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.

Earlier Revisions

  • Additional Regulations 1801 contains the following sections:
    • Article 5th, I-193; "The Grand Lodge shall cause to be provided a diploma with a suitable and appropriate device, purporting the regular election of a Master by a Lodge duly constituted under its Jurisdiction and recommending to the respectful notice, friendly aid and attention of all regular Lodges, Masters, and Past Masters throughout the World."
    • Article 6th, I-193; "That the Master of every Lodge, who shall cause his Lodge strictly to comply with the foregoing Regulations, respecting making returns, paying Quarterages and all fees, shall for his vigilance and fidelity be furnished by the Grand Secretary with a diploma of his office, gratis, and shall also be entitled to receive of the Grand Secretary, diplomas for each Mason, made, passed and raised in his Lodge agreeably to returns made thereof as aforesaid. The Grand Secretary shall supply each District Deputy Grand Master with a suitable number of diplomas whenever he shall apply, for which he shall be accountable when he shall make his returns in December; and for every diploma furnished to each individual, in advance of the foregoing Regulations, the applicant shall pay therefor seventy-five cents."
    • Article 7th, I-194; "That all Past Masters, who have presided in any Lodge under this Jurisdiction, who have heretofore complied with the Regulations of the Grand Lodge, and whose Lodges are not in arrears to the Grand Lodge, shall receive a diploma of the office of a Master of a Lodge, gratis, and all Past Masters, who have presided, in Lodges now in arrears, which Lodges shall on or before the Quarterly Communication in December next pay up all their arrears to the Grand Lodge, shall also receive diplomas of their office, gratis."
  • 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 Lodge was of particular importance during the 19th century.
  • Address of the Grand Master, 03/08/1882, 1882-16, regarding "spurious rites and degrees"; the Grand Master commented on the Egyptian Rite, originally brought to the Grand Lodge's attention by Grand Master Welch in 1879. An amendment to the Grand Constitutions was offered to delineate the accepted Masonic orders and bodies, which was considered at the June communication on 06/14/1882, 1882-85, and was recommitted and not adopted.
  • 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.

References

  • V-330, 06/12/1851, refers to the Supreme Council in Louisiana, deemed clandestine.
  • 1880-130
  • 1883-43
  • 1884-122
  • 1884-175
  • 1895-128
  • 1895-222
  • 1896-351
  • 1901-21
  • 1901-147
  • 1901-243
  • 1902-14
  • 1902-150
  • 1902-177
  • 1903-84
  • 1916-576
  • 1918-327
  • 1931-37
  • 1983-219

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.

Earlier Revisions

  • 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

References

  • 1881-21
  • 1881-85
  • 1883-43
  • 1883-67
  • 1901-21
  • 1901-147
  • 1902-14
  • 1902-150
  • 1902-177
  • 1904-160
  • 1908-83
  • 1908-137
  • 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.

Earlier Revisions

  • Additional Regulations, Article 4th, II-193, 12/15/1801; "The Grand Lodge shall cause to be provided a diploma, printed on parchment, with a device emblematical of, and suited to, the Genius and Design of Masonry, and purporting in a dignified simplicity of language, that the Bearer thereof (inserting the name) has been raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason, in _____ Lodge, of regular standing as appears by the records of the Parent Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. The diploma shall bear the Seal of the Lodge in which the Brother was raised, or is a member, and shall be signed by the Master, Wardens and Secretary of said Lodge. At the foot of the diploma shall appear a certificate, signed by the Grand Secretary, by order of the Grand Master, expressing the date of the charter of the Lodge unto whom it is intended to be issued, and that the same was regularly constituted and is under the Jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge."
  • Vote of Grand Lodge, II-201, 03/08/1802, to pay the accounts for the designer and engraver of the diploma.
  • GC1811: Chapter III, Section 11, II-522: ". . . the Master of each Lodge, who has complied with the Laws of the Grand Lodge, shall be presented with a Master's Diploma, after having sustained the office one year."
  • GC1819: Chapter 5, Section 17, III-235; ". . . the master of each Lodge, who has complied with the laws of the Grand Lodge, shall be presented with a master's diploma, after having sustained the office one year."
  • 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.

References

  • VI-559 refers to the committee ruling, adopted by Grand Lodge, defining a Past Master, in accordance with the prerequisites for being certain Grand Lodge officers.
  • 1916-307
  • 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.

Earlier Revisions

  • Vote of Grand Lodge, II-123, 01/17/1798; "That a respectable committee of Correspondence be appointed to receive all letters, communications, etc., and to prepare answers to be laid before the Grand Lodge for their consideration and sanction at their Quarterly Communications, and that said committee seek to obtain all Masonic information which may tend to the benefit or aggrandizement of this Grand Lodge."
    • II-130, 06/11/1798; "The choice of a Committee of Correspondence, refer'd over to this meeting, was acted upon and the M.W. J. Bartlett, R.W. Brothers Samuel Dunn, Paul Revere, Thaddeus M. Harris and Perez Morton were appointed the committee accordingly."
    • II-179, 03/09/1801; "The R.W. J. Bartlett, Benj. Russell and I. Thomas were appointed a committee to consider and report the most speedy and effectual method of answering communications, and transmitting the doings of the Grand Lodge with regularity and dispatch and reported the following, vizt: That at a meeting of the Grand Lodge, June 11, 5798, a Committee of Correspondence was appointed, who, from their local situation and their various avocations, can never perform the important duties assigned them. They are therefore of opinion that the said committee should he discharged, and heg leave to recommend that the following be adopted as a Standing Law of the Grand Lodge."
  • 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.

References

  • 1909-179

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.

Earlier Revisions

  • 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

References

  • 1878-50
  • 1878-87
  • 1895-128
  • 1895-221
  • 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.

Earlier Revisions

References

  • 1916-17
  • 1917-30

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.

Earlier Revisions

References

  • 1874-129
  • 1918-328

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.

Earlier Revisions

  • GC1843: Part Fifth, Section 13, IV-652; "No Brother shall be a member of more than one Lodge, nor shall he hold more than one office in the same Lodge, or in Grand Lodge, at the same time."
  • GC1918: Section 709, 1918-409
  • GC1930: Section 700, 1930-161

References

  • 1901-27
  • 1895-128
  • 1895-221
  • 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.

Earlier Revisions

  • Vote of Massachusetts Grand Lodge, 05/11/1770, I-229: ". . . that whenever Summons's are issued for convening a Gd Lodge by the Grand Master or his direction, and the Grand Lodge in consequence thereof is congregated, the same is to all intents & purposes a legal Grand Lodge, however few in Number, & as such may with the strictest propriety proceed to business."
  • GC1918: Section 710, 1918-409
  • GC1930: Section 700, 1930-161

References

  • 1888-320

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.

Earlier Revisions

  • Vote of Grand Lodge, 09/11/1815, II-634, rejecting the following motion: "That when the Master and Wardens of a Lodge shall be summoned before this Grand Lodge, they shall appear in person and not by proxy . . . are satisfied for themselves, it would be improper for the Grand Lodge to adopt said motion. That by a fair construction of the Masonic Constitution and the established principles of the Order, when any officer of a Lodge is summoned to appear before this Grand Lodge to answer to any charge touching, or implicating the character of the Lodge, he has a right to appear by proxy; and your committee are of opinion, it would be highly dangerous to take it away."
    • A report supplying arguments for this position was presented on 12/11/1815, III-27.
  • 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.

References

  • (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, 09/13/1843, refers to amendments to GC1819.
    • 1878-51
    • 1878-87
    • 1895-129
    • 1895-222
    • 1914-177
    • 1916-577
  • (g):
    • Grand Lodge Committee Report, IV-39, 09/13/1826; report on the relationship between the Fraternity and Masons unaffiliated with any Lodge, which includes the following statement: "Every Mason is bound to obey the summons of a Lodge of Master Masons and presented himself before then, if within the scope of his ability. There is no relation in which he can stand with the fraternity that can absolve a mason from this obligation. He may have sufficient excuse for not obeying a summons, and in that case it is his duty to lay his excuse before the summoning body which has the power of admitting it as satisfactory and it is presumed that it will always be ready to exercise this power liberally whenever a proper spirit is manifested. Thus a Lodge may excuse a Freemason for not performing this duty, but cannot absolve him from his obligation to perform it."
    • 1878-51
    • 1878-87
    • 1918-411
  • (k):
    • V-330, 06/12/1851, refers to the Supreme Council in Louisiana, deemed clandestine.
    • 1909-178
    • 1916-18
  • (l):
    • 1886-174
    • 1916-18
  • (m):
    • 1906-119
    • 1974-176
  • (n):
    • 1974-176
  • (o):
    • 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.

Earlier Revisions

  • GC1792: Section 9th, Item 8, II-10; "The Grand Lodge has an inherent power and authority to make new regulations, and alter these for the benefit of the Institution, provided always the Ancient Land-Marks be carefully preserved, and that such new regulations be proposed, at a Quarterly Communication, and agreed to by a majority of the Brethren present at the Annual Grand Feast."
  • GC1811: Chapter IV, Section 12, II-524; "No permanent Regulation shall be established at the meeting when it is proposed, nor until it has been duly considered by a committee, to be appointed by the Grand Master, or in his absence chosen by the Grand Lodge, for that purpose."
  • GC1819: Chapter 6, Section 11, III-238; "No permanent regulation shall be established at the meeting when it is proposed, nor until it has been duly considered by a committee to be chosen by the Grand Lodge."
    • Amended 03/08/1826 to include the following text: "The prayer of a petition for a new Lodge shall not be granted at the Communication when it is presented; but shall be referred to a Committee with instructions to report at the next following Communication." (III-568; adopted IV-8)"
  • GC1843: Part 5th, Section 22, IV-653; "No permanent regulation of this Grand Lodge, shall be repealed, or amended, at the meeting at which such repeal, or amendment, is proposed, nor until it has been duly considered by a committee, to be chosen by the Grand Lodge, at a previous quarterly communication. A majority of two-thirds of the votes present shall be necessary for the adoption of any amendment."
    • Amended 09/11/1867, VII-179, to read: "No permanent regulation of this Grand Lodge, shall be repealed, or amended, at the meeting at which such repeal, or amendment, is proposed, nor until it has been duly considered by a committee, to be chosen by the Grand Lodge, at a previous quarterly communication, and every Lodge under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge within the territorial limits of Massachusetts shall be served by the Recording Grand Secretary with an attested copy of such proposed repeal or amendment within thirty days after the meeting at which such repeal or amendment is proposed. A majority of two-thirds of the votes present shall be necessary for the adoption of any amendment." (originally proposed 06/12/1867, VII-168)
  • Vote of Grand Lodge, 12/13/1866, VII-126; "That the G. Sec. insert in his notifications for meetings of the G. Lodge the Part, Article and Section of any proposed amendment to the G. Constitutions, which may be in order for deliberation at such meeting."
  • 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.

References

  • 1883-126
  • 1878-51
  • 1878-88
  • 1895-128
  • 1895-221
  • 1958-132
  • 1958-180
  • 1866-47

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.

Earlier Revisions

  • 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.

References

  • 1890-52
  • 1918-329
  • 1936-157
  • 1953-54
  • 1953-197
  • 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.

Earlier Revisions

  • 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

References

  • 1883-47
  • 1920-174
  • 1951-295
  • 1953-54
  • 1953-197

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.

Earlier Revisions

References

  • 1947-375
  • 1953-54
  • 1953-197

2012 Grand Constitutions Main Page

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