constitution of the most worshipful grand lodge of...

CONSTITUTION

OF THE

MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE

OF THE

ANCIENT AND HONORABLE FRATERNITY

OF

FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS

OF

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

Adopted June 10, 1869

Revised May 18, 1938


Revised November 21, 1992

-----------

MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE

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P R E F A C E

This Constitution presents the fundamental laws of Freemasonry by which we are governed in

New Hampshire. Included also are regulations adopted by Grand Lodge as well as decisions of

Grand Masters approved by Grand Lodge.

The first Regulations of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire were adopted on April 25, 1792

and were revised in 1803 and 1816. In 1823 new Regulations were approved and on June 10,

1845 Grand Lodge adopted the first Constitution which was printed with the Proceedings of that

year.

On June 10, 1869 a revised Constitution was adopted and also printed in the Proceedings.

The later editions of 1896 and 1913 are actually the 1869 Constitution with all the amendments

which had been made to it.

A major revision of the Grand Constitution was adopted by Grand Lodge on May 18, 1938

and this edition was amended on May 15, 1957 when it was then printed in its present loose-leaf

form.

In 1990 Grand Master, Brother Philip L. Hall, appointed a committee to revise the Grand

Constitution. This new revision contains the "Declaration of Masonic Principles" as adopted on

May 17, 1939, the Tyler's Oath and the installation ceremony of Grand Lodge Officers. The text

has been edited and reorganized and a table of contents added. Rules and guidelines relative to

degree work, the reception of Grand Lodge Officers, the Table Lodge, funeral ceremonies,

Masonic protocol, etc. are to be found in the manuals published by Grand Lodge.

The Grand Constitution Revision Committee,

George D. Van Dyke, Chairman

Douglas L. Robertson, Sr.

Stanley A. Johnson

November 21, 1992

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

Declaration of Masonic Principles

Tyler's Oath

PART I - THE GRAND LODGE

ARTICLE I - Style and Title ............................................................................................ 1

ARTICLE II - Powers of the Grand Lodge ....................................................................... 1

ARTICLE III - Officers and Members ................................................................................ 3

ARTICLE IV - Communications and Lodges of Instruction .............................................. 4

ARTICLE V - Qualification, Election and Installation of Officers ................................... 6

ARTICLE VI - Powers and Duties of Grand Officers ........................................................ 7

ARTICLE VII - Stations, Jewels and Clothing .................................................................. 14

ARTICLE VIII - Committees of Grand Lodge .................................................................... 17

ARTICLE IX - Rules for the Government of Grand Lodge ............................................. 17

PART II - CONSTITUENT LODGES

ARTICLE X - Dispensations and Charters for Lodges ................................................... 20

ARTICLE XI - Removal of Lodges .................................................................................. 22

ARTICLE XII - Surrender, Forfeiture and Revocation of Charters ................................... 22

ARTICLE XIII - Powers and Duties of Constituent Lodges ............................................... 24

ARTICLE XIV - Officers of Constituent Lodges ................................................................ 31

PART III - MEMBERSHIP

ARTICLE XV - Candidates and Balloting ......................................................................... 34

ARTICLE XVI - Degrees, Honorary Membership, Lodge Visitors

and Life Memberships ............................................................................. 38

ARTICLE XVII - Demits, Waivers, Affiliation, Non-payment of

Dues and Reinstatement ........................................................................... 42

PART IV - MISCELLANEOUS

ARTICLE XVIII - Trials and Penalties .................................................................................. 46

ARTICLE XIX - Awards and Recognition .......................................................................... 50

ARTICLE XX - Legitimate Freemasonry .......................................................................... 52

ARTICLE XXI - Installation of Grand Lodge Officers ....................................................... 53

INDEX ......................................................................................................................................... 65

APPENDIX A - Masonic Associations - Articles of Association and

By-laws ................................................................................... A-1 thru A-4

APPENDIX B - Life Membership Regulations ................................................. B-1 thru B-6

Life Membership By-laws .................................................... B-7 thru B-11

TRANSMITTAL MEMOS

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D E C L A R A T I O N O F M A S O N I C

P R I N C I P L E S

Adopted by the Grand Lodge, May 17, 1939

Freemasonry is a charitable, benevolent, educational, and religious society. Its principles

are proclaimed as widely as men will hear. Its only secrets are in its methods of recognition and

of symbolic instruction.

It is charitable in that it is not organized for profit, and none of its income inures to the

benefit of any individual, but all is devoted to the promotion of the welfare and happiness of

mankind.

It is benevolent in that it teaches and exemplifies altruism as a duty.

It is educational in that it teaches by prescribed ceremonials a system of morality and

brotherhood based upon the Sacred Law.

It is religious in that it teaches Monotheism, the Volume of the Sacred Law is open upon

its Altars whenever a Lodge is in session, reverence for God is ever present in its ceremonial,

and to its Brethren are constantly addressed lessons of morality; yet it is not sectarian or

theological.

It is a social organization only so far as it furnishes additional inducement, that men may

forgather in numbers, thereby providing more material for its primary work of education, of

worship, and of charity.

Through the improvement and strengthening of the character of the individual man,

Freemasonry seeks to improve the community. Thus it impresses upon its members the

principles of personal righteousness and personal responsibility, enlightens them as to those

things which make for human welfare, and inspires them with that feeling of charity and good

will toward all mankind which will move them to translate principle and conviction into action.

To that end, it teaches and stands for the worship of God; truth and justice; fraternity and

philanthropy; and enlightenment and orderly liberty, civil, religious and intellectual. It charges

each of its members to be true and loyal to the government of the country to which he owes

allegiance and to be obedient to the law of any state in which he may be.

It believes that the attainment of these objectives is best accomplished by laying a broad

basis of principle upon which men of every race, country, sect and opinion may unite rather than

setting up a restricted platform, upon which only those of certain races, creeds and opinions can

assemble

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Believing in these things, this Grand Lodge affirms its continued adherence to that

ancient and approved rule of Freemasonry, which forbids the discussion in Masonic meetings of

creeds, politics, or other topics likely to excite personal animosities.

It further affirms its conviction that it is not only contrary to the fundamental principles

of Freemasonry, but dangerous to its unity, strength, usefulness and welfare, for Masonic Bodies

to take action or attempt to exercise pressure or influence, for or against any legislation or in any

way to attempt to procure the election or appointment of governmental officials or to influence

them, whether or not members of the Fraternity, in the performance of their official duties. The

true Freemason will act in civil life according to his individual judgment and the dictates of his

conscience.

TYLER'S OATH

"I, __________________________, do hereby and hereon solemnly and sincerely swear

that I have been regularly initiated, passed, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in

a just and legally constituted Lodge of such; that I do not now stand suspended or expelled; and

know of no reason why I should not hold Masonic communication with my Brethren."

TM No. 15 approved May 20, 2006

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P A R T I

T H E G R A N D L O D G E

ARTICLE I

STYLE AND TITLE

SECTION 1. The style and title of the Grand Lodge is: THE MOST WORSHIPFUL

GRAND LODGE OF THE ANCIENT AND HONORABLE FRATERNITY OF FREE

AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

ARTICLE II

POWERS OF THE GRAND LODGE

SECTION 1. The Grand Lodge, by the ancient Constitution and usages of the fraternity,

is the supreme authority in Masonry, and has the power to determine what Masonry is.

It is invested with certain original and essential powers and privileges belonging to the

Ancient Craft, and shall have power especially-

First: To decide what Masonic Bodies are regular, wherein symbolic Masonry is used,

shown or made a part of the ceremonies.

Second: To prohibit the Masons of its obedience from practicing as Masonic any other

rites than those which it declares to be Masonic; and from using any of its esoteric ceremonies as

Masonic ceremonies in any other Body than it shall hold to be Masonic.

Third: To enact and enforce all laws and regulations for the government of the Fraternity

and to alter, amend and repeal the same at pleasure.

Fourth: To constitute new Lodges by granting dispensations and charters under seal; and

for good cause, to suspend, revoke or annul the same at pleasure.

Fifth: To be the only Masonic Body to perform all public dedication and consecration

ceremonies as deemed worthy by the Grand Master.

Sixth: To establish and preserve a uniform mode of working and lectures under the

sanction of the Ancient Landmarks and customs of Masonry.

Seventh: To assess and collect from the several Lodges under its jurisdiction such sums

of money as may be deemed necessary for the benefit of the Craft.

Eighth: To hear and determine all questions of dispute between two or more Lodges.

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Ninth: To hear and decide all cases of appeal from the decision of Constituent Lodges.

Tenth: To demand and receive such fees and charges for granting dispensations, charters,

certificates and diplomas as may be reasonable.

Eleventh: To hear and decide all charges and complaints against any officer of Grand

Lodge and to inflict such punishment on the delinquent and guilty as may appear just and proper.

Twelfth: To exercise all such powers and perform all such acts as by custom are

exercised and performed by Grand Lodges; but in no case to alter, deface or remove the ancient

established Landmarks of Masonry which are recognized by New Hampshire as follows:

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, Fellow

Craft and Master Mason.

F. The legend of the third degree.

G. That it makes Masons of men only.

H. That it is non-sectarian and non-political; i.e., that its dominant purposes are charitable,

benevolent, educational and religious.

SECTION 2. Recognition of foreign Grand Lodges. In extending fraternal recognition to

a foreign Grand Lodge, the following facts should be made evident before recognition should be

granted, viz:

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.

2. That it has been lawfully organized by three or more regular Lodges.

3. That it is independent, having entire dogmatic and administrative authority over resident

Masons and the symbolic degrees within its territorial 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.

TM No. 22 approved November 15, 2014

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C. Secrecy.

D. The symbolism of the operative art.

E. The division of symbolic Masonry into the three degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow

Craft and Master Mason.

F. The legend of the third degree.

G. That it makes Masons of men only.

H. That it is non-sectarian and non-political; i.e., that its dominant purposes are charitable,

benevolent, educational and religious.

ARTICLE III

OFFICERS AND MEMBERS

SECTION 1. The Grand Lodge consists of its officers, and the Masters and Wardens, for

the time being, of the Constituent Lodges under its jurisdiction, or their legally appointed proxies

and one Representative of each Lodge to be elected by its members or his legally appointed

proxy; together with all Past Grand Masters, Past Deputy Grand Masters, Past Grand Wardens

and Past District Deputy Grand Masters, while they retain their allegiance to this Grand Lodge.

Any Brother who shall have served in the same office or on the same committee of this Grand

Lodge for ten years and any Past Grand Master of another jurisdiction becoming a member of a

Lodge in this state, may be elected by the Grand Lodge to permanent membership.

SECTION 2. The Officers of Grand Lodge are: a Grand Master whose style is Most

Worshipful; a Deputy Grand Master, a Senior Grand Warden, a Junior Grand Warden, a District

Deputy Grand Master in each District, a Grand Treasurer, a Deputy Grand Treasurer, a Grand

Secretary, a Grand Lecturer, a Deputy Grand Lecturer, a District Deputy Grand Lecturer in each

District, one or more Grand Historians, two or more Grand Chaplains, a Senior Grand Deacon, a

Junior Grand Deacon, whose style is Right Worshipful; a Secretary to the Grand Master, a

Deputy Grand Secretary, a Grand Marshal, four Grand Stewards, a Grand Sword Bearer, two

Grand Pursuivants, one or more Grand Organists, District Education Officer(s), maximum of two

in each District, a Grand Tyler and a Deputy Grand Tyler, whose style is Worshipful. In

addition, there shall be a Worshipful Grand Archivist, who shall not be installed, and shall serve

at the pleasure of the Grand Master.

SECTION 3. The appointment of the proxy of the Master, Warden or Representative of a

Constituent Lodge to represent him in Grand Lodge shall be in writing, signed by the principal,

and shall designate at what Communication of Grand Lodge the proxy shall act, and shall be for

one Communication only, and shall be void if the principal appears in person. Proxies must be

members of the same Constituent Lodge which they are representing.

SECTION 4. All officers and members of Grand Lodge must be Master Masons holding

allegiance to this Grand Lodge. Representatives of Constituent Lodges


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must be members of the Lodges they respectively represent.

SECTION 5. No Master or Warden of a Constituent Lodge can be chosen the

Representative of said Lodge in the Grand Lodge.

ARTICLE IV

COMMUNICATIONS AND LODGES OF INSTRUCTION

SECTION 1. The Annual Communication of Grand Lodge shall be held on the third

Saturday of May at nine-thirty o'clock in the forenoon at such location in the state as the Grand

Master shall direct, and the Grand Secretary shall mail notice of said Annual Communication to

the Constituent Lodges and the members of Grand Lodge at least thirty days before the date of

said Annual Communication.

SECTION 2. The Semiannual Communication of Grand Lodge shall be held on the third

Saturday of November at nine-thirty o'clock in the forenoon at such location in the state as the

Grand Master shall direct, and the Grand Secretary shall mail notice of said Semiannual

Communication to the Constituent Lodges and the members of Grand Lodge at least thirty days

before the date of said Semiannual Communication.

SECTION 3. Every Lodge shall be represented at each Annual Communication and each

Semiannual Communication of Grand Lodge. The Grand Secretary shall cause a roll of the

Constituent Lodges to be called immediately at the opening of both Communications, and

another roll to be called as the last order of business before the closing of said Communications

unless Grand Lodge votes to accept the report of the Credentials Committee in lieu thereof. Any

Lodge failing to have a representative present at the opening and closing roll calls shall be

subject to a fine of one hundred dollars which is to be paid to the Grand Secretary for the use of

Grand Lodge; provided, however, that in any case arising under this requirement, an appeal may

be taken to the Grand Master, whose decision shall be final.

SECTION 4. In case of an epidemic, destruction of the hall by fire, or any real

emergency, the Grand Master shall have the power to change the time and place of holding any

and all Communications, as his judgment may deem it best for the Fraternity as a whole.

SECTION 5. At the Annual or Semiannual Communication old business may be decided

upon by a majority vote. New business requires a unanimous vote in order to be enacted at the

same Communication at which it is introduced; otherwise, it shall lie over until the following

Communication when passage will require only a majority vote or it may be referred to a

committee.

SECTION 6. At any Annual Communication or Semiannual Communication, Grand

Lodge shall have full power and authority to make such amendments, alterations and additions to

this Constitution as Grand Lodge shall deem proper and expedient for the benefit of the Craft.

Such amendment, alteration or addition must be proposed in writing by a member of Grand

Lodge at an Annual or Semiannual Communication of Grand Lodge, be filed with the Grand

Secretary, and if the vote upon the same at the Annual or Semiannual Communication at


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which the said amendment, alteration or addition is proposed be unanimous, it shall be declared

by the Grand Master to have been adopted. Otherwise, it shall lie over for consideration at the

next Communication, Annual or Semiannual, and a copy of said amendment, alteration or

addition shall be mailed to the Constituent Lodges and to each member of Grand Lodge at least

thirty days prior to the date of the Communication when action is to be taken, and it will then be

decided upon by a majority vote.

Any such proposed amendment, alteration or addition, when acted upon by a majority

vote, may be amended as Grand Lodge shall deem proper, provided also, that the Ancient

Landmarks of Masonry be carefully preserved.

SECTION 6A. At any Annual Communication or Semiannual Communication, Grand

Lodge shall have full power and authority to make such alteration(s) to the Ritual (a uniform

mode of working and lectures) as Grand Lodge shall deem proper and expedient for the benefit

of the Craft. Such alteration(s) to the Ritual must be proposed in writing by a member of Grand

Lodge at an Annual or Semiannual Communication of Grand Lodge, be filed with the Grand

Secretary, and if the vote upon the same at the Annual or Semiannual Communication at

which the said alteration(s) to the Ritual is proposed be unanimous, it shall be declared by the

Grand Master to have been adopted. Otherwise, it shall lie over for consideration at the next

Communication, Annual or Semiannual, and a copy of said alteration(s) to the Ritual shall be

mailed to the Constituent Lodges and to each member of Grand Lodge at least thirty days prior

to the date of the Communication when action is to be taken, and it will then be decided upon by

a majority vote.

Any such proposed alteration(s) to the Ritual, when acted upon by a majority vote, may

be amended as Grand Lodge shall deem proper, provided also, that the Ancient Landmarks of

Masonry be carefully preserved.

SECTION 7. Such committee reports as may be ordered by the Grand Master, and the

exemplification of the work and lectures or other educational programs may be presented at any

Annual Communication or at any Semiannual Communication.

SECTION 8. Special Communications may be called as Grand Lodge or the Grand

Master may direct.

TM No. 24 added May 16, 2015

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SECTION 9. Lodges of Instruction shall be held annually for each Masonic District. The

Grand Master shall call a Communication of all Lodges in each District to be called a "Lodge of

Instruction", at such time and such place as he shall designate, for the exemplification of the

ritualistic work or for such other program of Masonic instruction as the Grand Master may

choose to present.

It shall be the duty of the Masters, Wardens, Treasurers, and Secretaries of Lodges in any

District, whenever the Grand Master shall call a Lodge of Instruction to be held for said District,

to attend the same. It shall be the duty of the Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Grand

Wardens, Grand Secretary, Grand Deacons, Grand Lecturer, Deputy Grand Lecturer, and other

Grand Lodge Officers that the Grand Master may deem necessary, as well as the District Deputy

Grand Master, District Deputy Grand Lecturer and District Education Officers of the District for

which said Lodge of Instruction is to be held, to attend all such Lodges of Instruction and

perform the duties of their respective offices.

The Grand Master shall organize all such Lodges of Instruction with members of Grand

Lodge and shall preside therein. In the absence of the Grand Master these duties shall be

performed by the Deputy Grand Master; in the absence of both of them, by the Senior Grand

Warden; in the absence of all three, by the Junior Grand Warden; and in the absence of all four,

by the District Deputy Grand Master of the District in which the Lodge of Instruction is to be

held.

The Grand Secretary shall send to the Secretary of each Lodge in a Masonic District, a

notice of the time and place that the Lodge of Instruction is to be held for said District at least

thirty days before the date of said Communication. The Grand Secretary shall be the Secretary

of all such Lodges of Instruction and shall keep a record thereof, which shall be published, in the

next printed proceedings of Grand Lodge.

The Grand Master or the District Deputy Grand Master shall designate the Lodges to

confer the degrees or other appropriate Masonic program as may be desired at Lodges of

Instruction.

TM No. 24 added May 16, 2015

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TM No. 23 issued January 5, 2015

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The expense of a Lodge of Instruction shall be borne by the Lodges within the Masonic

District in which it is held in proportion to their respective members. Each Lodge shall pay its

proportion of said expenses to the District Deputy Grand Master within one month after the

Lodge of Instruction and he shall use the same to pay said expenses.

ARTICLE V

QUALIFICATION, ELECTION AND INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS

SECTION 1. The Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Grand Wardens, Grand

Treasurer, Deputy Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary shall be chosen by ballot at the

Semiannual Communication of Grand Lodge. The other officers shall be appointed by the Grand

Master. In all cases of ballot, a majority shall be necessary to make a choice.

SECTION 2. The officers of Grand Lodge shall be elected and appointed for the term of

one year and shall be installed at the Annual Communication of Grand Lodge. The installation

shall be conducted by such Past Grand Master as the Grand Master may invite to perform that

service. In the absence of any Past Grand Master, and in the absence of the retiring Grand

Master, the installation shall be conducted by any Past District Deputy Grand Master who may

be present.

SECTION 3. No Brother shall be eligible to the office of Grand Master, Deputy Grand

Master, Grand Warden, District Deputy Grand Master, Grand Lecturer, Deputy Grand Lecturer,

District Deputy Grand Lecturer, or Grand Deacon unless he shall have been regularly elected and

duly installed Master of a duly constituted Lodge and faithfully discharged his duties in such

office for the term for which he was elected. None of the officers above named, during his

continuance in office, shall be Master or Warden of a Constituent Lodge nor shall the Master of

any Constituent Lodge be eligible to either of the above named offices in Grand Lodge, during

his continuance in office as Master, unless he be a Past Master elected to again serve his Lodge

in an emergency.

SECTION 4. In case the Grand Master-elect be absent at the time of installation, he may

be installed at such time and place, and by such person, as Grand Lodge or the Grand Master

may authorize and appoint, unless he declines to accept said office.

SECTION 5. If any elected or appointed Grand Officer be absent at the time of

installation, he may be installed by the Master of the Lodge in which he holds his membership or

by such other person as may be designated by the Grand Master and a certificate of the fact of

such installation shall be filed with the Grand Secretary. No officer may be installed by proxy.

SECTION 6. The several Grand Officers, previous to their installation, shall make the

following declaration:

"I, A.B., do solemnly promise on the honor of a Mason, in the presence of Almighty God

and before the Grand Lodge of the State of New Hampshire, that to the best of my ability I will

faithfully, honestly and impartially perform the duties of the office to which I

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have been elected/appointed and that I will conform to and maintain the Constitution, laws, rules

and regulations of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, and the ancient usages,

customs and Landmarks of Free and Accepted Masons."

SECTION 7. All Grand Officers, elected or appointed, when installed, shall be

proclaimed by the Grand Marshal, and shall hold their respective offices until their successors

are duly elected or appointed and installed.

SECTION 8. No elected or appointed officer of Grand Lodge, or of any Constituent

Lodge, can act as such until he is duly installed.

ARTICLE VI

POWERS AND DUTIES OF GRAND OFFICERS

SECTION 1. The Grand Master shall preside over and govern Grand Lodge at all its

Communications and shall perform all acts and deeds that are warranted and required of him by

the Constitution, regulations and edicts of Grand Lodge.

SECTION 2. The Grand Master has power and authority, during the recess of Grand

Lodge, to grant dispensations to new Lodges to continue in force until the next Communication,

Annual or Semiannual, of Grand Lodge; to arrest the dispensation or charter of any Lodge for

good cause until the next Communication, Annual or Semiannual, of Grand Lodge; and for

dereliction of duty or other un-Masonic conduct he may suspend a Brother or Lodge until the

next Communication, Annual or Semiannual, of Grand Lodge, when he shall present the reason

for such arrest or suspension in writing. He may convene Grand Lodge at pleasure giving

reasonable notice thereof to the Lodges and members of the time and place at which the

Communication is to be held and stating therein the object of it.

SECTION 3. Dispensations are required from the Grand Master and may be granted by

him for:

A. Public processions.

B. Non-Masons to join a Masonic procession.

C. Receiving or balloting on a petition for any type of

membership at a Special Communication.

D. Balloting on a petition for any type of membership or

conferring degrees, permitting either in less than the

statutory time of 28 days.

E. A Lodge from another jurisdiction:

1. To officially visit a New Hampshire Lodge or

2. To exhibit work of its jurisdiction in a New Hampshire Lodge on either their own or

one of our candidates.

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F. A New Hampshire Lodge, opened specifically for the purpose of:

1. Visiting a Lodge in another jurisdiction or

2. Visiting a Lodge in another jurisdiction and exhibiting work of this state upon a New

Hampshire candidate or one of theirs provided, in each case, a dispensation is also granted by the

Grand Master of the other jurisdiction.

G. Performing ritual not sanctioned or authorized by Grand Lodge.

H. A Table Lodge (conducted in accordance with regulations stipulated in the Manual of

the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire).

I. A Masonic Memorial Service to be performed for a deceased Entered Apprentice, Fellow

Craft or non-affiliated Mason.

J. A special election to fill a vacancy in an elected Lodge office caused by death, expulsion

or suspension.

K. A Lodge to change its place of meeting from one town to another town or more than two

miles in the same town.

L. Lodges to perform degree work in areas outside the Lodge Room.

M. Other than conventional clothing to be worn during degree work.

N. A new Lodge.

O. A waiver of jurisdiction over a petitioner for degrees who has Masonic residence in

New Hampshire and wishes to join a Lodge in another jurisdiction.

P. Lodges to engage in gambling activities.

Q. Lodges to open on Sunday for purposes deemed by him to be in the best interest of the

Craft, subject to the restrictions in Article XIII, Section 2.

R. To permit the degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry to be conferred upon more than five

candidates at the same communication and by the same ceremony.

S. Permitting a dedicated Lodge Room to be used for non-Masonic purposes with

concurrence of the Jurisprudence Committee.

SECTION 4. The Grand Master, or a deputy appointed by him for the special purpose,

may convene any Lodge, preside therein, inspect its proceedings and require its conformity to the

Constitution, regulations and edicts of Grand Lodge.

SECTION 5. The Grand Master has authority to divide the state into Districts and assign

their limits. Every newly constituted Lodge shall be assigned by him to some District and notice

given to the District Deputy Grand Master of the same.

SECTION 6. The Grand Master, by himself, by a District Deputy Grand Master or by a

special deputy named for the purpose, shall, at least once in a year, visit all the Lodges within

this jurisdiction;

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preside for such time as is necessary to examine into their conduct, records and proceedings;

correct irregularities and innovations and make a report of his doings to Grand Lodge at its next

Annual Communication.

SECTION 7. The Grand Master may appoint a special deputy or deputies to constitute a

new Lodge or Lodges, or for any other purpose to be specified in such appointment.

SECTION 8. The Grand Master shall appoint all committees of Grand Lodge. Any

vacancies in any standing or special committee may be filled by the Grand Master.

SECTION 9. The Grand Master is empowered to take the following action regarding

Grand Representatives:

A. To recommend a Brother who is a member of a New Hampshire Lodge and not already

a Grand Representative of another jurisdiction to be appointed by another Grand Lodge as the

Grand Representative of that Grand Lodge near the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire for a term

not greater than five years, who may thereafter be reappointed;

B. To approve the recommendation of another Grand Lodge that a Brother who is a

member of a Lodge in their jurisdiction be appointed as the Grand Representative of the Grand

Lodge of New Hampshire near their Grand Lodge.

C. To remove a Grand Representative near the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire who does

not attend consecutive sessions of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire or who otherwise is not

performing the functions of the office;

D. To suspend exchanging Grand Representatives with a jurisdiction that is not utilizing the

program.

SECTION 10. The Grand Master shall cast the deciding vote whenever, in any question

before Grand Lodge, there shall be an equal number of votes.

SECTION 11. It shall be the duty of the Grand Master, or presiding officer, at the

Semiannual Communication of Grand Lodge, to give, or cause to be given, exemplification of

the work and lectures of such degree or degrees as may be designated by the Grand Master or

Grand Lodge, or any other educational instruction program which may be deemed feasible,

expedient or necessary for the benefit of Masonry.

SECTION 12. In case of the death or permanent removal from the state of the Grand

Master, the Deputy Grand Master shall, ex officio, exercise all the powers and perform all the

duties of the Grand Master, as herein provided, until his successor is elected. During the absence

of the Grand Master or because of his physical inability to perform the duties of his office, the

Deputy Grand Master shall exercise and perform like powers and duties.

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SECTION 13. In case of the death, permanent removal from the state or absence of both

the Grand Master and the Deputy Grand Master, the Senior Grand Warden shall, ex officio,

preside over Grand Lodge and shall otherwise possess all of the powers of the office of Grand

Master. In the absence, as above, of the Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master and Senior Grand

Warden, the Junior Grand Warden shall, ex officio, possess all of the powers of the office of

Grand Master. In the absence of these officers, the most Junior Past Grand Master, for the time

being, shall possess all of the powers of the office of Grand Master. If there be no Past Grand

Master available then the Senior Past District Deputy Grand Master, whose services are

physically available, shall possess all of the powers of the office of Grand Master. In any of

these cases, unless he be a Past Grand Master, the presiding officer shall wear the jewel of the

Deputy Grand Master.

SECTION 14. It is not the duty of the Grand Master of Masons in New Hampshire to

decide matters pertaining to Chapters of the Order of the Eastern Star, the White Shrine, the

Order of Amaranth, the Order of DeMolay for Boys or the Order of Rainbow for Girls.

SECTION 15. The Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master and Grand Secretary of Grand

Lodge shall attend, at the expense of Grand Lodge, the meetings of the Masonic Service

association of the United States, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial

Association, the Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in North America and the Conference

of Grand Secretaries in North America.

SECTION 16. It shall be the duty of the Deputy Grand Master to render to the Grand

Master such assistance as may be required of him. In the absence of the Grand Master, he shall

preside in Grand Lodge and perform such duties and possess such authority as appertain to the

office of Grand Master.

SECTION 17. It shall be the duty of the Grand Wardens to assist the Grand Master in

Grand Lodge, act as his Wardens and attend in the examination of any Constituent Lodge when

required.

SECTION 18: The Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of NH is responsible for

managing all financial interests of the Grand Lodge, and will, according to his position, be

Chairman of the Finance & Investment Committee. He will report to The Grand Master, and

provide reports and activities according to the will and pleasure of the Grand Master during his

elected term of office. The Grand Treasurer should be present at all official communications of

the Grand Lodge, including, but not limited to Lodges of Instruction, Annual and Semi-Annual

Communications. The requirements, duties and responsibilities are:

Managing all financial records of Grand Lodge.

Preparing monthly reports of all financial activities.

Presenting policies and procedures for the regulation of all financial activities of Grand

Lodge.

Having a moderate to expert level of expertise in electronic record keeping and

communications, including, but not limited to: MS Excel, MS Word, MS Power Point;

PC or Mac Email; computer file backup procedures; Internet usage and communications

10-A


· Assuring that regular intervals are maintained for banking transactions.

· Preparing and maintaining the various budgets pertaining to the Grand Lodge accounts.

· Having and/or acquiring the ability to read, interpret and report on investment account

activities.

· Receiving all funds, keeping accurate records, paying all bills of Grand Lodge, as

directed.

· Assuming the various duties generally assigned to a financial manager, while maintaining

proper demeanor and carriage of an officer of the Grand Lodge.

A. Have the custody and charge of the funds of Grand Lodge;

B. Be bonded with surety or sureties, to the satisfaction of the Grand Master and Grand

Wardens, conditioned for the faithful discharge of his trust;

C. From time to time, invest the funds of Grand Lodge and change such investments in

accordance with the written approval or instructions of a majority of the members of the

Committee on Finance and Investments or as otherwise directed by vote of Grand Lodge;

D. Lay before the Committee on Finance and Investments a statement of his accounts,

exhibiting the amount, with the respective dates of receipts and disbursements and vouchers

therefore;

E. Receive all monies from the Grand Secretary, as well as all other monies paid to Grand

Lodge;

F. Pay all bills after they have been approved by the Grand Master;

G. Annually render to Grand Lodge a statement of his accounts, with a schedule of the funds

of Grand Lodge and

H. Deliver to his successor in office the funds and other property of Grand Lodge, taking

duplicate receipts therefore, one of which he shall deposit with the Grand Secretary.

10-B


SECTION 19. The Grand Secretary is responsible for managing the administrative requirements

of the Grand Lodge office. He reports to the Grand Master, and will be expected to provide regular

reports and communications to the Grand Master (and Grand Line officers) for their deliberations and

decisions. He is also responsible for keeping the Deputy Grand Secretary abreast of all the functions and

issues relating to the managing of the Grand Lodge business office, and the supervision of any office

staff. The various requirements and duties are:

· Preparing monthly reports for the Grand Master regarding any issues, news or

communications, for the Grand Masters approval, decision or presentation to other Grand

Officers or the Fraternity in general.

· Keeping a regular inventory of all the properties and possessions of Grand Lodge,

obtaining appropriate values on the inventory and assuring insurance is in place to cover

any potential losses.

· With the Deputy Grand Secretary, assuring that Lodge Secretaries are trained to fulfill

their respective duties, keeping current with required reporting, and assuring their Lodges

are maintaining all necessary communications with Grand Lodge.

· Maintaining the offices of Grand Lodge.

· Keeping current with all generally accepted electronic communications procedures,

including, but not limited to: MS Word, MS Excel, MS Power Point, PC or Mac email

programs, moderate to expert working expertise of whichever program is chosen by the

Grand Lodge for keeping all accounting records of the Grand Secretaries office, choosing

and maintaining a telephone system for the Grand Lodge office, choosing and

maintaining the regularly used office equipment of the Grand Lodge office, and

managing the Grand Secretaries office according to the Grand Lodge operating budget.

· Referring all questions from constituent Lodges regarding Masonic Protocol, Lodge

operations, and conduct to the Grand Master.

· Assuming all the duties relative to the administrative management of the Grand Lodge

office while maintaining the demeanor, positive attitude and accessibility of an officer of

the Grand Lodge

11 TM No. 19 approved May 21, 2011

The Grand Secretary shall:

A. Attend upon the Communications of Grand Lodge, observe and record the proceedings thereof, and preserve the same in suitable books kept for that purpose;

B. Summon the members to attend all Communications of Grand Lodge in such manner as Grand Lodge or the Grand Master may direct;

C. Receive all petitions, applications and appeals and lay them before the Grand Master;

D. Have custody of the seal of Grand Lodge;

E. Engross, attest and affix the seal to all charters, commissions, diplomas and certificates when ordered by the Grand Master or Grand Lodge;

F. Keep a list of all Lodges under this jurisdiction according to seniority and

G. Under the direction of the Grand Master, answer all communications on the subject of Masonry.

SECTION 20. The Grand Secretary shall:

A. Cause a transcript of the journal of proceedings of Grand Lodge to be printed, unless otherwise ordered by Grand Lodge, as soon after the Annual Communication as the same can be done;

B. Forward a copy thereof to each of the Grand Lodges of the United States and to such other foreign Grand Jurisdictions as may be in communication with this Grand Lodge;

C. Present a copy to each present Grand Lodge officer and to each Past Grand Master and five copies to each Constituent Lodge to be distributed as follows:

1. One to the Worshipful Master;

2. One each to the Senior and Junior Wardens;

3. One to the elected Representative to Grand Lodge and

4. One to the Lodge Secretary as the official Lodge copy;

D. Forward a copy to each Permanent Member of this Grand Lodge who notifies the Grand Secretary in writing on or before June 1st of each year that he wishes to receive a copy;

E. After its several Communications, forward to each member of Grand Lodge such number of copies of the edicts and regulations of Grand Lodge, including a list of the Grand Officers for the time being, as shall be directed by the Grand Master and all such other transactions of


Grand Lodge as may be necessary for the information and regulation of the Constituent Lodges;

F. Furnish the chairman of each committee with a copy of the vote or order of his appointment;

G. Attend all committees with the records and papers of his office when required;

H. Record all reports of committees which may be accepted by Grand Lodge;

I. Collect and receive all fees and sums of money which shall become due to Grand Lodge, except income upon invested funds, and pay the same over to the Grand Treasurer;

J. Open and keep an account with each Constituent Lodge and report a statement thereof at each Annual Communication of Grand Lodge;

K. Be bonded with sufficient surety or sureties to the satisfaction of the Grand Master and Grand Wardens, conditioned for the faithful discharge of his trust;

L. Before the Annual Communication present to the Committee on Finance and Investments a full statement of his financial accounts for its audit and report;

M. Transmit to the Secretaries of the Constituent Lodges the necessary blanks to be used in making the annual returns of the Lodges;

N. Furnish all Lodges with printed dues cards in a quantity equaling fifteen percent more than their membership as determined by the last annual return to Grand Lodge. These cards are to be furnished to the Lodges approximately at cost. The Lodge shall pay the Grand Secretary upon receipt of a bill for the same and the Grand Secretary shall make a financial accounting toGrand Lodge;

O. Furnish blank diplomas to Constituent Lodges, they paying the cost thereof. P. Ensure that all new Grand Representatives have received all literature as to the functions and responsibilities of Grand Representatives; keep attendance of Grand Representatives near the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire at communications of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire and report vacancies to the Grand Master; require a yearly statement or synopsis by all Grand Representatives as to the workings of the Grand Lodge they represent, to be made available to all interested New Hampshire Masons.

SECTION 21. The District Deputy Grand Masters shall visit the Several Lodges in their

respective Districts as often as convenient, but at least once in every year, and preside in the Same. If unable to visit any Lodge, they may appoint some suitable Brother to perform that duty. They shall inspect their by-laws, the state and condition of their finances, records, mode of working and use of appropriate forms. They shall also inspect their copy of the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire insuring it contains all amendments to date, and a copy of the List of all Regular Lodges as published by the Pantagraph Press, Bloomington, Ill., or some similar source.


The District Deputy Grand Masters may be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in visiting the Lodges in their respective Districts, their accounts first being examined and approved by the Grand Master.

Each District Deputy Grand Master shall, on or before the first day of May each year, make a detailed report of his activities to the Grand Master with a copy to the Grand Secretary.

SECTION 22. It shall be incumbent on the Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Grand Wardens, District Deputy Grand Masters, Grand Lecturers and District Deputy Grand Lecturers severally to improve and perfect themselves in the sublime arts and work appertaining to the degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason and to make themselves masters of the Masonic lectures and Ancient Charges belonging to those degrees. They are to consult with each other and with the Masters of Constituent Lodges for the purpose of adopting measures suitable and proper for diffusing a knowledge of said lectures and a uniform mode of working in the several Lodges throughout this jurisdiction. In order to better effect this laudable purpose, the Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master and Grand Wardens are severally hereby authorized and empowered to visit and preside in every and any Lodge in this state.

The Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master and Grand Wardens are authorized to examine the doings of the several Lodges, correct irregularities and give such direction and instruction as the good of the Fraternity may require, always adhering to the Ancient Landmarks of the Order and the requirements of this Constitution.

SECTION 23. The Grand Lecturers shall instruct the District Deputy Grand Lecturers in their work and they shall call them together at least four times each year for the purpose of such instruction. The District Deputy Grand Lecturers are to instruct the several Lodges within their respective Districts in the work and lectures of the three degrees and once each year shall visit the same for that purpose.

The District Deputy Grand Lecturers may be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in visiting the Lodges in their respective Districts, their accounts first being examined and approved by the Grand Master.

SECTION 24. The Grand Chaplains attending the Communications of Grand Lodge shall perform such duties as may be suitable to the occasion and as are established by Masonic usage.

SECTION 25. The Grand Historian shall search the records and archives of Grand Lodge and shall record the significant historical events concerning New Hampshire Freemasonry and the accomplishments of New Hampshire Masons.

SECTION 26. The Deputy Grand Secretary shall assist the Grand Secretary in the performance of his several duties.

SECTION 27. The Secretary to the Grand Master shall perform such secretarial duties as the Grand Master may assign to him.


SECTION 28. The Grand Deacons shall assist within Grand Lodge in such duties as appertain to their office and attend the Grand Master in processions.

SECTION 29. The Grand Marshal shall direct the formation of all processions. He shall make proclamations and shall communicate and execute the commands of the Grand Master.

SECTION 30. The Grand Stewards shall see that provision is made for every Brother at refreshment. In general, they shall be ready to assist every officer in the performance of his duties.

SECTION 31. The Grand Sword Bearer is to attend the Grand Master and assist the Grand Marshal in the discharge of his duties.

SECTION 32. The Grand Pursuivants are to attend the officers, members and visitors insuring that they appear in Grand Lodge suitably clothed and that they take their proper stations. In all public processions of Grand Lodge they shall assist the Grand Marshal.

SECTION 33. The Grand Organist shall provide appropriate music at the Communications of Grand Lodge.

SECTION 34. The District Education Officers are to instruct and assist the several Lodges within their respective Districts in the presentation of instructional programs relative to the moral teachings, philosophy, doctrine and history of Freemasonry. They shall separately visit each Lodge for that purpose at least once during the year following their installation, and shall take their direction from the Chairman of the Masonic Education Committee. They shall, on or before the fifteenth day of April , make a separate, detailed report of their activities to the Grand Master , with copies to the Grand Secretary and the Chairman of the Masonic Education Committee.

The District Education Officers may be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in visiting the Lodges in their respective Districts, their accounts first being examined and approved by the Grand Master.

SECTION 35. The Grand Tylers shall guard the outer door.

SECTION 35A. The Grand Archivist shall have the special responsibility of cataloging and caring for the properties located within the Masonic Museum of the William Pitt Tavern in Portsmouth.

SECTION 36. The salaries of the Grand Treasurer, Grand Secretary and office employees shall be as designated by the Grand Master and approved by the Committee on Finance and Investments.

ARTICLE VII

STATIONS, JEWELS AND CLOTHING

SECTION 1. The stations of the Officers in Grand Lodge are as follows:

Grand Master: In the East, at the head of Grand Lodge.

Deputy Grand Master: In the East, next to and at the immediate right of the Grand Master.

Senior Grand Warden: In the West.

Junior Grand Warden: In the South.


Grand Treasurer and Deputy Grand Treasurer: At the right and in front of the Grand Master.

Grand Secretary: At the left and in front of the Grand Master.

Grand Chaplains: In the East, the Senior next to and at the left of the Grand Master; the Junior at the left of the Senior.

Grand Lecturers: At the right of the Grand Treasurer.

Grand Historian: At the left of the Grand Chaplains.

District Deputy Grand Masters: In the East at the left of the Grand Historian at the Semiannual Communication and in the South near the East at the Annual Communication.

District Deputy Grand Lecturers: In front of the District Deputy Grand Masters.

Deputy Grand Secretary: In the East at the left of the Grand Secretary.

Secretary to the Grand Master: In the East, at the left of the Deputy Grand Secretary, if space is available; otherwise, at the left of the Grand Historian.

Senior Grand Deacon: At the right of the Grand Master, in front of the Grand Treasurer.

Junior Grand Deacon: In the West, at the right of the Senior Grand Warden.

Grand Marshal: At the left of the Grand Master, in front of the Grand Secretary.

Grand Stewards: In the South, two at the right and two at the left of the Junior Grand Warden, one Steward in front of the other.

Grand Sword Bearer: At the left of the Grand Marshal.

Grand Pursuivants: Near the doors of entrance to Grand Lodge.

Grand Organist: Seated at the organ or other musical instrument.

District Education Officers: In the South, near the East, and in front of the District Deputy Grand Lecturers when applicable.

Grand Tylers: Outside the tyled door of entrance to Grand Lodge.

Past Grand Masters: Next to and at the right of the Deputy Grand Master.

SECTION 2. The jewels of the Grand Officers are:

Grand Master: The compasses extended upon the sextant of a circle, to the angle of 45°, with the square within the compasses, and above the square an eye irradiated, within a triangle, also irradiated, upon an oval within the compasses.

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Deputy Grand Master: The compasses opened to the angle of 45° athwart the square; within the compasses, a pentalpha.

Senior Grand Warden: The level.

Junior Grand Warden: The plumb.

Grand Treasurer and Deputy Grand Treasurer: Crossed keys.

Grand Secretary: Crossed pens.

Grand Chaplains: The open Bible upon a triangle irradiated.

Grand Lecturers: Solomon's Seal in a circle of gold.

Grand Historian: Parchment scroll with quill across angled from top right to bottom left.

District Deputy Grand Masters: The compasses opened to the angle of 45° athwart the square; within the compasses, a sun irradiated.

District Deputy Grand Lecturers: The 47th Problem of Euclid in a silver design upon a triangle in gold; within the square, a letter "G".

Deputy Grand Secretary: Crossed pens.

Secretary to the Grand Master: Crossed pens.

Grand Deacons: The dove and olive branch.

Grand Marshal: Crossed batons.

Grand Stewards: The cornucopia athwart the compasses open to the angle of 45°.

Grand Sword Bearer: Crossed swords.

Grand Pursuivants: Sword and baton crossed.

Grand Organist: The lyre.

District Education Officers: The Lamp of Knowledge.

Grand Tylers: A sword pendant.

Past Grand Masters: The same as the Grand Master with the square eliminated.

All jewels, except those of the Grand Master, Past Grand Masters, Deputy Grand Master and District Deputy Grand Masters are placed within a circle.

All collars and jewels are the property of Grand Lodge and are to be returned to Grand Lodge upon completion of a Grand Lodge officer's term.

17 TM No. 21 approved November 16, 2013

SECTION 3. The officers of Grand Lodge shall wear their jewels appended to a purple velvet collar and gold chain. The Grand Master shall wear a singularly distinctive Grand Master's apron appropriate to his office and the other officers shall wear a white apron trimmed with purple. No member of Grand Lodge shall be allowed to speak or vote in Grand Lodge unless he is so attired.

ARTICLE VIII

COMMITTEES OF GRAND LODGE

SECTION 1. The Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master and Grand Wardens, for the time being, shall be the Committee on Charity. They shall have full power to expend the income of the Charity Fund, but only such that the invested principal may never be reduced below $300,000.00, and any other monies that may become available as they may determine for the care and maintenance of sick and destitute members of the Constituent Lodges of this Grand Lodge, the sick and destitute wives, widows, orphans and minor children of such members who are, or at the time of decease were, members of said Lodges.

SECTION 2. The Grand Master shall, at each Annual Communication, appoint the following standing committees consisting of not less than three members each: A Committee on Credentials, a Committee on DeMolay, a Committee on Finance and Investments, a Committee on Fraternal Correspondence, a Committee on Jurisprudence, a Committee on Lodge Finances, a Committee on Lodges, a Committee on Masonic Education, a Committee on Necrology, a Committee on New Lodges, a Committee on Returns and a Committee on Unfinished Business.

The Grand Master may appoint and terminate special committees as he deems necessary.

Unless reappointed by the Grand Master, no standing or special committee appointments shall continue beyond the close of the next Annual Communication.

SECTION 3. All standing and special committees shall report their proceedings in writing unless otherwise directed by Grand Lodge. The first Brother named shall be chairman and shall duly notify each member of the committee of the time and place of meeting.

SECTION 4. The Grand Master may refer any question of law or usage to the Committee on Jurisprudence which shall report to the Grand Master as soon as possible and to Grand Lodge at its next Annual Communication.

SECTION 5. The expenses of all committees may be paid by Grand Lodge, the accounts first being examined and approved by the Grand Master.

ARTICLE IX

RULES FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF GRAND LODGE

SECTION 1. In all elections and upon every question, which may come before Grand

Lodge for decision, each member present shall be entitled


to one vote, either in his own right or as a proxy.

SECTION 2. A member cannot delegate his right of voting to another member except in the case of a Master or Warden or elected Representative of a Constituent Lodge who may appoint a proxy.

SECTION 3. Each member shall vote on all questions unless excused by the Grand Master.

SECTION 4. Each member who speaks shall rise, remain standing until recognized and then address the Grand Master. He shall not be interrupted unless by a call to order from the Grand Master or from the presiding officer at that time.

SECTION 5. All resolutions shall be submitted in writing, before there shall be any debate upon them; as shall all motions, if the Grand Master or any Brother desires it.

SECTION 6. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received, except to lay on the table, to refer to a committee, to amend, or to postpone, which motions shall take precedence in the order above named.

SECTION 7. A motion to amend until decided, shall preclude all other amendments of the main question.

SECTION 8. Any member may call for a division of the question.

SECTION 9. No new motion, which totally changes the subject matter of the original motion, shall be admitted as an amendment or as a substitute for the motion under debate.

SECTION 10. No member other than one of the majority which decided the question shall be allowed to move for a reconsideration and then only at the same Communication.

SECTION 11. After a motion is stated by the presiding officer, it shall be deemed to be in the possession of Grand Lodge, but may be withdrawn by the mover any time before decision or amendment.

SECTION 12. There shall be no debate upon any question after it has been put to a vote by the presiding officer.

SECTION 13. All motions and reports may be committed at the pleasure of Grand Lodge.

SECTION 14. While the presiding officer is addressing Grand Lodge or putting a question, or a Brother is speaking, no member shall entertain any private discourse or pass between the speaker and the chair.

SECTION 15. No Brother shall leave Grand Lodge during the session without permission of the Grand Master.

SECTION 16. No Brother shall speak more than twice upon the same question, unless to explain, without permission of the Grand Master.


SECTION 17. No vote passed in Grand Lodge can be reconsidered at the same

Communication by a less number than were present when the original vote was passed.

SECTION 18. At every Annual Communication of Grand Lodge the records of all Communications of the preceding year shall be read by the Grand Secretary before the Lodge proceeds to business, unless otherwise ordered by vote of Grand Lodge.

SECTION 19. No portion of the funds of Grand Lodge shall be appropriated or used for any purpose except for defraying the necessary expenses of Grand Lodge and the promotion of the interests of the Institution, the relief of distressed worthy Brethren, their widows and orphans, and the support of NH Masonic charitable activities.

SECTION 20. Visitors may be admitted at Communications of Grand Lodge as Grand Lodge or the Grand Master may determine.

SECTION 21. It is the responsibility of the Committee on Unfinished Business to keep a full record of all accepted Recommendations along with all other Resolutions, Constitutional Amendments etc., and any other unfinished business of this Grand Lodge, and to report to the members of Grand Lodge prior to the close of business, on the status of all such business until each item is removed from the table by appropriate action of Grand Lodge.

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P A R T II

C O N S T I T U E N T L O D G E S

ARTICLE X

DISPENSATIONS AND CHARTERS FOR LODGES

SECTION 1. Dispensations for holding new Lodges may be issued by the Grand Master

or Grand Lodge on the petition of not less than seven Master Masons in good standing.

SECTION 2. Every petition to form a new Lodge shall be accompanied by the

approbation and recommendation of the District Deputy Grand Master of the Masonic District

within which the new Lodge is to be held. Such recommendation shall follow investigation by

the District Deputy Grand Master of the merits of the petition, and shall vouch for the moral and

Masonic ability of the petitioners, and shall recommend that the Grand Master either grant or

deny the issuance of a dispensation to form a new Lodge.

SECTION 3. Every petition for a new Lodge shall also be accompanied by a statement of

proficiency from the District Deputy Grand Lecturer of the Masonic District within which the

new Lodge is to be held certifying that he has examined the Master and Wardens nominated in

the petition and found them well skilled in the work and lectures of Ancient Craft Masonry.

SECTION 4. Upon receipt of the petition accompanied by the District Deputy Grand

Lecturer's statement of proficiency and the District Deputy Grand Master's recommendation, the

Grand Master shall refer such petition and the District Deputy Grand Master's recommendation

to the Grand Lodge Committee on New Lodges for further review of the facts. The Grand Lodge

Committee on New Lodges shall make further personal investigation sufficient to form an

intelligent judgment of the merits of the petition to decide whether or not the good of Masonry

would be promoted by the formation of such new Lodge. The Committee shall then make final

recommendation to the Grand Master who shall, if such recommendation were favorable, issue a

dispensation for the new Lodge. If the recommendation is unfavorable, the Grand Master shall

deny a dispensation and the petition is rejected without prejudice.

SECTION 5. If a majority of the petitioners are members of a regularly constituted

Lodge under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, and the Grand Master has granted a

dispensation as provided in Section 4 above, they shall be issued a certificate sanctioning their

separation for the formation of a new Lodge. However, when two or more Lodges unite to form

a single Lodge, all members of the Lodges involved will automatically become members of the

new Lodge, and it will not be necessary to issue such a certificate to them.

As soon as practicable after receiving the dispensation for its formation, the new Lodge

shall take the following action:

A. The Master, Senior Warden and Junior Warden having been named

21


in the dispensation, the rest of the elected officers shall be elected,

B. The Master shall name the appointed officers,

C. The officers shall be installed and

D. By-laws for the new Lodge shall be adopted.

SECTION 6. The fee for such dispensation shall be one hundred dollars, to be paid to the

Grand Secretary. Every dispensation shall be returned to Grand Lodge at the next

Communication, Annual or Semiannual, together with an attested transcript of all the

proceedings and the by-laws of the Lodge working under the same. If Grand Lodge approves

these, a charter shall be issued to the petitioners bearing the same date as the dispensation, for

which they shall pay to the Grand Secretary the further sum of two hundred fifty dollars.

SECTION 7. Before a new Lodge shall be constituted, the Grand Master, or his Deputy

who shall be appointed to constitute such Lodge, shall receive the demits or a certificate

sanctioning their separation from their former Lodge of all Brothers who shall become members

of such new Lodge. However, when two or more Lodges unite to form a single Lodge, all

members of the Lodges involved will automatically become members of the new Lodge, and it

will not be necessary to issue to them demits or a certificate sanctioning their separation from

their former Lodge.

SECTION 8. To be recognized and have its officers entitled to vote in Grand Lodge,

every new Lodge shall be solemnly constituted, dedicated and consecrated by the Grand Master

and his officers, or by some competent Brother especially appointed by him for the purpose.

SECTION 9. No officer of a Lodge working under dispensation is entitled to a seat as

representative in Grand Lodge.

SECTION 10. If the charter of any Lodge shall accidentally be destroyed, the Grand

Secretary shall, by authority of the Grand Master, on application of said Lodge, furnish a new

charter or a certified copy of the original. Said Lodge shall pay the expense for preparing the

new charter. A Lodge may submit a written request to Grand Lodge for a change to the Lodge

charter. The Grand Secretary will attach an amendment to the charter of any change approved

by Grand Lodge, with the Grand Lodge seal, signed by the Grand Master, and attested by the

Grand Secretary.

SECTION 11. Grand Lodge will not grant a charter to a Lodge to be named after any

living person.

SECTION 12. The Master of a Lodge has charge of its charter and it is his duty to see

that it is carefully preserved. The charter is evidence of authority to work and should always be

present or immediately available. However, the absence of the charter from the Lodge Room

does not make the business transacted illegal.

SECTION 13. Lodges are prohibited from obtaining charters or assuming corporate

powers under the general laws.

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ARTICLE XI

REMOVAL OF LODGES

SECTION 1. Whenever the members of a Lodge wish to remove it from one town to

another town, or more than two miles within the same town from where the Communications

have usually been held, the Master shall summon every member of the Lodge to attend a Stated

Communication, notice having been given at a previous Stated Communication, for the express

purpose of taking the subject of removal into consideration.

SECTION 2. If the Lodge members vote for such removal, they shall present to Grand

Lodge a petition for that purpose accompanied by certificates from the two nearest Lodges

indicating their approval of the proposed removal.

SECTION 3. The Grand Master has the power to grant a dispensation for such removal

pending Grand Lodge action at its next Communication, Annual or Semiannual.

Upon Grand Lodge approval of such petition, the charter of the Lodge shall be presented

to the Grand Secretary. He shall indicate on it the vote of Grand Lodge signed by the Grand

Master and countersigned by the Grand Secretary.

ARTICLE XII

SURRENDER, FORFEITURE AND REVOCATION OF CHARTERS

SECTION 1. If any Constituent Lodge shall see fit to surrender its charter, whether or not

with the intention of having it restored in the future, it shall be the duty of the Master, Treasurer

and Secretary of such Lodge to deliver to the Grand Secretary the charter, by-laws, records, seal,

funds, aprons, jewels and other properties of the Lodge. Grand Lodge in trust until such time as

the charter shall be restored or the intention of reclaiming it abandoned shall hold all the

properties of a Lodge thus surrendering its charter.

SECTION 2. When the charter of a Lodge is canceled, forfeited, revoked or surrendered,

a member of such Lodge,

A. Provided the records of his Lodge show him to be in good standing, becomes an

unaffiliated Mason. The Grand Secretary shall issue to such member, upon his request, a

certificate bearing the Grand Lodge Seal, stating that he is in good standing and is free from

charges;

B. If in arrears or suspended for non-payment of dues, upon the payment of all such dues

to the Grand Secretary, and the records of his Lodge show that he is in good standing in all other

respects, the Grand Secretary shall issue to such member, upon his request, a certificate bearing

the Grand Lodge Seal, stating that he is in good standing and is free from charges. Such a

certificate shall have the same legal effect as a demit obtained from a Constituent Lodge.

23

SECTION 3. Every Lodge that shall neglect or refuse to pay its dues to Grand Lodge, or

fails to file annual returns, or is not represented in Grand Lodge for two consecutive years or

shall neglect to assemble for work for the space of one year, shall be stricken from the Grand

Lodge books, be deprived of the benefits of Masonry and its charter declared to be canceled,

forfeited and revoked.

SECTION 4. Upon the revocation or forfeiture of the charter of any Lodge, it shall be the

duty of the Master, Treasurer and Secretary thereof to surrender to the Grand Secretary the

charter, by-laws, records, seal, funds, aprons, jewels and other properties of the Lodge within six

months from the time of such revocation or forfeiture. Any member of a Lodge who shall refuse

to make such surrender or attempts to appropriate them in any other way than is here designated,

shall be deemed guilty of a violation of the rules and regulations of Masonry and subject to

action taken by Grand Lodge.

SECTION 5. The control of all the funds and properties of a Lodge whose charter is

surrendered, with no intention of having it restored, belongs to Grand Lodge for such use as it

may direct. However, when two or more Lodges unite to form a single Lodge, only the charters

and seals must be surrendered to Grand Lodge. The new Lodge will assume all other assets and

liabilities.

SECTION 6. No charter which has been surrendered, forfeited or revoked, shall be

restored except upon the petition of seven Master Masons, of whom at least four were members

of the Lodge at the time of its surrender, and by vote of Grand Lodge. It shall be the duty of the

petitioners to notify the District Deputy Grand Master of the District in which the Lodge was last

chartered, and the two nearest Lodges, of their intention to petition for restoration.

SECTION 7. If at any time it shall be found necessary to suspend or cancel the charter of

any Lodge for irregular or un-Masonic conduct, the members implicated in such conduct at the

time of the Lodge having incurred such penalty shall be disqualified to become members of or to

visit any other Lodge without special permission from Grand Lodge.

SECTION 8. Any Mason assisting in the ritualistic work or attending any

Communication of a Lodge, knowing its charter to have been suspended or canceled, shall be

liable to expulsion from the rights of Masonry.

SECTION 9. Every chartered Lodge is a constituent part of Grand Lodge wherein all the

power of the Fraternity resides. No authority, except Grand Lodge, can annul, abrogate or

destroy the power of a charter. If a majority of its members should leave a Lodge or the

Fraternity, the right to assemble is retained by the remaining members. However, if the number

of remaining members is reduced to less than seven, the charter shall be returned.

SECTION 10. If the Master and Wardens of any Lodge are summoned to attend any

Communication of Grand Lodge, or are summoned to produce the charter, books, papers, or

accounts of their Lodge to Grand Lodge, to the Grand Master or to the District Deputy Grand

Master within whose District the Lodge is situated, or to any committee authorized by Grand

Lodge or appointed by the Grand Master, and shall refuse to

24


comply or to give satisfactory reasons for non-compliance, they may be suspended by the Grand

Master. The Grand Master shall report all facts and his actions to Grand Lodge. In case of

continued contumacy, the penalty shall be expulsion, suspension for a definite or indefinite time,

or the arrest of the charter by the Grand Master and the subsequent revocation of their charter by

Grand Lodge.

ARTICLE XIII

POWERS AND DUTIES OF CONSTITUENT LODGES

SECTION 1. No Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons can legally assemble in this state

except by virtue of a dispensation from the Grand Master or a charter issued by Grand Lodge.

SECTION 2. No Lodge shall be opened on Sunday except to attend Divine Service or to

attend the Funeral Service of a deceased Brother. A Lodge may also open on Sunday, in the

afternoon or evening to present Veterans' Awards, to conduct Special Ladies' Programs or to

hold installation ceremonies. The Grand Master shall have the right to issue Dispensations

permitting Lodges to open on Sunday for other purposes, deemed by him to be in the best

interest of the Craft. In no instance shall a Lodge be opened on Sunday for the purpose of

conferring Degrees nor shall Degrees be conferred in a Lodge opened for another purpose.

SECTION 3. All Lodges under this jurisdiction have the right and duty to:

A. Convene as Free and Accepted Masons;

B. Receive and enter Apprentices, pass Fellow Crafts, raise Master Masons and

establish fees therefore;

C. Choose officers annually;

D. Establish funds for both Masonic and non-Masonic charities;

E. Transact all matters appertaining to Masonry agreeably to their charters, the

Laws of Grand Lodge and the ancient usages of the Craft.

F. Collect fees and annual dues from members.

SECTION 4. Lodges never adjourn; they shall be closed.

SECTION 5. When notified of the intended official visitation of the District Deputy

Grand Master, it shall be the duty of the Master or presiding officer of a Lodge to:

A. Convene his Lodge;

B. Receive the District Deputy Grand Master as the representative of Grand

Lodge;

C. Surrender to the District Deputy Grand Master the government of the Lodge

during his official visitation;

D. Submit to the District Deputy Grand Master for his inspection the;


25

1. Charter,

2. Constitution of Grand Lodge with current revisions,

3. Records,

4. By-laws,

5. Form of application used for the degrees and membership and

6. A current financial statement in writing;

E. Demonstrate ritualistic work.

SECTION 6. Except for the members whose dues have been remitted by their Lodge, for

financial reasons only, every Lodge shall pay to the Grand Secretary annually, between January

1 and March 1, the following sums:

A. Forty-Three dollars for every member of such Lodge as of December 31st

for the year being reported plus those deceased members and demitted

members whose dues were paid during the year being reported, from which

the following shall be paid by the Grand Treasurer:

1. One dollar to the Treasurer of NH MasoniCare for its maintenance and

support;

2. Ten cents, unless otherwise ordered by Grand Lodge or the Grand Master,

to or for the use of the Committee on Masonic Education;

3. Ten cents, unless otherwise ordered by Grand Lodge or the Grand Master,

to or for the use of the Committee on DeMolay;

4. Thirty cents to the Treasurer of the Masonic Service Association of North

America for its Hospital Visitation Program;

5. One dollar to the George Washington Masonic Memorial for its

maintenance and support.

B. Five dollars for every candidate upon whom the Entered Apprentice degree is

conferred in such Lodge, to be paid by the Grand Treasurer to the Treasurer of

the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association;

C. Five dollars for every candidate upon whom the Entered Apprentice degree is

conferred in such a Lodge for the support of Grand Lodge;

D. Ten dollars for every candidate upon whom the Master Mason degree is

conferred or who is elected a member by affiliation from a Lodge outside

of this state, to be paid by the Grand Treasurer to the Treasurer of NH

MasoniCare for its maintenance and support.

E. The Grand Lodge Finance and Investment Committee, and the Grand Lodge

Budget Committee, shall examine the finances of the Grand Lodge and

recommend at the Semiannual Communication each year, an adjustment to the

amount each Lodge shall pay to the Grand Secretary for each member of such

25-A


Lodge as of December 31st for the year being reported. The adjustment

shall lie over until the Annual Communication of the following year, when

it will be either approved or disapproved by a majority vote.

Any adjustment to this section shall be implemented with the Constituent Lodges

of this jurisdiction on January first of the year immediately following approval at the

Annual Communication.

25-B


THIS PAGE BLANK

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SECTION 7-A. Each Lodge Secretary shall file a Monthly Report with the Office of the

Grand Secretary on a form to be provided, or to include all the data requested by said form,

reporting all Degree Work performed, and such other information as may be necessary to keep

Grand Lodge informed on all matters relating to changes in the Lodge membership. This

Monthly Report is to be in the office of the Grand Secretary no later than the 15th day of the

month following the month being reported.

Should any Lodge Secretary fail to comply with the provisions of this Section, at the

discretion of the Grand Secretary, the Lodge shall pay a fine of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) in

any month when the Monthly Report is late.

SECTION 7-B. Annually, together with the money due Grand Lodge, every Lodge shall

file a return, to be in the possession of the Grand Secretary on or before March 1st, reporting

A. Its officers;

B. The full names, first, middle and last, and degree dates of those members who,

during the year ending December 31st, have been;

1. Made Masons, passed to the degree of Fellow Craft and raised to the

degree of Master Mason;

2. Restored to membership and

3. Affiliated,

C. The names of all deceased, demitted, suspended and expelled members;

D. Such other information as may be required by the Grand Secretary.

Any Lodge failing to comply with this section or failing to pay its obligations as above

required, shall pay to the Grand Secretary for use of Grand Lodge, an amount, calculated on a

sliding scale as shown in the table below, equal to the number of days delayed, multiplied by an

equal number of dollars, not to exceed ten dollars for each day that the delay shall continue.

LATE CHARGE TABLE

DAYS DOLLARS AMOUNT OF DAYS DOLLARS AMOUNT OF

LATE PER DAY PENALTY LATE PER DAY PENALTY

1 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 9 $ 9.00 $ 81.00

2 2.00 4.00 10 10.00 100.00

3 3.00 9.00 11 10.00 110.00

4 4.00 16.00 12 10.00 120.00

5 5.00 25.00 13 10.00 130.00

6 6.00 36.00 14 10.00 140.00

7 7.00 49.00 15 10.00 150.00

8 8.00 64.00

ADDITIONAL DAYS TO BE COMPUTED IN THE SAME MANNER.

SECTION 8. Every Lodge shall have a seal, and furnish an imprint thereof in such

manner as the Grand Secretary may prescribe, to be filed with the records of Grand Lodge. All

dues cards require the seal to be imprinted upon the signature of the Secretary.

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SECTION 9. All communications with other Grand Lodges, or with Constituent Lodges

of other Grand Jurisdictions, shall be conducted through the office of the Grand Secretary except

as the Grand Master may otherwise authorize.

SECTION 10. No Lodge shall appropriate or use its funds or any part thereof for any

purpose other than Masonic charities, or other Masonic purposes, sponsored by Grand Lodge.

However, Lodges may, by vote of the Lodge at a Stated Communication, establish special

charitable funds, from fund raising activities, excess unrestricted yearly income that exceeds one

hundred and ten percent (110%) of the yearly operating expenses, or income ONLY from

unrestricted Charitable Trusts, for charitable purposes other than Masonic. No Lodge shall tax

its members for the purpose of creating a fund for the payment of fixed, sick or other benefits. A

Lodge may hold funds in trust, the income to be used to care for a Brother Master Mason's grave.

SECTION 11. The business of the Lodge shall be transacted at a Stated or Special

Communication of the Lodge, opened on the Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft or master Mason

Degree, the Degree to be at the discretion of the Worshipful Master or the then presiding officer

of the Lodge. Only Master Masons who are members of the Lodge, may vote or ballot on items

of business such as the election of officers, election of candidates, payment of bills, etc. Entered

Apprentices and Fellowcrafts may attend Communications of the Lodge, if opened on the

appropriate Degree, to listen and learn about the business of the Lodge.

SECTION 12. The discussion of politics and religion is prohibited in every Lodge within

this jurisdiction.

SECTION 13. No Lodge shall form a public procession without a dispensation from the

Grand Master. Funeral processions and processions for attending Divine Worship Service are

accepted.

SECTION 14. No one except a Master Mason shall be buried with Masonic honors and

the formalities of the Order except by special dispensation from the Grand Master. It is the duty

of a Lodge of which a Brother is a member, or the nearest Lodge, to attend and perform the usual

Masonic Memorial Service for deceased Master Masons when having been requested to do so by

the deceased or his family.

SECTION 15. Every Lodge shall transmit to the Grand Secretary, immediately after

their adoption, a copy of its by-laws for examination and approval by the Committee on Lodges

and by the Grand Master and thereafter to be filed in the office of the Grand Secretary for

reference purposes. Whenever the by-laws of any Lodge are altered or amended, a copy of the

same shall be processed as above.

After approval by the Grand Master, by-laws and their amendments shall be in force until

the next Annual Communication of Grand Lodge when they shall be voted upon for acceptance

by Grand Lodge.

SECTION 16. No Lodge shall have the power to alter, amend or temporarily suspend any

of the provisions of its by-laws unless such alteration, amendment or suspension shall have been

proposed and entered upon the records of the Lodge at a previous Stated Communication and

due notice given to each member. Any proposed alteration, amendment or suspension shall only

be acted upon at a Stated Communication.

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SECTION 17. The by-laws for Constituent Lodges should contain only rules for their

own government in matters not regulated by any other law. They shall not contain an order of

business since the Master controls the business of the Lodge.

SECTION 18. No vote passed in a Lodge can be reconsidered at the same

Communication by a less number than were present when the original vote was passed.

SECTION 19. It is un-Masonic to collect dues by legal process.

SECTION 20. No Lodge, or officer or member of a Lodge, shall give a certificate or

recommendation to enable a Mason to go from Lodge to Lodge as a pauper, or in any itinerant

manner, to apply to Lodges for relief. Such aid is a free gift and no claim can be made for

reimbursement.

SECTION 21. The appearance of Brethren in open Lodge without aprons is not proper.

The apron shall be worn as the outermost garment.

SECTION 22. The time of convening a Communication shall be the prevailing time of

the community and cannot be changed except by amending the Lodge by-laws.

Stated Communications cannot be suspended during the summer months unless the

Lodge by-laws so provide.

SECTION 23. A Lodge may act at a Special Communication upon the matter for which it

has been specially called, due notice of both the Communication and special matter to be acted

upon having been given every member of the Lodge. However, all by-law suspensions,

alterations or amendments shall only be proposed or acted upon at a Stated Communication.

SECTION 24. An Entered Apprentice or Fellow Craft may receive notices of

Communications of the Lodge where he received the degrees.

SECTION 25. No Lodge or Masonic Association in this jurisdiction shall undertake or

commence the sale, lease, erection, renovation, purchase of, or the incursion of debt for, a

Masonic Temple, meeting place, or other real property without consulting the District Deputy

Grand Master and notifying the Grand Master a minimum of sixty days before said action. The

Grand Master may require submission to him of the plans of the project, the plans for financing

the project and the plan for its adequate maintenance and support. Approval by Grand Lodge

shall not create any liability on Grand Lodge.

SECTION 26. No Lodge shall own and operate a building for any purpose, including the

use as a meeting place for the Lodge, without the establishment of a Masonic Association as a

voluntary corporation under the laws of the State of New Hampshire.

These Masonic Associations shall be incorporated generally in accordance with the

Articles of Association and By-laws for Masonic Associations as contained in Appendix A of

this Constitution.

Such Masonic Associations shall own and operate such buildings for the benefit of the

Lodge and its members, and shall operate in such a

29


manner as is the will of the Lodge through its elected representatives in such a Masonic

Association. Upon the adoption of this amendment, all Lodges owning and operating buildings

shall establish such a Masonic Association within 6 months of the date of adoption.

SECTION 27. The Constituent Lodges of this jurisdiction are authorized to stand as

sponsors of Chapters of the Order of DeMolay for Boys and Assemblies of the International

Order of Rainbow for Girls.

SECTION 28. As used in this section, a "Lodge Room" is defined as that room dedicated

to the conferral of Masonic degrees.

No Lodge shall rent its Lodge Room to, nor allow it to be occupied by, any Body that is

not recognized as legitimate by the regular, lawful Masonic Bodies of New Hampshire unless a

Dispensation is obtained from the Grand Master, and the intended use does not conflict with the

precepts of Freemasonry.

The conferring of any degree not recognized by the regular, lawful Masonic Bodies of

New Hampshire is prohibited in all Lodge Rooms within this jurisdiction. Excluded from this

and permitted to meet in any Lodge Room within this jurisdiction, with the Lodge's concurrence,

are the following Bodies:

A. Order of Amaranth,

B. Order of DeMolay for Boys,

C. Order of Rainbow for Girls,

D. Order of the Eastern Star,

E. Order of the Red Cross of Constantine,

F. Order of the Sovereign York Rite College of North America,

G. Order of the White Shrine,

H. Order of the York Cross of Honor,

I. The Grand College of America, Holy Royal Arch Knight

Templar Priests,

J. The Grand Council of Knight Masons of the United States of America,

K. The Grand Council, Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America

L. The High Council, Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis and

M. The Provincial Grand Lodge of the Royal Order of Scotland of the United States of

America.

SECTION 29. Any Lodge within this jurisdiction may rent or lease its facilities,

excluding the Lodge Room, for other than Masonic purposes.

SECTION 30. Constituent Lodges are forbidden to engage in lotteries, gambling

enterprises and the playing of cards for money or prizes except where the Committee on Lodge

Finances has reviewed and approved a foregoing type of activity which has been licensed by the

State of New Hampshire and is not prohibited by the ordinances of the Town in which the

activity is to take place. Such exception shall further be in compliance with guidelines

established by Grand Lodge.

30

The plans for the activity must be presented to the Grand Master by the Lodges prior to

the undertaking. A proper dispensation may be granted by the Grand Master after approval of

the activity has been recommended to him by the Committee on Lodge Finances. It is expressly

understood that all such activities must be of a lawful nature or they will be rejected without

review.

SECTION 31. The use and distribution of spirituous and malt liquors on Masonic

premises is permitted only in accordance with the following SOCIAL HOUR RULES AND

REGULATIONS which shall be posted on the Masonic premises and fully observed at all times:

A. Said liquors may be available during rentals of the banquet or dining hall to

responsible persons or groups for non-Masonic purposes;

B. Said liquors may be used during exclusive social functions of a Lodge or a

Masonically recognized Body provided such social function is held on a date and at a time when

no other Masonic or Masonically related Body is meeting in or upon the same Masonic premises

and the social function is confined to the dining or banquet hall;

C. When social functions precede any regular Masonic meeting, Stated or Special,

liquors of any kind shall not be served until the work of the evening is concluded and the Lodge

closed in due form and then only in the dining or banquet hall;

D. Notice of such social hour shall be sent to the Grand Master at least 10 days prior to

such event specifying that the requirements of the Grand Constitution, these rules and the laws

and regulations of the State of New Hampshire will be strictly adhered to and the name of the

person who will be responsible for such adherence. The Grand Master may, in his discretion,

deny the use of alcoholic beverages at the specified event or impose such special restrictions, as

he shall deem necessary;

E. When such social hour is held in conjunction with a regular or special meeting of the

sponsoring Body, no alcoholic beverage shall be served or consumed on the Masonic premises

more than one hour after the closing of such meeting. All alcoholic beverages shall be removed

from the premises before the building is closed following the social hour;

F. Only Masons and their bona fide guests may participate in such events and no charge

shall be made for admittance or for any beverage served at such events. Voluntary contributions

may be accepted;

G. No such event shall be held unless nonalcoholic beverages are available in sufficient

quantity and variety to serve those who do not wish alcoholic beverages;

31


H. Notice of such events shall be distributed in the usual manner on the regular mailing

list. Such notice shall not unduly emphasize the availability of alcoholic beverages;

I. No person shall be permitted to convert this means of refreshment into intemperance

and excess nor shall anyone who appears to be under the influence of alcoholic beverage be

permitted to participate in such events. It shall be the duty of the Master and Wardens,

individually or collectively; to initiate such disciplinary action against offenders as shall be

necessary to protect the good name and reputation of the Fraternity;

J. The Grand Master may, in his discretion, deny the use of alcoholic beverages on

particular Masonic premises for good cause shown;

K. When alcoholic beverages are to be served during rentals of the banquet or dining

hall, notice of such event shall be sent to the Grand Master prior thereto, specifying that no

Masonic or Masonically related Body is meeting on the premises at the same time and the person

who will be responsible for compliance with the requirements of the Grand Constitution, these

rules and the Laws and Regulations of the State of New Hampshire and

L. The Grand Secretary shall send copies of these regulations to the Secretary of each

Masonic Body within the jurisdiction, to the custodians of all the Masonic Halls within the

jurisdiction, and the officer in charge of all Masonic Building Associations. These regulations

shall be posted prominently in each Masonic Hall within the jurisdiction.

ARTICLE XIV

OFFICERS OF CONSTITUENT LODGES

SECTION 1. The regular officers of the Constituent Lodges are the Worshipful Master,

Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer and Secretary, who are to be elected by ballot; and the

Chaplain, Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Marshal, Senior Steward, Junior Steward and Tyler,

who are appointed by the Worshipful Master.

Also, at the annual election of officers each year, a Representative to Grand Lodge shall

be elected by ballot. A Master or Warden is not eligible to be elected as a Representative.

SECTION 2. A Constituent Lodge may have special officers such as, but not limited to,

an Assistant/Deputy Treasurer, an Assistant/Deputy Secretary, an Historian, an Organist or an

Electrician, provided it is so stated in the Lodge by-laws.

The Assistant/Deputy Treasurer and Assistant/Deputy Secretary must be elected

separately by written ballot. The other special officers are to be appointed by the Worshipful

Master.

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SECTION 3. No Brother can be elected or appointed an officer of a Lodge unless he is a

member of that Lodge. Excepted are the Tyler, Chaplain and Organist who must be a member of

some Lodge in a jurisdiction recognized by this Grand Lodge.

SECTION 4. No officer duly elected or appointed and installed can resign his office

during the term thereof nor shall his office become vacant from any cause except by death,

expulsion or suspension.

If an officer is absent, the Master can fill the vacancy by appointing a substitute for that

Communication only. An appointment must be made at each subsequent Communication.

SECTION 5. If at any time the office of Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden,

Treasurer, Assistant/Deputy Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant/Deputy Secretary or Representative

to Grand Lodge becomes vacant, the Lodge may, by dispensation from the Grand Master, fill

such vacancy by an election held at a Stated Communication. A notice thereof shall be given at

a previous Stated Communication or by written or printed notice sent to each member of the

Lodge.

SECTION 6. No Brother is eligible for the office of Master of a Lodge unless he has

served as a Warden in a regularly constituted Lodge within this or some other jurisdiction for at

least six months except in the case of a new Lodge being formed or if no such Warden can be

found.

SECTION 7. The officers of Constituent Lodges shall wear their jewels appended to a

blue velvet collar and silver chain, and shall wear a plain white apron or a white apron trimmed

with blue.

SECTION 8. Grand Lodge shall purchase a Blanket Fidelity Bond with good surety in

form and amount as shall be determined by the Grand Master and the Grand Wardens to cover

the officers of Grand Lodge and the officers of each of the Constituent Lodges.

The cost for this Blanket Fidelity Bond shall be allocated on an equal basis to Grand

Lodge and to each of the Constituent Lodges, and each Constituent Lodge shall remit its share to

the Grand Secretary upon the receipt of a bill.

SECTION 9. The officers of every Lodge in this jurisdiction shall be installed by a Past

Master of a Lodge of this or any recognized jurisdiction. Semi-public installations of officers

may be held at the pleasure of the Master without need of requesting dispensation from the

Grand Master.

SECTION 10. No Special Communication of a Lodge shall be called without the order of

the Master; in his absence, that of the Senior Warden; in the absence of both, that of the Junior

Warden; or in the absence of all three officers, that of the three oldest Master Masons who are

members of the Lodge and reside within this jurisdiction.

SECTION 11. This Article of the Constitution and the by-laws of each Constituent

Lodge, so far as they relate to the election and qualification of officers of Constituent Lodges,

shall be read at every Annual Communication of each Lodge prior to the choice of its officers.

33

SECTION 12. It is the duty of the Master, or a Brother assigned by him, to examine

candidates. In his absence, the Senior Warden becomes acting Master and as such shall perform

that duty.

SECTION 13. A Master cannot perform a Masonic Memorial Service without his Lodge

being open on the Master Mason degree. The Grand Master cannot grant a dispensation to waive

this requirement.

A Lodge of Sorrow is purely optional and may be opened at the pleasure of the

Worshipful Master, on the Master Mason degree, for the purpose of conducting Masonic

Memorial Services throughout the year. It may be opened at the Annual Communication and

must be closed in due form at the next Annual Communication. The Grand Secretary shall be

duly notified whenever a Lodge of Sorrow is opened or closed. The Lodge Secretary shall

record it in the records of the Lodge as a Special Communication and include the name of the

deceased Brother, the date and time of the service, the place where it was held and a list of all

officers attending.

A Past Master may preside at a Masonic Memorial Service at the request of the Master.

A Lodge cannot appear in public at a funeral unless the Lodge is open and participates in

a Masonic Memorial Service.

A Lodge can attend the service of a Brother performed by another organization provided

the Lodge also performs a Masonic Memorial Service at that time.

SECTION 14. Masons shall not appear in public wearing Masonic clothing unless the

Lodge is open on the Master Mason degree and Masonic work is to be performed.

SECTION 15. No one other than Master Masons and members of the Order of DeMolay

can join Masonic processions except by dispensation from the Grand Master. Pallbearers are

excluded from this provision.

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P A R T I I I

M E M B E R S H I P

ARTICLE XV

CANDIDATES AND BALLOTING

SECTION 1. By the Ancient Regulations, the physical handicap of an individual

prevented his admission into the Fraternity. Today, however, if such handicap doesn't prevent

him from being instructed in the Arts and Mysteries of Freemasonry, and does not preclude his

ability to acquire a means of subsistence, his admission will not be considered an infringement

upon the Ancient Landmarks but will be consistent with the spirit of our Institution.

SECTION 2. A petition to be made a Mason cannot be received by any Lodge before the

petitioner is eighteen years of age.

SECTION 3. A candidate may petition any Lodge in the State of New Hampshire.

SECTION 4. No petition for the degrees shall be accepted by any Lodge unless the

applicant has resided within the State of New Hampshire for at least six months next preceding

said application. However, members of the Armed Forces of the United States may petition for

the degrees provided they have resided within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of New

Hampshire for at least three months next preceding said application.

SECTION 5. An applicant for the degrees must have both a Masonic and legal residence

within the State of New Hampshire before a Lodge can accept his petition. By residing

temporarily in a place a man does not gain a Masonic residence. Residence coupled with the

intention of remaining permanently is required to make the place of residence a domicile.

SECTION 6. A petition for the degrees, for reinstatement or for affiliation may be

withdrawn by the applicant before it has been read in a Lodge and referred to a Committee of

Investigation.

SECTION 7. A petition for the degrees, for reinstatement, for affiliation by demit, or for

affiliation as a dual/plural member shall be printed or in writing in the form prescribed by Grand

Lodge. The petition shall

A. Be signed by the applicant with his full name;

B. State his date of birth, residence and occupation;

C. State whether he has ever made application to and if he has been rejected by

any Lodge in this or any jurisdiction and

D. Be accompanied by the recommendation of not less than two members of a

Constituent Lodge in this jurisdiction.

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SECTION 8. The petition for any type of membership may be presented at a Stated

Communication or, with dispensation at a Special Communication, referred to a Committee of

Investigation and, after receipt of their report, a secret ballot taken at a subsequent Stated

Communication or, with a dispensation at a Special Communication. No candidate shall be

balloted upon until a thorough investigation of his moral character is conducted. To be accepted,

the ballot must be unanimous. However, to reinstate a member who was suspended for non-

payment of dues, only a majority vote is required.

SECTION 9. The fee demanded by a Lodge for conferring the degrees of Entered

Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason shall not be less than twenty-five dollars, including

the fee to Grand Lodge. No Lodge within this jurisdiction shall take notes of hand for fees or

grant any time of credit.

SECTION 10. No Lodge within this jurisdiction shall accept the petition of anyone to be

made a Mason, or to be passed or raised, unless the prescribed fee for the degrees petitioned for

has been previously deposited in the hands of the Secretary. The Secretary may deposit the fee

with the Treasurer before an application has been voted upon and accepted. If the candidate for

the degrees is rejected when balloted upon, the fee shall be returned to him.

SECTION 11. A Lodge may receive and act upon the petition of an un-naturalized

resident of its jurisdiction.

SECTION 12. A Committee of Investigation consisting of at least two members of the

Lodge shall be appointed by the Master when any petition is received by the Lodge for any type

of membership. Each member of the committee shall be immediately notified of his

appointment by the Secretary.

It shall be the duty of each member of the committee to thoroughly investigate the

character and moral standing of the applicant. In no case shall a favorable report be made to the

Lodge unless it is certain that the character of the applicant will merit such a report.

If the Committee of Investigation deems that it cannot conduct a satisfactory character

investigation because the petitioner for any type of membership does not reside in the area, the

following action may be taken:

A. If he resides within this state, a Lodge near his residence may be asked to

conduct a courtesy character investigation;

B. If he resides outside this state a request may be made through the Grand

Secretary of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire to have a courtesy

Character investigation conducted by a Lodge near his residence.

When a man is in his dotage is entirely a question of fact. It is for the Committee of

Investigation to investigate and determine; age is not material.

When the committee's report is presented to the Lodge before balloting, if any committee

member has failed to submit a report, this fact must be made known by the Master before the

ballot is taken. If the report is not unanimous, the Master shall so state before the ballot. No

36


committee report should be accepted by the Master if a majority of the committee has not

reported. However, if the Committee of Investigation consists of only two members, both of

them must submit their reports to the Lodge before a ballot is taken.

SECTION 13. When a Committee of Investigation discovers that a petition for the

degrees has been illegally received, the Secretary should state the facts in his Lodge records and

the fee be returned to the petitioner.

SECTION 14. No petition for any type of membership shall be balloted upon until it has

laid over for the consideration of the members for at least four weeks. However, a dispensation

may be requested from the Grand Master to waive the four-week requirement.

SECTION 15. The ballot shall be fair, independent and secret.

SECTION 16. The general rule which governs Freemasonry in the admission of members

and candidates is that such admission is to be sanctioned by entire unanimity; and so sacred and

fundamental does Grand Lodge conceive this rule to be that no candidate shall be initiated in any

Lodge without a clear and unanimous private ballot in his favor. However, to reinstate a member

who was suspended for non-payment of dues, only a majority vote is required. Every member

present shall ballot on the application unless excused by the Worshipful Master.

SECTION 17. There shall be but one ballot upon the petition for the degrees and for

Lodge membership if the ballot is unanimous.

In all cases of balloting for a candidate, if not more than two negatives appear, he shall be

balloted upon for a second time. If one negative persists it shall prevent his admission.

SECTION 18. No Brother is entitled to ballot if not in the Lodge Room when the report

of the Committee of Investigation is read. However, if admitted into the Lodge, he may do so if

he is informed of the contents of the committee report before balloting.

SECTION 19. Examining a ballot by mistake during balloting on an application does not

make the ballot illegal. However, if any officer willfully examines, tampers or interferes with a

ballot before the balloting is complete, charges should be preferred against him and he should be

punished.

SECTION 20. The Master may order a new ballot upon an application before the result is

declared and before any member has left the Lodge Room.

SECTION 21. A petition for the degrees having been legally declared rejected, neither

the Master nor Grand Master has any power to order a re-ballot.

SECTION 22. A Stated Communication being held on the wrong date, the ballots taken

were illegal and the ballots should be taken at the next Stated Communication.

37


SECTION 23. The right to object to a candidate at any time before the conferring of any

degree is ancient, reasonable and constitutional, and is necessary for the promotion of harmony

and the preservation of the Fraternity.

Any member of the Lodge, after the ballot and before the conferring of the Entered

Apprentice degree, may make his objections to the Master privately without giving his reasons.

Such an objection shall be a rejection and have the same effect as if made by ballot. In such

cases the full fee shall be returned to the Petitioner. The fact of objection only, without the name

of the member making the objection, shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting.

The right of objection after ballot does not apply to a Brother who is not a member of the

Lodge.

The withdrawal of an objection cannot be considered any more than the withdrawal of a

negative ballot cast in open Lodge. The petitioner stands rejected.

SECTION 24. A petitioner for the degrees who has been rejected in any Lodge in this

state may again present his petition to any Lodge in this state after the lapse of six (6) months.

SECTION 25. The fee paid by an applicant for the degrees, whose petition is declared by

the Grand Master to have been wrongfully received and acted upon, and his decision being

approved by Grand Lodge, must be returned to the applicant.

SECTION 26. A Master of a Lodge shall not agree to a division of the fees with another

Lodge conferring one or more of the degrees except by vote of the Lodge.

SECTION 27. When a candidate does not present himself for initiation or advancement

within a reasonable length of time, he must reapply verbally or in writing to the Lodge for the

completion of the degree(s). The Master shall then satisfy himself by personal investigation, and

through a Committee of Investigation appointed by him, that the candidate is of as good

character and as worthy to receive the degree(s) as when he was elected. The Lodge may then

confer the degree(s) upon him, provided there is nothing in the by-laws of the Lodge to the

contrary.

If the Master decides to initiate or advance the candidate, he shall give notice thereof at a

Stated Communication, inform the Brethren of his intentions and state the facts in the case. If

there is any doubt in the matter, the Lodge and the Craft should have the benefit of the doubt.

SECTION 28. No Lodge in this state shall print the names of the candidates to be

balloted upon nor the names of those entitled to receive the Entered Apprentice degree.

However, on their notices Lodges may print the names of those candidates entitled to receive the

Fellow Craft and Master Mason degrees.

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ARTICLE XVI

DEGREES, HONORARY MEMBERSHIP AND LODGE VISITORS

SECTION 1. Every candidate for Masonry shall, before initiation, give an unqualified

affirmative answer to the following questions:

"Do you sincerely declare upon your honor, before these witnesses, that, unbiased by

friends, and uninfluenced by mercenary motives, you freely and voluntarily offer yourself a

candidate for the mysteries of Masonry?

"Do you sincerely declare, upon your honor, before these witnesses, that you are

prompted to solicit the privileges of Masonry by a favorable opinion conceived of the Institution,

a desire of knowledge, and a sincere wish of being serviceable to your fellow creatures?

"Do you sincerely declare, upon your honor, before these witnesses, that you will

cheerfully conform to all the ancient established usages and customs of the Fraternity?"

SECTION 2. No candidate shall be admitted to more than one degree at the same

Communication except by dispensation from the Grand Master.

Unless a dispensation has been granted by the Grand Master, four weeks must have

elapsed before a Lodge can confer

A. The Entered Apprentice degree upon an elected candidate,

B. The Fellow Craft degree upon an Entered Apprentice or

C. The Master Mason degree upon a Fellow Craft.

SECTION 3. No Lodge shall confer any of the degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry upon

more than FIVE candidates at the same Communication and by the same ceremony unless

granted a Dispensation to do so by the Grand Master. The degrees will be conferred upon no

more than ONE candidate at a time in the following instances:

A. Entered Apprentice degree, first section: ONE candidate only, up to and

Including the Master’s instruction to the candidate following candidate’s

Profession of faith. Thereafter, not more than FIVE candidates may

Proceed together through the remainder of the degree.

Master Mason degree: ONE candidate at a time during the second section of

the Degree.

SECTION 4. Any Lodge member desiring to object to the conferring of the Fellow Craft

or Master Mason degree shall state his reasons for objection in open Lodge or may cause it to be

done in his name. By a majority ballot, the Lodge shall decide whether the conferring of the

Fellow Craft or the Master Mason degree shall be stopped. If stopped, such decision shall be

held to be a valid objection to further procedure and the name of the objector and reasons for

objecting shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting.

39


After a calendar year has elapsed, a candidate thus stopped may petition in the regular

manner for the remaining degree or degrees. There are no residential requirements for such a

petition.

SECTION 5. By vote of the Lodge, an Entered Apprentice or a Fellow Craft who dies or

is stopped by objection, may be returned a portion of the fee required of him when he petitioned

the Lodge for the degrees, excepting a reasonable fee to the Lodge and the amounts due and

payable to Grand Lodge on all Entered Apprentices.

SECTION 6. No Brother shall be advanced to the Fellow Craft or Master Mason degree

without having been first examined by the Master, or his designee, in open Lodge and shown

such proficiency in the preceding degree as to repeat from memory the whole of the lesson,

together with all the means of recognition and a reasonable knowledge of their meaning.

An alternative proficiency test may be used at the discretion of the Lodge consisting of an

examination by the Master, or his designee, in open Lodge whereby the candidate shows such

proficiency in the preceding degree as to read the whole of the lesson from the lesson code book,

together with all the means of recognition and a reasonable knowledge of their meaning. This

alternative proficiency test shall be employed only on an individual candidate basis when the

candidate demonstrates an obvious memorization problem, which precludes his repeating the

whole of the lesson from memory.

At the same Communication when a Brother is raised to the Sublime Degree of Master

Mason, the Master shall instruct the newly raised Master Mason so that he is able to place the

Lights, give the Steps, Signs, Grips and Words of all three degrees and have a reasonable

understanding of the Legend of the Third Degree. Following this instruction, and before the

Lodge is closed, the newly raised Master Mason will sign the by-laws and, after having paid any

fees required by the by-laws, he will thereby become a member of the Lodge.

No Brother, whether he is a newly raised Master Mason or an Affiliate, can become a

member of a Lodge until he signs the Lodge's by-laws. However, when a Brother rejoins a

Lodge, he does not have to sign the by-laws a second time.

SECTION 7. A candidate who has only received the first section of the Fellow Craft

degree is entitled to receive the Master Mason degree one month from the date of taking the

obligation of the Fellow Craft degree.

SECTION 8. In conferring the symbolic degrees of Masonry in the Constituent Lodges,

it is not permissible to wear other than conventional clothing unless special dispensation is

granted by the Grand Master. Exempted are uniforms regularly worn by members of the Armed

Forces, Fire Departments and Law Enforcement Agencies, the period or colonial dress

traditionally worn by members of General William Whipple Military Lodge and, robes

appropriate to the work in the second section of the Master Mason Degree.

SECTION 9. Immediately preceding the beginning of the second section of the third

degree, whenever the third degree is conferred in

40


a New Hampshire Lodge, the Master or Acting Master shall cause the following edict to be read:

"The SECOND section of the MASTER MASON DEGREE should implant in the mind

of the candidate a deep and lasting impression of the fundamental teachings of Freemasonry.

Anything which detracts his attention from the reception of these ideas is foreign to the purpose

of the work in hand.

Undue roughness, acting in a manner to arouse the amusement of the Brethren, or audible

laughter from the sidelines, cannot fail to produce such distraction. It is the direction of the

Grand Lodge that the work be conducted with a dignity and decorum that the ritual envisages

and that the candidate has a right to expect."

Omission of this reading on the part of the Worshipful Master, or failure to comply with

its intent on the part of any officer or member, may become the basis of a reprimand or other

disciplinary action.

The Secretary of each Constituent Lodge shall record in the minutes the fact that this

edict has or has not been read.

SECTION 10. No Lodge shall encourage, promote or permit the delivery of any Masonic

degree work or ritualistic lectures, which have not been sanctioned and authorized by Grand

Lodge except by special dispensation of the Grand Master.

Provided neither jurisdiction prohibits it and a dispensation is granted by both Grand

Masters, nothing in this section prohibits:

A. Lodges from other jurisdictions visiting New Hampshire and presenting their ritual

work and lectures to either their own or our candidates or New Hampshire Lodges from

presenting our ritual work and lectures to the other jurisdiction's candidates or;

B. New Hampshire Lodges visiting other jurisdictions and presenting our ritual work and

lectures to either our own or their candidates.

The conferring of a degree for the accommodation of a Lodge in another Grand

Jurisdiction can only be done through and with the approval of the Grand Masters of the Grand

Lodges of both jurisdictions.

No Lodge in this jurisdiction can officially deal directly with a Lodge in another Grand

Jurisdiction regarding the conferring of degrees until both Grand Masters have given their

approval of such degree work.

SECTION 11. A Master may invite and permit any Master Mason to assist in any part of

the work of any degree.

SECTION 12. No Lodge shall perform any degree work, or permit it to be done by any

degree team, in areas outside the Lodge Room without first obtaining a dispensation from the

Grand Master.

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SECTION 13. Life membership

A) Life membership shall be permitted under the terms and conditions of

the Regulations and By-laws as specified in the Life Membership Manual

of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire and as shown, for reference only,

in Appendix B of this Grand Constitution.

B) Each Constituent Lodge may elect to permit Life Membership as

described in the Regulations. The election to permit Life Membership

shall be by vote of the Lodge and shall be reflected in the Lodge By-laws

as provided in the Regulations. No Lodge or member shall be required to

participate in any program under this section.

C) An election to permit Life Membership may be revoked at any time by

amending the Lodge By-laws, provided however that such action shall

have no effect upon any Mason, who became a Life Member of such

Lodge, at a time when the Lodge permitted Life membership.

SECTION 14. By a unanimous secret ballot taken at a Stated Communication, and

subject to the approval of the Grand Master, a Lodge may elect to Honorary Membership any

Master Mason in good standing who holds regular membership in another Lodge. No residential

requirements are necessary for Honorary Membership.

An Honorary Member shall not be required to pay dues to the Lodge in which he holds

Honorary Membership. He shall not be permitted to vote in the Lodge nor shall he be permitted

to hold any office except that of Chaplain, Organist or Tyler.

A Lodge shall not be required to pay a per capita tax or any Grand Lodge assessment for

an Honorary Member.

To maintain his honorary status, a Brother must remain in good standing in any Lodge to

which he pays dues.

Honorary Membership may be terminated at the request of the Honorary Member.

SECTION 15. By a majority written ballot taken at a Stated Communication, and subject

to the approval of the Grand Master, a Lodge may elect a regular member of said Lodge as an

Honorary Past Master.

SECTION 16. The right of a Brother to visit a Lodge is not limitless. The Master

controls the admission of visitors and has the power to exclude them. If a member objects to the

admission of a visitor, the visitor should be excluded by the Master if it appears that the harmony

of the Lodge would be disturbed by his admission.

A visiting Brother has the right to demand the privilege of examining the charter of the

Lodge, which he desires to visit.

There is no obligation to admit a visitor who passes a satisfactory examination but the

Master should not subject him to examination if he does not intend to admit him.

42

SECTION 17. No visitor to a Lodge shall be examined for admission until he exhibits to

the examining committee documentary evidence issued to him by his Lodge and the Grand

Lodge which certifies him to be a Master Mason in good standing. Such documentation shall be

of the type which is normally used and required to be exhibited under the rules and regulations of

the Grand Lodge in which jurisdiction he is a member.

No visitor shall be examined unless he is a member of a Lodge chartered by this Grand

Lodge or by a Grand Lodge, which is recognized by this Grand Lodge.

No visitor shall be admitted to a Lodge without an examination unless he is vouched for

by a member of the Lodge as a Master Mason in good standing and as a member of a Lodge

chartered by this Grand Lodge or by some Grand Lodge recognized by this Grand Lodge.

No non-affiliated Mason shall be examined for admission to a Lodge as a visitor without

first exhibiting either a demit, issued within the last twelve months, from the last Lodge of which

he was a member showing that he is a Master Mason in good standing or a duly authenticated

certificate, issued within the last twelve months, from the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge

within whose jurisdiction he held membership showing that he is a Master Mason in good

standing. Such a visitor shall not be admitted unless the Lodge of which he was last a member

was chartered by this Grand Lodge or by a Grand Lodge that is recognized as genuine by this

Grand Lodge.

ARTICLE XVII

DEMITS, WAIVERS, AFFILIATION,

NON-PAYMENT OF DUES AND REINSTATEMENT

SECTION 1. A member of a Lodge requesting in writing over his signature, or verbally

doing so in open Lodge, that he be granted a demit, is by right entitled to be given the same if his

indebtedness to the Lodge has been paid or remitted and if no charges are pending against him.

SECTION 2. Any Brother desiring to transfer his membership from his Lodge to another

Lodge within this state, or to transfer it to a Lodge in another jurisdiction which permits such

transfer, may apply to his Lodge for a recommendation to such other Lodge. If his indebtedness

to the Lodge has been paid or remitted and if no charges are pending against him, the transfer

shall be granted in writing under the seal of the Lodge and shall be presented with his application

for membership to the other Lodge. If elected to membership in the new Lodge, his membership

in his old Lodge shall cease from that time. If not elected, his membership in the old Lodge shall

remain unaffected.

The Secretary of the Lodge to which application for membership is made shall

immediately notify the other Lodge of the decision of his Lodge on such application.

SECTION 3. Any Master Mason who voluntarily remains non-affiliated for the term of

one year or more shall not have the right to visit any Lodge, join any Masonic procession,

receive relief from Lodge funds or

43


be buried with Masonic honors. However, in the case of burial, the Grand Master may issue a

dispensation if he deems it to be for the good of Freemasonry.

SECTION 4. Members of Constituent Lodges of this state may, if they desire, become

members of two or more Lodges within this state, or any other Grand Jurisdiction, which permits

such dual/plural membership. When any member of a Constituent Lodge shall avail himself of

the provisions of this section, the Lodges with which he affiliates shall notify each other. No

member may hold an elected, progressive office in more than one Lodge at the same time nor

may any member serve as Secretary of more than one Lodge at the same time.

SECTION 5. A demitted Brother may apply to any Lodge in the jurisdiction at a Stated

Communication thereof for membership therein by affiliation whenever he sees fit. Lapse of

time from demission to application for affiliation is not a bar to the reception of a demit.

There are no residential requirements on a petition for affiliation by demit or on a petition

for affiliation as a dual/plural member.

In all cases where a petition for affiliation is submitted to a Constituent Lodge, either for

dual/plural membership or by demit, prior to referring the petition to a Committee of

Investigation, the Lodge shall verify the applicants current membership or the validity of the

demit through the Office of the Grand Secretary of New Hampshire.

The application of a demitted Brother or a petitioner for affiliation as a dual/plural

member must be referred to a Committee of Investigation, which shall report at a subsequent

Stated Communication of the Lodge. The Brother may then be admitted to membership by

unanimous secret ballot by the members present.

A demitted Brother or a petitioner for affiliation as a dual/plural member whose

application for membership to a Constituent Lodge has been rejected by that Lodge, may present

another application for membership to said Lodge at the next Stated Communication.

SECTION 6. A man who has joined a Lodge not officially recognized by this Grand

Lodge may make application to a Lodge in this state, provided his application is made in

accordance with the Grand Constitution of New Hampshire and the by-laws of the Lodge to

which it is made, and provided further that he renounces all allegiance to and severs connection

with the unrecognized Lodge which he had previously joined.

SECTION 7. The Grand Master shall have the power to issue a dispensation granting a

waiver of jurisdiction over a petitioner for the degrees, who has legal Masonic residence within

this state and wishes to join a Lodge in another jurisdiction, after receiving a request for a waiver

from the jurisdiction where the petitioner wishes to become a member.

If a waiver of jurisdiction is refused, it is not to be considered a rejection.

SECTION 8. If any person who resides outside the state wishes to petition for the

degrees in any Lodge in this state, he shall petition

44

that Lodge. That Lodge shall then ask Grand Lodge to request the Grand Lodge of the

jurisdiction in which the petitioner resides to grant a waiver of jurisdiction over such petitioner.

This waiver must be obtained before such petition may be referred to a Committee of

Investigation.

SECTION 9. A waiver of jurisdiction permitting the reception of and action upon a

petition for the degrees is limited to the particular petition for which it is granted, and if the

petition is rejected, another petition cannot be received from the rejected petitioner without first

obtaining another waiver of jurisdiction.

SECTION 10. A Lodge has jurisdiction over a petitioner for the degrees when he moves

out of the state from the time when the petition was read in the Lodge and referred to a

Committee of Investigation.

SECTION 11. No Lodge shall suspend or expel a member from the rights of Masonry for

non-payment of dues. The penalty for such delinquency shall be suspension from membership

for an indefinite period.

As soon as practical after August 1 of each year, the Secretary of the Lodge shall serve a

written notice, signed by him, upon any member whose dues to the Lodge are unpaid for two

years as of August 1, to the effect that unless his dues are paid to the Lodge or are remitted by it

within ninety days from the date thereof, the Lodge, at its next Stated Communication after the

expiration of said ninety days, may vote upon the question of whether to suspend him from

membership in the Lodge for an indefinite period.

If the member resides within the vicinity of the Lodge, the Secretary shall serve the

ninety-day notice upon him by either giving said notice to him, by leaving it at his last and usual

place of abode or by mailing it to his last known mailing address. If the residence of the member

is unknown, or if he does not live within the vicinity of the Lodge, service shall be made upon

him by sending the original notice by first class or certified mail to his last known mailing

address.

If the dues of a member so notified are not paid or remitted by the end of ninety days, the

Lodge may, by a majority vote at the next Stated Communication, suspend the delinquent

member for an indefinite period. The Secretary shall record the action of the Lodge upon the

case and shall, if the delinquent member has been suspended from membership for an indefinite

period, send to him by first class or certified mail, to his last known mailing address, a certificate

of suspension from membership in the Lodge for an indefinite period for non-payment of dues,

under the seal of the Lodge and signed by the Secretary. He shall make a record of the fact that

said certificate was issued and was mailed to the delinquent member and he shall remove the

delinquent's name from the roll of members.

SECTION 12. A Brother who has been suspended from membership for non-payment of

dues shall not be admitted to membership in any other Lodge until his dues are paid or remitted

and he has been restored to membership. A Brother who holds dual/plural membership, and who

shall be expelled or suspended from membership for any cause by a vote taken

45


in any Lodge within or without this state, will automatically be expelled or suspended from

membership in any other Lodge in this state in which he holds membership without any vote

being taken. The date of such expulsion or suspension shall be the same as that when the same

action was taken by the original Lodge.

SECTION 13. A Brother shall not be reinstated in any Lodge from which he has been

expelled or suspended until he has been reinstated in the Lodge from which he was originally

expelled or suspended. When he has been reinstated by a vote of the Lodge from which he was

originally expelled or suspended, he will automatically, without a vote being taken, be reinstated

in any other Lodge in this state in which he held dual/plural membership. The date of such

reinstatement shall be the same as that when the same action was taken by the original Lodge.

Whenever a Brother holding dual/plural membership is expelled or suspended from

membership in a Lodge, the Secretary will notify the Secretary of any other Lodge in this state in

which he holds membership giving the date when such action was taken. When he is reinstated

in the Lodge from which he was originally expelled or suspended, the Secretary will again notify

any other Lodge in which he held dual/plural membership giving the date of reinstatement to

membership.

SECTION 14. A Brother who has been suspended from Lodge membership for non-

payment of dues may be restored to membership by a majority vote of the members present

when his application is acted upon by the Lodge from which he was originally suspended. Over

his signature he shall request that he be restored, first having paid the amount that was due from

him at the time of his suspension, or any balance remaining after the Lodge may have remitted

all or any portion of such amount. The application shall be read at a Stated Communication,

referred to a Committee of Investigation and its report made at a subsequent Stated

Communication before a vote for reinstatement to membership is taken.

There are no residential requirements on a petition for reinstatement to membership.

If the application for reinstatement from a Brother who has been suspended for non-

payment of dues is rejected by the Lodge, he may submit another application for reinstatement at

the next Stated Communication.

SECTION 15. The Grand Master, subject to the approval of the Jurisprudence

Committee, shall have the right to exonerate any member of a Lodge in this jurisdiction, who is

suspended for non-payment- of-dues in another Grand jurisdiction from like suspension in this

jurisdiction, he deeming such action to be prudent and in the best interest of the Brother and the

Craft. Exoneration under the provisions of this section shall be irrevocable for the particular

instance for which it was granted.

SECTION 16. An expulsion or suspension of a Brother from a Masonic or Masonically

affiliated organization shall not operate as an expulsion or suspension from the Lodge of which

he is a member.

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PART IV

MISCELLANEOUS

ARTICLE XVIII

TRIALS AND PENALTIES

SECTION 1. Whenever a member of a Lodge in this jurisdiction, or a Brother sojourning

or residing in this jurisdiction, shall be accused of any offense, which, if proved, would subject

him to expulsion or suspension from the rights and privileges of Masonry, he shall have the right

to a fair and impartial trial. Waiving this right, he thereby accepts the judgment of Grand Lodge.

The proceedings in the premises shall be conducted substantially as follows:

A. The Grand Master shall appoint a board of five members, all of whom shall

be Master Masons, to be styled Commissioners on Trials and which will have

jurisdiction over all Masonic offenses except non-payment of dues. Three

members shall constitute a quorum.

B. The Commissioners shall select one of their number to be their Secretary.

C. The Grand Master shall name a member of the Board to serve as its chairman.

D. One Commissioner shall be appointed annually by the Grand Master for a

term of five years.

E. Vacancies on the Board caused by death, resignation, removal from the

Jurisdiction or removal from the Board by vote of Grand Lodge or by action of

the Grand Master shall be filled by the Grand Master for the unexpired part of the

term.

F. If for any reason any member of the Board shall be deemed by the Grand

Master to be disqualified to sit upon a case to be heard, the Grand Master shall

name some qualified Master Mason who shall serve temporarily in that one

instance.

SECTION 2. The following rules shall be observed:

RULE 1. The accusation shall be made in writing to the Lodge with

specifications of the offense signed by a Master Mason. It shall be filed with the

Secretary and acted upon at the next Stated Communication.

RULE 2. If the Lodge shall determine that the charges require investigating, the

Secretary shall transmit an attested copy thereof under seal of the Lodge to the

chairman of the Commissioners on Trials who shall cause the accused to be

served with an attested copy, together with a summons to appear at a time and

47

place to be named therein, and make such answer to the charges and

specifications as he may desire.

In a case in which the moral character of the respondent is involved before a

court of competent jurisdictional judgment and when there has been rendered a

finding of guilty upon a felony or misdemeanor charge against a Brother of a New

Hampshire Lodge of Masons or a Mason who is sojourning or resident in this

jurisdiction, it shall be prima facie evidence of conduct unbecoming a Mason. If

it were so determined by a Lodge that such conduct warrants it to accuse and

charge said Mason accordingly for such reprehensible or un-Masonic conduct, it

shall proceed accordingly:

A. Said Lodge shall proceed as required under RULE 1 by deriving

from the court records relating to said Mason, certified copies of the

charge, plea and final judgment in such case; and

B. The Lodge shall then promptly transmit the same directly to the Grand

Master without processing it through the Trial Commissioners; and

C. The Grand Master may immediately suspend said Mason summarily

until the next Communication, Annual or Semiannual, of Grand Lodge, at

which he shall present the information to it for action on indefinite

suspension or expulsion where so recommended by the Grand Master's

information.

RULE 3. The summons shall be signed by the Secretary of the Commissioners

and shall be served upon the accused at least fourteen days before return day. The

copy of charges and specifications shall be verified by the Secretary of the

Commissioners and served upon the accused at least fourteen days before return

day. If the residence of the accused is outside the jurisdiction, or unknown,

service may be made by certified mail at his last known place of abode at least

thirty days before the time appointed for trial. Service and return thereof shall be

in accordance with such regulations as may be made by the Commissioners and

shall be conclusive.

RULE 4. The accused may appear in person, or by counsel, and his answer shall

be filed in writing with the chairman seasonably before the trial.

RULE 5. Appeal from the action of the Lodge, whenever its decision shall be

adverse to investigation, may be had to the Grand Master who, in his discretion,

may send the case to the Commissioners for trial or make such other order as he

shall deem proper.

RULE 6. Witnesses at the trial, if Masons, shall testify on their honor as such;

other witnesses shall testify on their honor.

RULE 7. A record of the proceedings, including the evidence, the finding of the

facts thereon and the sentence

48

imposed, signed by the Commissioners sitting in the case, shall be transmitted to

the Grand Secretary to be placed on file and submitted to Grand Lodge at the next

Communication, Annual or Semiannual. The decision of the Commissioners and

the sentence imposed, if approved, shall stand as the judgment of Grand Lodge.

However, a new trial may be directed by Grand Lodge or such order be made as

shall be deemed just.

RULE 8. The Commissioners shall employ a stenographer and shall cause all of

the evidence given in every trial to be thus reported for the use of Grand Lodge.

The Grand Treasurer shall pay the stenographer for services and expenses after a

bill for the same has been approved by both the chairman of the Commissioners

and the Grand Master. The Commissioners shall be allowed their expenses and a

reasonable compensation for their services, to be paid by the Grand Treasurer

after approval by the Grand Master. Other expenses resulting from such

proceedings and trials shall be assessed by the Commissioners upon the Lodge, or

Grand Lodge, as may be deemed equitable and approved by the Grand Master.

RULE 9. If the accused does not appear at the trial in person, or by counsel, or

file in writing a plea in proper form, the chairman shall cause a plea of not guilty

to be entered in his behalf and shall appoint some suitable Brother to act for him

as counsel, whose duties shall be to see that the rights of the accused are

observed, and his defense, if any, properly made.

RULE 10. If the witnesses cannot attend the trial, their depositions may be taken

and read as evidence. Reasonable notice of the time and place of the caption shall

be given in writing to the opposite party by the person appointed to take the same.

The deponent shall give his testimony on his honor. Both parties may be present

with their counsel and the customary mode of taking depositions shall be

followed. Objections to competency may be noted and the question determined

by the Commissioners. The deposition having been reduced to writing shall be

read to and then signed by the deponent, sealed up in his presence and delivered

unopened to the Commissioners.

RULE 11. The manner of conducting all trials shall be under the direction of the

Commissioners, subject to the rules of Masonic law and practice and such

regulations as have been from time to time established by Grand Lodge so far as

they are applicable. The Commissioners shall file with Grand Lodge their report

of the proceedings in every case within fifteen days after the determination of the

trial and the Grand Secretary shall immediately notify both parties of such filing.

RULE 12. An appeal to Grand Lodge may be had on matters of law. Such appeal

must be taken within fifteen days from the time of filing the report and a copy

setting forth the ground thereof served upon the adverse party at least ten days

prior to the next Communication, Annual or Semiannual, of Grand Lodge.

49

RULE 13. The Commissioners on Trials shall have authority to determine the

time and place of trials and may adjourn the same as they shall deem expedient.

SECTION 3. Masonic punishments are expulsion, suspension for an indefinite period,

suspension for a definite period and reprimand. Such punishments shall be administered as

Grand Lodge or the Grand Master may order.

SECTION 4. A Lodge or Brother offending against any law or regulation of the Craft or

Grand Lodge to the breach of which no penalty is attached shall, at the discretion of Grand

Lodge, be subject to reprimand, suspension for a definite or indefinite time or expulsion.

SECTION 5. The application for restoration shall be in writing, signed by the applicant

and presented to the Lodge at a Stated Communication when a time shall be appointed for its

consideration at some Stated Communication. Every application for restoration shall contain the

duration and cause of suspension or expulsion and shall be referred to a committee for

investigation. Such committee shall state in its report the reasons for its recommendations to the

Lodge.

SECTION 6. No Mason whose suspension or expulsion has been approved by this Grand

Lodge shall be restored to the privileges of Masonry except by a unanimous secret ballot in the

Lodge of which he was a member when so expelled or suspended, and with the consent and

approbation of Grand Lodge.

SECTION 7. Every Lodge is required to keep a careful watch over the conduct of its

members. Should any member of a Lodge be addicted to profanity, intemperance, lewdness or

gambling, or be charged with any other violation of his Masonic duties and obligations, it shall

be the duty of such Lodge to institute immediate inquiry into the facts of the case. If, in the

opinion of the Lodge, the charges against any Brother should be investigated, the Lodge shall

proceed and prosecute the same in the manner provided in the foregoing rules.

SECTION 8. Constituent Lodges have power and may take cognizance of any immoral

or un-Masonic conduct of a sojourning Brother; that is, in cases where the offender is a member

of any Lodge in the United States, the Lodge in which he is accused of immoral or un-Masonic

conduct may inquire into and report the same to the Lodge where he is a member so that he may

be tried in his Lodge. In cases where the accused is not a member of any such Lodge, the Lodge

within whose jurisdiction the offense was committed may proceed as if he were a member.

SECTION 9. It shall not be competent for a Lodge to try its Master. Any five members

of the Lodge, or the District Deputy Grand Master of the District in which the Lodge is located,

may impeach him before the Grand Master who shall order an investigation of the charges. If in

his opinion they are well founded and of a character to justify the proceeding, he may suspend

the delinquent and summon him to appear at the next Communication, Annual or Semiannual, of

Grand Lodge to show cause why he should not be dealt with according to the rules and

regulations established in such cases.

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SECTION 10. When a Brother has been adjudged innocent of the offense with which he

was charged, Grand Lodge shall reverse or abrogate any sentence suspending or expelling him

from all the rights and privileges of Freemasonry. He shall thereby be restored to all such rights

and privileges including membership in the Lodge from which he was suspended or expelled.

SECTION 11. Grand Lodge has the power to try and punish its own members for any

offense.

In case of a complaint against any member of Grand Lodge, Master of any Constituent

Lodge, or any Lodge, the Grand Master may refer the same to the Commissioners on Trials, The

Commissioners shall notify the parties and proceed with the hearing agreeable to the rules for the

regulation of Constituent Lodges when applicable. They shall promptly return to the Grand

Master attested copies of all their proceedings and findings in both matters of law and fact with

any recommendation they deem proper.

Upon receipt of the Commissioners' report, the Grand Master may either restore or

suspend the accused pending Grand Lodge action at the next Communication, Annual or

Semiannual, he having submitted the Commissioners' report in advance.

In any prosecution against Lodges or their Masters, before a trial is held, the Grand

Master, or any other officer serving as Grand Master, shall seasonably appoint suitable counsel

or managers to prosecute or substantiate the charges so preferred.

In all proceedings relative to the trial of a Lodge of which the Grand Master is a member,

the next officer in rank, who is not a member or otherwise incapacitated, shall act as Grand

Master.

SECTION 12. No Lodge or any member thereof shall, without permission of Grand

Lodge, publish or in any way make known the expulsion of a Brother except to the Fraternity or

within the Lodge, other than to state verbally the fact whenever the honor, interests or reputation

of Masonry may seem to demand it.

ARTICLE XIX

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

SECTION 1. The following may be awarded by this Grand Lodge:

A. "The Masonic Veteran's Medal" and "Fifty Year Lapel Pin" shall be given by the

Grand Master directly, or through any representative authorized by him, to any Brother

who has been, or may hereafter be, in good standing in a Constituent Lodge for fifty

years.

B. "The Major General John Sullivan Distinguished Service Medal" may be given by the

Grand Master directly, or through any representative authorized by him, to any Brother

who, in the judgment of the Grand Master, has rendered unusual and distinguished

service to the Constituent Lodge of which he is a member.

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This award may be again presented "in Silver or Gold", to the same recipient, if in the

judgment of the Grand Master, the recipient has continued to exhibit the same dedication

and service to the Constituent Lodge of which he is a member, provided that a span of no

less than 10 years has passed between the initial presentation and the Silver Medal and a

further span of no less than 10 years between the Silver and the Gold Medal.

The awards are to be called "The Major General John Sullivan Distinguished Service

Medal in Silver" and "The Major General John Sullivan Distinguished Service Medal in

Gold" respectively."

C. "The Jeremy L. Cross Medal" may be given by vote of Grand Lodge, or by the Grand

Master, to any distinguished Brother of this or any other jurisdiction as is deemed worthy

of special Masonic recognition by this Grand Lodge.

SECTION 2. The following certificates may be awarded by this Grand Lodge in recognition of

Masonic membership:

A. A "Sixty Year Certificate and Sixty Year Lapel Pin" shall be given by the Grand

Master directly, or through any representative authorized by him, to any Brother who has

been, or may hereafter be, in good standing in a Constituent Lodge for sixty years.

B. A "Seventy Year Certificate and Seventy Year Lapel Pin" shall be given by the Grand

Master directly, or through any representative authorized by him, to any Brother who has

been, or may hereafter be, in good standing in a Constituent Lodge for seventy years.

C. A "Seventy-five Year Certificate" shall be given by the Grand Master directly, or

through any representative authorized by him, to any Brother who has been, or may

hereafter be, in good standing in a Constituent Lodge for seventy-five years.

Should a Brother in good standing as in "C." above, achieve five more years of

membership, a Membership Award may be given at the Grand Master's discretion, of such form

as shall be deemed suitable.

51-A


SECTION 2-A. A “New Hampshire Masonic Centenarian Award” shall be given by the

Grand Master, directly or through any representative authorized by him, to any Brother who shall

reach the age of one hundred years, on or as soon after the Brother’s birthday as may be

practical.

This award shall be in the form of a Plaque, and shall also consist of a larger plaque

retained and displayed in the Grand Lodge Office containing the names of all receipients of this

award, along with the birth and death dates as ultimately applicable, and other pertinent Masonic

information.

SECTION 3. A “Twenty-Five Year Lapel Pin” or a “Forty Year Lapel Pin”, to be

provided only by Grand Lodge, may be given by a Constituent Lodge, at its own expense, to any

Brother who has been, or may hereafter be, in good standing in a Constituent Lodge for twenty-

five or forty years respectively.

SECTION 4. The presentation of membership recognition awards noted in Section 1,

Subsection A; and Section 2, Subsections A through C of this Article, need not be confined to or

after the exact anniversary date but may take place anytime within a year prior to the anniversary

date.

SECTION 5. Lewis Recognition

A Master Mason who is a member in good standing of a New Hampshire Lodge, whose

father, grandfather or great grandfather at the time of his Raising, or at the time of their deaths,

were members in good standing of a New Hampshire Lodge, or a Lodge of a Grand Lodge in

amity with the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, is entitled to wear an emblem or insignia, or

receive a certificate, recognizing the Masonic family continuity. The emblem or insignia may

have engraved thereon bars, or the certificate have written thereon, the names of the Master

Mason, his progenitors and the dates each became a Master Mason. The emblem, insignia or

certificate, may be presented to him by his Lodge, and the Lodge may invite the Grand Master or

the District Deputy Grand Master to be in attendance for the presentation. Certification of

eligibility for the Lewis recognition shall be provided for and supplied by the Grand Lodge

Office. The total cost of the emblem, insignia or certificate award shall be borne by the

requestor and must be obtained from the Grand Lodge Office.

SECTION 6. Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award

Any Master Mason who is a member in good standing of a New Hampshire Lodge may

be nominated to receive the Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award, recognizing his

service to the Boy Scouts of America. This award was founded by, and is ultimately

administered through, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. To be nominated, a Brother must meet

the following criteria:

A. Be a registered Scouter and active in a Scout unit, district, council, or national

affiliate, and has displayed outstanding dedication to the Scouting program.

B. Be nominated by a Brother and subsequently approved by the Master of the

nominee’s Lodge.

51-B


C. The Application for the Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award shall be

supplied through, and administered by, the Office of the Grand Secretary.

D. The total cost of the emblem, insignia and certificate award shall be borne by the

requesting Lodge.

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ARTICLE XX

LEGITIMATE FREEMASONRY

SECTION 1. For the purpose of preserving the integrity of our organization and making

known to the members of the Fraternity its position in relation to the Bodies which it regards as

rightful and legitimate, Grand Lodge hereby declares and recognizes as lawful, regular and

Masonic the following designated Bodies and their subordinates established within its

jurisdiction:

The General Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, International,

The Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons of the several states and territories of the United

States, those Grand Chapters which are recognized by the Grand Chapter, Royal Arch

Masons of New Hampshire and

The Royal Arch Chapters and other Bodies under their jurisdiction.

The General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons, International,

The Grand Councils of Cryptic Masons (Royal and Select Masters) of the several states

and territories of the United States, those Grand Councils which are recognized by the

Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of New Hampshire and

The Councils of Cryptic Masons (Royal and Select Master) under their jurisdiction.

The Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America,

The Grand Commanderies of Knights Templar of the several states and territories of the

United States, those Grand Commanderies which are recognized by the Grand

Commandery of Knights Templar of New Hampshire and

The Commanderies of Knights Templar under their jurisdiction.

The Supreme Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the

Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America,

The Supreme Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the

Southern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America and

The various Bodies under the jurisdiction of said Supreme Councils.

SECTION 2. The use of the word "Masonic" is strictly prohibited except in connection

with those organizations decreed by Grand Lodge to be Masonic. Excluded from this section is

the "Masonic Motorcycle Club International" and "Widows Sons Masonic Riders Association

International".

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ARTICLE XXI

SECTION 1.

INSTALLATION

OF

THE OFFICERS OF

THE MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE

OF THE

ANCIENT AND HONORABLE FRATERNITY

OF

FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS

OF

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE Article V, Section 2, of the Grand Constitution:

"The officers of Grand Lodge shall be elected and appointed for the term of one year and

shall be installed at the Annual Communication of Grand Lodge. The installation shall be

conducted by such Past Grand Master as the Grand Master may invite to perform that service. In

the absence of any Past Grand Master, and in the absence of the retiring Grand Master, the

installation shall be conducted by any Past District Deputy Grand Master who may be present."

(Grand Lodge, being at Refreshment, shall be called to Labor by the Installing Officer or

by such Past Grand Master as he shall appoint for that service.)

(If the installing suite is not in the Lodge Room at the call from Refreshment to Labor, the

Past Grand Master in the East shall instruct his Grand Marshal to conduct such

installing suite to the Lodge Room.)

(The installing suite shall consist of the Installing Past Grand Master, Installing Grand

Marshal, Installing Grand Chaplain and Installing Grand Secretary.)

Installing Officer - Worshipful Grand Marshal, you will conduct the elected and

appointed officers to the Lodge Room.

(The officers are seated in a line on the north side of the Altar with the Grand Master-

elect in the seat nearest the East with the line extending toward the West. The District

Deputies are seated on the south side of the Altar in two rows extending toward the West

from the Grand Secretary's station. The District Education Officers are seated prior to

the installation, on the south side of the Altar in two rows extending toward the West

from the Junior Warden's station.)

Installing Officer - We are taught that no man should ever enter upon any great or

important undertaking without first invoking the blessing of God; we will, therefore, unite with

our Grand Chaplain in an address to the Throne of Grace. Worshipful Grand Marshal, you will

conduct the Grand Chaplain to the Altar.

Grand Chaplain - (Prayer.)

Music - (Optional)

54

Installing Officer - Right Worshipful Grand Secretary, you will announce the names of

those who have been elected and appointed to office.

Installing Officer - Members of this Grand Lodge, you have heard the names of those

Brethren who have been selected as officers of your Grand Lodge for the ensuing year. If any

Brother present knows of any just cause why any of the Brethren should not be installed into

office he will make it known now.

Installing Officer - Worshipful Grand Marshal, you will present to me the Grand Master-

elect of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of New Hampshire.

Grand Marshal - Most Worshipful, I have the honor to present to you for installation

Brother ..... who has been duly elected Grand Master of Masons in New Hampshire. The exalted

station, to which the free choice of his Brethren has called him, involves great responsibilities. It

elevates him to a position from which the powers and prerogatives may depart with the

expiration of his term of service, but the honor and dignity, except by his own act, never. I have

full confidence to believe that he is well qualified for this high office and I doubt not that he will

discharge his duty with fidelity.

Installing Officer - Worshipful Grand Marshal, you will conduct our Brother to the Altar,

there to receive the benefit of prayer and to take upon himself his official obligation.

(The Installing Grand Marshal conducts the Grand Master-elect to the Altar. The

Installing Officer and the Installing Grand Chaplain go to the Altar together.)


Installing Officer - You will say "I", with your name, and repeat (after me) your official

obligation, (It is suggested that the Grand Master memorize the obligation.) do solemnly

promise on the honor of a Mason, in the presence of Almighty God and before the Grand Lodge

of the State of New Hampshire, that to the best of my ability I will faithfully, honestly and

impartially perform the duties of the office of Grand Master and that I will conform to and

maintain the Constitution, laws, rules and regulations of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of

New Hampshire, and the ancient usages, customs and Landmarks of Free and Accepted Masons,

and at all times enforce a strict obedience thereto.

Music - (Optional)

(After the Installing Officer and the Installing Grand Chaplain have returned to their

stations, the Installing Grand Marshal escorts the Grand Master-elect to the East.)

Installing Officer - Most Worshipful Brother, for from henceforth you are entitled to be

thus hailed - in inducting you to your chair of office as a symbol of the commencement of your

government over the Craft, I am performing a most solemn duty. By immemorial usage and the

irrevocable Landmarks of Masonry you are invested, as Grand Master

55

of Masons, with powers and prerogatives which are well-nigh absolute. The interests of the

Craft are placed in your hands during your term of office. The good resolutions, which I doubt

not that you have formed in your own mind that these powers shall not be abused or perverted by

you, I would gladly strengthen by a word of admonition, which it will not become me to utter.

The very consciousness of the possession of a great power will ever make a generous mind

cautious and gentle in its exercise. To rule has been the lot of many and requires neither the

strength of intellect nor the soundness of judgment, but to rule well has been the fortune of but

few, and may well be the object of an honorable ambition.

The office of Grand Master is one of great antiquity and respect, and is one of the highest

dignities to which a man may aspire. As its incumbent, to rule well, you should possess and

practice several important requisites, including the rules and regulations and those Ancient

Charges which, as Master of your Lodge, you promised to support and maintain. It now remains

for me but to clothe you with the external insignia of your rank and authority.

It is with great pleasure that I invest you with this jewel of your office, the symbolic

meaning of which will now have a new and striking significance to you.

THE GRAND MASTER'S APRON

(The Grand Master's Apron is presented the first year that he is installed into office. It is

usually presented by the Past Grand Master who appointed the Grand Master-elect to the

Grand Lodge line, or by such other Past Grand Master whom theGrand Master-elect

shall designate.)

Installing Officer - Most Worshipful Brother, the Masonic Apron is a badge of honorable

labor and the right to wear it is given only to tried and trusted men. You have proved your right

to wear this Grand Master's Apron, and it is an extreme pleasure for me to invest you with it.

THE GRAND MASTER'S JEWEL

(The Grand Master's Jewel is presented the first year that he is installed into office. It is

usually presented by the retiring Grand Master, or by such Past Grand Master whom the

Grand Master-elect shall delegate.)

Installing Officer - Most Worshipful Brother, it is with great pleasure that I now entrust

to your care this Grand Master's Jewel which is customarily worn by each Grand Master of

Masons in New Hampshire during his term of office.

May you always wear this distinctive emblem of the high office you now hold with the

same pride and pleasure that your predecessors have worn it and may you be ever conscious of

the awesome responsibilities which are incumbent upon you as Grand Master.

56


THE GRAND MASTER'S HAT

(The presentation of the Grand Master's Hat is optional, but it should be made if the

Grand Master-elect wishes that it be done.)

Installing Officer - Most Worshipful Brother, by ancient usage and custom, the Tile, or

tall silk hat, has ever been regarded as a symbol of dignity and high office. And though it is your

right to cover or to remain uncovered during the meetings of this Grand Lodge, as you may see

fit, since it is traditional in the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire for the Grand Master to wear the

Tile, I now present it to you (The Grand Master-elect receives the hat and places it upon his

head) and urge you to wear it, and to be ever reminded of the dignity and importance of the

office you now hold.

I also present to you this gavel as the potent emblem of Masonic power which in your

hands should never be sounded in vain. (The Grand Master is conducted to his station and

seated.)

I surrender to you the seat of authority and render you this first act of homage due to you

as Grand Master. (Salutes the Grand Master with the Public Grand Honors.) I now hail and

proclaim you Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in New Hampshire, and I ask the

Brethren only to rise and to join me in saluting you with the Private Grand Honors. (Salute with

the Public Grand Honors if the Installation is Semi-public.)

Music - (Optional)

(After the installation of the Grand Master, the Grand Marshal will conduct the Grand

Chaplain to his seat in the installation line if he has been serving as the Installing Grand

Chaplain.)

Installing Officer - Worshipful Grand Marshal, you will conduct to the Altar the Deputy

Grand Master, Senior and Junior Grand Wardens, Grand Treasurer, Deputy Grand Treasurer and

Grand Secretary elect.

(The Installing Officer goes to the Altar.)

Installing Officer - You will say "I", with your names, and repeat after me, do solemnly



impartially perform the duties of the office to which I have been elected and that I will conform

to and maintain the Constitution, laws, rules and regulations of the Most Worshipful Grand

Lodge of New Hampshire, and the ancient usages, customs and Landmarks of Free and Accepted

Masons.

(The Installing Officer returns to his station and the officers are presented individually to

the East by the Installing Grand Marshal.)

57

DEPUTY GRAND MASTER

Installing Officer - Right Worshipful Brother, you have not been an inattentive observer

of the ceremony of installing the Most Worshipful Grand Master, for you are aware that in case

of his incapacity to act in contingencies mentioned in our Grand Constitution you will succeed to

his duties and prerogatives, as you do also when acting as his substitute in any matters specially

delegated to you. Your office is one of great dignity and importance and it was in view of those

considerations that your Brethren elected you to it. Treasure up, therefore, the suggestions made

to the Most Worshipful Grand Master, for you know not how soon they may have a personal

application to you, and remember also that usage, as well as our particular regulations, has

placed you in most intimate and confidential relations to him as supporter and counselor.

(The Deputy Grand Master is invested with his jewel of office.)

With pleasure I have invested you with the jewel of your office and I now proclaim you

Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master of this Grand Lodge. You will now be seated in your

place which is at the right hand of the Most Worshipful Grand Master.

Music - (Optional)

SENIOR GRAND WARDEN

Installing Officer - Right Worshipful Brother, you have been elected Senior Grand

Warden of this Grand Lodge and I now invest you with the jewel and the implement of your

office.

The Level demonstrates that we are descended from the same stock, partake of the same

nature and share the same hope; and though distinctions among men are necessary to preserve

subordination, yet no eminence of station should make us forget that we are Brethren; for he who

is placed on the lowest spoke of fortune's wheel may be entitled to our regard; and a time will

come, and the wisest knows not how soon, when all distinctions but that of goodness shall cease,

and death, the grand leveler of human greatness will reduce us to the same state.

The position which you occupy in Grand Lodge is one of no little importance. It is your

duty to labor diligently in preserving the Ancient Landmarks throughout this Grand Jurisdiction,

which becomes a trust of deep moment to the welfare of the Craft. Your fitness for the discharge

of such a trust undoubtedly led to your selection for this office by your Brethren, and it will be

your duty and pleasure so to act as to justify their confidence.

Music - (Optional)

JUNIOR GRAND WARDEN

Installing Officer - Right Worshipful Brother, you have been elected Junior Grand

Warden of this Grand Lodge and I now invest you with the jewel and the implement of your

office.

58


The Plumb admonishes us to walk uprightly in our several stations, to hold the scale of

justice in equal poise, to observe the just medium between intemperance and pleasure and to

make our passions and prejudices coincide with the line of our duty.

The duties of your office, and the qualifications for it, are almost identical with those of

the Senior Grand Warden, and you should be equally vigilant and circumspect, not only at your

station in the Grand Lodge, but also in the broader field of action without, dividing with him his

labors and taking due care that the great objects of your united solicitude shall remain inviolate.

Music - (Optional)

GRAND TREASURER AND DEPUTY GRAND TREASURER

Installing Officer - Right Worshipful Brethren, you have been elected Grand Treasurer

and Deputy Grand Treasurer of this Grand Lodge and I now invest you with the jewels of your

office. It is your duty to take charge of the stock and other property of Grand Lodge, receive all

monies, keep a just and true account of the same and pay them out by order of the Most

Worshipful Grand Master.

The keys forming the jewel of your offices have a twofold significance. They are

instruments to bind as well as to loose; to make fast as well as to open. I am confident that they

will never be used by you in any other manner than the Constitution, laws, rules and regulations

of the Grand Lodge shall direct.

GRAND SECRETARY

Installing Officer - Right Worshipful Brother, you have been elected Grand Secretary of

this Grand Lodge and I now invest you with the jewel of your office.

Usage, as well as positive enactments from time to time, has rendered the duties of the

office of Grand Secretary more onerous and varied than those of any other officer. Brought by

your official position more immediately into communication with the whole body of the

Fraternity, it is requisite that you possess skill, ability and industry to meet the various demands

upon you. You are placed in a position where you hold almost constant correspondence with our

Masonic Brethren in every state and country, upon which devolves the good name and credit of

the Masonic family of this state. Our Constitution, my Brother, points out to you fully the duties

of your office and I will not recapitulate them. Your capability for their prompt and faithful

execution has induced your Brethren to confide this trust to you and I feel assured that it is well

placed.

(After conducting the Grand Secretary to his station the Installing Grand Marshal

returns to his station.)

Installing Officer - Worshipful Grand Marshal, you will conduct the remaining officers to

the Altar.

59

(The appointed officers are placed west of the Altar to take the obligation as follows:

Row No. 7, The eight District Education Officers for Districts 5, 6, 7 and 8;

Row No. 6, The eight District Education Officers for Districts 1, 2, 3 and 4;

Row No. 5, The eight District Deputy Grand Lecturers;

Row No. 4, The eight District Deputy Grand Masters;

Row No. 3, Grand Tylers - Grand Organist - Grand Pursuivants - Grand Sword Bearer-

Grand Stewards;

Row No. 2, Grand Marshal - Grand Deacons - Secretary to the Grand Master - Deputy

Grand Secretary - Grand Historian - Grand Lecturers;

Row No. 1, Grand Chaplains.)

(The Installing Officer goes to the Altar.)

Installing Officer - You will say "I", with your names, and repeat after me, do solemnly



impartially perform the duties of the office to which I have been appointed and that I will

conform to and maintain the Constitution, laws, rules and regulations of the Most Worshipful

Grand Lodge of New Hampshire and the ancient usages, customs and Landmarks of Free and

Accepted Masons.

(The Installing Officer returns to his station and the appointed officers are presented to

the East by the Installing Grand Marshal individually or in groups as required.)

GRAND CHAPLAINS

Installing Officer - Reverend and Right Worshipful Brethren, you are appointed Grand

Chaplains of this Grand Lodge and I now invest you with the jewels of your office. (The Grand

Chaplains then turn so as to face the Altar.)

The Holy Book which is the chart and textbook of your sacred calling, and which is

always open on the Altar at all of our meetings, is also the Great Light in Masonry. Teach us

from its lifegiving precepts; intercede for us with that Divine Majesty which it so fully reveals

and unfolds by its lessons of infinite wisdom and truth, and you will have faithfully performed

your sacred function and fulfilled your important trust.

Music - (Optional)

60

GRAND LECTURERS

Installing Officer - Right Worshipful Brethren, you are appointed Grand Lecturer and

Deputy Grand Lecturer, respectively, of this Grand Lodge and I now invest you with the jewels

of your office.

Upon your teachings depends not only the uniformity but also the character and

impressiveness of our ritual. In installing you into office I am happy to be enabled to say that

your established skill and learning and your ability to undergo the constitutional tests have

proved you to be master workmen.

GRAND HISTORIAN

Installing Officer - Right Worshipful Brother, you are appointed Grand Historian of this

Grand Lodge and I now invest you with the jewel of your office.

It is your duty to search the records and archives of the Grand Lodge and to reconcile the

words and deeds of those many Brothers and Fellows who have gone this way before us with our

present activities as a preparation for the future.

Into your keeping is committed the heritage of this Grand Lodge. Nurture it with

compassion and kindly affection that succeeding generations, yet unborn, may be justly served

by your labors of love and devotion.

DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND MASTERS AND

DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND LECTURERS

(They are invested with their jewels of office immediately after introduction by the

Installing Grand Marshal.)

Installing Officer - Right Worshipful Brethren, you are appointed District Deputy Grand

Masters and District Deputy Grand Lecturers of the eight Masonic Districts of the Most

Worshipful Grand Lodge of New Hampshire and you have been invested with the jewels of your

office.

Right Worshipful District Deputy Grand Masters, it is your duty to assist the Most

Worshipful Grand Master in your respective Districts, acting under his direction at all times and

keeping him well informed regarding the activities of the Constituent Lodges in each District.

Right Worshipful District Deputy Grand Lecturers, it is your special duty to become

proficient in the ritual of this Grand Jurisdiction, to supervise its performance in the Constituent

Lodges of each District, and to assist the Grand Lecturers at all times in the exercise of their

official duty.

DEPUTY GRAND SECRETARY

Installing Officer - Worshipful Brother, you are appointed Deputy Grand Secretary of

this Grand Lodge and I now invest you with the jewel of your office.

Our Grand Constitution states that you are to serve at the pleasure of the Grand Secretary

and all that has been said regarding his duties

61

applies to you in like manner.

You were selected to this high office because of your unusual talents, your obvious

devotion to our Ancient Craft and your superior knowledge of Masonry throughout this Grand

Jurisdiction.

You are to cheerfully perform all of the tasks assigned to you and I am confident that the

arduous duties incumbent upon the office of the Grand Secretary is placed in most competent

hands.

SECRETARY TO THE GRAND MASTER

Installing Officer - Worshipful Brother, you are appointed Secretary to the Grand Master

and I now invest you with the jewel of your office.

It is your particular duty to perform such secretarial tasks, which the Grand Master may

assign to you such as the maintenance of his records and taking care of his correspondence.

Probably no other officer has the opportunity that is yours - to ease the burden of the

heavy mantle of responsibility, which rests upon the shoulders of the Grand Master.

By the diligent performance of your duties, yours will, indeed, be a true labor of love

through which you will experience a deep personal sense of fulfillment by serving your Grand

Master as his Secretary.

GRAND DEACONS

(The Grand Deacons are invested with their jewels of office immediately after introduction.)

Installing Officer - Worshipful Brethren, you are appointed Senior and Junior Grand

Deacons of this Grand Lodge and I have invested you with the jewels of your office and placed

in your hands these purple rods, which you will bear in the performance of your official duty as

symbols of your deputed authority.

It is your duty to attend on the Grand Master and Grand Wardens and to act under their

direction in the active duties of Grand Lodge. Vigilance and zeal are necessary requisites of

your office and we know that you possess them.

GRAND MARSHAL

Installing Officer - Worshipful Brother, you are appointed Grand Marshal of this Grand

Lodge and I now invest you with this jewel and place in your hand this baton as the badge of

your office.

It is your duty to organize the Grand Lodge, to form and conduct all processions, and to

attend to such other interests in the practice of our rites as the Most Worshipful Grand Master

shall direct.

GRAND STEWARDS

(The Grand Stewards are invested with their jewels of office immediately after introduction.)

62

Installing Officer - Worshipful Brethren, you are appointed Grand Stewards of this Grand

Lodge and I have invested you with the jewels of your office and placed in your hands these

purple rods, which you will bear in the performance of the duties of your office, which are to

assist the Grand Deacons and other officers in performing their respective duties.

In olden times your province was to superintend and provide for the festivals of the Craft,

and that duty still remains, although there is rarely occasion for its exercise.

GRAND SWORD BEARER

Installing Officer - Worshipful Brother, you are appointed Grand Sword Bearer of this

Grand Lodge and I now invest you with the jewel of your office.

The sword is the time-honored symbol of justice and authority and it reminds the

beholder of the dignity of the Body whose emblem it is. Be ever faithful to your trust and let this

jewel of your office remind you of its nature.

GRAND PURSUIVANTS

Installing Officer - Worshipful Brethren, you are appointed Grand Pursuivants of this

Grand Lodge and I now invest you with the jewels of your office.

You are to act as the messengers of Grand Lodge and the heralds to announce the

approach of visitors and strangers. Be cautious and vigilant that no improper person may gain

admittance.

GRAND ORGANIST

Installing Officer - Worshipful Brother, you are appointed Grand Organist of this Grand

Lodge and I now invest you with the jewel of your office.

Few officers have greater opportunity to contribute to the spirit of Masonry than you with

your music as you share your great talent with your Brethren.

Under the direction of the Grand Master, you will conduct the musical services of the

Grand Lodge. As harmony is the strength and support of all institutions, so may the harmony

over which you shall preside strengthen and support every gentle and ennobling emotion of the

soul.

DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICERS

(The District Education Officers are invested with their jewels of office immediately after

introduction by the Installing Grand Marshal.)

Installing Officer - Worshipful Brethren, you are appointed District Education Officers of

the eight Masonic Districts of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of New Hampshire and you

have been invested

63

with the jewels of your office.

You now wear a purple-edged apron signifying your responsibility to Grand Lodge, but

the Lamp of Knowledge on your jewel symbolizes Masonic Light and your duty to provide

knowledge and assistance to the Blue Lodges by means of the Grand Lodge educational

programs.

GRAND TYLERS

Installing Officer - Worshipful Brethren, you are appointed Grand Tyler and Deputy

Grand Tyler, respectively, of this Grand Lodge and I now invest you with the jewels and the

implements of your office.

As the sword is placed in the hands of the Grand Tyler and Deputy Grand Tyler, to

enable them effectually to guard against the approach of cowans and eavesdroppers and suffer

none to pass or repass but such as are duly qualified, so it should admonish us to set a guard over

our thoughts, a watch at our lips and post a sentinel over our actions, thereby preventing every

unworthy thought, word or deed and preserving consciences void of offense towards God and

towards man.

CHARGE TO OFFICERS (Optional)

Installing Officer - Officers of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Ancient and

Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New Hampshire, I

congratulate you on your preferment.

Each of you is endowed with unusual talents marked by an exceptional devotion to our

Masonic principles. These remarkable gifts undoubtedly led to your selection to your high

office.

You have been presented with the collar and jewel of your office, which are to be

retained in your possession during your term of office, and are to be returned to Grand Lodge at

the completion of your term.

You have also received a purple Apron as the distinctive badge of a Grand Lodge officer.

This Apron is now your personal property and is to be retained and worn by you at all future

Masonic meetings.

I charge each of you to perform the duties of your office to the best of your abilities so

that it may be said that the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire as well as Freemasonry was better

because you served as a Grand Lodge officer.

CHARGE TO GRAND LODGE

Installing Officer - Members of this Grand Lodge, such is the nature of our Constitution

that as some must of necessity rule and teach, so others must learn to submit and obey. Humility

in both is an essential duty. The officers who have been selected to govern your Grand Lodge

are sufficiently conversant with the rules of propriety and the laws of the Institution to avoid

exceeding the powers with which they are entrusted; and you are of too generous dispositions to

envy their preferment. I, therefore, trust that you will have but one aim, to please each other, and

unite in the grand design of being happy and communicating happiness.

64

Finally, my Brethren, as this association has been formed and perfected in so much

unanimity and concord, in which we greatly rejoice, so may it long continue. May you long

enjoy every satisfaction and delight which disinterested friendship can afford. May kindness and

brotherly affection distinguish your conduct as men and as Masons. Within your peaceful walls

may your children's children celebrate with joy and gratitude the annual recurrence of this

auspicious solemnity and may the tenets of our profession be transmitted through your Grand

Lodge, pure and unimpaired, from generation to generation.

Installing Officer - I declare that the Grand Master, the Deputy Grand Master, the Senior

and Junior Grand Wardens and all other elected and appointed Grand Officers, of the Most

Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons

of the State of New Hampshire have been duly installed into their respective offices.

Installing Officer - Worshipful Grand Marshal, you will make the proclamation.

Grand Marshal - I am directed to proclaim, and I do hereby proclaim, that the Most

Worshipful Grand Master, Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master, Right Worshipful Grand

Wardens and other Grand Officers, elected and appointed, of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge

of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New

Hampshire, have been installed into their respective stations. This proclamation is made from

the East (Most Worshipful Grand Master gives one blow with the gavel); from the West, (Senior

Grand Warden gives one blow with the truncheon); from the South, (Junior Grand Warden gives

one blow with the truncheon); once, twice, thrice; all interested will take due notice and govern

themselves accordingly.

(If the Installation is open to the public, the prayer by the Grand Chaplain will be called

for by the Grand Master just before he declares Grand Lodge closed.)

Presiding Officer - Worshipful Grand Marshal, you will conduct the Grand Chaplain to

the Altar.


Music - (Optional)

INDEX TO GRAND CONSTITUTION PAGE

65

TM No. 23 added January 5, 2015

Centenarian Award ..................................................................................................... 51-A

Constituent Lodges

Annual Return to Grand Lodge ........................................................................... 26

Balloting ........................................................................................................ 35, 36

By-Laws .............................................................................................................. 27

Candidates ............................................................................................................ 34

Changing Meeting Location ............................................................................... 22

Communication with Constituent Lodges in another Jurisdiction ...................... 27

Communication with other Grand Lodges .......................................................... 27

Conferral of Degrees ........................................................................................... 38

Discussion of Politics/Religion ........................................................................... 27

Dress for Degree Conferral ................................................................................. 39

Election of Officers ............................................................................................. 31

Eligibility for Office ........................................................................................... 32

Erection or Purchase of new meeting place ......................................................... 28

Fees for Degrees .................................................................................................. 35

Fees to Grand Lodge ........................................................................................... 25

Funds, use of ....................................................................................................... 27

Funeral/Memorial Services ........................................................................... 27, 33

Installation of Officers ........................................................................................ 32

Investigation Committee ..................................................................................... 35

Lodges of Sorrow ................................................................................................ 33

Masonic Clothing ................................................................................................ 33

Master Mason’s Edict ......................................................................................... 40

Monthly Reports ................................................................................................. 26

Officers ............................................................................................................... 31

Petitions for Affiliation ................................................................................. 34, 43

Petitions for Degrees ........................................................................................... 34

Petitions for Reinstatement .................................................................................. 34

Powers and Duties of .......................................................................................... 24

Printing of candidates Names ............................................................................. 37

Proficiency .......................................................................................................... 39

Rejected Applicants ............................................................................................ 37

Rental or use of Lodge Rooms ............................................................................ 29

Residency Requirements ...................................................................................... 34

Revocation of Charter ......................................................................................... 22

Right of Objection ......................................................................................... 37, 38

Special Communications .................................................................................... 28

Special Officers ................................................................................................... 31

Stated or Special Communications, opened on EA, FC or MM Degree ............ 27

Surrendering Charter ........................................................................................... 22

Visitations by the District Deputy Grand Master ............................................... 24

Visitors ................................................................................................................ 41

Demits ............................................................................................................................. 42


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TM No. 24 updated May 16, 2015

Deputy Grand Master’s Duties ......................................................................................... 9

Deputy Grand Secretary’s Duties ................................................................................... 13

Deputy Grand Treasurer’s Duties ............................................................................... 10-A

Dispensations .............................................................................................................. 7, 40

District Deputy Grand Lecturer’s Duties ........................................................................ 13

District Deputy Grand Master’s Duties .......................................................................... 12

District Education Officers Duties .................................................................................. 14

Dual/Plural Membership ................................................................................................. 43

Expulsion/Suspension ..................................................................................................... 45

Grand Chaplain’s Duties ................................................................................................. 13

Grand Deacon’s Duties ................................................................................................... 14

Grand Historian’s Duties ................................................................................................ 13

Grand Lecturer’s Duties .................................................................................................. 13

Grand Lodge

Alterations to Ritual .............................................................................................. 5

Amendments to Grand Constitution ..................................................................... 4

Committees ......................................................................................................... 17

Communications ................................................................................................... 4

Election of Officers ................................................................................................ 6

Installation of Officers .................................................................................... 6, 53

Lodges of Instruction ........................................................................................ 5-A

Officers and members ........................................................................................... 3

Powers of ............................................................................................................. 1

Roll Call of Lodges ............................................................................................... 4

Rules for government of ..................................................................................... 17

Unfinished Business ............................................................................................ 19

Grand Marshal’s Duties .................................................................................................. 14

Grand Master’s Duties ...................................................................................................... 7

Grand Officer’s Aprons .................................................................................................. 17

Grand Officer’s Jewels ................................................................................................... 15

Grand Officer’s Stations ................................................................................................. 14

Grand Representatives ...................................................................................................... 9

Grand Secretary’s Duties ................................................................................................ 11

Grand Steward’s Duties .................................................................................................. 14

Grand Sword Bearer’s Duties ......................................................................................... 14

Grand Organist’s Duties ................................................................................................. 14

Grand Pursuivant’s Duties .............................................................................................. 14

Grand Treasurer’s Duties ................................................................................................ 10

Grand Tyler’s Duties ....................................................................................................... 14

Grand Warden’s Duties ................................................................................................... 10

Honorary Membership .................................................................................................... 41

Honorary Past Master ..................................................................................................... 41

Installation of Grand Lodge Officers – Ritual ................................................................ 53

Jeremy L. Cross Medal ................................................................................................... 51

Landmarks ......................................................................................................................... 2


67


Legitimate Freemasonry ................................................................................................. 52

Lewis Jewel ……………………………………………………………………..…… 51-A

Life Membership ........................................................................................ 41, Appendix B

Lotteries/Raffles, etc. ...................................................................................................... 29

Major General John Sullivan Distinguished Service Medal ........................................... 50

Masonic, use of word ...................................................................................................... 52

Masonic Associations ................................................................................ 28, Appendix A

Masonic Districts .............................................................................................................. 8

Masonic Trials ................................................................................................................ 46

New Lodges ................................................................................................................ 9, 20

Non Affiliated Masons .................................................................................................... 42

Non Payment of Dues ......................................................................................... 42, 44, 45

Recognition of Foreign Grand Lodges ............................................................................. 2

Recognized Masonically Related Bodies .................................................................. 29, 52

Reinstatement after Suspension for Non Payment of Dues ............................................ 45

Reinstatement after Expulsion/Suspension for Indefinite Period ................................... 45

Salaries ............................................................................................................................ 14

Secretary to the Grand Master’s Duties .......................................................................... 13

Social Hour Rules ........................................................................................................... 30

Transfer of Membership ................................................................................................. 42

Veteran’s Awards ...................................................................................................... 50, 51

Waivers of Jurisdiction ............................................................................................. 43, 44

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APPENDIX A

The following are examples of Articles of Association and By-laws for Masonic

Associations. Modification may be required to meet specific circumstances of individual

Lodges.

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT OF

__________________________________________________ MASONIC ASSOCIATION

(A New Hampshire Nonprofit Corporation)

THE UNDERSIGNED, BEING PERSONS OF LAWFUL AGE, ASSOCIATION UNDER

THE PROVISIONS OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE REVISED STATUTES ANNOTATED,

CHAPTER 292 BY THE FOLLOWING:

ARTICLE I: The name of the Corporation shall be:

__________________________________Lodge No.______ Masonic Association.

ARTICLE II: The object for which this Corporation is established is to hold title to,

manage, control, supervise and operate the real estate heretofore owned by the Lodge or leased

by it, located at ____________________________ Street, (town or city), New Hampshire.

ARTICLE IIa: The provisions for establishing membership and participation in the

Corporation shall entitle all members of the

_________________________________________No. _____ F. & A.M., in good

standing, to become members of the Masonic Association.

ARTICLE III: The provisions for the disposition of corporate assets in the event of

dissolution of the Corporation will require if the charter of the foregoing

______________________________ No. _____

F. & A.M., remains in existence and the Lodge is still operative, to cause any proceeds from the

sale or transfer of the real estate subject to the ownership or control of the Masonic Association

to be reimbursed to the foregoing Lodge. In the event the charter of the foregoing Lodge has

been withdrawn by Grand Lodge, or otherwise the Lodge has been closed and discontinued its

operation, the assets and property of the association shall revert to and become the sole property

of Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted

Masons for the State of New Hampshire agreeably to its constitution, said Grand Lodge, its

Constituent Lodges and Masonic Associations being duly qualified IRS 501(c) (10)

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exempted charity. The applicable section of the Grand Lodge Constitution relating to the interest

and control of the funds and property of Lodges whose charter is surrendered or terminated,

affirming that said funds and assets belong to Grand Lodge for such uses as it may direct as

contained in Article XII of the Constitution as from time to time amended.

ARTICLE IV. The address at which the business of the Corporation is to be carried on in

___________________________ Street in the (town or city of), State of New Hampshire.

ARTICLE V. The amount of capital stock, if any, to be issued by the Corporation shall

be: NONE.

ARTICLE Va. The Corporation shall limit the personal liability of a director and officer,

or both, to the Corporation for monetary for breach of a fiduciary duty as a director or officer, or

both, except with respect to:

(1) Any breach of the Director's or Officer's duty of loyalty to the Corporation.

(2) Acts or omissions which are not in good faith which involve intention misconduct or a

knowing violation of law.

(3) Any transaction from which the Director, Officer or both, derived an improper personal

benefit.

ARTICLE Vb. This paragraph shall not be construed to eliminate or limit the liability of a

Director, or Officer, or both, for any act or omission which occurred prior to January 1,1992.

ARTICLE VI. The Corporation shall govern its actions within the framework of these

Articles of Agreement agreeably to a set of bylaws concurrently adopted, which bylaws are not

to be recorded, and may from time to time be amended agreeably to law.

ARTICLE VII. The signature and post office address of each of the persons associating

together (a minimum of 5) to form the Corporation are as follows:

Signatures Address:

Revised 2/11/1993

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THE MASONIC ASSOCIATION, INC.

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I

Membership

The membership of this Corporation shall be open to any members in good standing of any

Lodge of F. & A.M. and any Chapter of O.E.S.

ARTICLE II

Board of Directors

The administration and business affairs of this Corporation shall be managed by a Board of

Directors.

The Board of Directors shall be composed of nine members of which four shall be chosen by

the Lodge, one each year for four year terms and three by Chapter of O.E.S., one each year for

three year terms. The Master of Lodge, F. & A.M. and the Matron of Chapter,

O.E.S. shall be members of the Board of Directors. Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing

body.

The nine incorporators shall constitute the Board of Directors until such time as the appointing

bodies shall have properly made the required appointments.

The Board of Directors shall meet at such time and place as they shall deem most expedient,

but not less than once each year. A written notice of such meeting shall be sent to the Directors

by the Secretary of the Board at least four days before such meeting. Such notice may be waived

by all members of the Board.

Five members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.

The immediate Past Master of Lodge, F.& A.M. and immediate Past Matron of

Chapter, O.E.S. shall be members ex-officio of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE III

Officers

The members of the Board of Trustees shall hold a meeting as soon as possible after each

annual meeting and shall elect for a period of one year, or until successors are chosen, a

President, Secretary and a Treasurer. Such meeting shall require no notice if held within twenty-

four hours of said annual meeting.

The duties of the elected officer shall correspond to those duties usually incident to that office.

The Treasurer of the Corporation shall be responsible for all receipts and disbursements and shall

also be responsible for the publication of an annual financial report. He shall give bond

commensurate with the funds in his possession as may be required by the Board from time to

time.

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The Directors shall also appoint an advisory committee which shall consist of at least seven

but not more than fifteen members. This committee shall act to assist and advise the Board in

the determination of corporate policies in regard to the specific purposes and objectives of the

Corporation. The trustees may appoint annually such other committees as they may deem

necessary.

ARTICLE IV

Meetings

The annual meeting of the Corporation shall be held on the fourth Thursday of January each

year. The Secretary shall give notice of such meeting and the business to be considered at least

fourteen days in advance of said meeting.

Special meetings of the Corporation may be called by the Board of Directors for any cause or

by petition of ten, or one-tenth of the voting members duly submitted to the Secretary of the

Corporation. Notice shall be required as in annual meetings.

Forty percent of the voting members shall constitute a quorum.

Voting members shall be allowed to be represented at an annual or special meeting by duly

executed proxy registered with the Secretary.

ARTICLE V

Dissolution

In the event of dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation, for any reason, the Directors are

directed to distribute in equal shares the assets of the Corporation with a complete and accurate

statement as to the source of said assets, designating the charity fund of Lodge, F.& A.M. or

Chapter of O.E.S. charity fund, and in the event that either Lodge or Chapter of O.E.S.

shall be then unchartered or nonexistent, the assets shall to which said body would have been

otherwise entitled then distribute to the charity funds of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of

New Hampshire, F. & A.M.

ARTICLE VI

Seal

The Corporation shall use the common wafer seal as the seal of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VII

Amendments

These By-laws may be amended by two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors at a duly called

meeting or by vote of a majority of the voting members of the Corporation at any duly called

annual or special meeting except that the provisions of ARTICLE V may not be amended

without the prior written consent of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, F. & A.M.

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APPENDIX B

REGULATIONS FOR LIFE MEMBERSHIP

GRAND LODGE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

SECTION A: LIFE MEMBERSHIP

1. A Mason in good standing in a Lodge under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire which has qualified to permit Life Membership, and whose dues are paid up to date, may purchase a Life Membership, which will be effective on January 1st following full payment of the required Fee. 2. A new Life Membership purchaser must also pay the regular dues for membership in his Lodge for the year he joins the Life Membership plan, because revenue from Life Membership will not be available until one year after his Life Membership is in effect. 3. The Fee for a Life Membership shall be based on the age of the Mason at the time of his purchase of Life Membership, and on the annual dues rate in effect at that time for the Lodge in which Life Membership is being purchased. The formula for determining the Life Membership Fee shall be as listed in the table below (formula subject to review at least once in every five year period):

FORMULA FOR PREPAID LIFE MEMBERSHIP

AGE FACTOR AGE FACTOR AGE FACTOR

21 17.0 38 15.3 55 12.2 22 16.9 39 15.2 56 12.0 23 16.8 40 15.1 57 11.8 24 16.7 41 15.0 58 11.6 25 16.6 42 14.8 59 11.4 26 16.5 43 14.6 60 11.2 27 16.4 44 14.4 61 11.0 28 16.3 45 14.2 62 10.8 29 16.2 46 14.0 63 10.6 30 16.1 47 13.8 64 10.4 31 16.0 48 13.6 65 10.2 32 15.9 49 13.4 66 10.0 33 15.8 50 13.2 67 9.6 34 15.7 51 13.0 68 9.2 35 15.6 52 12.8 69 8.8 36 15.5 53 12.6 70 8.4 37 15.4 54 12.4 OVER 70 8.0 4. A Mason unable to purchase a Life Membership outright will be

B-2

permitted to pay for it at a rate of not less than $25.00 per month until it is fully paid. Such time payments are at the discretion of the Lodge. A Life Membership will not become effective until January 1 after it is fully paid. 5. All Life Membership Fees received by the Lodge from the sale of Life Memberships during the year shall be turned over to the Trustees of The New Hampshire Grand Lodge Life Membership Foundation during the month of December, and before the date of January 1st of each year when all Life Memberships become effective. If the Lodge receives moneys from the sale of Life Memberships during the year, these moneys shall be held by the Lodge in an interest-bearing account until the month of December. At that time these moneys shall be withdrawn, the principal (purchase price) of the Life Membership shall be turned over to the Trustees, and all interest accrued on these moneys shall be kept by the Lodge. 6. All Life Membership Fees derived from sale of Life Memberships will comprise the Life Membership Trust Fund. The principal of this Fund normally will be invested by the Trustees of The New Hampshire Grand Lodge Life Membership Foundation in the highest paying insured or guaranteed vehicle allowed under the laws of the State of New Hampshire. All moneys in this Foundation will be accounted for by the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire. 7. All income produced by the Life Membership Trust Fund, except for an administrative fee not to exceed 25 cents per Life Member, shall be returned to the participating Lodges shortly after February 1st of each year. The administrative fee will be deducted annually from the income received from the Fund and before distribution of the remaining income is made to the Lodges. 8. Each Life Member will be exempted from paying dues for life, but his Lodge will continue to pay Grand Lodge per capita assessments on him out of their share of the income derived from the Life Membership Trust Fund. The Life Member MAY be required to pay special non-recurring assessments voted by the Lodge or imposed by the Grand Lodge. 9. Upon the death of a Mason, his name will be moved to the Memorial Rolls, and all moneys paid in by him will be retained in the Fund ad infinitum as a memorial to him. His Lodge will then continue to receive the income derived from his Life Membership (except for the administration fee not to exceed 25 cents) and will be exempted from paying a per capita assessment on him. 10. Honorariums may be paid into the Fund by those wanting to do so, and such moneys will be invested and handled as in Sections 6 and 7 above. 11. The Secretary of each participating Lodge shall, in January of each year, submit an invoice to the Trustees of The New Hampshire Grand Lodge Life Membership Foundation through the Grand Secretary with the total amount of money in the Life Membership Trust Fund from Life Membership purchase Fees and Honorariums for that Lodge. The Trustees shall issue a check to the Grand Treasurer representing the total income payable to all of the participating Lodges, with a schedule of payments due each Lodge. The Grand Treasurer shall then issue a check to each participating Lodge according to said schedule of payments due. On January 1 of

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each year, the Lodge Secretary shall issue a dues card to each active Life Member for that year only. 12. A Life Member shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of ordinary membership and shall be amenable to the same disciplines. 13. A Mason on becoming a Life Member waives any claim against the Life Membership Trust Fund and The New Hampshire Grand Lodge Life Membership Foundation in the event of his suspension or expulsion for any reason. 14. If a Life Member takes a demit and joins another Lodge within this Jurisdiction that permits Life Membership, the Grand Lodge shall, upon written notice given by his old Lodge, advise the Trustees who will transfer his name to the rolls of the new Lodge and ensure that the invoices received from both the old Lodge and the new Lodge properly reflect his change of affiliation. A Life Member transferring to a Lodge with a higher dues structure must pay the difference at the time of transfer, based on the dues structure of the new Lodge and his age at the time of transfer. Such an increase in the money paid for his Life Membership Fee must appear on the invoice submitted by his new Lodge, along with the amount of money originally paid as Life Membership Fee through his old Lodge. The original Life Membership Fee must also be subtracted from the Life Membership account balance of his old Lodge before their invoice is submitted. If the new Lodge has a lower dues structure, no refund will be given, and only the original Life Membership Fee must be moved from the Life Membership account of his old Lodge to that of his new Lodge. 15. If a Life Member joins a Lodge under another Grand Jurisdiction and takes a demit from his Lodge, his Life Membership Fee money shall remain in the Life Membership Trust Fund to the credit f his old Lodge, with one exception. That exception is, that if the Life Member transfers his membership to a Lodge of another Grand Jurisdiction which permits its members to purchase Life Membership, and if that other Grand Jurisdiction shall have previously concluded a satisfactory reciprocal agreement with this Grand Jurisdiction for transfer of Life Membership funds from the one Grand Jurisdiction to the other, then, upon proper notice, the Grand Secretary of this Grand Jurisdiction shall transfer the fee paid for such Life Membership to the Grand Secretary of the Grand Jurisdiction to which the Life Member has demitted. His old Lodge must subtract his Life Membership Fee from their Life Membership account balance before submitting their invoice for the next year. 16. If a Life Member is suspended or expelled from membership in his Lodge, or takes a demit without joining another Lodge, all moneys paid by him will be retained in the Fund. His Lodge will then continue to receive the income derived from his Life Membership (except for the administrative fee not to exceed 25 cents) and will be exempted from paying a per capita assessment on him. Should he again become a member of his Lodge, his Life Membership in said Lodge will be automatically restored. 17. If the Charter of a Lodge is arrested or surrendered and that Lodge ceases to exist, all Life Memberships held by members of that Lodge shall be transferred to the credit of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, unless the members who hold those Life Memberships elect to demit

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and affiliate with another Lodge under this Grand Jurisdiction, in which case their Life Memberships shall be transferred to their new Lodge. Each Life Member affected by this transfer shall also be governed by SECTION 14 above. Life Memberships previously transferred to the Memorial Rolls shall be transferred to the Memorial Rolls of the Grand Lodge. In the event of a merger of Lodges, the Grand Lodge shall hold the Life Memberships involved until the emerging Lodge acts on the provision of Life Membership. 18. All income accrued on Life Memberships held by the Grand Lodge shall be paid annually to the general fund of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire.

SECTION B: MANAGEMENT OF THE LIFE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM

1. The management of the Life Membership Trust Funds shall be vested in a Board of nine Trustees appointed by the Grand Master, one from each of the several Masonic Districts throughout the State who shall be a member of a Lodge in said District, and one member at large who shall be a member of some Lodge in this Grand Jurisdiction. The duties of the Trustees shall be to invest and re-invest the funds in bank deposits or securities that are legal in New Hampshire through The New Hampshire Grand Lodge Life Membership Foundation, a tax-exempt charitable foundation incorporated under the laws of the State of New Hampshire. 2. Before any Constituent Lodge may change it's By-Laws to permit Life Membership, the Finance and Investments Committee of the Grand Lodge shall examine the dues structure and expenses of that Lodge to determine that the dues structure is such as to adequately meet the necessary expenses of that Lodge during the next three years as well as to carry the dues of 8% of the dues - paying members for the next 4 years. 3. A Lodge desiring to participate in the Life Membership program must so provide for it in their By-Laws with a copy of these regulations as an addendum thereto. (Refer to the Grand Constitution, Article XVI, Section 13.) 4. On or shortly after January 1st of each year, the total income (exclusive of capital gains or losses) derived from investing the principal of the combined Life Membership Trust Funds through The New Hampshire Grand Lodge Life Membership Foundation shall be distributed based upon the pro rata share of the combined Trust Funds contributed to the Foundation by each participating Lodge or transferred to the account of said Lodge as provided under Section A. 5. Shortly after the income has been received by the Trustees, they shall first determine the actual amount of their administrative costs for this program for the previous year, and use this figure in calculating the administration fee per Life Membership (which may not exceed 25 cents). The total of all administrative fees shall then be subtracted from the income received, and the money applied by the Trustees against the actual administrative costs. 6. The Trustees shall then determine the amount of money to be returned to each participating Lodge.

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a. The amount to be returned to each participating Lodge shall be prorated according to the total amount invested in the Life Membership Trust Fund from Life Membership Fees and Honorariums. This total must be reflected in the invoice submitted to the Trustees by that Lodge (see Section A, No. 11). b. Such distribution shall be made on or about February 1st of each year. c. All income, other than the administrative fee, shall be returned to the participating Lodges each year. No moneys derived from the Foundation investments, other than the annual administrative fee, may be retained by the Foundation or carried over to subsequent years.

SECTION C: CHANGES

1. These regulations may be amended in the same manner and by the same process as outlined in the Grand Regulations of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire.

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BY-LAWS

OF

THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRAND LODGE LIFE MEMBERSHIP FOUNDATION

ARTICLE I

Articles of Agreement

The name of the corporation, the objects for which it is established, the nature of the business to be transacted by it, and the address of its registered office shall be set forth in the Articles of Agreement, as from time to time amended, and these By-Laws. The powers of the corporation and of its Trustees, and all matters concerning the conduct and regulation of the business of the corporation shall be subject to such provisions in regard thereto, if any, as are set forth in such Articles of Agreement, and such Articles of Agreement are hereby made a part of these By-Laws.

ARTICLE II

Trustees of the Foundation Section 1. The nine Trustees of the corporation shall consist of the Life Membership Trustees appointed by the Grand Master, one from each of the eight Masonic Districts within the Masonic jurisdiction of New Hampshire, plus one Life Membership Trustee at Large. All appointments shall be made during, or immediately following, the Annual Communication of Grand Lodge in May. Each appointment shall be made for a term of three years, with three Trustees being appointed each year according to the following rotation: One Trustee from each of Districts One, Four and Seven One Trustee from each of Districts Two, Five and Eight One Trustee from each of Districts Three and Six and one Trustee at Large Initially, Trustees from Districts One, Four and Seven shall be appointed for a term of one year; Trustees from Districts Two, Five and Eight shall be appointed for a term of two years; and Trustees from Districts Three, Six and the Trustee at Large shall be appointed for a term of three years. Thereafter, three Trustees shall be appointed each year to fill the vacancies created by the expired terms. Section 2: If a vacancy should occur among the Trustees at any time, the Grand Master then in office may select a Mason from the appropriate Masonic District to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.

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ARTICLE III

Principal Function of the Foundation

Section 1. The Foundation shall receive money from the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, and from the participating Constituent Lodges within the Masonic Jurisdiction of New Hampshire, which shall constitute the principal funds of the Foundation. Section 2. The Trustees shall manage the investment of the principal funds, normally in the highest paying interest bearing insured or guaranteed vehicle. Section 3. The Trustees, annually in January, shall be entitled to return back to the contributing Lodges the interest accrued through investment of the principal funds, prorated according to the percentage share of the combined principal funds that were contributed by each participating Lodge. Section 4. The principal funds remaining after interest has been disbursed shall constitute the basic funds for the ensuing year, which principal funds shall be augmented by recent contributions to the Foundation by the participating Lodges and Grand Lodge. The annual receipt, investment and disbursing cycle shall then be repeated.

ARTICLE IV

Meetings of Trustees

Section 1. All meetings of Trustees shall be held at the office of the corporation unless some other place within or without the State of New Hampshire is definitely stated in the call therefore. Section 2. The annual meeting of the Trustees shall be held during the month of January on such day as from time to time determined by the Trustees in each year. The order of business to be transacted at annual meetings of the Trustees shall be the following: 1. Determination of a quorum. 2. Determination of due notice of meeting. 3. Reading of minutes of preceding meeting. 4. Reports of Treasurer, or any other officers, since the last annual meeting. 5. Election of officers as the By-Laws may require to be elected by the Trustees. 6. Completion of any unfinished business. 7. Transaction of new business. 8. Adjournment. Section 3. Special meetings of the Trustees shall be held whenever a majority of the Trustees shall make written application therefore to the Secretary stating the time, place and purpose of

B-8

the meeting applied for, and the Secretary shall also call a special meeting of the Trustees whenever he is so directed by the Chairman. Section 4. Except as otherwise provided by law, written or printed notice of all meetings of Trustees, whether annual or special, stating the place, day and hour thereof, together with the purposes for which such meeting is called, shall be given by the Secretary by mailing the same, postage prepaid, and addressed to each Trustee of record entitled to vote thereat to his registered address not less than ten (10) nor more than fifty (50) days prior to the date of the meeting. In the absence or disability of the Secretary, such notice may be given by a person designated by either the Secretary or by the person or persons calling the meeting. If, however, all Trustees entitled to vote in respect to the elections to be held or to the matters to be considered at such meeting are present thereat, either in person or by proxy, or sign a written consent upon the record thereof, such meeting shall be legal notwithstanding the notice shall not have been given as hereinbefore provided. Whenever the vote of Trustees at a meeting thereof is required or permitted to be taken in connection with any corporate action by any provision of law or the record of organization or these By-Laws, all the Trustees who have been entitled to vote upon the action may consent in writing on the record of the meeting to such action, and in that event, such action shall be as effective as though all the Trustees were present and voted in favor of such action. Section 5. Notice of any meeting of Trustees, whether annual or special, may be waived by any Trustees, provided written waiver of notice of such meeting is filed with the record whereof.

ARTICLE V

Officers

Section 1. The officers of the corporation shall be a Chairman, a Treasurer and a Secretary who shall be chosen from among the nine Trustees who constitute the Trustees of the corporation. The officers of the corporation may also include one or more Vice Chairmen, Assistant Treasurer and/or Assistant Secretary. Section 2. The officers of the corporation shall be elected by the Trustees at the annual meeting thereof, or at any meeting held in lieu thereof, and shall serve until the next annual meeting thereof and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. The Secretary shall be a resident of the State of New Hampshire. So far as is permitted by law, any two or more offices may be filled by the same person.

ARTICLE VI

Quorum

Section 1. At any meeting of Trustees, a majority of the Trustees entitled to vote thereat, appearing in person or by proxy, shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of

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business, but a lesser number may adjourn any meeting from time to time, and such meeting, as so adjourned, may be held without further notice.

ARTICLE VII

Proxy and Voting

Section 1. Trustees of record, when entitled to vote, may vote at any meeting, either in person or by written proxy filed before voting with the Secretary of the meeting. Proxies to be valid must be dated not more than eleven (11) months before the meeting named therein, and no such proxy shall be valid after the final adjournment of such meeting.

ARTICLE VIII

Chairman

The Chairman shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation and shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the Trustees. The Chairman, the Treasurer, or some other Trustee specifically authorized by vote of the Trustees, may sign all deeds, leases, contracts, notes and/or other instruments to be executed on behalf of the corporation. The Chairman shall perform all the duties commonly incident to his office and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Trustees may from time to time designate.

ARTICLE IX

Vice Chairman

Any Vice Chairman who is elected shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be delegated to him by the Trustees. In the absence or disability of the Chairman, a Vice Chairman shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chairman.

ARTICLE X

Treasurer

The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of the funds of the corporation and shall have and exercise under the supervision of the Trustees all the powers and duties commonly incident to his office. He shall, with the Chairman, have the power to sign all deeds, leases, contracts, notes and/or other instruments to be executed on behalf of the corporation. He shall have the custody of all the money, funds, valuable papers and documents of the corporation. He shall deposit all the funds of the corporation in such bank, trust company or trust companies, or with such firm or firms doing financial business as the Trustees may from time to time designate. He may, on behalf of the corporation, endorse for deposit or collection all checks, notes and other obligations payable to the corporation or its order and may accept drafts on behalf thereof. He shall keep accurate books of account of all corporate transactions, which books shall be the property of the corporation, and together with all other of its property in his possession, shall be

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subject at all times to the inspection and control of the Trustees. All receipts and vouchers for payment made by the corporation, and checks, drafts, notes and other corporate obligations for the payment of money by the corporation shall be signed by the Treasurer except as the Trustees may otherwise specifically order. Checks and drafts need not be countersigned unless otherwise ordered by the Trustees. He may be required by the Trustees to give bond in such sums and with such sureties as may be satisfactory to them.

ARTICLE XI

Assistant Treasurer

Any Assistant Treasurer who is elected shall perform such duties and have such powers only as the Trustees or the Treasurer may from time to time designate. He may be required by the Trustees to give bond in such sums and with such sureties as may be satisfactory to them.

ARTICLE XII

Secretary

The Secretary of the corporation shall be present at all meetings of the Trustees, and he shall keep accurate records, in books provided for that purpose, of the proceedings held at such meetings, which books shall respectively be open at all reasonable times to the inspection of any Trustee. He shall perform all the duties commonly incident to his office and shall perform such other powers as the Trustees may from time to time designate. In the absence of the Secretary from any meeting of the Trustees, a Secretary pro tempore may be chosen who shall record the proceedings thereof.

ARTICLE XIII

Assistant Secretary

Any Assistant Secretary who is elected may perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary in his absence and shall perform such other duties as the Trustees shall prescribe.

ARTICLE XIV

Committees

The Trustees may appoint from time to time committees of Trustees to assist in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to amending the certificate of incorporation, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending a dissolution of the corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or amending the By-Laws of the corporation. Each such committee shall have a name as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Trustees.

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Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Trustees when required.

ARTICLE XV

Removals

The Trustees may, by vote of a majority thereof present in person at any meeting thereof called for the purpose, remove from office any officer elected or appointed by them.

ARTICLE XVI

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the corporation shall begin on the first day of January, unless and until changed by the Trustees who may, from time to time, decide otherwise.

ARTICLE XVII

Inspection of Books and Papers

All books, papers, and documents of every kind belonging to the corporation, whether located in the office of the Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary or elsewhere, shall be open to the inspection of the Trustees at all reasonable times.

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THIS PAGE BLANK

THE GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS

OF THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

OFFICE OF GRAND SECRETARY

TRANSMITTAL MEMO NO. 1

ARTICLE VI, Section 9, Page 9.

New section inserted to include Constitutional provision for Grand Representatives.

ARTICLE VIII, Section 1, Line 4, Page 17.

Provision which prevents the Grand Lodge Charity Fund from being reduced below

$150,000.00.

ARTICLE XIII, Section 26, Page 28.

New section inserted requiring the establishment of Masonic Associations.

ARTICLE XVI, Section 6, Paragraph 2, Page 39.

Language added permitting use of alternative proficiency test only when memorization

problem exists.

APPENDIX A.

Examples of ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION and BY-LAWS FOR MASONIC ASSOCIATIONS.

( To assist in complying with requirements of ARTICLE XIII, Section 26, Page 28.)

Add this page to the back of the binder.

John C. Marden, Grand Secretary

These changes were adopted on November 21, 1992 and are included in this copy of the

Grand Constitution.

December 8, 1992



OFFICE OF GRAND SECRETARY


APPENDIX A.

Examples of ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION and BY-LAWS FOR MASONIC ASSOCIATIONS.

( To assist in complying with requirements of ARTICLE XIII, Section 26, Page 28.)

General revision necessitated by Amendments to the Law adopted during the 1991 Legislative

Session.

Remove pages A-1 through A-4 and replace with revised pages A-1 through A-4.

Add this page to the back of the binder.


February 11, 1993



OFFICE OF THE GRAND SECRETARY


ARTICLE XVII, PAGE 45.

Renumber Section 15 as Section 16 and insert new Section 15 which gives the Grand Master,

subject to the approval of the Jurisprudence Committee, the right to exonerate a member from

suspension for non payment of dues under certain conditions.

ARTICLE III, SECTION 1, PAGE 3.


ARTICLE IX, SECTION 2, PAGE 18.

To permit Constituent Lodge Elected Representatives to appoint a proxy to act for them in

Grand Lodge.

ARTICLE XIII, SECTION 2, PAGE 24.

ARTICLE VI, SECTION 3, PAGE 8, NEW SUBSECTION Q.

To liberalize the regulations governing Constituent Lodge meetings on Sundays.

ARTICLE XIX, SECTION 3, PAGE 51.

To permit the presentation of a "Forty Year Lapel Pin" and to require that both the "Twenty

Five and Forty Year Lapel Pins" be obtained from Grand Lodge.

ARTICLE XIII, SECTION 6, SUBSECTION A, PAGE 25.

To increase the Grand Lodge per capita from $9.00 to $13.00.

Remove and discard the old pages, insert the new pages and add this page to the back of the

binder.








ARTICLE V, SECTION 1, PAGE 6.

ARTICLE VI, NEW SECTION 18A, PAGE 10A.

ARTICLE VII, SECTION 1, PAGE 15.

ARTICLE XXI, SECTION 1, PAGE 58.

To add the office of Deputy Grand Treasurer to all of the above sections.

ARTICLE IX, NEW SECTION 21, PAGE 19.

To specify the responsibilities of the Committee on Unfinished Business.

ARTICLE XIX, SECTION 2, NEW SUBPARAGRAPH D., PAGE 51.

To add a Centenarian Award to be presented to members who reach one hundred years of

age.

ARTICLE XIII, SECTION 7, PAGE 26.

To provide for a Monthly Report to be filed with the Grand Secretary by the Constituent

Lodges.


binder.







ARTICLE XXI, SECTION 1, PAGE 56.

To add "Deputy Grand Treasurer" to the Installation Ritual.



To provide for the appointment of more than one Grand Organist.



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ARTICLE XIII, SECTION 7-A, PAGE 26.

To provide for a penalty for late filing of Monthly Reports by a Lodge Secretary.

ARTICLE XV, SECTION 10, PAGE 35.

To permit the deposit of a candidates petition fee prior to balloting on the application.

ARTICLE XVII, SECTION 5, PAGE 43.

To require verifying the current standing of an applicant for affiliation prior to referring the

application to a Committee of Investigation.


binder.



(Included with this Transmittal Memo are new pages 25 & 26; 35 & 36; 43 & 44 and 45 & 46)





ARTICLE XVII, SECTION 4, Page 43.

To modify the restriction on the offices that a member of two or more Lodges may hold.


ARTICLE XV, SECTION 24, Page 37.

To reduce the waiting time required for a rejected petitioner to resubmit his petition from

twelve months to six months.



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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE XVI, SECTION 13, Page 41.

To permit Life Membership.

APPENDIX B

Regulations governing Life Membership and By-Laws of the Life Membership Foundation

Adopted May 21, 1994


binder.

APPENDIX B is to be placed following APPENDIX A at the back of the Grand Constitution.






ARTICLE XVI, SECTION 13, A) Page 41.

To specify that Appendix B is included in the Grand Constitution for reference only.



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ARTICLE XVI, SECTION 8, Page 39 & 40

To modify the regulation concerning the clothing that may be worn while conferring symbolic

Degrees.

ARTICLE XIX, SECTION 1 B, Page 50 and 51

To change the form and name of the Major General John Sullivan Distinguished Service

Medal Silver and Gold Awards.

ARTICLE XIX, SECTION 4, Page 51-A

To more clearly define which membership awards may be given up to one year prior to the

actual anniversary date.

Adopted November 21, 1998

Remove and discard the old page/s, insert the new page/s and add this page to the back of the

binder.






ARTICLE V, SECTION 9, Page 7

To eliminate the entire section requiring the Grand Secretary to retire at age 72.

ARTICLE VI, SECTION 34, Page 14

To require the District Education Officers to visit each Lodge in their respective Districts at

least once each year for the purpose of presenting an instructional program, and to further

require them to submit a detailed report of their activities.

ARTICLE XVII, SECTION 14, Page 45

To require that a member, suspended for non payment of dues, receive only a majority vote of

those present, when his petition for reinstatement is acted upon. Formerly, a unanimous Secret

Ballot was required.



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ARTICLE XIII, SECTION 11, Page 27

To permit Lodges to open on the Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, or Master Mason Degree

for the transaction of business.

ARTICLE XV, SECTION 2, Page 34

To lower the age at which a man may petition for the degrees from twenty-one to eighteen.

ARTICLE XV, SECTION 7, Page 34

To permit petitions for the degrees or membership to be signed by two members of any Lodge

in this jurisdiction.



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OF THE STATE NEW HAMPSHIRE



ARTICLE VI, SECTION 3, PAGE 8

To add new Paragraph “R”, allowing the Grand Master to grant a Dispensation permitting

more than five candidates at the same Communication and by the same ceremony.

ARTICLE XV, SECTION 8, PAGE 35

To add new last sentence requiring only a majority vote to reinstate member suspended

for non-payment of dues.

ARTICLE XV, SECTION 16, PAGE 36

To add new sentence requiring only a majority vote to reinstate a member suspended for

non-payment of dues.

ARTICLE XVI, SECTION 3, PAGE 38

To add language permitting conferral of Degrees upon more than five candidates, with a

Dispensation from the Grand Master.


Remove and discard the old page/s, insert the new page/s, and add this page to the back

of the binder.






ARTICLE III, SECTION 1, PAGE 3

To remove the word “consecutive” from the second sentence, thereby permitting a

member to be elected to Permanent Membership after serving ten cumulative years in the same

office or on the same committee.

ARTICLE XIV, SECTION 9, PAGE 32

To remove the words “current or past officer of this or any recognized Grand Lodge or a”

from the first sentence, thereby requiring that the Installing Officer be a Past Master.



of the binder.







To provide for more than one Grand Historian.


ARTICLE XIX, SECTION 2, , PARAGRAPHS A & B, PAGE 51

To provide for the presentation of a Sixty Year Lapel Pin and a Seventy Year Lapel Pin

in addition to a Certificate


ARTICLE II, SECTION 1, Fifth, PAGE 1

To stipulate that the Grand Lodge shall be the only Masonic Body to perform public

dedication and consecration ceremonies.



To require the District Deputy Grand Lecturers to meet with the Grand Lecturers at least

four times per year. Previously only one time was required.



of the binder.






ARTICLE XIII, SECTION 6, SUBSECTION A, PAGE 25

To increase the amount of the per capita to Twenty-Two dollars.


ARTICLE XIII, SECTION 6, NEW SUBSECTION E, PAGE 25

To provide for an increase in the per capita, to be recommended at the Annual

Communication in May, each year, and voted upon at the Semiannual Communication in

November.


Remove and discard page 25/26 and insert the new pages 25/25-A & 25-B/26. Add this

page to the back of the binder.







To expand the powers of the Grand Master as they relate to Grand Representatives.


To add a new part "P" to the duties of the Grand Secretary.

ARTICLE XIII, SECTION 6, Part A on PAGE 25

To increase the Grand Lodge per capita by One Dollar to Twenty Three Dollars, the

additional dollar to be paid to the George Washington Masonic Memorial.

ARTICLE XX, SECTION 2, PAGE 52

To add "Widows Sons Masonic Riders Association International" to the list of

organizations that may use the word "Masonic".


These changes may affect more than one page and, if so, they are included with this

Transmittal Memo. Remove and discard the old page/s, insert the new page/s, and add this page

to the back of the binder.







To add a Grand Archivist to the list of Grand Lodge Officers

ARTICLE VI, NEW SECTION 35A, PAGE 14

To specify the duties of the Grand Archivist.


ARTICLE IX, SECTION 19, PAGE 19

ARTICLE XIII, SECTION 6, PART A, 1., PAGE 25

ARTICLE XIII, SECTION 6, PAGE 25, PART D

To replace the words “Masonic Home” with “NH MasoniCare”, to reflect the new

corporate name.











To specify that the most Junior Past Grand Master shall possess all of the powers of the

Grand Master in the event that the Grand Master, the Deputy Grand Master and the two Grand

Wardens are absent.

ARTICLE VI, SECTION 18, PAGES 10 & 10-A

To add qualifications necessary to be elected as Grand Treasurer.

ARTICLE VI, SECTION 19, PAGES 10-B & 11

To add qualifications necessary to be elected as Grand Secretary.


To redefine the duties of the Deputy Grand Secretary.

ARTICLE XIII, SECTION 28, PAGE 29

To add: The Grand Council, Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America;

The High Council, Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis; and

The Provincial Grand Lodge of the Royal Order of Scotland of the United States of

America to the list of those Bodies that may meet in a Lodge Room.

ARTICLE XIX, NEW SECTION 5, PAGE 51-A

To add a “Lewis Jewel” as one that is approved for presentation, and may be worn within

this jurisdiction.





Thomas S. Lowe, Grand Secretary





ARTICLE III, SECTION 2, PAGE 3 (adopted May 19, 2012)

To remove “to serve at the pleasure of the Grand Secretary” from the description of the Deputy

Grand Secretary.

ARTICLE IV, SECTION 9, PAGE 5 (adopted May 19, 2012)

To specify that Lodges of Instruction be held FOR each District, rather than IN each District,

allowing combined Lodges of Instruction.

ARTICLE V, SECTION 1, PAGES 6 (adopted May 19, amended November 17, 2012)

To change the election of Grand Lodge officers from the Annual Communication to the

Semiannual Communication.

ARTICLE XIII, SECTION 6.A, PAGE 25 (adopted November 17, 2012)

To increase the per capita owed to Grand Lodge.

Adopted May 19, 2012 and November 17, 2012

Remove and discard the old pages, insert the new pages, and add this page to the back of the

binder. Affected pages constitute three sheets: 3/4, 5/6, 25/25-A.

Print as three double-sided sheets.







To add a dispensation for the Grand Master to permit a dedicated Lodge Room to be used for non-

Masonic purposes with the concurrence of the Jurisprudence Committee.

ARTICLE VIII, SECTION 1, PAGE 17

To raise the minimum balance of the Charity Fund.

ARTICLE IX, SECTION 19, PAGE 19

To protect GLNH from the debts of NHMasoniCare.

ARTICLE X, SECTION 6, PAGE 21

To increase the fees to establish a new Lodge.


To clarify the rights and duties of a Lodge to collect fees and dues.

ARTICLE XIII, SECTION 7-A, PAGE 26

To allow the use of non-standard forms and to increase the fines for failure to file timely Monthly

Reports.


To require dues cards to be imprinted with the seal of the Lodge.


To require notification of the DDGM and MWGM at least sixty days before any financial transactions

related to a Masonic Temple or meeting place.


To add the possibility of using a dedicated Lodge Room for non-Masonic purposes by Dispensation.


Remove and discard the old pages, insert the new pages, and add this page to the back of the binder.

Affected pages constitute eight sheets: 7/8, 17/18, 19/20, 21/22, 23/24, 25-B/26, 27/28, 29/30.

Print the attached file as eight double-sided sheets.







To change the style of the Grand Deacons from Worshipful to Right Worshipful.

ARTICLE IV, SECTION 3, PAGE 4

To increase the monetary fine from $10 to $100 for failure to have representation at a Grand

Lodge Communication.

ARTICLE IV, SECTION 9, PAGE 5

To make it the duty of Constituent Lodge Treasurers and Secretaries, and other Grand Lodge

Officers that the Grand Master may deem necessary, to attend Lodges of Instruction.

ARTICLE V, SECTION 3, PAGE 6

To add a requirement for appointed Grand Deacons to have served as Worshipful Master.

ARTICLE X, SECTION 10, PAGE 21

To clarify the process for changes to Lodge charters.

ARTICLE XIII, SECTION 6.E, PAGE 25

To change the timing and review of GL per capita amounts.


To allow Lodges to sponsor Rainbow Assemblies.

ARTICLE XIV, SECTION 1, PAGE 31

To change Constituent Lodge Officer elections to match Grand Lodge process and requirements.

ARTICLE XIX, SECTION 6, PAGE 51-A

To add the Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award.



binder. Affected pages constitute eight sheets: 3/4, 5/6, 21/22, 25/25-A, 29/30, 31/32, 51/51-A,

51-B/52.

Print the attached file as eight double-sided sheets.






ARTICLE V, SECTION 1, PAGE 6

Corrects error introduced in TM No. 22. Error had negated TM No. 20 (November 17, 2012)

Grand Officer election change from Annual to Semiannual.

Index, PAGES 64-68

Provides index that had only been available in electronic format.

This is published as a separate Transmittal Memo to preserve page control and labeling.

Issued January 5, 2015

Print the attached (TM No. 23 Pages.pdf) file as three double-sided sheets.


binder.

Affected pages constitute three sheets: 5/6, 65/66, 67/68.






ARTICLE IV, SECTION 6A, PAGE 5

Adds section to codify the process to change Ritual.

Index, PAGES 65-68

Updates index which was added in TM23.

Approved May 16, 2015

Print the attached (TM No. 24 Pages.pdf) file as four double-sided sheets.


binder.

Affected pages constitute three sheets: 5/5-A, 5-B/6, 65/66, 67/68.


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