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254 4. All questions before the Lodge, not otherwise particularly defined, shall be decided by a majority of the Lodge.

5. No person shall be permitted to leave the room during the session of the Lodge but by permission of the Presiding Officer.

6. No Officer shall leave his seat except it be in the discharge of his official duties.

7. No Brother shall move from his place, nor shall any member or visitor be permitted to enter at any time during the opening or closing of the Lodge, the reading of the minutes, at the time of preparing a candidate, or while conferring a degree, unless with permission of the Chair.

8. If any member or visitor shall be guilty of indecorum during the session of the Lodge, the Worshipful Master may, at his discretion, reprimand or exclude him, for that Communication, from the Lodge.

9. No member of any Lodge, who is more than twelve months in arrears, shall be eligible to any office, or be allowed to vote at the election of Officers.

10. The Constitution of the Grand Lodge, and the land marks of the Order, shall be the governing principles of every Lodge, and shall be referred to in all cases of doubt. In all decisions of the Lodge, appeals may be made to the Grand Lodge; but until the opinion of the latter is made known, the decision of the former is held valid.

ARTICLE XVI. Of Alterations of the By-Laws.

No additions, alterations, or amendments, can be made to the By-Laws of any Lodge, unless first presented, in writing, to the Chair, then read at three stated Communications, and approved of by three-fourths of the members present; nor can any of these By-Laws be suspended, even by unanimous consent.