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

emoves to B----, and that being, by the urgency of his business,
unable
either to postpone his departure from A----, until he has been passed
and
raised, or to return for the purpose of his receiving his second and
third
degrees, then it is competent for the lodge at A---- to grant
permission
to the lodge at B---- to confer them on the candidate.
But how shall this permission be given--by a unanimous vote, or merely
by
a vote of the majority of the members at A----? Here it seems to me
that,
so far as regards the lodge at A----, the reasons for unanimity no
longer
exist. There is here no danger that a "fractious member will be imposed
on
them," as the candidate, when finished, will become a member of the
lodge
at B----. The question of consent is simply in the nature of a
resolution, and may be determined by the assenting votes of a majority
of
the members at A---. It is, however, to be understood, that if any
Brother
believes that the candidate is unworthy, from character, of further
advancement, he may suspend the question of consent, by preferring
charges
against him. If this is not done, and the consent of the lodge is
obtained, that the candidate may apply to the lodge at B---, then when
his
petition is read in that lodge, it must, of course, pass through the
usual
ordeal of a month's probation, and a unanimous vote; for here the old
reasons for unanimity once more prevail.
I know of no ancient written law upon this subject, but it seems to me
that the course I have described is the only one that could be
suggested
by analogy and common sense.
Section XIII.
_Of the Initiation of Non-residents._
The subject of this section is naturally divided into two
branches:--First, as to the initiation by a lodge of a candidate, who,
residing in the same State or Grand Lodge jurisdiction, is still not an
inhabitant of the town in which the lodge to which he applies is
situated, but resides nearer to some other lodge; and, secondly, as to
the
initiation of a stranger, whose residence is in another State, or under
the jurisdiction of another Grand Lodge.