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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 21

Government of the Tents

Government of the Tents.

Qualification

40. Admission of Members.—Persons of any religious persuasion, of good moral character, free from disease, not under fifteen and not above fifty years of age, and having abstained from all intoxicating drinks fourteen days previous to initiation, may become members of this Order. All

Sign Pledge

candidates must, at their initiation, sign the pledge as set forth in the Constitution (General Law No. 1), and

Medical Certificate

must produce certificate of health from the Tent Surgeon (if any), or from some other legal medical practitioner; and any member insuring his wife in the Funeral Fund shall produce a certificate of health from the Tent Surgeon, or from some other duly-qualified medical practitioner.

Proposition

41. Mode of Admission.—Candidates must be proposed and seconded by members belonging to the Tent, on a regular Tent night, their proposition money deposited by the proposer, and the name, age, occupation, and residence of each candidate inserted in the Proposition Book by the Secretary. They shall, if required, appear and produce

Proof of Age

satisfactory documents as to their age, and if approved, may be admitted next Tent night. Propositions must not remain on the books longer than two months. If a candidate

Proposition Money

be rejected, his proposition money must be returned; but if he break the pledge, or fail to visit the Tent Surgeon, or (after having done so) does not present himself for page 17 initiation within the time above stated, the money will be forfeited. No person shall be admitted a member who is

Health and Character

in ill-health, except as an honorary member; nor shall any person be admitted (either as an honorary or benefit member) who bears a bad character or leads an immoral life. The proposer and seconder of a candidate shall be

Responsibility of Proposer and Seconder

responsible for the previous character of the person proposed. Should they knowingly introduce a person who is unhealthy or inadmissible as aforesaid, they and the person introduced shall be expelled, or suffer such other punishment as the Tent shall award. The vote for the admission

Ballot for Candidates

of candidates shall be by ballot, and one negative vote in five shall exclude the candidate.
42. Candidates Previously Initiated, &c.—If a candidate has been previously initiated in any Tent in the Australasian colonies, he shall not be admitted without the permission of the Tent of which he was last a member. If a candidate be

Rejection of Candidates

rejected by one Tent and received into another, the Tent by which he was rejected shall not be compelled to receive him under any circumstances. If a candidate is prevented

Special Meeting to initiate

attending for initiation on a regular Tent night, the officers may call a special meeting for his initiation; any expenses incurred to be paid by the candidate.

43. Charge for Entrance.—The charge for entrance shall be according to age, as follows:—

Entrance Fees—full Benefits.
Age last Birthday. Sick Fund. Funl. Fund. Total. Full Benefit
15 and under 20 years of age £0 10 0 £0 2 0 £0 12 0
20 and under 25years of age 0 10 0 0 3 0 0 13 0
25 and under 30 years of age 0 15 0 0 4 0 0 19 0
30 and under 35 years of age 1 0 0 0 5 0 1 5 0
35 and under 36 years of age 1 4 0 0 6 0 1 10 0
36 and under 37 years of age 1 8 0 0 12 0 2 0 0
37 and under 38 years of age 1 12 0 0 18 0 2 10 0
38 and under 39 years of age 1 16 0 1 4 0 3 0 0
39 and under 40 years of age 2 0 0 1 10 0 3 10 0
40 and under 41 years of age 2 6 0 1 16 0 4 2 0
41 and under 42 years of age 2 12 0 2 2 0 4 14 0
42 and under 43 years of age 2 18 0 2 8 0 5 6 0
43 and under 44 years of age 3 4 0 2 14 0 5 18 0
44 and under 45 years of age 3 10 0 3 0 0 6 10 0
45 and under 46 years of age 3 16 0 3 6 0 7 2 0
46 and under 47 years of age 4 2 0 3 12 0 7 14 0
47 and under 48 years of age 4 8 0 3 18 0 8 6 0
48 and under 49 years of age 4 14 0 4 4 0 8 18 0
49 and under 50 years of age 5 0 0 4 10 0 9 10 0
Entrance Fees—half Benefits.
Age last Birthday. Sick Fund, Funl. Fund. Total. Half-Benefit
15 and under 20 years of age £0 5 0 £0 1 0 £0 6 0
20 and under 25 years of age 0 5 0 0 1 6 0 6 6
25 and under 30 years of age 0 7 6 0 2 0 0 9 6
30 and under 35 years of age 0 10 0 0 2 6 0 12 6
35 and under 36 years of age 0 12 0 0 3 0 0 15 0
36 and under 37 years of age 0 14 0 0 6 0 1 0 0
37 and under 38 years of age 0 16 0 0 9 0 1 5 0
38 and under 39 years of age 0 18 0 0 12 0 1 10 0
39 and under 40 years of age 1 0 0 0 15 0 1 15 0 page 18
40 and under 41 years of age £1 3 0 £0 18 0 £2 1 0
41 and under 42 years of age 1 6 0 1 1 0 2 7 0
42 and under 43 years of age 1 9 0 1 4 0 2 13 0
43 and under 44 years of age 1 12 0 1 7 0 2 19 0
44 and under 45 years of age 1 15 0 1 10 0 3 5 0
45 and under 46 years of age 1 18 0 1 13 0 3 11 0
46 and under 47 years of age 2 1 0 1 16 0 3 17 0
47 and under 48 years of age 2 4 0 1 19 0 4 3 0
48 and under 49 years of age 2 7 0 2 2 0 4 9 0
49 and under 50 years of age 2 10 0 2 5 0 4 15 0

NoteMembers may enter for Full or Half Benefits.

Member's Wife

The Entrance Fees for a member's wife in the Funeral Fund (if entered) shall be as follows:—
15 and under 20 years of age £0 1 6
20 and under 25 years of age 0 2 3
25 and under 30 years of age 0 3 0
30 and under 35 years of age 0 3 9
35 and under 36 years of age 0 4 6
36 and under 37 years of age 0 9 0
37 and under 38 years of age 0 13 6
38 and under 39 years of age 0 18 0
39 and under 40 years of age 1 2 6
40 and under 41 years of age 1 7 0
41 and under 42 years of age 1 11 6
42 and under 43 years of age 1 16 0
43 and under 44 years of age 2 0 6
44 and under 45 years of age 2 5 0
45 and under 46 years of age 2 9 6
46 and under 47 years of age 2 14 0
47 and under 48 years of age 2 18 6
48 and under 49 years of age 3 3 0
49 and under 50 years of age 3 7 6
Should any doubt arise as to the ago of a candidate proposed,

Proof of Age

or the age of a member's wife, proof may be required by the Tent; and should a wrong age be given with a view to defraud, the offending member shall, upon satisfactory proof thereof being given, be immediately expelled, Half-benefit members may (with the consent of their Tent)

Increase from half to full Benefit

increase their payment from half to full payments, and be entitled to corresponding benefits, upon paying the additional entrance fees at their age at the time of such increase, and obtaining Tent Surgeon's certificate of health, but they shall not be entitled to full benefit until twelve months next after such increase. Full-benefit members

Reduce from full to half Benefit

may reduce to half-benefit upon receiving sanction of Tent, but no allowance or rebate shall be made for money paid on account of full-benefit.
44. Manner of Payment.—All candidates must pay two shillings and sixpence on the night of proposition, and at least one-half of the balance of the entrance money on the

Purchase Laws and Certificate

night of admission; the remainder to be paid within six months. Every candidate shall purchase one copy of these Laws, and a certificate of membership.
45. Contributions to Sick, Funeral, and Continent Funds.—The Sick, Funeral, and Contingent Funds shall be raised

Contribution

as follows:—Each member shall contribute not less, per quarter, than 6s. 6d. to the Sick Fund, 1s. 8d. to the Funeral Fund, and 10d. to the Contingent Fund, for full page 19 benefit; and not less, per quarter, than 3s. 3d. to the Sick Fund, 10d. to the Funeral Fund, and 11d. to the Contingent Fund, for half benefit; and entrance fees according to General Law 43. Any Tent expending any of its Sick or Funeral Fund for other than sick or funeral purposes shall

Penalty for illegal Expenditure of Funds

forfeit and pay the sum of £5 to the District, to be appropriated to the District Relief Contingent Fund (General Law 26), and be suspended until such fine be paid; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall apply to the opening of Tents, when all charges made by the District for goods and other expenses shall be paid out of the General Fund of the Tent. Each member insuring his

Member's Wife must be Pledged Abstainer

wife shall contribute not less than 1s. per quarter to this fund, and entrance fees according to General Law 43, and no member's wife shall be allowed to insure in the Funeral Fund unless she be a pledged total abstainer.
46. Contingent Fund.—The Secretary's salary, rent of room, and other necessary expenses of Tent not otherwise provided for, shall be paid from this fund, to which contributions

Contributions, &c.

and entrance fees of honorary members, fines, forfeitures, profits on goods, and all receipts whatsoever (except otherwise stated), shall be appropriated, and to which may be added one-eighth of the Sick Fund, with the consent of the District.
47. Payments to Sick Members.—Any member who has

Sick Benefit

been admitted twelve calendar months, whose initiation money has boon paid within the time fixed by the 44th General Law, and who is not suspended as hereinafter provided, if he become sick, lame, blind, or infirm, and incapable of following any employment, if such incapacity is not occasioned by immoral conduct (notwithstanding he may continue to carry on or conduct his business, trade, or

Full Pay for one year

occupation by his wife, children, or servants;, shall be entitled to receive fifteen shillings per week for

Half Pay

full benefit, or seven shillings and sixpence per week for half benefit, for the first twelve months (but Tents may pay twenty shillings per week for full and ten shillings per week for half benefit, with the consent of the District); and if the sickness or infirmity shall continue for a longer period, he shall be entitled to receive the sum of ten shillings per week for full benefit, or five shillings per week for half

Quarter Pay

benefit, for the further period of six months; and should the member still continue sick or infirm as aforesaid, he shall be entitled to receive the sum of five shillings per week for full benefit, or two shillings and sixpence per week for half benefit, so long as such sickness or inability to follow his employment shall continue.
48. Requiring Sick Pay.—If a member require assistance

Notice to be given

from the Sick Fund, he shall give notice* to the Tent Secretary, in the manner required by the Tent, and produce

Surgeon's Certificate

the Tent Surgeon's certificate (if within his visiting district, otherwise from some other legal medical practitioner), and the Secretary shall thereupon direct the Stewards to

Stewards to Visit and Pay

visit and pay him according to rule; and he shall periodically give such proof of his inability to labour as the Tent

* See form of Notice, page 38.

See form of Tent Surgeon's Certificate, page 38.

page 20

Declaring off Fund

may require. When a member declares off the Fund, he shall forward a notice, * in writing, to the Tent Secretary, of such his intention, such notice to be accompanied by the Tent Surgeon's certificate (if within his visiting district,

Surgeon's Certificate

otherwise from some other legal medical practitioner), and in default shall forfeit and pay the sum of two shillings and sixpence. When a member declares on or off the Sick Fund, should he obtain the services of any legally-qualified medical practitioner other than the Tent Surgeon, it shall be optional with the Tent to receive such surgeon's certificate.
49. Recovering from Sickness.—If a sick member deems himself capable of resuming his employment, he shall, with the consent of the Tent Surgeon, signified in writing to the Secretary, be allowed to try work for two or three days,

Trying Work

but no sick pay shall be allowed for the time he has been at work. When a member has received one week's sick pay,

Certificate of Health required Relapses

he shall not declare off until he produce a certificate of health from the Tent Surgeon; and should sickness cease, and a relapse take place within three months, such relapse shall be deemed a continuance of the same sickness, and be calculated as a portion of the time for which he is

Leaving Residence

entitled to receive pay. No member in receipt of such pay shall be allowed to leave his place of residence without first depositing with the Secretary the Tent Surgeon's

Penalty for working when receiving Sick Pay

certificate and consent to such removal. Should any member follow any occupation while in the receipt of the sick allowance, on its being proved before the Judicial Committee, he shall for the first offence be fined £5, and be suspended from all benefit for twelve months, and for second offence be immediately expelled: Provided, however, that nothing heroin contained shall prevent any member working two or three hours daily, if the Tent Surgeon should consider such work likely to promote his recovery.
50. Suspension for Non-Payment.—Every member shall pay his contributions and fines to the Stewards, and any member owing sixteen weeks' contributions, inclusive of

Nature of Suspension

fines, money for goods purchased, and balance of initiation money (if any), shall be suspended from sick pay for one month, and from all other benefit for two weeks after he has reduced his arrears to less than thirteen weeks' contributions. While suspended he shall be allowed to visit his own Tent for a period not exceeding twelve weeks, but he shall not use the password, nor hold office, vote, or visit any other Tent; and when owing twenty-eight weeks' contributions, he shall cease to be a member, but his Tent

Tent may re-admit

shall have power to re-admit him on payment of all money owing by him, or as a new member according to rule; but if re-admitted on payment of all that he owes to the Tent,

Suspension after Re-admission

he shall be suspended twelve weeks from the date of such payment. A person who has ceased to be a member shall obtain Tent Surgeon's certificate before being re-admitted.
51. Funeral Allowance.—When a member is removed by death, from whatever cause his death may arise, if he has been twelve months in the Order, and is good upon the books, and has been returned good in the last quarterly

* See form of Declaration off Fund, page 38.

See form of Surgeon's Certificate off Fund, page 38.

page 21 return to the District Secretary, his wife, or if there be no wife then his next of kin or representative, shall be entitled to the funeral allowance. Notice of death must be

Notice to Secretary Certificate

given to the Secretary of the Tent, who shall, after receiving the certificate, according to Schedule of Forms, No. 6, * authorise the Stewards to receive the funeral allowance from the Officers of the District, as directed by General Law 25. The Stewards, having received the money, shall without delay pay to the wife, or if there be

Stewards to pay, and to whom

no wife then to the nearest relative or representative of the deceased, two-thirds of the amount, and shall give notice to such wife, relative, or representative, that if any kind of intoxicating liquors are introduced while the body of the deceased remains in the house, or if intoxicating

Intoxicating Drinks at Funerals

drinks are in any way connected with the funeral, the remainder shall be withheld and disposed of according to General Law 52. The Stewards shall see that a good and sufficient coffin is provided, and shall attend the

Stewards to superintend Funeral

funeral to see that it is conducted with propriety and decorum; and if so conducted, they shall immediately pay the remaining third of the funeral money to the wife, or if there be no wife then to the relative or representative. Upon the death of a member's wife, if she be insured for benefit, and if returned good in last quarterly returns, such

Member's Wife's Funeral

member shall be entitled to receive the funeral allowance in the same manner, and subject to the same regulations, as in the case of a deceased member.
52. Intoxicating Liquors at Funerals.—If the wife,

Penalty for introducing intoxicating drinks

relative, or representative of a deceased member introduce any intoxicating liquor while the body of the deceased remains in the house, or if such liquors are in any way connected with the funeral, the Stewards shall not pay the remaining third of the funeral money, but they shall immediately inform the Chief Ruler of the Tent, who shall lay the case before the Judicial Committee; and if it shall be decided that such intoxicating liquor was introduced without the consent or approval of the wife, relative, or representative, the remainder of the funeral money shall be paid, but if it be proved that the liquor was introduced with the consent of the wife, relative, or representative,

Money returned to District

the remainder shall not be paid, but shall be returned to the funds of the District. The same rule to be observed on the death of a member's wife.
53. Sailors Dying Abroad.—If any sailor, good upon the books, go to sea and die while upon the voyage, unless there be evidence to prove that he has forfeited his claim, his widow or relative shall be entitled to his funeral allowance. All arrears due to the Tent to be deducted. If a

Arrears deducted

member return from sea, and neglect for three weeks to pay up his arrears, he shall have no claim to the privileges

Neglect to pay Arrears

of the Order.
54. Disputes of Claimants.—Should there be a dispute as to who is entitled to receive the funeral allowance of any

Stewards to manage Funerals

member, the Stewards shall take the entire management of the funeral into their own hands; and if there be any

* For form of Medical Certificate claiming Funeral Allowance, see page 39.

page 22 overplus after all expenses are paid, the Judicial Committee of the Tent shall decide to whom the remainder shall be paid.
55. Doubtful Marriages.—Should a doubt arise respecting

Marriage Certificate to be produced

the marriage of a member claiming the funeral allowance for his wife, he shall produce a marriage certificate, or such other evidence as the Tent may consider satisfactory.
56. Widows;—The widow of a member may remain a member of the Funeral Fund by paying her contributions; but if she break the abstinence pledge, or be two quarters' contributions in arrears, she shall cease to have any claim

Breaking Pledge, and Arrears

upon the Order. The widow of a member may retain the services of the Tent Surgeon for herself and family so long as she remains a total abstainer and pays the Surgeon's fee.