M.. W.. THOMAS PENNEY, Grand Master, addressed the Grand Lodge as follows: THE GRAND MASTER: My dear brothers: I do not know how you feel about it, but personally I cannot help but feel that there is a great fount of spirituality and uplift in this organization which is only waiting to be given greater expression. During the past year I have been endeavoring in my humble way to do what I believed was the thing that a man ought to do in the position that I occupied. I must confess that until I did become actually Grand Master I never fully realized the responsibilities or the opportunities of that office, and those two go together, brethren. I honestly and conscientiously do not believe there is any organization on God's footstool that is so potent and is so full of ability to do the thing which God is calling the world to do today as this great craft of ours. I can in my humble way, as I said before, just keep a little way, perhaps, or at least in the front rank of our brethren, marching onward and upward, and if you will be with me as you have in the past perhaps we can with a little quicker time and with more vigorous tread, keeping our eyes up and our shoulders square, go on and meet every difficulty as we have in the past. I do not believe that there is a greater opportunity anywhere for doing God's service than in the ranks of our order. It is my earnest hope and my sincere prayer that I may have you with me to support and uphold me, and God to guide and direct my steps. I thank you again. M.. W.. THOMAS PENNEY, Grand Master, nominated for Chief Commissioner of Appeals JOHN A. DUTTON in place of R.. W.. JOHN A. DUTTON, serving the unexpired term of R.. W.. ABEL CROOK; R.'. W.. ARTHUR K. KUHN in place of R.. W.. JOHN A. DUTTON; R.. W.. GEORGE S TINKLEPAUGH in place of R.'. W.. GEORGE S. TINKLEPAUGH and R.. W.. GEORGE CROMWELL in place of R.. W.. GEORGE CROMWELL; which nominations were confirmed by Grand Lodge. On motion of R.. W.. ROBERT H. ROBINSON the Grand Secretary was directed to send the following telegram: GEORGE J. JACKSON, Atlantic City, N. J. Grand Lodge express delight at your recovery and anticipate pleasure of your return when you will be with us again in full health and strength. This with our sincere affection. EDWARD M. L. EHLERS, Grand Secretary. There being no further business, these minutes were read and approved and the Grand Lodge was closed in Ample Form with prayer by R.. W.. RUBEN S. ODELL, Grand Chaplain. Our Senters Grand Secretary. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. Amend Section 89 by adding at the end of said Section the following: "A petition ceases to be pending as soon as a ballot thereon has been taken by the Lodge to which it has been presented." So that said Section shall read: SEC. 89. A petition for initiation or affiliation, or for waiver of jurisdiction over such a candidate, shall not be received by a Lodge except at a Stated Communication, and when received it shall be referred to an investigating committee of not less than three members, whose report thereon must be in writing, in terms "favorable" or "unfavorable," and no report of an investigating committee shall be received until at least two weeks after such petition shall have been referred. No petition shall be received if it discloses that a petition of the same person is pending before another Lodge. A petition ceases to be pending as soon as a ballot thereon has been taken by the Lodge to which it has been presented. Amend Section 96 by inserting therein after the words in the fifth and sixth lines thereof, "such candidate was accepted," a new sentence. "If a ballot be demanded upon a candidate after he has been accepted and before he has been initiated, it may be taken whether the demand be made at a Stated or a Special Communication, provided the Special Communication be one called for the purpose of conferring the degree to which the candidate is entitled." So that said Section shall read: SEC. 96. A ballot for each degree is an undeniable right. if demanded, and if after a candidate has been accepted, and before he has been initiated, a new ballot be demanded, it must be taken, and if such ballot result in a rejection it shall have the same effect as if it had occurred when such candidate was accepted. If a ballot be demanded upon a candidate after he has been accepted and before he has been initiated, it may be taken whether the demand be made at a Stated or a Special Communication, provided the Special Communication be one called for the purpose of conferring the degree to which the candidate is entitled. If, after a brother has been initiated, any member shall demand a ballot upon his advancement, and such ballot result in a rejection, the brother may be proposed for advancement at any subsequent Stated Communication of the Lodge; the proposition must lie over at least to the next Stated Communication, and a clear ballot must be had before the brother can be advanced. No written or verbal objection shall have the effect to reject the petition of a candidate or the advancement of a brother. An objection, however, must be respected, and will defer the initiation of a candidate or the advancement of a brother until a subsequent communication of the Lodge. The name of the brother objecting or making a demand for a new ballot, as herein provided, shall not be entered on the minutes. Amend Section 19 of the Regulations by adding thereto at the end thereof the following sentence: "No Lodge either itself or through another Lodge acting for it, shall confer more than one degree in two successive weeks, so that not less than fourteen days shall intervene between the conferring of any two degrees." So that said Section shall read: SEC. 19. A Lodge shall not confer more than one degree, nor shall said degree be conferred upon more than five candidates, in one day. No Lodge, either itself or through another Lodge acting for it, shall confer more than one degree in two successive weeks, so that not less than fourteen days shall intervene between the conferring of any two degrees. |