a rule larger tnan could be accommodated in an ordinary Lodge-room, a room is engaged in some large building, sufficiently capacious for the general meeting, and some other rooms (preferably in the same building); one for the reception of the Provincial or District Grand Master (who requires a room for his
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exclusive use); another for Provincial or District Grand Officers; and a third for the Brethren generally.
The Brethren, not having present or past Provincial or District rank, enter the Lodge- room. The Worshipful Master and the Wardens of the Lodge visited, occupy the three chairs, and open the Lodge in the three Degrees.
The Provincial Grand Director of Cere- monies marshals the Provincial or District Grand Officers in processional order, the Provincial or District Grand Master at the rear. Arrived at the door of the Lodge the report is given, the Provincial or District Grand Officers open out right and left, the Provincial or District Grand Master walks up the centre, the Senior Officers closing in; the others do the same, and in that inverted order they enter the Lodge. The Brethren all rise, and the Organist plays a march, or some appropriate composition, while the Provincial or District Grand Master and the Officers take their seats.
The Master of the Lodge and the Wardens back out of their respective places and hand
in their Provincial or District successors.
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The Provincial or District Grand Lodge is then opened in due form, or in form accord- ing to No. 100 of the Book of Constitutions. The ceremonies of opening and closing Pro- vincial or District Grand Lodge will be found on pp. 292 to 297.
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All Lodges held at a greater distance than ten miles from Freemasons’ Hall, London, are Provincial or District Lodges, and are under the immediate superintendence of the Provincial or District Grand Master within. whose jurisdiction they meet.
The Provincial or District Grand Master may preside in any Lodge he visits within his Province or District, his Deputy being placed on his right, and the Master of the Lodge on his left hand; his Wardens, if present, shall act as Wardens of the Lodge during the time he presides; but if they be absent, the Provincial or District Grand Master may direct the Wardens of the Lodge, or any Master Masons, to act as his Wardens pro tenvpore.
Unless the Provincial or District Grand Master be present, his Deputy may preside in any Lodge he may visit within his Pro- vince or District, the Master of the Lodge
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being placed on his right hand. The Pro- vincial or District Grand Wardens, if present, are to act as Wardens of the Lodge during the time he presides.
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The reader’s attention is invited to the remarks on the subject of the Charity Representative on pp. 387 and 388.
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Calendars are now published in many Provinces, containing the day, the hour, and the place of meeting of every Lodge within the Province; and many Lodges year by year send a copy to every subscribing member. The convenience of possessing such a Calendar is very great in many ways. A Brother is enabled on reference to his Calendar to make his engagements so that he may be free to attend his own Lodge, or to visit any other to which inclination or duty may leadhim. The word ‘ duty ’ is used advisedly, because it is highly desirable that a kind and fraternal feeling should exist between neighbouring Lodges; and nothing tends so much to create and to foster this feeling as the interchange of visits between the several members of the Lodges in a
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district. The Principal Officers, especially, should consider it a part of their duty (see