Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

116 FREE MASONRY.
CHAPTER XIX.
" Come then, brethren, lead along
" Social rites and mystic song!
11 Tho' nor Madam, Miss, nor Boss,
" Could our myst'ries ever guess;
" Nor could ever learned divine
" Sacred Masonry define;
" Round our order close we bind,
" Laws of love to all mankind;
u Thus like elves in mystic ring,
" Merry Masons drink and sing.* 1
" A LODGE is a place where Masons assemble and work:
hence that assembly, or duly organized society of Masons,
is called a lodge,* and every brother ought to belong to one,
and be subject to its by-laws and general regulations.
" A lodge ought to assemble for work at least once in
every calendar month, and must consist of one master, two
wardens, (senior and junior,) one secretary, one treasurer,
two deacons, one or more stewards, a tyler, and as many
members as the master and the majority of the lodge shall 0
think proper; although more than forty or fifty are generally
found inconvenient for working to advantage; and,
therefore, when a lodge comes to be numerous, some of
the ablest master workmen, and others under their direction,
will obtain leave to separate, and apply to the grand
lodge for a warrant to work by themselves, in order to the
advancement of the craft
" Every member of a working lodge should be a Master
Mason."—Book of Cons. pp. 42,43.
* tt So, the word church is expressive both of the congregation and tho
place of worship."—Boo* of On*, p. 42.