STACk 
 
 r 

 
 CONSTITUTION, 
 
 BY-LAWS AND RULES, 
 
 OF 
 
 nOOSlCK IflLLEY LODGE, 
 
 NUMBER ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY-NINE. 
 
 L O. of O. F. 
 
 Instituted at South. Adams, Mass. 
 
 'FRIENDSHIP, LOVE AND TIIUTH." 
 
 PITTSFIET.D : 
 
 PRINTED BY Br. V/. D. AXTEL.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 In presenting the public with our Constitution and By- 
 Laws, it is but just that lliey should be accompanied with 
 at least a br^^f notice of the principles, tendency and his- 
 tory of the Order. The principles and tendency of any 
 system demand exposition ; both for its own sake and for 
 the sake of the community. Principles are frequently 
 judged of, not by the fair operation of those principles, 
 but by the acts of professors. Hence, pure doctrines, 
 and schemes of good, darkened and distorted to the vision of 
 the world, are denounced and ridiculed ; when, had they 
 been clearly exhibited, these erroneous judgments would 
 have been refuted and these misunderstandings rectified — 
 they would have been joyfully adopted and would have 
 triumphantly prevailed. Even holy and inspired religion 
 has suffered from such causes. She has been despised 
 and persecuted, and from within her own temples bave 
 arisen her deadliest foes. Cunning ambition, perverting 
 her spiritual precepts, has reached after thrones and dia- 
 dems : — mad fanaticism has shouted from her battlements: 
 — narrow-minded bigotry, and drunken zeal, have sharp- 
 ened instruments of torture in her name :- -envy, hate, 
 and war have gone out from her ; and thus from the acts 
 of her own professed votaries, has the world lost sight 
 of her principles of judgment, faith, and mercy; and has 
 considered the evil acts of these instead: — cold hearts 
 have therefore been given to her pure teachings, and the 
 finger of contempt, and the scornful smile of unbelief have 
 been bent upon her real messengers. If, then, a system 
 emanating from the throne of omnipotence, on account of 
 a perversion and m.isjudgment of its principles, would 
 have utterly perished from the earth, but that it is upheld 
 by an almighty arm— what may we not rationally expect 
 
 l?Odntr-;cr
 
 4 PREFACE. 
 
 for those which partake more of the earthly and human 
 in their character? Therefore, for the sake of a sys- 
 tem ITSELF, its principles should be exhibited. 
 
 The principle of association, that has wrought such 
 wonders in this age, and in every department of society, 
 has been adopted by our order; and we unite in social 
 compact, for our own mutual benefit, and for the specific 
 purpose of extending to the sick, the widow, and orphan, 
 efficient and timely aid. The experience of years has 
 proved, that, though our regular contributions to the treas- 
 ury are, in themselves, but trifling, still they afford abun- 
 dant means for affording effectual relief to all our needy 
 members ; and we are not aware that a single instance 
 has occured, where a lodge has not been able to meet all 
 the demands of this kind that have been niade upon its 
 treasury. And we may safely say, that ui^r our pres- 
 ent organization and regulations, no poor brother will 
 want the necessaries of life — no widow will go out to beg 
 — no orphan be left uneducated. Such things have not 
 been known amongst us, and they will not occur. Our 
 means, then, are sufficient to carry out our objects. 
 
 And then, again, we save the distressed from the hu- 
 miliating necessity of asking for charity. The mpmber of 
 this institution, by the payment of a small sum xveekly, 
 fully within the reach of every man in health, secures to 
 himself a positive right, not to a trifle of charity to be 
 meted out at pleasure, but to a liberal and specified amount 
 in time of sickness and distress. He secures to his wife 
 in case of his demise, a like specified sum, and to his 
 children the means of an education. The sick brother, 
 therefore appeals not to his lodge m the character of a 
 petitioner for alms. But he goes to a fund which he has 
 himself, in part, created ; and in the full consciousness 
 of his independence, he claims that which is his own, by 
 virtue of the very terms of the compact into which he has 
 entered. There is here no crushing of the spirits,no com- 
 promise of the dignity of the rnan, no humbling of that 
 laudable pride that every man ought to feel in being able 
 to provide for himself. So of the widow 3 she comes not 
 to the lodge as a beggar. But she comes with the knowl- 
 edge of her rights, and she demands that boon for whicti 
 she knows her husband has paid. She asks no stinted 
 charity, to be dealt out by the miserly hand of avarice. — 
 But she asks that which is her own. So, also, with the
 
 PREFACE. 5 
 
 orphan." He comes not to our halls to crave alms, as an 
 humble mendicant ; but in the consciousness of Ins right, 
 he claims care, protection and education, by virtue of 
 what his father has done and paid. It is his inheritance 
 from his father, and wo to the lodge, or the man, that 
 would withhold it, or rob him of his portion. There is 
 therefore none of that sinking of the spirits or searing of 
 the heart, which is attendant upon the course of the beg- 
 gar, ana especially upon contact with the unfeeling, who 
 turn the needy away empty. 
 
 Against the imposition of unworthy applicants for the 
 benetits of the order we are secured by our secrecy. — ■ 
 There are,with us "certain well-known signs and tokens," 
 knovvn only to Odd Fellows, and by which we have the 
 means of knowing whether a man is, or is not, what he 
 professes to be. No matter what these signs are. If 
 they were no more than taking oflF the hat with the left 
 hand instead of the right, as is usual, yet you see at once, 
 if ^^ were an inviolable secret, and known only to an 
 OciPFellow, no impostor could deceive us. And here let 
 us say, that the only earthly use of all our signs is to 
 preserve us from imposition. Their utility consists only 
 in the fact that they are secrets. And if you ask, why 
 we do not make them known? Our answer is, that if 
 vie should do so they would cease to be of any utility to 
 us or any other person. They would serve us no better 
 purpose than the private msrk of the merchant if every 
 one knew the key by which to read i't. Should you ask. 
 why we cannot as well secure ourselves against imposi- 
 tion without these secrets, as a common benefit society I 
 Our reply is, if we were confined, like such institutions, 
 to one place, we could do so. But you will bear in mind 
 that ours is a widely extended fraternity, scattered over 
 the length and breadth of this vast continent, crossing the 
 waters and spreading over Europe ; and when the stran- 
 ger comes from afar, and presents a certificate, perhaps in 
 a foreign language, we are bound to relieve his wants;— 
 but how do we know that this certificate is not a forgery, 
 or even that he is the man in whose name it is given ? 
 we need, in such cases, security greater than a mere lo- 
 cal institution; and this we have in our secrecy. We 
 cannot be deceived ; but when we relieve a distressed 
 brother we have the satisfaction of knowing that he is 
 an Odd Fellow, and as such, has done a share at least, to
 
 relieve others similarly situated. That the Institution is 
 perfect we cannot pretend, for what offspring of human 
 \lisdom is faultless ? But we point you to the fact that 
 this is a world of suffering, that sickness and poverty may, 
 and death positively will come, and that suffering does 
 exist, in nameless forms, through all the world. And we 
 present ours as an institution that combines many advan- 
 tages for securing the most efifectual mitigation of these 
 evils. 
 
 We avow it as our firm conviction, that there is no insti- 
 tution on earth which has done and is doing more, in pro- 
 portion to its numbers, for the benefit of the distressed and 
 the poor. For this reason alone, we feel a cheering con- 
 fidence, that when the objects and works of this institu- 
 tion are known, they will be appreciated ; and we invoke 
 upon it, in an especial manner, the srrnles and the appro- 
 bation of our fair friends, who of all others, are most inter- 
 ested in its objects. We say most interested, because it 
 is upon the tender and delicate female that the v\^|«ht 
 of adversity falls most heavily, and is felt most sevSwly. 
 When man's strong arm is feeble with disease, and the 
 means of subsistence for his dependent family are cut off, 
 he may indeed suffer ; but more keen, by far, are the suf- 
 ferings of his companion, who, in addition to her midnight 
 watchings, is borne down with new and numerous cares 
 and oppressed with fearful apprehensions of the future. — 
 So when death comes, and cuts down the husband and 
 the father, when the'hearthstone is desolate, and the stay 
 and support of the family is laid in the grave, the orphans 
 indeed may weep ; but happily for them, they cannot ap- 
 preciate their loss ; and though crushed for a moment, 
 their buoyant spirits soon recover from the shock ; and 
 as bright visions of hope dance from their eyes, they 
 will look up and smile through their tears. But it is 
 not so with the wife and the mother. Upon her head 
 comes the fury of the storm. Worn down with wea'-y 
 watchings, she feels that a new and weighty responsibility 
 has devolved upon her ; the present is dreary, and the fu- 
 ture dark and cheerless, and she feels not for herself a- 
 lone, but more keenly than all, for the tender babes that 
 are left unprotected in the world. To afford all the re-, 
 lief that human aid can afford, in seasons like these, is the 
 prime object of our institution ; and for this cause, we 
 conceive that woman should be the last to raise her voica 
 against it.
 
 PREFACE. V 
 
 Man alone, under ordinary circumstances, can b?' 
 his way through the difficulties and dangers of life; 
 for his own sake, he might not, perhaps, so much 
 the security afforded by such an institution as tliis. 
 if he have a wife and children, they may be left alon 
 and for her sake and theirs, a provident care fur tht 
 Ture should admonish him of the propriety of securing . 
 them, against the day of triai^ that friendly and efficient 
 aid which this institution so certainly extends. 
 
 There is still another feature in our institution, which 
 is worthy of a passing notice. We allude to its influence 
 upon human character through the social disposition of 
 man. We are social beings, formed for converse, and 
 social communion with our fellow creatures. We would 
 not be alone, but instinctively we seek the society of our 
 brethren of the human race ; and to these associations, i.i 
 a great measure, we owe the formation of our characters. 
 We hold it to be one of the defects of our social system, 
 that. we are too much engaged in a desperate rush for the 
 "l^ves and fishes,'' and too little inclined to cultivate 
 our social faculties. We do indeed mingle with our fel- 
 low men, but it is in the bustle and confusion of business. 
 Intent upon our object, we hurry past each other in the 
 crowd, with a nod of recognition, or meet each other in 
 the sharp contest for gain. And when the labor of the day 
 is over, we sit down to count our "cent per cent," and 
 form our plans for the morrow. Possibly we may spend an 
 hour with^ few select friends ; but they are men of sim- 
 ilar pursuits, or similar political or religious opinion^, and 
 all the world besides is to us as heathens and barbarians. 
 The consequence is that we become unsocial in our feel- 
 ings, and bigots to a creed, or slaves to a party. Who is 
 the sour-hearted bigot and partizan, but the' man who 
 knows nothing of the world but what he has learned in 
 communion with his own sect or his own party ? Who 
 the Ishmael, whose hand is against every man, but he 
 that, in the midst of a thronged world, dwells in a desert 
 alone ? To us as least, it appears evident that there is 
 need of an institution that will bring together men of va- 
 rious pursuits, and different parties and sects, and give 
 them a fellow feeling by uniting them in one work, thus 
 laying the foundation of a broader feeling of charity, a 
 more extended chain of social union. 
 
 Such is the InstitnM.on of which we are speaking. It
 
 8 PREFACE. 
 
 brings together men of every sect and party; and as they 
 mingle, from week to week, the rough corners of preju- 
 dice are sure to be battered off— and the sharp features of 
 hfird-faced bigotry to be smoothed and softened. Men 
 thus learn that there is virtue in every sect and in every 
 parly, and begin to indulge more far-reachings and expand- 
 ed feelings of kindness and charity. The golden chain of 
 friendship is lengthened and brightened, the social facul- 
 ties are improved, their sphere of operation enlarged, and 
 the partition walls that divide sect from sect, and party 
 from party, are broken down. The reason is obvious. — 
 There grows up naturally between men who commune 
 frequently with each other, in fiee and familiar, but yet 
 in dignified association, a feeling of brotherhood — a firmer 
 friendship than can exist between men who merely jostle 
 each other in the crowd, or in the confusion of business. 
 If charity of feeling, and broad principles of good will to 
 man, are worth possessing, it should always be remember- 
 ed that they will not grow up spontaneously in the clois- 
 ter of the monk, or the cell of the recluse. They must 
 proceed from, or rather be drawn out by, the social prin- 
 ciple of human nature, in a wide sense.' Furious and vin- 
 dictive party feelings exist alone in the man who associ- 
 ates with kindred spirits of his ov<rn party. Narrow 
 minded and dark browed religious bigotry scowls most 
 furiously in the face of the man who associates only with 
 those of his own creed. Let the one and the other come 
 out from the enclosure, and mingle with the votaries of 
 other parties, and they will soon learn, that virtue is not 
 confined to names; and their bigotry and acrimony will 
 wear away. They will be better men, and better chris- 
 tians ; for they will im.bibe more of that first and greatest 
 of all graces. Charity, that " chinketh no evil.'' Thus it 
 is in our lodges. There, men of all paities and of various 
 creeds meet, not as partisans, but as friends and brothers, 
 engaged in one work, bound in one common bond, and 
 they learn to cherish towards one another more kindly 
 feelings of love and good-will. Friendships are formed 
 between men of most discordant opinions, and many are 
 brought together who would otherwise have been "distant 
 from each other." 
 
 Let us for a moment glance at the history of the Order. 
 A little more than twenty years ag-o, and the name of our 
 institution was unknown in America. It had indeed ex-
 
 PREFACE. 9 
 
 isted in Europe for a period unknown to us ; but on this 
 broad continent there was not an organized body of Odd 
 Fellows. The first lodt;^, organizf ',1 in 1819, was conapos- 
 ed of fi-e members, in the hurnble walks of life, and held 
 its meetings in the upper story of an obscure hotel in the 
 city of Baltimore. Like another and far better institution, 
 it vvas born in poverty, cradled in a manger, and like tliat 
 too, its subsequent history is calculated to remind us of 
 the words of the Holy Man of old when he says, " There 
 shall be a handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the 
 mountain, but the seed thereof shall shake like Lebanon, 
 and they of the city shall flourish as the grass of the 
 earth." It was indeed but a small hamiful of com in the 
 desolate earth, and it was planted, too, ih a spot apparent- 
 ly as unpropitious as the bald peaks ot the snow-clad and 
 storm-beaten mountains, where vegetation withers and 
 dies. But it sprang up fresh and green in the sterile 
 soil where it had been planted. Scarcely, however, had 
 it peered above the earth when it was assailed by the 
 storm. It was denounced as a secret and dangerous insti- 
 tution : an exotic and poisonous plant, that ought not to 
 infest the s* of our country. The churches, in some in- 
 stances, denounced it, and closed their doors again.st its 
 members; and the ministers of religion branded it as the 
 enemy of virtue and happiness. On the one hand, it 
 met the slow contempt of scorn's unmoving finger; ard 
 on the other, the open hostility of the well meaning but 
 mistaken philanthropist. But in the midst of this war of 
 the elements it stood, drooping, indeed, and scathed by 
 the fury of the storm, but with its root firm in the earth, 
 and prepared to shoot upward when the cloud should 
 move away and the sun again illumine the heavens^. Thus 
 it continued for a season, struggling for a precarious exis- 
 tence, in the midst of oppression cruel and severe. But 
 the stor.m has passed, the tempest has ceased its angry 
 roar, and already the fields are white and ready for the 
 harvest. Like the nodding plumes of the tall cedars of 
 Lebanon, the ripening grain bends upon the parent stock, 
 and those who " sowed in sadness are returning with joy, 
 bearing their sheaves with them," and the reapers are 
 shouting the harvest home. 
 
 How mighty the contrast ! A few years ago, all that 
 felt an interest in this institution in America could con- 
 vene in an humble garret m a neighboring city. Butnovr
 
 10 fueface. 
 
 it stands like a mighty colossus, and plants one foot upon 
 the extreme north-western boundary, and the other upon 
 the southernmost point of our vast republic. With the 
 one hand it touches the very shore of our Atlantic coast, 
 and with the other, the uttermost regions of the father of 
 our rivers, the Mississippi; and all abroad in this wide 
 region of liberty and virtue, its temples are rising, and dif- 
 fusing their benefactions to the poor and distressed, the 
 widow and ihe fatherless who wait at their gates— not as 
 the poor beggar, to receive the crumbs that fall from the 
 table, but as welcome guests, to enter and share the pro- 
 Tisiotisof a plenteous board. 
 
 A few years ago and we were poor, and our means for 
 relieving the distressed meagre and small. Now, though, 
 not rich in this world's goods, yet we are rich in the most 
 precious of all treasures, the blessings of the widow and 
 the fatherless, and of "him that was ready to perish," 
 which are daily invoked on our labors. 
 
 Thousands of lisping voices rise up and call us blessed ; 
 and already we must count the sums devoted to their re- 
 lief, not by tens and fifties, but by thousands and hundreds 
 of thousands. A few years ago, the name ofcn Odd Fel- 
 low was held as a bye-word and a reproach, and there 
 were "few so poor to do it reverence." The opinion pre- 
 vailed that it was a mere merry-making affair, got up for 
 convivial and bacchanalian purposes; and though it claim- 
 ed the title of a humane and benevolent institution, it was 
 believed that this claim was set up as a cloak of hypocri- 
 sy, to conceal practices which, if known, would meet the 
 severest rf prehension of a virtuous and intelligent people. 
 
 But may it not be well to pause and ask, what is it that 
 has wrought the mighty change we have been contempla- 
 ting ? Is it the iiiiluence of wealth? Nay, for the pioneers 
 of our Order were blessed with but a moderate share of 
 this world's goods. Is it the power of the great names 
 that have been enrolled among our members? No; for 
 untii^ recently our members have been mostly found in 
 the humbler walko of life, with but little influence but that 
 which their own probity and virtue could command. — 
 Has it been accompanied by flaming appeals to the pub- 
 lic? by st\idied systems of pro'selyting.'' or by ostentatious 
 displays of benevolence.^ No, by none of these ; for our 
 alms have been given in secret, our efforts to gain mem- 
 bejs still and srjiall, and our appeals to the public few
 
 PREFACE. 11 
 
 and far between. And yet we have prospered abundant- 
 ly ;ancl except only the religion of Jesus Christ, we do not 
 believe that there is on earth an institution which, from 
 a beginning so humble, ana by means apparently so feeble, 
 has made its way through such towering opposition, and 
 risen so soon to strength and importance. But the ex- 
 planation is simple and easy. The principles of our in- 
 stitution are such as the benevolent ot all sects and par- 
 ties must approve. Its onlv earthly object is the amelior- 
 ation of the condition of suffering humanity : and we have 
 prospered precisely in proportion as W(} have kept cluse to 
 these principles, and devoted our energies to the promo- 
 tion of the professed and legitimate objects of our associ- 
 ation. Silently and unostentatiously, but steadily and 
 perseveringly, have we labored in the work of benevolence. 
 The sick have been visited, and the dark and silent watch- 
 es of the night have found our members by the bed of 
 the feeble sufferer, soothing his feverish brow and pre- 
 senting the cup to his thirsty lips. They have closed the 
 eyes of the dying; and when death has done its work, 
 they have born" the body to the grave, and deposited it 
 in the narrow' !-oase appointed fur all the living They 
 have gone back to the house that was left desolate, taken 
 up the orphans, and ted, and educated, and trained them 
 lip in knowledge and virtue, relieved and blessed the wid- 
 ow in the loneliness of her destitution. 
 
 The cold-hearted and the misanthropic rnay look cool- 
 ly on. The proud and the haughty may pass by on the 
 other side, and leave the poor traveller naked, and wel- 
 tering in gore. But angels will bend from heaven, and 
 smile upon the good Samaritan, who stoops to bind up his 
 wounds, and pour the healing oil upon the forsaken sufft^r- 
 er ; aye, and God himself will write the deed in the book 
 of remembrance, and bless and prosper him that had com- 
 passion on his suffering feilovv mortal. Whether these 
 works are done by the Churchman or the Odd Fellow, 
 is of little consequence. They are works that Heaven 
 will own and bless. 
 
 Let our institution continue on in these labors of love, 
 and our past success, extraordinary as it has been, shall 
 be but the beainning of prosperity. The rejoicings of 
 this day shall be but the first note in a song ot triumph, 
 that sh?.ll echo from year to year, and be borne onward 
 from generation to generation, till its full chorus shall
 
 12 PREFACE. 
 
 mingle in liarmony with the songs of the blessed, in that 
 day when the last tear shall fall from the eye of weeping 
 humanity, and the last sigh of anguish escape from the 
 sainted heart of acteature of God.
 
 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 PREAMBLE. 
 
 For the purpose of effecting as miicli uniformity 
 as possible in the administration of the privileges, 
 honors, and benefits of the Order, within this juris- 
 diction, The Grajjd Lodge of Massachusetts 
 State, (the supreme tribunal of Odd Fellowship 
 within its limits — without whose sanction and con- 
 trol no Lodge can exist,) ordains the following 
 Articles as the Co>:stitutiox of the subordinate 
 Lodges. 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 This Lodge shall be constituted by at least jive 
 members, including one qualified to preside at its 
 meetings, and shall be hailed and entitled "IIoosack 
 Valley Lodge, No. 129, L O. of O. F.," and shall 
 possess the full powers and privileges of a Subordi- 
 nate Lodge, holding a legal, unreclaimed, and vahd 
 charter, duly granted and formally presented by the 
 Grand Lodtre of Massachusetts State.
 
 14 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 OF MEMBERSHIP. 
 
 First Section. — Admissions, Sfc. 
 
 Clause 1st. The candidate shall be a believer in 
 a Supreme Beinsj, Creator, Preserver and Governor 
 of all things. He shall not be under twenty -one 
 years of age, (except the son of an Odd Fellow, 
 who may be admitted at twenty.) He shall be a 
 man of good moral character, and industrious habits, 
 having some respectable known means of support, 
 and exempt from all infirmities which may prevent 
 his gaining a livelihood. 
 
 Clause 2d. The name of a person offered for 
 initiation, must be proposed by a member, in wri- 
 ting, stating his age, residence and business, with 
 good reference, which must be entered on the rec- 
 ord, and the subject referred to the Committee for 
 Investigation, who shall report at the succeeding 
 regular meeting, when the candidate may be bal- 
 lotted for, with ball ballots ; and if not more than 
 two black balls appear against him, he shall be 
 elected ; but if three or more appear, he shall be 
 elected and so declared. But should objections be 
 made to any person after his election, and previous 
 to initiation, the Lodge may rescind the vote by 
 which said candidate was elected. 
 
 Clause 3d. A brother of the Order wishing to 
 become a member, shall present his card from the 
 Lodge of which he was formerly a member, which 
 shall be referred to tile Committee of Investigation, 
 and in other respects disposed of as provided by 
 Clause 2d for other applicants ; and, on being ad- 
 mitted, shall pay a sum of not less than two dollars. 
 
 Clause ith. An ancient Odd Fellow, whose card
 
 CONSTITUTION. 15 
 
 is ont of date, or which may have been lost, can be 
 admitted by referring his appHcation to the Investi- 
 gating Committee and disposing of it in other re- 
 spects as is provided for other apphcantsinthe fore- 
 going clauses, and on his paying into the Lodge 
 fund a sum not less than two dollars. 
 
 Clause bill. When a candidate has been rejected 
 for immoral conduct or impaired health, duly speci- 
 fied notice thereof shall be sent without delay^^o all 
 the Lodges in the State, and no person so rejected 
 shall be again balloted for in any Lodge, for the 
 epace of six months. 
 
 Clause 6th. No person residing in a town where 
 a Lodge or Lodges exist, shall be received into this 
 Lodge without a letter of recommendation from a 
 Lodge in the town where he resides. 
 
 Second Section. — Contributions and Benefits. 
 
 Clause 1st. Every honafide member, who shall 
 be qualified as required by the By-Laws, shall, in 
 case of sickness or disabilit}^ be entitled to and re- 
 ceive such weekly benefit as may be fixed by law, 
 from the funds of the Lodge. 
 
 Clause 2d. in case of the death of a brother 
 who shall be qualified as provided in Clause 2d, 
 there shall be allowed from the Lodge a sum not 
 less, than thirty dollars, to defray the expenses of 
 burial; which shall be paid over without delay to 
 the deceased brother's nearest of kin. The N. G., 
 in the absence of competent relations, shall take 
 charge of the funeral and receive an account of the 
 disbursements. 
 
 Clause 3d. On the demise of the wife of a bro- 
 ther qualified as provided by Clause 2d, he shall 
 be entitled to a sum of not less than fifteen dollars, 
 for the purpose of assisting in the funeral expenses.
 
 16 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 Third Section. — Penalties and Trial. 
 
 Clause 1st. Any member who shall violate any 
 of the principles of the Order, or offend against -^ 
 these Articles or the By-Laws, shall be subject to 
 be fined, reprimanded, suspended, or expelled, as 
 the By-Laws may direct, or the Lodge determine. * 
 
 Clause 2d. Every member shall be entitled to a 
 fair trial for any otlence involving reprimand, sus- 
 pension, or expulsion ; but no member of this Lodge 
 shall be put on trial, unless charges duly specif^ang 
 his offence be submitted to the Lodge in writing, 
 by brothers of the Order ; except when made liable 
 by non-payment to the Lodge. 
 
 Clause 3d. When charges have been preferred 
 against a brother, in proper manner, or an}^ fnatters 
 of grievance between brothers be brought before 
 the Lodge, they shall be referred to a special com- 
 mittee of five members, who shall, if possible, be 
 chosen from among the peers of the implicated 
 brother : and they shall, with as little delay as the 
 case will admit, summon the parties, and examine 
 and determine the matter in question ; and, if not 
 involving the expulsion or suspension of a member, 
 or no appeal be taken from that decision to the 
 Lodge, it shall be final without further action from 
 the Lodge. Should the committee be convinced of 
 the necessity of suspending or expelling a member, 
 they shall submit a motion for the purpose to the 
 Lodge for action. 
 
 Ctause 4th. When a motion for the expulsion 
 or suspension of a brother shall have been submitted 
 in due form, it shall be announced at two regular 
 meetings previous to action being taken, and the 
 accused shall be summoned to be m attendance at 
 the Lodge at the time when it may have been de-
 
 CONSTITUTIO:*. 17 
 
 termined to consider the fjuestion; at which time, 
 whether the irnpUcated brother bs present or not, 
 the Lodj^e may proceed to consider and determine 
 it ; t\v*)-third.s of the m3rnber.s present voting in fa- 
 vor of the jnolion, it rihall be carried ; and the Lodge 
 shall be fully competent, while such motion is un- 
 der consideration, to vary the penalty from the orig- 
 inal motion. 
 
 Clause bth. Wli«n.the decision of a committee 
 appointe:! under Clause 31 shall not be satisfactory 
 to all parties, either of those interested shall have 
 the privilege of oppeal to the Lodge ; and, at the 
 time appointe I f.)r trying the appeal, the committee 
 shall present to the L-j;rge, in writing, the grounds 
 on which their decision was founded, and the par- 
 ties shall have the privilege of being heard betore 
 the Lodge; and the Lodge shall determine the cor- 
 rectness of the decision of the committee by a ma- 
 jority of votes present. 
 
 clause 6tk. Any brother feeling aggrieved bv 
 the decision of the "Lodge a2;ainst him, is entitled to 
 an appeal to the Grand Lotlge for a new trial, if in- 
 forma-ity or want of fairness be '-hov%-n on the for- 
 mer trial, and on the command uf the Grand Lodge 
 the brother may be tried an^w for the same oftencf . 
 
 Clause liJi. Any brother having been suspended 
 or expylled, notice thereof shall be sent to all the 
 Lodges in the State ; at; 1 a brother who has hi-en 
 legally expelled, shall not be again admitted to 
 membership without the consent of the Grand 
 
 ARTICLE IIL 
 
 OFFiCKRS. 
 
 Jursi Section. — Elective and Appointed OJir^r,^. 
 Clause 1st. The Elective Oiiicers of the Lodge
 
 18 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 consist of N. G., V. G., Secretary, and Treasurer, 
 who shall serve a regular term each. However, 
 when deemed necessary the Lodge ma}' elect a Per- 
 manent [Secretary in addition, to serve twelve 
 months. 
 
 Clause 2d. The appointed Officers shall consist 
 of a W., C, O. G., I. G., R. H. S. N. G., L. H. 
 S. N. G., R. H. S. V. G., L. H. S. V. G., and R. 
 and L. H. S. S., who shall serve a re^iilar term 
 each ; and the N. G. may appoint, at his option, a 
 Chaplain or Chaplains, for a similar term. 
 Second Section. — Duties of Officers. 
 
 Clause 1st. The duties of the various officers 
 shall l<e as laid down in the charges of their office, 
 and as s]iecified by these Articles and the By-Laws 
 of the Lodge. 
 
 Clause 2d. A Permanent Secretary, when one 
 has been chosen by the Lodge, shall take charge of 
 the accounts between the Lodge and its members ; 
 but the Secretary shall record the proceedings and 
 perform all other duties of the office. 
 
 Third Section. — Elections, S^'c. 
 
 Clause 1st. No brother shall be ehgible to the 
 chair of the N. G. unless he has served a regular 
 term as V. G. Nor shall any brother be eligible as 
 V. G. unless he has served two terms in some inferior 
 office. 
 
 Clause 2d. All Elective Officers and the W. 
 and the O. G. and L G., shall have attained to the 
 Scarlet degree previous to installation. 
 
 Clause 3d. Nominations for the Elective Offi- 
 cers shall be made only on the two meetings imme- 
 diately {^receding that of the elections, except when 
 all the nominees for an office decline. 
 
 Clause 4Lth. No past officer shall be eligible to
 
 CONSTITUTION. 19 
 
 the office pa^t, when other nominations are before 
 the L ^ci^e, unles-- hf> has been one full term out of 
 such office, except the Treasurer and Permanent 
 Secretary. 
 
 Clause 5th. Officers shall be elected at the last 
 regular meeting in each term and shall be installed 
 at the first meeting in the succeeding one. 
 
 Clause 6th. Any officer absenting himself for 
 more than three successive meetings, his seat may 
 be declared vacant by a vote of the Lodge. And 
 all vacancies shall be filled in the manner of the for- 
 mer selection, to serve the residue of the term ; 
 and officers so serving, shall be entitled to the full 
 honors of the term. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 TERMS AND RETURNS. 
 
 First Section. — Terms. 
 The regular quarterly terms shall commence on 
 the first Tuesdays of January, April, July and Oc- 
 tober. The regular semi-annual term shall com- 
 mence on the first Tues<lays in January and July, 
 only — and all terms shall end on the day on which 
 the succeeding ones commence. 
 
 . Second Section. — Returns. 
 Clause 1st. It shall be the duty of the last past 
 officers to prepare and forward to the Grand Lodge, 
 immediately, the result of the elections, and regular 
 report of the work of the term, including the names 
 of those initiated, admitted by card, rejected, with- 
 drawn by card, suspended or expelled, and the 
 cause thereof, reinstated and deceased ; together 
 with the number degrees conferred; the whole 
 number in membership; the amoimt of receipts; 
 and the result of the election of Officers, accompa-
 
 20 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 nied by whatever amount due to the Grand Lodge. 
 Clause '2d. It shall be the duty of the Lodge 
 also to forward to the Grand Lodge, in like manner, 
 up to the first day of July, annually, a full return 
 of the members of the Lodge, ranked according to 
 the degrees attained, and a statement of the nvimber 
 of brothers relieved by the Lodge in the past year, 
 the number of widowed famihes relieved, the num- 
 ber of brothers buried, with the amount of money 
 apphed to each of these purposes, designating the 
 amount paid for the education of orphans. 
 
 Third Section. — Forfeiture of Charter. 
 Should this Lodge fail to make its returns as re- 
 quired by the second section of this article, for four 
 successive terms, it shall thereby forfeit its Charter 
 and become extinct ; and it shall become the duty 
 of the last installed officers to transmit or surrender 
 to the Grand Secretary (or such other brother as 
 may be appointed by the Grand Lodge to receive 
 them,) the charter, books, papers, furniture, and iho 
 funds of the Lodge. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 DEGREES. 
 
 First Section. — Eligihilily for Degrees. 
 Brothers who have been in membership one 
 month, shall be eligible for degrees; but not more 
 than three degrees shall be conferred on a brother at 
 the same meeting, unless the most urgent necessity 
 be proven. 
 
 Second Section. — Rates of Degrees. 
 No degree shall be conferred until after the candi- 
 date has paid the amount required therefor, and no
 
 CONSTITUTION. 21 
 
 person shall be initiated and receive his degrees for 
 a less sum than twenty dollars. - 
 
 ARTICLE VI. 
 
 AMENDMENT, &C. 
 
 First Section. — Amendment. 
 
 Clause 1st. When doubts arise of the true mean- 
 ing of any part of these articles, it shall be deter- 
 mined by the Grand Lodge. 
 
 Clause 2cl. These Articles, or any part thereof, 
 shall not be altered, amended, suspended, or annul- 
 led, except on motion made in Grand Lodge, at a 
 regular quarterly meeting, (notice of which motion 
 shall be immediately transmitted to the Subordinate 
 Lodges,) and adopted by the Representatives of a 
 majority uf said Lodges present at its annual session. 
 
 Second Section. — By-Laivs. 
 This Lod2:e shall stand fullv invested with power 
 to adopt such By-Laws and Resolutions from time 
 to time, us may be deemed expedient, provided they 
 do not in any wise contravene any part of these 
 Articles, the Laws and Constitution of the Grand 
 Lodge, or the princii)les of the Order.
 
 BY-LAWS 
 
 OP 
 
 HOOSACK VALLEY LODGE, 
 
 Number 129. 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 or MEETINGS. 
 
 Section 1. This Lodge shall assemble on Tues- 
 day evening of each week, for the transaction of 
 general business. Special meetings shall be called 
 by the N. G. at discretion, or on the written request 
 of any five members. The hour of meeting shall 
 be, from the first Tuesday of October to the first 
 Tuesday of April, at 7 o'clock, and from the first 
 Tuesday of April to the first Tuesday of Oc- 
 tober, at 8 o'clock. The Lodge shall be opened at 
 the appointed time, and in the absence of the N. G. 
 and V. G., a P. G. of the Lodge shall take the chair. 
 
 Section 2. At a regular meeting of this Lodge, 
 five ftiembers shall constitute a quorum, and be qual- 
 ified to transact any business of the Lodge which 
 may be brought before them. 
 
 Section 3. No brother shall enter the Lodge 
 unless clothed in regalia.
 
 BY-LAWS. 23 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 MEMBERSHIP. 
 
 Section 1. When a proposition for membership 
 shall be made, the same shall not be withdrawn ex- 
 cept on the recommendation of the Investigating 
 Committee; and no proposition shall be considered 
 by the Investigating Committee unless on a written 
 application, signed by the person wishing to become 
 a memfjer, enclosing one dollar, which is to be re- 
 turned in case of rejection, otherwise to be applied 
 to the Contingent Fund: and the candidates propos- 
 ed b}' the Committee shall be ballotted for, and no 
 reconsideration of a ballot shall be had, except as 
 provided for in the Constitution. 
 
 Section 2. In balloting for members, the ballot- 
 box shall be placed in full view of the N. G.,and the 
 ballot shall be examined by the N. G., and his R. 
 and L. S. 
 
 Section 3. Every member, on being admitted, 
 shall sign the Constitution and By-Laws of the 
 Lodge, thereby agreeing to support the same, and 
 pay all leiral demands against him. He shall in- 
 form the Secretary of his place of residence, and in 
 case of changing it, shall notify him thereof within 
 three weeks. 
 
 Section 4. When a member desires to withdraw 
 from the Lodge, he shall signify his wish to do so, 
 at a regular meeting, and if no objection be made, he 
 shall be entitled to a card of clearance, on paying up 
 all dues that may be against him on the Lodge books, 
 and an additional twenty-five cents for his card : 
 and if any brother desire a visiting card, he shall 
 be entitled to the same, on paying up his dues to 
 the end of the time for which it may be given, and 
 an additional twentv-tive cents for his card. 
 
 i
 
 ^4 BY-LAWS. 
 
 '^Section 5. Each person initiated into this Lo/lpc 
 shall pay the sum of ten dollars ; except hi sue h 
 i:ases as are specially jjrovided for by the Gtaud 
 Lodge of the State. 
 
 - SectioJi 6. Brothers admitted to membership by 
 deposit of card from any other Lodge, shall pay 
 three dollars. 
 
 Section 7. Brothers admitted to membership in 
 this Lodge as ancient Odd Fehows, shall pay five 
 dollars. 
 
 Section 8. Every member of this Lodge shall 
 pay to the general fund of the Lodge seventy-five 
 cents per (juarter, in advance ; and no brother shall 
 be exempt or excused fiom paying. 
 
 Section 9. Every member who shall refuse or 
 xieglect to pay his dues and arrears to the Lodge for 
 the space of six months, shall be notified therecjf by 
 the Permanent Secretary, if practicable, and if after 
 rbur weeks, his account remains unsettled, he shall 
 be suspended during the pleasure of the Lodge ; and 
 on re-instatement shall \,a.\ the amount standing 
 «igainst him at the time of his suspension, together 
 vv'ith the whole sum to which he would have been 
 subject had he not been suspended. 
 
 Section 10. No person shall receive tlie Quarter- 
 ly Pass Word until he presents a certificate from 
 the Secretar}', that he has paid his dues for tht* 
 quarter. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 OF OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES. 
 
 'Section 1, The elective ofTicers of this Lodge 
 shall consist of those enumerated in Clause 1st, Sec- 
 tion 1st, Article J II., of the Constitution, including 
 a Permanent Secretary. 
 
 Section '2. The aj^pointed ofBcers shall consist
 
 BY-LAWS. 26 
 
 of those mentioned in Clause 2;1, Section 1st, Arti- 
 cle 1 1 1., of the Coivsiitution, anJ shall be afjpointeil 
 by the N. G. irnnioJiately after his in>taliurion, ex- 
 cept the R. and L. S. of the V. G., who shall be 
 apj)oinred by the V. G. 
 
 Section 3. All offi'^-rs must he clear of the books 
 of the Lodge at the time of th>>ir installation. 
 
 Section 4. When any member of any commit- 
 tee fails to dischar:;'e his duties to the sarisfactioii of 
 the Lod:^e, he may be dismissed from his office; 
 two-thirds of the members present votin.; in fivur of 
 the motion, one weelt alter a res)lution to i-iat ellect 
 h^s been offered. It shall be the duty of every of- 
 ficer and meanber of any commirtee, to give and sur- 
 render to the N. G. ail property in his hands, be- 
 loniring to the Lodge, whenever he, at the request 
 of two-thirds of the Lodge present, may demand 
 tlietn. 
 
 Srdion 5. It shall be the duty of the N. G. to 
 preside in \\\^ Lodo:c, and enforce a due observance 
 of the Coiistirution and Laws, and a proper respect 
 for the authority' of the Grand Lodize of the State of 
 Massachusetts ; to call a roll of the officers, or have 
 it called, iinraediately after the Lodge is opened ; 
 to see that all officers of the Lodge and mt^mbers 
 of committees perform their respective duties, as 
 enjoined by the several charges and these Laws ; 
 to appoint all officers and committees, not other- 
 wise provided for ; to give the casting v:>te only, 
 on all matters or questions before the Lodge : to in- 
 spect and announce the result of all ballotings or 
 other votes l)y the Lodge ; to have charge of the 
 charter, which he must always have in ihe Lodge 
 while in session ; to draw upon the Treasurer for 
 all sums that have been voted by the Lodge, or that 
 may be necessary to pay the beueiics provided for
 
 26 BY-LAWS. 
 
 by these laws, and perform such other duties as ap- 
 pertain to his office by ancient usage and custom ; 
 he shall not make or second any motion, neither 
 shall he take part in any debate while in the chair. 
 
 Section 6. The V. G. shall assist the N. G. in 
 presiding in the Lodge, he shall appoint his own 
 supporters, and a minority of" all committees for the 
 investigation of character ; and have special charge 
 of the door, under the N. G. In case of the absence 
 of the N. G., he shall preside, and performall other 
 duties required by the charges and usac:;es of the 
 Order. 
 
 Section 7. The Secretary shall keep an accu- 
 rate record of the proceedings of the Lodge ; he 
 shall write all communications, fill up all certificates 
 and cards granted by the Lodge ; issue all sum- 
 monses or notices required, attest to all moneys ot- 
 dered paid at regular meetings and none other ; he 
 shall ha v^e and safely keep the seal of the Lodge; 
 and perform such other duties appertaining to his 
 ofnce as may be required of him by the Lodge, 
 and his charge ; also have his books written up for 
 the Finance Committee, prior to the commence- 
 ment of the new term ; and deliver up to his suc- 
 cessor all books, papers or other properties belonging 
 to his office ; and in consideration of his services,he 
 shall receive an amount equivalent to his dues. 
 
 Siction 8. A Permanent Secretary shall br elect- 
 ed annually at the last regular meeting in Decem- 
 ber, whose duty it shall be tokeej)just and irue ac- 
 counts between the Lodge and its members, receive 
 all moneys due the Lodge, and immediately pa\'the 
 same over to the Treasurer, taking his receipt there- 
 for. He shall, four weeks after the expiration of 
 each quarter, notify every member who is in ar- 
 rears, of the amount due from him to the Lodge,
 
 BY-LAWS. 27 
 
 adding twelve and a half cents for the notice. He 
 shall close the accounts of the members at the end 
 of each quarter ; and make out, at the end of each 
 term, for the Grand Lodge, a full return of the con- 
 dition of this Lodge. He shall procure all station- 
 ery for the use of the Lodge, and at the end of each 
 term make out for the Lodge a statement of all mo- 
 nies received, and paid by him to the Treasurer, and 
 deliver up to his successor in otSce, or to any com- 
 mittee whom the Lodge ma}- specially appoint, all 
 books, papers, or other property belonging to his 
 office and the Lodge. 
 
 Section 9. The Treasurer, prior to his installa- 
 tion in office, shall give a joint and several bond to 
 the N. G. and V. G., with two sureties to be ap- 
 proved by the Lodge, with such penalties and con- 
 ditions, as from time to time may be prescribed by 
 the Lodge. His duties shall be to receive all mo- 
 nies of the Lodge, and pay to the Trustees all sums 
 over and above one hundred and fift}^ dollars, taking 
 their receipt for the same ; to pay all orders on him 
 by the N. G., and if not for benefits provided for by 
 these B^'-Laws, attested by the Secretary, and 
 none others ; to keep a fall and correct account of 
 all monies received and expended ; to give the 
 Lodge a monthly statement of its funds ; to furnish 
 the Lodge, at the last meeting in the term, with a 
 full report of the receipts and disbursements of the 
 term, with vouchers ; and to have his botjks writ- 
 ten up f)r the Finance Committee, prior to the 
 commencement of the new term; and to deliver up, 
 when legally called upon, alimonies, bonds, papers, 
 books, (See, belonging to the Lodge, to his successor 
 in office, or to whom the Lodge may specially ap- 
 point.
 
 28 
 
 .r^^:^ 
 
 -^•^':^ 
 
 Section 10. The Wartlon shall take charge of 
 
 e ])roj»ercies of tlie L()(1<;e, and shall report any 
 damage dene to them to ilie N. G., and. %vith the 
 assistance of the keeper, shall place the regalia for 
 the use of the inemhers ar the ()j>eniMg of the 
 L;>dge, and at its close he shall collect and preserve 
 it in a careful way; he shall canvass all votes on 
 motions and resolutions, when required so to do; 
 and he shall be the messenger of the Lodge. The 
 Warden (or, in his absence, the Conductor.) shall 
 welcome and receive a visiting brother, and shall 
 introduce him to some brother of this Lodge, of 
 the same rank with himself, whose duty it shall 
 be to show jiarticular attention to such visiter during 
 the evening, and to make incjuiry if it is in the pow- 
 er of the Lodge, or-anv member thereof, to contri- 
 bute to his comtort or interest during his stay in this 
 place, and perform such either duties as are prescrib- 
 ed in the charge of his office. 
 
 iSectioji 11. It shall be the duty of the Jun. P. 
 G. present of this Lodge, to act in the capacity of 
 P. G., and deliver the charge of the office to candi- 
 dates, and perform all other duties aj!])erraining to 
 the office. 
 
 Section 12. A Chaj)lain may be appointed by 
 the N. G., whose duty it shall be to open and close 
 all regular meetings with jirayer, and conduct such 
 other devoliunal exercises as may be deemed ex- 
 pedient. 
 
 Section 1.3. All other officers shall perform such 
 duties as are prescribed for them by the regulations 
 and charges uf their offices. 
 
 ARTICLE I y. 
 
 STANDIKU A>'D SPECIAL COMMITTEES. 
 
 Section 1. The N. G. shall, immediately upon
 
 BT-LAWS. 29 
 
 his installation, appoint (subject to the approbation 
 of the L()(l2;e) the t'ollowini!: Standing Cummittpes. 
 to serve one quarter, viz: Committee^ of Visitation, 
 Finance, and C/orre;?p()ndence. 
 
 Section 2. The Visiting Committee shall consist 
 of the N. G.. V. G., T., and four ajipointed mem- 
 bers, whose duty it shall be to visit brothers repor- 
 ted sick, witliin twenty-four hours after receiving 
 information of the same, and continue to render 
 them, during their sickness, such assistance as the 
 By-Laws provide ; and it shall be the duty of the 
 N. G. so to arrange as that sick brothers shall be 
 visited at least once a day during their illness ; and 
 he shall have a correct roll of the members of the 
 Lodge, for the use of the Visiting Committee ; and 
 if need be, and the circumstances recjuire it, the 
 Visiting Committee shall notiiy three of the mem- 
 bers in rotation, as they stand on the roll, to attend 
 each sick member during the night, and to ad- 
 minister such assistance as may be in their power. 
 Provided always, that the disease is nut contagious, 
 infectious, or dangerous to others ; in which case, 
 the Committee shall, if necessary, employ a nurse, 
 to be paid from the funds of the Lodge. 
 
 Secti'jn 3. The Committee of Finance shall con- 
 sist of three members. It shall be their duty to su- 
 perintend the tinancial concerns of the Lodge, to 
 inspect and audit quarterly the accounts of the 
 Permanent Secretary and Treasurer, or other offi- 
 cers or committees charged with the receipt or ex- 
 penditure of monies of tlie Lodge; and they mhall 
 be authorized to examine tlio books and accounts 
 of any officer ox. membc; of a committee of th© 
 Lodge, whenever they think proper, and to report 
 as speedily as possible, on all maiterH they muj 
 have in hand.
 
 30 BY-LAWS. 
 
 Section 4. The Committee of Correspondence 
 shall consist of three members. It shall be their du- 
 ty to take into consideration ^uch communications 
 as shall be referred to them, and report thereon to 
 the Lodge. 
 
 Scciion 5. An Investigating Committee shall be 
 appointed weekly, whose duty it shall be, first to 
 examine the black book, and then carefully ascertain 
 the candidate's age, health, profession and general 
 character, and make a faithful report to the Lodge at 
 its next meeting. 
 
 Seciioit 6. If a vacancy occur in any appointed 
 office or committee, the same shall be filled at the 
 next iuccting of the Lodge. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 TRUSTEES. 
 
 Section 1. At the last regular meeting in July, 
 annually, there shall be elected, by a plurality of 
 votes, three members of this Lodge, who shall be 
 denominated Trustees of the funds and investments 
 of Hoosack Valley Lodge, No. 129, I. O. O. F., 
 whose duty it shall be to hold in trust for this Lodge, 
 all stocks, securities, investments, properties and 
 funds; and to transfer, exchange or deposit the same, 
 or any part thereof, whenever required under these 
 Laws so to do. The said Trustees shall deposit 
 or invest, at the end of each month, all monies in 
 their hands, in such Bank, Trust Company or Sav- 
 ings Institution, for such security as the Lodge may 
 direct, in the name of " A, B, and C, Trustees of 
 Hoosack Valley Lodge, No. 129, I.O. of O.F ;'' and 
 such funds shall not be drawn out, unless their draft 
 is signed by a majority of the Trustees, and the seal 
 of the Lodge affixed ; and no amount shall be 
 drawn, nor the securities changed, without the con-
 
 BY-LAWS. r 31 
 
 sent of the Lodge, by a two-third vote at a regular 
 meeting. 
 
 Section 2. The said Trustees, previous to en- 
 tering upon the duties of their office, shall give a 
 joint and several bond to the N. G. and V. G., with 
 two sureties, to be approved by the Lodge, for the 
 the faithful performance of their duties. 
 
 Section 3. Either of the said Trustees, for non- 
 performance of dut3S or for misconduct, rnav be re- 
 moved from his office, in the manner prescribed by 
 the 4th Section of Article IlL of these By-Laws. 
 ARTICLE VI. 
 
 BENEFITS. 
 
 Section 1. Every member who is not disquali- ' 
 fied by the 2d Section of Article IX, of these By- 
 Laws, sliall, in case of being rendered incapable by 
 sickness or accident of following his usual occupa- 
 tion, be entitled to, and shall receive out of the 
 funds ot the Lodge, (provided he hath attained the 
 Scarlet degree,) four dollars ; the Royal Blue de- 
 gree, three dollars ; otherwise, two dollars per week, 
 during his sickness or disability ; commencing not 
 more than one week anterior to the date of his be- 
 ing reported to the Lodge. Provided such sickness 
 or disability does not proceed from immoral conduct 
 on his part. 
 
 Section 2. On the death of a member who is not 
 disquahlicMl by the second Section of Article IX., 
 the sum of thirty dollars shall be allowed as a fune- 
 ral benefit, which shall be disposed of as provided 
 for by Clause 2d, Section 2d, Article IT., of the Con- 
 stitution. And the Secretary shall notify every 
 member of this Lodge of the death of a worthy 
 brother, in order that they may attend the funeral. 
 
 Section 3. On the demise of the wife of a mera-
 
 32 BY-LAWS. 
 
 ber, as qualified by the second Section of this At- 
 tide, he shall be entitled to fifteen dollars. 
 
 Section- 4. The members of this Lod2;e shall be 
 assessed by the Permanent Secret ry, fifty cents 
 each, on the death of a brother entitled to receive 
 benefits ; and twent^'-five cents each on the death of 
 the wife of a brother, as provided for in Section 2d 
 nnil 3d of this Article. 
 
 Section 5. Residence at a distance from the town 
 of South Adams, shall not discjualify a brother from 
 receiving benefits, provided he is notdis(pialified by 
 the 2d Section of Article iX. of these By-Laws. 
 It will be necessary for a brother so circumstanced, 
 to send to the N. G. a true statement of his case, 
 attested by the N. G., under the seal cjf the Lodg:e 
 nearest to the place where he may be; or, if no 
 Lodge be near, his case, complaint and circumstan- 
 ces shall be certified by a justice of the peace, or a 
 respectable physiciaji. 
 
 Section 6. If a member from a distant Lodge 
 apply to this Lodge for relief, on the presentation 
 of his card, his case shall be referred to a commit- 
 tee of three members, to investigate the circum- 
 stances and report to the Lodge, when, on motion, 
 a sum not exceeding the amount of one wcek'a 
 benefit may be voted for the relief of the brother: 
 unless the case be one of extreme necessity, when 
 an additional sum ma^' be voted. 
 
 ATRICLE VII. 
 
 CONTINGENT FUND. 
 
 The Contingent Fund shall be formed by contri- 
 butions for that purpose, the surplus of funeral as- 
 sessments, and ail fines collected ; and shall be held 
 separate from the funds of the Lodge, by the Treas-
 
 BY-LAWS. 33 
 
 urer, and pledged for tlie widows and orphans of 
 deceased members, under such regulations as are 
 provided for by Article VIII. of the^e By-Laws. 
 ARTICLEVIII. 
 
 WIDOWS AND ORPHA>-S. 
 
 Section 1. A widow of a member of this Lodge, 
 so long as she maintains a good character, shall be 
 entitled to, and receive from the Widow and Or- 
 phan Fund, the sum of twenty-five dollars per an- 
 num, during her widowhood. 
 
 Section 2. In case there should be any orphans 
 or children of a member left in poverty, without a 
 protector or guardian, it shall be the duty of the 
 Trustees to endeavor to place them in situations 
 where they may be employed in gainii^* a liveli- 
 hood, and at the same time be preserved from vice 
 and infamy ; and from time to time make proper 
 inquiries into their situation, and report to the 
 Lodge. 
 
 ARTICLE IX. 
 
 FINES AND PENALTIES. 
 
 Section 1. Any member of this Lodge who is 
 in arrears over thirteen weeks, shall not be privi- 
 leged to vote or speak on any question before the 
 Lodge, nor shall any brother on the first night of 
 his membership, have those privileges. 
 
 Section 2. Every member whose dues remain 
 unpaid for four weeks after the commencement of 
 the term, shall be immediately notified by the Sec- 
 retary, and if they remain unpaid for more than four 
 weeks thereafter, he shall not be eligible to receive 
 benefits from this Lodge until tv/o weeks after the 
 same shall have been paid ; or who, having been 
 suspended or expelled, has been reinstated within 
 3
 
 34 BY-LAW?. 
 
 thirteen weeks, sliall be eligible to receive the ben- 
 efits of this Lodge. 
 
 Section 3. Every elected officer who shall be 
 absent from the Lodge fifteen minutes after the 
 time of meeting, shall be subject to the penalty of 
 fifty cents. Should the- Secretary fail to have hi.4 
 books in the Lodge at the specified time, he shall 
 be subjected to a fine of fifty cents. Any member 
 appointed to serve on a committee, and neglecting 
 to attend to its duties, shall be fined twenty -five 
 cents. Any brother failing to attend the funeral of 
 a deceased brother, shall be subject to a fine of fifty 
 cents ; and a brother duly notified to watch with 
 the sick who shall neglect or refuse to attend to his 
 duty, shail be fined one dollar. Sickness, or atten- 
 dance upon the sick, absence from town, or an at- 
 tendance upon duty as a juryman, or in the Grand 
 Lodge of the State, shall be a sufficient excuse to 
 remit these fines. Brothers failing to notify the 
 Secretary of a change of residence, within three 
 weeks of removal, shall be fined fifty cents. 
 
 Section 4. The Junior P. G. present of this 
 Lodge shall, for any neglect on his part to perform 
 the duties belonging to the office, be subject to a 
 penalty of fifty cents. 
 
 Section 5. Any member who shall, in the Lodge^ 
 make use of any profane or indecorous expression, 
 or use disrespectful language to the officers or mem- 
 bers of the Lodge, shall be subject to a fine, for the 
 first ofTence, of one dollar. 
 
 Section 6. Any member who shall be guilty of 
 improper conduct, in or out of the Lodge, or shall 
 bring charges against a brother which he is unable 
 to prove, or shall knowingly propose unworthy 
 characters for membership, shall subject himself to
 
 BY-LAWS. 35 
 
 fine, suspension or expulsion, according to the enor- 
 mity of the offfiEce. 
 
 ,'SecUon 7. Any member guilty of habitual 
 drunkenness, or of heinous offences against the laws 
 of the laud, or of feigning himself sick, with a view- 
 to abuse the benevolent intentions of the Order, 
 shall be expelled. 
 
 Section 8. No smoking, or refreshments other 
 than water, shall at any time be allowed in tlie 
 Lodge room, or any other apartment thereunto be- 
 longing. Any brother violating this rule shall be 
 fined not less than ten dollars, or expelled at the 
 pleasure of the Lodge. 
 
 ARTICLE X. 
 
 MODE or ELECTI0>'S. 
 
 Section 1. At all elections the Secretary shall 
 provide written ballots for each candidate. It shall 
 be the duty of the Warden to distribute a set of 
 ballots to each member entitled to vote, and he shall, 
 then receive their votes. It shall then be the duty 
 of the N. G. to appoint two tellers, who with the 
 Warden, shall canvass the votes given, and declare 
 the result to the N. G.j by whom it shall be an- 
 nounced to the Lodge. Any candidate, to be elec- 
 ted, must receive a majority of the votes given. 
 
 Section 2. Should there be no choice on the first 
 
 ballot, the candidate having the smallest number of 
 
 votes shall be set aside at the next ballot, and so of 
 
 every succeeding ballot until a choice shall be made. 
 
 ARTICLE XL 
 
 DEGREES. 
 
 Section 1. All applications for degrees shall be 
 made in open Lodge, and shall be balloted for with 
 ballots. If not more than two black balls appear
 
 36 BY-LAWS. 
 
 against the candidate, he shall be elected ; but if 
 three or more appear he shall be rejected for three 
 months. And when degrees shall have been voted 
 to a worthy brother, it shall be the duty of the Per- 
 manent Secretary to furnish him with a certificate 
 of the same, under seal of the Lodge, upon his pay- 
 ing the amount required. 
 
 Section 2. The cost of degrees conferred in this 
 Lodge shall be two dollars for each degree. 
 
 Section 3. No brother shall be allowed to vote 
 degrees to any brother, who has not himself received 
 the degrees about to be voted, 
 
 ARTICLE XII. 
 
 AMENDMENTS. 
 
 No part of these By-Laws shall be repealed, an- 
 nulled, suspended or amended, unless a proposal in 
 writing be presented to the Lodge,at least two reg- 
 ular meetings previous to the discussion ; when, if 
 two-thirds of the members present vote in favor of 
 the rngtion, it shall be adopted.
 
 RULES OF ORDER, 
 
 I. ORDER OF BUSINESS. 
 
 1. Opening the Lodge. 
 
 2. The proceedings of the last meeting read by 
 the Secretary, and if no objection be made to any 
 part thereof, they shall stand approved without vote. 
 
 3. Calling the roll of Officers, and delinquents 
 fined. 
 
 4. Reports of Investigating Committees. 
 
 5. Balloting for members. 
 
 6. Candidates admitted for membership. 
 
 7. Propositions for membership. 
 
 8. Reports of the Visiting, or Committee on the 
 Sick. 
 
 9. Communications read and disposed of. 
 
 10. BiUs read and referred. 
 
 11. Reports of the Committee of Finance. 
 
 12. Reports of Special Committees by seniority. 
 
 13. Unfinished business by priority. 
 
 14. New Business. 
 
 The order of business, as herein arranged, may 
 at any time, for an occasion, be suspended, changed, 
 or dispensed with, by a special two-thirds vote of 
 the Lodge.
 
 S8 r RULES OF ORDER. 
 
 11. OF DECORUM. 
 
 During the continuance of the meeting, the most 
 decorous silence must be observed ; the officers and 
 brothers retaining their respective seats, unless abso- 
 lutely necessary to leave them and no one leaving 
 the room without the permission of the N. G., nor 
 entering without the consent of the V . G. 
 
 Every elected officer and brother shall be desig- 
 nated, in debate or otherwise, by his proper office 
 or title, according to his standing in the order. 
 
 III. OF THE CHAIR. 
 
 The N. G., while presiding, shall state every 
 question coming before the Lodge,'and immediately 
 before putting it to vote, shall ask, " Is the Lodge 
 ready for the question .-"' Should no brother rise 
 to speak, the N. G. shall proceed to state the ques- 
 tion, and after he has risen, no brother shall be per- 
 mitted to speak upon it. He shall announce the 
 decision of the Lodge on all subjects. He shall not 
 speak on any subject from the chair. When his 
 decision has been appealed from, the question shall 
 be put thus — " Will t]te Lodge sustain the Chair in 
 its decision?'' 
 
 IV. OF DEBATE. 
 
 Every brother, when he speaks or offers a motion, 
 shall be standing, and shall respectfully address the 
 Chair, and when he has finished he shall resume 
 his seat. While speaking, he shall confine himself 
 to the question under debate, avoiding all personal- 
 ity and indecorous language, as well as any reflec- 
 tion upon the officers or brothers of the Lodge. 
 
 No brother shall be allowed to speak over fifteen 
 minutes at a time, and not over twice^^upon the
 
 RULES OF ORDER. 39 
 
 same subject, except by permission of the N. G. 
 
 If any brother, while speaking should be called 
 to order by the N. G., he shall cease speaking, and 
 take his seat until the question of order is deter- 
 mined, when? if permitted, he may again proceed. 
 
 Any brother feeling dissatisfied with the decision 
 of the N. G., can appeal to the brothers of the Lodge. 
 
 Should two or more brothers rise to speak at the 
 same time, the N. G. shall decide which shall be 
 entitled to the floor. 
 
 No brother shall disturb another in his speech, 
 unless to call him to order for words spoken. 
 
 All resolutions offered by brothers shall be redu- 
 ced to writing. 
 
 No brother shall be permitted to speak or vote 
 on any question before the Lodge, unless clothed in 
 the full regalia of his office. 
 
 V. OF QUESTIONS AND VOTES. 
 
 When any conmiunication, petition, or memorial 
 is presented by a brother of this Lodge, before it is 
 read, or any vote taken ou it, a brief statement of its 
 contents shall be made by the introducer, or the N. 
 G., and after it has been read, a brief notice of the 
 purport shall be entered on the minutes. 
 
 No motion shall be subject to action until seconded 
 and stated by the Chair, and at the desire of any 
 ^brother shall be reduced to writing. 
 
 AVlien a question is before the Lodge, no motion 
 shall be received, unless to close the Lodge ; the 
 previous question; to lay on the table; to post- 
 pone ; to refer ; or to amend. And these shall 
 have precedence in the orderherein arranged, which, 
 \vith the exception of the last, shall be decided ^\ith- 
 out debate.
 
 40 ^^ RULES OF ORDER. 
 
 After miy qiiestion has been decided, any two 
 brothers who voted in the majority, may, at the 
 same or next meeting, move for a reconsideration 
 thereof. 
 
 The previous question can be called for by two 
 brothers, if seconded by a majority, and shall be 
 put in this form — "■Shall the mairi question he now 
 put .-"' If carried, all amendments not already adopt- 
 ed, shall be precluded, and the main question taken 
 without further debate. 
 
 When one fifth of the brothers rise in favor of 
 taking the question by Yeas and Nay, they shall be 
 60 recorded. 
 
 Extract from Proceedings of the Grand Ledge of TT. 
 
 S., upon the admission ct members. Adopted Oct. 6, 1840. 
 
 HesolveDj That no individual claiming to visit or de- 
 posit his card in a Lodge of these United States shall be 
 so admitted, unless he present a regular card, signed by 
 the N. G., and attested by the Secretary, under the seal of 
 the Lodge, and the ncme of fhe individual holding said 
 card, be endorsed thereon, in his own proper hand writing. 
 
 ExTUACT from Article IL of the By-Laws of the Grand 
 
 Lodge of the State of Massachusetts : 
 
 Section 9. Any member of the Order who shall have 
 painted upon his sign any of the emblems of the Order^ 
 or otherwise exhibit them upon the same, or have them 
 printed or engraved upon his business card, or expose them 
 in any public place as a sign, t>hali (alter the Lodge of 
 which he is a member gives him immediate notice, and 
 if persisted in,) be suspended or expelled, agreeable to a 
 rote of the Lodge.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Introiiuciion, 3-12 
 
 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 Preamble, 13 
 
 Art. 1. Name of Lodge, 13 
 
 Art. 2. Admission to Membership, 14 
 
 Contributions and Benefits, 15 
 
 Penalties and Trials, 16 
 
 ART. 3. Elective and Appointed Officers, 17 
 
 Duties of Officers, 18 
 
 Elections, &c 18 
 
 Art. 4. Terms, 19 
 
 Returns, 19 
 
 Forfeiture of Charter, 20 
 
 Art. 5, Eligibility for Degrees, 20 
 
 Rates of Degrees, 20 
 
 Art. 6. Amendment, « . . .21 
 
 Of By-Laws, 21 
 
 BY-LAWS. 
 
 Article 1. Meetings, 22 
 
 Art. 2. Membership 23 
 
 Art. 3, Officers and their Duties 24 
 
 Art. 4. Standing and Special Committees, 28 
 
 Art. 5. Trustees, 30 
 
 Art. 6. Benefits, 31 
 
 Art. 7. Contingent Fund, 32 
 
 Art. y. Widows and Orphans, 33 
 
 Art. 9. Fines and Penalties, 33 
 
 Art, 10. Mode of Elections, 35 
 
 Art. 11. Degrees, 35 
 
 Art. 12, Amendments, 36 
 
 RULES OF ORDER. 
 
 Order of Business, 37 
 
 Of Decorum ; Of the Chair ; Of Debate, 38 
 
 Of Questions and Votes 39 
 
 Extracts from Proceedings, &c 40
 
 B 000 002 384
 
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