MassachusettsGC1811

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CONSTITUTION OF THE GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS

Adopted Anno Lucis 5811.

CHAPTER I

Section 1

The style of this Grand Lodge shall be, "The Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."

Section 2

Its powers and prerogatives are independent; they extend to the Regulations and concerns of Masonry in the Lodges under its Jurisdiction; to the issuing of charters and dispensations, and to the revocation of the Same for un-Masonic conduct or neglect of duties to the Grand Lodge.

Section 3

The Grand Lodge is composed of a Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Grand Senior and Grand Junior Wardens, Past Grand Masters, Past Deputy Grand Masters, Past Grand Wardens, a Grand Treasurer, two Grand Secretaries, District Deputy Grand Masters, Grand Marshal, Grand Chaplains, Grand Senior Deacon, Grand Junior Deacon, four Grand Stewards, Grand Sword Bearer, two Grand Pursuivants, the Masters and Wardens of Lodges under the Jurisdiction, proxies of Lodges and the Grand Tyler; all these have a right to vote in the Grand Lodge except the Grand Tyler.

Section 4

All Present and Past Grand Masters, Deputy Grand Masters and Grand Wardens, and none others, shall be Permanent Members of the Grand Lodge.

Section 5

Those composing the Grand Lodge shall take rank in the Grand Lodge and in processions agreeably to the above order.

Section 6

The Grand Master, Grand Wardens, Grand Treasurer and Grand Recording Secretary shall be chosen by ballot. Two-thirds of the votes collected shall be necessary to make a choice of a Grand Master, and Grand Wardens, and a majority for the two others.

Section 7

The choice shall be made on the second Monday in December annually, to commence at 8 o'clock P.M. They shall be installed on the ensuing anniversary of St. John the Evangelist; and when that Festival happens on a Sunday, the installation shall be on the next day.

Section 8

After the installation of the Grand Master, he shall install the Grand Wardens, Grand Treasurer and the Grand Recording Secretary; appoint and install the other officers necessary to the due organization of the Grand Lodge, and appoint the District Deputy Grand Masters; shall issue commissions under the Grand Seal to the Deputy Grand Master, District Deputy Grand Masters and Grand Marshal. Absent officers may be installed by suitable proxies.

Section 9

All the Grand Officers, previous to their installation, shall make the following declaration: I solemnly swear, upon the honor of a Mason, that in the office of ----- I will, according to the best of my abilities, strictly comply with all the Laws and Regulations of this Grand Lodge, and all other ancient Masonic usages.

Section 10

All Grand Officers, elected or appointed, shall be proclaimed by the Grand Marshal, and shall retain their stations until their successors are installed.

Section 11

The Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Grand Wardens, Grand Treasurer, Grand Recording Secretary, Grand Corresponding Secretary, District Deputy Grand Masters, Grand Marshal and Grand Deacons, to be eligible to their offices, shall have passed the Chair of a regular Lodge. They shall not (the Grand Marshal and Grand Deacons excepted) be Master, Warden or proxy of any subordinate Lodge, and no Brother shall be appointed to any other office in the Grand Lodge (except to the office of Grand Chaplain and Tyler, unless he be a pPresent or Past Master of a regular Lodge.

Section 12

The Grand Master and Grand Wardens shall not be eligible more than three years, successively.

Section 13

When the Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master and Grand Wardens are absent the oldest and highest Past Grand Officer present shall preside at the meetings of the Grand Lodge. When the Grand Wardens are absent their stations shall be taken by the Grand Deacons' and the stations of the Grand Deacons by the Grand Stewards.

In the absence of the Grand Master the presiding officer, unless he be a Past Grand Master, shall wear the jewel of the Deputy Grand Master; but the other officers shall wear the jewels of the office they fill.

Section 14

Petitioners, and others of the Fraternity, may be admitted as visitors by permission of the Grand Master, and in his absence by a vote of the Grand Lodge.

Section 15

The Regular Communications of the Grand Lodge shall be annual held in the town of Boston, on the second Monday of December, March, June and September, and at such other times and places as the Grand Lodge, or the Grand Master, shall direct.

Section 16

The title of the Grand Master is "Most Worshipful;" Past Grand Officers, "Right Worshipful,", and the following officers, whether Past or in office, vizt: Deputy Grand Master, Grand Wardens, Grand Recording Secretary, Grand Treasurer, Grand Corresponding Secretary, District Deputy Grand Masters, Grand Marshal, Grand Deacons and Masters of Lodges "Right Worshipful." The title of other Grand Officers shall be "Worshipful."


  1. The Grand Master, with his Deputy, Grand Wardens, Treasurer and Secretary, if convenient shall, during his Mastership, visit the several Lodges under his Jurisdicction; and shall examine their Records and proceedings, and see that no innovations be committed in any of them, first giving such Lodges timely notice of his approach.
  2. The Grand Master has full right and authority to preside in every Lodge under his Jurisdiction, with the Master on his left hand; and to summon his Grand Wardens, Treasurer and Secretary to attend him, who are to act in their several capacities whenever the Grand Master takes the chair.

SECTION 4th

  1. The Grand Wardens shall be chosen in the same manner as the Grand Master (Section 3, Article 2) and with the same restrictions (Section 3, Article 1).

SECTION 5th

  1. The Grand Treasurer shall be chosen annually by a majority of written votes and must be a Master Mason.
  2. He must be a Brother of good worldly substance, and to him shall be committed the monies belonging to the Grand Lodge. He shall always keep a fair record of the accounts and transactions, and the uses to which the monies are appropriated, and shall lay the same before the Grand Lodge when required.
  3. When the monies in stoc amount to forty pounds he shall put it to interest on good security and shall give bonds to the Grand Master, for the time being, that such sums, and the interest arising thereon, shall be appropriated to the use of the Grand Lodge.

SECTION 6th

  1. The Grand Secretary shall be chosen in the same manner and with the same qualifications as the Grand Treasurer; Vide Section 5, Article 1.
  2. He must be a Brother who can write a good fair, legible hand and shall keep accurate records of all the transactions of Grand Lodge. He shall present all the votes and orders of the Grand Lodge, after they are entered, to the Grand Master, for his approbation and signature; he shall issue summonses as the Grand Master may direct and shall give reasonable notice, in at least one publick newspaper, of every stated meeting of the Grand Lodge; he shall read the Records of the preceding meeting every Quarterly Communication, before any Business is entered upon, and he shall be rewarded for his services from time to time as the Grand Lodge may direct.


  1. The Grand Stewards shall attend in preparing the Feast, on a regular Summons for that purpose; and they shall always see that the tables are regularly and Masonically spread.
  2. The Grand Marshal shall attend the Grand Feast, and assist the Grand Master in the order and arrangement of the Day; and the Grand Sword-Bearer shall attend on all public occasions.

SECTION 8th

The Grand Tyler shall attend every call of the Grand Master and be present at every Grand Lodge; for which services he shall be rewarded from time to time according to his merit.

SECTION 9th

  1. All matters in Grand Lodge shall be determined by a majority of votes, excepting when other provision is made, and the Brother in the chair shall have the casting vote.
  2. All differences that cannot be accommodated privately or made up in particular Lodges, are to be seriously considered and decided on in Grand Lodge; and if any Brother thinks himself aggrieved by the decision, he made appear at the Annual Grand Lodge next ensuing and leave his appeal in writing with the Grand Master, Deputy or the Grand Wardens.
  3. At the third stroke of the Grand Master's hammer, repeated by the Grand Wardens, there shall be a general silence; and whoever speaks without permission from the Chair, shall be publicly reprimanded, under the same penalty every Brother shall take his seat and keep strict silence whenever the Grand Master, or his Deputy shall call to order.
  4. No Brother is to speak more than twice to the same subject, unless to explain himself or when called upon, from the Chair, to speak. The Brother who addresses the Chair, shall rise and keep standing, and no Brother shall interrupt him - under the penalty of a reprimand; unless the Grand Master, finding him wandering from the point, sees fit to reduce him to order; and after being set right, he may proceed.
  5. Every Lodge under this Jurisdiction shall once every year transmit to the Grand Lodge, the names of their officers and also the names of the Brothers who have been made Masons, passed Fellow-Crafts, and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Masons; in order that the same may be duly noticed by the Grand Lodge.
  6. Every Lodge shall be represented by their own Master and Wardens, or by a proxy; and no proxy shall be received in the Grand Lodge, except he be a Master Mason, and a member of some Lodge under this Jurisdiction.
  7. The Grand Lodge has an inherent power and authority to make new regulations, and alter these for the benefit of the Institution, provided always the Ancient Land-Marks be carefully preserved, and that such new regulations be proposed, at a Quarterly Communication, and agreed to by a majority of the Brethren present at the Annual Grand Feast.

SECTION 10th

  1. The Grand Warden and Grand Secretary shall make all necessary preparations for every Grand Feast, and they shall be assisted by the Grand Stewards or some general undertaker.
  2. Every Brother present at a Grand Feast shall be controuled by the Grand Master in everything that pertains to the decency and decorum of his conduct.

Massachusetts Grand Constitutions


  1. The Grand Master Elect shall notify a meeting of all persons authorized to sit in Grand Lodge, and, having declared his acceptance, shall appoint a Deputy Grand Master, Grand Deacons, Grand Stewards, Grand Marshal, Grand Sword Bearer, and Grand Tyler. He shall then cause the names of the Officers thus chosen and appointed to be duly recorded and they shall continue until the next regular Election.
  2. This Grand Lodge, organized as aforesaid, shall forever hereafter be known by the name of the Grand Lodge of the Most A. Its powers and prerogatives are Independent; all distinctions between Ancient and Modern Masons shall, as far as possible, be abolished; the Mode of working practiced by the late Saint John's Grand Lodge, is hereby recommended to the Lodges now established; and shall be enjoined upon all Lodge hereafter constituted.
  3. All Grand Lodge records heretofore made, and other Masonic Papers, shall be safely deposited in the Archives of this Grand Lodge, and they shall never be carried out but by the Grand Master's permission.
  4. All Lodges heretofore established may retain their Original Charters, the dates and Grand Lodges from whence they were respectively issued being recorded by the Grand Secretary, and a due representation, with the payment of equal quarterly assessments, shall entitle such Lodges to a regular connection with the Grand Lodge to take precedency according to Seniority.

SECTION 2nd

  1. All past and present Grand Masters, Deputy Grand Masters, and Grand Wardens shall be considered as Members of the Grand Lodge, and no others.
  2. All Members of the Grand Lodge, and other Grand Officers for the time being, except the Grand Tylers, and the Representatives of every Lodge under this Jurisdiction, shall have a right to sit and vote in Grand Lodge and every Brother shall be properly vested, with his Jewel and Clothing before he takes his place.
  3. No vote of the Grand Lodge shall be reconsidered by a less number of voters than were present at the passing the same.
  4. No Brother shall be admitted into the Grand Lodge but such as are Members and Voters, excepting Petitioners and Witnesses or those called in by Motion; in neither of which cases shall they be admitted to sit at the table.

SECTION 3rd

  1. A Grand Master shall be annually chosen, on the evening of the second Monday in Decemer; and no person shall be eligible for the Office, more than three years successively.
  2. In the election of the Grand Master a ballot at large shall be taken (every voter writing the Candidate he thinks best qualified) and the Brother who has two thirds of the votes present, shall be declared Grand Master and installed in Due Form according to ancient usage.
  3. In case of sickness or necessary absence, the Grand Master or any other Officer may be installed by proxy, but whoever represents him must have sustained the office to which such absent officer is to be installed.
  4. The Grand Master shall appoint and commission his Deputy, under the seal of the Grand Lodge; and he shall appoint and declare all other Grand Officers, excepting the Grand Wardens, Treasurer and Secretary.
  5. The Grand Master shall, when present, indispensably fill the Chair; in his absence, the Deputy Grand Master; in both their absence, the Senior Grand Warden; in the absence of these, the Junior Grand Warden; and in case of the absence of all the officers, the eldest Grand officer in the Lodge is to fill the Chair; and that the Grand Lodge may always appear in Due Form, the presiding Officer shall wear the Jewel of the Grand Master, and all others the Jewels of the officers they respectively represent.
  6. No Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, or Grand Warden shall during his continuance in office be Master or Warden to, or representative of, a particular Lodge; and no Brother shall be eligible for either of said offices, who has not passed the Chair of some regular Lodge, to be made nown by proper vouchers.
  7. The Grand Master, with his Deputy, Grand Wardens, Treasurer and Secretary, if convenient shall, during his Mastership, visit the several Lodges under his Jurisdicction; and shall examine their Records and proceedings, and see that no innovations be committed in any of them, first giving such Lodges timely notice of his approach.
  8. The Grand Master has full right and authority to preside in every Lodge under his Jurisdiction, with the Master on his left hand; and to summon his Grand Wardens, Treasurer and Secretary to attend him, who are to act in their several capacities whenever the Grand Master takes the chair.
  9. The Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, and Grand Wardens, shall severally, at the time of their installation, make the following declaration: I solemnly promise upon the honor of a Mason that in the office of ----- I will, according to the best of my abilities, strictly comply with the Laws and Regulations of this Grand Lodge, and all other ancient Masonic usages.

SECTION 4th

  1. The Grand Wardens shall be chosen in the same manner as the Grand Master (Section 3, Article 2) and with the same restrictions (Section 3, Article 1).

SECTION 5th

  1. The Grand Treasurer shall be chosen annually by a majority of written votes and must be a Master Mason.
  2. He must be a Brother of good worldly substance, and to him shall be committed the monies belonging to the Grand Lodge. He shall always keep a fair record of the accounts and transactions, and the uses to which the monies are appropriated, and shall lay the same before the Grand Lodge when required.
  3. When the monies in stoc amount to forty pounds he shall put it to interest on good security and shall give bonds to the Grand Master, for the time being, that such sums, and the interest arising thereon, shall be appropriated to the use of the Grand Lodge.

SECTION 6th

  1. The Grand Secretary shall be chosen in the same manner and with the same qualifications as the Grand Treasurer; Vide Section 5, Article 1.
  2. He must be a Brother who can write a good fair, legible hand and shall keep accurate records of all the transactions of Grand Lodge. He shall present all the votes and orders of the Grand Lodge, after they are entered, to the Grand Master, for his approbation and signature; he shall issue summonses as the Grand Master may direct and shall give reasonable notice, in at least one publick newspaper, of every stated meeting of the Grand Lodge; he shall read the Records of the preceding meeting every Quarterly Communication, before any Business is entered upon, and he shall be rewarded for his services from time to time as the Grand Lodge may direct.

SECTION 7th

  1. The Grand Deacons, Grand Stewards, Grand Marshal, and Grand Sword-Bearer must be Master Masons.
  2. The Grand Stewards shall attend in preparing the Feast, on a regular Summons for that purpose; and they shall always see that the tables are regularly and Masonically spread.
  3. The Grand Marshal shall attend the Grand Feast, and assist the Grand Master in the order and arrangement of the Day; and the Grand Sword-Bearer shall attend on all public occasions.

SECTION 8th

The Grand Tyler shall attend every call of the Grand Master and be present at every Grand Lodge; for which services he shall be rewarded from time to time according to his merit.

SECTION 9th

  1. There shall be annually held four Quarterly Communications, in some convenient place, which the Grand Master shall appoint, vizt: on the evenings of the second Mondays of December, March, June and September; and special Grand Lodges shall be held at the Grand Master's direction.
  2. All matters in Grand Lodge shall be determined by a majority of votes, excepting when other provision is made, and the Brother in the chair shall have the casting vote.
  3. All differences that cannot be accommodated privately or made up in particular Lodges, are to be seriously considered and decided on in Grand Lodge; and if any Brother thinks himself aggrieved by the decision, he made appear at the Annual Grand Lodge next ensuing and leave his appeal in writing with the Grand Master, Deputy or the Grand Wardens.
  4. At the third stroke of the Grand Master's hammer, repeated by the Grand Wardens, there shall be a general silence; and whoever speaks without permission from the Chair, shall be publicly reprimanded, under the same penalty every Brother shall take his seat and keep strict silence whenever the Grand Master, or his Deputy shall call to order.
  5. No Brother is to speak more than twice to the same subject, unless to explain himself or when called upon, from the Chair, to speak. The Brother who addresses the Chair, shall rise and keep standing, and no Brother shall interrupt him - under the penalty of a reprimand; unless the Grand Master, finding him wandering from the point, sees fit to reduce him to order; and after being set right, he may proceed.
  6. Every Lodge under this Jurisdiction shall once every year transmit to the Grand Lodge, the names of their officers and also the names of the Brothers who have been made Masons, passed Fellow-Crafts, and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Masons; in order that the same may be duly noticed by the Grand Lodge.
  7. Every Lodge shall be represented by their own Master and Wardens, or by a proxy; and no proxy shall be received in the Grand Lodge, except he be a Master Mason, and a member of some Lodge under this Jurisdiction.
  8. The Grand Lodge has an inherent power and authority to make new regulations, and alter these for the benefit of the Institution, provided always the Ancient Land-Marks be carefully preserved, and that such new regulations be proposed, at a Quarterly Communication, and agreed to by a majority of the Brethren present at the Annual Grand Feast.

SECTION 10th

  1. The Grand Warden and Grand Secretary shall make all necessary preparations for every Grand Feast, and they shall be assisted by the Grand Stewards or some general undertaker.
  2. Every Brother present at a Grand Feast shall be controuled by the Grand Master in everything that pertains to the decency and decorum of his conduct.

Massachusetts Grand Constitutions

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