I. G. ks., and T. replies.

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J. D. adjusts T. B.—I. P. M. opens V. S. L. (2 Chron, vi.), and adjusts S. and C. All sit when W. M. sits—not before.
MINUTES.
By direction of the W. M. (no =), the Secretary reads all unconfirmed Minutes of all preceding Meetings; Regular and Emer- gency. The Minutes should always be read in the First Degrée, as every Initiate is en- titled to hear them and vote on them.
The W. M. then puts the Minutes— separately, if of more than one Meeting. .(No =.)
The Confirmation of the Minutes is usually a perfunctory proceeding, and in ordinary circumstances can only relate to the accu- racy of the record or the propriety of record- ing the item.
The single exception is in relation to, the election of Master, who is not deemed to be elected until the Minutes, so far at least as relates to his election, have been con- firmed (Const. 130). (See note on p. 343.)
Votes at one meeting which, by their , nature or according to the By-laws, re- quire confirmation at a subsequent meeting —e.g., votes relating to grants of money—
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‘cannot be properly dealt with on the motion for confirming the Minutes.
They should be the subject of a separate motion, on due notice printed on the sum- mons, “that .... be confirmed.”
In other words, if in the interval between one meeting and another other counsels prevail. and that which was done at the
previous meeting does not meet with the
approval of those assembled at the next meeting, then, if the vote in question is one which requires confirmation, the alteration must be effected by voting against the motion to confirm the previous resolution as mentioned in the preceding paragraph. But if the matter complained of is already complete (i.¢e., does not require a confirma- tory vote), then in that case any alteration can only be effected by a substantive motion, on due notice given, to rescind the previous resolution. __ In June, 1905, Grand Lodge decided that ‘due notice must be given of any intended motion for non-confirmation of Minutes, so that it may appear on the printed Agenda In September, 1911, Grand Lodge upheld the ruling of a District Grand Master that a proposition of non-confirmation could not 169
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
be made for the purpose of a revision of opinion, nor for the purpose of allowing second thoughts to prevail; the only ques- tion involved being accuracy of record.
Further, a motion to rescind a previous resolution would, if carried, have more force than an inoperative refusal to confirm the Minutes of the previous meeting.
On the other hand, the confirmation of the Minutes does not legalize that which was illegal ab initio.
As to signing Minutes, see p. 366.
ADMISSIONS AFTER OPENING.
The correct manner of saluting the Wor- shipful Master by Brethren who enter or leave the Lodge after it has been opened follows well-defined rules according to the circumstances of the moment—+.e., whether the Lodge is in the First, the Second, or the Third Degree.
There is no law upon the subject, but the custom is sufficiently established to enable us to dogmatize upon it.
On Entering. 1. If the Lodge is in the First Degree, the entering Brother should take Sp. and give Sn or n.A;
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2. If the Lodge is in the Second Degree, the entrant should take Sp. and give Sn. of E.A.; then take Sp. and give ths thyee Sns. of F.C. in consecutive order.
3. If the Lodge is in the Third Degree, the entrant should take Sp. and give Sn. of E.A.; then take Sp. and give the first two Sns. of F.C.; and (instead of giving third Sn. of F.C.) he should take Sp. and convert F.C. position into Sn. of H.; then give S. of S., and P.S. of third.
On Leaving.
4. In whatever degree the Lodge is open, the exeant should take Sp. and give the P.S. of that degree. :
On Re-entering. 5. Exactly the same as 4. (See p. 363.)
The only exception to these rules is in relation to the Candidate, who salutes ac- cording to the special instructions given to him at the time by the Deacon.
The body should be erect while Sns. are given. Even in the S. of S. it is only the head which is bent. There should be no ceremonial bowing to the W. M. On the contrary, there should rather be a military
stiffening. 17%
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
The Worshipful Master, upon the admissioy of a visitor from another Lodge, may say: “* T greet you well, Brother A.B.’ This form of greeting would appear to be of ancient date; it has a good old Masonic flavour about it; it is courteous to a visitor as dis- tinguished from a Member of the Lodge. It is a form of welcome quite distinct from anything one hears in the outer world, This, or some other equally courteous greet- ing to visitors, is worthy of observance in Lodges generally.
When a Member of the Lodge enters or leaves the Lodge, and salutes according to - the then Degree, it is a simple act of courtesy for the Worshipful Master to bow an acknow- ledgment. It is unnecessary for the Master to utter any words of welcome to a member of the Lodge; that form of greeting being reserved for visitors only.
It is, perhaps, unnecessary tc mention that in the case of a Brother of Grand Rank, or Provincial or District Grand Rank or London Rank, visiting a Lodge other than his own, the Brethren should all rise, and remain standing until their visitor has taken his seat. |
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\
Etiquette within the Lodge
The correct salutes to Grand Officers with-
_ in the Lodge are as follow:
M.W.G.M. and M. W. Pro. G.M. rz
R.W.D.G.M... a ue. 6 R.W. Brethren .. ei ae 8 V.W. Brethren .. at eres Other Grand Officers .. wel S
Provincial Grand Officers :
R. W. Prov. G.M. AP, ee; W. Dep. Prov. G.M. (in their own Province) We amis 7, W.Asst.. Prov. .G.M.. (in their own Prevince) es Other Prov. Grand Officers (in their own Province) .. as Prov. Grand Officers We A vestment) . 3
G. or R.Sns. (given only i in 3rd Deg. )
On the occasion of a report after the Lodge is opened, the Inner Guard announces it to the Junior Warden, who by a single knock directs the I.G. to ascertain who wants ad- mission. The I.G. then announces the claimant for admission to the Worshipful Master, who directs the I.G. to admit him.
This authority of the J.W. relates to ordinary veports only. When a Candidate is announced in either Degree, the Junior Warden, after receiving notice thereof from
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the Inner Guard, conveys the announcement to the Worshipful Master in the proper form, who replies as prescribed in the Ritual.
The difference of procedure pointed out in the two preceding paragraphs will show the indispensable necessity of the Tyler and of the Inner Guard being thoroughly con- versant with the proper knocks in each Degree, because any mistake or confusion between the two must inevitably lead to confusion in the Lodge (see pp. 330 to 332).
In some Country Lodges there is a distinc- tion made between a‘ Report’ and an‘ Alarm.’ There is considerable force in the argument which supports this course of procedure, but the fact remains that the only recognized ks. are those detailed on pp. 331 and 332,
When two or more Brethren are announced it is not necessary to give the names of all; on the other hand, it is not right to omit the mention of any name, as one too often hears, in this way: ‘ Several Brethren seek admis- sion.’ The correct form is for the Tyler to say to the Inner Guard: ‘ Brother A. B. and other Brethren’; and the Inner Guard will ‘ say: ‘ Worshipful Master, Brother A. B. and other Brethren.’ If a visitor or visitors happen to be of the group, he or they should
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Etiquette within the Lodge
be allowed to go first, and, as a matter of course, his name or their names would be announced. In the case of a visitor it is customary for the Tyler and Inner Guard to add: ‘ Vouched for by Brother... .’ (the member inviting him). (See p. 103.)
The Worshipful Master’s reply to the announcement is: ‘ Admit him’ or ‘ them,’ as the case may be.
The use of additional words subserves no useful end or purpose; redundant forms of expression have crept into the working of Lodges, no one knows whence, or how, or why. Masters of Lodges and Directors of Ceremonies should always be especially careful to nip in the bud the first introduc- tion of all superfluous and meaningless phrases and forms of expression, even as, with the Gavel, the Entered Apprentice is taught ‘to knock off all superfiuous knobs and excrescences.’
In connection with the Gavel we may
_ mention that it is desirable that the Wardens
should be always ready to answer the = of
the Worshipful Master. When laid again
-apon the pedestal the Gavel should be re- 175
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
placed silently, so that no other sound is heard than the actual ks.
Much unnecessary energy is too often displayed in the use of the Gavel. One sometimes hears a succession of sounding blows that would not discredit Thor him- self, emitting sounds that may be heard far beyond the Lodge room. This is objection- able, for more than one obvious reason. A moderately sharp tap, and not a heavy blow, is all that is required upon any occa- sion.
A very useful precaution for securing the top of the pedestal from injury is to provide
(for each pedestal) a flat piece of wood— |
. presumably oak, like the pedestal—say 5 or 6 inches square and ? inch thick, the under- side covered with cloth. This will receive the indentations inevitably consequent upon the repeated taps, or, worse, the blows of the Gavel.
JOINING MEMBERS.
If there is a proposal duly made on the summons to admit a joining member, it is well to take the ballot as soon as possible after the confirmation of the Minutes. The proposer and seconder should be called on
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Etiquette within the Lodge
to state their case in full, vouching for the proposed member and explaining the reasons which lead them to suppose he will be an acquisition to the Lodge. It is assumed that the proposal will have been already _approved by the Standing Committee (see pp. 89 and 459).
Assuming the result of the ballot to be - favourable, and the Brother in attendance, he should be escorted to the W. M. by the Director of Ceremonies and formally intro- ‘duced. The W. M. should make a suitable | speech to the joining member, bidding him | welcome in his own name and on behalf of the Lodge.
At the subsequent post-prandial proceed- ings a special toast should be given in his honour (see p. 377).
A Past Master of an English Lodge joining another English Lodge becomes a Past Master 77 the Lodge he joins, and takes rank and precedence immediately after the Im- mediate Past Master of the year in which he joins, and before the Worshipful Master of the year in which he joins.
As a Past Master he immediately becomes eligible for office as Worshipful Master; ' but it is to be assumed that in ordinary course 177 N
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
he would, ceteris paribus, rank for office im- mediately after the last initiate or joining member, according to date.
CANDIDATE.
If there is a Candidate duly proposed on the Summons, a Ballot should be taken.
A proposal must be made and seconded on the printed summons, and this proposal should have been already the subject of investigation by the Standing Committee (see p. 89). But that is not all. When that item of the Agenda is reached, the proposer and seconder should make the proposal in open Lodge and viva voce, so that the tongue of good report may be heard in favour of the candidate.
The Ballot is a most important proceeding, and should be effected in an impressive manner. When the Worshipful Master directs it to be taken, the Junior Deacon distributes the balls, commencing with the Immediate Past Master, and finishing at the Worshipful Master; and the Senior Deacon collects them in the Ballot Box in the same order.
Several candidates may be balloted for
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Etiquette within the Lodge
at the same time; any adverse vote involving a separate ballot for each.
The Ballot is intended to be absolutely secret, so as to give absolute freedom from fear of consequences. A black ball is quite as legal as a white one, and any brother who votes according to his conscience has a right to be protected.
Abstention from voting is permissible, and does not count against the candidate.
The result of the Ballot should be forth- with notified by the Inner Guard to the Tyler, in order that the Candidate may be prepared without delay.
INITIATION. The Ceremony of Initiation may then be taken (see p. 215).
PRAYERS.
During the prayers in the various cere- monies, when the attitude of reverence is adopted, the th. is not visible. At the close the h. is ‘ dropped,’ not ‘drawn.’
* * % * OBN.
t should be remembered the Sn. during the E. A. Obn. should be the P.S. ofan E. A. 179
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
QUESTIONS BEFORE PASSING.
If the Ceremony of Passing is to be done, the necessary Questions should be put, and the Candidate entrusted (see p. 226).
OPENING, SECOND DEGREE.
All E. As. having been directed to retire, © the Lodge may be opened in the Second Degree.
The preliminary points are to be observed as before.
When the Brethren, by direction of the J. W., prove themselves Cn., they should look to the East, and should take their time from the I. P. M. The object is to get the Brethren to make every movement in silence and in unison. This can be done only by taking the time from one man.
Perhaps the best example of discipline in this respect is to be found in military Lodges. The perfection of accuracy and precision of movement and of time are, of course, to be expected from these drilled and trained men; these qualities, however, are not difficult in practice in private Lodges: the habit is
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Etiquette within the Lodge
easily acquired, but, unfortuns ely, so many of the Brethren do not strive after combined ‘and simultaneous action. Every Brother should visit a military Lodge if one such happen to be held ‘ within the length of his cable-tow,’ and he will see how charming and instructive such a visit will be; ‘ profit and pleasure will be the result,’ to a certainty.
_ They should, thus, in silence and in unison dis. E. A., take Sp., place r. h, before placing 1, h. When, however, the W. M. declares “the Lodge duly open on theS..,’ the orderis reversed: the J. h. is d. at the word ‘ open,’ and then at the word ‘S,’ the third portion of the threefold Sn. is given with the r.h. in two distinct motions.
W.M.=—# S.W.—8 J.W. —¥%