MOST WORSHIPFUL PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE OF MARYLAND
LODGES OF INSTRUCTION
Student Outline
Laws Regarding Rights of Individual Masons
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Enabling Learning Objectives
a. With the aid of references, list the rights of an EA, FC, MM PM and Unaffiliated Freeemasons,
in accordance with Mackey's Jurisprudence of Freemasonry
Terminal Learning Objectives
a. Without the aid of references, list the rights of Individual Freeemasons, in accordance with
Mackey's Jurisprudence of Freemasonry
OUTLINE:
Laws Relating to Individual Freemasons
ENTERED APPRENTICE
HISTORY: At one time, all business was conducted on the first degree, now business is only conducted
on the third degree.
An Entered Apprentice has limited rights and is excluded from:
(a) paying dues
(b) speaking or voting on issues
(c) holding office
(d) entitlement to the honors of Masonic Burial or participation in Burial processions
(e) entitlement to receive Masonic charities of relief
As an EA, he can only:
(a) sit in the Lodge, in which he was initiated, when it is opened on the first degree
(b) apply for advancement
Note: He may be allowed to sit in another Lodge opend on the First Degree, but does not have the right
to do so.
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FELLOWCRAFT
(a) A FC basically has no more rights than an Entered Apprentice other than he can additionally
sit in the Lodge( in which he was initiated) when it is opened on the First or Second Degree
MASTER MASON
The most important rights of a Master Mason are::
A. Right of Membership
B. Right of Affiliation
C. Right of Visitation
D. Right of Avouchment
E. Right of Relief
F. Right of Demisslon
G. Right of Appeal
H. Right of Burial
I. Right of Trial
(1)
RIGHT OF MEMBERSHIP
(a) By signing the By-laws, full membership is constituted; (If not signed, right may be
forfeited,)
(b) May not hold membership in more than one Lodge
(c) By the right of membership, the following rights are obtained:
to speak on questions
to vote on questions
to hold office
(d) By membership, the obligation to pay dues is assumed.
(2)
RIGHT OF AFFILIATION
(a) Membership in a Lodge is acquired by Initiation or by admission after initiation Affiliation.
(b) All rights, privileges and duties of membership are obtained by affiliation.
(c) Demit required.
(d) No vote on affiliation is required in this Jurisdiction.
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(3)
RIGHT OF VISITATION
(a) May visit Lodges whose Grand Lodge is recognized by your Grand Lodge in our case at
present - Prince Hall Grand Lodges and MD AF&AM Lodges with approval.
(b) This right is not absolute - the earnest protest of a member is sufficient grounds for the
exclusion of a visitor.
(c) Visitors may be required to take the "Tyler's Oath". (Discussion – not practiced in the MD
jurisdiction)
(d) May request to see the charter.
(e) May be examined by committee.
(f) No visitor can be permitted to take a seat in a Lodge unless vouched for by a brother; been
subjected to a skillfully examined; or by having positive information received as to his
masonic character from a competent and reliable brother
(g) Unaffiliated Masons have no right of visitation
(4)
RIGHT OF AVOUCHMENT
(a) A brother may vouch for a visitor on the strength of having sat in open Lodge with him; or
having subjected him to a skillfully private examination; or having received positive
information as to his Masonic character from a competent and reliable brother.
(5)
RIGHT OF RELIEF
(a) The right of requesting assistance when Indigent or in Distress.
(b) Requirements
i. must be in real distress
ii. must be worthy
(c) The giver is not expected to exceed his means.
(d) A Mason or his family has preference.
(6)
RIGHT OF DEMISSION
(a) Demit - an act and a document
(b) To demit from a Lodge is to withdraw from all connection with it.
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(c) Should be done for the purpose of immediately joining another Lodge.
(d) To demit, without the intention of uniting with another Lodge, constitutes unmasonic conduct.
(7)
RIGHT OF APPEAL
(a) The Grand Lodge is the appellate body.
(b) Two kinds of appeals - for the decisions of the Master and from the decisions of the Lodge.
(c) One may not appeal the Lodge’s decision on membership nor on election of candidates.
(d) Appeals are most frequently in reference to conviction and punishment after trial.
(e) If the Grand Lodge confirms the decision, the Lodge's judgment stands.
(f) If the Grand Lodge reverses the decision, the appellant is placed in the same status he occupied
prior to the trial.
(g) The Grand Lodge may refer it back to the Lodge for a new trial or for a review of the adequacy
of the punishment.
This right is not restricted to only Master Masons
(8)
RIGHT OF BURIAL
(a) Must be in good standing
(b) Must be requested
(c) Unaffiliated masons are not entitled
PAST MASTERS
There are two (2) types of Past Masters as follows:
(1) Virtual - One who has received the 5th degree in York Rite Masonry
(2) Actual - One who has been elected, invested with the secrets of and served as Master of a
Symbolic Lodge.
Past Masters possess few rights beyond those of a Master Mason. Past Masters are:
(a) Eligible for membership in the Grand Lodge
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(b) Able to preside over their Lodge in the absence of the Master and with the consent of the
Warden constituting the Lodge (The Master and Wardens not present, a Past Master
may not open nor preside)
(c) Entitled to install their successors
(d) Entitled to be elected Master without having to again be elected a warden (keep up with
current with the SOPs)
(e) Entitled to a seat in the east
(f) Eligible for the offices of Deputy Grand Master and Grand Wardens (Discussion-Masonic
Law vs our Constitution)
RIGHTS OF UNAFFILIATED MASONS
An Unaffiliated Mason
(a) Bound by all Masonic duties and obligations to the Order in general
(b) Possesses all rights which are derived from the Order, but not derived from membership in a
Lodge
(c) Has the right of assistance when in imminent peril
(d) Has no right to monetary relief from a Lodge
(e) Has no right of burial
(f) Is still subject to the Government and punishments of the Order
SUMMARY AND QUESTIONS
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