MassachusettsGC2012 PART VII

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GRAND CONSTITUTIONS, PART VII

PART VII: MISCELLANEOUS REGULATIONS

Sec. 700. REGULAR MASONIC BODIES

Whereas, this Grand Lodge recognizes no degrees of Masonry except those conferred under the regulations of the Grand Lodges of the various states and territories of the United States and the Governments throughout the world; and, whereas, it admits the following-named organizations to be regular and duly constituted Masonic Bodies, namely:

The General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International; The Grand Royal Arch Chapters of the Several States and Territories of the United States, and the Royal Arch Chapters and other Bodies under their jurisdiction; the General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons International; The Grand Councils of Royal and Select Masters of the several States and Territories of the United States, and the Councils under their jurisdiction; The Grand Encampment of the United States; The Grand Commanderies of the several States and Territories of the United States, and the Commanderies under their jurisdiction; The Supreme Councils of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for the Northern and Southern Jurisdictions of the United States, and the various Bodies under their jurisdiction; The Imperial Council of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America, and the Temples under their jurisdiction.

Therefore, any Mason admitted into any other Orders, as Masonic (as distinguished from Masonic-related), is acting un-Masonically, and for such conduct shall be liable to be expelled from all the rights and privileges of Masonry, and shall be ineligible to membership or office in any Lodge or in this Grand Lodge.

References

  • GC1843: Part Fifth, Section 18, IV-652; "No Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, can legally assemble, in this Commonwealth, under a warrant granted by any foreign Masonic power." Note that this section does not directly apply to the appendant bodies to which this section applies in later editions of the Grand Constitutions, but exclusive jurisdiction of the Grand Ldoge was of particular importance during the 19th century.
  • GC1918: Section 700, 1918-406; In this revision, the phrase "(as distinguished from Masonic-related)," does not appear.
  • GC1930: Section 700, 1930-159; In this revision, the text is the same as in GC1918.
    • 06/11/1851, 1880-130, 1882-16, 1882-20, 1882-85, 1883-43, 1884-122, 1884-175, 1901-21, 1901-243, 1902-14, 1902-150, 1902-177, 1916-576

1895: 128, 222 1901: 147 1903: 84 1918: 327 1931: 37 1983: 219

also 1896: 351 1918: 407

Sec. 701. SPURIOUS MASONRY

Any Mason in this jurisdiction who shall confer, communicate, or sell, or shall assist in or be accessory to the conferring, communicating, or selling, or shall solicit any one to receive or apply for any degree called, claimed, or represented to be Masonic, not hereinbefore recognized or admitted, may be expelled from all the rights and privileges of Masonry.

References

  • GC1843: Part Fifth, Section 5, IV-650: "No Lodge shall encourage, promote, or permit, the delivery of any Masonic lectures, which have not been sanctioned and authorized by the Grand Lodge. Nor shall any Mason be permitted to deliver such lectures under this jurisdiction."
  • GC1918: Section 701, 1918-407
  • GC1930: Section 701, 1930-160
    • 1883-43-67, 1902-150, 1902-177, 1908-83, 1908-137, 1904-160

1881: 21,85 1901: 21, 147 1902: 14 1922: 213

Sec. 702. PAST MASTER'S DIPLOMA

The Master of any Lodge under this jurisdiction who has faithfully discharged his duties and complied with the laws of the Grand Lodge may at the end of his first year, be presented by the District Deputy Grand Master or the District Grand Master with a Past Master's Diploma.

References

  • GC1843: Part Fifth, Section 3, IV-650; "The Master of any Lodge, under this jurisdiction, who has faithfully discharged his duties and complied with the laws of the Grand Lodge, shall, at the end of his first year, be presented by the District Deputy Grand Master, with a Past Master's Diploma."
  • GC1918: Section 704, 1918-408; In this revision, the words "may at the end of his first year" read instead "shall, at the end of his first year,".
  • GC1930: Section 702, 1930-160; In this revision, the text is the same as in GC1918.
  • II-193, II-201, 10/11/1843, 1916-307

II: 522 III: 235 VI: 559 1916: 592 1989: 96

Sec. 703. INTER-JURISDICTIONAL CORRESPONDENCE

Inter-jurisdictional correspondence shall in all cases be conducted through the office of the Grand Secretary except as the Grand Master may otherwise order.

References

  • GC1918: Section 705, 1918-408; In this revision, the section reads: "Inter-jurisdictional correspondence shall in all cases be conducted through the office of the Grand Master except as he may otherwise order."
  • GC1930: Section 700, 1930-160; In this revision, the text is the same as in GC1918.
    • 1909-179

II: 123, 130, 179

Sec. 704. ITINERANT CERTIFICATES

No Lodge or officer or member of a Lodge shall give a certificate or recommendation to enable a Mason to proceed from Lodge to Lodge as a pauper, or in an itinerant manner to apply to Lodges or Brethren for relief.

References

  • GC1843: Part Fifth, Section 8, IV-651; "No Lodge, or officer or member of a Lodge, shall, under any circumstances, give a certificate or recommendation, to enable a Mason to proceed, from Lodge to Lodge, as a pauper, or, in an itinerant manner, to apply to Lodges for relief."
  • GC1918: Section 706, 1918-408
  • GC1930: Section 700, 1930-161

1878: 50,87 1895: 128, 221 1918: 408

Sec. 705. BEGGING LETTERS

Begging circulars or similar appeals from any source, domestic or foreign, shall not be entertained unless they have been approved by the Grand Lodge or Grand Master.

References

Sec. 706. USE OF MASONRY IN BUSINESS

No Mason (or other person) shall, within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, be a principal in, or accessory to, the conduct of any business, profession, occupation, or other calling prosecuted for profit under any name or style by which it is held out to the public as Masonic; but this regulation shall not apply to such as were being conducted at the time of the adoption of this regulation or to such as may hereafter be approved by vote of this Grand Lodge taken at a Regular Communication subsequent to that at which said approval is proposed.

References

1918: 328 1930: 161

Sec. 707. OFFICER LIMITED TO ONE OFFICE

No Brother shall hold more than one office in the same Lodge, or in Grand Lodge, except as a Director, at the same time.

References

IV: 652 1895: 128, 221 1900: 207

Sec. 708. QUORUM OF GRAND LODGE OR LODGE

A Communication or Meeting of the Grand Lodge or of a particular Lodge, duly convened, may transact business and do work if three or more members are present provided one of them is, by Masonic law, entitled to preside thereover.

References

Sec. 709. DEFINITIONS

  • (a) Ample Form. The Grand Lodge is declared to be opened in Ample Form only when the Grand Master presides.
  • (b) In Due Form, when the Deputy Grand Master presides;
  • (c ) In Form, when it is opened in the absence of both the Grand Master and his Deputy.
  • (d) Suspension from membership deprives a Brother, temporarily, of his rights as a member of his Lodge.
  • (e) Suspension from Masonry. The suspension of a Brother excludes him from all his Masonic privileges, and prohibits all Masonic intercourse between him and his Brethren during the time of his suspension.
  • (f) Expulsion from Masonry. This is the highest penalty that can be incurred, and the severest punishment that can be inflicted, for any violations of Masonic engagements. It excludes a Mason from all his Masonic rights and privileges forever, until he be restored by the Grand Lodge. It ought never to be exercised but with extreme caution, and in cases where a lighter punishment would be of no avail.
  • (g) Summons and Notification. These terms are used in the old regulations, and, by many of the Grand Lodges in this country, synonymously. The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts makes the following distinction:
    • A Notification is the notice by which the time, place, and hour, and frequently the business of the Lodge, are communicated to the members. Every Brother receiving this notice is requested to attend. The obligation which it imposes is a general one; and the highest penalty incurred by a continuous violation of it is forfeiture of membership.
    • A Summons is a call of authority, a citation to appear and answer to the charges therein set forth. Or it is an imperative injunction to appear at a Meeting of the Lodge with which the Brother receiving it is affiliated; or to attend on the Grand Master, a District Grand Master, a District Deputy Grand Master, or any committee or other body authorized by the Grand Lodge or Grand Master to issue it. The obligation to obey it is special and obligatory on every Brother receiving it. The penalty for its non-observance is expulsion, unless the party offending be able to urge a pressing and positive necessity as his excuse.
  • (h) The Lodge. A Lodge is a society of Masons meeting by authority of a Charter or warrant from a regular Grand Lodge for the purpose of doing Masonic work and transacting appropriate business. The word Lodge in these Constitutions shall (unless the context indicates otherwise) be construed to refer to the particular Lodges holding Charters by authority of this Grand Lodge.
    • The word sometimes, in Masonic terminology, means the place in which a particular Lodge meets.
    • In a few jurisdictions the word technically signifies the Ark of the Covenant, which is kept in the Hall, and frequently carried in public processions. The ark is not used in our Lodges.
    • The Flooring, or Master's Carpet, is frequently called the Lodge.
  • (i) The Flooring, or Carpet, is a regularly arranged painting of the Masonic emblems on canvas. No Lodge should be without one.
  • (j) The Trestle-Board, or Tracing-Board, "is for the Master to draw his designs upon"; or it is the Board on which the designs of the Master are already drawn. The term is frequently used synonymously with Flooring and Carpet.
  • (k) A clandestine Mason is one who has been made in a spurious body pretending to be Masonic.
  • (l) An irregular Mason is one who has been made in a regular Lodge but in an unconstitutional or unlawful manner.
  • (m) A Stated Communication is a regular meeting for doing Masonic work and transacting appropriate business.
  • (n) A Special Communication is a meeting called for the purpose of Masonic work and related activities.
  • (o) A Deputy Grand Lodge is a special meeting of the Grand Lodge presided over by a deputy of the Grand Master.

References

  • GC1843: Definitions, IV-655
    • (section (a) above) Definitions: 1, VI-655; "The Grand Lodge is declared to be opened in ample form when the Grand Master presides."
    • (section (b) above) Definitions: 2, VI-655
    • (section (c) above) Definitions: 3, VI-656
    • Definitions: 4, VI-656; "Discharged Member. This term is applied to a member of a Lodge who has been discharged for non-payment of his quarterly dues, or other violation of the local rules of his Lodge."
    • (sections (d) and (e) above) Definitions: 5, VI-656; "Suspension. The suspension of a Brother excludes him from all his Masonic privileges, and prohibits all Masonic intercourse between him and his Brethren, during the time of his suspension."
    • (section (f) above) Definitions: 6, VI-656
    • (section (g) above) Definitions: 7, VI-656
    • (section (h) above) Definitions: 8, VI-657; "The Lodge. The term Lodge is generally understood to refer to the members of a particular Masonic association, or the place in which they meet. In a few of the states, it technically signifies the Ark of the Covenant, which is kept in the hall and frequently carried in public processions. In Massachusetts, however, and most of the other States, it means the flooring. The Ark is not used in our Lodges.
    • (section (i) above) Definitions: 9, VI-657
    • (section (j) above) Definitions: 10, VI-657
  • GC1918: Section 711, 1918-409; Note the following labels, due to the inclusion of "Discharge from membership".
    • (a) Ample Form. The Grand Lodge is declared to be opened in Ample Form, when the Grand Master or a Past Grand Master presides;"
    • (e) Discharge from membership terminates absolutely the Brother's connection with his Lodge.
    • (f) defines Suspension from Masonry.
    • (g) defines Expulsion from Masonry.
    • (h) defines Summons and Notification.
    • (i) defines the Lodge.
    • (j) defines the Flooring, or Carpet.
    • (k) defines the Trestle-Board, or Tracing-Board.
    • (l) defines a clandestine Mason.
    • (m) defines an irregular Mason.
    • (n) defines a Communication: "A Communication is a meeting for the transaction of business."
  • GC1930: Section 709, 1930-162; In this revision, the text is the same as in GC1918.
  • (a) 1989: 96
  • (d) 1895-128, 1895-222, 1916-172 26MFM-193 30MFM-287 GC1918: See Sec. 504
  • (e) 1878-89, 1895-129, 1895-222 1974-176 See Secs. 504, 509 26MFM-93
  • (f) IV-615, 1878-51, 1878-87, 1895-129, 1895-222 1914-177, 1916-577
  • (g) II-634, III-27, IV-39, IV-657, 1878-51, 1878-87, 1918-411
  • (k) 06/11/1851, 1909-178, 1916-18
  • (l) 1886-174, 1916-18
  • (m) 1906-119, 1974-176
  • (n) 1974-176
  • (o) 10/21/1821, 12/27/1821, 1871-86, 1871-211, 1914-14, 1916-140, 1916-282, 1917-1, 1918-328, 1974-176

Sec. 710. AMENDMENTS

No permanent By-Law, Rule, or Regulation of this Grand Lodge shall be adopted, repealed, or amended at the Communication at which such adoption, repeal, or amendment is proposed, nor until it has been duly considered by a committee, fully discussed in Grand Lodge at the next succeeding Quarterly Communication, and voted on at the second succeeding Quarterly Communication.

There shall be mailed by the Grand Secretary to the Secretary of each Lodge under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, an attested copy of such proposal for adoption, repeal, or amendment, within thirty days after the Communication at which such proposal is made. Two-thirds of the votes cast shall be necessary for the adoption thereof.

The Grand Secretary shall insert in his customary written notifications for Communications of the Grand Lodge to the officer, permanent members and Lodges a notice of any such proposal which may be in order for consideration.

References

  • GC1918: Section 712, 1918-413; In this revision, the closing phrases of the first paragraph, "fully discussed in Grand Lodge at the next succeeding Quarterly Communication, and voted on at the second succeeding Quarterly Communication" do not appear.
  • GC1930: Section 712, 1930-165; In this revision, the text is the same as in GC1918.
  • II-524, 09/09/1818, 1866-47, 1883-126

II: 10 III: 238 IV: 653 VII: 126, 168, 179 1878: 51, 88 1895: 128, 221 1958: 132, 180

Sec. 711. LODGE NOTICES

All written or printed notices of Lodge meetings containing any Masonic information beyond the time and place of such meeting must be sent out in sealed envelopes. Any electronic display of such information must be password protected and any electronic communication thereof must be in accordance with guidelines established by the Grand lodge.

References

  • GC1918: Section 713, 1921-53; added 03/09/1921. The text originally read: "All written or printed notices of Lodge meetings containing any Masonic information beyond the time and place of such meeting must be sent out in sealed envelopes."
  • GC1930: Section 711, 1930-165; In this revision, the text is the same as in GC1918.

1890: 52 1918: 329 1936: 157 1953: 54, 197 1974: 176

Sec. 712. RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN GRAND LODGES

Fraternal recognition may be extended to a foreign Grand Lodge when, the Committee on Foreign Relations having first considered and reported thereon, it appears to the satisfaction of this Grand Lodge:

  1. That the foreign Grand Lodge in question represents a substantial unity of the Freemasons of the territory over which it assumes jurisdiction; i.e. the Country, Province, or State, or else shares such territorial jurisdiction with another Grand Lodge by mutual consent.
  2. That it has been lawfully organized by three or more regular Lodges or that it has been legalized by this Grand Lodge or by a Grand Lodge recognized by this Grand Lodge.
  3. That it is an independent, self-governing organization, having sovereign Masonic authority within its jurisdiction.
  4. That its ritual is fundamentally in accord with the 
ancient landmarks, customs, and usages of the Craft. 
This involves:
    • A. Monotheism;
    • B. The Volume of the Sacred Law a part of the furniture of the Lodge;
    • C. Secrecy;
    • D. The symbolism of the operative art;
    • E. The division of Symbolic Masonry into the three degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason;
    • F. The legend of the Third Degree.
  5. That it makes Masons of men only.
  6. That it is non-sectarian and non-political; i.e., that its dominant purposes are charitable, benevolent, educational, and religious.

References

  • GC1918: Section 714, 1922-545; added 12/13/1922. The text originally used the phrase "(a committee having first considered and reported thereon) it appears to the satisfaction of this Grand Lodge:"; in item 1, the phrase "That the foreign Grand Lodge in question represents a substantial unity of the Freemasons of the territory over which it assumes jurisdiction; i.e., the Country, Province, or State."; in item 2, "That it has been lawfully organized by three or more regular Lodges." in item 3, "That it is independent, having entire dogmatic and administrative authority over resident Masons and the Symbolic Degrees within its territorial jurisdiction."
  • GC1930: Section 714, 1930-166

1883: 47 1920: 174 1930: 166 1951: 295 1953: 54, 197

Sec. 713. GRAND HONORS

There are only two kinds of Masonic Grand Honors: namely, Public Grand Honors and Private Grand Honors.

The Public Grand Honors (sometimes called Public Honors) consist only of the battery of three times three, the first being right over left, the second left over right, and the third right over left. These Public Grand Honors are given when non-Masons or other than Masons are present.

The Private Grand Honors (sometimes called Private Honors) are given by battery of three times three, each battery being followed by the sign of a degree in the order of the first, second and third. The Private Grand Honors may be given only on four occasions -Dedication of a Masonic Hall, Constitution of a new Lodge, Installation of a Master-elect, on receiving a Grand Master or in honor of a Brother receiving a Grand Lodge Medal or other honor, but only if no Non-Masons are present. It is fitting and proper that a Brother should be greeted with the Private Grand Honors should the Master of the Lodge so direct.

At the installation of the Grand Master, the battery is omitted, the signs only being given.

References

1947: 375 1953: 54, 197

2012 Grand Constitutions Main Page

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