Page:Manual of the Lodge.pdf/275

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230
GENERAL REGULATIONS

he shall be treated in a way and manner to be agreed upon in a new regulation; because hitherto the ancient fraternity have had no occasion for it, their former Grand Masters having all behaved themselves worthy of that honorable office.

XX. The Grand Master, with his Deputy and Wardens, shall (at least once) go round and visit all the Lodges about town during his Mastership.

XXI. If the Grand Master die during his Mastership, or by sickness, or by being beyond sea, or any other way should be rendered incapable of discharging his office, the Deputy, or, in his absence, the Senior Grand Warden, or, in his absence, the Junior, or, in his absence, any three present Masters of Lodges, shall join to congregate the Grand Lodge immediately, to advise together upon that emergency, and to send two of their number to invite the last Grand Master to resume his office, which now in course reverts to him; or, if he refuse, then the next last, and go backward. But if no former Grand Master can be found, then the Deputy shall act as principal until another is chosen; or if there be no Deputy, then the oldest Master.

XXII. The brethren of all the Lodges in and about London and Westminster shall meet at an annual communication and feast, in some convenient place, on St. John Baptist's Day, or else on St. John Evangelist's Day, as the Grand Lodge shall think fit by a new regulation, having of late years met on St. John Baptist's Day: Provided,

The majority of the Masters and Wardens, with the Grand Master, his Deputy, and Wardens, agree at their quarterly communications, three months before, that there shall be a feast and a general communication of all the brethren; for if either the Grand Master, or the majority of the particular Masters, are against it, it must be dropped for that time.

But whether there shall be a feast for all the brethren or not, yet the Grand Lodge must meet in some convenient place annually on St. John's Day; or if it be Sunday, then on the next day, in order to choose every year a new Grand Master, Deputy, and Wardens.

XXIII. If it be thought expedient, and the Grand Master,