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Stated Meeting?

Mark Stockdale

Premium Member
Ok, this has probably been asked before, but I noticed that a lot of the GL calendars show Stated Meeting for the different lodges. What exactly does that mean? Do I take it to be the same as what we in Scotland call a Regular Meeting, ie. a meeting where the lodge is opened in the EA Degree, business conducted then raised to FC if the degree work of that meeting calls for it or passed to MM if that is what we are working?

Just wondering, as both the lodges I am visiting whilst in DC show only Stated Meeting on the GLoDC calendar.
 

Illuminatio

Premium Member
For us a "Stated Meeting" would imply a standard "business meeting" where we open on whatever degree is that of the newest Brother that's attending, and we handle all of the Lodge business (vote on petitions, pay the bills, minutes, etc). I have never seen any degrees conducted on the same evening. I don't know that it's officially not allowed, but in my going on 5 years in the Craft I have not heard of that being anything that's done in my area.
 

Mark Stockdale

Premium Member
Thanks for the info. We do it all in the same night here in Scotland, but all business is conducted once opened in the EA, usually about the first 30 minutes of our meetings, then we would pass and raise before starting the evenings degree work, depending on what we are conferring.
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
I believe it’s called this because it is “stated” in the by-laws when, where, etc. Others are “special” or “called” meetings. But yes, the same as a regular meeting or communication (depending on jurisdiction).

Or as my present WM calls it; the “we have to because grand lodge says so” meeting.
 

Keith C

Registered User
I believe it’s called this because it is “stated” in the by-laws when, where, etc. Others are “special” or “called” meetings. But yes, the same as a regular meeting or communication (depending on jurisdiction).

That is the case here in PA. The day of the month of our monthly Business meetings is "Stated" in the By-Lays of the Lodge, hence the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7:00pm is our "Stated Meeting." We rarely have a Degree conferral at a Stated Meeting, as there are things we must do that take enough time to make Degrees impractical. For Degree Conferral we hold "Extra" meetings, at dates and times decided on by the WM but advised at the previous Stated Meeting at a minimum. In the case of an emergency need to hold a meeting, or a meeting held for a single expressed purpose that is not a degree, it would be defined as a "Special" meeting.
 

Mark Stockdale

Premium Member
Thank you my Brothers, my next question is 'Would a visiting Brother be welcome at a Stated Communication, or is it primarily Lodge members only?' it sounds similar to our Business Meetings, which are usually just for our own brethren. Just not sure if this is the reason I haven't heard back from the secretaries of the lodges I have permission to visit.
 

Keith C

Registered User
Visitors are VERY welcome at our Stated and Extra Meetings. They just are expected not to vote!

I have yet to have to attend a "Special" meeting but, depending on the subject, it could possibly be limited to Members.
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
You would be more than welcome. My lodge here in California would recommend you attend our Lodge of Instruction instead, we tend to blow through business on our Stated and get gone.
 

Mark Stockdale

Premium Member
You would be more than welcome. My lodge here in California would recommend you attend our Lodge of Instruction instead, we tend to blow through business on our Stated and get gone.

Unfortunately, all of the meetings listed on the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia calendar whilst I'm there are Stated Communications so I don't have much of a choice.
 
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Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
As I said, it’s just my one lodge. Other lodges may have educational talks, guests, all sorts of things.
 

Schuetz

Registered User
For us a "Stated Meeting" would imply a standard "business meeting" where we open on whatever degree is that of the newest Brother that's attending, and we handle all of the Lodge business (vote on petitions, pay the bills, minutes, etc). I have never seen any degrees conducted on the same evening. I don't know that it's officially not allowed, but in my going on 5 years in the Craft I have not heard of that being anything that's done in my area.
Mine in southern Illinois are the same way. Very, VERY rarely will a stated meeting's business and a degree happen in the same night. It's usually an emergency and everyone just wants to go home (especially with a 3rd Degree!).

Q. E. L. Schuetz, M.M.
Shekinah Lodge No. 241 • IL
Murphysboro Lodge No. 498 • IL
 

acjohnson53

Registered User
Ok, this has probably been asked before, but I noticed that a lot of the GL calendars show Stated Meeting for the different lodges. What exactly does that mean? Do I take it to be the same as what we in Scotland call a Regular Meeting, ie. a meeting where the lodge is opened in the EA Degree, business conducted then raised to FC if the degree work of that meeting calls for it or passed to MM if that is what we are working?

Just wondering, as both the lodges I am visiting whilst in DC show only Stated Meeting on the GLoDC calendar.

The Stated Meeting is use for the Lodge to pay their bills, vote on any Masonic business that has to be taking of...


Sent from my iPhone using My Freemasonry mobile app
 

Keith C

Registered User
The Stated Meeting is use for the Lodge to pay their bills, vote on any Masonic business that has to be taking of...

Sent from my iPhone using My Freemasonry mobile app

We do get the business done at our Stated Meetings but that is a small portion of the time spent. We are required to have a topic presented related to a Masonic topic, we celebrate Masonic Birthdays each month and we always have s program whether it is related to Masonic subjects or not.

Our stated meeting for March we are having a Bother do a presentation on Kabbalah and Freemasonry as an example.
 

Mark Stockdale

Premium Member
I'm hoping the 2 secretaries get back to me, even if it's just to say they will welcome me to their meetings. I'll email them again in March if I haven't heard anything back.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
I believe it’s called this because it is “stated” in the by-laws when, where, etc. Others are “special” or “called” meetings. But yes, the same as a regular meeting or communication (depending on jurisdiction).
Same here in Kentucky although all lodges open on the MM degree.
'Would a visiting Brother be welcome at a Stated Communication, or is it primarily Lodge members only?
You would be very welcome in any lodge here in Kentucky.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
The Stated Meeting is use for the Lodge to pay their bills, vote on any Masonic business that has to be taking of...
Under GLoTX, the following applies:

Art. 233. Stated and Called Meetings Defined.
A Stated Meeting of the Lodge is defined to mean a regular meeting of the Lodge as provided in its By-Laws.
A Called Meeting of the Lodge is defined to mean any meeting other than a stated meeting as fixed in the By-Laws of the Lodge.


Art. 234. Stated Meetings: Business Required At.
The following matters shall be attended to only at Stated Meetings: Receiving and balloting upon petitions for degrees, advancement and affiliation; receiving and voting on applications for demits, certificates of good standing; removal of Lodge to another location; receiving charges and complaints of Masonic disciplinary violations; election of Officers, surrender of charters; presentation of proposed by-laws and all amendments thereof (except as authorized in Subdivision 4 of Art. 216); reinstatement of membership and restoration of Masonic rights; granting of life memberships; consolidation of Lodges; and approval of accounts and other fiscal transactions, unless dispensation to the contrary is granted; and all other matters required elsewhere in these Laws to be transacted at Stated Meetings. When, at a Stated Meeting, a Lodge has been closed, it cannot be reopened as a Stated Meeting, although no one may have left the room. (Revised 2007).

Art. 235. Called Meetings: Business Permitted.
Called Meetings may be ordered by the Master of the Lodge, or by the Senior Warden in his absence, or by the Junior Warden in the absence
of both, at any time not prohibited by law for any one or more of the following purposes: to receive the Grand Master or his Representative or other distinguished Mason; to confer degrees on candidates previously elected; to examine and vote on the proficiency of candidates; to install officers; to conduct funerals, to receive and vote on adoption of by-laws under Subdivision 4 of Art. 216; to adopt by-laws and amendments thereto when duly called for that purpose after reasonable notice given; to transact any other business not required by law to be acted on at a Stated Meeting. The Secretary may be ordered to issue summons for such meetings when the circumstances are deemed such as to warrant it; such summons must be in writing and under the seal of the Lodge.
 
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