III.
General Regulations.[1]
OMPILED first by Mr. George Payhe, a.d. 1720, when he was Grand Master, and approved by the Grand Lodge on St. John Baptist's Day, a.d. 1721, at Stationer's Hall, London; when the Most Noble Prince John Duke of Montagu was unanimously chosen our Grand Master for the year ensuing; who chose John Beal, M.D., his Deputy Grand Master; Mr. Josiah Villeneau and Mr. Thomas Morris, Jun., were chosen by the Lodge Grand Wardens, and now, by the command of our said Right Worshipful Grand Master Montagu, the author of this book has compared them with, and reduced them to the ancient records and immemorial usages of the fraternity, and digested them into this new method, with several proper explications, for the use of the Lodges in and about London and Westminster.
I. The Grand Master, or his Deputy, hath authority and right not only to be present in any true Lodge, but also to preside wherever he is, with the Master of the Lodge on his left hand, and to order his Grand Wardens to attend him, who are not to act in particular Lodges as Wardens but in his presence and at his command; because there the Grand Master may command
- ↑ Note by the Editor.—The most complete history that could be given of these Regulations is to be found in their title. Adopted by the Grand Lodge of England soon after its organization, they are entitled to great respect, although not of equal authority either with the Landmarks, the Old Charges, or the local Regulations of any Grand Lodge which may have changed them in the formal manner which these Regulations themselves prescribe.
