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Article CONSTITUTION' OF ITALIAN FREEMASONRY. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Constitution' Of Italian Freemasonry.
None of these persons will have , however , any voice in tbe affairs of the Grand Orient . ART . 30 . No member of tbe Grand Orient shall derive any pecuniary advantage from the fulfilment of its functions . Money may , hoivever , be voted for the remuneration of the Secretary and the Keeper of the Records .
ART . 31 . The Grand Orient has the right to raise from the lodges the sums necessary for the expenses of honsereiifc , the Chancery ( i . e ., the Secretary ' s Office ) , the cost of representation , and all connected with the general interests , thus : — A fixed yearlcontribution of fifty lire from each lod .
y go A yearly contribution of one lire for every member belonging to these lodges . Fifty lire for every charter granted to a lodge . A sum of four lire for every Master ' s diploma issued by this lodge . In addition to this , every lodge must pay on demand the cost price of books , forms for diplomas and
certificates , and other Masonic objects . In order to ensure uniformitj ' , the forms of diplomas and certificates will be distributed among the whole of the lodges .
ART . 32 . The financial year , as affecting the payment of contributions , & e ., as AA-ell as concerning tbe closing of accounts of the Grand Orient and the lodges , ends with the February of each year . Tho contributions of the lodges are to be paid half-yearly , and the second Semester will be sent to the lodge , with a report on its activity , during the first fortnight in March .
CAP . III . DUTIES AND PENALTIES . ART . 33 . All lodges and each individual Mason are bound to obey the Constitutions , Rules , and Rituals of the Order , the decisions of the meetings , and decrees of the Grand Orient . ART . 34 .
All Freemasons are bound to observe the strictest secrecy , in every sense of the word , concerning everything done , transacted , or communicated either in the Grand Orient or any of the lodges . The same as to the names of the brethren .
ART . 35 . All lodges and all Freemasons must treat the officials with respect , and show them all the honour and obedience which their functions justify them to expect . ART .-36 . All Freemasons are bound to afford to each other such
instruction as they are able to assist each other tinder all circumstances , even when they may risk their lives in doing so , and mutually support each other iu all their relations , either within or Avithout the lodge .
ART . 37 . _ All Freemasons are bound by their exemplary behaviour , and all the means at their disposal , to forward the Avell-being of the Order and its development . ART . 38 . The offences of the Freemasons resolve themselves into tAvo classes , simple faults , and offences . And these again into offences against morality , or such as are dishonourable .
ART . 39 . A simple fault may be punished either with a reprimand from the M . v . St ., wliich may be entered on the minutes , or a slight fine may be imposed , which falls to the poor-box .
ART . 40 . Moral offences are punished by suspension , and , if more serious , expulsion from tbe Order . ART . 41 . All dishonourable offences are punished in all cases by expulsion .
The decree by which a Freemason is sentenced to expulsion from the Order Avill be communicated , invariably , to all tho lodges by the Grand Orient , and read in each of them in a meeting of the first grade .
ART . 42 . The decisions where a milder degree of punishment is awarded than that of expulsion will be made known in a meeting of the first grade of the lodge to ivhieh the accused belongs by the M . v . St . of the lodge , during the absence of the offending brother .
ART . 43 . A lodge may be suspended or suppressed —• If the number of members has fallen beloAV seven . If the state of the lodge is such as to render the performance of Masonic labours either physically or morally impossible . If a lodge shall neglect tbe observance of tbe Constitutions , rules , and rituals , and be regardless of the decrees and decisions of tbe Grand Orient .
ART . 44 . The Grand Master can inquire into tbe affairs of any of the lodges , and preside at its meetings at will . The highest honours must be shoiA-ii to him on his arrival , and when he departs . The Grand Orient may depute one of its members for tbe duty of visiting the lodges , Avho is to be received Avith the highest honours , and who may also preside in the meetings , if he wishes to do so .
ART . 45 . Any lodge may dissolve itself , or demand its separation from the Grand Orient ; but either the absence or opposition of seven of its members renders this impossible . ART . 46 . Any Freemason may be a member of several lod
ges , AA'hich lodges may be independent as regards mutual affiliation . * Further , he may retire from one lodge to join another that may be Avilling to receive him , the rights of all the lodges concerning the yearly contributions being reserved . ART . 47 .
Every Mason may also retire entirely from the Order , but his oath of secrecy remains binding . CAP . IV . PROVISIONAL ORDERS . ART . 48 .
All lodges now dependent on the Grand Orient of Italy , which are not already in possession of a regular charter , must demand one within three months . The cost of such a charter will continue , as before , 30 lire .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Constitution' Of Italian Freemasonry.
None of these persons will have , however , any voice in tbe affairs of the Grand Orient . ART . 30 . No member of tbe Grand Orient shall derive any pecuniary advantage from the fulfilment of its functions . Money may , hoivever , be voted for the remuneration of the Secretary and the Keeper of the Records .
ART . 31 . The Grand Orient has the right to raise from the lodges the sums necessary for the expenses of honsereiifc , the Chancery ( i . e ., the Secretary ' s Office ) , the cost of representation , and all connected with the general interests , thus : — A fixed yearlcontribution of fifty lire from each lod .
y go A yearly contribution of one lire for every member belonging to these lodges . Fifty lire for every charter granted to a lodge . A sum of four lire for every Master ' s diploma issued by this lodge . In addition to this , every lodge must pay on demand the cost price of books , forms for diplomas and
certificates , and other Masonic objects . In order to ensure uniformitj ' , the forms of diplomas and certificates will be distributed among the whole of the lodges .
ART . 32 . The financial year , as affecting the payment of contributions , & e ., as AA-ell as concerning tbe closing of accounts of the Grand Orient and the lodges , ends with the February of each year . Tho contributions of the lodges are to be paid half-yearly , and the second Semester will be sent to the lodge , with a report on its activity , during the first fortnight in March .
CAP . III . DUTIES AND PENALTIES . ART . 33 . All lodges and each individual Mason are bound to obey the Constitutions , Rules , and Rituals of the Order , the decisions of the meetings , and decrees of the Grand Orient . ART . 34 .
All Freemasons are bound to observe the strictest secrecy , in every sense of the word , concerning everything done , transacted , or communicated either in the Grand Orient or any of the lodges . The same as to the names of the brethren .
ART . 35 . All lodges and all Freemasons must treat the officials with respect , and show them all the honour and obedience which their functions justify them to expect . ART .-36 . All Freemasons are bound to afford to each other such
instruction as they are able to assist each other tinder all circumstances , even when they may risk their lives in doing so , and mutually support each other iu all their relations , either within or Avithout the lodge .
ART . 37 . _ All Freemasons are bound by their exemplary behaviour , and all the means at their disposal , to forward the Avell-being of the Order and its development . ART . 38 . The offences of the Freemasons resolve themselves into tAvo classes , simple faults , and offences . And these again into offences against morality , or such as are dishonourable .
ART . 39 . A simple fault may be punished either with a reprimand from the M . v . St ., wliich may be entered on the minutes , or a slight fine may be imposed , which falls to the poor-box .
ART . 40 . Moral offences are punished by suspension , and , if more serious , expulsion from tbe Order . ART . 41 . All dishonourable offences are punished in all cases by expulsion .
The decree by which a Freemason is sentenced to expulsion from the Order Avill be communicated , invariably , to all tho lodges by the Grand Orient , and read in each of them in a meeting of the first grade .
ART . 42 . The decisions where a milder degree of punishment is awarded than that of expulsion will be made known in a meeting of the first grade of the lodge to ivhieh the accused belongs by the M . v . St . of the lodge , during the absence of the offending brother .
ART . 43 . A lodge may be suspended or suppressed —• If the number of members has fallen beloAV seven . If the state of the lodge is such as to render the performance of Masonic labours either physically or morally impossible . If a lodge shall neglect tbe observance of tbe Constitutions , rules , and rituals , and be regardless of the decrees and decisions of tbe Grand Orient .
ART . 44 . The Grand Master can inquire into tbe affairs of any of the lodges , and preside at its meetings at will . The highest honours must be shoiA-ii to him on his arrival , and when he departs . The Grand Orient may depute one of its members for tbe duty of visiting the lodges , Avho is to be received Avith the highest honours , and who may also preside in the meetings , if he wishes to do so .
ART . 45 . Any lodge may dissolve itself , or demand its separation from the Grand Orient ; but either the absence or opposition of seven of its members renders this impossible . ART . 46 . Any Freemason may be a member of several lod
ges , AA'hich lodges may be independent as regards mutual affiliation . * Further , he may retire from one lodge to join another that may be Avilling to receive him , the rights of all the lodges concerning the yearly contributions being reserved . ART . 47 .
Every Mason may also retire entirely from the Order , but his oath of secrecy remains binding . CAP . IV . PROVISIONAL ORDERS . ART . 48 .
All lodges now dependent on the Grand Orient of Italy , which are not already in possession of a regular charter , must demand one within three months . The cost of such a charter will continue , as before , 30 lire .