Revision as of 03:27, 17 October 2013

GRAND CONSTITUTIONS, PART IV

PART IV: CANDIDATES

Sec. 400. INITIATION FEES

All Lodges in this jurisdiction shall demand as the fee for initiating, crafting and raising a Mason not less than Fifty Dollars, including the fee to Grand Lodge.

No reduction shall be made in the fees for degrees required by a Lodge, excepting by a two-thirds vote of Grand Lodge. No Lodge under this jurisdiction shall charge less than Fifty Dollars for the degrees, or take a note of hand for the fees, or grant any time of credit therefor, or confer any degree without the regular charge having been paid, or return any fee after the three degrees have been conferred.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1811: Chapter III, Section 6, II-521; "The fee demanded by a Lodge for initiating, crafting and raising shall not be less than nineteen dollars, including the fee to the Grand Lodge."
• GC1843: Part Fourth, 3:8, IV-649; "The fee demanded by a Lodge for the the initiating, crafting and raising a Mason, shall not be less than twenty dollars, including the fee to the Grand Lodge; and no Lodge under this jurisdiction, shall take notes of hand for fees, or grant any time of credit therefor."
  • Amended 06/13/1866, raising the fee to twenty-five dollars. (VII-79)
• GC1918: Section 400, 1918-377; "All Lodges in Boston shall demand as the fee for initiating, crafting, and raising a Mason, not less than fifty dollars, including the fee to the Grand Lodge. Two or more Lodges located in any city or town except Boston, shall agree upon a minimum fee of not less than twenty-five dollars; and in case they cannot agree, the fee shall be fixed by the Grand Master. No reduction shall be made in the fee for degrees required by a Lodge, excepting by a two-thirds vote of the Grand Lodge. No Lodge under this jurisdiction shall charge less than twenty-five dollars for the degrees, or take a note of hand for the fees, or grant any time of credit therefor, or confer any degree gratuitously or without the regular charge therefor, or return any fees after the three degrees have been conferred."
• GC1930: Section 400, 1930-130; In this revision, the text is the same as GC1918.

References

• II-192, II-509, II-622
• 12/11/1815
• 1864-83, 1866-15, 1870-165, 1891-61, 1891-82, 1892-56, 1892-106, 1892-189, 1894-17, 1894-59*
• II: 573
• III: 13
• III-233 refers to GC1819.
• IV: 496, 561
• 1894: 65
• 1989: 96

Sec. 401. APPLICATIONS FOR INITIATION: APPLICATION COMMITTEE AND STATEMENT

An application for initiation shall not be accepted by a Lodge until the applicant and his sponsor shall have appeared before an application committee of not less than three members of the Lodge, of which the Master or a Warden shall be one, for a preliminary examination as to his fitness. The applicant shall also be required to read, sign, and file with the Secretary such an application statement as shall have been approved by the Grand Master.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1918: Section 401, 1918-377; In this revision, the section includes the then-current Application form.
• GC1930: Section 401, 1930-130; In this revision, the text is the same as GC1918.
  • On 09/09/1931 (1931-55), 12/08/1937 (1937-271), and 09/13/1944 (1944-156), the form of application was amended as indicated in the section.

References

• 1856-19, 1863-22, 1870-117, 1872-289, 1875-22, 1877-275, 1894-14, 1894-59, 1897-92, 1909-177, 6MFM-384, 9MFM-202, 10MFM-200, 32MFM-305
• 1936: 23
• 1953: 47, 197
• 1989: 96
• 2005: 127

Sec. 402. APPLICATIONS FOR INITIATION: PAPERWORK

All applications for initiation shall be made in writing over the signature of the applicant on the blank furnished therefor by the Grand Lodge.

An application may be read in a Lodge but not acted upon until all papers required for the application shall be on file with the Secretary: namely, the application statement signed by the applicant, the petition signed by both the applicant and his sponsor, three copies of the questionnaire for the use of the investigating committee, and any waiver required for a non-resident applicant or for an applicant previously rejected in another Lodge.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1843: Part Fourth, 3:1, IV-647; "All applications for initiation shall be made in writing, under the signature of the applicant, and no candidate shall be balloted for who has not been proposed at a stated monthly meeting, and who shall not have stood so proposed from one regular monthly meeting to another, without a dispensation therefor; nor shall a candidate, in any event, be balloted for, into whose moral character a strict inquiry has not been made, and whose name has not been borne on the notifications for the meeting at which he is to be balloted for."
  • Amended 06/11/1856 to read: "All applications for initiation shall be made in writing, over the signature of the applicant, and in the following form:" VI-27. (the form of petition appears on VI-28).
• GC1918: see Section 401 above.
• GC1930: Section 401, 1930-130; See above.

References

• II: 139
• 1866 (O.P.): 66
• 1874: 111
• 1894: 62
• 1918: 23, 321
• 1931: 173
• 1937: 270
• 1944: 156
• 1952: 112
• 1953: 48, 197
• 1974: 173
• 2005: 127

Sec. 403. JURISDICTION (RESIDENCE)

At the time of application for initiation the petitioner shall have last acquired a Masonic residence in this Jurisdiction by residing therein at least six months continuously.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1843: Part Fourth, 3:5, IV-649; "No person residing in a town within this commonwealth, wherein a Lodge is held, shall be admitted a candidate by a Lodge in any other town, without the approbation of the Master and Wardens of a Lodge in the town of his residence. Nor shall any candidate be received from any other State, (he being a resident thereof,) when a regular Grand Lodge is established, without the written permission of the Grand Master of such state."
  • Amended 06/11/1856 to read: "All applications for initiation shall be made to the Lodge in the town where the petitioner resides, if there be a Lodge in such town; but if there be none, then shall he apply to the Lodge nearest his residence: And no person residing in a town where there is a Lodge, shall be initiated in any other town, without the consent and approbation of the Master and Wardens of that Lodge. Nor shall any candidate be received from any other State, (he being a resident thereof,) where a regular Grand Lodge is established, without the written permission of the Grand Master of such state." (VI-28)
  • Amended 12/12/1860 to read: "Applications for initiation shall be made to the Lodge in the town or city where the petitioner resides, if there be a Lodge therein; but if there be none, then shall he apply to the Lodge most convenient to his residence, and it shall be the duty of such Lodge to make due and careful inquiry as to the moral standing of the petitioner, of some respectable and reliable person or persons living in the place of his residence, before he be initiated. And no person residing in a town where there is a Lodge, shall be initiated in any other town or city, without the written consent and recommendation of the Master, one Warden, and two members at least of each Lodge in the town or city where he resides; provided however, that where there are more than two Lodges in any town or city; such consent and recommendation shall not be required of more than two of them. Nor shall any candidate be received from any other State, (he being a resident thereof,) where a regular Grand Lodge is established, without the written permission of the Grand Master of such state." (VI-337)
  • Amended 09/11/1867 by the addition of the following text: "And any person leaving his place of residence within this State, who shall be initiated in any Lodge in any other State or Territory without having first obtained the consent of the Lodge having jurisdiction, shall be deemed a clandestine Mason, and shall not visit any Lodge within this jurisdiction, without first being formally healed." (VII-89)
• GC1918: Section 402, 1918-378; "Application for initiation shall be made to a Lodge in the town or city in which the petitioner has resided for at least six months continuously next preceding the date of his application, if there be a Lodge therein; but if there be none, the petitioner shall apply to a Lodge in an adjoining city or town, and if there be none such, he shall apply to the Lodge whose usual Place of meeting is nearest to his dwelling. Distances, for the purposes of this section, shall be measured in a straight line."
  • This revision also includes the following section: "Section 403: (a) No person residing in a town or city where there is a Lodge, shall be balloted for in any Lodge located in any other town or city, without the written consent of the Master, one Warden, and two members of each Lodge in the town or city where he resides: provided, however, that where there are more than two Lodges in any town or city, such consent shall not be required of more than two of them, but one of the two shall be a Lodge whose regular place of meeting is as near the dwelling of the applicant as that of any other Lodge which has jurisdiction.
    

(b) The name of the applicant for the degrees and of the Lodge in whose behalf the release is asked, shall be borne upon the notice for a Monthly Meeting, if the Lodge usually issues such notices and the release shell not be granted before the close of that Meeting; in the meantime, any Brothers having reasons for objection to granting the request may make them known to the Master and Wardens. The Master shall report to the Lodge whether or not the request is granted shall cause the same to be noted on the Record. When such consent is granted, the Secretary shall make the following endorsement upon it:
The above request for release has been borne upon the notice for a Monthly Meeting of ------ Lodge, and this release has been entered upon the Record. Attest: ------ Secretary. and he shall attach thereto the seal of the Lodge.
(c) In Lodges which do not usually issue written or printed notifications, the request for release shall be read at a Monthly Meeting, and the release shall not be granted before the close of the next Monthly Meeting, and the Secretary's endorsement shall be as follows:
The above request for release has been read in open Lodge at a Monthly Meeting and is granted after the close of the next Monthly Meeting, and this release has been entered upon the Record.
Attest: ------ Secretary.
and he shall attach thereto the seal of the Lodge.
(d) And provided further, that in case a Lodge so requested refuses to release jurisdiction over an applicant and the Lodge requesting such release feels that an injustice is done the applicant or the Lodge, the Lodge requesting such release of jurisdiction shall have the right to appeal to the Grand Master. Such appeal may be finally determined by the Grand Master or may be referred by him to the Commissioners of Trials who shall thereupon have full power and authority to make a full and careful enquiry into all the circumstances and to report to the Grand Master whether Masonic justice demands dismissal of the appeal or authorization for the requesting Lodge to act upon the application. Such report shall be subject to confirmation or modification by the Grand Master and his action thereon shall be final."

• GC1930: Section 402, 1930-131; "Application for initiation shall be made to a Lodge in the town or city in which the petitioner has resided for at least six months continuously next preceding the date of his application, if there be a Lodge therein; but if there be none, the petitioner shall apply to a Lodge in an adjoining city or town, and if there be none such, he shall apply to the Lodge whose usual Place of meeting is nearest to his dwelling. Distances, for the purposes of this section, shall be measured in a straight line."
  • This revision also includes the following section: "Section 403: No person residing in a town or city where there is a Lodge or where any Lodge or Lodges have jurisdiction under the provisions of Section 319 shall be balloted for in any Lodge located in any other town or city, without the written consent of the Grand Master or District Grand Master for the District Grand Master for the District of the balloting Lodge, written application for such consent having been made by the Master of the Lodge receiving the application for the degrees."

References

• II-112, II-139, II-521
• 09/11/1850, 1866-22, 1872-62, 1872-250, 1874-51, 1889-115, 1894-16, 1894-59, 1906-120, 1907-30, 1907-189, 1910-191, 1911-87, 1912-37, 38, 1912-219
• III-233 refers to GC1819.
• VII: 69, 89
• 1874: 81 1878: 50, 87 1894: 64 1953: 48, 197 1974: 174

Sec. 404. MASONIC NON-RESIDENTS

No candidate residing in any other recognized jurisdiction shall be balloted for without the written permission of the Grand Master of such jurisdiction, except as provided in the following Section.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1918: Section 404, 1918-381
• GC1930: Section 404, 1930-132

References

• 03/10/1832
• IV: 649
• V:373

Sec. 405. SERVICEMEN

While in active service, any merchant-mariner, or any soldier, sailor, or employee of government whose duties under official orders in ordinary course require his absence for indefinite and extended periods from his legal residence, whose application has never been rejected and who (at the time of application) has not actually resided continuously for six months within the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, may apply to any Lodge within this jurisdiction.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1918: Section 405, 1918-381; In this revision, the final phrase reads: "may apply to any Lodge having jurisdiction over a port, post, or station where he is officially commorant."
• GC1930: Section 405, 1930-132; In this revision, the text is the same as GC1918.

References

• II-585, II-597, 1916-45, 1917-111, 1917-243 (or 242?)
• 1918: 321 1921: 44
• 1974: 174, 175

Sec. 406. COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATION

A committee of investigation, consisting of three or more members of the Lodge, shall be appointed by the Master at the time when an application for the degrees is received by the Lodge. The names of the committee shall be entered on the record of that meeting, but shall not be put on the notices, nor shall they be read in open Lodge. Each member of the committee shall be immediately notified of his appointment by the Secretary.

It shall be the duty of the committee carefully and thoroughly to investigate the moral character and standing of each applicant, and in no case to make a favorable report to the Lodge without feeling reasonably certain that the character of the applicant will warrant such a report. No ballot shall be taken on any application until at least a majority of the committee shall have reported to the Lodge in person or in writing over their own signatures.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1811: Chapter III, Section 3, II-521; "They {the Lodges} shall not ballot for any candidate for initiation who has not been proposed at a previous meeting, without obtaining a dispensation therefor, nor without making strict enquiry into his moral character."
• GC1918: Section 406, 1918-381; In this revision, the text "nor shall they be read in open Lodge" does not appear.
• GC1930: Section 406, 1930-133; In this revision, the text is the same as GC1918.

References

• 1857-21, 1857-44, 1890-50, 1890-84, 1893-37, 1894-15, 1894-59
• IV: 647
• 1894: 63 1937: 120 1953: 49, 197

Investigations:

• 1919: 58, 351 1920: 96, 258 1921: 49, 252 1922: 200, 433 1923:318

Sec. 407. NOTICE AND WITHDRAWAL OF APPLICATIONS

Candidates must be proposed at a Regular Monthly Meeting and stand proposed from one Regular Monthly Meeting to another; and the full names and residential addresses of candidates, including street and number if any, must be borne upon the notification of the Meeting at which they are to be balloted upon.

An application that has been received by a Lodge may be withdrawn by written request and over the signature of the applicant at any time prior to the meeting at which his application is to be balloted for. If the application is withdrawn the status of the applicant is the same as before the application was received and all fees collected shall be returned.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1918: Section 407, 1918-382; "Candidates must be proposed at a Regular Monthly Meeting and stand proposed from one Regular Monthly Meeting to another; and in Lodges usually issuing written or printed notifications the names of candidates must be borne upon the notifications of the Meeting at which they are to be balloted for."
  • On 12/10/1919, the following text was added: "An application that has been received by a Lodge may not be withdrawn, but must go to ballot. If the ballot is favorable, the application may then be withdrawn with the consent of the Lodge, in which case the status of the applicant is the same as before the application was presented." (1919-401)
• GC1930: Section 407, 1930-133; In this revision, the text is the same as GC1918, including the 1919 amendment.

• II-521, II-597, 06/12/1822, 06/08/1825, 1863-24, 1866-38, 1885-196, 1893-48, 1894-15, 1894-59, 32MFM-305, 1917Builder-70
• II: 105
• III-233 refers to GC1819.
• III-538
• IV: 647
• VI: 477
• VII: 112
• 1889: 192
• 1894: 63
• 1917: 227, 308
• 1926: 437
• 1927: 43
• 1929: 117
• 1941: 48
• 1953: 49, 197
• 1917 Build. 404
• 2005: 128

Sec. 408. TIME FOR BALLOT

No candidate shall be balloted on at any but a Regular Monthly Meeting in any Lodge unless a dispensation therefor shall have been obtained. The Master of a Lodge is not obligated to take a ballot upon a candidate whose name appears on the notice of the meeting. If he decides not to take action at that meeting, he shall so state at the beginning of the business of balloting and shall not call for the report of the committee on that candidate. It is not permitted after the report of the committee has been read for the Master of the Lodge to decide by vote or otherwise to postpone the ballot until a later meeting. If the report of the investigating committee is read, the Lodge must immediately proceed to ballot and the acceptance or rejection of the application must be settled without postponement.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1918: Section 408, 1918-382; "No candidate shall be balloted for at any but a regular Monthly Meeting, in any Lodge, unless a Dispensation therefor shall have been obtained, and then only when written or printed notifications of the Meeting, bearing the name of the candidate to be balloted for, shall have been sent to all the members. This applies to Lodges which do not usually issue written or printed notifications, as well as to others."
• GC1930: Section 408, 1930-133; In this revision, the text is the same as GC1918.

References

• 06/08/1825, 12/27/1855, 1856-4, 1857-21, 1857-46, 1863-24, 1878-126, 1880-123, 1889-192, 1894-15, 1894-59, 1901-173
• IV: 486
• 1857 (O.P.): 46
• 1878: 50,87
• 1894: 63
• 1989: 96

Sec. 409. UNANIMOUS BALLOT REQUIRED

A clear and unanimously favorable ballot shall be necessary to the election of a candidate.

References

Earlier Revisions

• GC1843: Part Fourth, 3:3, IV-648; "The general rule which governs the Order in the admission of members, is, that such admission is to be sanctioned by entire unanimity; and so sacred and fundamental does the Grand Lodge conceive this rule to be, that no Candidate shall be initiated in any Lodge, under this jurisdiction without a clear and unanimous vote in his favor."
• GC1918: Section 409, 1918-383
• GC1930: Section 409, 1930-134

• 1860-5, 1866-39, 1866-65, 1869-157, 1877-194, 1882-160, 1885-164, 1894-16, 1894-59, 8MFM-65
• VII: 111
• 1894: 64 1918: 321

Sec. 410. TOTAL BALLOT REQUIRED

Every member of the Lodge present at the time of the ballot shall vote unless excused by the Lodge.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1843: Part Fourth, 3:3, IV-648; "Every member present shall vote on the application, unless excused by the Lodge."
• GC1918: Section 410, 1918-383
• GC1930: Section 410, 1930-134

References

• 1916-357, 4MFM-227, 5MFM-167, 8MFM-66, 9MFM-226, 9MFM-363, 10MFM-230, 13MFM-259, 15MFM-43 (or 45?), 26MFM-129, 28MFM-150
• 1894: 16, 64
• 1930: 489
• 1931:41 


Sec. 411. BUSINESS OF BALLOTING

Immediately before the business of balloting is commenced, the Master shall permit the entrance of any members of the Lodge who have presented themselves to the Tyler seeking and prepared for admission. The entire business of balloting shall then be continuous without the intervention of any other business; and during the balloting on any one candidate, from the commencement of the report of the investigating committee until the declaration of the ballot on the candidate under consideration, none shall be permitted to enter or leave the Lodge except only in case of extraordinary emergency.

In balloting for degrees or membership, the Worshipful Master may allow three ballotings, at his discretion, but no more.

The ballot must in each case be presented to the South, West, and East for inspection and report before the applicant may be declared accepted or rejected.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1918: Section 411, 1918-383; "Immediately before the business of receiving the reports of investigating committees is commenced, the Master shall permit the entrance of any members of the Lodge who have presented themselves to the Tyler seeking and prepared for admission. During the period from the commencement of the report of such a committee until the declaration of the ballot on the candidate under consideration, no one shall be permitted to enter or leave the Lodge except only in case of extraordinary emergency. During such period, no other business whatever shall be transacted, except only that while the ballot is being taken, the Master, in his discretion, may call for and receive the report of such committee on the application upon which the ballot is next to be taken."
  • This revision also includes the following section in by-law rules: "Rule XI. In balloting for degrees or membership the Worshipful Master may allow three ballotings at his discretion: but when the balloting has been commenced it must be concluded, and the candidate declared accepted or rejected, without the intervention of any business whatever." (1918-418).
• GC1930: Section 407, 1930-134; In this revision, the text is the same as GC1918, with the following addition: In balloting for degrees or membership, the Worshipful Master may allow three ballotings, at his discretion, but no more. When the balloting has been commenced it must be concluded, and the candidate declared accepted or rejected, without the intervention of any other business."

References

• 1866-66, 1877-194, RuleXI Bylaws, 13MFM-259, 14MFM-227, 1917-198, 1917Builder-70
• 1877-194, 1917Builder-70
• 1930: 489
• 1931: 41
• 1936: 24
• 1940: 335
• 1951: 188
• 1953: 50, 197

Sec. 412. FACTIOUS BALLOT

Casting a black ball factiously and without just cause is a Masonic offense for which a member is subject to Masonic punishment.

References

Earlier Revisions

• GC1918: Section 412, 1918-384
• GC1930: Section 412, 1930-135

• 1860-5, 1860-33, 1861-10, 1884-195, 1887-19, 10MFM-230
• VI: 294, 367
• 1866 (O.P.): 66
• 1919: 206
• 1940: 337
• 1941: 64
• 1943: 84
• 1944 :305
• 1951: 139

Sec. 413. ELECTED CANDIDATES

Every candidate elected to receive the degrees shall be notified thereof by the Secretary in writing. The notice shall specify the time and place at which he may present himself to receive the first degree, which time shall not be the meeting at which he is elected, and, if through his own fault or neglect, he does not receive the degree within one year from that time, the ballot by which he was elected shall be void and all fees he has paid shall be forfeited to the Lodge. Such a candidate shall be considered as not having filed an application. This provision shall be borne in full upon the notice to the candidate.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1918: Section 413, 1918-384; In this revision, the words "in writing" do not appear in the first sentence.
• GC1930: Section 413, 1930-135; In this revision, the text is the same as GC1918.

References

• 1911-19
• 1929: 33
• 1989: 96

Sec. 414. REJECTED APPLICANTS

Every candidate whose application for the degrees is rejected shall be notified thereof by the Secretary and all fees he has paid shall be returned to him. The notice shall specify the date of the rejection, the constitutional period which must elapse before the candidate may apply again to that Lodge, and also the period which must elapse before he may be balloted for in any other Lodge without the consent and recommendation of the Lodge which has rejected his application.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1843: Part Fourth, 3:2, IV-647; "No candidate, whose application may be rejected by a Lodge, shall be initiated in any Lodge under this jurisdiction, other than the one to which he first applied, without a recommendation from six members of said Lodge, of whom the Master and Wardens shall be three. And when the Master and Wardens are unwilling to recommend a candidate, who has been rejected, it shall be their duty to communicate such rejection to the Grand Lodge, or to the District Deputy Grand Master, who shall immediately communicate the same to all the Lodges under his jurisdiction."
• GC1918: Section 414, 1918-384
• GC1930: Section 414, 1930-136

References

• 1911-19
• 27MFM-362
• 17Builder-70
• 1918: 322

Sec. 415. JURISDICTION OVER REJECTED APPLICANTS

• (a) No candidate whose application has been rejected by a Lodge shall be proposed in any Lodge under this jurisdiction within six months after such rejection; nor shall any candidate be balloted for in any Lodge within this jurisdiction, other than the one to which he first applied, within five years after such application, without a written recommendation from the Master, Wardens, and three members of the Lodge last mentioned.
• (b) Such recommendation shall specify the Lodge which may receive the petition of the rejected applicant.The request for release of jurisdiction and recommendation shall be read in the Lodge to which it is presented, and borne upon the notice for a Monthly Meeting, and shall not be granted before the close of that Meeting; in the meantime any Brother having good reasons for objecting to granting the request may make them known to the Master or Wardens. The Master shall report to the Lodge whether or not the request is granted, and shall cause the same to be noted on the record.
• (c) The word "recommendation" is to be taken in its full and complete sense, and is not to be construed as a consent or permission only.
• (d) When a recommendation is granted, the secretary shall make the following endorsement upon it:

Entered on the Records of _____ Lodge.
Attest: ______
(seal) Secretary.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1843: Part Fourth, 3:2, added 09/11/1867: "Any candidate whose application has been rejected, who shall be initiated in any Lodge whatever without the recommendation aforesaid shall be deemed a clandestine Mason and shall not visit any Lodge within this jurisdiction, and the members of Lodges are hereby forbid {from} holding Masonic intercourse with such initiates." (VII-188)
• GC1918: Section 415, 1918-385; This revision includes text to distinguish between lodges that issue notices and those who do not, as there was no uniform obligation to do so at this time.
• GC1930: Section 415, 1930-136; In this revision, the text is the same as GC1918.

References

• 12/27/1815, 1866-67, 1871-148, 1872-22, 1872-49, 1872-54, 1872-59, 1872-137, 1872-265, 1873-14, 1873-38, 1873-128, 1879-9, 1885-66, 1886-38, 1886-106, 1886-174, 1893-87, 1894-16, 1894-59, 1895-132, 1895-216, 1896-36, 1896-373, 1897-55, 1898-19, 1907-189, 1910-47, 1917Builder-70
• Ill: 26
• III-234 refers to GC1819.
• 1892: 177
• 1894: 63
• 1895: 41, 127, 221, 313
• 1919: 62
• 1926: 241, 438
• 1940: 233
• 1989: 96

Sec. 416. PENALTY FOR IRREGULAR INITIATION

Any candidate whose application has been rejected who shall, within five years after such rejection, be initiated in any Lodge in this jurisdiction, other than the one to which he first applied, without the recommendation aforesaid, shall be deemed an irregularly made Mason, and all Masonic intercourse with him is forbidden. Any Mason who, knowing of such rejection, shall advise or assist in such initiation or be a party or accessory thereto before or after the fact, shall be expelled or subjected to such other penalty as the Grand Lodge may see fit to impose.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1843: Part Fourth, 3:2, IV-647; "And if any Mason knowingly assist, or recommend for initiation, to any lodge whatever, any candidate rejected as aforesaid, who may not have obtained a recommendation as before provided, such Mason shall be expelled from the Institution."
  • Amended 06/11/1856, changing the last sentence to read: "such Mason shall be expelled from the Institution or subjected to such other penalty as the Grand Lodge may see cause to impose." (VI-28)
• GC1918: Section 416, 1918-386
• GC1930: Section 407, 1930-137

References

• 1871: 148
• 1894: 16,63
• 1936: 167

Sec. 417. OBJECTION TO ADVANCEMENT

Any member of a Lodge may object in writing or in open Lodge to the initiation, passing, or raising by said Lodge of a candidate, at any time before the degree is conferred; and the Lodge shall investigate such objection and decide thereon by a majority vote before proceeding further with the candidate.

If the objection be sustained, the entire fee paid by the candidate shall be returned, and he then shall have the status of a rejected applicant, subject to all the disabilities thereof. A Lodge, having once voted to sustain the objection, shall not reconsider its action.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1843: Part Fourth, 3:7, IV-649; "Any member of a subordinate Lodge may object to the initiation, passing, or raising of a candidate at any time before the degree is conferred."
• GC1918: Section 417, 1918-386
• GC1930: Section 417, 1930-138

References

• 1869-157, 1875-71, 1877-217, 1910-48, 13MFM-96, 1917Builder-70
• VI: 29
• VII: 491
• 1878: 50, 87
• 1894: 65
• 1918: 322
• 1926: 240
• 1952: 113
• 1953: 50, 197

Sec. 418. ADVANCEMENT OF FOREIGN MASONS

No Entered Apprentice or Fellow Craft, initiated or passed in any Lodge within the United States, shall be passed or raised in any other Lodge under this jurisdiction without the consent of the Lodge in which he was first admitted, except by Dispensation from the Grand Master.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1843: Part Fourth, 3:6, IV-649; "No Entered Apprentice or Fellow Craft, initiated or passed in any Lodge within the United States, shall be passed or raised in any Lodge under this jurisdiction, without the consent of the Master and Wardens of the Lodge in which he was first admitted, or a dispensation from the Grand Master."
• GC1918: Section 418, 1918-387
• GC1930: Section 418, 1930-138

References

• 1894: 65
• 1910: 47

Sec. 419. PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS

If the physical deformity of any applicant for the degrees does not amount to an inability to meet the requirements of the Ritual and honestly to acquire the means of subsistence, it shall constitute no hindrance to his initiation.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1843: Part Fourth, 3:4, IV-648; "By the ancient regulations, the physical deformity of an individual operates as a bar to his admission into the Fraternity. But in view of the fact that this regulation was adopted for the government of the Craft, at a period when they united the character of operative with that of speculative Masons, this Grand Lodge, in common, it is believed, with most of her sister Grand Lodges in this country and in Europe, has authorized a construction of this regulation, as that, where the deformity does not amount to an inability honestly to acquire the means of subsistence, it constitutes no hindrance to initiation."
  • Amended 06/11/1856, revising the text "where the deformity does not amount to an inability honestly to acquire" to read "where the deformity does not amount to an inability to meet the requirements of the ritual, and honestly to acquire . . ." (VI-28)
• GC1918: Section 419, 1918-387
• GC1930: Section 419, 1930-138

References

• II-328, 1871-55, 1871-137, 1894-16, 1894-59, 1915-219, 10MFM-55, 10MFM-201, 11MFM-216, 13MFM-118, 24MFM-350, 25MFM-225, 1916Builder-7, 1917Builder-259, 1917Builder-273, 1917Builder-310
• 1878: 50,87
• 1894: 64

Sec. 420. LODGE MEMBERSHIP

The fees for initiating, passing, and raising shall entitle the candidate to membership in the Lodge which accepts his application and confers the degrees without further charge or ballot if the candidate signs the By-Laws on the date of his raising. Notwithstanding signing the By-Laws on the date of his raising, a candidate shall be required to demonstrate suitable proficiency in, and to receive required instruction in all three degrees; and for a period of one year thereafter, the right to objection is reserved to any member to such signing, for cause, the sufficiency of which shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the members present at a Regular Monthly Meeting.

If, after receiving the third degree, a candidate dies before the expiration of the time required for signing the By-Laws, he shall be considered as having been entitled to all the rights and privileges of Masonry at the time of his death; otherwise no candidate shall be in good standing in the Lodge to which he is elected until he has signed the By-Laws, and he shall not be permitted to sign the By-Laws until he shall have attained suitable proficiency, and shall have received the required instruction, in all three degrees.

Should a candidate fail to sign the By-Laws within the required year, he may obtain membership in the Lodge to which he was elected, or in some other Lodge, as provided in Sec. 422, after he shall have attained suitable proficiency, and shall have received the required instruction in all three degrees.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1918: Section 420, 1918-387; In this revision, the section reads: "The fees for initiating, passing, and raising, shall entitle the applicant to membership in the Lodge which accepts his application and confers the degrees, without further charge or ballot: provided, however, that he shall sign the By-Laws within six months from the date of raising; and reserving the right of objection for such signing, for cause, the sufficiency of which shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the members present at a Regular Monthly Meeting."
• GC1930: Section 420, 1930-135; In this revision, the text is the same as GC1918.
  • GC1918 also includes the following sections:
    • "Section 505. Voluntarily unaffiliated or non-affiliated Masons are not of right entitled to any of the benefits or privileges of Masonry." (1918-391)
    • "Section 506. A Master Mason who has voluntarily remained for more than one year without being affiliated with some regular Lodge shall be subject to the same disabilities as if under suspension for non-payment of dues." (1918-391)
      • This section also appears in GC1930 as Section 504, 1930-139 with the same text.

References

• 1890-55, 1893-15, 1894-17, 1894-50, 1895-133
• 12/27/1855, 1856-5, 1890-123, 1917Builder-10, 1917Bulder-56, 1917Builder-184
• 1871: 128
• 1894: 66
• 1895: 41
• 1918: 322
• 1925: 213, 439
• 1926: 440
• 1937: 84
• 1945: 41
• 1953: 50, 197
• 2008: 90

Sec. 421. HEALING

Whenever it shall appear to the satisfaction of the Grand Master that any irregularly made Mason is irregular for a reason not attributable to his own fault, the Grand Master, in his discretion, may cause such irregular Mason to be healed.

When a Mason who has been irregularly made is denied healing on account of false representation in his application, it is tantamount to expulsion; and he can acquire the privilege of applying for the degrees only by some action of Grand Lodge.

Earlier Revisions

• Vote by Massachusetts Grand Lodge: 12/08/1790, I-375: "The Committee appointed to enquire into the state of certain persons Foreigners who call themselves Masons, and affect to hold a Lodge — reported —That in their Opinion it was Expedient to grant a Charter of Dispensation to them under such restrictions as the Grand Lodge think proper which being read was thereupon Vote'd — That a Charter of Dispensation be granted them for the term of three Years to hold a Lodge & to make Masons, provided that no person be made a Mason untill the Name of the Candidate be first given to the Grand Master with his place of Abode, and occupation & receive his Approbation, — and provided also that the said persons in presence of a Committee of this Grand Lodge, to be appointed for the purpose, take anew the several Masonic Obligations; at the end of which term if their Conduct shall warrant it they may receive a Charter at large without any further Expence."
• GC1918: Section 421, 1918-388; In this revision, the second sentence does not appear.
• GC1930: Section 421, 1930-139; In this revision, the text is the same as GC1918.

References

• 1870-155, 1871-21, 1871-75, 1872-35, 1872-122, 1872-131, 1872-241, 1873-23, 1874-11, 1874-32, 1874-141, 1876-19, 1876-55, 1877-190, 1877-275, 1878-32, 1889-125, 15MFM-178, 16MFM-273
• 1873: 84
• 1910: 147
• 1929: 117
• 1932: 27
• 1953: 51, 197

Sec. 422. AFFILIATION

A Master Mason in good standing in the Fraternity or holding a demit from a regular Lodge may apply for membership by affiliation to any Lodge within this jurisdiction.

Such application must be made upon the blank furnished therefore by the Grand Lodge.

Action upon such application for membership shall be governed by the provisions of Sections 406 to 411 inclusive except that an application for membership may be withdrawn without ballot.

The provisions of Sections 414, 415, and 416 do not apply to rejected applications for membership.

If such an application be made to the Lodge from which the applicant took a demit and within five years from date of his demitting, it may be accepted by a majority vote of those present at a regular meeting of the demitting Lodge, the other provisions of the Grand Constitutions having been complied with.

If an application for affiliation is received from a member owing allegiance to another Grand Jurisdiction which does not permit dual membership, a Lodge may act upon the application but must not allow the applicant to sign the By-Laws until he has presented a demit from his former Lodge whose jurisdiction does not allow dual membership.

If an applicant for affiliation is elected to membership, he must sign the By-Laws of the Lodge within six months after the date of his election. Otherwise his election to such membership shall become void. The applicant shall be advised of this requirement when notified of his election.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1918: Section 507, 1918-391; In this revision, this section reads: "A Brother who holds a demit or a certificate of good standing may at any time petition for affiliation and, if rejected, a certificate stating the date of such rejection shall be given him by the Secretary of the rejecting Lodge, under its seal. The holder thereof shall be considered as in good standing in the Fraternity for one year from his last rejection and no longer."
• GC1930: Section 422, 1930-139; In this revision, the section reads: "A Master Mason in good standing in the Fraternity or holding a dimit from a regular Lodge may apply for membership by affiliation to any Lodge within this jurisdiction, whether or not he resides within the jurisdiction of the Lodge to which he applies. Such application must be made upon the blank furnished therefor by the Grand Lodge. Action upon such application for membership shall be governed by the provisions of Sections 406 to Section 411 inclusive except that an application for membership may be withdrawn without ballot. The provisions of Section 414, Section 415 and Section 416 do not apply to rejected applications for membership."
  • On 06/08/1938, the following text was added before the last sentence: "If such an application be made to the Lodge from which the applicant took dimit and within five years from date of his dimitting, it may be accepted by a majority vote of those present at a regular meeting of the dimitting Lodge, the other provisions of the Grand Constitutions having been complied with." (1938-48)

References

• 26MFM-64, 1917Builder-134
• IV: 130
• 1866 (O.P.): 17
• 1916: 593
• 1921: 46
• 1926: 442
• 1936: 117
• 1937: 136
• 1953: 51, 197
• 1961: 175
• 1974: 175

2012 Grand Constitutions Main Page