Circular: Closed Observances and the Absent Chair

PRO/1984/07 · leaf 1

1. CIRCULAR TO ALL HOUSES PRO/1984/07✎
2. CLOSED OBSERVANCES✎
4. 1. An observance is open unless closed. A house closes an observance by✎
5. posting the fact at the door on the morning of the day, and by no✎
6. other means. Notice is not given in advance.✎
8. 2. Grounds for closing: a death; a reconciliation of the Record; the✎
9. arrival of a member under a period of separation; the fourth reason,✎
10. which is not printed.✎

    Withheld: Clause 2, fourth ground · held by Not stated

12. 3. A visitor who arrives at a closed observance is given tea in the✎
13. front room and the ordinary courtesy. They are not told which of the✎
14. grounds applies. They are asked to return.✎
16. 4. The place laid and left empty is laid at every observance, open or✎
17. closed. Stewards are asked to give the explanation customary in their✎
18. house and not to standardise it. The Institute has three explanations✎
19. and has declined, twice, to choose between them.✎

PRO/1984/07 · leaf 1 of 2 · continued overleaf