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

precincts. And if unaffiliated Masons were exempted from this control,
the
institution might be seriously affected in the eyes of the community,
by
their bad conduct.
3. The personal jurisdiction of a lodge, for the same good reason,
extends over all Masons living in its vicinity. A Master Mason
belonging
to a distant lodge, but residing within the geographical jurisdiction
of
another lodge, becomes amenable for his conduct to the latter, as well
as
to the former lodge. But if his own lodge is within a reasonable
distance,
courtesy requires that the lodge near which he resides should rather
make
a complaint to his lodge than itself institute proceedings against him.
But the reputation of the Order must not be permitted to be endangered,
and a case might occur, in which it would be inexpedient to extend this
courtesy, and where the lodge would feel compelled to proceed to the
trial
and punishment of the offender, without appealing to his lodge. The
geographical jurisdiction will, in all cases, legalize the proceedings.
4. But a lodge situated near the confines of a State cannot extend its
jurisdiction over Masons residing in a neighboring State, and not being
its members, however near they may reside to it: for no lodge can
exercise
jurisdiction over the members of another Grand Lodge jurisdiction. Its
geographical, as well as personal jurisdiction, can extend no further
than
that of its own Grand Lodge.
5. Lastly, no lodge can exercise penal jurisdiction over its own
Master,
for he is alone responsible for his conduct to the Grand Lodge. But it
may
act as his accuser before that body, and impeach him for any offense
that
he may have committed. Neither can a lodge exercise penal jurisdiction
over the Grand Master, although under other circumstances it might have
both geographical and personal jurisdiction over him, from his
residence
and membership.
Chapter V.
Of Appeals.
Every Mason, who has been tried and convicted by a lodge, has an
inalienable right to appeal from that conviction, and from the sentence