November 2024:
Making Sense of Legislation

Each year at Annual Communication, the Grand Lodge (comprised of past grand masters, Grand Lodge officers, and representatives of every constituent lodge) come together to debate and vote on legislation for the coming fraternal year. That’s comprised of Grand Master’s recommendations, carryover legislation from the previous year, and newly proposed legislation. Here is the legislation that was debated this year.

Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 1: Simplifies and modernizes service and notice requirements under Part 14 of the California Masonic Code.

What it means: This is the first of three recommendations aimed at streamlining the Masonic trial process. This decision changes the way members who have charges brought against them are alerted. Currently, that has to happen either in person or through certified mail. If passed, this recommendation would allow for e-mail and standard mail to be used instead—potentially speeding up and reducing the cost and effort associated with reaching those members.

Result: Passed.

Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 2: Eliminates the certification requirements for certain documents under Part 14 of the California Masonic Code.

What it means: Similar to the first recommendation, this decision would do away with the need for lodge officials to obtain officially certified court documents signed by a county clerk in cases in which a member has been accused of committing a crime of “moral turpitude.” Instead, those documents can be accessed via the court’s web system.

Result: Passed.

Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 3: Suspensions of members who fail to plead to charges of unmasonic conduct.

What it means: This provides a remedy in the event that a member does not respond to a charge against them, allowing the Grand Master to suspend their membership until they respond.

Result: Passed.

Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 4: Updates required applicant contributions and contribution amounts.

What it means: When applicants submit their requests for membership, the Code dictates that they must include a contribution of $25 to the Masonic Homes of California; $9 to the California Masonic Memorial Temple fund; and $15 to the George Washington Masonic Memorial. In some cases, those figures were established decades ago—the donation to MHC was established in 1925 and hasn’t changed since, while the CMMT fund was established as part of the “day’s wages” campaign launched in 1954. This decision would instead make applicant contributions set by the Grand Lodge budget that’s adopted each year, and add a required gift to the California Masonic Foundation. Note that if passed, this would not take effect until the adoption of the 2025-26 budget.

Result: Carry-over.

Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 5: Lengthens restoration repayment period provided to Masons suspended for non-payment of dues and dues grace period for members on active military combat duty.

What it means: A member suspended for non-payment of dues can be automatically restored to good standing if they repay their outstanding dues within two years of being suspended. This decision would increase that time period to three years from the time of suspension; beyond that, their restoration is depended on a 2/3 vote of the lodge. The same three-year period would also apply to the dues grace period for active-combat duty members of the service.

Result: Passed.

Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 6: Modifies lodge vote required to restore a Mason suspended for non-payment of dues.

What it means: As mentioned above, if a member is suspended for longer than two years (or three if GM Rec No. 5 passes), their restoration is subject to a vote of their lodge. This recommendation would change the vote threshold from 2/3 to a simple majority, as other financial matters are.

Result: Carry-over.

Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 7: Allows for a plain language text ritual that does not include the secrets of Freemasonry.

What it means: If passed, this recommendation would direct the Grand Lodge to develop a plain-language version of the ritual that excludes the “secrets of Freemasonry,” here defined as the words, signs, and modes of recognition. The current ritual, which includes the cipher, would also remain in publication. Many other grand lodges, especially abroad, produce a similar plain-language ritual text.

Result: Failed.

Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 8: Clarifies procedures to approve alternate rituals.

What it means: A growing number of California lodges have expressed an interest in practicing alternate versions of the Masonic ritual, typically the craft degrees of the Scottish Rite (as are commonly practiced in Europe and Latin America). At present, that is only allowed in cases in which lodges have a historic connection to a ritual other than the Preston-Webb, or California, ritual, and with the approval of the Grand Master and Grand Lecturer (as in the cases of La France No. 880 and La Parfaite Union No. 17). If passed, this recommendation would establish standards under which any lodge could have that option without requiring an individual piece of legislation.

Result: Carry-over.

Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 9: Requires submission of Grand Lodge officer nominations and biographical sketches at least 60 days prior to Annual Communication.

What it means: Delegates are typically provided with biographical information about nominees for Grand Lodge officer positions in advance of Annual Communication, except in the case of a nomination from the floor. This recommendation would require that candidates are nominated 60 days prior to Annual Communication so they appear on the ballot.

Result: Failed.

Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 10: Permits the Grand Master to appoint an assistant grand lecturer who is a past master of any constituent lodge.

What it means: Currently, an AGL is required to be a past master of a lodge in their district. This would allow an AGL to serve in a district other than the one in which he is a past master. They would still be required to be a past master of another California lodge, and to belong to a lodge in their district. (So, for instance, a past master of a lodge in Los Angeles could serve as an AGL in a Northern California district if they moved there and affiliated with a local lodge.)

Result: Passed.

Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 11: Permits a secretary to serve as master, warden, or secretary of another lodge.

What it means: This decision permits a member to serve as a secretary in two lodges, or as an officer in a second lodge. The context here is that many of the most time-intensive duties of the secretary, such as dues collection, have been centralized by Grand Lodge systems, meaning it’s more feasible than ever before to serve two lodges simultaneously. A similar piece of legislation was introduced in 2023 but did not pass.

Result: Carry-over.

Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 12: Shortens the process required by the California Masonic Code for lodge consolidation.

What it means: As more lodges adopt a quarterly stated meeting schedule, the current rules that require four stated meetings to effect a consolidation means that process can drag on for a year or more. Under this proposal, a consolidation can occur after two stated meetings (one to establish a committee, one to agree on the terms of the consolidation) and a special meeting to vote on the consolidation.

Result: Passed.

Carryover Resolution No. 23-01: Permits lodges to email meeting minutes to members.

What it means: Coming out of the pandemic, lodges have moved certain processes online. This proposal would allow them to email meeting minutes to members in advance of a stated meeting. In 2023, this proposal received 54.38 percent approval, short of the 5/6 vote required to pass; as carryover legislation, it now requires a 2/3 vote.

Result: Passed.

Carryover Resolution No. 23-03: Allows special meetings to be held on the same day as a stated meeting.

What it means: This would allow lodges to hold both a stated meeting and a special meeting—such as a Fellow Craft or Master Mason degree—on the same day. (Entered Apprentice degrees already happen the same day as a stated meeting.) This received 82.69 percent of the vote last year, just shy of the required 83 percent; it needs a 2/3 vote this year.

Result: Passed.

Carryover Resolution No. 23-05: Permits a lodge to designate the voting past master at Annual Communication.

What it means: Each lodge is entitled to votes at the Annual Communication from its master, senior warden, and junior warden, as well as one ballot reserved for that lodge’s past masters. That ballot is usually given to the first past master to register. This recommendation would allow lodges to designate which past master it elects to receive that ballot. This measure received just over 70 percent of the vote last year; it needs 66 percent this year.

Result: Failed.

2024 Resolution No. 24-01: Makes third degree proficiency a prerequisite for nomination to the officer of master, senior warden, or junior warden.

What it means: Currently, members are allowed to be elected to a pedestal office before they’ve fulfilled the Master Mason proficiency. (They have to pass in order to be installed.) If passed, this resolution would require those nominees to pass the proficiency in advance of standing for election.

Result: Carry-over.