MassachusettsGC2012 GRAND LODGE RULES

GRAND CONSTITUTIONS, GRAND LODGE RULES

RULES FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE GRAND LODGE.

General References: 1918: 329 1930: 178

• GC1918:

Rule I. VISITORS

No visitor shall be admitted to Grand Lodge except by permission of the Grand Master.

References

II: 6, 517 IV: 653 1918: 414

• GC1918: Rule I, 1918-414; In this revision, this section reads: "None but members of the Grand Lodge - past or present officers of other Grand Lodges excepted - shall be present at the opening of the same; nor shall any visitor be admitted during the session except by permission of the Grand Master."

Rule II. SEATS IN GRAND LODGE

All members and visitors shall keep the seats assigned them except the Grand Marshal and officers whose duties may call them about the Lodge.

References

IV: 653

• GC1918: Rule II, 1918-414

Rule III. RESOLUTIONS

All resolutions shall be submitted in writing before there shall be any debate upon them; as shall all motions, if the Grand Master or any Brother desire it.

References

IV: 653

• GC1918: Rule III, 1918-414

Rule IV. VOTES

All matters in Grand Lodge shall be decided by vote. The Grand Master shall be entitled to one vote on all questions, and may also give the casting vote whenever there shall be an equal division.

References

IV: 653

• GC1918: Rule IV, 1918-414

Rule V. REQUIREMENT TO VOTE

Each member shall vote on all questions, except when he is personally interested, unless specially excused by the Grand Lodge.

References

IV: 654 1918: 414

• GC1918: Rule V, 1918-414

Rule VI. SPEAKING TWICE ON SAME QUESTION

No Brother shall speak more than twice to the same question, unless in explanation, without permission of the Grand Master.

References

II: 10 IV: 29, 654

• GC1918: Rule VI, 1918-414

Rule VII. PROTOCOL WHEN SPEAKING

Every member who speaks shall rise and remain standing, addressing himself to the Grand Master; nor shall any Brother presume to interrupt him except on a point of order.

References

IV: 29, 654

• GC1918: Rule VII, 1918-415

Rule VIII. MOTIONS DURING DEBATE

When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received except to amend, commit, or lay upon the table.

References

IV: 654 1878: 51, 87 1930: 179

• GC1918: Rule VIII, 1918-415

Rule IX. MOTION TO AMEND PRECLUDES OTHER AMENDMENTS

A motion to amend, until decided, shall preclude all other amendments of the main question.

References

• GC1918: Rule IX, 1918-415

IV: 654 1930:179

Rule X. CALL FOR DIVISION

Any member may call for a division of the question where the same will admit of it.

References

• GC1918: Rule X, 1918-415

IV: 654 1930: 179

Rule XI. NO SUBSTITUTE MOTIONS

No new motion, which totally changes the subject-matter on which the original motion was intended to operate, shall be admitted, under color of amendment, as a substitute for a motion under debate.

References

• GC1918: Rule XI, 1918-415

IV: 654 1926: 303 1930: 179

Rule XII. POSSESSION OF STATED MOTIONS

After a motion is stated by the Grand Master, it shall be deemed to be in possession of the Grand Lodge, but may be withdrawn by the mover at any time before decision or amendment.

References

• GC1918: Rule XII, 1918-415

IV: 654 1930: 179

Rule XIII. NO DEBATE AFTER MOTION

There shall be no debate upon any question after it is put by the Grand Master.

References

• GC1918: Rule XIII, 1918-415

IV: 654 1930: 179

Rule XIV. MOTIONS AND REPORTS AT PLEASURE OF GRAND LODGE

All motions and reports may be committed at the pleasure of the Grand Lodge.

References

• GC1918: Rule XIV, 1918-415

IV: 655 1930: 179

Rule XV. NO PRIVATE DISCOURSE DURING ADDRESS

While the Grand Master is addressing the Grand Lodge, or putting a question, or a Brother is speaking, no member shall entertain any private discourse, nor pass between the speaker and the Chair.

References

• GC1918: Rule XV, 1918-415

IV: 655 1930: 179

Rule XVI. DECORUM OF LANGUAGE

All communications, petitions, appeals, resolutions, propositions, and motions shall be couched in decent and respectful language, or they shall not be entertained in Grand Lodge.

References

• GC1918: Rule XVI, 1918-416

IV: 655 1930: 180

Rule XVII. BROTHERS NOT TO LEAVE WITHOUT PERMISSION

No Brother shall leave the Grand Lodge during the session without permission of the Grand Master.

References

• GC1918: Rule XVII, 1918-416

IV: 655 1930: 180

Rule XVIII. PENALTY FOR TRANSGRESSION

If any member shall have been twice called to order for transgressing these Rules and shall, nevertheless, be guilty of a third offense at the same meeting, the Grand Master shall peremptorily command him to take his seat, and he shall not be permitted to speak again during that session of the Grand Lodge.

References

• GC1918: Rule XVIII, 1918-416

IV: 555 1930:180

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