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

equire that the one first up should be entitled to the floor. But the
decision of this fact is left entirely to the Master, or presiding
officer.
Whether a member be entitled to speak once or twice to the same
question,
is left to the regulation of the local bye-laws of every lodge. But,
under
all circumstances, it seems to be conceded, that a member may rise at
any
time with the permission of the presiding officer, or for the purpose
of
explanation.
A member may be called to order by any other while speaking, for the
use
of any indecorous remark, personal allusion, or irrelevant matter; but
this must be done in a courteous and conciliatory manner, and the
question
of order will at once be decided by the presiding officer.
No Brother is to be interrupted while speaking, except for the purpose
of
calling him to order, or to make a necessary explanation; nor are any
separate conversations, or, as they are called in our ancient charges,
"private committees," to be allowed.
Every member of the Order is, in the course of the debate as well as at
all other times in the lodge, to be addressed by the title of
"Brother,"
and no secular or worldly titles are ever to be used.
In accordance with the principles of justice, the parliamentary usage
is
adopted, which permits the mover of a resolution to make the concluding
speech, that he may reply to all those who have spoken against it, and
sum
up the arguments in its favor. And it would be a breach of order as
well
as of courtesy for any of his opponents to respond to this final
argument
of the mover.
It is within the discretion of the Master, at any time in the course of
the evening, to suspend the business of the lodge for the purpose of
proceeding to the ceremony of initiation, for the "work" of Masonry, as
it
is technically called, takes precedence of all other business.
When all business, both old and new, and the initiation of candidates,
if
there be any, has been disposed of, the presiding officer inquires of
the
officers and members if there be anything more to be proposed before
closing. Custom has prescribed a formulary for making this inquiry,
which
is in the following words.