Page 10 - LESTER'S LOOK TOTHE EAST

If none is offered the Master puts the question of the adoption of the
minutes, etc., and then follows the other regular business of the Lodge,
viz:

2. Reading and referring petitions.

3. Reports of Committees.

4. Balloting for Candidates.

5. Conferring Degrees.

6. Unfinished business.

7. Disposing of such other business as may lawfully come before the
Lodge.

When the Master announces the fifth order of business (conferring
degrees), he proceeds as follows:

W.M. to J.D. Brother Junior Deacon, you will ascertain whether there
are any candidates in waiting, and if so, who, and for what degree.

The Junior Deacon proceeds to the preparation room, and having
ascertained that a candidate is there, reports as follows:

J.D. to W.M. Worshipful Master, Mr. A. B. is in waiting for the first
degree.

The seventh and last order of business includes the work of initiation,
passing and raising, and when all the other business of the Lodge has
been transacted, the Master proceeds as follows:

W.M. Brethren, if there is no further business before this Lodge of
Master Masons, we will proceed to close, and open an Entered
Apprentice Lodge for the purpose of initiation.

CALLING A LODGE FROM A HIGHER TO A LOWER
DEGREE.

The following is a short way of calling a Lodge from a higher degree to
a lower one, and is employed by Masters when pressed for time:

W.M. Brother Senior Warden, you will call the craft to order as Entered
Apprentices (or Fellow Crafts, as the case may be), reserving
yourself for the last.

14