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Q & A'sGuidance during pandemic
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These Questions & Answers (Q&A’s) are the result of queries from Craft, Royal Arch, Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Secretaries, Scribes and members. The answers are intended to give the best possible information and advice to Lodges and Chapters and may therefore be amended from time to time as further information becomes available. Wherever possible the answer will address all Lodges and Chapters, however, as we operate under different Regulations and Constitutions it is inevitable that some guidance may vary. Where this is the case, the answer will be divided into relevant subsections and be denoted as either - ‘Craft’, ‘Royal Arch’ or ‘Mark’, (please also note that where an answer applies to ‘Mark’ it encompasses all Orders administered by Mark Masons Hall). Yellow highlights denote amendments/additions to the previous published edition. These Q&A’s will be added to and updated as new queries arise. All such queries should be directed to your Provincial Grand Secretary at their usual e-mail address. For these Q&A's, the term 'Lodge' refers to Craft, Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Lodges. Rose Croix have produced their own set of Q&As; these were sent directly to all Chapter Recorders within the District. Q1. SHOULD THE GENERAL SUSPENSION BE RECORDED IN A LODGE OR CHAPTER MINUTE BOOK? A1. Yes, since the communication from our respective Grand Lodges/Chapter is in effect a Dispensation that enforces a suspension of all masonic activities, Lodge and Chapter Secretaries and Scribes are advised to place a copy of the suspension instruction from their respective Grand Body into their Lodge or Chapter Minute book. Q2. REMOVED A2. Q3. REMOVED A3. Q4. THE LODGE/CHAPTER HAS ALREADY ELECTED ITS WORSHIPFUL MASTER, MEZ, COMMANDER, HOW WILL AN INSTALLATION MEETING THAT FALLS WITHIN THE SUSPENSION PERIOD BE AFFECTED AND WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT INSTALLATION RETURNS? A4. Craft - As the Rules stand, the provisions of Rule 108 mean that the current Master continues in office until the end of the period for which the Master Elect was elected. At the first meeting held after the resumption of meetings the continuing Master must invest Officers in accordance with Rule 108(b) and If necessary, a Treasurer and a Tyler (subject to Rule 113) must be elected and invested with the other Officers (Rule 121). Many Lodges were unable to hold any meeting during 2020 and by the time that Lodges can resume meeting again on the 17th May 2021 many Lodges will be in a position whereby not only could no meeting be held during the year 2020–21, but also the Installation meeting for 2021 should have already taken place. In that situation, while the Master will have automatically continued in office, no Officers for 2020–21 could be appointed nor can they now be invested. An Installation Return for the year 2020 should not be completed and the Secretary should record in the minutes that officers for 2020 were unable to be invested. With regard to Installation meetings which were due to be held between 1st March 2021 and 15th May 2021 the emergency measures which were introduced on the 15th February will allow a Lodge to elect and install a Master for 2021–22 on the same night. The Master will then invest his officers for 2021 and the Lodge should submit an Installation Return for the year 2021 immediately following the meeting. Royal Arch - The Royal Arch Regulations are much more flexible in this respect, and Regulation 48 provides that any Principal not installed on the regular date shall be installed at the next Convocation of the Chapter at which he may be present. The next Convocation could be an emergency convocation (for which no dispensation is required provided that it is held at the Chapter’s regular place of meeting – Regulation 59). At this point an Installation Return should be submitted Mark – The Mark Province having advised all Mark and RAM Lodges to roll-forward on 13th July, further advice will be issued about the steps Lodges will need to take to facilitate this. Q4B. IT HAS NOT BEEN, OR WILL NOT BE, POSSIBLE TO ELECT MY LODGE’S NEXT MASTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LODGE’S BY-LAWS, BUT THE INSTALLATION IS DUE TO TAKE PLACE AFTER THE SUSPENSION ENDS. WHAT CAN WE DO? A4B. Craft - Provided that the suspension will have ended, Rule 106 allows a Master to be elected either (a) on the regular date of Installation (which could be moved by not more than twenty-eight days to a later date), in which case the Master then elected must be installed at a further meeting held within five weeks of that date, or (b) at an emergency meeting held not less than three weeks before the date for the Installation. It may be that the Emergency Measures introduced in February 2021 apply if the Master is going into his third year in the Chair. They are available to view from the homepage. Royal Arch/Mark - See answers 4 above and 5 below. Q5.1. THE NEXT MEETING OF THE LODGE/CHAPTER WAS TO ELECT NEXT YEARS’ WORSHIPFUL MASTER, MEZ, COMMANDER, HOW WILL THIS BE ADDRESSED DURING THE SUSPENSION? A5.1. Craft - No. Subject to the possibility mentioned in answer 4, the provision in Rule 106 for the election of a Master in the case of a missed election cannot be implemented, and accordingly the current Master will continue in office. Royal Arch - Yes. The Royal Arch Regulations make no provision for failure to elect Principals and therefore under Regulation 73, the Book of Constitutions applies. Rule 106 provides that the situation is dealt with in the same way as if the Master Elect had died etc., which in turn refers you back to Regulation 54, which allows Principals to be elected, (of which notice must be given on the summons), and they can be installed forthwith. Then an Installation Return should be submitted. Mark – The Mark Province having advised all Mark and RAM Lodges to roll-forward on 13th July, further advice will be issued about the steps Lodges will need to take to facilitate this. Q6. WE PROPOSED A CANDIDATE AT THE LAST MEETING BEFORE THE SUSPENSION, WILL WE HAVE TO RE-PROPOSE HIM AFTER THE SUSPENSION? A6. No. Regulations, (Craft Rule 159, Chapter Reg. 66 & Mark Rule 134iv), require candidates to be balloted for at the next regular meeting. The natural meaning of “next regular meeting” is the next regular meeting to be held, not the next regular meeting due to be summoned. Q7. WE BALLOTED FOR A CANDIDATE AT AN EARLIER MEETING AND INTENDED THEM TO JOIN DURING THE SUSPENSION PERIOD. WILL WE NEED TO RE-BALLOT IF, AFTER THE SUSPENSION PERIOD AND ON THE DAY OF THEM JOINING, THEIR BALLOT WAS LONGER AGO THAN THE SPECIFIED PERIOD IN OUR CONSTITUTIONS? A7. A successful ballot is valid for a period of 12 months in Craft, Royal Arch and Mark Constitutions. In Craft, if a candidate has already been balloted for but has not been Initiated within one year of his election because the Lodge has not been able to meet, then the ballot is void (Rule 159) , but under the current extraordinary circumstances, there is a very strong argument that he will suffer hardship if Rule 159 has to be followed, and as permitted under Rule 160, he can be proposed, balloted for and Initiated at a single subsequent Lodge meeting (which may be an emergency meeting) Note (a) proposition, ballot and initiation MUST take place at the same meeting; it is not permissible to ballot for several candidates under Rule 160 and only initiate one; (b) the Rule should be used only sparingly under normal circumstances, because it can be abused as a way of sneaking in a candidate without proper scrutiny; in the current situation that does not apply, because it is a given that the candidate has already been successfully balloted for in the normal way. If this method is used, it will result in no delay at all, particularly as the whole single-stage process can be carried out at an emergency meeting. If the candidate has not been balloted for then the normal conditions of Rule 159 apply ie candidate for initiation may be proposed and seconded at a regular meeting only, and he must be balloted for at the next regular meeting. If the ballot is not taken then the proposal lapses and he must be re-proposed.. Q8. WILL THE DELAY OF AN INSTALLATION MEETING HAVE A SUBSEQUENT DETRIMENTAL IMPACT ON THOSE WHO ARE REQUIRED TO SERVE TIME IN A QUALIFYING OFFICE BEFORE THEIR INSTALLATION? A8. Craft - Possibly, but unlikely. It is probably unlikely that the current Master Elect will wish to stand aside, but if a Brother should be invested as a Warden during the year, a Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Master can grant a dispensation under Rule 109 to render them eligible for election. (Note: (a) Such a dispensation can only be issued to qualify a Brother with short service as a Warden, not one with no service as a Warden. (b) The practice in the Grand Secretary’s Office in relation to London Lodges, before the Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London came into existence, was to grant a dispensation only if a Warden had served for at least half a year.) Royal Arch - No, provided that a year will have elapsed since you were elected as Third Principal and have been installed before the next election is held. Even if you cannot satisfy the latter condition, the Grand Superintendent has power under Regulation 50 to grant a dispensation. Mark - No, the qualifying period of ‘one year’ is defined as ‘from one installation to the next’ and is not therefore a 12 month period. Please note that to ensure that the ‘full year’ is served, an officer is required to be present and appointed at the previous installation meeting, otherwise a dispensation may be needed. Q9. WILL THE SUSPENSION AFFECT THE ‘CONTINUOUS WORKING’ OF THE LODGE OR CHAPTER? A9. No. There are many precedents for an enforced break in continuity of working being disregarded by Grand Lodge or Grand Chapter when deciding whether to grant a Warrant or Charter. Q10. WILL MEMBERS BE REFUNDED AN ELEMENT OF THEIR ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION PROPORTIONAL TO THE PERIOD OF THE SUSPENSION? A10. Annual subscriptions are due for each masonic year as defined by a specific period of time, irrespective of the number of times per year that particular Lodge or Chapter may choose to meet. As such, annual subscriptions are not related to, or dependent on, the number of meetings held or attended by members. Furthermore, should a member resign shortly after the beginning of a new masonic year, our constitutions are clear that they remain liable for the whole subscription for that year, which they must remit to enable them to resign in good standing. For these reasons is it not therefore anticipated that members would be entitled to such a refund. Q11. WILL THE LODGE/CHAPTER STILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY RENT TO THEIR HALL FOR A MEETING OR MEETINGS THAT DO NOT TAKE PLACE AS A RESULT OF THE SUSPENSION? A11. We are aware that there will be a significant number of different arrangements and contracts between Lodges and Chapters and their meeting place ‘Landlords’. Lodges and Chapters are therefore advised to review their rent agreements and contact their Hall landlords to ascertain how the current suspension might affect them. It is essential that we all do whatever we can to support colleagues in our Masonic halls who may also be able to get some help from the government. The PGMs and MEGS have written to those who run our Masonic meeting places. Q12. REMOVED Q13. CAN A LODGE OR CHAPTER HOLD A ‘VIRTUAL’ MEETING USING INTERNET FACILITIES? A13. Craft/Royal Arch - No. Whilst it is appreciated that the facilities afforded by modern digital communications could enable such a meeting to take place, whether ‘virtual’ or ‘actual’ it would still be a ‘Masonic’ meeting, all of which have been suspended by direction from our respective Grand Lodges. Conducting Administrative Business by Video Conferencing in both Craft and Royal Arch. This only applies when the Lodge/Chapter is able to meet. It is meant for the times when, although able to meet, the numbers permissible to attend may be limited. The limitation on numbers means that most members of a Lodge would be unable to exercise their democratic right to participate in decisions affecting the Lodge. A mechanism has therefore been devised to enable any Brother who wishes to to participate in the transaction of Lodge business by means of an audio/video conferencing facility such as Zoom. The Emergency measures available on the homepage detail the circumstances when and how this can be done. Mark – Mark Masons Hall have set up a process whereby Lodges/Units can hold Virtual Business Meetings. There are qualifying criteria, limited items of permitted business, set procedures and permission must be granted from Province to allow a meeting during the General Masonic Suspension, plus a Provincial Dispensation issued to allow the meeting to take place in the absence of the Lodge/Unit Warrant. Further details are available from your Lodge/Unit Secretary or specific Order Provincial or District Secretaries. The facility to hold a Virtual Business meeting has been extended to the end of the Pandemic. Q14. THE WM/MEZ WILL HAVE SERVED TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS DURING THE SUSPENSION, WHAT SHOULD WE DO?IS A DISPENSATION NEEDED FOR HIM TO SERVE A THIRD YEAR? A14. Craft - No. The opening words of Rule 115, “Except when required to by Rule 107 or Rule 108”, make it plain that events over which the Lodge has no control save the need for a dispensation. Mark - If a WM is to continue in office for a third year a Grand Lodge (Rule 107) Dispensation is required, (There is no charge for this dispensation during the Pandemic – Contact the Mark Provincial Secretariat). Royal Arch – Yes. Reg. 51 requires a dispensation from the G.Supt. for any Principal to serve for more than 2yrs in succession. An existing Principal serves in the Office until his successor is elected and Installed, which will not happen until the next Regular meeting can be held. That is when the dispensation will be needed if any one of the Principals is intending to serve more that 2yrs in succession. This remains the case as no further advice has been received from SGC. Q14B. CAN I AS WM/MEZ/COMMANDER STAY IN THE CHAIR FOR ANOTHER YEAR? A14B. If this is your first year in the chair then yes, otherwise please see Q14 above for advice relating to specific Orders. Q15. A LODGE/CHAPTER MEMBER WAS DUE TO RECEIVE A JUBILEE CERTIFICATE DURING THE SUSPENSION, HOW MIGHT THIS BE ADDRESSED? A15. The respective Provincial Grand Lodge administrations have agreed a process to follow, details of which will be posted on our websites in due course. Q16. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THOSE WHO WERE DUE TO BE APPOINTED OR PROMOTED TO PROVINCIAL OFFICE WHEN THE PROVINCIAL MEETINGS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED? A16. Mark – Brethren selected for appointment to and promotion in Provincial Grand Rank have been sent Letters of Appointment in the usual way. A further letter will be sent to them stating that, assuming they have formally accepted, they will assume their ranks from the date the Provincial Meeting was due to have taken place, i.e., 18th April 2020. Craft – The above also applies to Craft with effect from 4th May 2021. Royal Arch – Selection for Provincial Grand Chapter honours will take place in the usual way during the suspension period and those successful were appointed in November 2020. Q17. HOW WILL WE KNOW WHEN THE GENERAL SUSPENSION COMES TO AN END? A17. Mark – When the suspension ends, a further letter will be circulated informing Brethren that meetings can resume. A copy of this letter should be entered into the Minute Book and the Lodge can resume its meetings in accordance with its By Laws. If at this point a Lodge feels there is enough of a backlog of work to require additional meeting(s) this can be dealt with in an Emergency Meeting(s) for which no dispensation is required. NB. The Masonic Suspension having ended on 17th May 2021, further guidance on how to resume masonic activity is contained in a new set of 'Resumption’ Q&As available on this website. Q18. AS IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE TO HOLD THE INSTALLATION MEETING, DO I NEED TO SUBMIT AN INSTALLATION RETURN? A18. Please see the updated answers to Questions 4 & 5 above. Many Lodges were unable to hold any meeting during 2020 and by the time that Lodges can resume meeting again on the 17th May 2021 many Lodges will be in a position whereby not only could no meeting be held during the year 2020–21, but also the Installation meeting for 2021 should have already taken place. In that situation, while the Master will have automatically continued in office, no Officers for 2020–21 could be appointed nor can they now be invested. An Installation Return for the year 2020 should not be completed and the Secretary should record in the minutes that officers for 2020 were unable to be invested. With regard to Installation meetings which were due to be held between 1st March 2021 and 15th May 2021 the emergency measures which were introduced on the 15th February will allow a Lodge to elect and install a Master for 2021–22 on the same night. The Master will then invest his officers for 2021 and the Lodge should submit an Installation Return for the year 2021 immediately following the meeting. Q19. LODGE & CHAPTER BY-LAWS PERMIT THE EXCLUSION, (UNDER CRAFT RULE 181 & CHAPTER REG. 71), OF A BROTHER/COMPANION WHO IS MORE THAN SIX MONTHS IN ARREARS WITH HIS SUBSCRIPTION, BUT IT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE TO HOLD THE NECESSARY BALLOT BECAUSE THE SUBSCRIPTION YEAR ENDS BEFORE MEETINGS CAN BE RESUMED. CAN WE BALLOT WHEN MEETINGS RESUME AND BACKDATE THE EXCLUSION TO THE END OF THE SUBSCRIPTION YEAR, SO THAT THE LODGE/CHAPTER DOES NOT BECOME LIABLE FOR A FURTHER YEAR’S DUES, (AND MCF CONTRIBUTION), IN RESPECT OF HIM? A19. Craft/Royal Arch – Guidance set out in the 2nd Edition of the UGLE ‘First Rising’ newsletter, (22 June 2020), has clarified that Lodges/Chapters who, due to the inability to meet during the General Masonic Suspension, cannot exclude a member before the end of the Masonic year, will be able to exclude them on resumption and waive their Lodge/Chapter liability for subsequent Grand dues, provided the following steps are followed and conditions met. The conditions are: 1. The member concerned must have been excluded not later than the first regular meeting held after the resumption of meetings, (it will not be necessary to hold an emergency meeting specially for this purpose). 2. The Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Secretary/Scribe E, (or in a Group the Grand Inspector), must certify that: (a) the Lodge or the Treasurer has demonstrated to his satisfaction that all reasonable steps were taken to collect the subscription; and (b) the Lodge started to operate Rule 181 (including the service of the notices required by the Rule), but was prevented from completing the required process before the end of the subscription year, ONLY by the suspension of meetings. This means that to satisfy (a) and (b) above, Lodge Secretaries/Scribes should make all the necessary attempts to obtain the Subscription. If this has not happened then:
Mark – Provided they qualify, Lodges/Units are able to use the Virtual Business Meeting facility to exclude members for arrears, (in accordance with either their Order Regulations or Unit By-laws). If a Lodge/Unit does not qualify for a Virtual Business Meeting, then Mark Mason Hall have issued guidance that allows a Lodge who are unable to exclude a member for arrears before 31 August 2020, to exclude a member, (by resolution where necessary), at their first Regular meeting following the lifting of the General Masonic Suspension. Such resolutions should be recorded on the date they take place stating the retrospective date that the exclusion became effective from. This also applies to members Elected to Honorary membership and to Resignations that have occurred during the Suspension. This provision is also available for Lodges/Units who do qualify to hold Virtual Business Meetings, but who may therefore opt to address this matter at their first Regular meeting following the lifting of the General Masonic Suspension. Q20. CAN A LODGE/CHAPTER MAKE A DONATION TO A CHARITY, WHEN IT IS UNABLE TO MEET AND VOTE ON THE MATTER IN OPEN LODGE/CHAPTER? A20. Craft/Royal Arch - Any money paid from the Lodge/Chapter accounts over that shown in the by-laws, has to be proposed and approved of in Lodge/Chapter. The model by laws show this as below, which the majority of Lodges/Chapters follow. “Payment of any sum exceeding £........................ if for other than ordinary purposes, may be made only by resolution of the Lodge, of which notice has been given on the summons, except in a case of emergency, when such payment may be authorised by the Master and reported to the Lodge at the next regular meeting”. You can also see that the Master/MEZ can authorise the payment in the case of an emergency and report it to the next Regular meeting, which will be after the suspension is lifted. Notes
*VOTING – It must be stressed that the above relates to ‘payments from the Accounts’ only, no proposals or voting can take place during the suspension period. Mark – Providing they qualify for such a meeting, this is an item of business that Lodges/Units are now able to disburse using the Virtual Business Meeting facility. Please contact your Lodge/Unit Secretary/Scribe for further information. Q21. IS IT PERMISSIBLE TO HOLD ON-LINE LODGE OF INSTRUCTION MEETINGS? A21. Craft - Formal Lodges of Instruction are governed by Rules 132, 133 & 134 BoC and, since they are formal meetings, cannot be held during the current general suspension. Such meetings could however be replaced during the suspension period by informal online gatherings as described in Question 22 below. Q22. IS IT PERMISSIBLE TO HOLD ON-LINE PRACTICE MEETINGS? A22. Craft/Royal Arch/Mark - All formal meetings that are either called by a Summons and minuted, or just minuted, are suspended during the general masonic suspension. However, should Brethren/Companions of a Lodge or Chapter wish to meet on-line to practice their ritual and socialise, then provided that proceedings are not minuted or recorded, this would not be regarded as a formal meeting and would be a good way of members keeping in touch. These get-together’s can therefore take place, but Brethren and Companions are reminded to be careful to assure themselves about the security of the media and software being used. They must also ensure their proceedings cannot be overheard, i.e., that individual participants take steps to ‘Tyle’ themselves in their different locations. Likewise, Brethren/Companions should be mindful of those present on-line, e.g., an Initiate can easily be asked to leave a room at a practice meeting, but are you sure they have left a social media gathering? Similarly, Brethren/Companions should be mindful of whether it is absolutely necessary to be explicit when delivering the 'symbolic secrets' elements of our ritual, especially if there is any doubt about the security of the medium or software being used. Q23. THE LODGE/CHAPTER TREASURER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PRESENT THE ACCOUNTS AS REQUIRED BY THE REGULATIONS OR LODGE BY-LAWS. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE? A23. Craft/Royal Arch - The regulations state that the accounts must be presented by the 3rd meeting after the date to which the accounts are to be made up, (Rule 153d). As Lodge and Chapter meetings have been suspended and meetings lost during the suspension period do not count towards the 3-meeting deadline, the first regular meeting held after the end of the suspension will be regarded as the next in the 3-meeting period for that Lodge or Chapter. Mark - Accounts are to be presented at the meeting in the month set out in the Lodge Bylaws, (Rule 132i). Should that meeting be lost during the suspension, the accounts can be presented at the next regular meeting after the suspension is ended. Q24. THE 2nd EDITION OF THE UGLE ‘FIRST RISING’ MENTIONS THAT THE MINIMUM AGE FOR MEMBERSHIP MAY BE DROPPED FROM 21 TO 18? IS THIS NOW POSSIBLE? A24. Craft – Rule 157 in the Book of Constitutions has been amended to allow this as such and reads 'while under the age of 18 nor at the age of 18 before he shall have finally ceased to be in full time secondary education or training' Royal Arch/Mark – There is no stated minimum qualifying age for membership of the Royal Arch or the Mark Degree in their Constitutions and Regulations, the only stipulation being that candidates for membership must be Master Masons, (for a minimum stipulated periods of time). Q25. ARE LODGES/CHAPTERS ABLE TO ADJUST THEIR RITUALS AND PRACTICES TO ACCOUNT FOR COVID-19 SAFETY REGULATIONS WHEN THE GENERAL MASONIC SUSPENSION IS LIFTED? A25. No. Lodges should not attempt to modify or amend their current working rituals. Any alteration to our usual procedures is bound to detract from our ceremony. What has been circulated by UGLE and SGC , and that which will be issued by MMH, has been approved by the relevant Grand Rulers, Grand Directors of Ceremony and Grand Secretaries. Q26. PRIOR TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GENERAL MASONIC SUSPENSION, WE APPLIED AND RECEIVED A DISPENSATION ALLOWING THE MASTER/MEZ/COMMANDER-ELECT TO BE INSTALLED. HOWEVER, THAT MEETING FELL WITHIN THE SUSPENSION PERIOD. FOLLOWING THE LIFTING OF THE SUSPENSION, WILL A NEW DISPENSATION BE ISSUED AND WILL THIS INCUR ANY ADDITIONAL COST? A26. Craft/Royal Arch – Any dispensations related to Covid 19 will be free of charge. Mark – Once an alternative date has been established, a re-application can be made in the usual way. Mark Grand Lodge have confirmed that this will not incur any additional cost. Q27. AS A LODGE/CHAPTER SECRETARY/SCRIBE, WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH ANY FORMALLY ISSUED DOCUMENTS, (E.G., DISPENSATIONS), THAT WERE RENDERED VOID AS A RESULT OF THE GENERAL MASONIC SUSPENSION? A27 . As meetings were suspended and therefore lost during the General Masonic Suspension, such documents do not form part of the formal Lodge/Chapter records, i.e., those recorded in Lodge/Chapter Minutes. However, since they are products of what is clearly a unique event in our Masonic histories since the creation of our Grand Lodges and Ruling Bodies, Lodges/Chapters/Units may find it useful to retain such documents with their Lodge/Chapter records for the information of future Masonic and Lodge historians. |
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