10. Unfinished business. 11. New business. 12. Report of Committee of Finance. 13. Report of Committee of Correspondence. 14. Report of Trustees. 15. Report of Committee of Revision. 16. Reports of Special Committees, by seniority. 17. Reading of Communications, &c. State Grand Lodges and Grand HREE or more subordinate Lodges or Encampments, located in any State, district, or territory where a Grand Lodge or Grand Encampment has not been established, having seven Past Grands, or Past Chief-Patriarchs, in good standing, may petition the Grand Lodge of the United States for a charter for a Grand Lodge or Grand Encampment; which, if approved by a majority of the votes given, will be granted, and organized by the Grand-Sire, or some qualified brother or Patriarch whom he may appoint for the purpose. Such three or more Lodges or Encampments must each first appoint one or more of its Past Grands or Past Chief-Patriarchs to represent it in a convention, to be composed of the several Lodges or Encampments in the State, district, or territory, who must consider the propriety of applying for a Grand Charter, as well as determine on a place or town for the location of the Grand Lodge or Grand Encampment. When these questions shall be decided. (the vote having been taken by Lodges or Encampments, and not by the number of past officers present in the convention,) the representa ives must make application in the following form: "TO THE R. W. GRAND LODGE OF THE UNITED STATES, OF THE I. O. OF O. F. "The petition of blank Lodge [or Encampment] No. 1, blank Lodge No. 2, blank Lodge No. 3, of blank, respectfully represents, that at present they work under warrants granted by your right worthy body; that at-present they have blank Past Grands [or Past Chief-Patriarchs] in good standing. They are of opinion that It would be of advantage to the Order to establish a Grand Lodge Lor Grand Encampment] in the State of blank. They therefore pray your right worthy body to grant a charter for a Grand Lodge for Grand Encampment] in the State of blank, to be located at blank. "Witness our hands and seals, this blank day of blank. "A. B., REPRESENTATIVE OF No. 1. "C.D., REPRESENTATIVE OF No. 2. "E. F., REPRESENTATIVE OF No. 3." This petition must be accompanied by the charterfee, which is thirty dollars. During the recess of the Grand Lodge of the United States, the Grand-Sire, Deputy Grand-Sire, and Grand Recording Secretary are authorized to grant dispensations to open Grand Lodges or Grand Encampments, which must be submitted to the Grand Lodge for approval and confirmation when it next meets. The charter or warrant for a Grand Lodge or Grand' Encampment, issued by the Grand Lodge of the United States, and furnished to a State Grand Lodge or Grand Encampment, is expressed as follows: 66 INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLOWS. "TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I, A. B., Most Worthy Grand-Sire of the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows, of the United States of North America, and the jurisdiction of the Order thereunto belonging: FRIENDSHIP, LOVE, TRUTH. "Know ye, that by virtue of the powers in me vested, I do hereby authorize and empower our trusty and well-beloved [C. D. and others] to constitute a Grand Lodge (or Grand Encampment] in the city of blank and State of blank, to be known and hailed by the title of blank. "I do further authorize and empower our said trusty and well. beloved [C. D. and others] to hear and determine all and singular matters and things relating to the Order, within the jurisdiction of the said Grand Lodge, [or Grand Encampment,] according to the rules and regulations of the Grand Lodge of the United States: Provided always, that the said [C. D. and others] pay due respect to the Grand Lodge of the United States, and the ordinances thereof: and provided, also, that this Dispensation shall be approved at the next session of the said Grand Lodge of the United States; otherwise to be of no force or effect. "Given under my hand, and seal of the Grand Lodge of the United States, at the city of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, this blank day of blank, and of our Order the blank. [L. S.] "E. F., Corresponding Secretary.” "A. B., GRAND-SIRE. GRAND LODGES. E have previously stated that Grand Lodges are the heads of the Order in a State, dis trict, or territory, where they may be established, and that they are instituted by and are under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the United States. They have the control of all the subordinate Lodges under their own jurisdiction, and enact all laws required for the government of such Lodges. They meet either annually or semi-annually, for the transaction of business: with one or two ex ceptions, they permit all the Past Grands of their subordinates the right of speech and vote.* In these *Each Grand Lodge consists of all the Past Grands in good nding within its jurisdiction; but by its constitution it may exceptions, the Lodge is composed of one or two representatives from each Lodge, each having one vote for a certain number of members, and additional votes for additional numbers.* The Grand Lodge is the supreme tribunal of the Order in its jurisdiction. No Lodge can be formed, or continue to exist, without its sanction. It has the sole right and power to grant or suspend charters; to receive appeals and redress grievances; to originate and regulate the means of its own support; and to do all other proper acts to promote the interests of the Order. The elective officers of the Grand Lodge are as follows:-Grand-Master, Deputy Grand-Master, Grand Warden, Grand Secretary, Grand Treasurer, Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of the United States. The appointed officers [appointed by the GrandMaster] are as follows:-Grand Chaplain, Grand Marshal, Grand Conductor, Grand Guardian, Grand Herald, and District Deputy Grand-Masters who have charge of the Lodges in counties and other specified localities. These officers are elected and appointed annually. restrict its legislative power to such representative basis as it may deem best for the proper transaction of business; but it cannot abridge the privileges of Past Grands pertaining to their rank in the degrees of the Order, viz. their right to past-official degrees, eligibility to office, precedence belonging to their grade, privilege of attending the meetings of their Grand Lodge, and right to vote for Grand Officers.-DIGEST, p. 43. *The Grand Lodge of Northern New York, whose f "nders were the originators of these "exceptions," allows every Lodge of less than fifty members one vote, two votes where the number amounts to fifty, and one vote for each additional fifty members. One object of the reform intended, was a prevention of the confusion which might arise in legislation by the rapid increase of the Past Grands, who were being admitted as legislators in the Grand Lodge of New York at the rate of about six hundred annually. The Grand-Master must preside and preserve order, and enforce a due observance of the laws of the institution; give the casting vote in cases of "tie," except in those of the election of officers; and order the payment of moneys. He may grant dispensations for conferring degrees on a brother who may require them in advance of the ordinary time, and confer official or other degrees in person. He must decide all questions of law that may arise during the recess of the Grand Lodge; and he must give such instructions in the work of the Order as may be necessary. The Deputy Grand-Master must support the GrandMaster in presiding, and in his absence fill the chair for him. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Grand-Master, the Deputy Grand-Master becomes G. Master for the balance of the term. The Grand Warden must assist the Grand-Master in conducting the business of the Grand Lodge; and, under the Grand-Master, have special charge of the door; and in the absence of the Grand-Master and Deputy Grand-Master, he must preside. The Grand Secretary must make a just and true record of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge at every session, and transmit, immediately after the close of the annual session, to the District GrandMasters and subordinate Lodges, printed copies thereof. He must keep the accounts between the Grand Lodge and its subordinates, receive all moneys coming to the Grand Lodge therefrom, and pay the same over to the Grand Treasurer. He must issue all necessary notices and circulars to subordinates, and to the District Grand-Masters and Representatives. He must provide all stationery for the use of the Grand Lodge, and superintend such printing as |