Balloting - September 20, 2005
T.F.S.
Three, five, and seven
3 5 7
By Ed Halpaus, Grand Lodge Education Officer.
Number 59 – September 20, 2005
This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.
“A weapon that comes down as still as snowflakes fall upon the sod; but executes a freeman's will, as lightning does the will of God; and from its force nor doors nor locks can shield you,—'tis the ballot-box.” John Pierpont, (1785-1866,) in A Word from a Petitioner.
In going through some old files I came across some e-mails from Brethren commenting on balloting on a petitioner, and how things differ from one jurisdiction to another. Some jurisdictions say that after a petitioner receives a favorable ballot his initiation should not be scheduled until at least the next stated communication or later, some say there is a month waiting period, and some, like right hear in Minnesota, say the initiation can be conducted right away.
SECTION G14.07 After a petitioner for degrees has been elected by unanimous ballot of the
Lodge, he is entitled to receive them at the reasonable will and pleasure of the Master, and as early as permissible. He becomes subject to Masonic law and discipline when elected, but not a member of the Lodge until he is made a Master Mason.
SECTION G14.08 A petitioner can be initiated in the regular way as an Entered Apprentice, the
same night he is elected.
One Brother, in his E-mail, said he has never heard of a petitioner being present when his petition is balloted on. Maybe, but I think that all depends on what your definition of being ‘present’ is.
Once upon a time, in a land far away, there was a Masonic Lodge, (where the rules were the same as Minnesota,) trying to do everything in one night. It, (the Master and Wardens,) decided to have a nice dinner and invite the petitioners who were to be voted on that night during the Stated Communication. (The plan was to open Lodge, have a short meeting, ballot on the petitions and then confer the first degree on these petitioners.) At the supper all was very enjoyable; there were many kind words said to the petitioners, and there were smiles all around. Then the Masons needed to go into the Lodge room to open Lodge, and the petitioners were left in the dining room. Lodge was opened, which took about 15 minutes, because the officers were not all that prepared for the opening ceremonies. After the opening, visitors were introduced, including the Masons who were to confer the degree, and then the Minutes and the Treasurer’s Report were received and approved, then correspondence, and finally the petitions were read for the second time along with the investigation reports, and that’s when the Master ordered the ballot box prepared. The ballot on the first of the petitioners was conducted. By the time the ballot was begun a good amount of time was ticked away and the petitioners were still waiting in the dining room.
Luckily they were in the dining room: Even though the Lodge was anxious to get the balloting over and done, so that they could begin the First Degree, they didn’t have anyone with the petitioners who would get them into the preparation room, as they had done on other occasions. Well the first ballot on the first petitioner was cloudy, and some of the members present were visibly upset, the Master immediately ordered another ballot prepared and taken to make certain no errors had occurred. The second ballot was also cloudy, and at this there were some comments made by at least a couple of the Masons present before the Master could read the section of the Masonic Code which prohibits discussing the merits or demerits of a petitioner in Lodge or do discuss how a Mason voted. In Minnesota that section is:
SECTION G6.03 Beside violation of Section C8.01, of the Constitution, the following specific
acts shall be deemed unmasonic conduct and shall render the offender subject to discipline.
(a) To improperly solicit the petition of a profane for the degrees of Masonry before he shall
have clearly indicated some interest in Freemasonry. Proper solicitation shall consist of the
following: A man of sterling qualities may be approached and informed, but only once. He must be left to make his own decision. He should not be badgered.
(b) To ask or solicit an Entered Apprentice or Fellowcraft to apply for the degrees of any
organization recognized by the Grand Lodge until he is a Master Mason.
(c) To talk about or discuss degree work in the presence of a non-mason.
(d) To discuss the character or the merits or demerits of a petitioner, either for degrees or
membership, in a Lodge convened or, after rejection, to express regret at the action taken, or how he or anyone voted upon the ballot.
A violation of paragraph (d) shall require immediate charges filed with the Master and, if found guilty, the penalty shall be expulsion and no other.
Whenever a petition either for degrees or membership is rejected by a vote of the Lodge,
paragraph (d) of Section G6.03 of this Article shall immediately be read to the Lodge, in an audible voice, as a warning.
(e) To obtain favorable action by a petitioner, upon his petition, by means of fraud, deceit or false
statement, or by intentionally withholding information which might have affected the action of the
investigating committee or Lodge, upon his petition.
(f) To declare that there shall be no more petitioners accepted, or to blackball a petitioner for spite.
Just for clarification Section C8.01 is:
SECTION C8.01 Masonic offenses and unmasonic conduct embrace all such acts of
commission or omission as violate either the Masonic or Moral Law and the obligations of the
Entered Apprentice, the Fellow Craft, and the Master Mason degrees, as well as such acts in
derogation of the laws of the land as involve moral turpitude; and for all such violations proceedings shall be had, as are or may hereafter be provided by the General Regulations of the Grand Lodge.
(Of course the highlighting and bold lettering was put in by me.) Nonetheless the Master was not prepared for a rejection and it took him a bit of time to find the section of the Masonic Code to read, and in the meanwhile tempers began to come to the surface. The Lodge was called to refreshment to allow tempers to cool and to inform the petitioner he had been rejected. There was a lonely man leaving the Lodge building all by himself in a somber mood for a slow drive home at a much earlier hour than he had planned on.
The Lodge was called back to labor and the other ballots were taken, which took a while, and they were clear, and then the officers could change places and the degree officers could begin the degree. It was late start, the degree was done well, but there was a cloud over the entire evening because of what had transpired before the degree was begun.
The point of all this is that even if a Lodge can ballot on a petitioner and confer the degree the same night I think it would be best not to do it that way.
The above could have happened for a couple of reasons; one is that the Masons who made up that Lodge may not have wanted to take another night out of their lives to have a degree on another night other than a stated communication, and because it was extremely rare when someone had been rejected they might have begun to think that the ballot was kind of a formality.
Well we all know a ballot is not a formality, and it is up to each Mason present to vote for the good of the Lodge, and because of that, rejections will occur. Knowing that, I think it is very unkind for a Master and other Lodge officers to allow a petitioner to be put in such a position that his emotions and feelings are left open and as vulnerable as in this example.
Bringing men into Freemasonry is important and the degree work of Freemasonry is important, too important to try to rush through for the sake of expediency. This reminds me of the difference between the terms efficient and effective: Efficient is adequate in operation or performance: Effective is producing the desired or expected result, and also producing a striking impression.
When your Lodge receives a petition for the degrees think long and hard before allowing the balloting and the degree work to be done at the same communication.
“Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.”
Brother George Washington, from his ‘Rules of civility and decent behavior.
When a petitioner is balloted on in your Lodge what terms do the Master and Wardens use to describe the ballot? Some will say either Dark or Clear, depending on how the vote went. According to our late brother Charles C. Hunt in his Masonic Concordance of the Holy Bible the correct terms are Cloudy or Clear, like the weather. In fact we in Freemasonry will sometimes refer to the covering of a lodge to be a clouded canopy, or a star decked heaven. In Joel 2:2 we read in part ‘a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness.’ [NIV] here the terms darkness and clouds is a metaphor for distress and suffering[i], which would, I suspect, be a good description of the emotions of a petitioner for the degrees of Freemasonry who has been rejected by the vote of the Lodge; especially when he was present at the Lodge building in anticipation of being made a Mason.
“We live in deeds not in years; in thoughts, not breaths; in feelings, not in figures on the dial. We should count time by heart-throbs. He most lives who thinks most – feels the noblest – acts the best.” Philip James Bailey [1816-1902]
More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or all 3, in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.
Salus populi suprema lex esto =[Latin] = Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law.
From the Great Light of Masonry: “Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household.” 1 Samuel 25:17 NIV
With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer
“Be merry be wise.”
Brother Tom Hendrickson
Senior Grand Steward, Grand Lodge of Minnesota
Ride, si sapis = [Latin] = Laugh, if thou art wise.
[i] Zondervan NIV Study Bible: Note on Joel 2:2
Three, five, and seven
3 5 7
By Ed Halpaus, Grand Lodge Education Officer.
Number 59 – September 20, 2005
This publication, while it is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota, contains the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus and is not in any way the opinion of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.
“A weapon that comes down as still as snowflakes fall upon the sod; but executes a freeman's will, as lightning does the will of God; and from its force nor doors nor locks can shield you,—'tis the ballot-box.” John Pierpont, (1785-1866,) in A Word from a Petitioner.
In going through some old files I came across some e-mails from Brethren commenting on balloting on a petitioner, and how things differ from one jurisdiction to another. Some jurisdictions say that after a petitioner receives a favorable ballot his initiation should not be scheduled until at least the next stated communication or later, some say there is a month waiting period, and some, like right hear in Minnesota, say the initiation can be conducted right away.
SECTION G14.07 After a petitioner for degrees has been elected by unanimous ballot of the
Lodge, he is entitled to receive them at the reasonable will and pleasure of the Master, and as early as permissible. He becomes subject to Masonic law and discipline when elected, but not a member of the Lodge until he is made a Master Mason.
SECTION G14.08 A petitioner can be initiated in the regular way as an Entered Apprentice, the
same night he is elected.
One Brother, in his E-mail, said he has never heard of a petitioner being present when his petition is balloted on. Maybe, but I think that all depends on what your definition of being ‘present’ is.
Once upon a time, in a land far away, there was a Masonic Lodge, (where the rules were the same as Minnesota,) trying to do everything in one night. It, (the Master and Wardens,) decided to have a nice dinner and invite the petitioners who were to be voted on that night during the Stated Communication. (The plan was to open Lodge, have a short meeting, ballot on the petitions and then confer the first degree on these petitioners.) At the supper all was very enjoyable; there were many kind words said to the petitioners, and there were smiles all around. Then the Masons needed to go into the Lodge room to open Lodge, and the petitioners were left in the dining room. Lodge was opened, which took about 15 minutes, because the officers were not all that prepared for the opening ceremonies. After the opening, visitors were introduced, including the Masons who were to confer the degree, and then the Minutes and the Treasurer’s Report were received and approved, then correspondence, and finally the petitions were read for the second time along with the investigation reports, and that’s when the Master ordered the ballot box prepared. The ballot on the first of the petitioners was conducted. By the time the ballot was begun a good amount of time was ticked away and the petitioners were still waiting in the dining room.
Luckily they were in the dining room: Even though the Lodge was anxious to get the balloting over and done, so that they could begin the First Degree, they didn’t have anyone with the petitioners who would get them into the preparation room, as they had done on other occasions. Well the first ballot on the first petitioner was cloudy, and some of the members present were visibly upset, the Master immediately ordered another ballot prepared and taken to make certain no errors had occurred. The second ballot was also cloudy, and at this there were some comments made by at least a couple of the Masons present before the Master could read the section of the Masonic Code which prohibits discussing the merits or demerits of a petitioner in Lodge or do discuss how a Mason voted. In Minnesota that section is:
SECTION G6.03 Beside violation of Section C8.01, of the Constitution, the following specific
acts shall be deemed unmasonic conduct and shall render the offender subject to discipline.
(a) To improperly solicit the petition of a profane for the degrees of Masonry before he shall
have clearly indicated some interest in Freemasonry. Proper solicitation shall consist of the
following: A man of sterling qualities may be approached and informed, but only once. He must be left to make his own decision. He should not be badgered.
(b) To ask or solicit an Entered Apprentice or Fellowcraft to apply for the degrees of any
organization recognized by the Grand Lodge until he is a Master Mason.
(c) To talk about or discuss degree work in the presence of a non-mason.
(d) To discuss the character or the merits or demerits of a petitioner, either for degrees or
membership, in a Lodge convened or, after rejection, to express regret at the action taken, or how he or anyone voted upon the ballot.
A violation of paragraph (d) shall require immediate charges filed with the Master and, if found guilty, the penalty shall be expulsion and no other.
Whenever a petition either for degrees or membership is rejected by a vote of the Lodge,
paragraph (d) of Section G6.03 of this Article shall immediately be read to the Lodge, in an audible voice, as a warning.
(e) To obtain favorable action by a petitioner, upon his petition, by means of fraud, deceit or false
statement, or by intentionally withholding information which might have affected the action of the
investigating committee or Lodge, upon his petition.
(f) To declare that there shall be no more petitioners accepted, or to blackball a petitioner for spite.
Just for clarification Section C8.01 is:
SECTION C8.01 Masonic offenses and unmasonic conduct embrace all such acts of
commission or omission as violate either the Masonic or Moral Law and the obligations of the
Entered Apprentice, the Fellow Craft, and the Master Mason degrees, as well as such acts in
derogation of the laws of the land as involve moral turpitude; and for all such violations proceedings shall be had, as are or may hereafter be provided by the General Regulations of the Grand Lodge.
(Of course the highlighting and bold lettering was put in by me.) Nonetheless the Master was not prepared for a rejection and it took him a bit of time to find the section of the Masonic Code to read, and in the meanwhile tempers began to come to the surface. The Lodge was called to refreshment to allow tempers to cool and to inform the petitioner he had been rejected. There was a lonely man leaving the Lodge building all by himself in a somber mood for a slow drive home at a much earlier hour than he had planned on.
The Lodge was called back to labor and the other ballots were taken, which took a while, and they were clear, and then the officers could change places and the degree officers could begin the degree. It was late start, the degree was done well, but there was a cloud over the entire evening because of what had transpired before the degree was begun.
The point of all this is that even if a Lodge can ballot on a petitioner and confer the degree the same night I think it would be best not to do it that way.
The above could have happened for a couple of reasons; one is that the Masons who made up that Lodge may not have wanted to take another night out of their lives to have a degree on another night other than a stated communication, and because it was extremely rare when someone had been rejected they might have begun to think that the ballot was kind of a formality.
Well we all know a ballot is not a formality, and it is up to each Mason present to vote for the good of the Lodge, and because of that, rejections will occur. Knowing that, I think it is very unkind for a Master and other Lodge officers to allow a petitioner to be put in such a position that his emotions and feelings are left open and as vulnerable as in this example.
Bringing men into Freemasonry is important and the degree work of Freemasonry is important, too important to try to rush through for the sake of expediency. This reminds me of the difference between the terms efficient and effective: Efficient is adequate in operation or performance: Effective is producing the desired or expected result, and also producing a striking impression.
When your Lodge receives a petition for the degrees think long and hard before allowing the balloting and the degree work to be done at the same communication.
“Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.”
Brother George Washington, from his ‘Rules of civility and decent behavior.
When a petitioner is balloted on in your Lodge what terms do the Master and Wardens use to describe the ballot? Some will say either Dark or Clear, depending on how the vote went. According to our late brother Charles C. Hunt in his Masonic Concordance of the Holy Bible the correct terms are Cloudy or Clear, like the weather. In fact we in Freemasonry will sometimes refer to the covering of a lodge to be a clouded canopy, or a star decked heaven. In Joel 2:2 we read in part ‘a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness.’ [NIV] here the terms darkness and clouds is a metaphor for distress and suffering[i], which would, I suspect, be a good description of the emotions of a petitioner for the degrees of Freemasonry who has been rejected by the vote of the Lodge; especially when he was present at the Lodge building in anticipation of being made a Mason.
“We live in deeds not in years; in thoughts, not breaths; in feelings, not in figures on the dial. We should count time by heart-throbs. He most lives who thinks most – feels the noblest – acts the best.” Philip James Bailey [1816-1902]
More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or all 3, in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.
Salus populi suprema lex esto =[Latin] = Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law.
From the Great Light of Masonry: “Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household.” 1 Samuel 25:17 NIV
With “Brotherly Love,”
Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer
“Be merry be wise.”
Brother Tom Hendrickson
Senior Grand Steward, Grand Lodge of Minnesota
Ride, si sapis = [Latin] = Laugh, if thou art wise.
[i] Zondervan NIV Study Bible: Note on Joel 2:2
Labels: Lodge Management