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

the ballot might be impaired. It is through a similar mode of reasoning
that the Constitution of the United States provides, that the members
of
Congress shall not be questioned, in any other place, for any speech or
debate in either House. As in this way the freedom of debate is
preserved
in legislative bodies, so in like manner should the freedom of the
ballot
be insured in lodges.
The sixth General Regulation requires unanimity in the ballot. Its
language is: "but no man can be entered a Brother in any particular
lodge,
or admitted to be a member thereof, without the _unanimous consent of
all
the members of that lodge_ then present when the candidate is
proposed."
This regulation, it will be remembered, was adopted in 1721. But in the
"New Regulations," adopted in 1754, and which are declared to have been
enacted "only for amending or explaining the Old Regulations for the
good
of Masonry, without breaking in upon the ancient rules of the
fraternity,
still preserving the old landmarks," it is said: "but it was found
inconvenient to insist upon unanimity in several cases; and, therefore,
the Grand Masters have allowed the lodges to admit a member, if not
above
three black balls are against him; though some lodges desire no such
allowance."[69]
The Grand Lodge of England still acts under this new regulation, and
extends the number of black balls which will reject to three, though it
permits its subordinates, if they desire it, to require unanimity. But
nearly all the Grand Lodges of this country have adhered to the old
regulation, which is undoubtedly the better one, and by special
enactment
have made the unanimous consent of all the Brethren present necessary
to
the election of a candidate.
Another question here suggests itself. Can a member, who by the byelaws
of his lodge is disqualified from the exercise of his other franchises
as
a member, in consequence of being in arrears beyond a certain amount,
be
prevented from depositing his ballot on the application of a candidate?
That by such a bye-law he may be disfranchised of his vote in electing
officers, or of the right to hold office, will be freely admitted. But
the
words of the old regulation seem expressly, and without equivocation,
to
require that _every member present_ shall vote. The candidate shall
only
be admitted "by the unanimous consent of all the members of that lodge
then present when the candidate is proposed." This right of the members
to