Upon the impaneling of any jury in any civil cause now pending, or to be hereafter commenced in any court in this state, it shall be the duty of the court, upon request of either party to the suit, or upon its own motion, to order its full number of jurors into the jury box, before either party shall be required to examine any of the jurors touching their qualifications to try any such causes: Provided, that the jury shall be passed upon and accepted in panels of four by the parties, commencing with the plaintiff. Alternate jurors shall be passed upon separately.