[64] When the spirit of expediency once begins, we know not where it will stop.  Thus a blind man has been initiated in Mississippi, and a one-armed one in Kentucky; and in France a few years since, the degrees were conferred by sign-language on a deaf mute!

[65] Namely, the incorrectly presumed operative origin of the Order.  The whole of this report, which is from the venerable Giles F. Yates, contains an able and unanswerable defense of the ancient law in opposition to any qualification.

[66] See proceedings of New York, 1848, pp. 36, 37.

[67] Such is the formula prescribed by the Constitutions of England as well as all the Monitors in this country.

[68] See Mackey’s Lexicon of Freemasonry, 3d Edit., art, Ballot.

[69] Book of Constitutions.  Edit. 1755, p. 312.

[70] See Mackey’s Lexicon of Freemasonry, 3d Edit., art. Ballot

[71] Except when there is but one black ball, in which case the matter lies over until the next stated meeting.  See preceding Section.

[72] Masonry founded on Scripture, a Sermon preached in 1752, by the Rev. W. Williams.

[73] That is, advance him, from the subordinate position of a serving man or Apprentice, to that of a Fellow Craft or journeyman.

[74] This is also the regulation of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina.

[75] Proceedings of Grand Lodge of New York, for 1845.  He excepts, of course, from the operation of the rule, those made by dispensation; but this exception does not affect the strength of the principle.

[76] Preston, edition of Oliver, p. 12 (U.M.L., vol. iii., p. 10).

[77] Transactions of the G.L. of New York, anno 1848, p. 73.

[78] Edition of 1723, page 71 (U.M.L., vol. xv., book 1, p. 71).

[79] Preston, p. 48 (U.M.L., vol, iii., p. 40).

[80] Const.  New York, 1854, p. 13.  The Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of England (p. 64) have a similar provision; but they require the Brother to express his wish for membership on the day of his initiation.

[81] Preston, Oliver’s Ed., p. 71, note (U.L.M., vol. iii., p. 60).

[82] See Oliver, note in Preston, p. 75 (U.M.L., vol. iii, p. 61).

[83] Oliver’s Preston, p. 162 (U.M.L., vol. iii., p. 135.)

[84] See Anderson’s Const., 3d Edit., 1755, page 303.

[85] Preston, Oliver’s Edit., p. 89 (U.M.L., vol. iii., p. 72).

[86] Preston, Oliver’s Edit” p. 90 (U.M.L., vol. iii., p. 73).

[87] Book I., chap. iii.

[88] Proceedings of Louisiana, an. 1852.

[89] Preston, Oliver’s Edit., p. 76 (U.M.L., vol. iii, p. 62).

[90] Ibid

[91] See Mackey’s Lexicon of Freemasonry, in voce.

[92] Constitutions, Second Edition of 1738, p. 154.

[93] Proceedings for 1853.

[94] Proceedings for 1847.

[95] The right to visit is restricted to once, by many Grand Lodges to enable him to become acquainted with the character of the lodge before he applies for membership.