Reprint of July 1, 2004
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ORIGINAL EDITION
We wish to express our sincere appreciation to the Grand Lodge of South Carolina, the Philippines and California for their kindness and generosity in permitting the Grand Lodge of Japan to extract portions of their Constitutions for use herein. Another fine example of the Universality of Freemasonry.
As in any group of dedicated individuals, there are always a few, who by their diligence and perseverance should enjoy special mention for their accomplishments. One such individual and Brother Mason has been so selected.
Our thanks go to Brother William J. Eichorn for the monumental task he accepted and the preparatory work that made this new Constitution and Code of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of F&AM of Japan possible.
In addition, our gratitude is also extended to Brother Carlos Rodriguez-Jimenez, P.G.M., Brother Nohea O.A. Peck and Brother George H. Booth for their gracious assistance, without which, this book would have taken many more months to proofread, correct and prepare for printing.
FOREWORD TO THE FOURTH PRINTING
July 1, 2004
I certify that the contents of this volume, except those marked as “ANNOTATIONS,” represent a true and correct copy of: The Constitution and the Laws of the Builders as approved by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Japan convened in regular session at the Annual Communication held in Tokyo, Japan on the 19th Day of March, A.L. 5960, A.D. 1960, together with those subsequent amendments approved through the Forty-Seventh Annual Communication of this Grand Lodge held on the 12th and 13th days of March, A.L. 6004, A.D. 2004; the Edicts of the Grand Masters of this Masonic jurisdiction as published and distributed to the Constituent Lodges thereof; those formats, forms, diplomas, certificates and commissions as approved by the Grand Lodge, the Grand Master and the Executive Committee; the Ancient Landmarks generally accepted by the Craft, Declaration of Principles, and Conditions for Recognition.
There have been added in appropriate places under the heading “ANNOTATIONS,” certain approved interpretations, decisions, resolutions, or rulings which either have become apart of the accepted law, or which affect its application.
Our special thanks to W.B. Tom Hodges, Secretary, Far East Lodge #1, who had, on file in his office, copies of the Resolutions presented to the Grand Lodge at the Annual Communications from 1991 until 2002. Without his assistance, it would have been a near impossible task to update this document.
I have reviewed this printing, and certify it to be a true transcription of the Constitution, Code and Law, as adopted by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Japan
Philip A. Ambrose, PGM
Grand Secretary
Chairman
Ad Hoc Committee on Past Annual Proceedings
Art. 1. The style and title of this Grand Lodge shall be, "The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Japan."
Art. 1a. It shall have a seal — bearing such devices and inscriptions as it may hereafter determine — which shall be affixed to all instruments issued by or under its authority.
Art. 2. The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Japan is strictly a representative body, and consists of a Grand Master, a Deputy Grand Master, a Senior Grand Warden, a Junior Grand Warden, a Grand Treasurer, a Grand Secretary, a Senior Grand Lecturer, a Grand Chaplain, a Grand Orator, a Grand Marshal, a Grand Standard Bearer, a Grand Sword Bearer, a Grand Bible Bearer, a Junior Grand Lecturer, a Senior Grand Deacon, a Junior Grand Deacon, two Grand Stewards, a Grand Pursuivant, a Grand Organist and a Grand Tiler, together with all the Past Elective Grand Officers and the Past Masters, Masters and Wardens of the several chartered and duly constituted Lodges, or the representatives thereof duly elected, and also those Past Masters of Lodges under other Grand Jurisdictions who are members of Lodges under this Jurisdiction.
Art. 3. Every Past Master who has served as the Master of a Lodge in this jurisdiction and who continues to be affiliated with some Lodge therein, shall, after he has registered his name in a book to be kept for that purpose by the Grand Secretary, be entitled to be present at all Communications of the Grand Lodge, to assist in its deliberations, to be placed on committees, and shall be eligible to any office.
Art. 4. The Grand Lodge shall consist of the following Grand Officers:
Art. 5. None but those who are Masters or Past Masters of Lodges shall be eligible to any office in the Grand Lodge.
The title of Past Master applies only to one who has been regularly elected or named in a Charter and installed, and has served a term as Master of a chartered Lodge within the Jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, and who remains a member in good standing, of one of its constituents: PROVIDED, That one who has been regularly elected or named in a Charter and installed and has served a term as Master of a chartered Lodge within the jurisdiction of any other Grand Lodge recognized by this Grand Lodge, and who has affiliated with or becomes a dual member of a constituent Lodge within this jurisdiction and who remains a member in good standing of one of its constituents may take the title of "Past Master," and shall become a member of this Grand Lodge.
As a further clarification of the word "term," this is construed to mean the twelve calendar months between regularly scheduled elections as specified by our Grand Lodge Constitution. But if for a valid reason, (i.e. the regularly elected and installed Master departs from this jurisdiction prior to the end of his term in office, or due to death, mental incapacity, suspension, expulsion etcetera), the Lodge, by Special Dispensation of the Grand Master, elects and installs a new Master during the period between the regularly scheduled elections (held at the meeting next preceding the anniversary of Saint John the Evangelist), ONLY that Master in office at the end of the term shall be considered a "Past Master" and the Brother who served previously during the year shall NOT have that distinction.
Jur. Com., 1961, p61, 62
Art. 6. Any Past Master who moves into this Jurisdiction from any other shall, on his becoming a member of a Lodge herein, be entitled to all the rights and privileges of a Past Master in this Jurisdiction.
Master Masons in good standing may, in the discretion of the Grand Master, be granted the privilege of seats at Grand Lodge Communications. Said Master Masons when admitted shall be without a vote or the right of participation in the Grand Lodge deliberations.
Art. 7. The Grand Master shall be styled Most Worshipful; all other elective Grand Officers, Right Worshipful; and appointive officers, all Past Masters and Masters of Lodges, Worshipful; the Senior Grand Lecturer, Very Worshipful; and the Grand Chaplain, Very Reverend. Past Elective officers shall be entitled to retain the style of the office which they formerly occupied.
Art. 8. The Grand Officers shall wear their appropriate jewels and aprons at all Communications of the Grand Lodge.
Art. 9. The election of the Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge shall take place on the last day of business of the Annual Communication, and they must be chosen by ballot, and by a majority of the votes cast.
Art. 10. The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Japan is the supreme Masonic authority within its jurisdiction, and faithful allegiance and implicit obedience is due to it from all the Lodges and Masons residing therein. Its functions are of a legislative, judicial and executive character. In its legislative capacity it makes the laws, in its judicial it applies them, and in its executive it enforces them.
Art. 11. The Grand Lodge will, in its judicial capacity, investigate and adjudicate in all matters of controversy which may arise between any of the Constituent Lodges under its jurisdiction, or the members of different Lodges and in the enforcement of discipline upon its own officers and members, and upon the Lodges under its jurisdiction, as well as in all matters of controversy and discipline proper for Masonic investigation arising in any Constituent Lodge, which may be brought before it by the appeal of the aggrieved party.
Art. 12. All matters in the Grand Lodge, not otherwise specially provided for, shall be determined by a majority of votes; the Grand Master, or Presiding Officer, having the deciding vote in addition to his own where there is a tie, except when the Brethren shall, for the sake of expediency, leave any particular business to the decision of the Chair.
Art. 13. For the more thorough investigation of any subject, it may be referred to a committee to report thereon.
Art. 14. No person shall be permitted to speak more than twice upon the same subject without leave from the Chair, and every speaker shall stand when addressing the Presiding Officer.
Art. 15. There shall be an Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, commencing at 9:00 A.M. on the Friday after the second Monday of March to be holden at such place as the Grand Lodge shall from year to year determine; but the City of Tokyo shall continue to be deemed and held as the Grand East of the Jurisdiction, and all Masonic documents of an official nature shall be dated therefrom.
Art. 16. (Amended Annual Communication 2010) At the Annual Communication, the Grand Officers shall be elected and installed except for the Grand Master who will be elected but will serve one year as Deputy Grand Master before being installed. There will be no election for Deputy Grand Master. All matters affecting the Craft, generally, in this Jurisdiction, shall be considered and acted upon; and the Grand Lodge shall be called off from day to day, and not closed until the whole business of the Grand Lodge shall have been disposed of. The person elected as Grand Master shall serve one year as Deputy Grand Master before being installed the following year as Grand Master.
Art. 17. Each Grand Officer present, whether elected or appointed, and each Past Elected Grand Officer present, shall be entitled to one vote.
Art 17a. (Amended Annual Communication 2002) Each Lodge represented shall be entitled to three votes to be cast by one of the elected pillars present or a designated representative, any of whom are not otherwise entitled to a vote by virtue of their position, and all Past Masters present, not otherwise entitled to a vote.
Art 17b. (Amended Annual Communication 2002) No Grand Lodge Officer, Past Grand Officer, or Past Master, voting or participating in a vote, in any of these capacities, shall vote or participate in any of them, but may, as Master, Warden, or representative of a Lodge cast the vote or votes to which such position shall entitle him, providing they set aside that vote accorded them in the capacity of Grand Lodge Officer, Past Grand Officer or Past Master. This shall not apply to the Grand Master.
Art. 17c. When a Lodge shall be represented by only two of its proper officers, the officer highest in rank may cast two of its three votes.
Art. 17d. When a Lodge shall be represented by only one of its proper officers, or by a representative, such officer or representative may cast all the votes to which it is entitled.
Art. 17e. If any Lodge be in arrears to the Grand Lodge for more than one year, its representatives shall not be permitted to vote at any election.
Art. 17f. In all cases of a tie vote, except votes by ballot, the Grand Master, in addition to his proper vote, shall have the deciding vote.
Art. 18. If any Lodge shall not, for two consecutive years, be represented by either its regularly installed Master or one of its actual Wardens, the Grand Secretary shall give notice of omission to the said Lodge; and if at the third Annual Communication it continues to be unrepresented by its Master or one of its Wardens, it shall forfeit its Charter of Constitution unless such Lodge absence shall be excused by the Grand Lodge.
Art. 19. No officer shall enter upon the duties of his office until he shall have been regularly installed. But the old officers who have been installed shall continue in office until their successors shall have been duly installed. At all elections a majority of the votes cast shall govern.
Art. 20. The Grand Lodge may be opened, but shall not proceed to business until the representatives of a majority of the Lodges entitled to representation are present.
Art. 21. The Grand Master is the head of the Fraternity in the Jurisdiction, and as Grand Master of Masons in Japan shall preside at all Communications of the Grand Lodge.
Art. 22. He shall preserve order; and there can be no appeal from his decision, except as otherwise herein provided.
Art. 23. The Grand Master possesses, and may exercise certain prerogatives as inherent in his high office.
Art. 24. He may convene the Grand Lodge on any special occasion at such time and place as he may deem expedient.
Art. 25. He has the right to preside over every assembly of the Craft wheresoever and whensoever held.
Art. 26. He has the right to enter any Lodge to inspect its proceedings, to take part in its business transactions and to correct its errors.
Art. 27. The Grand Master may annually appoint a suitable and competent Brother as Grand Historian, who shall render such services as the Grand Master may direct from time to time. For the faithful performance of his duties the Grand Historian shall receive such compensation as the Grand Lodge may annually provide.
Art. 28. The Grand Master shall fill by appointment any vacancy occurring in the office of Grand Treasurer or Grand Secretary, occasioned by death, removal from the Jurisdiction, or incapacity of the officer to perform the duties incident to the office; the said appointee to be installed and to serve until the next Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge with full authority, rights, honors and privileges normally pertaining to the said office.
Art. 29. (Amended Annual Communication 1978) He may grant dispensations to permit a Lodge to confer more than two degrees at one meeting; to permit a candidate to be made a Mason without the necessity of one month's previous notice being given to the Lodge; to permit a Lodge to receive and act upon a petition for the Degrees of a person who has not met the necessary residence requirement; to permit a Lodge to elect or install its officers, or any one of them, at some meeting subsequent to the specified period; to empower the members of any particular Lodge to elect a Master from the floor without his having passed through the preparatory office of Warden.
If a Brother is elected to the office of Master from the floor while a Warden or Past Master is still present within the Jurisdiction, the Lodge must obtain the Grand Master's Dispensation after said election before the Master-Elect may be installed. A Lodge that does not have a Warden present within the Jurisdiction may request that Dispensation prior to the Election of Officers. Jur. Com., 1962, p 37.
The Grand Master may, upon request of the Lodge, either advance or delay the Stated Meeting of the Lodge. The only exception to this rule would be the Stated Meeting in December when the Election of Officers is held.
Jur. Com. 1965, p 78.
Art. 30. He may grant dispensation for the formation of new Lodges, but this dispensation shall remain in force only until the next Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge.
Art. 31. He may hold an occasional Lodge, and make Masons at sight, provided he does not, in such making, violate the Landmarks of the Order, nor make any Mason who has been rejected by any other Lodge, nor admit any candidate who is not in possession of all the necessary qualifications.
Art. 32. He may arrest the Charter of any Lodge for good reasons shown—that is, he may suspend its work and forbid it from holding meetings—but such suspension shall not continue longer than the next Communication of the Grand Lodge, which body alone can revoke the Charter of a Lodge.
Art. 33. He may suspend the Master of a Lodge for good reasons shown—from the discharge of all his official functions until the next Communication of the Grand Lodge. But such suspension of a Master does not deprive him of his good standing as a Master Mason.
Art. 34. He may appoint Representatives near other recognized Grand Lodges, and may receive and accredit Representatives from them.
Art. 35. He may appoint his official representatives to be known as Grand Inspectors who shall be vested with such powers and duties as the Grand Lodge may direct.
Art 36.(Amended Annual Communication 2003) He may, in cases he deems appropriate, grant dispensations to any Lodge to transact business with less than the required seven members present (no charge will be assessed for such dispensation, however, no dispensation will be entertained for less than five (5) members of the Lodge being present); to enable any Mason in good standing to affiliate with any Lodge for the sole purpose of its reorganization; and to allow any Lodge to confer degrees in a place or Lodge room other than that fixed by its Charter or Dispensation.
Art. 36a. (Amended Annual Communication – 1969) He may order appropriations or expenditures of Grand Lodge monies to meet cases of emergency that may arise when the Grand Lodge is recessed and, the Executive Committee cannot be reasonably or promptly convened. He shall, at his earliest opportunity, inform the Executive Committee of such appropriations or expenditures and if any appropriation or expenditure so made shall exceed the amount of twenty-five thousand yen, he shall render a report of the emergency conditions necessitating it at the next regular Communication of the Grand Lodge.
Art. 37. In the absence of the Grand Master from the Grand Lodge, the chair shall be taken by the Deputy Grand Master or in his absence, by the Grand Wardens, in order of priority of rank, and in the absence of all these officers, by the Senior Past Master present on the rolls of the Grand Lodge. The same rule as to succession shall prevail in case of the death, mental incapacity, physical disability, or absence from the Jurisdiction by the Grand Master.
Art. 38. If the Grand Master should abuse his power and render himself unworthy of the obedience and subjection of the Craft, it is competent for any five Lodges in the Jurisdiction to recommend impeachment of him at any time during his term of office; and he may be tried by the Grand Lodge therefore, and if found guilty by a vote of two-thirds, he may be punished by such Masonic penalty at the Grand Lodge may determine.
Art. 39. In the absence of the Grand Master from the Grand Lodge, or the Jurisdiction, the Deputy Grand Master shall preside in his place, and perform such duties and possess such authority as appertains to the Grand Master.
Art. 40. In the absence of the Grand and Deputy Grand Masters, the Senior Grand Warden, or in his absence, the Junior Grand Warden, shall preside with the same authority as the Grand Master.
Art. 41. (Deleted Annual Communication March, 1966)
Art. 42. The Grand Treasurer shall take charge of all funds, property, securities and vouchers of the Grand Lodge.
Art. 43. He shall pay all orders duly drawn under the general regulations or at the special direction of the Grand Lodge.
Art. 44. He shall attend on the Grand Lodge, or its Presiding Officer, when required, with the books and all necessary documents relating to his office, and, when required, the meeting of any committee whose duty it may be to act in relation to the fiscal concerns of the Grand Lodge.
Art. 45. He shall report annually to the Grand Lodge the amount of his receipts and expenditures, by item, and from whom received and to whom paid; and the amount of securities in his hands for funds invested by the Grand Lodge.
Art. 46. He shall execute and file with the Grand Master an official bond, to be approved by the Grand Master, conditioned that he will pay or deliver, on demand, to the Grand Lodge, or to his successor in office, all funds and property of the Grand Lodge that shall come into his hands as Grand Treasurer. The premium for said bond to be paid by the Grand Lodge.
Art. 47. He shall pay and deliver at the expiration of his term of office to his successor, or such person as shall be designated by the Grand Lodge, all monies, securities, evidences of debt, books, writings and property of the Grand Lodge under his control, with all proper assignments when necessary.
Art. 48. He may appoint a Master Mason as his assistant; but such assistant shall not be considered by virtue of his office a member of the Grand Lodge.
Art. 49. As compensation for his services, he shall receive such sum as the Grand Lodge shall provide.
Art. 50. The Grand Secretary shall keep a just and fair record of all transactions of the Grand Lodge, and cause a sufficient number of the Proceedings of the Annual Communication to be published and distributed as soon thereafter as is practicable, unless otherwise directed by the Grand Lodge.
Art. 51. He shall register all initiates and members of the Lodges under this Jurisdiction referred to him for that purpose, with the particulars set forth in such referral.
Art. 52. He shall receive, duly file and safely keep, all papers and documents of the Grand Lodge. He shall also keep the seal of the Grand Lodge.
Art. 53. He shall sign and certify all instruments emanating from the Grand Lodge.
Art. 54. He shall receive all returns of Lodges and payments for their dues, keep a proper account of the same, and pay them over without delay to the Grand Treasurer.
Art. 55. He shall report annually to the Grand Lodge, the amount of monies received by him, by item, and the specific sources from which it was received; also the Lodges that have neglected to render proper returns of their elections, members and dues, and such general information as to the state of the Lodges as may be proper for the information or action of the Grand Lodge.
Art. 56. He shall conduct the correspondence of the Grand Lodge, under the direction of the Grand Master, in a Masonic manner.
Art. 57. He shall attend, with all necessary writings under his control, on all meetings of the Grand Lodge, and also attend upon the Grand Master on Masonic business when required.
Art. 58. He shall keep his office open for the transaction of Masonic business for such length of time each day as is the usual practice of business offices to be kept open, except that his office may remain closed on Sundays and all holidays observed in Japan.
Art. 59. He shall transmit copies of the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge to all Constituent Lodges, and to the several Grand Lodges in correspondence with this Grand Lodge, when such Proceedings shall have been printed.
Art. 60. He may appoint a Master Mason as his assistant; but such assistant shall not be considered by virtue of his office a member of the Grand Lodge.
Art. 61. The Grand Secretary may employ a Master Mason as a stenographer to assist in the recording of the minutes of the Annual Grand Lodge Communications. As compensation for his services, the stenographer shall receive such sum as the Grand Lodge shall provide.
Art. 62. He shall issue notices of any Special Communication for important business, ordered by the Grand Master, to each Lodge and Grand Officer within the Jurisdiction.
Art. 62a. When requested by any Lodge, (using the prescribed form certifying that the deceased Brother was a member in good standing), he shall transmit to the family, free of charge, a Grand Lodge Certificate.
Art. 62b. He shall take charge of the jewels, furniture, clothing and other paraphernalia of the Grand Lodge during its vacations.
Art. 62c. He shall report, at its Annual Communication, all unfinished business of the Grand Lodge; and to present to its notice all such other matters as may properly come within his province.
Art. 62d. (Amended Annual Communication 1969) He shall draw warrants upon the Grand Treasurer for all appropriations by the Grand Lodge; for all orders of the Grand Master, to meet cases of emergency that may arise in a recess of the Grand Lodge, and for such accounts and claims which may have been reviewed and audited by the Committee on Finances and Investments, and approved by the Grand Lodge or the Executive Committee.
Art. 62e. As compensation for his services, he shall receive such sum as the Grand Lodge shall provide.
Art. 62f. He shall execute and file in the office of the Grand Master, within fifteen days after his installation, an official bond, in such sum as shall be approved by the Grand Master, conditioned that he will faithfully discharge the duties of his office, as prescribed in the Constitution. The premium of said bond to be paid by the Grand Lodge.
Art. 62g. He shall perform all such other duties, appertaining to his office, as the Grand Lodge may direct.
Art. 63. The Grand Chaplain shall open and close the Grand Lodge with prayer, officiate at Masonic funerals when invited by the Grand Master, and perform divine service on St. Johns' Day, or other public occasions, when celebrated by the Grand Lodge.
Art. 64. It shall be the duty of the Grand Lecturers to teach the ritual and esoteric work to the Inspectors of the Jurisdiction; to visit the various Lodges and hold schools of instruction where most convenient, and not only to exemplify the adopted work, but to require conformity therewith. It shall also be their duty to require the Inspectors to examine all Masters-elect in so much of the Constitution, Edicts and Regulations of the Grand Lodge as refer to the government of Constituent Lodges, as well as in regard to their proficiency in the work and lectures, and to withhold certificates from all who refuse or neglect to make themselves proficient. And it shall be the further duty of the Grand Lecturers to render a report to the Grand Lodge at each Annual Communication, giving a full and explicit account of their services within the year, and setting forth the condition of Lodges throughout the jurisdiction. They shall have the power to direct the Inspectors in the discharge of their duty, issue certificates to Brethren who are proficient in the work and lectures adopted by the Grand Lodge and are qualified to act as Inspectors, and also to examine officers of Lodges and issue certificates to them. It shall be their duty to hold a Lodge, or Lodges of Instruction, for the benefit of the Inspectors and the Craft generally, immediately before, during or immediately after each Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge. They shall receive such compensation for their services as the Grand Lodge shall direct.
Art. 64a. The Grand Master shall appoint officers to be called Inspectors, who shall, before entering upon their duties, produce certificates from the Grand Lecturer that they are proficient in the work and lectures adopted by the Grand Lodge and are qualified to act as Inspectors.
Art. 64b. It shall be the duty of the Inspector to visit each Lodge in his assignment whenever desired by any Lodge, or whenever he may deem it necessary for the faithful performance of his duties; to inspect the work, and, if necessary, correct the same in accordance with the work as adopted by the Grand Lodge; and to report the working condition of each Lodge to the Grand Lecturer on or before the first day of December in each year; and further, to examine the records and all the books of each Lodge, and the manner of transacting its business, making its returns and paying its Grand Lodge dues with reference to its conformity to our Constitution and Regulations, and report thereon to the Grand Master at the same time; also to instruct and qualify the officers of the Lodges, issue certificates to such as are qualified where required by law. To require each of the Masters to convene his Lodge for inspection, and report to the Grand Master any failing to do so; as well as any Master who fails to qualify within the proper time.
Art. 64c. It shall also be the duty of each Inspector in Japan to attend the Lodge of Instruction to be held by the Grand Lecturer immediately before, during, or immediately following, each Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge.
Art. 65. It shall be the duty of the Grand Orator, at each Annual Communication, to deliver an address to the Grand Lodge upon matters appertaining to the Craft.
Art. 65a. It shall be the duty of the Grand Marshal:
Art. 65b. It shall be the duty of the Grand Standard Bearer to bear the Banner of the Grand Lodge in all processions and at all public ceremonies.
Art. 65c. It shall be the duty of the Grand Sword Bearer to attend upon the Grand Master and bear the sword of the Grand Lodge in all processions and at all public ceremonies.
Art. 65d. It shall be the duty of the Grand Bible Bearer to bear the Holy Writings in all processions and at all public ceremonies.
Art. 65e. It shall be the duty of the Grand Deacons to assist the Grand Master and Grand Wardens in such manner as the ancient usages of the Craft prescribe.
Art. 65f. (Amended Annual Communication March 2000) It shall be the duty of the Grand Stewards to superintend the preparations and conduct of all festival occasions directed by the Grand Lodge. The Grand Lodge neither encourages nor prohibits the consumption of alcoholic beverages at such festivities or when the Grand Lodge is at refreshment, but tasks the Grand Stewards to supervise the craft to ensure such refreshment is partaken with temperance thereby avoiding the conditions or conduct which would be unacceptable at a Masonic Function.
Art. 66. It shall be the duty of the Grand Pursuivant:
Art. 67. It shall be the duty of the Grand Organist to preside at the organ at the opening and closing of the Grand Lodge, and to conduct its music upon all occasions of ceremony, when required.
Art. 68. It shall be the duty of the Grand Tiler:
Art. 69. The festivals of St. John the Baptist, on the 24th of June, and of St. John the Evangelist, on the 27th of December, are recognized as the Festivals of the patron Saints of Freemasonry; and it is recommended to every Lodge, annually, to celebrate one or both in such manner as will be most conducive to its advantage and the honor and benefit of the Institution.
Art. 70. Upon any subject that may come before the Grand Lodge, or any subordinate Lodge, and upon which the Constitution is silent, reference shall be made to "The Law Of The Builders", which is established in the Book of Constitutions for the Masonic Jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Japan
Art. 71. Any proposed amendment to this Constitution shall be presented at an Annual Communication, and shall in all cases be referred to the Committee on Jurisprudence, who shall report before a vote thereon be taken.
Art. 72. Upon the report of said Committee, if five-sixths (5/6) of the votes given thereon shall be in favor of such proposed amendment, it shall be declared adopted; and, from and after the close of the Communication, it shall become a part of the Constitution.
Art. 73. If the vote in favor of such proposed amendment be less than that named in the preceding article, but there be a majority therefor, it shall lie over for one year and shall be published with the Proceedings, and under the caption of "Proposed Amendment to the Constitution"; and if, at the next succeeding Annual Communication, it shall receive two-thirds (2/3) of the votes given thereon, it shall be declared adopted; and, from and after the close of that Communication it shall become a part of the Constitution.
Art. 74. (Deleted Annual Communication March 1966)
Art. 75. The quorum of this Grand Lodge at any Communication shall be a majority of the Lodges entitled to representation.
Art 76. (Deleted Annual Communication 1999)
Art 77. (Amended Annual Communication 1999) The following standing committees, to consist of no less than three members each shall also be appointed by the Grand Master at each Annual Communication just before its close, viz: on Jurisprudence, on Investment and Finance, on Grievances, on Fraternal Relations, on Returns, on Pay of Members, on Credentials, and on Charters and By-Laws of Lodges, the duties of which committees shall cease at the close of the next succeeding Annual Communication.
Art. 77a. (Amended Annual Communication 1969) The Grand Master, the elected Grand Lodge Officers, and the Past Grand Masters, shall compose an Executive Committee whose duty it shall be to advise and assist the Grand Master in the execution of his duties, and to approve the expenditure or appropriation of Grand Lodge monies during the intervals between the Communications of the Grand Lodge. The Executive Committee shall meet at such times and places as the Grand Master may direct, and due and timely notice of each meeting thereof shall be issued by the office of the Grand Secretary.
Art. 78. Special committees may also be appointed by the Grand Master, whenever it may be deemed necessary by the Grand Lodge and whenever, during the intervals between the Communications of the Grand Lodge as he shall deem necessary.
Art. 79. No business of any kind shall be finally acted upon until after reference to and report upon it by a committee, unless by unanimous consent; and no appropriation of money shall be made until after reference to and report by the Committee on Investment and Finances; and no appropriation of money shall be made at any Annual Communication after the election of Grand Officers except by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the members present.
Art. 80. (Amended Annual Communication 1970) All the members of the Committee on Investment and Finances must reside within eighty (80) kilometers of the Masonic Building in Tokyo and it shall be their duty to meet at the office of the Grand Secretary on the fourth Saturday of each month to audit such bills, claims and demands against the Grand Lodge as may have been placed in the hands of the Grand Secretary; and, except as specified in Article 36a, no warrant on the Grand Treasurer for any bill, claim or demand, shall be drawn by the Grand Secretary until such bill, claim or demand shall have been reviewed or audited by said Committee and approved by the Grand Lodge or the Executive Committee.
Art. 81. All stock shall be taken and held, and all leases granted in the corporate name of the Grand Lodge; and no stock shall be transferred but by approval of the Grand Lodge and signed by the Grand Master, under the seal of the Grand Lodge, and countersigned by the Grand Secretary.
Resolved that the Grand Lodge of F.& A.M. of Japan place 10 per cent of yearly receipts from per capita and degree tax in a fund to be utilized to assist Lodges in this jurisdiction in relocation to Masonically owned property. This fund may be utilized for other purposes in an emergency when authorized by the Grand Master. The fund shall be used by the Lodges on the basis of a loan, the terms of which are mutually agreeable to the Grand Lodge and the individual Lodge.
Apvd. Res., 1961, pp 48,49
Resolved that a Grand Lodge Endowment Fund be established and that a proclamation be issued by the Grand Master designating October of each year as Endowment Fund Month so that all Brethren may be given this opportunity to further advance Freemasonry in this Grand Jurisdiction by making voluntary contributions to this Fund.
Apvd. Res., 1978, p 36
Art. 82. The revenue of the Grand Lodge shall be derived from the following sources:
Art. 82a. From fees charged for dispensations, charters, diplomas and other documents issued under its authority.
Art. 82b. From contributions levied upon the Lodges, which shall always be equal and uniform, in proportion to their membership and degrees conferred.
Art. 82c. From the funds, dues and proceeds of all properties of dissolved Lodges within its jurisdiction.
Art. 83. The following fees shall be paid to the Grand Lodge as Annual Dues and Fees by each of the Lodges, whether Chartered or Under Dispensation in this Jurisdiction:
Art. 83a. The following shall be the fees to be paid to the Grand Lodge by Lodges under this jurisdiction:
Art. 83b. In case of dual membership each of the two Lodges to which a member belongs shall be required to pay to the Grand Lodge the per capita tax and such dues as are now or shall hereafter be required by law; provided, that the Lodge in which a Brother is a resident member shall count him only for the purpose of payment of tax and other dues herein provided, while the parent Lodge shall, of course, count him for all purposes.
Art. 83c. In case of the dissolution of a Lodge, the Grand Secretary, or some Brother by him duly authorized, shall at once proceed to receive its funds on hand, collect its outstanding dues, and dispose of its jewels, furniture, and other property of every kind, upon the approval of the Grand Master, in such manner as shall seem to him most judicious; and he shall place the proceeds thereof, after the payment of all just and necessary expenses, among the funds of the Grand Lodge.
Art 84.(Amended Annual Communication 2003) No Lodge of Freemasons can be legally constituted in this Jurisdiction except by virtue of a Charter issued by the Grand Lodge, nor exist longer than during the continuance of such Charter, not hold a stated meeting with less than seven members, including an elected and installed pillar present, but nothing herein said is intended to interfere with the dispensing prerogative of the Grand Master.
Art. 85. Lodges working under dispensation of the Grand Master have no vote in the Grand Lodge, nor can they elect or install officers, but must be governed by the general rules and regulations of the Order as laid down in the Constitution and in the "Law of the Builders" of this Grand Lodge.
Art. 86. No Lodge shall confer more than two degrees in one day, except by dispensation of the Grand Master.
Art. 87. No Lodge shall be permitted to confer more than one degree on the same candidate during the same day, except by dispensation of the Grand Master.
Art. 88. (Deleted Annual Communication 2000)
Art. 89. No member of a Lodge, when present, shall be excused or permitted to refrain from voting upon an application for affiliation, dual membership, or for the degrees of Masonry.
Art. 90. These rules from Articles 86 to 89 shall govern Lodges Under Dispensation as well as those working under Charter.
Art. 91. Chartered Lodges shall have the power of making By-Laws for the government of their members, provided such By-Laws are consistent with the Ancient Landmarks, the Constitution of the Grand Lodge, and the laws of the land; but such By-Laws, and every subsequent alteration of them, shall be submitted to the examination and approval of the Grand Lodge; or the Grand Master and Grand Secretary, when the Grand Lodge is not in session; and when approved by the Grand Master, and attested to by the Grand Secretary, a copy of them shall be given to the Grand Secretary to be deposited in the archives of the Grand Lodge; nor shall they be operative until so approved; nor can any Lodge, even by unanimous consent, suspend any of its By-Laws.
Art. 92. No candidate can be initiated, passed or raised in any Lodge nor any Brother admitted a member thereof, without the unanimous consent of the members then present, in the manner prescribed in Articles 133, 133a through 133d.
Art. 93. Any candidate who has been rejected in any Lodge may apply by new petition to the same Lodge, but to that Lodge only, which petition shall be submitted to the same investigation and ballot as in the case of an original application. Nor shall any Lodge receive such application from any person who, within twelve months next preceding, shall have been rejected by any Lodge, unless by dispensation from the Grand Master.
Art. 94. On the rejection of any candidate, notice shall immediately be given to the Grand Secretary, and should the candidate be afterwards elected and admitted by the same Lodge, notice shall also be immediately given to the Grand Secretary.
Art. 95. When any person is expelled, suspended or reinstated by a Lodge, immediate notice thereof shall be given to the Grand Secretary, and the names of all such persons shall be published in the Annual Proceedings of the Grand Lodge. But if any such person shall have appealed to the Grand Lodge, then the Grand Secretary shall not transmit such notice, but shall await the decision of the Grand Lodge.
Art. 96. No person under suspension or expulsion shall be admitted into any Lodge under this Jurisdiction.
Art. 97. No person whose petition for initiation has been rejected by one Lodge shall be received into any other Lodge under this Jurisdiction; nor shall any petition for initiation be allowed to be withdrawn after it has been read before the Lodge. Should it be ascertained before the balloting that the applicant is not of suitable age, or does not possess the requisite physical qualifications, or qualifications as so residence, his fee shall be returned to him and the reason for such return communicated to him, and such petition shall not prevent his applying to the same or any other Lodge thereafter.
The words "under this Jurisdiction" constitute a significant limiting provision, and your Committee finds nothing which would prohibit the reception of a properly executed petition by a Lodge of another Jurisdiction.
Jur.Com., 1973, p 54
Art. 98. (Amended Annual Communication 1970) Every Lodge shall make its return up to the first day of January of each year, and pay its dues to the Grand Secretary, according to a form to be prepared by him and sent to each Lodge. Said returns and dues must be transmitted to the Grand Secretary on or before the 31st day of January of each year.
Art. 99. Lodges which neglect to make their returns and pay their dues for two consecutive years shall forfeit their Charters.
Art. 100. The Master, Wardens, Treasurer and Secretary of each Lodge shall be elected annually by ballot at the Stated Meeting next preceding the anniversary of Saint John the Evangelist; and a majority of the votes of the members present shall be necessary to elect. They shall be installed as soon as practicable thereafter and shall hold their respective offices until their successors shall have been duly elected and installed. Installations may be either public or private.
Art. 100a. There can be no installation by proxy. No Master of a Lodge shall be installed until he shall have produced to the Installing Officer the certificate of the Grand Lecturer or of the Inspector of the Lodge certifying that he has personally examined such Master-elect, and that he is qualified to give the work and lectures entire in the three degrees, and that he is thoroughly proficient in those portions of the Constitution and General Regulations of the Grand Lodge which relate to the government of a Lodge. Such certificate, endorsed by the Installing Officer, shall be forwarded to the Grand Secretary, to be kept on file in his office.
Art. 100b. No Senior Warden of a Lodge shall be installed until he shall have produced to the Installing Officer the certificate from the Grand Lecturer or the Inspector of his Lodge certifying that he has personally examined such Senior Warden-elect and that he is qualified to give the work and lecture of the First and Second Degrees and that no Junior Warden shall be installed until he shall have produced a like certificate of his qualification to give the work and lecture of the First Degree. Such certificates shall be sent to the Grand Secretary and filed in his office.
Art. 100c. In case any Lodge shall fail to hold such election at the time above named, upon good cause being shown therefor, the Grand Master may issue a dispensation to hold such election at another time, and in case a vacancy shall at any time occur in either the office of Master or Warden(s) in any Lodge, upon proper presentation of the necessity therefor, the Grand Master may issue a dispensation for an election to fill such vacancy. But, in either of these cases, such dispensation shall be issued only upon the application of the Lodge, setting forth the reasons therefor, to be approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the members present at a Stated Meeting, and to be properly certified by the Secretary; and of the special election which may thus be ordered, the members shall have due notice; PROVIDED, however, that in case of the failure of a Lodge to hold its annual election by reason of force majeure or other causes beyond the control of the Lodge, the Grand Master may, in his discretion, waive the fee for a dispensation to hold the annual election at any time as provided in this Chapter.
Notwithstanding the references in Article 100c to the Master and Wardens, no elective officers may be elected and installed at a time other than that specified in Article 100, except by dispensation of the Grand Master.
Jur.Com., 1973, p 54
Art 100d.(Amended Annual Communication 1999) When a Lodge fails to install all of its officers within a period of sixty (60) days subsequent to their election because of the failure of the Master-elect or Wardens-elect to procure the necessary certificate of qualification from the Grand Lecturer or Inspector, said Lodge will immediately thereafter petition the Grand Master for a special dispensation to hold an election for the office of Master, Senior or Junior Warden as the case may be; and the officer elected under such dispensation shall not be the one who had previously elected and who had thus allowed it to be shown that he was not able or willing to qualify himself for such certificate. PROVIDED, the Grand Master may, upon a satisfactory showing grant further time to the Master-elect or Wardens-elect to procure such certificate. Only the failure of the Master-elect to procure the necessary certificate will postpone the installation of other elected and appointed officers, if qualified.
Art. 101.(Amended Annual Communication 1992) None but members in good standing whose dues are paid, shall be entitled to vote at an election and every voter shall be eligible to any office in the Lodge (refer to Art 29). In cases of dual membership, however, such members cannot be any combination of Master, Senior or Junior Warden of their two Lodges at the same time, except by a dispensation of the Grand Master. All fees for dispensation will be the responsibility of the Lodge causing the need for such dispensation.
Art. 102. No Lodge shall receive an application for dual membership or affiliation unless it is accompanied by:
The Brother who applies for Dual or Affiliate Membership in a Constituent Lodge actually becomes a member of the Lodge on the date of his election to membership, regardless of the date the Brother is obligated by the Lodge. Jur.Com., 1965, p 78
Definition of "Dual Member", "Plural Member", and "Affiliate Member":
A Dual Member is a Mason belonging to two Lodges at the same time.
A Plural Member is a Mason belonging to three or more Lodges at the same time.
An Affiliate Member is a Mason who, upon petitioning or being accepted as a member in a Lodge, was not at that time a member in any other Lodge and had in his possession a valid Demit from a regular Lodge and that Demit was not over six months old.
Jur. Com., 1960, pp3 4-35
Art. 102a. Upon election to dual or plural membership, the member shall be liable for the required dues and assessments to all Lodges wherein membership is held until a certificate of withdrawal or demit is obtained. The suspension or expulsion of a dual or plural member in one Constituent Lodge automatically terminates his membership in other Lodges and appendant bodies, and the Secretary of the Lodge taking such action shall immediately inform the Grand Secretary, who will notify the Constituent Lodge Secretary and/or the Grand Secretary of the Jurisdiction wherein other membership is held. Upon reinstatement, notice will be given.
(Added Annual Communication 1986) This Article shall be read to the dual or plural petitioner of a Constituent Lodge upon his signing of the By-Laws and duly recorded in the Lodge Minutes that he has been apprised of the responsibility incurred by multiple membership.
Art. 103. Every Lodge must hold its regular Stated Meeting for each month, which Stated Meeting can be waived only by dispensation from the Grand Master.
The Grand Master may, upon request of the Lodge, either advance or delay the Stated Meeting of a Lodge. Jur. Com., 1967
Art. 104. All dues to Constituent Lodges shall be payable annually in advance on December 31 of each year.
Art. 104a. (Amended Annual communication – 1974) No Lodge shall expel a member for non-payment of dues; but in case any member shall have failed to pay his dues during the entire year for which they were due, he shall before the end of the sixth month of the next succeeding year be notified by the Secretary of his arrearages and current dues. If, at the end of three additional months, his dues and arrearages still not be paid, he shall be notified by the Secretary, either by registered letter deposited in a Post Office in Japan addressed to him at his last known address, or by actual service of notice duly certified by the Tiler, that, unless on or before the Stated Meeting of December, either his dues be paid or sickness or inability to pay be shown as the cause of such refusal or neglect, he shall be suspended from all rights and privileges of Masonry. If neither of these things be done; he shall, at the Stated Meeting of December of the second consecutive year for which his dues are not paid, be declared by the Master to be suspended effective on the last day of the year, unless, for special reasons shown, the Lodge shall remit his dues or grant him further time for their payment; but any Mason thus suspended, who shall at any time pay the arrearages due at the time of his suspension, or who shall have had such arrearages and dues remitted by his Lodge, shall by either of these acts be restored: PROVIDED, that should any member suspended for non-payment of dues, neglect for a period of two (2) years after his suspension to pay said dues, or have the same remitted by his Lodge, said member shall not be restored except by a three-fourths (3/4) vote by secret written ballot of all the members present at the next Stated Meeting after the petition for reinstatement is presented. Any Secretary failing or neglecting to comply with the requirements of this section relative to notifying delinquents shall be subject to discipline by his Lodge for neglect of duty. The Secretary shall further cause to be read and recorded in the Minutes of the Stated Meeting of the following January, the names of all members suspended under the provisions of this Article.
Art. 105. (Amended Annual Communication 1978) No lodge shall initiate, pass, or raise any candidate who has not resided within this Jurisdiction for twelve (12) months; or for six (6) months if a member of or connected with the Armed Forces of any country; and within the jurisdiction of the Lodge applied to for six (6) months immediately preceding his application; or in the case of mariners, they must have sailed out of some port in this Jurisdiction for the same period of time.
Art. 105a. (Amended Annual Communication 1974) No Lodge in this Jurisdiction shall receive an application for the degrees of Masonry unless the applicant be a man of at least 20 years of age at the time of signing his application; no woman nor eunuch; free born, being neither a slave nor the son of a bond woman; a believer in God (Supreme Being) and a future existence; of good moral conduct; capable of reading and writing; having no maim or physical defect in his body that may render him incapable of learning the art, and physically able to conform substantially to what the several degrees respectively require of him; nor unless he shall have been a resident within the Jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge during twelve months, or during six months if a member of the Armed Forces and a resident within the jurisdiction of the Lodge during the six months preceding the date of his application. A man whose only home is the vessel upon which he is employed is eligible for the degrees if his vessel has been in Japanese waters at times covering the period of one year.
Art. 106. All balloting for candidates must take place in the third degree, and at a Stated Meeting of the Lodge.
Art. 107. No Lodge shall have more than one ballot for the three degrees; but, though an applicant may be elected to receive them if, at any time before his initiation, objection be made to any member, he shall not receive the degree until such objection shall have been withdrawn; and such objection shall, unless withdrawn within sixty (60) days, have the effect of a rejection by ballot, and shall be so reported to the Grand Secretary. After his initiation, but before being passed, or after passing, before being raised, any member may, orally or in writing, make objection to his advancement privately to the Master, stating the cause therefor.
Art. 107a. If no cause is assigned, the Master may disregard the objection and proceed to confer the remaining degree or degrees. If the cause assigned seems insufficient to the Master, he shall state the matter to the Lodge at its next Stated Meeting, and the Lodge shall then decide, by majority vote, taken in the usual manner, whether or not further investigation shall be made. If, however, the objection seems to the Master to be sufficient or to merit investigation, or if the Lodge shall so decide, the Master shall, appoint a committee to inquire into the cause of the objection, fix the time and place for its meeting, have the objector and the candidate notified thereof, and Masons whose statements seem necessary or proper, summoned then and there to appear. The committee shall meet at the time and place fixed. The Master shall, ex officio, be a member and chairman thereof and the Secretary, or a Brother appointed in his place, shall record the proceedings. Any statements made shall be taken down in narrative, or other form by the Secretary. The committee may adjourn from time to time, and shall have entire charge of the investigation. It may hear the statements privately or in the presence of the objector and candidate, or either of them, and neither shall be allowed any objection to the committee or its methods. It may take the statements of Masons, or persons not Masons, in such manner as may, to it, seem proper. It shall report at the next Stated Meeting (unless further time be given by the Master of the Lodge), stating fully the cause of the objection and its conclusions thereon. The statements upon which the report is based shall be read in Lodge, if required.
Art. 107b. Upon receipt of such report, if the cause assigned be, in the opinion of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present, not a valid and Masonic one (the vote being taken by secret ballot upon slips of paper having written thereon "Yes" or "No"), the Lodge may confer the degree in the same manner as if no objection had been made, and should it decide that the cause assigned is not a valid and Masonic one, the Master shall not allow the same objection to be made a second time. The decision is final, and no appeal may be taken therefrom. If the objection is sustained, the part of the fee for the degree or degrees not taken by the candidate shall be returned to him.
Art. 108. An Entered Apprentice or Fellow Craft may be tried and suspended, expelled or otherwise Masonically punished for any offense committed by him.
Art. 109. The right of appeal is an inherent right belonging to every Mason, and the Grand Lodge is the Appellate Body to whom the appeal is to be made, whether it be an appeal from the decision of the Lodge, or from the decision of the Master, but nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to prevent any Lodge or Mason, during the recess of the Grand Lodge, from invoking the action and order of the Grand Master for the protection or maintenance of any Masonic right, until such time as the Grand Lodge may act in the premises, and the actions and orders of the Grand Master shall be of force therein until set aside or modified by the Grand Lodge; and in such cases the Grand Master may act in such manner and upon such notice to the parties in interest as he may deem just. (The design of this article is to afford temporary relief or aid when necessary, until such time as other and final action may be had.)
Art. 110. Every candidate for initiation in this Jurisdiction must be without maim or defect that may render him incapable of learning and demonstrating the moral teachings and the secret work and practices of Masonry. In the demonstration of secret work, artificial limbs may be used.
Art. 111. No person who cannot read or write shall be initiated, passed or raised in any Lodge in this Jurisdiction, and, as an evidence of these qualifications, every applicant for initiation shall sign his petition in his own handwriting with his full name.
Art. 112. No Lodge shall admit a visitor without due inquiry or examination, nor unless he can and does produce written evidence, under the seal of his Lodge, that he is in good standing therein, and shall prove himself to be a Master Mason, either by private examination under the test oath or by avouchment under the following restrictions. No Mason shall vouch for a visiting Brother unless he shall have sat with him in open Lodge, or has examined him under proper authority, or in case a member of one Lodge has sat in open Lodge with a visiting Brother, such Brother so sitting can vouch for such visiting Brother to a member of any other Lodge, all three being present, and such Brother to whom such avouchment is made can then vouch for such visiting Brother to the Master of his Lodge. Private examination and lecturing a visitor in the work, without authority, are both forbidden. Nor shall a visitor be admitted if there be, in the opinion of the Master, a valid objection made to such admission by a member of the Lodge. Such objection shall be made privately to the Master, stating the reason therefor. The Master's decision thereon shall be final, and he shall not disclose to the visitor, any member, or any other person the name of the Brother objecting, but shall privately inform the visitor that a Brother objects. The right to visit Masonically is not an absolute one, but a favor which any lawful Mason in good standing has the right to ask, but which the Lodge may refuse. No Mason shall visit a Lodge without being satisfied of its lawful authority. All Lodges are required to show a visitor their Charter, if requested to do so. The Master may, at any time, in his discretion, request the visitors to retire, and should do so when the private affairs of the Lodge are under discussion.
Art. 113. A Lodge may permit Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts to visit when open in the degree taken by them and when they are accompanied by Master Masons belonging to their own Lodge. This must be done without examination and simply as a courtesy shown to the Lodge in which they received the degrees or to the Master Masons accompanying them.
Art. 114. A Lodge shall consist of a Master, a Senior Warden, a Junior Warden, a Treasurer, a Secretary, a Chaplain, a Marshal, a Senior Deacon, a Junior Deacon, a Senior Steward, a Junior Steward, a Tiler and such other officers as its By-Laws may provide; together with as many members as it may find convenient. All officers except the Tiler must be members of the Lodge.
Art. 115. The first five officers named in Art. 114 shall be elected by ballot, (by a majority of the votes cast) for 12 months at the regular Stated Meeting preceding the festival of St. John the Evangelist, in the manner provided in Art. 100, 100a through 100d. The officers so elected shall be properly installed as soon as practicable thereafter.
Art. 116. The Deacons, Stewards, Tiler and such other subordinate officers as the By-Laws of each Lodge may designate, shall be appointed in such manner as the By-Laws may prescribe, and the officers so appointed shall be properly invested as soon as practicable after their appointment.
Art. 117. The Worshipful Master-elect shall also, on the night of the election, appoint a committee of three to examine the Treasurer's and Secretary's books, and said committee shall report at the next Stated Meeting.
Art. 118. The Master shall have power:
Art. 119. It shall be his duty:
Art. 120. From the decisions of the Master there shall be no appeal to the Lodge; but objection to such decisions may be laid before the Grand Master and by him be dealt with in the manner provided.
Art. 120a. In all cases of a tie vote, except votes by ballot, the Master, in addition to his proper vote, shall have the deciding vote.
Art. 120b. For the neglect or violation of any duty imposed by this Constitution upon the Master of a Lodge, he shall be subject to deprivation of office, suspension or expulsion.
Art. 121. It shall be the duties of the Wardens to assist the Worshipful Master in the government of the Lodge, and in his absence to preside according to seniority, unless through courtesy, they relinquish the right of presiding to a Past Master present. In the absence of all three of the warrant officers, the Lodge cannot be opened unless the Grand Master, on account of the death, disability, or removal from the jurisdiction of the warrant officers shall have appointed some member of the Lodge to serve as Acting Master, whose authority shall continue until the return of some one of the warrant officers or until the expiration of the term of the Master.
Art. 122. The Treasurer shall keep an exact account of all the funds of the Lodge, script and certificates of stock, and all titles of property belonging to the Lodge. He shall pay all orders signed by the Worshipful Master and countersigned by the Secretary, and those drawn on him by the Committee on Charity. He shall report the state of the funds at the regular Stated Meetings in June and December of each year. He shall submit his books to inspection whenever required by the Worshipful Master or the Lodge.
Art. 123. It shall be the duty of the Secretary:
Art. 123a. He shall keep the following books of the Lodge in such forms as may be provided:
Art. 123b. He shall also keep such Account Books as may be necessary to present clearly the account of each member with the Lodge, the receipts of the Secretary, and his payments to the Treasurer; and shall preserve the Book of Constitutions and Regulations of the Grand Lodge, which may from time to time be published, together with all the printed Proceedings thereof as promulgated by its order.
Art. 123c. He shall report the members in arrears at the December Stated Meeting of each year.
Art. 124. The Senior and Junior Deacons shall perform all the duties appertaining to their respective offices, under the direction of the Master and Wardens.
Art. 125. (Amended – Grand Lodge Communication 2000) The Stewards shall be entrusted with the preparation of candidates. They shall also, under the direction of the Junior Warden, prepare and superintend the banquet during the hours of refreshment. If alcoholic beverages are to be consumed, the Stewards will take special care to insure that such consumption does not lead to intemperance, thereby avoiding conditions or conduct which would be unacceptable at a Masonic Function.
Art. 126. The Tiler of a Lodge must be a worthy Master Mason. It shall be his duty to serve all summonses delivered to him by the Secretary; to prepare the room for the meetings of the Lodge and carefully to collect and replace the jewels and furniture after the Lodge is closed. For the faithful performance of his duties he shall receive such compensation as the Lodge may determine.
Art. 126a. The other appointed officers shall perform such duties, consonant with the usages of the Craft and appertaining to their respective offices, as may be required by the By-Laws or as directed by the Master.
Art. 127. The Worshipful Master, Wardens, Treasurer and Secretary shall be the Standing Committee on Funds, whose duty it shall be to make sale or commutation of stocks or other property of the Lodge, also to invest such funds as may be, from time to time, in the hands of the Treasurer, and which they may be directed to invest, in such stocks or other property, and on such terms as may be determined by a majority of the committee.
Art. 128. In addition, the Master and Wardens shall be a Charity Committee, and shall have power to draw upon the Treasurer for any sum, not exceeding the amount prescribed in the By-Laws of the Lodge, at any one time, for relief.
Art. 129. A Lodge must retain the control of its own funds and property. It cannot incorporate or entrust any of its funds or property to a corporation formed within itself—except that its members may incorporate for the purpose of erecting and maintaining a hall for its use, and incidentally for rental purposes, and it may hold stock in such corporation. It may, through Trustees provided for in a standing resolution, (who shall always be under its control) hold, mortgage, sell and otherwise dispose of its property and funds which may be invested and re-invested as the Lodge shall direct. No money, except that dispensed by the Charity Committee and that due the Grand Lodge, shall be drawn without the express consent of the Lodge and appearing in the record, and no warrant shall be drawn therefor, unless there be sufficient funds to meet it, except in extreme cases of Masonic Necessity or charity.
Art. 130. (Amended, Annual Communication 1980) The funds whether derived from fees, dues, rental profit or otherwise, are trust funds set apart for the payment of the necessary expenses of the Lodge and for the special calls for charity. (Except that where funds are donated and accepted in trust for any proper specific purpose they may be used for it.) The Lodge cannot, by amendment to its By-Laws or otherwise, use or permit the use of its funds or property or any part of them for any other purpose whatsoever; nor can the funds or property be divided with the members, even with those withdrawing to form a new Lodge, nor with the new Lodge thus formed.
Excepting, however, that the Lodge may expend in each Masonic year ten percent of its total revenue for the preceding Masonic year for purposes of refreshments, the promotion of fraternal intercourse, and community relations activities approved by the Grand Lodge. PROVIDED, That no expenditure whatever shall be made for spirituous malt or fermented liquors.
No lottery shall ever be held, or be advertised by newspaper, or otherwise, or its tickets be sold in the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Japan. The use of a plan by a Constituent Lodge to finance a building program by the lottery of an automobile or any other item of value is illegal.
GM Dec., 1970, p 28
Sponsorship of assemblies of the Order of Rainbow for Girls and chapters of the Order of DeMolay has received long-standing acceptance as official functions of Constituent Lodges. The costs of financial and material support entailed by such sponsor-ship are interpreted to be included in the meaning of necessary expenditures of a sponsoring Lodge.
Jur. Com., 1980, p 15
In instances in which the Grand Lodge organizes, promotes, or supports an activity, or designates an activity as a special call of charity, expenditure of Lodge funds is authorized.
Jur. Com., 1980, p 15
Donations to non-Masonic activities for which no authorization or sanction has been granted by the Grand Lodge are not expenditures of Lodge funds authorized within the scope of Article 130 of the Constitution.
Jur. Com., 1980, p 15
Advertisements placed in the ceremonial bulletin of the Torii Oasis Shrine Clubs of Japan are deemed to be not essentially different from other types of notices or bulletins which may be issued from time to time by a Lodge in any number of media. They are therefore considered a normal expense of the Lodge when duly approved by the members.
Jur. Com., 1980, p 15
Art. 131. Each Lodge, within its means, shall see to it that the needy Brethren of its own membership and neighborhood are not suffered to want or to be made a burden to others. It shall refund to any Masonic Lodge or Board of Relief all monies expended for its own needy members not to exceed 18,000 yen in any one case, unless the excess is authorized by the Master of the Lodge in whose behalf the relief is granted. It must relieve its own members, their widows and orphans, when in distress, regardless of their place of residence. PROVIDED, however, that a Lodge may, in its discretion, also contribute to the relief of wives and widows of Master Masons who belong to other Lodges, within the measure of prudence and the means of the Lodge.
Art. 132. No Lodge shall receive an application from any person who, within twelve months next preceding, shall have been rejected by any Lodge, unless by dispensation from the Grand Master.
Art. 132a. All such applications, as well as those for affiliation or dual membership shall be in writing, signed by the applicant and recommended by at least two members of the Lodge in the forms prescribed. And those for degrees shall not be received unless the applicant shall have answered, in his own hand, the questions which are annexed to and part of the form prescribed by the Grand Lodge.
Art. 132b. PROVIDED, That a petition for the degrees by a person who has been rejected by a Lodge in this jurisdiction may be submitted only to the Lodge which rejected such applicant, so long as he continues to reside in this Grand jurisdiction; and if an applicant who has been so rejected by a Lodge shall petition another Lodge for the degrees, such petition shall not be reported for ballot until the investigation committee thereon shall have separately submitted to the Master of the Lodge a report, oral or written, showing that the entire committee has fully investigated the character and reputation of the candidate at the time of his rejection in the other Lodge, and all three report favorably upon him.
Art. 133. No Lodge shall ballot upon any application for degrees, dual membership, or affiliation until it shall have been referred to a committee of three, whose duty it shall be to make strict examination into the moral, mental, physical and other proper qualifications of the applicant and to report thereon to the Master at the next Stated Meeting, unless further time be granted. Which report shall not be read in the Lodge, except so far as the announcement of the character of the report is concerned, nor shall the names of the Brethren appointed on such committee be announced in the Lodge.
Art. 133a. No application shall be withdrawn after reference to a committee, even though the applicant, after applying, shall have removed from the jurisdiction of the Lodge, except as herein provided. If the report of the committee, or any member thereof, be unfavorable, no ballot shall be had, but the Master shall, upon the reception of such report, declare the candidate rejected. If the report of the committee, or a majority thereof be favorable, a secret ballot shall be had at once without any postponement, by the use of the white balls and black cubes. The ballot box shall be prepared by placing therein a sufficient number of white balls and black cubes, one-third of the whole number being black. It shall then be presented to the Junior Warden, Senior Warden and Master for inspection.
Art. 133b. When more than one candidate is to be balloted upon at the same meeting, a separate ballot must be had on each. If during the balloting, objection be made that the ballot box is not properly prepared, the Master must, before announcing the result of the ballot, examine it, and if not properly prepared, he must at once rectify the error and have a proper ballot taken. It shall require a unanimous ballot of the members present to elect. Before the ballot is taken there may be such discussion of the qualifications of the candidate and of the propriety of receiving him into the Lodge as may seem proper.
Art. 133c. If but one black cube appears in the ballot box, the Master without declaring the result, shall at once order a second ballot for the purpose of correcting a possible mistake, which ballot shall be the last; but in no case after one ballot has been had, shall any discussion be permitted in the Lodge before the second ballot is had, nor shall the second ballot be postponed to another meeting of the Lodge. If the committee find the applicant disqualified in consequence of insufficient residence or physical disability, or because his petition has been received within twelve (12) months after his rejection by a Lodge and find no other objection to him, they shall make a special report thereupon; in which case the Master may direct the withdrawal of the application without further action, and such direction shall be entered upon the record.
Art. 133d. There shall be no discussion regarding an unfavorable ballot, and no member of a Lodge shall be required, requested, or allowed, to divulge his vote upon an application for affiliation, dual membership or for the degrees of Masonry, nor to assign reasons for such vote, if it be known, except to the Master, for the purpose of correcting a mistake.
Art. 134. No dispensation shall be issued to a Lodge to receive and act upon the petition of a rejected applicant within less than twelve (12) months after the date of such rejection, unless the application therefor be made by the Lodge by a unanimous vote by ballot; and of the meeting to be holden under such dispensation, and the purpose thereof, the members of the Lodge shall have due notice. Said Dispensation Fee to be borne by the applicant.
Art. 135. (Amended Annual Communication – 1978) No dispensation shall be issued to receive and act upon the petition for degrees of any person who has not met the minimum residence requirement unless the application therefor be made by the Lodge by a unanimous vote by ballot; and should such dispensation be issued, the petition shall take the usual course of reference and ballot in the Lodge.
Art. 136. No Lodge shall advance an Entered Apprentice, or a Fellow Craft to a higher degree until, after a strict examination in open Lodge, he shall have given satisfactory evidence that he is entirely proficient and well qualified in the degree or degrees which he has already taken; and no Entered Apprentice or Fellow Craft shall be advanced to a higher degree in any Lodge other than that in which he shall have received those, or either of those degrees, unless by the official consent of such Lodge, if it then be in existence.
A modified proficiency examination in the Japanese language was authorized by the Grand Master for Japanese Candidates for whom some of the classical and literary language were not within their vocabulary and comprehension, such examinations to include the obligation and entrance examination of signs, token, and words in modern usage Japanese language. GM Rep., 1973, p 44
Art. 136a (Amended Annual Communication – 1968) No Lodge in this jurisdiction shall confer the three degrees for a smaller fee than 18,000 Yen, and in every case no less than one-half (1/2) of the amount fixed as fees shall accompany the application for the degrees, else such application shall not be received: PROVIDED, That payment of three-fourths (3/4) of the fees must be completed before being passed to the Degree of Fellow Craft, and payment of the full amount made before being raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That if the applicant has already received the first degree, or the first and second degrees, in another Lodge, only the amount of the fee corresponding to the remaining degree or degrees, as fixed in the by-laws of the Lodge shall accompany the application.
Art. 136b. No Lodge under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge shall confer degrees upon more than two candidates at any one meeting, nor shall it confer more than one degree upon any one candidate at any one meeting; nor shall it confer either of the degrees upon more than one candidate at a time: PROVIDED, That upon authority of a dispensation from the Grand Master, a Lodge may confer degrees collectively upon two or more candidates at any one meeting.
Art. 136c. No Lodge or any Mason shall appear in Masonic clothing in any public procession, or at any public meeting or in any public place, except for the burial of a Brother, or for the performance of some other strictly Masonic duty or ceremony.
Art. 136d. (Deleted Annual Communication 1985)
Art 137. (Amended - Annual Communication 2000) Each subordinate Lodge may determine to have Life Members. Each Member of such Subordinate Lodge shall have the privilege of becoming a life Member upon paying such sum as the Lodge may fix. The sum shall not be less than twelve times the amount of the Annual dues to said Lodge or the amount required in the table of Perpetual Life Membership dues, whichever is larger. Further, that any Lodge may elect a Life Member upon its own motion, as a reward for eminent Masonic service, subject to the payment into its own Life Membership of an amount equal to the amounts prescribed above. In all cases, no Life Member is exempted from being expelled, suspended or subject to Masonic discipline for cause shown.
Art 137a. (Amended - Annual Communication 2000) No Lodge shall charge or collect as its Annual Dues from members, less than the amount necessary to pay that individual’s head tax to the Grand Lodge during the same Masonic year. The only receipt for dues to be used by the Lodge shall be one prepared by the office of the Grand Secretary and sold by him. No Lodge shall, by amendment to its By-Laws, resolution or otherwise, remit the dues of a member or members, except that it may annually remit the accrued dues of those of its members who render special service for the Lodge for the preceding year and to those who are unable to pay them for the period that the Lodge may agree said Brother may be unable to pay said dues. No Lodge shall levy any extra assessment upon its members. However, a Lodge by the adoption of a standing resolution, which resolution shall not be acted upon at the Stated Meeting at which it is introduced, nor until notice in writing thereof shall have been forwarded by mail to every member, may provide for a system of Life Membership which shall forever exempt the member from payment of dues therein. Said resolution shall provide that no Life Membership shall be granted except upon payment of a sum of money names therein, which sum shall not be less than the sum provided for in the table of Payment for Perpetual Life Membership. Funds generated from such Life Membership assessment will be used to pay the Perpetual Life Membership fee, if the Lodge is participating in that program, with all funds not paid into the Perpetual Life Membership program invested in such reputable banks of deposit, or in such other first-class stocks, bonds or securities as may be directed by the Master and approved by the Lodge, and that only the income thereof shall be used by the Lodge, the original amounts to be kept and maintained as a Life Membership Fund. Upon the death of a Life Member, residual funds to that member’s fee and maintained by the Lodge may be disposed of consistent with the By-Laws of that Lodge. Funds attendant to that member that are in the Perpetual Life Membership fund will not be disposed of or returned to the Lodge, but remain a part of the fund in perpetuity. The Annual Report from the Lodge to the Grand Lodge will include a report on the number of Life Memberships borne on the rolls, except those enrolled in the Perpetual Life Membership fund, and a certificate of audit from the Grand Lodge inspector that all the funds related to Life Membership that are maintained by the Lodge are in Order and invested as required above.
Art 137b. (Amended - Annual Communication 2000) Any Life Member, with whom a Lodge has been unable to maintain contact with for five or more consecutive years, may, with the approval of the Lodge, be placed into a “LIFE MEMBER(S) INACTIVE” status at the end of the fifth year. Such status will relieve the Lodge of the annual per capita fee paid to the Grand Lodge for said member. Life membership fees paid by said member and placed into the Life Membership Fund may, at the discretion of the Lodge, be placed into the General Fund of the Lodge. The Lodge will annual maintain member’s name in the annual report submitted to the Grand Lodge under the title of “LIFE MEMBER(S) INACTIVE” and will be able to remove member’s name from the rolls and have declared the record of said member indicate “Masonically Deceased” once said member has reached the age of 100. The Lodge will continue attempts to establish contact with said member on an annual basis, with the assistance of the Grand Lodge, until the member is removed from the rolls. If, at any time, the Lodge re-establishes contact with said member, the Lodge will immediately reinstate the member to the Life Member rolls, re-establish the original Life Membership fees paid by the member to the Life Membership fund, if fees were removed, and reimburse the Grand Lodge for ech yearly per capita tax owed for said member from the time he was placed in the inactive status. Lodges participating in the Perpetual Life Membership program, will be required to enter any Life Member so identified subsequent to the time of participation hence into the Perpetual Life Membership Fund prior to disposing of any residual funds. Life Members restored will be restored using the age/payment table for Perpetual Life Member using the age at the time of being placed on the “LIFE MEMBER(S) INACTIVE” rolls and adjusted by the provisions of Article 137c.
Art 137c. (Added Annual Communication 2000) The Grand Lodge shall establish and maintain a Perpetual Life Membership fund, hereafter referred to as The Fund. Lodges may purchase Perpetual Life Membership for its members by paying to the Grand Lodge the sum indicated in the Table of Perpetual Life Membership at Article 137d. Lodges shall be relieved of future Grand Lodge head tax attendant to members enrolled in The Fund. Entrance into The Fund at the rate cited in the table, must be accomplished prior to 1 October 2000. Initial entry to The Fund by a Lodge must include all Life Members on the rolls on the date of participation in The Fund. Entrance into The Fund for one or all the members of the Lodge will be increased by a factor of 5% per year for each year following 1 October 2000 beginning 30 September 2001. This will ensure that proceeds from The Fund are not reduced disproportionately by any Lodge due to entrance into The Fund following its first year of interest bearing. The Grand Lodge shall invest The Fund in such reputable banks of deposit, or in such other first-class stocks, bonds or securities that will insure the principle and provide the optimum interest yield. The proceeds from The Fund will be used by the Grand Lodge as income in lieu of head tax for the individuals in The Fund. If and when proceeds from The Fund exceed the amount of the collective head tax of the living members in The Fund, an amount equal to the per capita proportional share in The Fund will be returned to the Lodge of which the individual is a Life Member. Upon the death of an individual in The Fund, no change shall be made in the principle of The Fund, however, no head tax will be calculated for that member in determining the amount of the proceeds available to the Grand Lodge. Lodges may not from The Fund any proceeds paid into The Fund.
Art 137d. (Added Annual Communication 2000) One-time only Perpetual Life Membership payment shall be as follows with the amount calculated by the age of the individual on the day he is entered into the Perpetual Life Membership program. This payment is adjusted according to Article 137c above.
| AGE | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| 20–25 | 25 times current Annual Head Tax |
| 26–30 | 23 times current Annual Head Tax |
| 31–35 | 22 times current Annual Head Tax |
| 36–60 | 20 times current Annual Head Tax |
| 61–65 | 15 times current Annual Head Tax |
| 66–70 | 10 times current Annual Head Tax |
| 71–75 | 5 times current Annual Head Tax |
| 75–79 | 2 times current Annual Head Tax |
| 80– | No Fee if approved for Life Member by a Lodge participating in The Fund. |
Art 138. Any Lodge may, as a reward for eminent Masonic service, confer the title of Honorary Member on any Master Mason who is regularly affiliated in some other Lodge; but such Honorary Membership shall not confer any privileges of active membership on such Brother, nor shall the Lodge be required to pay any dues for him to the Grand Lodge.
Art. 139. (Amended Annual Communication 1968) Any member of a Lodge in this jurisdiction who is in good standing and not under charges may be permitted to demit upon giving written notice of his intention to the Lodge, requesting the said demit, paying up his arrears in full, if any, and any indebtedness to the Lodge. Said demit shall be issued by Order of the Worshipful Master at a Stated Meeting without a vote of the Lodge; PROVIDED, that there be no valid objections from any member of the Lodge.
Art 140. Charges may be preferred against the Grand Master for abuse of his power, violation of the Constitution or Regulations of the Grand Lodge, or other unmasonic conduct, by any five Masters of Lodges; which charges shall be in writing over their signatures, and shall be presented to the last Past Grand Master of this Grand Lodge who may be within Japan and who is a member of a Lodge within its Jurisdiction.
Art. 140a. Upon the presentation of such charges, it shall be the duty of such Past Grand Master to transmit a copy thereof to the accused, if within Japan, at least thirty days, and if without Japan, at least one hundred and twenty days, before the time designated for the trial, together with a notification to attend at such time and place as he may therein name, which shall be one most convenient for the parties, and he shall also summon four or more other Past Grand Masters of this jurisdiction, who shall be members of Lodges therein, to assemble with him at the time and place designated, and shall notify the accused thereof.
Art. 140b. The tribunal thus assembled or any of its members shall have power to summon witnesses at the request of either party; it shall receive such testimony as in its judgment shall be proper, and shall determine finally upon the guilt or innocence of the accused; and the opinion of a majority of all its members shall be the judgment of the tribunal and shall be final.
Art. 140c. The only penalty inflicted shall be deprivation of office; but, when thus deprived, the adjudged may be amenable his Lodge upon a charge of unmasonic conduct.
Art. 140d. The Grand Secretary shall attend at the trial to keep a record of the proceedings and of the judgment, which shall be filed in his office and shall be presented at the next Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge.
Art. 140e. The proceedings at such trial, not fully prescribed in this Chapter, shall, so far as may be applicable, be in conformity with the provision of Art. 144a. of this Chapter.
Art. 140f. All necessary traveling expenses of the members of such tribunal shall be paid by the Grand Lodge, in the same manner as those of Grand Officers attending its Communications.
Art. 141. Charges may be preferred against the Master of a Lodge for abuse of his power, violation of the Constitution or Regulations, or unmasonic conduct of any kind, by any five Master Masons in good standing; which charges shall be in writing over their signatures, and shall be presented to the Grand Lodge, if in session, or to the Grand Master during its recess.
Art. 141 a. Upon the presentation of such charges, the Grand Lodge or Grand Master, as the case may be, may at once appoint and summon not less than three nor more than seven disinterested Brethren, who shall be either Masters or Past Masters, to assemble as Commissioners to hear and determine thereupon; and shall then summon the accused to appear and answer thereunto, at such time and place most convenient for the parties as shall be indicated in said summons; giving him, if within the jurisdiction of his Lodge, at least ten days - if without that jurisdiction and within Japan at least thirty days - and if without Japan at least one hundred and twenty days - to answer thereunto; and transmitting to him also a copy of the charge.
Art. 141b. The Commissioners, thus assembled, shall choose one of their number to preside, and they, or any of them, shall have power to summon witnesses at the request of either party. The witnesses, if Masons, shall testify upon their honor as such; if not, their depositions shall be taken in writing, before an officer legally authorized to administer oaths, and, in such case, the party requiring such depositions shall notify the other of the time and place when and where they will be taken, that he may, if he choose, be present thereat.
Art. 141c. The Commissioners may adjourn from time to time, at their own convenience or for good cause shown by either party; PROVIDED, That the period within which their duties shall be concluded shall not exceed ten days, unless for sufficient reasons, the Grand Master shall grant them further time.
Art. 141d. The opinion of a majority of all the Commissioners shall be deemed the judgment of the whole and shall be conclusive, unless an appeal be taken at the next Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge.
Art. 141e. The penalties which may be inflicted by such Commissioners may be either deprivation of office, suspension, or expulsion, as in their judgment shall be deemed proper.
Art. 141f. The Commissioners shall keep a complete record of their proceedings and of their judgment, and shall transmit the same to the Grand Secretary at the conclusion of the trial; and the judgment shall at once be carried into effect by order of the Grand Master.
Art. 141g. An appeal to the Grand Lodge may be taken at next Annual Communication, by either party, if notice thereof be given to the Grand Secretary within thirty days after the conclusion of the trial.
Art. 142. When a controversy shall arise between Lodges, or between a Lodge and a member or members of another Lodge, charges may be preferred by either party, if in good standing; which charges shall be in writing and shall be presented to the Grand Lodge or Grand Master as herein provided.
Art. 142a. Upon the presentation of such charges, not less than three nor more than five Commissioners shall be appointed and summoned, as provided; which Commissioners shall be Masters or Wardens, and shall be selected from at least three different Lodges not interested in the controversy and most convenient to the parties; and the accused party shall be summoned, with such time to answer as provided in Articles herein mentioned.
Art. 142b. The Commissioners shall have power to proceed, and shall keep a record of their proceedings and judgment in the same manner as provided in Article 141b. The penalties which they may inflict may be any known to Masonic usage; or, if the case be one not involving a violation of Masonic duty, the decision may be such as the circumstances shall, in their judgment, warrant.
Art. 142c. An appeal may be taken by either party, to the Grand Lodge, as provided in Article 141g.
Art. 142d. The penal jurisdiction of a Lodge includes all its own members, wherever residing, and all Masons from any Lodge, even though suspended for non-payment of dues, or other wise, residing nearer to its place of meeting than to that of any other lodge - excepting the Grand Master and its own Master. In places where more than one Lodge exists, such Lodges have concurrent penal jurisdiction over all such Masons, so residing, and not members of one of them. When a Mason has been suspended for cause, only the Lodge within whose jurisdiction he resides has penal jurisdiction over him.
Art. 142e. When any member of a Lodge, (except its Master or the Grand Master), or any Mason residing within its jurisdiction, shall be accused of unmasonic conduct, charges to that effect may be preferred by any Master Mason in good standing; which charges shall be in writing over his signature, and shall be presented to the Master of the Lodge having jurisdiction thereof.
Art. 142f. The charge itself shall be a general one of unmasonic conduct, defined in a specification or specifications to follow, setting forth with clearness and precision the offense or offenses complained of, and giving time, place and all necessary particulars relating thereto, as distinctly as possible, so that the accused may have full knowledge of all that he may be called upon to explain, disprove, or justify.
Art. 142g. (Deleted Annual Communication 1999)
Art. 142h. Such charges shall never be presented to Master of a Lodge Under Dispensation if there is a Chartered Lodge having concurrent jurisdiction over the same territory, except where the accused is a member of such Lodge, or under or within its jurisdiction and no Chartered Lodge has concurrent jurisdiction over the same territory, they may be presented. When the Lodge, to the Master of which such charges are presented is a Lodge Under Dispensation, such Master shall at once transmit the same to the Grand Master, who shall thereupon, if it shall appear to him that the act or acts complained of therein constitute a Masonic offense, designate some Chartered Lodge to try the same, and transmit such charges to the Master thereof, who shall thereupon proceed therewith in the same manner as if the charges had originally been presented to him.
Art. 143. When the Charge is for an offense which is the subject of proceedings in the Courts of the land, the Masonic Trial may, at the discretion of the Master, be deferred until such proceedings are concluded, but in the event of a final judgment of conviction against a Mason in the courts of a crime involving moral turpitude, it shall be the duty of the junior Warden of any Lodge having jurisdiction over such Mason to prefer charges against the Mason so convicted on account of the matters involved in said conviction; PROVIDED, That such charges have not already been preferred, and to press to conclusion a trial on account thereof. Acquittal in said courts, or the refusal of the prosecuting officer to file complaint or information for an offense is no bar to Masonic trial.
Art. 143a. Upon presentation of such charges, the Master shall carefully examine the charge and specifications, and, if they are evidently frivolous, or if the act or acts with which the accused is charged, is or are clearly such as do not constitute a Masonic offense, he may refuse to entertain them. But, should it appear otherwise, and it is known to him that the accuser is a Master Mason in good standing, he shall call a Special Meeting of his Lodge, as soon as practicable.
Art. 143b. Due notification of such meeting shall be given to every member thereof whose residence is known and is within such distance as may reasonably permit him to attend; which notification shall state that the purpose of the meeting is to elect Commissioners to try a Brother (using no name) upon a charge of unmasonic conduct, shall be in writing or in print, and should be served personally, if possible, by the Tiler or some Brother designated for the purpose; or, if it be not convenient so to serve it, should be left at his ordinary residence or place of business, or be sent by mail.
Art. 143c. The Master of the Lodge has a right to strike out portions of the charges containing no clear and certain specifications of an offense, or which are rambling, uncertain, unsatisfactory, or insufficient, and he may at any time allow amendments thereto which will tend toward justice. He may allow charges to be withdrawn before the commencement of the trial, but not afterward if they are of a criminal nature.
Art. 143d. At such Special Meeting, the Master will announce its purpose, and will ascertain, by a vote of the Lodge, the number of Commissioners (not less than seven nor more than nine) which it shall deem proper to elect. Each member present will write the name of as many members of the Lodge upon one ballot as shall correspond with the number of Commissioners determined upon, and upon counting the ballots, such members as shall be found to have received a majority of the votes cast, shall be declared elected as Commissioners. In case the full number should not be elected on the first ballot, another ballot will be had for the remainder, in the same manner; and again and again, if necessary, until the full number of Commissioners shall have been elected, each by a majority of the votes of those present
Art. 143e. Neither a witness nor one who acted as Commissioner at a first trial, nor one who cannot fairly try the matter is qualified to act as Commissioner. Nor is a Master qualified to preside who would be disqualified as Commissioner for any other reason than because of his acting at a first trial.
Art. 143f. The Master will then name the time and place for the first meeting of the Commissioners, keeping in view the convenience of the parties and the time allowed to the accused for appearance, and will direct the Secretary to notify each Commissioner of his election and of such time and place of meeting, either in person or in writing, and will also direct the Secretary to notify the accuser of such time and place of meeting, and will have prepared for his signature, a summons which he will cause to be served, requiring the accused to appear and answer thereunto at such time and place, and shall, at the same time, cause the Secretary to furnish the accused with a copy of the charges and to notify the accuser of the said time and place of trial. The summons shall be issued in duplicate, one copy to be delivered or transmitted to the accused, and the other to be presented to the Commissioners, with a proper certificate of service appended thereto.
Art. 144. If the accused be within the jurisdiction of the Lodge, the summons and copy of the charges shall be issued at least ten days prior to the day appointed for the trial, and shall be served personally by the Tiler or some other member of the Lodge authorized by the Master for that purpose, or shall be left at his ordinary residence or place of business. If he be without the said jurisdiction, but within Japan, and his residence be known, they shall be issued at least thirty days before the day of trial, and shall be forwarded to his address by the Secretary, by mail or other usual mode of conveyance, which shall be deemed sufficient service. If he be without Japan, and his residence be known, they shall be issued at least one hundred and twenty days before the trial, and shall be forwarded to his address by the Secretary, as before provided, which shall be sufficient service. If his address be unknown, the Master shall order the trial to proceed at once upon the testimony, EX PARTE.
Art. 144a. The Commissioners shall assemble at the time and place appointed and shall be presided over by the Master, who shall decide all questions of Masonic Law which may arise during the trial, but shall have no vote in the final decision of the case by the Commissioners, and the Secretary, or in his absence, some other member of the Lodge appointed for the purpose by the Master, shall attend them to keep a full and correct record of the proceedings and of the judgment, under their supervision. The accused should now present his answer to the charge and specifications, which answer may be either oral or written, and should be made a part of the record. In this answer he may make a general or particular denial of all the specifications of the charge, or he may deny some and admit others, and may make statements in justification or extenuation of those admitted; or he may admit all, with expressions of sorrow for his misconduct, or, in fact, he may make any answer which to him, or his counsel, shall seem fit. If there be objection to any of the Commissioners, the reasons for the objection shall at this time be stated, and the Master shall decide as to their validity, and if, because of objections sustained or otherwise, there shall be vacancies or a vacancy on the Commission, the Commissioners may, subject to the approval of the Master, chose properly qualified members of a member of the Lodge to act, and when so chosen, they or he shall have the rights of members chosen by the Lodge. At the opinion of the Master, a duly accredited stenographic reporter may be employed, PROVIDED, That said stenographic reporter is a Master Mason and that before entering upon his duty, he shall be qualified in the manner provided for the qualification of Masonic witnesses, and PROVIDED FURTHER, That said stenographic reporter shall attest the transcript of the evidence of the respective witnesses examined in the course of the trial prior to signature by the said witnesses.
Art. 145. The Master shall, at the request of either party, summon such witnesses as are Masons residing within the jurisdiction of his Lodge, to appear and testify before the Commission. Whenever the attendance of a witness, who is a Mason and who resides without the jurisdiction of the Lodge in which the trial is had, can not be produced, his testimony may be taken before the Master of the Lodge within whose jurisdiction he resides, upon such notice to the adverse party as the Master of the Lodge in which the trial is to be had shall fix, and the attendance of such witness may be compelled by summons. His testimony shall be reduced to writing, signed by him and authenticated by the certificate of the Master before whom it was taken, under the seal of his Lodge. Whenever the testimony of a witness residing out of Japan is desired, it shall be taken upon interrogatories, direct and cross, agreed upon by the parties or settled by the Master. If the testimony of witnesses who are not Masons is desired, such witnesses may appear before the Commission, and after having been put under oath or affirmation by some officer authorized by the laws of Japan, to administer oaths, may testify before the Commission in the same manner as Masons who appear before the Commission. Or such testimony may be taken by deposition before some officer, authorized by the laws of the country wherein the testimony is taken to administer oaths, and at such time and place and upon such notice to the adverse party as shall be designated by the Master. Witnesses who are Master Masons in good standing shall testify upon their honor as such; and all others shall testify under oath or affirmation. All oral testimony, direct and cross, shall be written out in full by the Secretary or stenographer; and, when each witness giving such testimony shall have concluded, his testimony shall be read to him, and after such corrections as he may wish to make, shall be signed by him in the presence of the Commissioners. The documentary evidence will be made part of the record by incorporating it, or a copy of it, therein.
Art. 146. The Commissioners are the sole judges of the facts and shall decide what and how much testimony shall be heard. Technical objections as to form shall not be permitted, nor can any evidence be excluded by the Master. Affidavits or depositions taken without notice cannot be received. Hearsay evidence is not admissible. Admission or confessions of the accused in Courts of the land, or before the Commission at that or a previous trial, are admissible. Where guilt is sought to be proven by one witness, great caution is to be exercised. The records and reporters' transcript of testimony made in Courts of the land, properly authenticated, may be allowed in evidence. No witness shall be examined or any testimony taken without an opportunity being given the accuser and accused to be present.
Art. 146a. Any Master Mason in good standing may, at request of the accuser or the accused, appear as his counsel and assist in the prosecution or defense. Such counsel cannot testify as to facts disclosed to him by the accused, but may be compelled to disclose any facts otherwise coming to his knowledge.
Art. 146b. The Commissioners may adjourn from time to time, at their own convenience or for sufficient cause shown by either party; PROVIDED, That the period within which their duties shall be concluded shall not exceed ten days, unless for good reasons shown, the Master shall grant them further time. Reasonable continuance should be allowed the accuser or accused to permit a proper presentation of their side of the matter.
Art. 147. After all the testimony shall have been received, the Commissioners shall proceed to deliberate upon their verdict and sentence, with none present save themselves, the Master, and the Secretary, which latter shall have no voice in the proceedings. Only those Commissioners can act who have participated in the entire trial. After sufficient consultation and deliberation, a vote for "guilty" or "not guilty", by ballot shall be taken upon each specification and each such vote shall be recorded; and a similar vote shall thus be taken upon the charge of unmasonic conduct and be thus recorded, as it might be that the facts proven and found, did not constitute a Masonic offense. A MAJORITY OF ALL THE COMMISSIONERS is a requisite, to find a verdict of "Guilty". Should the accused be found guilty of one or more of the specifications, and of the charge of unmasonic conduct, the Commissioners will proceed to vote, by ballot upon the sentence, and a majority of all the Commissioners will be required to adjudge it, whatsoever it may be. The vote will first be upon the question by the Master - "Shall the accused be expelled?" - and the ballots shall have written upon them "Yes" or "No". Should there not be the required majority for expulsion, the question will next be - "Shall the accused be suspended?" and it will be decided in the same manner. Should there not be the required majority for suspension, the last question will be - "Shall the accused be reprimanded?" - and it will be decided like the others. All this shall be recorded, giving the number of votes, both "Yes" and "No", upon each proposition. When the trial is concluded, the Secretary shall make a fair copy of the record and findings, under their supervision, which shall be signed by the Commissioners, attested by the Secretary and presented to the Master, who, at the next Stated Meeting of his Lodge, shall, in the presence of its members only, announce the result, and direct the Secretary to record the same as the judgment of the Lodge and file the record for safe keeping among its archives.
Art. 147a. The penalties which may be inflicted are reprimand in open Lodge, suspension, or expulsion. If the sentence be reprimand, the Master shall summon the adjudged to appear at the next Stated Meeting, after the result of the trial shall have been announced. It shall be carried into effect in the presence only of members of the Lodge, unless, before the said meeting, legal notice shall have been given of an appeal to the Grand Lodge, in which case the sentence shall not be carried into effect until after a decision by that Grand Body affirming the judgment of the subordinate Lodge. If the sentence be suspension or expulsion, it shall at once go into effect, and the Secretary shall immediately notify the person suspended or expelled and the Grand Secretary thereof.
Art. 148. An appeal may be taken to the Grand Lodge by either party at its next succeeding Annual Communication, but not unless a notice of such intended appeal shall be given to the Master (in writing), within thirty days after his announcement of the result of the trial. Any and all additional evidence, which either accuser or accused shall desire to have heard on the appeal, shall be taken and reduced to writing within sixty days from the day on which the announcement of the trial shall be made by the Master to the Lodge, and all arguments and representations which it is desired to have considered on the appeal shall also be reduced to writing, and no additional evidence, arguments or representations shall be considered on the appeal unless the same shall be reduced to writing and transmitted to the Grand Secretary at least thirty days before the commencement of the next Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge. In all appealed cases, and in all cases of expulsion or suspension, whether appealed or not, the Master shall cause the Secretary to prepare a transcript of the record of trial, and immediately transmit it to the Grand Secretary, together with information of the appeal intended, if any there be.
Art. 148a. Every transcript of a trial-record, when prepared by the Secretary of any subordinate Lodge in this jurisdiction, shall, before its transmission to the Grand Secretary, be submitted to the Master of the Lodge who shall carefully examine the same and see that it is fairly and legibly written, with sufficient spaces between papers and testimony, and that it otherwise complies with the Constitution and Regulations of the Grand Lodge, and said Master shall endorse his approval thereupon.
Art. 148b. When a trial is held in the Lodge of which the accused is a member, or in another Lodge to which the case is transferred, the Secretary cannot make any charge for serving the summons, or for writing up the record of the trial, or for writing a transcript or copy of the record for transmission to the Grand Secretary.
Art. 149. All transcripts of trial-records, required to be transmitted to the Grand Secretary, shall by him be forwarded to the Committee on Grievances, who shall examine them, with such additional evidence in writing, if any, as may be presented, and shall report thereon at the next succeeding Annual Communication, and upon such report the Grand Lodge may affirm, modify, or reverse the judgment of the Lodge, or may make such order relative thereto as shall be deemed proper. And when a new trial is ordered or a judgment of reprimand is affirmed, the Grand Secretary shall, as soon as possible, send to the Lodge a copy of the opinion and judgment of the Grand Lodge.
Art. 149a. Whenever a judgment of suspension or expulsion shall be reversed and set aside by the Grand Lodge, the Brother who had been suspended or expelled shall be at once again entitled to all his rights and privileges as a member of the Lodge.
Art.149b. All sentences of suspension shall be for an indefinite period, and a Lodge may, at any Stated Meeting, by the two-thirds of the members present, annul any such suspension pronounced by itself, and restore the Mason suspended to all his Masonic rights and privileges, PROVIDED, That notice of a resolution for such restoration shall have been given at the Stated Meeting next preceding. And, in case of such restoration, the Secretary shall at once notify the restored party and the Grand Secretary thereof.
Art. 149c. The Grand Lodge may, at any Annual Communication, if good cause therefor be shown and proof given of the notice herein after prescribed, RESTORE, to the rights and privileges of Masonry, any Mason who has been suspended or expelled within its jurisdiction, but such restoration shall not restore him to membership in the Lodge by which he was suspended or expelled.
Art.149d. Whenever any Mason, suspended for unmasonic conduct, desires to petition the Grand Lodge for restoration to the rights and privileges of Masonry, he shall first make application for such restoration to the Lodge by which he was suspended, if it still be in existence. If his application be there refused, it may then be made to the Grand Lodge, PROVIDED, That notice in writing, be given to the Lodge of such intended application, not less than forty days preceding the Annual Communication.
Art. 149e. Whenever any expelled Mason desires to petition the Grand Lodge for restoration to the rights and privileges of Masonry, he shall, in writing, notify the Lodge which expelled him, if it still be in existence, of his intention so to do, at least sixty days before the Annual Communication at which his petition is to be presented, accompanying said notice with a copy of such intended petition, and, before said petition shall be considered by the Grand Lodge, proof of the giving of said notice to the Lodge shall be furnished.
Art. 149f. Whenever any Lodge desires to petition the Grand Lodge for the restoration of an expelled Mason to the rights and privileges of Masonry, the Master thereof shall give due notice to all the members of his Lodge so far as practicable of such intended action and of the Stated Meeting at which it will be had, and at such meeting he shall cause to be recorded the fact that such notice was thus duly given. The votes of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present shall be required to authorize the presentation of such petition to the Grand Lodge.
Art. 149g. No suspension, expulsion or restoration shall be published otherwise than is herein provided, except by authority of the Grand Lodge or by the order of the Grand Master.
Art. 150. When the Presiding Officer takes the Chair, every officer and member shall immediately take his place and observe strict order and decorum.
Art. 151. No member shall speak until he first rise, and respectfully address the Presiding Officer; nor shall he speak more than twice on any subject, unless by permission from the Chair.
Art. 152. All questions of order shall be decided by the Presiding Officer, without appeal to the Lodge.
Art. 153. All questions before the Lodge, not otherwise particularly defined, shall be decided by a majority vote of the Lodge.
Art. 154. No person shall be permitted to leave the room during the session of the Lodge but by permission of the Presiding Officer.
Art. 155. No officer shall leave his seat, except it be in the discharge of his official duties.
Art. 156. No Brother shall move from his place, nor shall any member or visitor be permitted to enter or retire at any time during the opening or closing of the lodge, the reading of the minutes, during balloting, or during the conferral of a degree.
Art. 157. If any member or visitor shall be guilty of indecorum during the session of the Lodge, the Worshipful Master may, at his discretion, reprimand or exclude him, for that meeting.
Art. 158. The Constitution of the Grand Lodge and the Landmarks of the Order, as set forth in the "Law of the Builders" shall be the governing principle of every Lodge, and shall be referred to in cases of doubt. In all decisions of the Lodge, appeals may be made to the Grand Lodge; but, until the opinion of the latter is made known, the decision of the former is held valid.
Art. 159. The By-Laws of a Lodge, so far as relates to the times of meetings, and the amounts of fees, dues and disbursements by the Charity Committee, may be amended at any Stated Meeting by the votes of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present, PROVIDED, That written notice of such amendment shall have been given at the Stated Meeting next preceding, but such amendment shall have no effect until approved by the Grand Lodge or Grand Master, and until such approval shall have been transmitted by the Grand Secretary, the Secretary of the Lodge shall note upon the minutes of the Lodge, the notice of proposed amendment when made, and when transmitting an amendment for approval shall forward a certificate, under seal, showing that the law has been complied with and that the proposed amendment has received the requisite vote.
Art. 160. A Lodge can be formed only by authority of a Dispensation from the Grand Master or of a Charter from the Grand Lodge.
Art. 161. Upon the petition of seven or more Master Masons in good standing, accompanied by the demits or certificates of the signers in the forms prescribed, or by evidence that they are each in good standing, being presented to the Grand Master (also in the form prescribed), he may, in cases of manifest propriety and necessity, grant them a dispensation to open and hold a Lodge at the place thereon to be named, under such name as shall be approved by him, which shall not be the name of a Chartered Lodge within this Jurisdiction or the name of any living person, with power to make Masons and receive members by affiliation or dual membership; and he shall appoint the Master and Wardens of the new Lodge. But in no case shall such dispensation be issued unless the petition be accompanied by a recommendation from the nearest or most convenient Chartered Lodge (if from a town or city where more than one Lodge exists, then from a majority of such Lodges), setting forth, in the form prescribed, that the petitioners are all Master Masons in good standing, that the establishment of the new Lodge is of manifest propriety and will conduce to the good of the Order, and that a safe and suitable Lodge room has been provided therefor; not unless the petition shall also be accompanied by a certificate from the Master, who, in the opinion of the Grand Master, is well skilled in the Craft, in the form prescribed, declaring that the Master and Wardens proposed in such petition are each fully competent properly to confer the three degrees of Masonry and to deliver entire the lectures thereunto appertaining. PROVIDED, Always, that whenever the nearest or most convenient Chartered Lodge refuses to grant the recommendation, the Grand Master may, if after full investigation he deem it to be for the best interest of Masonry, grant such dispensation without any such recommendation having been given. Such dispensation shall terminate at least fifteen days prior to the date on which the next succeeding Annual Communication shall be held; and shall then be returned to the Grand Secretary, together with the By-Laws, book of records, and returns of the new Lodge to that date. Such Lodge shall not be entitled to representation in the Grand Lodge, but a Lodge under dispensation may send delegates thereto, who may be admitted to seats and be permitted to speak, but shall have no vote.
Art. 162. Upon the return of the dispensation of a new Lodge, as above directed, with a petition for a Charter in the form prescribed, if an examination of its work and proceedings shall prove satisfactory, and if it shall produce a certificate, as required in the preceding article, that the Master and Wardens proposed are each thoroughly skilled in the work and lectures, and if it shall also show that it is clear of all indebtedness, the Grand Lodge may order the issue of a Charter to such Lodge, and assign it such name and number on the Registry as shall be deemed proper. If the examination be not satisfactory, or such certificate and showing be not produced, the petition may be totally refused, or a continuance of the dispensation until the next Annual Communication, may be ordered, but no such continuance shall be granted a second time.
Art. 163. When a Charter is granted for constituting a new Lodge, and it is inconvenient for the Grand Master to attend the constitution and installation in person, he shall issue a written instrument, to be signed by him and countersigned by the Grand Secretary, under the seal of the Grand Lodge, to some worthy Master or Past Master of a Lodge, empowering him to constitute the petitioners and install their officers-elect when congregated for that purpose. But the Master and Wardens so installed must be the same that are named and designated in the Charter of Constitution.
Art. 164. Any Lodge which shall cease to meet for twelve (12) months shall be deemed extinct, and shall forfeit its Charter unless it be by circumstances beyond the control of the said Lodge.
Art. 165. The Grand Lodge takes possession of the Charter of Constitution of an extinct Lodge, or one whose charter has been revoked, as a matter or right, but the jewels and other property it takes only in trust for safe-keeping, and should the said Lodge be revived, they will be restored with the detention of so much as the said Lodge was in arrears to the Grand Lodge at the time of its extinction.
Art. 166. No Lodge is permitted to make a distribution of its funds preparatory to surrendering its Charter as the said funds revert to the Grand Lodge, to be held in trust until said Lodge is revived.
Art. 167. A Lodge may be dissolved:
Art. 167a. A Lodge may surrender its Charter if notice shall be given at a Stated Meeting that a resolution to that effect will be presented at the next succeeding one, and if, at such succeeding Stated Meeting, there shall not be eight members present who oppose such resolution; but no such act of surrender shall be considered final until it shall have been approved and accepted by the Grand Lodge.
Art. 167b. A Lodge may forfeit its Charter:
But no Charter shall be forfeited unless charges against the Lodge shall have been presented to and investigated by the Grand Lodge, of which charges the Lodge accused shall have had due notice; though the same may be arrested until the Next Annual Communication, either by the Grand Lodge or the Grand Master, upon satisfactory reasons therefor being shown.
Art. 167c. The forfeiture or arrest of the Charter of a Lodge involves the suspension of all its members from the rights and privileges of Masonry, except those who may be specially exempted from such effect.
Art. 167d. The surrender or forfeiture of the Charter of a Lodge, when declared by the Grand Lodge, shall be conclusive upon the Lodge and its members, and all its funds, jewels, furniture, dues and property of every kind shall be disposed of as provided in Art. 83c.
Art. 168. It is the duty of every Master Mason to be a member of some Lodge, and non-affiliated Masons who, having resided six (6) months within this jurisdiction, shall refuse or neglect to make application for membership to some Lodge therein, shall be deemed unworthy of Masonic consideration, and shall not be entitled to nor be the recipient of any of the rights, privileges or charities of the Order. Such of them as desire to restore themselves by affiliation, may do so upon payment of a sum equivalent to six (6) months dues of the Lodge to which they shall apply, (which shall become the property of the Lodge whether the applicant be elected or rejected), in addition to the affiliation fee, if any, required by the By-Laws, which affiliation fee shall be returned if the applicant be rejected.
Art. 169. Unaffiliated Masons shall not be entitled to receive relief for themselves or their families from any Lodge in this Jurisdiction; they shall not be permitted to visit any Lodge, except once for the sole purpose of affiliation, nor to participate in the festivals or processions of the Order, nor be buried with Masonic honors.
Art. 170. The presentation of a certificate is required by this Grand Lodge, simply as a testimony of good standing, preparatory to an examination, and, therefore, where the party can furnish other sufficient evidence of his Masonic standing, and assign a satisfactory reason for his being without a Certificate, the Lodge which he proposes to visit may proceed to his examination.
Section 1. This Lodge shall be known by the name of _________________Lodge No._________ of Free and Accepted Masons, and its officers shall consist of a Master, a Senior Warden, a Junior Warden, a Treasurer, a Secretary, a Chaplain, a Marshal, a Senior Deacon, a Junior Deacon, two Stewards, a Tiler, and such other officers as the Lodge may deem it proper to appoint.
Section 1. The Master, The Senior and Junior Wardens, the Treasurer and the Secretary, shall be elected by ballot, in conformity with Articles 100, 100a, and 100b of the Constitution of the Grand Lodge. The other officers shall be appointed by the Master, except the Junior Deacon, who may be appointed by the Senior Warden. Any Master Mason in good standing, whether or not a member of the Lodge, may be appointed Tiler.
Section 2. No member shall solicit for himself or for any other member of any Lodge any elective or appointive office in a Lodge, nor shall any electioneering, canvassing or soliciting of votes or support, for any member be allowed. Nomination of candidates for office shall not be made. A violation of this section shall be deemed unmasonic conduct and shall subject the offender to such discipline as the Lodge may determine. This section shall be read in open Lodge by the Master at the Stated Meetings of October, November and December of each year.
Section 1. The Stated Meetings of this lodge shall be holden on the ___________________in each month at ____________o'clock.
Section 2. Special meetings may be called from time to time, as the Lodge, or the Presiding Officer thereof, may direct.
Section 3. The Grand Master is empowered to approve the petition of any Lodge for a vacation period providing that no Stated Meetings shall be held during said period, which period shall in no case exceed three consecutive Stated Meetings.
Section 4. To conduct business at a Stated Meeting, a quorum which will consist of at least seven Master Masons of the Lodge in good standing. To perform degree work, the number and degree of persons as required by the ritual of that degree.
Section 5. To conduct work in any degree, at least one of the following must be in attendance, the Installed Master, Senior Warden or Junior Warden.
Section 6. Dispensation from the Grand Master is required for exception from Section 1, 4 and 5 above.
Section 1. All petitions for initiation, dual membership, or affiliation, must be signed by the petitioner and be recommended by two members of the Lodge. A duplicate of every such petition shall be forwarded immediately to the Grand Secretary for publication. Every such petition shall be referred to a committee of three, whose duty it shall be to report thereon at the next Stated Meeting,(unless further time be granted), when the applicant shall be balloted for and received or rejected.
Section 2. If an applicant, elected to receive the degrees in this Lodge, does not come forward to be initiated within three (3) months thereafter, the fee shall be forfeited, unless the Lodge shall otherwise direct.
Section 3. Every person raised to the degree of Master Mason in this Lodge, (except when such degree shall have been conferred at the request of another Lodge), or elected to be a member thereof, shall sign its By-Laws.
Section 1. The Treasurer shall receive all monies from the Secretary; shall keep an accurate and just account thereof; and shall pay the same out only upon an order duly signed by the Master, and countersigned by the Secretary. He shall, at the Stated Meetings in June and December of each year, submit a report in full of the monetary transactions of the Lodge. The Lodge may, also, at any time when considered necessary, cause him to present an account of his receipts and disbursements, and of the amount of funds on hand.
Section 2. He shall, if required by the Lodge, execute a good and sufficient bond to the Master, for the faithful performance of his duties.
Section 1. The Secretary shall keep a faithful record of all proceedings proper to be written; shall transmit a copy of the same to the Grand Lodge when required; shall keep a separate account for each member of the Lodge; shall report at the Stated Meetings in May and November of each year, the amounts due by each; shall receive all monies due the Lodge, and pay the same monthly to the Treasurer; and shall perform all such other duties as may properly pertain to his office.
Section 2. He shall receive for his services a compensation, which may annually be fixed by the Lodge, and when so required by the Lodge shall file a bond in sufficient amount in favor of the Worshipful Master as guaranty of the faithful performance of his duties; provided that until all current obligations of the Lodge are paid, he shall not collect nor be paid more than ______________Yen a month.
Section 1. The Tiler, in addition to the necessary duties of his office, shall serve all notices and summonses, and perform such other services as may be required of him by the Lodge.
Section 2. He shall receive such compensation for his services as the Lodge may direct.
Section 1. The table of fees for this Lodge shall be as follows: For the three degrees, the sum of ___________Yen; for the degrees of Fellow Craft and Master Mason, when the first degree shall have been received in another Lodge, the sum of _____________Yen; for the degree of Master Mason, when the first and second degrees shall have been received in another Lodge, the sum of __________Yen; and for Affiliation or Dual Membership, the sum of _____________Yen.
Section 2. The fee for each of the foregoing shall accompany the several petitions or applications (in accordance with Art. 136a.) else they shall not be presented by the Secretary of the Lodge.
Section 1. The dues of each member of this Lodge shall be _________Yen, payable annually in advance.
Section 2. No member, who shall be in arrears for dues at the time of the annual election, shall be permitted to vote, or shall be eligible to any office.
Section 3. Should any member, suspended for non-payment of dues, neglect for the period of two years to pay said dues or have the same remitted by his Lodge, said member may be restored to good standing only as provided by Article 104a of the Constitution.
Section 4. Any member in good standing may withdraw from membership by paying his dues and notifying the Lodge in writing to that effect at a Stated Meeting; but no recommendatory certificate shall be issued to him unless ordered by the Lodge.
Section 1. The Master and Wardens shall be a Charity Committee, and shall have power to draw upon the Treasurer for any sum, not exceeding ___________Yen at any one time, for the relief of a distressed worthy Brother,his wife, widow, or orphan(s).
Section 2. The Master, at the Stated Meeting of his Election, shall appoint an auditing committee, whose duty it shall be to examine all accounts presented against the Lodge and report at the next Stated Meeting.
Section 3. All reports of Committees shall be made in writing.
Section 1. When a candidate for initiation, dual membership, or affiliation is rejected, or a Brother reprimanded, suspended or expelled, no member or visitor shall reveal, either directly or indirectly, to such person, or to any other, any transactions which may have taken place on the subject; nor shall any proceedings of the Lodge, not proper to be made public, be disclosed outside thereof, under the penalty of reprimand, suspension or expulsion, as the Lodge may determine.
Section 1. The regular order of business at every Stated Meeting of this Lodge shall be as follows:
Section 1. These By-Laws, so far as relates to the times of meetings, and the amounts of fees, dues and disbursements by the Charity Committee, may be amended at any Stated Meeting by the votes of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present; PROVIDED, That written notice of such amendment shall have been given at the Stated Meeting next preceding; but such amendment shall have no effect until approved by the Grand Lodge or Grand Master, and until such approval shall have been transmitted by the Grand Secretary. The Secretary of the Lodge shall note upon the minutes of the Lodge the notice of proposed amendment when made, and when transmitting an amendment for approval shall forward a certificate, under seal, showing that the Law has been complied with and that the amendment has received the requisite vote.
Art. 171. Upon receipt of a petition of seven or more Master Masons who are members of any Lodge chartered by the Grand Lodge of Japan, at least three of whom are Masters or Past Masters; together with certificates or other evidence of their good standing; the Grand Master may grant a dispensation to open and hold a Lodge of Research for the purpose of promoting Masonic education and research studies.
Art. 172. Lodges of Research shall be subject to all provisions of the Constitution and the Law of the Builders applicable to conventional Lodges, except as provided in this Chapter.
Art. 173. The name of a Lodge of Research shall contain the title "Research Lodge" to distinguish it from a conventional Lodge.
Art. 174. The petition for the formation of a Lodge of Research need not be accompanied by a recommendation from any other Lodge.
Art. 175. A definite place of meeting need not be specified in the Dispensation to Form a Lodge of Research, nor in its Charter of Constitution, nor in its By-Laws. Meetings may be holden at such places as may be directed by the Master, or approved by the members.
Art. 176. Lodges of Research may meet at regular or at irregular intervals as specified in the approved By-Laws. However, at least four regular meetings must be held each year.
Art. 177. No requirement for acquisition of Lodge facilities shall be imposed upon a Lodge of Research, although such facilities may be acquired, or provided by action, or approval of the members.
Art. 178. A Lodge of Research shall not be empowered to receive, read or act upon petitions to receive the Degrees of Freemasonry unless for the purposes of instruction, and on behalf of another regular Lodge.
Art. 179. A Lodge of Research shall be entirely constituted and composed of Master Masons who are regular members of jurisdictions with which the Grand Lodge of Japan is in Fraternal Communication.
Art 180. (Amended Annual Communication 2003). The By-Laws of a Lodge of Research may provide for three categories of membership as follows:
Art. 180a. (Amended Annual Communication 2003) Research membership shall be composed of those applicants who are members of Lodges charted by the Grand Lodge of Japan and members of Lodges under Grand Lodges recognized by the Grand Lodge of Japan; who agree in writing to actively participate in the educational and research activities of the Lodge of Research, and who are elected to membership by a majority of at least five-sixths (5/6) of the Research Members present at a regular meeting of the Lodge. Research members may vote in all elections and decisions of the Lodge of Research, and may, if they are otherwise qualified, hold elective or appointive office in the Lodge of Research.
Art 180b. (Amended Annual Communication 2003) Corresponding membership may be composed of persons, except those who have been expelled from Freemasonry, who regularly apply to receive printed proceedings of the Lodge of research. They may attend public meetings of the Lodge of research only upon invitation of the Master.
Art 180c. (Amended Annual Communication 2003) Honorary membership shall be provided in accordance with Articles 137 and 138 of the Constitution.
Art. 181. A Dispensation or Charter may be issued to a Lodge of Research without a Certificate that the Master and Wardens are skilled in the work and lectures.
Art. 182. The officers of a Lodge of Research shall consist of a Master, a Senior Warden, a Junior Warden, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and such other officers as may be included in its approved By-Laws.
Art. 183. No person shall be elected a Master or Warden of the Lodge of Research unless he is a Master or Past Master of a regularly constituted, recognized and active or duly combined Lodge under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Japan, and such Brother is currently a member in such Lodge or another conventional Lodge under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Japan. (Amended Annual Communication 2010)
Art. 184. A Lodge of Research may hold open or public meetings. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies for an open or public meeting shall be as established and approved by the Grand Lodge.
Art. 185. A Lodge of Research is not empowered to exercise penal jurisdiction over its members. It may, however, recommend or prefer charges against its members to the regular Masonic Lodge in which they hold membership, or in whose jurisdiction they reside.
Art. 186. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 185, a Lodge of Research may, by a five-sixths (5/6) majority vote of its Research Members present at a regularly called meeting, suspend any member for non-payment of dues, convert the membership status of any of its members from Research Membership to Associate Membership or from Associate Membership to Corresponding Membership; or drop any of its members from its rolls. However, such action by the Lodge of Research shall not affect the Masonic standing of the member in any other Lodge or Masonic body.
Art. 187. Only those Master Masons composing the Research Membership shall be considered as members upon the rolls of a Lodge of Research for the purpose of membership reporting. (Amended Annual Communication 2010)