De Grasse-Tilly and the Early Supreme Council : 1786 – 1802
3 . The Constitutions of 1762 , 1786 Ahmend Francken Manuscript .
4 . The Constitutions of 1762 , 1797 Pierre Dupont Delorme Register .
Art . < 8 . th > 6 th
Besides the 4 Quarterly communications , a meeting shall be held once a Month within the 10 first days of the Month , by the Gr . d Officers and in Dignity of the S . me Princes only a Council for that purpose to Regulate the Business of the Order , as well grand , as particular , but , still subject to an appeal , to the Gr . d Council of Communication –
Art . < 9 . th > 7 th
All Business , carried before the Sov . n Gr . d Council of the Sub . me Princes , shall be just Regulated in the Council ’ s Meeting , and the Regulations shall be a writ of Execution , previously , except , the Ratification of the Quarterly Communication .
Art . < 10 . th > 8 th
In the meeting of the Council of Communication , and in that , of the particular Council , all Business , shall be decided by the Plurality of Votes – The President to have two Votes , and the other Members , one – If , in these Meetings , by a dispensation , any Dep . y or Prince Sub . me , ( who is not a Member ) is admitted ; he shall have no Vote , nor give any advice , unless , he is desired by the President –
Art . < 11 . th > 9 th
When the Gr . d Council of Quarterly Communication is held , the Gr . d Sec . y Gen . l shall be oblig ’ d , to bring all the current Registers , and to render an Account of all the deliberations & Regulations , made during the last Quarter , to be ratified , and if any should meet with opposition at the Ratification , they shall Nominate 9 Commissioners , before whom , the opposers shall deliver in writing , the Reason of their opposition , in order , that the same , may be answered in writing – and upon the Report of the aforesaid Commissioners , the same shall be Enacted , at the following meeting of the Council of the Communication ; and in the Interim , the
ARTICLE VIII .
Besides the four quarterly communications , there shall be held , within the first ten days of each month , by only the Grand Officers-Dignitaries of the Sovereign Council of the Sublime Princes , a Council for the Regulation of the general and special affairs of the order , with right of appeal to the Grand Council of Communication .
ARTICLE IX .
In the Assembly of the Council of Communication , as also in the particular Councils , all questions shall be decided by plurality of votes ; the President having two
votes , and each other member one . If a Bro∴ is allowed to sit in such Assembly , by permission only , even if he be a Sublime Prince , but be not a member of the Grand Council , he shall have no vote , and shall express his views only by permission of the President .
ARTICLE X .
All matters referred to the Sovereign Grand Council of the Sublime Princes shall be determined in the Councils ; and their regulations shall be executed , subject to ratification , however , by the next Council of Communication .
ARTICLE XI .
Whenever the Grand Council of Communication is held , the Grand Secretary shall bring- up all the current records , and report all the deliberations had , and regulations made during the quarter , that they may be ratified ; and if there be any opposition made to such ratification , a Committee of Nine shall be appointed , before which those who object shall set forth in writing the grounds of their objection , that they may be answered in writing ; and that , upon the report of the Committee , the matter may be settled in the next Grand Council of Communication ; and in the interval between such deliberation and the final decision , that to which objection is made shall , by a mandate , be executed .
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