Sec. 1. Any Subordinate Lodge in this jurisdiction desiring to dissolve, or sever its connection with this Order, may apply to this Grand Lodge, in writing, for permission so to do, when, if such Lodge is free from all charges on the books of this Grand Lodge, the application may be granted upon the following express conditions, viz.:—

• 1st. The Application must be signed by at least five-sixths

  Conditions.

  of the financial members in good standing in such Lodge, and the written consent obtained of any member entitled to alimony, as provided for in the "Friendly Societies Act."
• 2nd. The application must be presented to the Grand Lodge at least four weeks prior to its Annual Session.
• 3rd. The Application must state fairly and distinctly the intended appropriation or division of the funds or property of such Lodge.
• 4th. At least one half of the gross, funds or property of such Lodge must be handed over to this Grand Lodge, for the benefit of the General Funeral Fund, or its Officer duly appointed to receive them; and such payment shall be made on the day on which such dissolution or severance shall take place.

Sec. 2. On an application being granted, as provided for in the proceeding Section, it shall be the duty of the Lodge to which the application was granted to publish a notice of their intended dissolution or severance in the Government Gazette, and three times in the newspaper published nearest the locality of such Lodge, for, at least, three weeks previous to such dissolution or severance; stating the day upon, and the place at which, the same shall take place: and on the day so stated the Grand Master, or his Deputy for the District in which such Lodge is located, or some duly appointed agent of this page 24 Grand Lodge, shall attend at the place appointed, and see that the conditions upon which the application was granted, and the regulations of the "Friendly Societies Act" regulating such cases are fully complied with; and in case of the breach of any such regulations, such officer or agent shall bring the party or parties so offending before the nearest Justice of the Peace to be dealt with according to law.

Sec. 3. Any Lodge dissolving or severing its connection, as above provided for, shall at once hand over to the Officer or Agent of the Grand. Lodge in attendance, the Charter or Dispensation, and the Initiation, Charge, and Degree Books belonging to such Lodge, together with the funds or property mentioned in the 4th condition of Sec. 1 of this Article, which funds or property shall be placed in the General Funeral Fund of the Grand Lodge; and such Officer or Agent shall be paid from the funds of such Subordinate Lodge a reasonable amount for his necessary expenses for such attendance.

Sec. 4. Should this Order at any time be reduced to twelve financial members, it shall be lawful for such members to dissolve this Order, and to share whatever funds may remain, equally between such members, or to pay such funds, or any portion thereof, over to any one or more of the charitable institutions of this colony.