[62] Page 18. In December, 1851, the Committee of Correspondence of North Carolina, unregardful of the rigid rule of their predecessors, decided that maimed candidates might be initiated, "provided their loss or infirmity will not prevent them from making full proficiency in Masonry." [63] Proceedings of the G.L. of Mo. for 1823, p. 5. The report and resolution were on the petitions of two candidates to be initiated, one with only one arm, and the other much deformed in his legs. [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