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Article SPECIAL GRAND LODGE. ← Page 2 of 3 Article SPECIAL GRAND LODGE. Page 2 of 3 →
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Special Grand Lodge.
apprehension mig ht arise . Grand Lodge had been told that the alterations proposed in the precedence of Grand Officers had been cancelled . On the agenda paper it was stated that the table of precedence was altered according to the recent order of the Grand Master . That order it had been stated was cancelled , but he submitted that the order and another cancelling it would tend to show that Grand Lodge was under authority in this matter .
He was sure there was no wish to infringe upon the powers of the Grand Master , but he thought this point ought ' to be noticed by Grand Lodge . — The M . W . PRO GRAND MASTER here ruled that the speaker was out of order , as no clause upon which an amendment was not suggested was within the field of discussion . —Bro . M ONTAGUE GUEST drew attention to the fact that the Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies , the Past Deputy
Grand Director of Ceremonies , the Grand Standard Bearer , and Past Grand Standard Bearer had been left out of the table of precedence . —The M . W . PRO GRAND MASTER said that they would be inserted . —Bro . Sir J B . MONCKTON , referring to a suggestion made by several provinces that an intimation should be made to the Craft as to the proper prefixes to Grand Officers' titles , suggested that a foot note should be put to this clause
in the following terms : " The Grand Master and the Pro Grand Master are entitled to the appellation Most Worshipful ( M . W . ) The prefix Right Worshi pful ( R . W . ) is accorded to and should be used by the Deputy Grand Master , the " Present and Past Provincial and District Grand Masters , and the Present and Past Grand Wardens of Grand Lodge . The prefix Very Worshi p ful ( V . W . ) should be used only by the Present and Past Grand Chaplains the . Present and Past Grand Treasurers , the
, Present and Past Grand Registrars , the Present and Past Presidents of the Board of General Purposes , and the Present and Past Grand Secretaries of Grand Lodge , and no other . The address or prefix of Worshi p ful ( W . ) to be used by the rest of the Present and Past Grand Officers of Grand Lodge , Present and Past Masters of lodges ; and all other members should be styled and designated as brother only . "—It was resolved that this foot note be added to clause 6 .
That clauses 7 and S stand part of the code . That clause 9 be altered as follows—in the 6 th line to insert "such " before " lodge ; " in the 8 th to insert " English " before « ' lodge ; " in the 12 th to substitute "duly served" for " filled " and add " such " before " a lodge . " That clause 10 stand part of the code .
Bro . Sir J B . MONCKTON said that clause 11 was proposed to be amended by adding "at 5 o ' clock in the afternoon , " and to insert after " London " " or some other provincial city or town . " Those alterations were not recommended by the Board . —Bro . J AMES STEVENS said he was responsible for the proposed alteration in the hour of meeting of Grand Lodge . It had for some years been apparent that the business of Grand Lodge
could not be transacted at four brief meetings in the course of the year , and many important matters had been crowded out by the pressure of business . A large portion of the time of Grand Lodge was occupied with reading and discussing minutes . The business of the Board of Benevolence also occupied some time , and the time for other business was therefore greatly curtailed . On these grounds he
begged leave to press his amendment . —Bro . C . J . PERCEVAL seconded the amendment . —Bro . MCINTYRE regretted that he could not vote for the amendment . Grand Lodge used to meet an hour later than at present ; then speeches were not so long as now . As it would be inconvenient for men of business to attend at five o ' clock ; he thought it would be for the convenience of the greater number that the hour of meeting should remain unaltered . On that ground he opposed the amendment . —Bro . the Rev . R . J .
SIMPSON , P . G . C , admitted the force of Bro . Mclntyre ' s remarks , but felt with Bro . Stevens that the progress of Freemasonry and its increased business demanded more time for dealing with them , and suggested that Bro . Stevens should withdraw his amendment , and that they should ask for additional meetings in February and May . —The motion was then withdrawn , and it was agreed that clause 11 stand part of the Constitutions . Clause 12 was passed , omitting the words " andhold" in the lourth line . Clauses 13 and 14 were passed without alteration .
On clause 15 Bro . SMALLPEICE asked Grand Lodge to consider the amendment ( not recommended by the Board of General Purposes ) to strike out the words " who shall be a peer ot the realm . " He had a great many Masonic friends who were anxious to fill the office of Provincial Grand Master . A time would come when there was no qualified brother . It was resolved that the clause stand without alteration .
Clause 16 was agreed to with the addition of the words "or resign " after "die" in the first line , and the substitution of the word " summon " for " assemble" in the fourth . Clause 18 was agreed to without alteration . —Sir J MONCKTON said that clause 18 would follow clause 6 ; and on the suggestion of Sir ALBERT WOODS ( Garter ) , G . D . C ., the clause was passed with the addition of the words "he may also appoint a Grand Secretary for German Correspondence
and an Assistant Grand Secretary , " Past Grand Secretaries for German Correspondence to follow . —Bro . Sir JOHN MONCKTON referred to a suggestion to add to clause 18 " no brother under an Installed Master shall hold office in the Grand Lodge except the Organist and Tyler . "—The alteration was not recommended by the Board ; and as no brother rose to move it , the clause was declared carried , Clauses 19 to 25 were agreed to without amendments .
Sir J MONCKTON said that it had been proposed to add the words "being or having been Master of a lodge" on the seventh line of clause 26 th after the words "Grand Lodge . "—The alteration was not recommended by the Board , and on being put to the vote Grand Lodge passed clause 26 unaltered .
Clause 27 was passed with the addition of the words " The Prov . Grand Master , or the Deputy Grand Master" after "Grand Master , " omitting the words " or his Deputy . " Clauses 28 and 29 were passed without alteration . Bio . LE FEUVRE said that in clause 30 the Province of Hants had proproposed to insert alter the word "Auditor" in the sixth line " who shall be a Master Mason . " That was not in either of the sheets that had been
distributed .- —Bro . Sir J MONCKTON said that it came in the form of a letter and being taken as a suggestion only was not inserted . —The proposed alteration was agreed to by Grand Lodge . —Bro . Sir J MONCKTON said that it had been suggested , and the Board recommended , that on the sixth line the words " elected annually in June by the Grand Lodge "
should be substituted for " appointed by the Grand Master . "—That alteration also was agreed to . Clauses 31 and 32 were passed without alteration . Sir J MONCKTON said that for clause 33 a suggestion had been made to omit the rule , and another suggestion was to add in the fourth line "or Deputy Provincial Grand Master . "—Bro . the Rev . II . A . PICKARD ,
Special Grand Lodge.
P . G . C ., said he must support the proposed alteration ; when the office of Provincial Grand Master was vacant the Deputy Provincial Grand Master should take charge of the province ; it should not lapse to the Grand Registrar . —Bro . G . J . MCKAY seconded the amendment . —Bro . MCINTYRE said the office did not at present lapse to the Grand Registrar ; it required the written authorisation of the Grand Master to p lace a province under the
charge of the Grand Registrar . Where the power was exercised for a province it was only for a temporary purpose , and until the appointment of a Prov . G . Master . —Bro . MONTAGUE GUEST said he should support the amendment if pressed to a division . —Lord HOLMESDALE , R . W . Provincial Grand Master Kent , asked how the appointment of the Grand Registrar to take charge of a province could be made consistent with the appointment by him of a
deputy to perform the functions of a Provincial Grand Master . —Bro . MCINTYRE said the amendment would take away the power of appointment from the Grand Master . —General BROWNRIGG , R . W . P . G . M . Surrey , asked whether it had not always been the case that on the death of a Provincial Grand Master the Grand Registrar had stepped into his shoes — Bro . GOTTSCHALK said the Grand Registrar had laid it down that the
Grand Master made the appointment ; but had it ever occurred within the last four years that anyone but Grand Registrars had been appointedd was there any instance of the appointment ot a Deputy Provincial Gran ; Master , and on those occasions the Grand Registrar had had the functions of the Provincial Grand Master . —Bro . SIMPSON supported the amendment . —Bro . SMALLPIECE said that clause 79 provided for the event . —The Rev .
C . W . ARNOLD , P . G . C , said the latter part of clause 78 also provided for it . —Bro . MCINTYRE pointed out that rule 78 merely provided that the Deputy should rule until the Grand Master appointed some other brother to act . —The PRO GRAND MASTER then put it to Grand Lodge whether clause 33 should stand or be omitted ; and it was decided to omit it . Clause 34 was carried without alteration .
Clause 35 was passed with the substitution in the fourth line of the word " qualified" for members of the Grand Lodge , and the omission of the words "as such " in the last line . Clause 3 6 was passed with the third line altered to read " all building plans or works projected or undertaken . "
In clause 37 the words "in addition to his other duties has" were omitted , and the words " shall have the arrangement and direction of all processions and ceremonies of the Grand Lod ge and " substituted for them . Clauses 38 and sg were passed unaltered . Sir J . B . MONCKTON said that an important alteration was proposed foi clause 40 , by increasing the number of Grand Stewards from 18 to 30 ; but it was not proposed by any one present , and it was resolved that the clause stand part of the Constitutions .
Sir J MONCKTON said to clause 41 it was proposed to add " certain provincial lodges to be red-apron lodges , " and " Grand Stewards must be Installed Masters . " As regarded the first , that had virtuall y been decided by Grand Lodge . As regarded the provision that Grand Stewards must be Installed Masters , the Board felt that it would be inconvenient . In Grand Stewards' Lodge it was provided that a brother must have served as Grand Steward before he came to the chair , and that provision would be nullified
by the proposed alteration . —The clause was passed without alteration . Clause 42 was passed unaltered . Clause 43 passed , substituting the word " eligible " for "presented . " Clauses 44 and 45 were passed unaltered . In clause 46 the proposal to substitute the word " submit " for " transmit " was rejected , and the clause passed without alteration . A verbal alteration in clause 47 was negatived , and the clause passed without alteration .
Clause 48 was passed unaltered . Sir J . B . MONCKTON said that for clause 49 an amendment had been proposed to add " such Prov . or District Grand Officers Past and Present as are members of the Grand Lodge shall have set apart for them two cross benches below the dais . " The Board did not recommend that alteration as
they felt it would unsettle the arrangements of Grand Lodge . —Bro . MONTAGUE GUEST called attention to the Committee being called in some places the General Committee of Grand Lodge and in others the General Committee , and Sir J . B . MONCKTON said that the words " General Committee " had been adopted throughout for the sake of uniformity . —The clause was then passed without alteration .
Clause 50 was passed with the fourth line altered to read " which shall consist of the President of the Board of Benevolence , who if present shall act as chairman , the Present and Past Grand Officers and the Master , & c , " " and meet , & c . " Clause 51 was passed , substituting the word " any "for the word "some " in the fourth line .
Clause 52 was passed , adding on the eighth line after " Committee " the words "or by notice previously given or sent to the Grand Secretary . " Clause 53 was carried without alteration . Sir J . B . MONCKTON said in clause 54 it was suggested and recommended to add on the third line after the word " is " the words " scandalous , improper , irregular , or . "—The PRO GRAND MASTER said this was an
important alteration . He saw no objection toil ; there could be no doubt as to the words " scandalous and irregular , " but " improper" was a very wide term . —Bro . J . STEVENS asked whether the President of the Board of General Purposes was going to read the amendments which were proposed and not recommended , so that the whole mi ght be taken together . — The PRO GRAND MASTER said he thought that would be the proper course .
—Bro . G . J . MCKAY proposed and Bro . BRACKSTONE BAKER seconded the omission ot the word " impioper . "—Sir J . MONCKTON said that a province had suggested these words , and they had been recommended by the Board , leaving it for Grand Lodge to decide . —The clause was then passed omitting the word " improper " and adopting the words " scandalous and irregular . " —Other verbal alterations having been proposed , Bro . IAS . STEVENS
said that the amendment he proposed would raise the whole question . He proposed to omit the words from " The Chairman " to " specially , " and to substitute the following : "The General Committee may direct that any notice which in the opinion of the majority is scandalous , irregular , or contrary to the princi ples of Freemasonry , shall be omitted from the list of business to be brought belore Grand Lodge at its ensuing communication , and in such case the Chairman of
the General Committee shall " do certain things . " The object was to take away from any one person the opportunity of obstructing any notice of motion it might be desired to put before Grand Lodge . —Bro . E . F . STORR , P . M ., Treas . 22 , seconded the amendment . —The clause as amended by Bro . Stevens was passed . Clauses 55 and 56 were passed without alteration . Clause 57 was altered by the addition on the 6 th line , after the word
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Special Grand Lodge.
apprehension mig ht arise . Grand Lodge had been told that the alterations proposed in the precedence of Grand Officers had been cancelled . On the agenda paper it was stated that the table of precedence was altered according to the recent order of the Grand Master . That order it had been stated was cancelled , but he submitted that the order and another cancelling it would tend to show that Grand Lodge was under authority in this matter .
He was sure there was no wish to infringe upon the powers of the Grand Master , but he thought this point ought ' to be noticed by Grand Lodge . — The M . W . PRO GRAND MASTER here ruled that the speaker was out of order , as no clause upon which an amendment was not suggested was within the field of discussion . —Bro . M ONTAGUE GUEST drew attention to the fact that the Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies , the Past Deputy
Grand Director of Ceremonies , the Grand Standard Bearer , and Past Grand Standard Bearer had been left out of the table of precedence . —The M . W . PRO GRAND MASTER said that they would be inserted . —Bro . Sir J B . MONCKTON , referring to a suggestion made by several provinces that an intimation should be made to the Craft as to the proper prefixes to Grand Officers' titles , suggested that a foot note should be put to this clause
in the following terms : " The Grand Master and the Pro Grand Master are entitled to the appellation Most Worshipful ( M . W . ) The prefix Right Worshi pful ( R . W . ) is accorded to and should be used by the Deputy Grand Master , the " Present and Past Provincial and District Grand Masters , and the Present and Past Grand Wardens of Grand Lodge . The prefix Very Worshi p ful ( V . W . ) should be used only by the Present and Past Grand Chaplains the . Present and Past Grand Treasurers , the
, Present and Past Grand Registrars , the Present and Past Presidents of the Board of General Purposes , and the Present and Past Grand Secretaries of Grand Lodge , and no other . The address or prefix of Worshi p ful ( W . ) to be used by the rest of the Present and Past Grand Officers of Grand Lodge , Present and Past Masters of lodges ; and all other members should be styled and designated as brother only . "—It was resolved that this foot note be added to clause 6 .
That clauses 7 and S stand part of the code . That clause 9 be altered as follows—in the 6 th line to insert "such " before " lodge ; " in the 8 th to insert " English " before « ' lodge ; " in the 12 th to substitute "duly served" for " filled " and add " such " before " a lodge . " That clause 10 stand part of the code .
Bro . Sir J B . MONCKTON said that clause 11 was proposed to be amended by adding "at 5 o ' clock in the afternoon , " and to insert after " London " " or some other provincial city or town . " Those alterations were not recommended by the Board . —Bro . J AMES STEVENS said he was responsible for the proposed alteration in the hour of meeting of Grand Lodge . It had for some years been apparent that the business of Grand Lodge
could not be transacted at four brief meetings in the course of the year , and many important matters had been crowded out by the pressure of business . A large portion of the time of Grand Lodge was occupied with reading and discussing minutes . The business of the Board of Benevolence also occupied some time , and the time for other business was therefore greatly curtailed . On these grounds he
begged leave to press his amendment . —Bro . C . J . PERCEVAL seconded the amendment . —Bro . MCINTYRE regretted that he could not vote for the amendment . Grand Lodge used to meet an hour later than at present ; then speeches were not so long as now . As it would be inconvenient for men of business to attend at five o ' clock ; he thought it would be for the convenience of the greater number that the hour of meeting should remain unaltered . On that ground he opposed the amendment . —Bro . the Rev . R . J .
SIMPSON , P . G . C , admitted the force of Bro . Mclntyre ' s remarks , but felt with Bro . Stevens that the progress of Freemasonry and its increased business demanded more time for dealing with them , and suggested that Bro . Stevens should withdraw his amendment , and that they should ask for additional meetings in February and May . —The motion was then withdrawn , and it was agreed that clause 11 stand part of the Constitutions . Clause 12 was passed , omitting the words " andhold" in the lourth line . Clauses 13 and 14 were passed without alteration .
On clause 15 Bro . SMALLPEICE asked Grand Lodge to consider the amendment ( not recommended by the Board of General Purposes ) to strike out the words " who shall be a peer ot the realm . " He had a great many Masonic friends who were anxious to fill the office of Provincial Grand Master . A time would come when there was no qualified brother . It was resolved that the clause stand without alteration .
Clause 16 was agreed to with the addition of the words "or resign " after "die" in the first line , and the substitution of the word " summon " for " assemble" in the fourth . Clause 18 was agreed to without alteration . —Sir J MONCKTON said that clause 18 would follow clause 6 ; and on the suggestion of Sir ALBERT WOODS ( Garter ) , G . D . C ., the clause was passed with the addition of the words "he may also appoint a Grand Secretary for German Correspondence
and an Assistant Grand Secretary , " Past Grand Secretaries for German Correspondence to follow . —Bro . Sir JOHN MONCKTON referred to a suggestion to add to clause 18 " no brother under an Installed Master shall hold office in the Grand Lodge except the Organist and Tyler . "—The alteration was not recommended by the Board ; and as no brother rose to move it , the clause was declared carried , Clauses 19 to 25 were agreed to without amendments .
Sir J MONCKTON said that it had been proposed to add the words "being or having been Master of a lodge" on the seventh line of clause 26 th after the words "Grand Lodge . "—The alteration was not recommended by the Board , and on being put to the vote Grand Lodge passed clause 26 unaltered .
Clause 27 was passed with the addition of the words " The Prov . Grand Master , or the Deputy Grand Master" after "Grand Master , " omitting the words " or his Deputy . " Clauses 28 and 29 were passed without alteration . Bio . LE FEUVRE said that in clause 30 the Province of Hants had proproposed to insert alter the word "Auditor" in the sixth line " who shall be a Master Mason . " That was not in either of the sheets that had been
distributed .- —Bro . Sir J MONCKTON said that it came in the form of a letter and being taken as a suggestion only was not inserted . —The proposed alteration was agreed to by Grand Lodge . —Bro . Sir J MONCKTON said that it had been suggested , and the Board recommended , that on the sixth line the words " elected annually in June by the Grand Lodge "
should be substituted for " appointed by the Grand Master . "—That alteration also was agreed to . Clauses 31 and 32 were passed without alteration . Sir J MONCKTON said that for clause 33 a suggestion had been made to omit the rule , and another suggestion was to add in the fourth line "or Deputy Provincial Grand Master . "—Bro . the Rev . II . A . PICKARD ,
Special Grand Lodge.
P . G . C ., said he must support the proposed alteration ; when the office of Provincial Grand Master was vacant the Deputy Provincial Grand Master should take charge of the province ; it should not lapse to the Grand Registrar . —Bro . G . J . MCKAY seconded the amendment . —Bro . MCINTYRE said the office did not at present lapse to the Grand Registrar ; it required the written authorisation of the Grand Master to p lace a province under the
charge of the Grand Registrar . Where the power was exercised for a province it was only for a temporary purpose , and until the appointment of a Prov . G . Master . —Bro . MONTAGUE GUEST said he should support the amendment if pressed to a division . —Lord HOLMESDALE , R . W . Provincial Grand Master Kent , asked how the appointment of the Grand Registrar to take charge of a province could be made consistent with the appointment by him of a
deputy to perform the functions of a Provincial Grand Master . —Bro . MCINTYRE said the amendment would take away the power of appointment from the Grand Master . —General BROWNRIGG , R . W . P . G . M . Surrey , asked whether it had not always been the case that on the death of a Provincial Grand Master the Grand Registrar had stepped into his shoes — Bro . GOTTSCHALK said the Grand Registrar had laid it down that the
Grand Master made the appointment ; but had it ever occurred within the last four years that anyone but Grand Registrars had been appointedd was there any instance of the appointment ot a Deputy Provincial Gran ; Master , and on those occasions the Grand Registrar had had the functions of the Provincial Grand Master . —Bro . SIMPSON supported the amendment . —Bro . SMALLPIECE said that clause 79 provided for the event . —The Rev .
C . W . ARNOLD , P . G . C , said the latter part of clause 78 also provided for it . —Bro . MCINTYRE pointed out that rule 78 merely provided that the Deputy should rule until the Grand Master appointed some other brother to act . —The PRO GRAND MASTER then put it to Grand Lodge whether clause 33 should stand or be omitted ; and it was decided to omit it . Clause 34 was carried without alteration .
Clause 35 was passed with the substitution in the fourth line of the word " qualified" for members of the Grand Lodge , and the omission of the words "as such " in the last line . Clause 3 6 was passed with the third line altered to read " all building plans or works projected or undertaken . "
In clause 37 the words "in addition to his other duties has" were omitted , and the words " shall have the arrangement and direction of all processions and ceremonies of the Grand Lod ge and " substituted for them . Clauses 38 and sg were passed unaltered . Sir J . B . MONCKTON said that an important alteration was proposed foi clause 40 , by increasing the number of Grand Stewards from 18 to 30 ; but it was not proposed by any one present , and it was resolved that the clause stand part of the Constitutions .
Sir J MONCKTON said to clause 41 it was proposed to add " certain provincial lodges to be red-apron lodges , " and " Grand Stewards must be Installed Masters . " As regarded the first , that had virtuall y been decided by Grand Lodge . As regarded the provision that Grand Stewards must be Installed Masters , the Board felt that it would be inconvenient . In Grand Stewards' Lodge it was provided that a brother must have served as Grand Steward before he came to the chair , and that provision would be nullified
by the proposed alteration . —The clause was passed without alteration . Clause 42 was passed unaltered . Clause 43 passed , substituting the word " eligible " for "presented . " Clauses 44 and 45 were passed unaltered . In clause 46 the proposal to substitute the word " submit " for " transmit " was rejected , and the clause passed without alteration . A verbal alteration in clause 47 was negatived , and the clause passed without alteration .
Clause 48 was passed unaltered . Sir J . B . MONCKTON said that for clause 49 an amendment had been proposed to add " such Prov . or District Grand Officers Past and Present as are members of the Grand Lodge shall have set apart for them two cross benches below the dais . " The Board did not recommend that alteration as
they felt it would unsettle the arrangements of Grand Lodge . —Bro . MONTAGUE GUEST called attention to the Committee being called in some places the General Committee of Grand Lodge and in others the General Committee , and Sir J . B . MONCKTON said that the words " General Committee " had been adopted throughout for the sake of uniformity . —The clause was then passed without alteration .
Clause 50 was passed with the fourth line altered to read " which shall consist of the President of the Board of Benevolence , who if present shall act as chairman , the Present and Past Grand Officers and the Master , & c , " " and meet , & c . " Clause 51 was passed , substituting the word " any "for the word "some " in the fourth line .
Clause 52 was passed , adding on the eighth line after " Committee " the words "or by notice previously given or sent to the Grand Secretary . " Clause 53 was carried without alteration . Sir J . B . MONCKTON said in clause 54 it was suggested and recommended to add on the third line after the word " is " the words " scandalous , improper , irregular , or . "—The PRO GRAND MASTER said this was an
important alteration . He saw no objection toil ; there could be no doubt as to the words " scandalous and irregular , " but " improper" was a very wide term . —Bro . J . STEVENS asked whether the President of the Board of General Purposes was going to read the amendments which were proposed and not recommended , so that the whole mi ght be taken together . — The PRO GRAND MASTER said he thought that would be the proper course .
—Bro . G . J . MCKAY proposed and Bro . BRACKSTONE BAKER seconded the omission ot the word " impioper . "—Sir J . MONCKTON said that a province had suggested these words , and they had been recommended by the Board , leaving it for Grand Lodge to decide . —The clause was then passed omitting the word " improper " and adopting the words " scandalous and irregular . " —Other verbal alterations having been proposed , Bro . IAS . STEVENS
said that the amendment he proposed would raise the whole question . He proposed to omit the words from " The Chairman " to " specially , " and to substitute the following : "The General Committee may direct that any notice which in the opinion of the majority is scandalous , irregular , or contrary to the princi ples of Freemasonry , shall be omitted from the list of business to be brought belore Grand Lodge at its ensuing communication , and in such case the Chairman of
the General Committee shall " do certain things . " The object was to take away from any one person the opportunity of obstructing any notice of motion it might be desired to put before Grand Lodge . —Bro . E . F . STORR , P . M ., Treas . 22 , seconded the amendment . —The clause as amended by Bro . Stevens was passed . Clauses 55 and 56 were passed without alteration . Clause 57 was altered by the addition on the 6 th line , after the word