My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

One black ball?

Should one black ball be all it takes to reject a candidate?

  • Yes

    Votes: 59 40.7%
  • No

    Votes: 86 59.3%

  • Total voters
    145

Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
In Oregon if only on black cube then the WM directs the SD to destroy the ballot and orders the lodge to vote again. If a black cube appears again then he announces the result.
If on the first vote 2 or more black cubes appear then thats it.
 

MaineMason

Registered User
One casting a black cube in a lodge under the jurisdiction of the
Grand Lodge of Maine can be punished by suspension or expulsion if it's done with animus.
 

MaineMason

Registered User
I doubt you will know who did it . But i guess if you know the person or they told you they were going to cast a black cube?
It is my understanding that a second vote may be taken but if a MM casts a black cube and reneggs his vote could become the subject of inquiry ONLY if he admits to it. It's pretty strict. If you cast a black cube, you'd better have a good reason for it.
 

MaineMason

Registered User
I agree that bigger is not necessarily better, but I doubt the 3 ball vs 1 ball is an attempt to grow the fraternity. If the investigation committee is doing even half- assed job, even one black ball should be so rare as to have little if any impact on overall numbers
I agree that bigger is not necessarily better, but I doubt the 3 ball vs 1 ball is an attempt to grow the fraternity. If the investigation committee is doing even half- assed job, even one black ball should be so rare as to have little if any impact on overall numbers.

My jurisdiction has one ball, and it seems to work fine. However, I can see where a jurisdiction may be trying to prevent a lone racist in the lodge from vetoing any African American petitioners, or an antisemite keeping out any Jews. Whether or not that is a good solution, I can't say, but it seems a more likely explanation. As a method of increasing numbers, it is extremely inefficient.
I'd also say that Jews and African Americans are welcome in our lodge and by law by our Grand Lodge.
 

MarkR

Premium Member
Better than that, one should have a conversation with the CI beforehand.
I keep asking, what about the brother who knows something about the petitioner that he absolutely cannot discuss with anyone without bringing considerable embarrassment to himself or a loved one? What's the point of a secret ballot if one is required to reveal how he voted and why?
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
I keep asking, what about the brother who knows something about the petitioner that he absolutely cannot discuss with anyone without bringing considerable embarrassment to himself or a loved one? What's the point of a secret ballot if one is required to reveal how he voted and why?
I agree. If it is something that I would consider too personal or too embarrassing to the prospective candidate I would keep it to myself and cast the black ball or cube.
 

Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
Well if a brother knows something about the Petitioner that will bring embarassment to himself(the Brother), that to me means that he was involved in someway in that thing that he knows about. If he can be a mason, why cant the Petitioner?
 

admarcus1

Registered User
Well if a brother knows something about the Petitioner that will bring embarassment to himself(the Brother), that to me means that he was involved in someway in that thing that he knows about. If he can be a mason, why cant the Petitioner?
I can think of a number of situations where someone wrongs somebody else, and the victim is embarrassed that it happened. If you are a victim of a scam, physical or sexual assault. The person may have victimized someone you know, but that person doesn't want the information shared - unfortunately there can still be stigma associated with being a victim.
You may also know the person to be a complete a-hole, liar, or what have you, but you know the person through something you want to keep private. Maybe through group therapy, or AA, or a local Dungeon and Dragons club.

Ideally, one should be able to completely trust the WM, or any other Mason, to keep your secrets (per their obligation), but Masons are people, and people make mistakes. In addition, even if you trust the WM to keep the secret, you may be afraid of being judged by the WM. Being a Mason or a WM does not cure us of all our biases and prejudices. There are things about myself and experiences I've had that I might not share.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
I can think of a number of situations where someone wrongs somebody else, and the victim is embarrassed that it happened. If you are a victim of a scam, physical or sexual assault. The person may have victimized someone you know, but that person doesn't want the information shared - unfortunately there can still be stigma associated with being a victim.
You may also know the person to be a complete a-hole, liar, or what have you, but you know the person through something you want to keep private. Maybe through group therapy, or AA, or a local Dungeon and Dragons club.

Ideally, one should be able to completely trust the WM, or any other Mason, to keep your secrets (per their obligation), but Masons are people, and people make mistakes. In addition, even if you trust the WM to keep the secret, you may be afraid of being judged by the WM. Being a Mason or a WM does not cure us of all our biases and prejudices. There are things about myself and experiences I've had that I might not share.
I totally agree. We have the one black ball rule here in Kentucky and I am happy with it.
 

Zack

Registered User
. Being a Mason or a WM does not cure us of all our biases and prejudices. There are things about myself and experiences I've had that I might not share.

I know a couple that got their "virginity" back. At least they act that way.
 

MaineMason

Registered User
If we had bigots in my lodge or in my chapter, or in the DeMolay Chapter for which I am a trained Dad Advisor, I would wouldn't be a Mason. I'm gay. I'm a line officer. No one gives a good damn. Not in my lodge. They know ME, that's all they care about. I could have been blackballed. I wasn't, especially since the PM (who was filling the SW chair at the time) and the WM knew me to be a good man. I would never discriminate against anyone for membership in a lodge unless it were against my oath and obligation.
 
Top