BY-LAWS.

ART. 1. At every communication of this Grand Lodge previous to the transaction of business, the Lodge shall be opened in proper form.

ART. 2. The Lodge to be opened within half an hour of the time appointed in the constitution, or in the notification in the case of an extra meeting, or as soon thereafter as a sufficient number shall appear.

ART. 3. No person shall be admitted in the Grand Lodge before his name shall be announced and leave given by the presiding officer; nor shall any Brother be admitted into the Grand Lodge, but such as are members, representatives or members of a subordinate Lodge, or admitted as a witness, petitioner, or by a vote of this Grand Lodge.

ART. 4. After reading the proceedings of the last meeting, the appointment of committees shall be first in order; then the presenting and hearing petitions; the reports of committees previously appointed, and the unfinished business; and no new motion or other business shall be received without first obtaining leave of the Grand Lodge, until the former is disposed of.

ART. 5. The committees to be appointed at each stated meeting of the Grand Lodge, in pursuance of the preceding article, are:

A Committee of Grievances,

A Committee of Accounts,

A Committee of Examination, and

A Committee of Foreign Correspondence,

To consist of three members each.

The three first to report before closing the Lodge and the latter at the next regular meeting of the Grand Lodge; and to whom, in the mean time the Grand Secretary shall transmit the proceedings and other communications received from the several Grand Lodges in correspondence with this Grand Lodge.

ART. 6. All committees shall be appointed by the Grand Master, unless otherwise specially directed by the Grand Lodge. In case of a ballot, a majority of votes shall be necessary to a choice.

ART. 7. When a member is about to speak, he shall rise from his seat, and respectfully address himself to the "Most Worshipful Grand Master."

ART. 8. If a member, in speaking, or otherwise, shall transgress the rules of the Grand Lodge, any member may call him to order, and he shall immediately sit down, unless permitted to explain. The Grand Master shall decide all questions of order, without debate, with the right of appeal from his decision to the Grand Lodge, in all cases where the imperative charges assented to by the Grand Master at his installation are not thereby infringed. And any member called to order may be either permitted to proceed, or shall be censured, or fined, as may be determined upon.

ART. 9. No motion for reconsideration shall be in order,

unless made within twenty-four hours after the question shall have been decided; nor shall it be in order, unless moved by one of the majority.

ART. 10. No member or Lodge shall vote on any question in the event of which he or it is immediately interested; nor shall any member vote if he was not present when the question was stated.

ART. 11. Every motion requiring to be recorded, shall be in writing.

ART. 12. When a motion is made and seconded, it shall be stated by the presiding officer, or read by the Grand Secretary, if in writing, and the question of consideration, shall then first be decided.

ART. 13. When the reading of any paper is called for, and objected to by a member, it shall be determined by vote. ART. 14. No new motion or proposition except to adjourn shall be admitted while a question is pending before the Grand Lodge.

ART. 15. No member shall speak more than twice on any one subject, unless he obtain the consent of the Grand Lodge.

ART. 16. All reports of committees shall be made in writing, and signed by at least a majority of the committee.

ART. 17. Any of the above By-Laws may be amended, or, when necessary, postponed for the time being, on the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present, or a majority of the Lodges.

ART. 18. The usual Rules of Parliamentary practice governing American legislative bodies are not objectionable in Grand or subordinate Lodges, so far as they do not conflict with the peculiarities of the Masonic Institution, or with the well known prerogatives of its officers

EDICTS

OF THE

GRAND LODGE OF F. & A. MASONS,

OF THE

STATE OF MICHIGAN.

I.

Passed, January 9, 1845.

Resolved, That this Grand Lodge do adopt the work approved and recommended by the National Convention of Grand Lodges, held at the city of Baltimore, in the month of May, A. L. 5843, and that this Grand Lodge recommend to the subordinate Lodges under its jurisdiction the said mode of work, as is at this time practiced in Detroit Lodge No. 2.

II.

Passed, January 12, 1847. Resolved, That Stoney Creek Lodge have the power to fix upon some other point within the township of Avon, than the village of Rochester, for holding their communications, and to remove their Lodge thereto.