absence, the Junior Grand Warden; and if neither of the Grand Officers aforesaid be present, then the Master of the oldest Subordinate Lodge who may be present shall act as Grand Master pro tem.

SEC. 2. In the event of the death, resignation or permanent removal from this jurisdiction of the Grand Master, the officer next in rank shall assume the duties of the office, and possess all the powers of the Grand Master during such vacancy, or until the next annual election.

SEC. 3. It shall be competent for the Grand Master, or in case of his death, resignation or permanent removal from this jurisdiction, or other disqualification or incapacity, the officer next in rank, at all times when the Grand Lodge is not in session, to suspend the charter of any Subordinate Lodge within the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge when, in his judgment, the business of said Subordinate Lodge is being conducted unconstitutionally or contrary to the well established usages and forms of the Craft. But such suspension shall only be in force until the next annual communication of the Grand Lodge, when the cause of such suspension shall be investigated, and such action taken as the Grand Lodge shall deem proper and just.

SEC. 4. If any officer of the Grand Lodge shall be placed under censure or suspended for unmasonic conduct by the Subordinate Lodge to which he belongs, and no appeal is taken by him, he shall be incapacitated to exercise any duties of such office of the Grand Lodge until such censure is removed or such suspension be terminated by action of the Subordinate Lodge. If any Grand Lodge officer be expelled by his Lodge, and takes no appeal to the Grand Lodge from such decree of expulsion, such expulsion shall operate as a terminus of his Grand Lodge office, and the office which he held shall be treated as vacant until filled by the Grand Lodge.

ARTICLE III.

SEC 1. All questions before the Grand Lodge shall be determined by a majority of votes, to be regulated on the following principles, viz:

The representatives of each Subordinate Lodge shall, collectively, have one vote.

The Grand Master or presiding officer one vote, except in cases of an equal division, when he shall have two votes; provided they are not cases of election.

The Deputy Grand Master, one vote.

The Grand Wardens, Treasurer, Secretary and Deacons, collectively, one vote.

The District Deputy Grand Masters, collectively, one vote; provided they are not representatives of a Subordinate Lodge or officers of the Grand Lodge,

The Past Grand Masters and Deputy Grand Masters, collectively, one vote.

The Past Masters and Past Grand Wardens, who are not representatives of any Subordinate Lodge or officers of the Grand Lodge, collectively, one vote.

ARTICLE IV.

SEC. 1. The Grand Lodge shall have power to constitute new Lodges by warrant or charter, under its seal and the signature of the Grand Master, or, in his absence, of the officer next in rank, attested by the Grand Secretary, under such restrictions as it shall deem proper, and to establish a uniform mode of working throughout the State, strictly adhering to the ancient landmarks, usages and customs of Masonry, which are under no circumstance to be removed or defaced.

SEC. 2. The Grand Lodge shall have power to require from time to time from the Lodges under its jurisdiction, such sums of money as may be found necessary for its use and support, which requisition shall be made by two-thirds of the voters present and voting as aforesaid at the stated annual communications only.

SEC. 3. The Grand Lodge shall have power to make general laws and regulations, and shall have all other power necessary and proper to an independent Grand Lodge, not inconsistent with this Constitution, but no law, regulation or amendment shall be made, altered or repealed except in the manner hereinafter provided.

SEC. 4. The Grand Lodge shall have power to hear and determine all appeals, and to decide in all disputes between the different Lodges of its jurisdiction.

SEC. 5. The Grand Lodge upon granting a charter establishing a new Lodge shall demand such fees as may be provided by its laws

SEC. 6. It shall be deemed right and proper for this Grand Lodge to entertain petitions for charity, and such other petitions as may not conflict with the ancient constitutions of the Craft, the present Constitution, and such laws and general regulations as may be constitutionally adopted.

ARTICLE V.

SEC. 1. This Constitution shall be subject to revision and amendment. All propositions for this purpose shall be submitted to the Grand Lodge at a regular Annual Communication, and shall be audibly and distinctly read by the Grand Secretary. If a majority of the voters present shall vote that the proposition is important to be considered, such proposition shall be recorded on the Grand Secretary's book of record, and a printed copy sent to each Subordinate Lodge within the jurisdiction;

and upon the receipt of the same by the Subordinate Lodge, notice shall be given at a regular communication, and the members notified to appear at some regular communication, the date of which shall be given, to vote upon the same. A vote shall

be taken for and against the proposition, and a majority shall decide its adoption or rejection; when the Lodge makes its next annual return to the Grand Lodge, the copy of the proposition shall be forwarded to the Grand Secretary, endorsed, adopted or rejected, as the case may be, under the seal of the Lodge and the attestation of its Secretary. Upon report being made by the Grand Secretary that two-thirds of the Subordinate Lodges have adopted the proposition, it shall be declared ratified and become a part of this Constitution. Should it appear that two-thirds of the Subordinate Lodges have failed to adopt the proposition, it shall be declared rejected and of no force.

SEC. 2. The former Constitution of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia is hereby revoked and annulled, and this Constitution substituted therefor for the future government of this Grand Lodge, subject to amendment in the manner provided for in the last preceding section.

GENERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE GRAND LODGE OF WEST VIRGINIA.

ART. 1. The Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Senior Grand Warden, Junior Grand Warden, Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary shall be elected and installed on the second evening of the Annual Communication, and the election and installation of officers shall have precedence over all other business to be transacted on that evening.

ART. 2. It shall be the duty of the Grand Master, immediately after his installation, to appoint a Senior Grand Deacon, Junior Grand Deacon, Grand Lecturer, Grand Chaplain, Grand Marshal, Grand Pursuivant and Grand Tyler, who shall thereupon be severally installed in their respective offices.

ART. 3. The Grand Master has all the powers and prerogatives conferred upon him by the ancient constitution, landmarks and usages of the Craft. He shall exercise a general superintendence over all the Lodges in this jurisdiction, inspect their proceedings and require a strict compliance with the constitution and laws of this Grand Lodge. He may preside in any Lodge, and shall do all such acts as are required of him by the constitutions, customs and usages of the Fraternity.

ART. 4. Grand Treasurer-It shall be the duty of the Grand Treasurer:

1. To be present at the Grand Lodge at all its communications, and attend upon the Grand Master when required with the books and necessary papers appertaining to his office; and also, if required by the Grand Lodge or Grand Master, to attend with such books and papers upon any committee which may be appointed to act in relation to the fiscal affairs of the Grand Lodge.

2. To receive all moneys belonging to the Grand Lodge from the Grand Secretary, to give him receipts therefor, and to keep in suitable books a just and accurate record thereof.

3. To have in charge all securities, bonds, vouchers and other fiscal property of the Grand Lodge.

4. To pay all orders from the fund of the Grand Lodge only when signed by the Grand Master and Grand Secretary.

5. To report at each Annual Communication a detailed account of his official receipts and disbursements, with proper vouchers for the latter. For his services he shall receive five per centum of all moneys coming into his hands as Grand Treas

urer.

ART. 5. Grand Secretary.-It shall be the duty of the Grand Secretary:

1. To attend the Grand Lodge at all its communications with the books and necessary papers appertaining to his office, and to place in the hands of the proper committees all papers relative to matters of which they shall have jurisdiction.

2. To keep a record of the returns made by all Lodges in this jurisdiction; to receive and preserve all petitions, applications, appeals and other documents addressed to or belonging to the Grand Lodge; to record all transactions of the Grand Lodge proper to be written, and to present such unfinished or other business as may require its action at each communication thereof.

3. To receive all moneys due the Grand Lodge, to keep a correct, detailed account thereof in suitable books, and pay such monthly to the Grand Treasurer.

4. To report to the Grand Lodge at each Annual Communication a detailed account of all moneys received by him during the preceding year, with a specified statement of the sources whence they were derived, and to present there with the receipts of the Grand Treasurer therefor.

5. To keep the seal of the Grand Lodge and affix the same with his attestation to all instruments emanating from that body, and to all such official documents and writings of the Grand Master as he may direct; also to affix said seal to and officially attest any Masonic certificate, or diploma or other prop

er document for the use of an individual brother when requested by a Lodge in this jurisdiction of which said brother may be a member, and for which he shall receive a fee of one dollar.

6. To conduct the correspondence of the Grand Lodge, under the direction of the Grand Master, and, if required, to submit copies thereof at each Annual Communication for inspection.

7. To furnish, at least sixty days previous to each Annual Communication, each Lodge in this jurisdiction with duplicate blank forms upon which to make returns, and furnish such instructions in regard to them as may be needed.

8. To embody in a circular all propositions to amend the constitution, or any other matter upon which it is necessary for the Subordinate Lodges to act, and transmit the same with necessary instructions to each Lodge in time for its action.

9. To cause the journal of the proceedings of each Annual Communication to be printed, unless otherwise ordered by the Grand Lodge, with all convenient dispatch, together with the constitution, by-laws and regulations of the Grand Lodge, the names, titles, and places of address of the Grand Officers, and such Masonic statistics as may be deemed proper. For his services he shall receive a salary of three hundred dollars per year. ART. 6. Grand Tyler.-The duties of the Grand Tyler are:

1. To guard the entrance of the Grand Lodge, report to the Grand Pursuivant all appeals for admission, announcing their names and Masonic address, and see that all who enter are duly qualified and properly clothed.

2. To make suitable preparation for the accomodation of the Grand Lodge at all its Communications.

3. To take charge of and safely keep the jewels, furniture and clothing of the Grand Lodge during its Communication and during recess, unless otherwise ordered by the Grand Lodge or Grand Master.

4. To carry all notices and summons, and perform such other duties as may be ordered by the Grand Lodge or Grand Master. The Grand Tyler shall receive such compensation for his services as the Grand Lodge may direct.

All other Grand Officers whose duties are not specially mentioned shall perform such service as the traditions and usages of the Craft prescribe.

ART. 7. This Grand Jurisdiction shall be divided into eleven districts as follows: The counties of Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall and Wetzel shall be known as District No 1. The counties of Monongalia, Marion, Taylor and Preston as District No. 2. The counties of Hampshire, Hardy, Minoral, Grant and Pendleton as District No. 3. The counties of Morgan, Berkeey, and Jefferson as District No. 4. The counties of Tyler,