RULES OF ORDER

I. When a member desires to address the Grand Lodge, or deliver any matter for its consideration, he shall arise and respectfully address himself to the M.W. Grand Master and confine himself to the subject matter under discussion.

II. All motions, resolutions or proposition shall be reduced in writing, and read by the Grand Secretary, and if seconded shall be considered as before the Grand Lodge for its action.

III. All communications, returns, petitions and documents, unless otherwise ordered, shall be referred to appropriate committees, who shall report thereon in writing signed by the members of the committee making the report.

IV. Any motion or proposition may be withdrawn by the mover with the consent of the seconder at any time before decision or its amendment by, or its reference to a committee.

V. A question may be divided at the request of a member. A member requesting a division of a question must state definitely into how many parts he would have it divided. Each of these parts must be able to stand alone, and the remainder must be able to stand in like manner and be consistent and entire.

VI. When an amendment is pending, motions to amend must be limited exclusively to that amendment.

VII. A motion to amend an amendment shall preclude all further propositions to amend until it shall be decided; and the question on the proposition to amend, last made, shall be put first.

VIII. All questions shall be put in the order in which they were moved; and in filling blanks, the largest sum or quantity, and the longest time, shall be put first.

IX. A motion substantially the same as the one disposed of, or under advisement or inconsistent with one adopted, cannot be entertained in the same session.

X. When a question has been decided in the affirmative or negative, it shall be, in order for any member who voted on the side which prevailed to move a reconsideration thereof on the same day on which the decision was had, or on the next day thereafter.

A motion to reconsider, if rejected, cannot be moved again.

XI. When a question is postponed indefinitely, the same shall not be acted upon again during the same session.

XII. A motion to reconsider does not bring up the merits of the propositions for discussion. The propriety of reconsidering it is the only matter debatable. If the proposition is reconsidered, it is before the Grand Lodge in the same form it was immediately before it was voted on.

XIII. No member shall speak more than once on the same question, without leave of the Grand Lodge, unless he be the mover, proposer, or introducer, of the matter pending; in which case he shall be permitted to reply, but not until every member choosing to speak shall have spoken.

XIV. When a member rises on a question of privilege or order, the M.W. Grand Master will recognize the member, and the question of order or privilege, shall be disposed of at once. The member temporarily interrupted then resumes the floor.

XV. The M.W. Grand Master shall decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the Grand Lodge.

XVI. Every brother shall have the right to vote, and any brother who is present, when the question is put, shall vote unless for special reasons he be excused.

XVII. No brother shall vote, who is present, when he is particularly and personally interested; nor shall there be any debate after the question is put by the M.W. Grand Master.

XVIII. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received unless to amend it, to commit it, to postpone it, or for the previous questions.

XIX. The previous question being moved and seconded, the question shall be "Shall the main question be put now?" and if a majority present vote in the affirmative, the main question shall then be put.

XX. The ordering of the previous question shall only be to cut off debate and subsequent amendments; and the question shall be on amendments pending, beginning with the last successively back to the original proposition.

XXI. The previous question shall be decided without debate.

XXII. These rules shall not be modified or suspended, except by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present and entitled to vote at the time the vote is taken.

XXIII. These rules are for the government of the Grand Lodge alone and not for Subordinate Lodges.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

I. Prayer by the Grand Chaplain.

II. Calling of the roll of Officers and permanent members of the Grand Lodge and noting absences, if any, by the Grand Secretary.

III. Calling the roll of Lodges, and noting those represented, and announcing the result.

IV. The solemn ceremonies of opening the Grand Lodge.

V. Reading and approving the Minutes of the previous communication not before read and approved unless dispensed with.

VI. The announcement of the Committee on Credentials; and any business affecting the organization of the Grand Lodge.

VII. Address of the M.W. Grand Master, and reference thereof.

VIII. Annual Report of the Grand Secretary, Grand Treasurer and reference thereof; and the Committee on Correspondence.

IX. Appointment of Regular Committees and filling vacancies, if any, in Standing Committees.

X. Reports on unfinished business.

XI. Presentation and reference or other disposition of memorials, petitions and communications.

XII. Motions and Resolutions, and reference or other disposition of the same.

XIII. Reports of Regular and Standing Committees and action thereon, preference to be given in accordance with the order named in the Constitution.

XIV. Reports of Special Committees and action thereon.

XV. Special orders, if any.

XVI. Consideration of amendments of the Constitution, By-Laws, Rules and Regulations, if any.

XVII. Miscellaneous business, if any, not included in the above.

XVIII. Election of Grand lodge Officers, and Installation of Elective and Appointive Officers, Appointment of Standing Committees.