is permitted to take his seat as proxy for such a lodge which he represents.

All lodges which cease to meet regularly for twelve successive months, without a dispensation from the proper authority, its charter shall be void.

CHAPTER III.

OF THE BEHAVIOUR OF MASONS, AS MEMBERS OF A LODGE.

SECTION I.

OF ATTENDANCE.

EVERY brother ought to belong to some regular lodge, and should always appear therein at the time of opening, (of which he always receives notice,) properly clothed, and in clean decent apparel, subjecting himself always to the by-laws and the general regulations. He ought to attend all meetings, whether regular or special, (when duly summoned) unless he can offer such a plea of necessity as the laws and regulations require.

All members of a lodge, who are not in arrears or under censure, have a right to vote; but no brother can be a member of more than one lodge under the same jurisdiction.

SECTION II.

OF WORKING.

All Masons should work faithfully, at such hours appointed by the rules of the lodge, and approved by the Grand Lodge. The usual hours are from "seven o'clock

in the evening, until ten, between the 25th of March and the 25th of September; and from six until nine, between the 25th of September and the 25th of March.

The Master and Wardens shall faithfully finish all the regular work of the lodge, nor shall any brother envy another's prosperity, nor supplant him out of his work, if capable of finishing it.

All brethren shall weekly receive their wages, without murmuring; avoiding all unbecoming modes of expression, calling each other brother, or by such title as the lodge has honoured him with, and with that courtesy which should characterize Masons. It is also a duty incumbent on every brother who has the capacity, and whose leisure time will permit, to instruct the younger brethren, in order that in the course of time they may become expert workmen, that the lodge may have honour and profit thereby.

SECTION III.

OF BEHAVIOUR IN THE LODGE WHILE OPEN.

While the Lodge is open for work, Masons must hold no private conversations or be assembled in committees, without leave from the master, nor converse of any thing foreign or impertinent to the work in hand, nor interrupt the Master or Wardens, or any brother addressing himself to the chair; nor act ludicrously while the Lodge is engaged in what is serious and solemn; every brother shall pay due reverence to the Master and Wardens, and all the brethren.

Every brother found guilty of a fault, after due and impartial trial, shall stand to the award of the Lodge; from which he has a right to an appeal to the Grand Lodge, whose decision shall be final and compulsory.

No private piques, or quarrels about nations, families,

religions or politics, must be brought within the doors of the Lodge, as being directly contrary to the rules laid down. Masons ought to reflect, that all men being created by the Great Architect of the Universe, are members of the great human family; a firm belief in the existence of one Supreme Being, before whom we shall all, at some future day, have to account for our actions in this sublunary world, and receive the just rewards and punishments of our actions; this being the universally acknowledged religion, we ought to know no distinctions of particular religious sects, but to reflect that we are bound to live upon the square with each other, following the footsteps of our predecessors in cultivating peace, harmony, and good fellowship, without distinction of sect or political party.

SECTION IV.

OF BEHAVIOUR AFTER THE LODGE IS CLOSED.

When the Lodge is closed, and the labours are finished, the brethren, before they depart to their respective homes to rest, may enjoy themselves with innocent mirth, enlivened and exalted with their own peculiar ceremonies and songs, but avoiding all excess or compulsion, either in eating or drinking; considering each other, in the hours of labour as well as festivity, as always free; and, therefore, no brother is to be hindered from going home when he pleases, for although after Lodge hours Masons are as other men, yet, if they should fall into excess, the blame (though unjustly) may be cast upon the fraternity, by the ignorant and those who seek opportunities to vent their hatred and malice against the existence of the society.

CHAPTER IV.

CONCERNING THE BEHAVIOUR OF MASONS IN THEIR PRIVATE CHARACTER.

SECTION I.

WHEN A NUMBER OF BRETHREN HAPPEN TO MEET, WITHOUT ANY STRANGERS AMONG THEM, AND NOT IN A FORMAL LODGE.

In such a case, you are to salute each other in a courteous manner, as you are or may be instructed in the Lodge; calling each other brother, and freely communicating hints of knowledge, but without disclosing secrets, unless to those who have long given proof of their taciturnity and honour; taking care, in all your actions and conversations, that you are neither overseen nor overheard by strangers. In such friendly intercourse, no brother shall derogate from the respect due to another were he not a Mason. For though all Masons, as brothers, are upon the level, yet Masonry (as I have remarked in a former section) divests no man of the honours due to him before, or that may become due after, he was made a Mason. On the contrary, it increases his respect, teaching us to add to all his honours those which, as Masons, we cheerfully pay to an eminent brother; distinguishing him above all his rank and station, and serving him readily according to our ability.

SECTION II.

WHEN IN THE PRESENCE OF STRANGERS, WHO ARE NOT MASONS.

Before those who are not Masons, you cannot be too cautious of your words, carriage and motions; so that the most penetrating stranger shall not be able to discover what is

not proper to be intimated. The impertinent and ensnaring questions, or ignorant and idle discourse, of those who seek to pry into the secrets and mysteries committed to your charge, must be prudently answered and managed, or the discourse widely diverted to another subject, as discretion or duty shall direct.

SECTION III.

WHEN AT HOME AND IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD.

Masons ought to be moral men, and fully qualified, as is required in the foregoing sections. Consequently, they should be good husbands, good parents, good sons, and good neighbours; not staying too long from home, avoiding all excess injurious to themselves or families, and wise as to all affairs, both of their own household and of the Lodge, for reasons best known to themselves.

SECTION IV.

OF BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS A FOREIGN BROTHER OR STRANGER.

You are cautiously to examine a stranger, or foreign brother, as prudence and the rules of the craft direct, in order not to be imposed upon by a pretender; and if you discover any one to be such, you are to reject him with scorn and shame,* taking care to give him no hints. But such as are found to be true and faithful, you are to respect as brethren, relieving them, if in want, to your utmost

* This injunction may seem uncharitable, but when it is considered that the secrets of Masonry are open to all men of probity and honour, well recommended, an illegal intruder, who could wish to obtain that to which he has no claim, and to deprive the public charity of a small pittance at his admission, deserves no better treatment.