BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS OF The Grand Lodge of Kentucky FREEAND ACCEPTEDMASONS CONTAININGTHE Constitution, Code for Masonic Trials, and Other Information TWELFTHEDITION Preparedby JosephR.Conway,P.G.M. GrandSecretary J.C.McClanahan,P.G.M.,P.G.S. RolandT.Stayton WilliamA.Buck away,Jr. UnderResolutionoftheGrandLodge AmendedandAdoptedOctober17,1995 TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages KentuckyMasonicLaws..................................................................A1-A2 Introduction .......................................................................................Al-A5 Usage in Affixing Masonic Dates by Years....................................A5-A6 Acts of Incorporation.........................................................................B1-B2 Amended Articles of Incorporation ................................................B3-B5 Constitutionof the Grand Lodgeof Kentucky, Freeand Accepted Masons Sections 1 thorough 219.....................................................................1-35 Rules of Order.........................................................................................35 Certificateof Constitution.........................................................................36 Standing Resolutions...........................................................................37-43 Repealing of Regulation............................................................................43 Trial Code and Discipline...................................................................44-49 Digest.....................................................................................................50-57 Ritual...........................................................................................................58 Appendix...............................................................................................59-63 Tables Grand Officers fromthe Organization of the Grand Lodge................................................................................T1-T6 LodgesChartered from1800 to 2000..........................................T7-T40 LodgesAlphabetically..................................................................T41-T42 Defunct Lodges..............................................................................T43-T57 List of Lodgesby Counties……………………………………………………………….T58-T61 AnalyticalIndex ................................................................................I1-I9 INTRODUCTION A-1 RELATINGTOMASONICCONSTITUTIONS The first published Masonic Constitution has the following title: “The Constitution of the Freemasons, containing the History, Charges, Regulations, etc., of that Most Ancient and Right Worshipful Fraternity. For the use of the lodges. London: Printed by William Hunter for John Senex at the Globe, and John Hooke, at the Flowers-de-Luse, over against St. Sustan’s Church,in Fleet Street. In the year ofMasonry5723,A.D.,1723.”4to.,vi,92. The other authorized English editions were: (2)1738, with this title: “The BookofConstitutionsofTheAncientandHonorableFraternityofFreeandAccepted Masons containing their History, Charges, Regulations, etc.; collected and digested byorder of the Grand Lodge from their old records, for use of the lodges. ByJames Anderson, D.D., London. Printed for Bros. Saesar Ward and Richard Chandlers, 1738.Inthevulgar yearofMasonry5738.”4to,pp.230, 3;1756,byEntick;(4)by; (5),1738,byNoorthonah;(6),1795,byWilliams;(1),1827; (8),1841, etc. KENTUCKYMASONICLAWS (1) In 1800 theGrand Lodgeof Kentucky,then formed,adoptedtheVirginia Ahiman Rezon (meaning the will of selected brethren) 1792. The Grand Secretary wasinstructedtopurchase twelvecopiesofit(1802). (2)In1806acommitteewasappointed“tocompileaBookofConstitutions” and report to a convention of delegates from all the lodges. The finished work was adopted,entitled“By-laws,etc.”,andconsistedof46paragraphscalled“Articles.” (3) The first Kentuckybound book of Masonry laws has this title: “Masonic Constitutions, or Illustrations of Masonry; compiled by the direction of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky and adopted by them for the regulation and government of the subordinate lodges under their jurisdiction, with an appendix, containing remarks on the degrees of Mark Master Masons, Super Excellent Master and Royal Arch Masons. By James Moore and Cary L. Clarke, members of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, Lexington: Printed by Daniel Bradford at the office of the Kentucky Gazette,onMain Street, 1808.” Calf, large12mo. 192pp. (4) The second edition has the same title to and including the names of the compilers (Moore and Clarke), then follows: “Second Edition with amendments. Lexington,K.PrintedbyWorsley&Smith,1818.” Calf, small8vo.pp.218. (5) A “Digest of the Laws, Rules and Regulations for the government of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky and the lodges subordinate thereto” was “approved in GrandCommunicationSept.2,A.L.5824,A.D.1924,”andpublishedinLexington. Pamphlet,11pp.andcontains46“Articles,”orparagraphs. (6) The “Constitution, By-Laws and Rules of Order” of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky—together withthe Charges of a Freemason,” (1860),32 pp.,printed with theproceedingsalmosteveryyear,andinpamphletformfrequently. (7) 1880 Hiram Bassett, H. B. Grant and Rob Morris were appointed to prepare and print 750 copies of the laws of the Grand Lodge, which ordered that the annual publication of the Constitution should thereafter cease. Two of the committee reported that H. B. Grant “Consented to perform the arduous task of preparingtheworkwithoutassistancefromorconsultationwithus,asheproceeded.” INTRODUCTION A-2 Alsothathiswork “wasso completeand satisfactoryit leftbutfewsuggestionsforus to make.”The title was “Constitution and Digest of Decisions of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, F.&A.M., Code and Forms of Trialsand act of Incorporation of the Grand Lodge.”108 pp.,8vo.cloth. (8)Thebook,havingthesametitle,with theadditionofthewords “Landmarks and Ancient Charges, Prepared by H. B. Grant, and Published by Authority. Second Edition.”—264pp.,1889. (9) The “Book of Constitutions, containing the Constitution, Regulations and CodeforTrialsoftheGrandLodgeofKentucky,F.&A.M.Alsoactsof Incorporation of the Grand Lodge, Ancient Charges, Lists of Lodges, Grand Officers, Forms, Suggestions to the Probable Landmarks of Freemasonry, and Rules of Order, with Indexes, etc., Prepared by H. B. Grant and Published by Authority—Third Edition— Enlarged.”1893,Bluecloth,pp.404. THEFOURTHEDITION (10) In 1905, on recommendationof the Grand Master,the Grand Secretary(H. B. Grant) was “instructed to prepare and have printed an edition of 1,000 copies, fol- lowing the general make-up and arrangement of the 1893 edition” of the Book of Constitutions,butnottoissueituntilafterthenextsession—owingtofinancial condi- tions. He rewrote the Constitution upon a new plan (substantiallythe same in style as itnowappears)andoffereditas anamendmentto theConstitution,withothersugges- tions—all printed in the Proceedings of 1906. The proposed amendment was referred to a committee consisting of W. C. McChord, Jas. Garnett, and H. B. Grant, who reported it back (1907) with amendments—all of which were re-committed, and the committeeenlargedbyaddingto itthe namesofGeo.B.Winslow,JohnD.Shaw,the Grand Master, and all Past Grand Masters. When completed,it was to be printed and copies be sent to lodges. The Constitution as reported by the committee was adopted and printed in the Proceedings of 1908. It was engrossed, bound in leather, reported bya special committee(W.C.McChordand H.B. Grant)and depositedin theGrand Lodgevault. H. B. Grant, Geo. B.Winslow, and E. B. Beard were appointed to revise the Regulations, recommending new ones as deemed proper, have the same printed and senttolodges.Theirreportwasadoptedbyunanimousvote. Thesamecommitteewas instructedtocompiletheBookof Constitutions,correct errorsandhaveitprintedinproperbookform,toincludetheConstitution,Regulations andCode. Following the foregoing instructions, with the understood wishes of the Grand Lodge as set out in the adopted recommendations of the Jurisprudence Committee (1905, p. 35), 1,100 copies of this book were prepared by the committee and a copy was sent to each subordinate lodge in Kentucky, to the elective Grand Officers, Past Grand Masters, and Grand Lodges with whom the Grand Lodge of Kentucky is in fraternalcorrespondence. (11) In 1916 there was issued a Supplement to the Fourth Edition, bearing the following title: ‘’Supplement to the Book of Constitutions; containing a Digest of the Decisions, Resolutions and Edicts of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, and a list of the Amendments to the Book of Constitutions since the adoption of the present Constitution, October 22,1908; Prepared by Henry Pirtle. Published by Order of the GrandLodge.” The authority for this book is to be found in the recommendation of the Grand Master(1915),asapprovedbytheGrandLodge: Brother Henry Pirtle has submitted to me a digest of the decisions and opinions of the Grand Lodge and the amendments to the Book of Constitution made since the publicationofthelasteditionofourBookofConstitutions.Ihadfelttheneedofsucha workduringtheyear,andhadinmindtoprepareoneformyownuse;infact,Istarted on theworkat one time,buthadno opportunityto finishit.Iwasmuchpleasedwhen BrotherPirtlesubmittedtomeatypewrittencopyofhiswork.Itisagreatlaborsaver, INTRODUCTION A-3 and I reversedmyselfon twoofmyopinionsafterreadingit.He agreesto completeit so as to embraceall decision,opinions and amendmentsup to the closeof this annual communication. It will not be a large book, not expensive to print, and would be in the nature of a supplement to our present Book of Constitutions. I recommend that the Grand Lodgehave 1,000 copies thereof printed, and that one copy be sent to each subordinate lodgein thestate,and theothers distributedto suchindividuals as mayapplyforsame.”(Proc.,1915,pp.63and64). UponthistheFinanceCommitteemadethefollowingreport,whichwasadopt- ed: “WeapproveoftherecommendationoftheGrandMasterthatadigest ofcon- stitutionalamendmentsanddecisionsbeprintedinpamphletform,tobeusedasan appendixtotheBookofConstitutions.” (Proc.,1915,p.157.) THEFIFTHEDITION (12) The authority for the Fifth Edition of the Book of Constitutions is to be found in the following resolution, which was adopted in 1918, upon the recommen- dationoftheFinanceCommittee. “WHEREAS, It appears from the report of the Grand Secretarythat the present editionofourBookofConstitutionsispracticallyexhaustedandit will benecessary toprintanewedition. “Be It Resolved, That Brother Henry Pirtle be requested to revise the book, placing therein all new laws and regulations down to date (but without power to change or enact new laws), the revision to be made under the supervision of the incomingJurisprudence Committee, and 1,000 copies be printed under the direction andapprovalof theGrandSecretary.”(SeeProc.,1918,pp.127,137). As the editor of this edition was appointed chairman of the incoming JurisprudenceCommittee,theproofswerepresentedtotheothertwomembers,who endorsedthereonthefollowingapproval: “Pursuant to the provisions of the resolution adopted December 10, 1918, we hereby certify that we have examined the revision of the Book of Constitutions prepared by Brother Henry Pirtle under the terms of said resolution, and hereby approve the same as being a true, accurate and complete compilation of the existing lawsoftheGrandLodgeofKentucky.Wefurthermoreapprovetheinclusiontherein of revised funeral and installation ceremonies, the omission of suggested forms of by-laws for lodges, the insertion of the Old Regulations, forms for Grand Lodge Ceremonies,etc.” JOHNT.COLDIRON(235) PROCTORKNOTTMcELROY(87). THESIXTHEDITION The authorityfor the sixth edition of the Book of Constitutions is to be found in thefollowingrecommendationoftheJurisprudenceCommitteeadoptedin1925: “We recommend that the Book of Constitutions, including regulations, code and other matters usually contained therein, be compiled, and annotated and repub- lished to date and that this work be done in the ensuing year by a committee of five memberswhichshallconsist oftheincomingGrandMaster,G.AllisonHolland,the Grand Secretary, Fred W. Hardwick, and threeothers to be appointedbythe incom- ingGrand Mastertoactwiththem.” Fraternallysubmitted, ORIES.WARE,Chairman W.F.NEIKIRK,RICHARD PRIESTDIETZMAN. TheGrandMasterappointedthefollowingcommittee: P.G.M.G.AllisonHolland,LexingtonLodgeNo.1,Lexington. P.G.M.FredW.Hardwick,LouisvilleLodgeNo.400,Louisville. INTRODUCTION A-4 P.G.M. JamesN.Saunders, Lincoln LodgeNo. 60,Stanford. P.G.M.GeorgeB.Winslow,CarrolltonLodgeNo.134,Carrollton. P.M.RichardP.Dietzman, DaylightLodgeNo.760,Louisville THESEVENTH EDITION The Seventh Edition of the Book of Constitutions was authorized by resolution adoptedin1937asfollows: “WHEREAS, The present supply of the ‘Book of Constitutions’ will soon be exhaustedandtheGrandMasterhasrecommendedthatarevisionthereofbeprovided: “BeItResolved,ThattheGrandMasterappointasuitablememberoftheGrand Lodge to revise the ‘Book of Constitutions,’includingthe Constitution, Regulations, Code,etc.,annotatingthesamewithdecisionsandopinions bearingthereon,inprepa- rationofthepublicationofanothereditionthereofin1938.” Grand Master Ross appointedPast Grand MasterOrie S. Ware as the committee to make said revision, and he reported in 1939, and the Seventh Edition was ordered publishedasthe1940edition. THEEIGHTHEDITION The Eighth Edition of the Book of Constitutions was authorized by the Report of the Committee on Jurisprudence, approved by the Grand Lodge at the 1947 Communication, which provided that the Grand Master appoint a suitable person to prepareandcompilethisedition. The Grand Master appointedPast Grand Master Orie S. Ware, who prepared the same for publication with the assistance of the Grand Secretary, A. E. Orton, and the EighthEditionisnowpublishedasthe1948Edition. THENINTHEDITION The Ninth Edition of the Book of Constitutions was authorized by the Report of theCommitteeonJurisprudence,approvedbytheGrandLodgeatthe1953communi- cation,whichprovidedthat theGrandMaster appointa suitable Committeeto prepare andrevisethisEdition. TheGrandMaster appointedPastGrandMasters, OrieS.WareandAl.E.Orton, and theNinthEditionisnowpublishedasthe1958Edition. THETENTHEDITION The Tenth Edition of the Book of Constitutions was authorized by the Report of the Committee on Jurisprudence, approved by the Grand Lodge at the 1966 Communication,whichprovidedthattheGrandMasterappointasuitablecommittee toprepareandrevisethisEdition. The Grand Master appointed Past Grand Masters Orie S. Ware and J. C. McClanahan,andtheTenthEditionisnowpublishedasthe1968Edition. THEELEVENTHEDITION The Eleventh Edition of the Book of Constituion was authorized by the Report of the Committee on Jurisprudence, approved by the Grand Lodge at the 1974 Communication,whichprovidedthattheGrandMasterappointasuitablecommittee toprepareandrevisethisEdition. The Grand Master appointed Past Grand Master and Grand Secretary J. C. McClanahan;DeputyGrandMasterHenryB.NobleandPastGrandMasterGeorge R.Effinger.Atthe1975 Communication,GrandMasterHenryB.Nobleappointed R. GayPrice, Past Grand Master, and theEleventhEditionis nowpublishedas the 1976Edition. THETWELFTHEDITION The Twelfth Edition of the Book of Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky,F.&A.M. beganwiththe appointment of a Special Committee for INTRODUCTION A-5 Revising the Constitution by Arnold E. Wyatt, P.G.M., following his installa- tion as Grand Master at the conclusion of the One Hundred and Ninety-First Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, F.&A.M. (Grand Lodge Proceedings, 1990,pg.167). Appointed to the Committee were: Bros. J. C. McClanahan, P.G.M., P.G.S., Chairman, Roland T. Stayton (951) and William A. Buckaway, Jr. (820). The CommitteewaschargedtoreviewtheConstitutionandreporttheirrecommendations at thenext AnnualCommunication.A report was presentedbytheCommitteeat the OneHundredNinetySecondCommunication(GrandLodgeProceedings,1991,pgs. 169-170)whichstatedthatthedutiesassignedtheCommitteehadnot been finished. At the same Communication it was a recommendation of the Grand Master—pre- sented by the Committee on Jurisprudence and adopted (Grand Lodge Proceedings, 1991, pg. 182, Item 19)—that the Special Committee for Revising the Constitution, withthesamemembers,becontinueduntiltheirworkwascompleted. The Committee completed the Proposed Revision of the Book of Constitutions oftheGrandLodgeofKentucky,F.&A.M.andpresentedadraftcopytoeachofthe Delegates at the One Hundred Ninety Third Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge(GrandLodgeProceedings,1992,pg.93).The“draftcopy”wasdulyreceived by action of the Grand Lodge and referred to the Committee on Jurisprudence with instructions “to develop a new governance document(s) for presentation and read- ing at the Annual Communication in 1994 and to be held over until the Annual Communicationin1995”(GrandLodgeProceedings,1992,pg.78). The proposed Revision of the Book of Constitutions was presented to the assembleddelegatesbytheCommitteeonJurisprudence(BarberL.Shelton,P.G.M., Chairman; William G. Hinton, P.G.M., and Elroy Johnson, P.G.M.) and received at the One Hundred Ninety-Fifth Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge on October 18,1994 (Grand Lodge Proceedings,1994,pg.186). On October 17,1995, the Revised Edition of the Book of Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, F.&A.M. was presented to the delegates at the One HundredNinetySixthAnnualCommunicationoftheGrandLodgebytheCommittee on Jurisprudence (William G. Hinton, P.G.M., Chairman; Elroy Johnson, P.G.M.; and Barber L. Shelton, P.G.M.). It was adopted as presented and amended (Grand Lodge Proceedings 1995, pg. 208) as the Twelfth Edition and is now published as the1995Edition. USAGEINAFFIXINGMASONICDATESBYYEARS THE COMMON, OR VULGAR ERA: Anno Domini (the year of our Lord). WrittenA:.L:. 1976. CRAFT, OR SYMBOLIC MASONRY’S YEAR: Anno Lucis (the year of Light). WrittenA:.L:.5976.Foundbyadding4000tothecommonera—thus4000added to1976is5976. CAPITULAR MASONRY, THE ROYAL ARCH YEAR: Anno Inventionis (the year of discovery). Written: A.:l:. (or A:.lnv. ) 2506 (Sometimes written Y:.D) Foundbyadding530 to thecommon era—thus:530addedto1976is2506. HIGH PRIESTHOOD YEAR: Anno Benedictionis (the year of blessing). Written: A:.B:.(orA:.Ben:.)3889.Foundbyadding1913tothecommonera—thus:1913 addedto1976is3889. CRYPTIC MASONRY, THE ROYAL AND SELECT MASTERS’ YEAR: Anno Depositinis(theyearofdeposit).Written:A:.Dep:.1976.Foundbyadding1000 tothecommon era—thus:1000addedto1976is2976. INTRODUCTION A-6 CHIVALRIC MASONRY, THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR’S YEAR: AnnoOrdonis (the yearof theorder).Written:A:.O:.858.Foundbysubtracting1118 fromthe commonera—thus:1118 from 1976is858. SCOTTISH RITE YEAR: Anno Mundi (the year of the World.) Written: A:.M:. 5736. Found by adding 3760 to the common era—thus: 3760 added to 1976 is 5736. ACTSOFINCORPORATION B-1 ACTS OF INCORPORATION An Act to Incorporate theGrand Lodgeof Kentucky WHEREAS, The Grand Lodge of Kentucky has procured in the City of Lexington a lot of ground on which to erect a Grand Hall, for the purpose of hold- ing its meetings, and to accommodate its subordinate lodges and other Masonic bodies in said city; and also desirous to procure and hold such halls and their appurtenances in other parts of the State as maybe conveyed to or reverted to said Grand Lodge from any subordinate lodge; and also wishes to establish an asylum for the nurture and education of indigent orphans of both sexes, and the support of poor indigent persons, therefore, SECTION 1. Be enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: That Abner Cunningham, Grand Master; Wilkins Tannehill, Deputy Grand Master; Thomas J. Welby, Senior Grand Warden; Leander M. Cox, Junior Grand Warden;PhilipSwigert,GrandSecretary, andWilliamCardwell, GrandTreasurer, andtheirsuccessorsinoffice,be,andtheyare,herebyconstitutedabodypoliticand corporatetobeknownbythenameof“THEGRANDLODGEOFKENTUCKY,” and by that name shall have perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to change and alter the same at pleasure; and by that name may sue and be sued, impleadandbeimpleaded. SECTION 2. Be it further enacted, That said Grand Lodge thus incorporated may purchase, or receive by gift or otherwise, the lot of ground in the City of’ Lexington, on which a Grand Hall is now being erected, and hold the same in fee simple, to be used for Masonic and benevolent purposes. SECTION 3. Be it further enacted, That said Grand Lodge may receive con- veyance for such estate in other parts of the State as is now or may hereafter be occupied by subordinate lodges for Masonic purposes, whenever said subordinate lodges may convey, or cause to be conveyed, said tenements to said Grand Lodge orwheneverbythedissolution ofanyofsaidsubordinate lodges owningsaid tene- ments,thesameshallproperlyvestinsaidGrandLodgebyreasonof’therulesand by laws thereof, and may hold the same in fee simple for Masonic purposes. But should said property be and remain unused for Masonic or benevolent purposes for the space of five years, then said Grand Lodge shall be required, on pain of forfeitureto the State to sell and dispose of the same. SECTION 4. Be it further enacted, That said Grand Lodge may receive by gift, device or purchase any amount of real estate not exceeding the sum of $20,000 in one or more parcels lying adjacent, upon which to establish an asy- lum for indigent children of both sexes, for the purpose of nurture and education, to be founded upon such principles, and governed by such managers, as said Grand Lodge shall determine; and should said Grand Lodge, at any time after the receipt of said real estate and establishment of said asylums, abandon the same, or cease the use thereof for said purposes for the space of five years, then, if said real estate shall have been given or devised to said Grand Lodge for said purpose, the same shall revert to said donor or his, her or their heirs, or the heirs of said testator; or in the event of there being no heirs capable of receiving the same, then the same shall be vested in such benevolent institutions as shall be designated by the act of the Legislature. And if said real estate shall have been purchased by said Grand Lodge, then said Grand Lodge shall, within five years aftersaidabandonmentorcessationofsuchuseoroccupation,sellordisposeofor conveysaid property, on pain of forfeiture thereof to theCommonwealth. SECTION 5. Be it further enacted, That said Grand Lodge be authorized to divert any portion, it may deem right, of the money which it is authorized by law ACTSOFINCORPORATION B-2 to raise for the erection of its Grand Hall, to the purpose of purchasing the neces- sary site of said asylum, and the putting the same into operation. And it is also rendered capable of receiving, by gift or device, such sums of money or personal property as may be given for the above purpose, or the promotion of the general charitable purposes of the institution of Masonry. And there is hereby reserved to the Legislaturethepower to alteror repeal this act. ApprovedJanuary29,1841. –––––––––––––– The acts noted below were passed by the Legislature of Kentucky, but are not such as aredeemed desirable to copy here, viz.: “An act for the benefit of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky.” Approved Janu- ary27, 1851. “Anactsupplementaltoanact,entitled‘anactforthebenefitoftheGrand Lodge of Kentucky’.” Approved November 27,1820. “An act for the benefit of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky.” Approved February7, 1834.