MassachusettsGC2012 PART IV

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

• Additional Regulations 1801 includes the following sections:
  • Article 3rd, I-192; "From and after the first day of January next, the price for making, Crafting and Raising Masons throughout this Jurisdiction shall not be less than eighteen dollars, including the payment hereafter to be made to the Grand Lodge — fifteen dollars of which shall be paid at Initiation, and not less than three at Crafting and Raising. And out of the sum of fifteen dollars paid at initiation, two dollars shall be paid for the use of the Grand Lodge. And the Master of every Lodge in each District shall cause a return to be made of all the Masons made in his Lodge from the second Monday of March next to the time when the Assistant Grand Master shall visit his Lodge; and at the annual visit thereafter forever, the same to be certified by the Secretary of the Lodge and delivered to the District Deputy Grand Master with two dollars for every initiation made in said return, together with all Quarterages then due from his Lodge to the Grand Lodge."
  • Article 10th, I-194; "That the fee of fifty cents, now paid for every making, shall cease upon the adoption of the foregoing Regulations."
• 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."
• Committee Report, 03/09/1812, II-509, includes the following text: "Taking notes for initiating ought to be discountenanced; it is giving credit, perhaps, where it ought not to be given."
• Vote of Grand Lodge, 12/13/1813, II-573; "The committee appointed to take into consideration the expediency of remitting, in any case, the fees payable to the Grand Lodge on initiations, have attended to the duty assigned them and ask leave to report: That from the best information they have been able to obtain, it appears to have been customary upon the application of ordained and permanently settled clergymen, for initiation, to remit the usual fee. Your committee are therefore of opinion that in such cases, and such only, the fee payable to the Grand Lodge, on initiation, may in future be remitted."
• Vote of Grand Lodge, 03/12/1815, II-621; "The committee to whom was referred the motion of Bro. Zach. G. Whitman, for the appointment of a committee to enquire into the expediency of enacting some Article which shall prohibit subordinate Lodges from taking notes from, or granting credit to, initiates for initiating fees, have attended to the duty assigned them and respectfully ask leave to report: That the following votes, with the preamble prefixed, be adopted as one of the laws of the Grand Lodge, and be inscribed in the next printed Annual Communication of the M.W. Grand Lodge, for the information of all subordinate Lodges under their jurisdiction, vizt:
  • "Whereas great inconveniences have arisen, by several of the Lodges, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge, taking notes of hand from initiates for their initiating fees, whereby they have been unable to discharge their dues to the Grand Lodge promptly; and persons that were unworthy have obtained the degrees by reason of a credit allowed them for said fees, which have been finally lost and the cause of charity suffer'd thereby:
  • "Now to prevent, in future, the aforesaid inconveniences. VOTED, That no subordinate Lodge under this Jurisdiction shall, hereafter, take notes of hand from initiates for their initiation fees, or grant any time of credit therefor; and all such fees shall be paid to said Lodge at the time any candidate shall receive the degrees." (Note that this vote was confirmed on 12/11/1815, III-13).
• Vote of Grand Lodge, 12/11/1815, III-7 on a petition by Ancient Landmark and Portland Lodges;
  • "The proposition for an Amendment of the Constitution of the Gd. Lodge, in the 7th Section of Chapter 3rd so far as that instead of three dollars now exacted for each initiate, only one dollar be required — cannot in our opinion be complied with, consistently with the true interests of the Craft in general, and especially of the M. W. Grand Lodge — and that for the following reasons:
    • "First. Because we fear that diminishing the demands of the Gd. Lodge for initiates may operate in some lodges as an inducement for lessening the fees for Initiations, and thus render the access to the privileges of Freemasonry too easy and make the Institution undervalued by its cheapness.
    • "Second. Because it would be reducing to a scanty rill those streams which are pouring their needed supplies into the fountain of Charity, the replenishing of which is an Object most desirable and most important. —
    • "Third. Because We do not consider the provision for the general Charity-fund by any means incompatible with the measures adopted by individual Lodges, for the increase of their own private funds: & regret that there should be supposed any interfering Claims: for we believe that both may be provided for, without unduly taxing the benevolence, or encroaching upon the separate interests of Lodges.
  • "The Consideration of this subject has led us to fear that the Object of the Grand Charity Fund, is either not well understood, or that some of the subordinate lodges suspect that the period for its operation is too distant to afford them the benefit which they have too eagerly anticipated; or that the future Application of its resources will be too limited to reach their individual interests. — But we conceive that these are mistaken & unfounded apprehensions. We look forward with enlivened Confidence to the time when this General fund will have attained the means of effecting its noble purposes, and diffuse its beneficial influences to every lodge within this Jurisdiction, and to every suffering member of the masonick Family, for whose assistance or relief, we are in any degree responsible;
  • "And, therefore, hope that no reluctance will be felt in Contributing to its augmentation; and that no measures may be adopted which shall diminish its supplies."
• GC1819 contained the following sections:
  • Chapter 5, Section 10, III-233; "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; but the initiation fee may be remitted to all Clergymen, or persons approbated by competent authority to preach the Gospel, who shall be received into the order; and the Grand Lodge will remit their initiation fee to the lodge wherein such clergymen were received."
    • Amended 03/11/1840 to read: "The fee demanded a Lodge, for initiating, crafting and raising a Mason shall not be less than nineteen dollars including the fee to the Grand Lodge." (IV-496)
  • Chapter 5, Section 11, III-233; "No lodge under this jurisdiction shall hereafter take notes of hand for fees, or grant any time of credit therefor."
• Grand Lodge Committee Report, 09/14/1842, IV-561; on the doings of the National Masonic Convention, the committee observed "Another subject embraced in the doings of the convention is the reprehensible practise of taking promissory notes for the fees of conferring the degrees. The Grand Lodge of this State, saw the evils arising from the practise alluded to. many years ago. & prohibited it by the 11th Section of the 5th. Chapter of the By-Laws."
• 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, VII-79 (1866-15), raising the fee to twenty-five dollars.
  • Amended 09/14/1892, 1892-108, to read: "All Lodges located 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. The fee demanded by a Lodge for the the initiating, crafting and raising a Mason, shall not be less than twenty-five 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."
• Grand Lodge Committee Report, 06/10/1891, 1891-61, and 09/09/1891, 1891-82, to raise the fee to fifty dollars for any city and forty dollars in any town; an extensive report of the committee was provided and a discussion permitted. The proposal was postponed.
• Grand Lodge Committee Report, 06/08/1892, 1892-56, and , to raise the fee to fifty dollars in certain cities as specified, and any city or town with two or more lodges, thirty dollars; and no less than thirty dollars elsewhere. Also, to create concurrent jurisdiction for the lodges in Boston. Note amendment above, which restricted the amendment to lodges in Boston after "a prolonged and animated discussion."
• 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

• 1864-83 refers to a portion of Grand Master Parkman's address at the Feast of St. John, in which he suggests that it has become too common to request dispensation from the Grand Master to grant "initiation under any circumstances whatever." He suggests a possible regulation: "From and after date no person shall hereafter receive the three degrees of Freemasonry by Dispensation, except upon payment of ten dollars for the three degrees, if at one time; or the sum of four dollars for each degree so received separately - the above named fee in addition to the regular fees for degrees in the Lodge where proposed; and one half of such extra fee to be paid into the hands of the District Deputy for the use of the M. W. Grand Lodge." There is no indication that this regulation was considered, and it was never adopted.
• 1870-165 refers to a review of the by-laws for a lodge applying for a charter; the section that reads "Every initiate of this Lodge shall be entitled to a diploma, by paying one dollar to the Secretary" was objected to; "Inasmuch as Grand Lodge diplomas are furnished gratuitously to the subordinate Lodges, it would seem just and proper, they should be furnished to the initiate without expense to him; and if a fee to the Secretary be exacted, it should come from the Lodge and not from the candidate: they recommend, therefore, the striking out the words, 'by paying one dollar to the Secretary.' "
• 1870-165
• 1892-189
• 1894-17
• 1894-59
• 1894-65
• 1989-96

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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

• GC1843: see following section.
• Ruling by By-Laws Committee, 06/08/1870, 1870-117; In the by-law revisions for James Otis Lodge, the following section was rejected: "any Brother who recommends an applicant for the degrees, may withdraw such application previous to balloting, with the unanimous consent of the Lodge."
• 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

• MFM, Vol. VI, No. 12, Page 384, 10/01/1847, refers to a note from Brother Charles W. Moore in response to inquiry; it says in part, "one written petition is all that can properly be required of any candidate for all the degrees conferred in a Lodge, - presuming, of course, that he wishes to receive all the degrees in one Lodge, and in regular time."
• MFM, Vol. IX, No. 7, Page 202, 05/01/1850, refers to a note from Brother Charles W. Moore in response to inquiry; it says in part, that there is no uniform practice (at the time) regarding the status of rejected applicants; he recommends that the Lodge should keep the matter in its own hands, since "it might happen that the reason for which a candidate had been rejected could be satisfactorily explained and removed within the next twenty-four hours after the rejection." Furthermore, any member can propose that a Lodge receive a petition; but if there is an objection, the lodge must vote by majority to accept it - but not to vote on the admission: that is still by unanimous ballot.
• VI-483 (1863-22) refers to a commentary by Grand Master Parkman regarding the power of the Grand Master to make Masons at sight. This power, he notes, does not extend to District Deputies. "This prerogative empowers the G. Master to enter any Lodge within his jurisdiction, and make masons of persons into whose character no inquiry has been made by the Lodge, and whose name has not been placed upon the notices for the meetings, and of whom no member of the Lodge has ever heard, and without any ballot whatever. . . its exercise is a very different thing from, making masons, after notice to all the brethren, a strict inquiry by the Lodge into the Candidates moral character, and a clear ballot, none of which can the Dis. Dep. dispense with."
• 1872-289, 12/27/1872, refers to a report by the Committee on Charters and By-Laws, in which the committee modified the by-laws of a lodge to include dispensations for certain actions.
• 1875-22
• 1877-275 refers to the inclusion in the candidate application of the name and date at which a candidate might have previously applied for admission.
• 1894-14
• 1894-59
• 1897-92
• 1909-177
• 1920-90, 03/10/1920, refers to remarks by Grand Master Prince regarding solicitation for membership. He said in part, "It should be borne in upon the minds of our members, old and young, that solicitation is strictly forbidden. While not a landmark, the law against solicitation is so ancient that it takes on the full force of one."
• 1936-23, 03/11/1936, refers to remarks by Grand Master Allen regarding information on applicants prior to admission. He says in part, "I have reason to believe that in too many cases applicants for the degrees do not clearly understand the nature, meaning and purpose of Freemasonry. Its deeper moral and spiritual aspects and aims have not been made clear to them. Through no fault of their own, they do not understand what Freemasonry is . . . they do not understand that it is a Brotherhood whose members are pledged to work together for the building of character. . . Some of our sister Grand Jurisdictions have prepared a statement to be placed in the hands of prospective petitioners intended to clear away these misunderstandings before their applications are acted upon . . . The petitioner is required to certify that he has read and understands the statement. This material is being carefully studied with a view to the preparation of something of a similar general nature for use in this Grand Jurisdiction."
• 1953-47
• 1953-197
• 1989-96
• 2005-127

• 10MFM-200, 32MFM-305

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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

• Vote of Grand Lodge, 03/11/1799, II-139: "The sense of this Grand Lodge that the 12th Article of the 10th Section of the Constitutions, respecting the recommendation of candidates from the Brethren within five miles of his place of residence should be construed as relating to the character of the candidates."
• 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).
  • Amended 12/11/1877, to include the name and date at which a candidate might have previously applied for admission in the candidate application.
• GC1918: see Section 401 above.
• GC1930: Section 401, 1930-130; See above.

References

• 1874-111
• 1894-62
• 1918-23
• 1918-321
• 1931-173
• 1937-270
• 1944-156
• 1952-112
• 1953-48
• 1953-197
• 1974-173
• 2005-127

• 1866 (O.P.)-66

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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

• Vote of Grand Lodge, 03/11/1799, II-139; see above section.
• GC1811: III:5, II-521; "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."
• GC1819: Chapter 5, Section 11, III-233; "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."
• 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)
• Grand Lodge Committee Report, 03/14/1866, VII-69; a jurisdictional dispute between Day Spring and Thomas Lodges; candidates presented a statement indicating that they were the judges of what constituted the most convenient lodge to their residence; the committee noted that it "cannot concede for a moment the right of an applicant for the degrees of Masonry to decide what Lodge is "most convenient" to his residence. This G. Lodge alone has power to decide that question." The Grand Lodge made a judgment on the case.
• Grand Lodge Committee Report, 06/13/1866, VII-89; jurisdictional disputes, regarding the establishment of residence for candidates. The Grand Lodge directed that fees be paid from the lodges that conferred the degrees to the ones rightfully claiming jurisdiction.
• Grand Lodge Committee Report, 09/11/1889, 1889-115; a jurisdictional dispute between Star of Bethlehem and Converse Lodges regarding the meaning of the term 'residence'; the committee noted "they have concluded that the Constitutions do not mean a temporary residence, but that the language should be understood as meaning what is known in law as a domicile. . . It is desirable, therefore, that in questions of Masonic jurisdiction the Grand Lodge should have. the benefit of the carefully considered decisions of the courts of common law. This view of the matter, that residence should be considered the same as legal domicile, is in accordance with the-views of the complainants . . . Starting with this view, we find that the courts have laid down two propositions bearing on this case ; one that a man cannot have two domiciles at the same time; the second that he retains his domicile of origin until he legally acquires a new one."
• 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

• VI-298, 09/11/1850, refers to a jurisdictional dispute between Massachusetts and Constellation Lodges.
• 1872-62
• 1872-250
• 1874-51
• 1874-81
• 1878-50
• 1878-87
• 1894-16
• 1894-59
• 1894-64
• 1906-120
• 1907-30
• 1907-189
• 1910-191
• 1911-87
• 1912-37
• 1912-38
• 1912-219
• 1953-48
• 1953-197
• 1974-174

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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

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

References

• 03/10/1832: this may be spurious.
• V-373 refers to the case of St. Paul Lodge in Groton, which conferred degrees on a candidate from New Hampshire.

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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 and II-597 refer to proceedings involving Oriental Star Lodge and the making of a Mason of a man in military service previously rejected by another lodge; numerous difficulties were noted, including conferral of multiple degrees without dispensation, and accepting an applicant previously rejected. The lodge was severely reprimanded but its charter was not forfeited.
• 1916-45
• 1917-111
• 1917-243 (or 242?)
• 1918: 321
• 1921: 44
• 1974: 174, 175

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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

• Vote by Grand Lodge: 12/11/1797, II-112; "Resolved, it is the opinion of this Grand Lodge that every Lodge under this Jurisdiction, before they proceed to ballot for any person to be made a Mason — it shall be their duty to make strict enquiry, what town in the State such candidate belongs to; and if it appears that he is a citizen of any town in this Commonwealth, where a regular Lodge is constituted, or if he lives within five miles of a constituted Lodge, other than the one to which he is proposed, it shall operate as an exclusion, without a recommendation of the Master and Wardens of the nearest Lodge where he belongs; for no person's character can be so well known as in the town or neighborhood where he belongs. And it shall be the duty of Masters of Lodges, when a character is rejected for the want of such a recommendation as a free Mason ought to have, to direct their respective secretaries to acquaint the Masters of the adjacent Lodges, with the name and circumstances of the person rejected and also the like information to the Grand Lodge."
• 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."
• 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."
  • Revised 06/11/1856, VI-27, to read: "All applications for initiation shall be made in writing, over the signature of the applicant, and in the following form:" {Form of Petition appears on page VI-28.}
• Grand Lodge Committee Report, 09/09/1857, VI-127 (1857-21), on the December 1856 address of the Grand Master regarding investigation of candidates; "The words of caution which the G. Master was pleased to offer respecting the qualification of candidates to our order are wise and timely and it is devoutly to be hoped they will be duly heeded; that the moral and social fitness, of candidates is two often overlooked, cannot be denied. The hot haste with which they are sometimes passed through the various degrees, induces the belief that the fee is regarded as paramount and all other qualifications as of minor importance. Such practices are the bane of the Institution, merit the severest reprehension, and, in fact, justify the revocation of Charters. The investigation of character is frequently so imperfectly performed, that it is of no practical use, whatever, If nothing is found in the character of applicant decidedly bad, although there is nothing known to be positively good he is recommended as a suitable person for the honors of Masonry. And oft times when there are some glaring defects of character, he is introduced into the order, in the hope, that the moral influence of the Institution will reclaim him, and lead him in paths of Virtue and Innocence. Although a reformation may sometimes be achieved in this way, yet it is a dangerous experiment and should be wholly discountenanced. The Lodge was never designed to be a hospital for moral delinquency. None should be permitted to pass its threshold whose moral character will not stand the test of the severest scrutiny. No defective material should be used in the construction of our Masonic Edifice. Your committee would therefore recommend that greater care be enjoined upon the working Lodges in the admission of Candidates to the Order, and that the term of probation be scrupulously observed."
• Address of the Grand Master, 12/28/1857, 1857-44; "As the welfare and permanency of our institution depend upon the good character of its members, I cannot refrain from the expression of a fear that sufficient discrimination is not always exercised in respect to candidates. It has not escaped my observation that there is loo great laxity by the committees of inquiry in their investigations, and that the duties reposed in them is often looked upon by them rather as a matter of form than as the most responsible which we are called upon to perform; and therefore it sometimes occurs, in contravention of our rules, that a candidate is balloted for, into whose moral character a strict inquiry has not been made. The utmost vigilance should be exerted in the inquiry; which should extend, not alone over a few months or years of his life, but from his youth up. And that should not be deemed a sufficient investigation which elicits nothing unfavorable to his reputation merely ; it should not cease until the most satisfactory evidences are obtained that he is affirmatively and positively a moral man. But the moral qualification of an applicant for the privileges of Freemasonry is not the only one which he must possess; for, as it is one of our objects to cultivate the social virtues, it is necessary that he should be companionable, and readily disposed to mix in friendly and fraternal intercourse with our members. One of the Constitutions of our Older declares that no person shall be admitted a member of it unless he be of good report; of sufficient natural endowments, and the senses of a man; with an estate, office, trade, occupation, or some visible way of acquiring an honest livelihood, and of working in his Craft, as becomes the members of this most ancient and honorable Fraternity, who ought, not only to earn what is sufficient for themselves and families, but likewise something to spare for works of charity, and supporting the true dignity of the royal Craft. And again the same authority asserts that No Brother shall propose, for admission into this ancient and honorable society, any person, through friendship or partiality, who does not possess the moral and social virtues, a sound head and a good heart; and who has not an entire exemption from all those ill qualities and vices which would bring dishonor on the Craft. "
• Address of the Grand Master, 12/12/1860, 1860-38, regarding applicants; "Let me urge upon you to make the standard of admission so high, that the composition of your lodge is such, as to reflect honor on the institution . . . I beg you, for your peace, to regard the disposition of the applicant. See to it that it is courteous, amiable, free from acrimony and causticity, temperate in discussion, cautious in the imputations of wrong intentions; in short, that it depart not by word or deed from the sphere of the gentleman and the Brother. He who has not his passions in due subjection among his Brethren, may prove a firebrand in the Lodge, inflaming and destroying the sacred edifice by the unhallowed torch of an uncontrolled and devastating passion. To such a one a fool is preferable, for there is no general suffering from his stupidity, while the first may point a shaft of poisoned words to wound the whole of your enemies."
• 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

• 1890-50
• 1890-84
• 1893-37
• 1894-15
• 1894-59
• 1894-63
• At the 03/10/1920 Quarterly Communication, Grand Master Prince supplied sample forms to be furnished to the Committee of Investigation.
  • On Page 1920-96, the applicant form is listed, providing questions to be answered by the applicant in writing. The questions are preceded by the following text: "For the protection of the Fraternity it is necessary that careful inquiries should be made concerning all applicants for admission. To facilitate such inquiries you are requested to fill out this blank in triplicate and file the three copies with your application." It includes blank lines for school and business associates as well as neighbors to be consulted as references.
  • On Page 1920-98, the committee member form is listed.
• 1937-120
• 1953-49
• 1953-197

Investigations:

• 1919-58
• 1919-351
• 1920-258, 09/08/1920, refers to remarks by Grand Master Prince regarding a movement in public to "blacken the reputations" of men seeking admission to the Fraternity. He admonished lodges and Brethren to undertake careful investigations of each applicant and to make sure "that all stories against his character should be followed to their sources." He noted that "While we must guard our entrances carefully, we must be equally sure that no campaign of this sort shall militate against the admission of good men."
• 1921-49
• 1921-252
• 1922-200
• 1922-433
• 1923-318

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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

• GC1811: Chapter III, Section 3, II-521; "They shall admit as members such only as are Master Masons and elect or appoint none as permanent officers but members; they 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."
• GC1819: Chapter 5, Section 7, III-232; "They shall admit as members such only as are master masons, and elect or appoint none as permanent officers but members. They 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."
  • Amended 06/08/1825, III-538 to read: "They shall admit as members such only as are Master Masons, and elect or appoint none as permanent Officers but members. They shall not ballot for any candidate for initiation who has not been proposed at a stated monthly meeting and who shall not have stood so proposed for one lunar month, without obtaining a dispensation therefor, nor without making strict enquiry into his moral character."
• GC1843: Chapter 5, Section 2, IV-647; see above section.
• Grand Lodge Committee Report, 12/09/1863, VI-483 (1863-24), on the powers of District Deputy Grand Masters, a report provided a definition of a candidate, and recommended the following directive: "Ordered: That it shall not be regular hereafter for any Lodge, which does not usually issue written or printed notification of its meetings to ballot upon any application for the degrees where there is a dispensation therefor, at any but stated monthly meetings without written or printed notifications to the members of the Lodge, with the name of their Candidate borne thereon."
• 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.

References

• II-105, 06/26/1797, is a part of the charges against Harmonic Lodge; it asserts that they advanced candidates without the specified waiting period.
• II-585 and II-597, 03/14/1814, refer to proceedings involving Oriental Star Lodge and the making of a Mason of a man in military service previously rejected by another lodge; numerous difficulties were noted, including conferral of multiple degrees without dispensation, and accepting an applicant previously rejected. The lodge was severely reprimanded but its charter was not forfeited.
• VII-112 (1866-38), 12/13/1866, refers to a provision included in the proposed by-laws for a lodge seeking a charter "provided, that the Lodge by unanimous consent of its members, may dispense with the provision that a candidates application must lie over one month before a ballot can be taken. It is hardly necessary to state that this dispensing power exists alone in the G. Master and his Deputies and that a Lodge has no right even by unanimous vote, to dispense with any of the requirements of the G. Constitutions."
• 1885-196, 12/09/1885, refers to a detailed report on a petition from a lodge that had admitted a candidate by having avoided certain constitutional requirements that his name appear in communications with members who might not have balloted in his favor. The committee's report was accepted on 03/10/1886, 1886-44, and the actions of the lodge to admit the candidate were deemed null and void (though it was noted that "the Lodge itself is the only tribunal to try and determine the matter."
• 1889-192, 12/11/1889, refers to a report on an appeal to the Grand Lodge over a ballot that was improperly held, since the candidate's name was properly borne upon the notification of the meeting; the committee recommended a new ballot, which was confirmed.
• 1894-15
• 1894-59
• 1894-63
• 1917-227
• 1917-308
• 1926-437
• 1927-43
• 1929-117
• 1941-48
• 1953-49
• 1953-197
• 2005: 128

• 1917 Build. 404
• 32MFM-305
• 1917Builder-70

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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

• GC1843: Part Fourth, 3:1, IV-642; "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."
• Grand Lodge Committee Report, 03/12/1856, VI-4; on the Grand Master's address from December 1855: "The subject of non-affiliated masons has occasioned much perplexity to the Gd. Lodges which have hitherto attempted to deal with it. No successful result has yet been attained. We have doubts whether such result can be obtained through the exercise of legitimate power by any Gd Lodge, If brethren feel so little interest in Masonry, that they forbear to take membership when it does not involve manifest inconveniences if they stand aloof and thus discountenance the efforts of the faithful: — the question may well arise whether they are to be regarded as worthy brethren and whether they would come within the prescribed rule, in a case of emergency. Their case however, we apprehend, is one which, if curable, must be treated, by moral suasion, rather than by legal enactment, if they be convinced that their present position is unmasonic and ask membership, of their own free will and accord, we might hope for mutual advantage. But compulsory membership, even if practicable, gives very slight promise of benefit to either party."
• Grand Lodge Committee Report, 09/09/1857, VI-127 (1857-21), on the December 1856 address of the Grand Master regarding investigation of candidates; "Your committee would therefore recommend that greater care be enjoined upon the working Lodges in the admission of Candidates to the Order, and that the term of probation be scrupulously observed."
• Address of the Grand Master, 12/18/1857, 1857-46; "The power of Dispensation, by which the terms of probation that our regulations require of candidates, may be intermitted, should be most rarely exercised. To dispense with the time that should be devoted to the investigation of character, is, of course, a more serious and responsible act than that of dispensing with the intervals of lime required, subsequently, in the course of advancement, from one step to another, in the knowledge of our art. There can seldom occur a case entitled to so great a privilege as that first referred to, and it should never be allowed, except when it promises some signal advantage to the fraternity."
• Grand Lodge Committee Report, 12/09/1863, VI-483 (1863-24); see previous section.
• 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 (III-538) is an amendment to GC1819: "They shall admit as members such only as are Master Masons and elect and appoint none as permanent Officers but members. They shall not ballot for any candidate for initiation who has not been proposed at a stated monthly meeting and who shall not have stood so proposed for one lunar month without obtaining a dispensation therefor nor without making strict inquiry into his moral character."
• IV-486: see previous section.
• 1878-50
• 1878-87
• 1878-126
• 1880-123
• 1889-192, 12/11/1889, refers to a report on an appeal to the Grand Lodge over a ballot that was improperly held, since the candidate's name was properly borne upon the notification of the meeting; the committee recommended a new ballot, which was confirmed.
• 1894-15
• 1894-59
• 1901-173
• 1894-63
• 1989-96

• 12/27/1855 may be spurious.

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Sec. 409. UNANIMOUS BALLOT REQUIRED

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

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

References

• MFM, Vol. VIII, No. 3, 01/01/1849, Page 65, refers to the reconsideration of a previous vote in a Lodge. In the cited case, a balloting matter is considered.
• VI-294 (1860-5), 03/14/1860, refers to a report to Grand Lodge on proceedings in Mount Hermon Lodge, in which a candidate was rejected due to a factious ballot. Note that in GC1843 there was no injunction against this behavior.
• VII-111 (1866-39), 12/13/1866, refers to the petition by King Philip Lodge for its charter; in the review of the submitted by-laws it was found that applicants for affiliation required a two-thirds vote for admission; the committee noted: "No brother should be admitted to the privileges of membership without the unanimous consent of the members of the Lodge. Any other rule might tend to disturb the peace and harmony of the brethren. One third of the members of this Lodge might vote against an applicant for membership, and still he could be admitted to the rights privileges and communion of the Lodge. He might be personally obnoxious to those who voted against him, and the result of his admission would probably lead to the withdrawal of one-third of the members. It is therefore determined by masonic authority that to preserve the peace and harmony of the Lodge, no one can be admitted a member thereof without the unanimous consent of the brethren."
• 1877-194, 06/13/1877, refers to a regulation adopted by Grand Lodge; see Section 411 below.
• 1882-160, 06/14/1882, refers to a report by the Board of Commissioners of Trials, reinforcing this section.
• 1885-164
• 1894-16
• 1894-59
• 1894-64
• 1918-321

• 1866-65
• 1869-157

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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

• MFM, Vol. IV, No. 8, Page 227, 06/01/1845, refers to the following inquiry: "Can a member of a Lodge and an officer, being present at a balloting for a candidate for the mysteries of Freemasonry, refuse to cast his vote, when the petition has been regularly received, and the person refusing to vote having no constitutional scruples as to the proceedings, and no objection to the candidate?" Brother Moore replies, in part: "When a Brother joins a Lodge, he does it with the understanding and under an obligation to support the regulations, and to render his best services in performing the duties of the Lodge. One of these duties is the balloting for candidates for initation. . . The Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts contain a corresponding regulation. They declare that 'every member present shall vote on the application of a candidate for initiation, unless excused by the Lodge.' And this we hold to be a conversate and correct Masonic rule."
• MFM, Vol. V, No. 6, Page 167, 04/01/1846, refers to an inquiry regarding the reconsideration of a ballot on the admission of a candidate. Bro. Moore notes that "The constitutional regulation requires unanimity . . . The ballot was to ascertain whether this unanimity existed among the members. If it did not, there was an end to the matter. No motion could be made to reconsider after the ballot was declared. If there were but one black ball, a second ballot would have been in order. A second ballot would also have been regular, against two black balls, if either were cast through mistake, and so declared to be by the Brother casting it; and it would have been admissible, if requested by a member of the Lodge, on the presumption that both might have been cast by mistake. A second ballot, however, settles the question; as does three negatives on the first ballot."
• MFM, Vol. VIII, No. 3, 01/01/1849, Page 65, refers to the reconsideration of a previous vote in a Lodge. In the cited case, a balloting matter is considered.
• MFM, Vol. IX, No. 8, Page 225, 06/01/1850, refers to a series of questions about balloting. Bro. Moore responds to these questions in detail.
• MFM, Vol. IX, No. 12, Page 363, 10/01/1850, refers to a series of questions on admission of candidates. Bro. Moore responds to these questions in detail.
• 1916-357
• 1894-16
• 1894-64
• 1930-489
• 1931-41 


• 10MFM-230, 13MFM-259, 15MFM-43 (or 45?), 26MFM-129, 28MFM-150

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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

• GC1843: Rule XI, adopted 06/13/1877, 1877-194; "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 other business whatever."
• 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, 1918-418. 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."
• 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

• 1917-198
• 1930-489
• 1931-41
• 1936-24, 03/11/1936, refers to Grand Master Allen's ruling on procedure for balloting, including the accepted methods of balloting and inspection.
• 1940-335
• 1951-188
• 1953-50
• 1953-197

• 1866-66, 13MFM-259, 14MFM-227, 1917Builder-70

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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.

Earlier Revisions

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

References

• VI-294 (1860-5), 03/14/1860, refers to a report to Grand Lodge on proceedings in Mount Hermon Lodge, in which a candidate was rejected due to a factious ballot. Note that in GC1843 there was no injunction against this behavior.
• 1860-33 is spurious; it is contained within the Grand Master's address, and does not address this issue.
• VI-367 (1861-10), 03/13/1861, refers to a report concerning improper proceedings in King Solomon's Lodge.
• 1884-195
• 1887-19, 03/09/1887, refers to a report by the Board of Commissioners of Trials regarding accusations of factious balloting by a member of a lodge.
• 1919-206
• 1940-337
• 1941-64
• 1943-84
• 1944-305
• 1951-139

• 1866-66
• 10MFM-230

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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
• 1928-380, 12/12/1928, refers to a comment by Grand Master Simpson in which he says, "Initiation on the night of election has almost disappeared and the time has come when it seems proper that that practice is in violation of Section 413 of the Grand Constitutions."
• 1929-33
• 1989-96

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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

• GC1819: Chapter 5, Section 13, III-234; "No candidate, whose application may be rejected by a lodge shall be initiated in any lodge 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, to the several lodges within the masonic district, and to the two nearest lodges of any adjacent state, if such lodges be within the distance of thirty miles. 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, or debarred the privileges of the institution."
• 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."
  • Amended 06/11/1856, VI-28: Revise and add the following words at the end: ". . . from the Institution or subjected to such other penalty as the Grand Lodge may see cause to impose."
  • Amended 09/11/1867, VII-188: Revised to include the following: "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."
  • Revised 09/14/1870, 1870-155: Add the following text: "No person who has been rejected in any Lodge in this jurisdiction, and who shall have procured his degrees in any other jurisdiction, without the recommendation prescribed in Section 2 of this Article, and without the written permission of the Grand Master, shall be admitted as a visitor in any Lodge of this jurisdiction, or be entitled to any recognition as a Mason, until he shall have been formally healed by the Grand Lodge, and notice thereof shall have been duly communicated by the Grand Secretary to all the Lodges of this jurisdiction."
• GC1918: Section 414, 1918-384
• GC1930: Section 414, 1930-136

References

• 1911-19
• 1918-322

• 27MFM-362
• 17Builder-70

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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

• Vote of Grand Lodge, 12/27/1815, III-26: "The Committee to whom was referred for amendment the report of the committee on the Subject of Br. Carrigue's Motion for preventing the initiation of rejected Candidates, having taken the same into consideration, report the following Substitute. Viz. No candidate whose application may be rejected by a lodge, shall be initiated in any lodge, other than the one to which he first applied, without a recommendation from Six members of said Lodge, of whom the Master & wardens shall be three: and it shall be the duty of every lodge, immediately to communicate all rejections, to the Grd. Lodge, to the several lodges within the masonic District, and to the two nearest lodges of any adjacent State, if such lodges be within the distance of thirty Miles.—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 is before provided, such Mason shall be expelled from or debarr'd the privileges of the Institution."
• GC1819: Chapter 5, Section 13, III-234; "No candidate, whose application may be rejected by a lodge shall be initiated in any lodge 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, to the several lodges within the masonic district, and to the two nearest lodges of any adjacent state, if such lodges be within the distance of thirty miles. 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, or debarred the privileges of the institution."
• GC1843: Part Fourth, 3:2, added 09/11/1867, VII-188: "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."
  • Amended 03/11/1873, 1873-14, to read: "No candidate, whose application may be rejected by a Lodge, shall be proposed in any other Lodge under this jurisdiction, within six months after such rejection; nor shall any candidate be proposed in any Lodge, other than the one to which he first applied, without a-written recommendation from six members of the said Lodge, of whom the Master and Wardens shall be three. And when the Master and Wardens are unwilling so 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. 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, and also waited the required six months as before provided, such Mason shall be expelled from the Institution, or subjected to such other penalty as the Grand Lodge may see cause to impose."
• 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

• 1871-148
• 1872-22 refers to a case of disputed jurisdiction over a rejected candidate. Grand Master Nickerson directed the appointment of a committee to review the matter.
• 1872-49
• 1872-54
• 1872-59
• 1872-137
• 1872-265
• 1873-38
• 1873-128
• 1879-9 refers to a dispute between Republican and Harmony lodges over a rejected applicant; the details appear on 1878-83.
• 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
• 1892-177
• 1894-63
• 1895-41
• 1895-127
• 1895-221
• 1895-313
• 1919-62
• 1926-241
• 1926-438
• 1940-233
• 1989-96

• 1866-67
• 1917Builder-70

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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, VI-28, 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."
• GC1918: Section 416, 1918-386; in this revision, the words "in this jurisdiction" do not appear.
• GC1930: Section 416, 1930-137; in this revision, the words "in this jurisdiction" do not appear until the amendment of the article, described below.
  • Amended 09/09/1936, 1936-167, adding the words "in this Jurisdiction".

References

• 1871-148
• 1894-16
• 1894-63

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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."
  • Amended 06/11/1856, VI-29, by adding the text: "and it shall be the duty of the Lodge to investigate such objections before proceeding further with the candidate."
• Ruling by Grand Master, 12/13/1869, VII-491 (1869-157); In response to the question If a candidate is accepted by a clear ballot, and a brother afterwards objects to his advancement, what course is to be pursued?, Grand Master Gardner offered the following response:
  • "I have decided that if the candidate was regularly accepted by a clear ballot, in a Lodge where notices were sent to the members with the name of the candidate upon the notices, or in a Lodge where no notices are sent, but where the ballot was at a regular meeting, that no new ballot can be had. That if a brother objects, the W. Master has the right to refuse to confer the degrees. If the Master does not so decide, it is his duty - under Section 7, Article 3, Part 4 of our Constitutions, which provides that 'Every member of a subordinate Lodge may object to the initiation, passing, or raising of a candidate at any time before the degree is conferred; and it shall be the duty of the Lodge to investigate such objections before proceeding with the candidate - to appoint a committee to consider the objections, and to report thereon to the Lodge, and that the Lodge is to decide by a majority vote of the sufficiency of the objections. That the ballot once fairly and regularly taken, by which the candidate is accepted cannot be repeated, unless the Lodge, by vote, decide so to do."
• GC1918: Section 417, 1918-386
• GC1930: Section 417, 1930-138

References

• 1875-71
• 1877-217 refers to a report regarding actions taken by Caleb Butler Lodge regarding the admission of a candidate who had been favorably balloted upon by the lodge. The Grand Lodge refused to overrule the actions of the lodge in this case.
• 1910-48
• 1878-50
• 1878-87
• 1894-65
• 1918-322
• 1926-240
• 1952-113
• 1953-50
• 1953-197

• 13MFM-96
• 1917Builder-70

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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

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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

• Vote of Grand Lodge, II-328, 03/10/1806; "It was moved by the M. W. Timothy Bigelow to know the opinion of this Grand Lodge, if a blind man can, or cannot, be made a Mason, such an one having applied for admission to King Solomon's Lodge at Charlestown; and on motion. VOTED, That it is inconsistent and incompatible with the Constitutions of Masonry."
• 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

• 1871-55, 06/14/1871, refers to the Grand Master's address, regarding a proposition under consideration by the Grand Lodge of South Carolina concerning physical qualifications. 1871-137, 09/13/1871, is the report of the committee reviewing the subject; it recommended that the current regulation, Part Fourth, 3:4, be "safely left as it stands."
• 1894-16
• 1894-59
• 1915-219
• 1878-50
• 1878-87
• 1894-64

• 10MFM-55, 10MFM-201, 11MFM-216, 13MFM-118, 24MFM-350, 25MFM-225, 1916Builder-7, 1917Builder-259, 1917Builder-273, 1917Builder-310

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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

• Grand Lodge Committee Report, 03/12/1856, VI-4; on the Grand Master's address from December 1855: "The subject of non-affiliated masons has occasioned much perplexity to the Gd. Lodges which have hitherto attempted to deal with it. No successful result has yet been attained. We have doubts whether such result can be obtained through the exercise of legitimate power by any Gd Lodge, If brethren feel so little interest in Masonry, that they forbear to take membership when it does not involve manifest inconveniences if they stand aloof and thus discountenance the efforts of the faithful: — the question may well arise whether they are to be regarded as worthy brethren and whether they would come within the prescribed rule, in a case of emergency. Their case however, we apprehend, is one which, if curable, must be treated, by moral suasion, rather than by legal enactment, if they be convinced that their present position is unmasonic and ask membership, of their own free will and accord, we might hope for mutual advantage. But compulsory membership, even if practicable, gives very slight promise of benefit to either party."
• 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."
• 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.
• GC1930: Section 420, 1930-135; In this revision, the text is the same as GC1918.

References

• 1871-128 refers to a proposed amendment to Miscellaneous Regulations Section 2 to admit to membership all candidates upon the signing of the By-Laws, and to inform them of the obligations of membership; this proposal was "indefinitely postponed."
• 1890-55
• 1890-123
• 1893-15
• 1894-17
• 1894-50
• 1894-66
• 1895-41
• 1895-133
• 1871-128
• 1918-322
• 1925-213
• 1925-439
• 1926-440
• 1937-84
• 1945-41
• 1953-50
• 1953-197
• 2008-90

• 12/27/1855 may be spurious.
• 1917Builder-10, 1917Bulder-56, 1917Builder-184

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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."
• Grand Lodge Committee Report, 09/11/1889, 1889-125; a Brother who had received two degrees in Minnesota and was refused further advancement had later taken all three degrees in a Massachusetts lodge; he petitioned for healing, supported by a certificate signed by a number of prominent Brethren. However, the investigation did not support his character, and he was declared a clandestine Mason.
• 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 refers to a case in which a lodge in New Hampshire improperly conferred degrees, but the Grand Lodge determined that the lodge, not the recipient was as fault. "He was outside of the Order, knew nothing of its internal arrangements or regulations, and could have acted only as he was directed by brethren, who were, or should have been, thoroughly informed in matters of which he was entirely ignorant. It, therefore, seems harsh, if not unjust, to punish him for the unmasonic conduct of members of the Fraternity. He has visited many Lodges in the vicinity, manifests great zeal in the interests of the Order, and has shown remarkable proficiency in acquiring the work and lectures." The Brother's standing was healed by the Grand Lodge, noted on 1871-21.
• 1871-75
• 1872-35
• 1872-122
• 1872-131
• 1872-241
• 1873-23 refers to the case of a petitioner who received the degrees in a foreign jurisdiction after being rejected by a lodge in Massachusetts; the Grand Lodge agreed to have the Grand Master heal the petitioner.
• 1873-84 refers to the case of a petitioner receiving the degrees in a New Hampshire lodge while still a resident of Lowell; it was endorsed by a number of prominent members of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and the Grand Lodge approved healing.
• 1874-11
• 1874-32
• 1874-141
• 1876-19, 03/08/1876, refers to the case of a petitioner rejected by Mystic Lodge who received the degrees in Alabama in 1865; he wished to be healed to regularity with Mystic Lodge; in part, the committee noted that this lodge's vote to endorse this healing "would seem to be evidence of the fact that whatever objection originally existed to receiving the petitioner into that Lodge has been removed." The Brother was healed by the Grand Master.
• 1876-55, 09/13/1876, refers to a complex case of jurisdiction involving several lodges on the North Shore; the brother was declared clandestine, but formally healed.
• 1877-190, 09/12/1877, refers to the case of a petitioner rejected by Ancient York Lodge who subsequently received the Masonic degrees in England; while normally this case would be rejected, the Massachusetts lodge voted to recommend that the petitioner be healed so that he could be admitted. The recommendation was adopted.
• 1877-275, 12/12/1877, refers to the vote to include the name and date of application in the case where a candidate had applied to another lodge.
• 1878-32
• 1910-147
• 1929-117
• 1932-27
• 1953-51
• 1953-197

• 15MFM-178, 16MFM-273

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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

• Grand Lodge Committee Report, 06/11/1828, IV-130, regarding "the expediency of establishing an ordinance prohibiting Lodges under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, from receiving into membership any person who has been or may be expelled from membership in any subordinate Lodge, in consequence of non compliance with the By Laws, Rules and regulations of any Lodge; and requiring said Lodges to report to the Grand Lodge the name and place of residence of every person so expelled from Membership, stating in such Report whether such expulsion shall have been caused by nonpayment of dues provided for by the written rules of the Lodge from which such person is expelled." The detailed report discusses the details of this possible ordinance, and recommends that it not be adopted because of "inconvenience without any proportionate practical utility."
• 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, 1938-48, 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."

References

• VII-82 (1866-17), 06/13/1866, refers to a report on the by-laws for Acacia Lodge, striking a provision that stated that one raised should be admitted a member by his own request within two months; otherwise a ballot requiring two-thirds votes to admit him would be had. This was considered improper; "Your Committee believe that the general rule in this jurisdiction, is to admit members by the ballot and that a unanimous consent is requisite to admission to his privilege . . . The rule in Masonry as to the acceptance of Candidates and admission of members is a rigorous and righteous one, and that is perfect unanimity must prevail."
• 1916-593
• 1921-46
• 1926-442
• 1936-117, 06/10/1936, is a commentary by Grand Master Allen regarding affiliations. "It is desirable to increase the number of active affiliated Masons in our jurisdiction. . . In almost every community, there are considerable numbers of unaffiliated Masons." He divides them into various categories, and encourages local Lodges to consider ways to encourage these Masons to take up membership once again, and what fee (if any) they might charge. He notes, however: "Of course, it is essential that applications for affiliation should be carefully investigated, particularly where the applicants may have been dimitted for several years and are themselves of advanced age."
• 1937-136
• 1953-51
• 1953-197
• 1961-175
• 1974-175

• 26MFM-64, 1917Builder-134

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