THE ARCANE SCHOOLS - Fort Myers Beach Masonic Lodge No. 362

approbation and consent of the majority of all the Brethren present
being
absolutely necessary, to make the same binding and obligatory."
The expression which is put in capitals--"provided always that the old
landmarks be carefully preserved"--is the limiting clause which must be
steadily borne in mind, whenever we attempt to enumerate the powers of
a
Grand Lodge. It must never be forgotten (in the words of another
regulation, adopted in 1723, and incorporated in the ritual of
installation), that "it is not in the power of any man, or body of men,
to
make any alteration or innovation in the body of Masonry."
"With these views to limit us, the powers of a Grand Lodge may be
enumerated in the language which has been adopted in the modern
constitutions of England, and which seem to us, after a careful
comparison, to be as comprehensive and correct as any that we have been
able to examine. This enumeration is in the following language:
"In the Grand Lodge, alone, resides the power of enacting laws and
regulations for the permanent government of the craft, and of altering,
repealing, and abrogating them, always taking care that the ancient
landmarks of the order are preserved. The Grand Lodge has also the
inherent power of investigating, regulating, and deciding all matters
relative to the craft, or to particular lodges, or to individual
Brothers,
which it may exercise either of itself, or by such delegated authority,
as
in its wisdom and discretion it may appoint; but in the Grand Lodge
alone
resides the power of erasing lodges, and expelling Brethren from the
craft, a power which it ought not to delegate to any subordinate
authority
in England."
In this enumeration we discover the existence of three distinct classes
of
powers:--1, a legislative power; 2, a judicial power; and 3, an
executive
power. Each of these will occupy a separate section.
Section II.
_Of the Legislative Power of a Grand Lodge._
In the passage already quoted from the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge
of
England it is said, "in the Grand Lodge, alone, resides the power of
enacting laws and regulations for the government of the craft, and of
altering, repealing, and abrogating them." General regulations for the
government of the whole craft throughout the world can no longer be
enacted by a Grand Lodge. The multiplication of these bodies, since the