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

Carolina adheres to the former custom, and that of England to the
latter.
Another regulation is, that no lodge can confer more than two degrees,
at
one communication, on the same candidate. The Grand Lodge of England is
still more stringent on this subject, and declares that "no candidate
shall be permitted to receive more than one degree, on the same day;
nor
shall a higher degree in Masonry be conferred on any Brother at a less
interval than four weeks from his receiving a previous degree, nor
until
he has passed an examination, in open lodge, in that degree." This rule
is
also in force in South Carolina and several other of the American
jurisdictions. But, the law which forbids the whole three degrees of
Ancient Craft Masonry to be conferred, at the same communication, on
one
candidate, is universal in its application, and, as such, may be deemed
one of the ancient landmarks of the Order.
There is another rule, which seems to be of universal extent, and is,
indeed, contained in the General Regulations of 1767, to the following
effect: "No lodge shall make more than five new Brothers at one and the
same time, without an urgent necessity."
All lodges are bound to hold their meetings at least once in every
calendar month; and every lodge neglecting so to do for one year,
thereby
forfeits its warrant of constitution.
The subject of the removal of lodges is the last thing that shall
engage
our attention. Here the ancient regulations of the craft have adopted
many
guards to prevent the capricious or improper removal of a lodge from
its
regular place of meeting. In the first place, no lodge can be removed
from
the town in which it is situated, to any other place, without the
consent
of the Grand Lodge. But, a lodge may remove from one part of the town
to
another, with the consent of the members, under the following
restrictions: The removal cannot be made without the Master's
knowledge;
nor can any motion, for that purpose, be presented in his absence. When
such a motion is made, and properly seconded, the Master will order
summonses to every member, specifying the business, and appointing a
day
for considering and determining the affair. And if then a majority of
the
lodge, with the Master, or two-thirds, without him, consent to the
removal, it shall take place; but notice thereof must be sent, at once,
to
the Grand Lodge. The General Regulations of 1767 further declare, that
such removal must be approved by the Grand Master. I suppose that where