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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 17

Constitution of Subordinate Lodges. Under the Jurisdiction of the R.W. Grand Lodge of New Zealand

page 42

Constitution of Subordinate Lodges. Under the Jurisdiction of the R.W. Grand Lodge of New Zealand

Constitution of Subordinate Lodges.

For the purpose of securing uniformity in the administration of the privileges, honours, and benefits of Odd-Fellow-ship within this jurisdiction, the Grand Lodge of the Ancient Independent Order of Odd-Fellows of the Colony of New Zealand, ordains the following Constitution for Subordinate Lodges under its jurisdiction:

Article I.

Form for Sub. Lodge.

Sec. 1. This Lodge shall consist of at least five members, including one qualified to preside at its meetings, to be hailed and entitled..........................Lodge, No.................Ancient Independent Order of Odd-Fellows of New Zealand, holding a legal or unreclaimed charter, granted by the Grand Lodge of the Ancient Independent Order of Odd-Fellows of New Zealand. It cannot voluntarily surrender its charter, or dissolve, so long as five-sixths of the members in good standing object thereto.
page 43
Sec. 2. The objects of this Lodge shall be to raise, from

Objects of Lodge.

time to time, a fund by fees, subscriptions, donations, or other payments, as may be provided, for the purpose of relieving sick or distressed members, or widows and orphans of deceased members; assisting in defraying the expenses of funerals of deceased members or their wives, and for the necessary expenses for the general management of the Lodge or the Order. The general place of business of this Lodge shall be..................

Article II.

Of Membership.

Sec. 1. All candidates for initiation must be males, of

Who may be admitted, as candidates.

the age of twenty-one years and upwards, of sound health, of good moral character and industrious habits, having some respectable known means of support, and who believe in the existence of a Supreme Being, the Creator and Preserver of the Universe. A person may be admitted to any Lodge in the city or village in which he resides; but all candidates for initiation must reside in this Colony, except such candidates as may apply from other Colonies where there is no Grand Lodge or District Deputy Grand Sire located.
Sec. 2. All candidates for membership by deposit of card,

Admission by deposit of card.

or as Ancient Odd-Fellows, whose cards have been granted more than twelve months, shall deposit their card with the proposition, or furnish satisfactory evidence that such card has been lost.
Sec. 3. No suspended or expelled member of the Order

Suspended or expelled members.

can be received in membership in this Lodge, except on being reinstated and receiving a Card of Clearance from the Lodge which suspended or expelled him: Provided, however, that any Odd-Fellow residing within the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, having no Card of Clearance, and who had not been connected with any Lodge in the Australian colonies, who ceased to be a member or was suspended only for non-payment of dues, and also members of defunct Lodges not able to page 44 get a Card, may be admitted to membership as a Non-Affiliated Ancient Odd-Fellow, in the same manner as is pro Tided for the admission of Ancient Odd-Fellows.

Honorary members.

Sec. 4. Any person coming within the requirements of Section 1 of this Article, who may desire to waive all claim to Funeral or Sick benefits, may be initiated or admitted, subject, however, to the same requirements and penalties as are provided for ordinary membership except in the fee for admission, and such membership shall be called Honorary Membership.

Article III.

Of Proposition for Membership.

Propositions, investigations, elections.

Sec. 1. The name of a person offered for membership, with his age, place of birth, residence, and occupation, must be proposed by a member in writing, with the names of two persons as references attached, and entered upon the Record; the application shall forthwith be referred to a Committee of three members for investigation, who shall report upon the application upon the next succeeding regular meeting (unless unavoidable circumstances prevent), when the candidate may be balloted for with ball ballots, and if no black balls appear he shall be elected, but if any or less than three black balls appear, then the application shall lay over, until the next regular meeting. Previous to the next regular meeting the member casting the black ball may (and it is his duty to) inform the Noble Grand of the cause, or ground thereof, and the Noble Grand shall, at the next regular meeting, state the reason, if any is given, to the Lodge, without exposing the name of the brother giving such reason, and the ballot shall again be held, and if not more than two black balls appear, the candidate shall be elected, but if three or more appear at either ballot he shall be rejected.

Rejected candidates; reconsideration in certain cases.

Sec. 2. No reconsideration of an unfavorable balloting can be had, unless all the brothers who may have cast black balls against an applicant for membership, voluntarily make a motion for a reconsideration of the ballot; and in such case page 45 the rote on reconsideration shall be taken by ball ballots, and if the balls cast be in favor of it, the reconsideration shall be had: whereupon the application shall lay over till the succeeding regular meeting, when another ballot shall be had with ball ballots, and if the same be unanimously in favor of the applicant, he shall be elected; but if one or more black balls appear he shall be rejected; and in no case shall a reconsideration be had, except upon the voluntary motion of all those who cast the black balls; and never more than one motion for a reconsideration in the same case shall be allowed. A favorable balloting can be reconsidered at any meeting prior to the admission of the candidate, provided a majority of the members present agree thereto.
Sec. 3. When a candidate for initiation has been rejected,

Notices of candidate's rejection to be sent to G.S. and all Lodges,

notice thereof shall be sent without delay to the R. W. Grand Secretary, and to all the Lodges in the District, and he cannot be proposed again in any Lodge for the space of six months after such rejection. All other rejected applications for membership may be renewed at any time.
Sec. 4. An application for membership may be withdrawn,

Application may be withdrawn by permission.

after it has been referred to a Committee, previous to the report of said Committee, provided a majority of the members present agree thereto; but no application can be withdrawn after the report of the Committee has been submitted to the Lodge.
Sec. 5. Any brother desirous of availing himself of the

Form for transfer members.

privilege of Sec. 3 of Article II., shall sign a petition in the presence of two members of the Lodge he proposes to join, substantially as follows:—

To.....................Lodge, No.......................A.I.O.O.F. The undersigned respectfully represents that, about the year............, he was regularly initiated into..............Lodge, No............. under the jurisdiction of the R. W. Grand Lodge of.......................in the county of................................or city or town of....................That he has take...................degrees, and holds the rank of...............Your petitioner further represents that he has not been suspended page 46 or expelled from any Lodge for misconduct or contempt. There, fore he prays for admission to your Lodge, and hereby pledges his word of honor that the facts set forth in this petition are true.

His age is...............Occupation is............................ Refers to.......................................... Witness............................................ ......................................................Petitioner.

Examination of a new member as to his degrees.

Sec. 6. If the brother be elected, it shall be the duty of the Noble Grand to appoint a Committee of three members, one of whom shall, if practicable, be a Past Grand, whose duty it shall be to examine the applicant in the degrees he has attained, and the rank he holds in the Order, and report to the Lodge, and the Secretary shall note said report upon the minutes; and the applicant shall be admitted only in the highest rank in which he can prove himself, and shall sign the Constitution and Bye-Laws.

Expulsion of falsely admitted members.

Sec. 7. If any person shall gain admittance to any Lodge upon a petition containing any false representation, he shall be expelled.

Article IV.

Of Dues, Assessments, and Benefits.

Fees and dues of members.

Section 1. All persons admitted as members of Lodges in this jurisdiction shall pay a fee in accordance, with the following scale of prices, viz,:—
For Initiation, if under 25 years of age £1 5 0
For Initiation, 25 and under 30 years of age 1 15 0
For Initiation, 30 and under 33 years of age 2 5 0
For Initiation, 33 and under 36 years of age 3 0 0
For Initiation, 36 and under 38 years of age 4 0 0
For Initiation, 38 and under 40 years of age 5 0 0
For Initiation, 40 and under 45 years of age 6 10 0
For Initiation, 45 and under 50 years of age 8 0 0
For Initiation, as an Honorary member 1 1 0
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No application for initiation shall be received from any person over 50 years of age, except as an Honorary Member.

For admission as an Ancient Odd-Fellow, if under 30 years 1 0 0
For admission as an Ancient Odd-Fellow, if 30 and under 40 years 1 10 0
For admission as an Ancient Odd-Fellow, if 40 years 2 0 0
For admission as a Non-Affiliated Ancient Odd-Fellow, if under 30 years 1 10 0
For admission as a Non-Affiliated Ancient Odd-Fellow, if 30 and under 40 years 2 0 0
For admission as a Non-Affiliated Ancient Odd-Fellow, if 40 years 3 0 0
For admission, by deposit of card in date, if under 30 years 0 10 0
For admission, by deposit of card in date, if 30 and under 40 years 0 15 0
For admission, by deposit of card in date, if 40 years 1 0 0

(Provided, however, that if the card in date be from a Lodge in this jurisdiction, the fee shall be one half the above amount.)

For admission as an Honorary member 0 10 0
For each of the first four degrees of the Subordinate Lodge 0 2 6
For the fifth degree 0 5 0
For dues, per week, for Contributing members (one shilling and three pence) 0 1 3
For dues, per quarter, for Honorary members 0 2 6
For a Clearance or Final Card 0 5 0
For a Visiting Card 0 2 6
In addition to the above the Lodge may by its Bye-Laws

Extraordinary levies.

provide for extraordinary assessments for Lodge purposes.
page 48

Benefits in sickness.

Sec. 2. Every member admitted by card or by reinstatement who has been such for the space of three months; and every member admitted by initiation, as an Ancient Odd-Fellow, or as a Non-affiliated Odd-Fellow, who has been such for the space of six months, and is not in arrears on the books of his Lodge in a sum exceeding three months' dues, whether the amount be for dues, fines, or assessments, shall, in case of being incapable by sickness or accident from following his usual occupation, or otherwise earning a livelihood, be entitled to and shall receive from the funds of the Lodge the following sums per week as sick benefits, viz.:—For Initiate, Fifteen Shillings and One Shilling additional for each degree the brother may have attained, to continue during such sickness or disability, commencing not over two weeks previous to the date of his being reported to the Lodge; but all such sick allowance shall be reduced one half after the first twelve months of such sickness: Provided such sickness or disability does not result from immoral conduct on his part.

Funeral allowance.

Sec. 3. In case of the death of a financial member there shall be allowed from the General Funeral Fund the sum of Twenty Pounds Sterling, and in case of the death of the wife of a financial brother the sum of Ten Pounds Sterling, to defray the expenses of the burial, to be paid by the Noble Grand on account of the funeral. In the absence of competent relations the Noble Grand shall take charge of the funeral, and render an account of the disbursements to the Lodge.

Certified notice of illness.

Sec. 4. Any brother absent from the city or residing at a distance from the location of his Lodge, claiming benefit, under this article, must send to his Lodge a true statement of his case, attested by the Noble Grand of the Lodge nearest his residence, and accompanied by a certificate of a respectable physician; or if no Lodge be near, then such statement shall be verified by a magistrate or Consul.

All benefits to be voted by Lodge.

Sec. 5. All applications for sick benefits for brothers in the city or town in which the Lodge is located must be accompanied by a certificate from the Lodge Surgeon, or, by per- page 49 mission, from some legally qualified medical practitioner; and all orders drawn for Funeral or Sick Benefits must be by vote of the Lodge.
Sec. 6. Honorary members may vote on all questions

Honorary members.

before the Lodge except those relating to the Sick or Funeral Fund; receive all the degrees, and may be elected to any office in the Lodge.

Article V.

Of Funds and Property.

Sec. 1. The funds and' property of this Lodge shall be

Lodge Funds to be held in Trust.

held exclusively as a Trust Fund, to be devoted to no other purposes than the charitable uses of the A.I.O.O.F., and expenditures legitimately made for Lodge purposes, and the advancement of the interests of the Lodge or the Order. The funds may be invested from time to time as the Lodge shall direct, but no part thereof, or any of the Lodge property, or the proceeds of the sale of such property, shall ever be divided among the members, except in the manner as is now or may be provided for in the "Friendly Societies Statute and in case of a forfeiture of the Lodge Charter, all the funds and property of the Lodge, of whatsoever kind, shall be immediately surrendered and delivered up to the R. W. Grand Lodge of New Zealand, or to its officers or agents properly authorised to receive them,
Sec. 2. The funds arising from the gross receipts of this

Divisions of Revenue.

Lodge shall be divided into the following classes, viz.:—
  • 1st. Sick Fund.
  • 2nd. Incidental Fund.

Each fund shall be kept separate and distinct from each other, and no part of any one fund shall be used for the advantage of, or to pay any claim properly belonging to, any other fund.

Sec. 3. For the purpose of creating the funds enumerated

Member's Contributions; how applied.

in the preceding section, the receipts of the Lodge shall be divided and set apart as follows, viz.:—For the Fnneral page 50 Fund, the sum of Two Shillings per quarter for every Financial Member; and this amount shall, without delay, be sent to the R.W. Grand Secretary, to be placed to the account of the "General Funeral Fund" for this jurisdiction. For the "Sick Fund," the sum of Five Shillings per quarter for every Financial Member which shall be used exclusively for the benefit of the sick members of this Lodge. For the "Incidental Fund" all the receipts or revenues of the Lodge, of whatsoever kind, after deducting the amounts set apart as above provided, which may be used for the legitimate expenses of the Lodge, or the Grand Lodge, or for the advancement of the Order.

Annual Balance Sheet.

Sec. 4. The Secretary of this Lodge shall, during the month of March in each year, cause to be published, a General Balance Sheet, duly, audited, of the assets and liabilities of this Lodge for the twelve months ending the preceding 31st of December.

Article VI.

Of Degrees.

Time requisite to obtain degrees.

Sec. 1. A member who has been in membership for three months shall be eligible for the first two degrees, and one month additional time shall be required for each of the other three degrees: provided that, when extraordinary circumstances require it, the Lodge may, by dispensation from the Grand Master or his Deputy for the District first obtained, confer any or all the degrees in less time than is above required.

Deposit to accompany applications for degrees.

Sec. 2. Applications for any of the five Subordinate degrees shall be accompanied with the amount required therefor, and shall be presented to the Lodge when open in that order of business; and when the Lodge has regularly closed, it shall then open in the degree applied for, beginning with the lowest, and ballot upon the application; each degree must be balloted for separately when open in the degrees applied for, and if not more than two black balls be cast, the page 51 applicant shall be elected. A rejected application for degrees may be renewed at any time thereafter.
Sec. 3. If the Lodge does not confer the degrees upon its

Certificate to obtain degrees.

own members, a certificate shall be given to the applicant who has been elected to receive degrees, addressed to a Degree Lodge, or Officer authorised to confer Degrees, showing that he is a member of this Lodge, and has been authorised by ballot of the members of said Degrees of this Lodge to receive them, and the said Degree Lodge or Officer is authorised on the reception of such certificate to confer the said Degrees upon the Brother.
Sec. 4. Every Scarlet Degree member in good standing is

Degree of Rebekah.

entitled to, and may have the Degree of Rebekah conferred upon him. The wife of every Scarlet Degree member in good standing, or the Widow of one who was such at the time of his death, is entitled to and may receive the Degree of Rebekah, but application for the same must be made at a regular meeting of the Lodge, previous to the special meeting at which the Degree is conferred.

Article VII.

Of Officers.

Sec. 1. The Elective Officers of this Lodge shall consist of

Elective Officers of Lodges.

a Noble Grand, Vice Grand, Secretary, Treasurer, and two Trustees, who shall serve a regular term of twenty-six Lodge meetings each, and the Lodge may elect a Permament Secretary for the same, time or for one year, to take charge of the accounts between the Lodge and its members.
Sec. 2. The Appointed Officers shall consist of a Warden,

Appointed Officers of Lodges.

Conductor, Outside Guardian, Inside Guardian, Right and Left Supporters to the Noble Grand, Right and Left Supporters to the Vice Grand, and Right and Left Scene Supporters, who shall serve a regular term of twenty-six Lodge meetings each; and the Lodge may also appoint a Chaplain for a regular term.
page 52

Qualifications for N.G., V.G., &c.

Sec. 3. No member shall be installed as Noble Grand unless he has served a term as Vice Grand, or the last of a term to fill a vacancy; nor as Vice Grand, unless he has served twenty-six weeks in an inferior office; that service in office, whether elective or appointed, is qualifying in any other Lodge as well as in this Lodge, providing the brother has a certificate to that effect, under seal of a Lodge in good standing in this Order:Provided, also, that any Scarlet member may be elected if all qualified brothers of the Lodge residing within the District refuse to serve, and a Dispensation for that purpose be first obtained from the M.W. Grand Master, or his Deputy for the District, previous to the election.

Officers to be free on the books.

Sec. 4. All Elective Officers, Warden, Outside Guardian, and Inside Guardian, shall be clear of all pecuniary charges on the books of the Lodge, and shall have attained the Scarlet Degree previous to Installation.

Nomination nights.

Sec. 5. Nomination for Elective Officers shall be made only on the two meetings immediately preceding the last regular meeting of the term, except when the nominees for an office all decline; and the Officers shall be elected on the last regular meeting in each term, and be installed at the first regular meeting in the new term: Provided the installing officer be present; if absent, the Lodge may, by vote, defer it till the next regular meeting, or call a special meeting for that purpose, at the request of the Installing officer; and the duties of the various Officers elected and appointed, shall be as laid down in the charges of Office, and as specified in the Constitution and Bye-Laws of the Lodge.

N.G. or V.G. to give way for other qualified members,

Sec. 6. No Noble Grand or Vice Grand shall be a candidate for re-election to the same office if two or more qualified brothers are in nomination, unless he has been one' full term out of such office.

Officers absent three nights, may be removed.

Sec. 7. Any officer absenting himself from the Lodge for three successive meetings, except in case of sickness, or any officer, for misconduct or neglect, as such, may be removed by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at the next regular page 53 meeting after a resolution therefor has been offered in the Lodge; and vacancies in any elective office may be filled by the Lodge by nomination and election at the next regular meeting after nomination; and until so filled, the N.G. shall appoint a member to the office, pro tem.
Sec. 8. The Noble Grand, or Officer acting as such, shall

N.G. and V.G. to appoint Committees.

appoint the majority, and the Vice Grand, or Officer acting as such, the minority of all Committees on candidates or charges.
Sec. 9. The Lodge, at any regular meeting within three

Representatives to Grand Lodge.

months previous to the third Monday in March of each year, shall elect two Representatives to the Grand Lodge for its charter, and one Representative for every fifteen members, and one for every fraction of fifteen, exceeding ten members in good standing, as may appear by its quarterly report to the Grand Lodge made on the 30th day of September of the previous year.

Article VIII.

Of Penalties and Trials.

Sec. 1. Any member neglecting to make payment of his

Members in arrears.

dues or demands against him to the Lodge, according to its Constitution or Bye-Laws, for the space of nine months, shall be notified by the Lodge, in writing of the state of his account; and if after one month his whole account still remains unsettled, he shall cease to be a member: Provided that no person shall so cease to be a member until after the fact of his dues being in arrears and unpaid for inne months shall have been announced in open Lodge at two regular meetings.
Sec. 2. Any member who shall violate any of the principles

Violating the Laws.

of the Order or offend against the Constitution, Bye-Laws, or Rules of Order, of this Lodge, shall be fined, reprimanded, suspended, or expelled, as the Laws may direct, or the Lodge determine.
Sec. 3. Any member guilty of the use of any profane,

Penalties.

abusive, or indecorous language in the Lodge; or refusing to be seated when called to order by the N.G., shall be fined by page 54 the Noble Grand as follows, viz.:—For the first offence, 1s.; for the second offence, committed upon the same evening, 2s. 6d.; for the third, 10s.; and for the fourth, 20s.; and the fines so inflicted shall at once be charged to the account of the offending brother, and shall serve to determine his standing in the Lodge as dues: and any brother continuing to offend as above, shall be deemed guilty of contempt of the Lodge, and shall be suspended or expelled as the Lodge, by a two-thirds vote, shall determine.

Trial of accused members.

Sec. 4. Every member shall be entitled to a fair trial for any offence involving reprimand, suspension, or expulsion. No member shall be put upon trial, unless charges duly specifying the offence, so as fully to apprise him of the nature thereof, to enable him to prepare for his defence, shall have been submitted to the Lodge, in writing, and signed by a member of some Lodge in this jurisdiction, and a copy thereof, under seal of the Lodge, shall have been served upon him at least one week previous to the trial being had.

Trial Committee of five; their powers.

Sec. 5. Such charges shall be referred to a Committee of five members of the Lodge to which the accused belongs, who shall, if possible, be chosen from the peers of the accused; and such Committee shall, without unnecessary delay, summon the parties and try the case; they shall keep full and accurate minutes of the evidence, and of their proceedings, and report the same in full to the Lodge, with their verdict.

Witnesses.

If a witness be a member of the Order, he shall give his evidence on the honor of an Odd-Fellow; if he be not a member, then on oath or affirmation; and the proceedings must state that such obligation, oath, or affirmation was duly administered. No testimony shall be taken without notice or opportunity for cross-examination by the opposing party.

Notice of adverse verdict.

Upon the report being made to the Lodge, notice thereof shall forthwith be given, by the Secretary, to the party against whom the verdict is rendered, and he shall have two weeks time in which to file exceptions to the finding of the Committee. If no exceptions are filed within two weeks, the page 55 Lodge shall proceed to pronounce judgment upon the verdict, and affix the penalty. An appeal from the judgment of the

Appeal to Grand Lodge, or,

Lodge may then be taken at any time within four weeks thereafter to the Grand Lodge; and, if no such appeal is taken within the time specified, the judgment of the Lodge shall be final. When a bill of exceptions to the report of the

Bill of exceptions

Committee is filed, as above provided, the Lodge may determine upon its merits, and either sustain the report of the Committee, or refer the same back to the same or another Committee, or grant a new trial. If, however, the Lodge deems the exceptions not well taken, it shall proceed to pronounce its judgment and affix the penalty.
Sec. 6. If the accused refuses or neglects to stand trial

Refusing trial to be taken as guilt.

when duly summoned, the Committee shall report him guilty of contempt of the Lodge, which report shall be conclusive, and the punishment shall be expulsion.
Sec. 7. If a specified penalty for an offence be provided in

Affixing penalty.

the Constitution or Bye-Laws, the N. G. shall enforce it. If none be so provided, the Lodge shall decide by ballot whether the penalty shall be expulsion, suspension, or reprimand and fine. During the ballot the accused brother shall withdraw from the Lodge Room. The argument on the case is then closed, and no subsequent debate on the merits of the case, in the absence of the accused, shall be allowed. In voting, paper ballots must be used, and the first ballot must be taken on expulsion; and if two-thirds of the ballots are cast for expulsion, such shall be the penalty; but, if two-thirds be not cast for expulsion, a second ballot shall be had on suspension, and if two-thirds of the ballots are cast for suspension, suspension shall be the penalty; and the Lodge shall proceed to fix the duration of such suspension. If neither expulsion nor suspension be determined upon as the penalty, as above provided, then the penalty shall either be reprimand, fine, or both; if fine is determined upon, then the Lodge shall fix the amount, not exceeding two pounds sterling; if reprimand is decided page 56 upon, then the accused shall be reprimanded in open Lodge by the acting N.G. No ballot held under this section shall be reconsidered. All fines imposed under this section shall be charged in his account, and considered in determining his standing in the Lodge as dues; and when the fines thus imposed, added to his dues, brings him under the penalty of Section 1 of this Article, he shall be notified of the state of his account, and allowed the usual time to make payment. In all cases, if he ceases to be a member, upon reinstatement he shall pay the whole amount of the fine and dues.

Reprimands.

Sec. 8. When a member shall be subject to the penalty of reprimand, he shall be summond to attend at some regular meeting, to be fixed by the N.G., to be reprimanded from the chair of the N.G.; and, until he so attends and be reprimanded, he shall be suspended from all benefits and privileges of membership.

Notices to other Lodge.

Sec. 9. Notice of all expulsions, suspensions, rejections, and reinstatements, and of brothers who have ceased to be members in accordance with Section 1 of this Article, shall forthwith be forwarded to every Lodge in the District, and to the Subordinate Encampment of which such brother is a member, and also to the R. W. Grand Secretary.

Reinstatements.

Sec. 10. An expelled member can be reinstated only after a proposition, reference, and election by ballot, as in the case of a newly proposed member. A brother suspended for any cause may be reinstated ou the removal of the cause, or the expiration of the term for which he was suspended, without action of the Lodge, and the N.G. shall declare in open Lodge his being reinstated.

Amount to accompany applications for reinstatement.

Sec. 11. Any person who may have ceased to be a member in consequence of nonpayment of dues, may be reinstated within nine months, by a vote of two thirds of the members present, by the payment of the whole amount due to the Lodge at the time he ceased to be a member, provided that a motion to that effect has been offered at one regular meeting page 57 previous to taking action thereon; but after nine months the amount due the Lodge shall be paid, and he shall petition the Lodge in writing, which shall be disposed of by reference and election by ballot in the same manner as is provided for petitions for memberships by initiation. In all applications for reinstatement to membership, the amount required shall accompany the application.
Sec. 12. Any member intending to appeal from the action

Notice of appeal.

of the Lodge, either in a decision of law or where charges have been preferred, shall file with the Secretary a notice of his appeal and the grounds thereof; upon which the Secretary shall forthwith send a true copy of the notice, together with a certified copy of all charges, reports, evidence, and proceedings of the Lodge, relating to the case, to the District Deputy Grand-Master.
Sec. 13. Any member guilty of habitual drunkenness, or

Drunkenness, &c.

infamous offences against the laws of the land, or improper conduct in or out of the Lodge; or of feigning himself sick, with a view of abusing the benevolent intentions of the Order; or who shall maliciously bring charges against a brother, which he is unable to prove; or shall knowingly propose any unworthy person for membership, or shall divulge the name of a brother who shall speak or vote against a candidate for membership; or shall make public any transaction which should be confined to the Lodge, shall be subject to reprimand, fine, suspension or expulsion, according to the degree of the offence, as the Lodge, after due trial and conviction, by a two-third vote of the members present, may determine.

Article IX.

Of Offences.

Sec. 1. No member of this Lodge shall be concerned in

Visiting spurious Lodges, &c.

organising or visiting any illegal, spurious, expelled, extinct, or suspended Lodge of this Order, nor paint on his sign any emblem of the Order, or otherwise exhibit any upon the same, or have any printed or engraved upon his business card, or page 58 expose any in a public place as a sign, without permission of the G.M. or Grand Lodge being first obtained; nor shall any member put any motion from the chair of the N.G., unless he be a Present or Past N.G. or V.G.

Procession for funerals only.

Sec. 2. This Lodge shall not have a public procession unless to attend the funeral of a brother, or have any public celebration of any kind, or get up any ball or public amusement in the name of the Order, or admit to membership any member of an expelled or extinct Lodge, or reinstate any expelled member of this Lodge, without the permission of the Grand Lodge, the Grand Master, or a D. Dep. G.M., first obtained for such purpose.

Article X.

Of Terms and Returns.

Terms: Jan. and July.

Sec. 1. All terms shall commence on the first day of January and July of each year, and end on the day on which the succeeding one commences.

Retiring Officers to report to the Grand Lodge.

Sec. 2. The Officers for the term about expiring shall prepare and deliver to the Officer who shall install their successors, the result of the elections, and a regular report of the work of the term, including the names of those rejected, initiated, admitte4 by card and as an Ancient Odd Fellow; those suspended or expelled, and the cause thereof, and of those reinstated and deceased; the number of degrees granted; the whole number in membership, and the amount of receipts, accompanied by whatever amount may be due to the R.W. Grand Lodge.

Certain Officers to make Returns to Grand Lodge.

Sec. 3. In addition to the above, the Officers for the term ending on the first meeting in January shall annually make to the Grand Lodge a full return of the members of the Lodge (except such as are more than ten months in arrears, or have been expelled), ranked according to the degrees attained, and a statement of the number of members relieved in the past year; the number of widowed families relieved; the number page 59 of members buried; the number of sisters buried; the amount of money applied to each of these purposes; designating the amount paid for the education of orphans, the amount of money in the treasury, and amount of investments.
Sec. 4. Should this Lodge fail to make any of its returns

Penalty for a year's neglect.

as required, for one year, it shall thereby forfeit its charter and become extinct j and it shall be the duty of the Grand Master, or D.D.G. Master, to withhold the A.T.P.W. and semi-annual P.W. until such returns are made, and the amount due the Grand Lodge is paid. And it shall be the duty of the last-installed officers to submit or surrender to the Grand Master, or his Deputy, or Installing Officer, the charter, books, papers, furniture, and funds of the Lodge.

Article XI.

Of Cards.

Sec. 1. Withdrawal Cards may be granted to members

Withdrawal card.

who are cleat of the books according to law, by a majority vote, by ballot, of the members present entitled to vote when application is made for the same. Should the Lodge refuse to grant the card as above, the applicant, on tendering a written resignation of membership and paying all dues, shall be entitled to receive from the Secretary a certificate under seal of the Lodge to that effect; and such certificate shall be sufficient evidence of good standing at the time of such resignation.
Sec. 2. Visiting Cards must be applied for in open Lodge,

Visiting cards.

and the dues must be paid up to the time for which the card is to be granted.
Sec. 3. Withdrawal Cards may be recalled, for good cause,

Recalling a withdrawal card.

by the Lodge within one year from the time such cards were granted, provided the same have not already been deposited in some other Lodge; but such action shall not have the effect of revoking such cards, or expelling the holders thereof from the Order, but will bring them back into the Lodge; when, after due notice of the charges which induced the Lodge to page 60 recall such cards, the holders, after a fair and impartial trial, may be expelled or acquitted.

Article XII.

Of Amendments and Interpretation.

Grand Lodge to solve doubts

Sec. 1. When any doubt arises as to the true meaning of any part of these Articles, it shall be determined by the Grand Lodge.

G.L. only to amend or alter Laws.

Sec. 2. These Articles, or any part thereof, shall not be altered, amended, suspended or annulled, except on motion duly made in the Grand Lodge, at a regular session.

Article XIII.

Of Bye-Laws.

Lodges may make bye-laws.

Sec. 1. This Lodge may make, alter, or rescind such Bye-Laws, Rules, and Resolutions, from time to time, as may be deemed expedient, provided that they do not in any wise contravene this Constitution, or the Constitution, Bye-Laws, or Regulations of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand.

Approval of G.L.

Sec. 2. The Bye-Laws of this Lodge are in force from the time of their approval by the Grand Lodge, or the Committee on the Laws of Subordinates; and the manuscript copy of such Bye-Laws shall, before being printed, be transmitted to the Grand Secretary, to be submitted to the Committee on the Laws of Subordinates for their approval.