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!

Removing a Member

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
Is there a way to excommunicate a Lodge member? Obviously one needs a favorable vote to join, but can the opposite occur?
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Only by bringing charges. If the offense is serious enough & a conviction is had, a Brother may be suspended or expelled. See Title V of the GL Law.
 

LRG

Premium Member
Thank you Bro.Lins

They would have to be some serious charges, I suppose.

What kind of charges would you suppose that would inflict such charges?
I know a felony maybe and sleeping w/a **** ****
But what else?
 

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
Thanks for the info Bro. Lins. I was hoping that it would be a decision by the Lodge and Officers vs having the GL be involved.
 
Last edited:

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Thanks for the info Bro. Lins. I was hoping that would be a decision by the Lodge and its Officers vs having the GL be involved.

Sorry- no such luck. There was a resolution @ Grand Lodge a couple of years back to allow Lodges to send members packing if they couldn't get along & play well with others- I was in favor of it but it went down in flames. :(
 

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
Sorry- no such luck. There was a resolution @ Grand Lodge a couple of years back to allow Lodges to send members packing if they couldn't get along & play well with others- I was in favor of it but it went down in flames. :(

It should be left to the Lodge. Bill Lins for Grand Master!
 

JBD

Premium Member
Bill may be a great guy, but I don't want it at the Lodge level. Too much local politics played out. GL is a hassle but it is designed to be that way. I joined the fraternity more than a particular Lodge.

One thing about this forum, it stimulates conversation!
 

jonesvilletexas

Premium Member
If it was left up to the lodge, I could see where a witch hunt could get started. The laws that we have in the GL law is just fine and work well.
 

owls84

Moderator
Premium Member
With the original answer being answered, I am definitely up for the ability to expel a mason from the Lodge with an appeal process to Grand Lodge. My belief is the Worshipful Master does not have enough power in his Lodge. I have seen disruptive people in a Lodge and when the WM get angry, the brother files charges and the WM be reprimanded for not keeping peace and harmony. Then I have seen an issue where the WM tried to get support on an issue to keep peace and harmony and GL hang him out to dry. It is a catch 22.

I think if it was bad enough and the WM could substantiate his expulsion then he should be able to expel the Mason pending GL final decision. If there are no grounds for the expulsion then the WM should be repremanded and penalized.
 

owls84

Moderator
Premium Member
If lodge gets that disruptive, the master has the power to drop th gavel and close the lodge.

That doesn't stop the member from spreading rumors. You may say that the Brother could be brought up on charges, but according to GL if you don't hear it from his mouth it is just hear say. We all know how a rumor can spread and break a lodge and their reputation. My feelings are why do the other Brothers have to suffer and get shorted because of a personal quarel between a Master and a member? Like, I said if it is substatiated he should have the power to do so. It should not be the first thing to happen. I think you give this power and a few members may straighten up after a while.

I am just going by some members I have seen that truely know how to work our system. Don't get me wrong also, I think GL should have final say and they should review all the cases this would happen in. I just hate that you have to file charges and have a member expelled when he may fit in fine at another Lodge.
 

jonesvilletexas

Premium Member
Under Grand Lodge Law when a Mason has charges brought against him the lodge has to have a trial and the cost of such a trial could drain if not drain the bank account of the lodge, the laws in place is not only to protect you by all the brothers, I stand by my first post we must be careful in how we handle our brothers. With that side I know a few I would love to see go, and they might fell the same about me.
 

JBD

Premium Member
I think the issue may be less about "how do you get him out" and more about how he got in the Lodge in the first place. Carefully investigating, evaluating and decision making by the Topliner, Recommenders and the Investigation Committee are needed to insure the proper candidates are presented and accepted.

Additionally, I think the concentration on teaching "to the test" mentality is too prevalent as well. We see changes in our school systems when the teachers started teaching to the test and we are seeing the same thing here. Masonry is a life long learning process and too often we forget that. I am convinced that many of these issues can be prevented by demonstrating the proper Masonic attitude, instilling in new members traditional Masonic values and practicing what we preach.

I know we are all anxious to grow the fraternity. I also know (at least I think I do) what Josh is talking about. One has to question the wisdom of advancing someone through the chairs or into an appointed or elected position until you truly know them.

All that said, the Gavel is still the gavel the actual Lodge meeting can be closed. As far as running of the mouth goes, that usually runs its course and the person is found out. I understand, trust me, our whole Lodge understands misinformation campaigns. They happen - it will happen again. It is just life, it matters not how many times you get knocked down, only how many times you get up.
 

owls84

Moderator
Premium Member
Now that is something I CAN agree with. That is something I have said many times to many people that complain about another member is remember that that person was investigated intiated, passed, raised, and in some instances put through the chairs. Think about that when you go out on your investigations and as they are coming through the degrees. We have the ability to protest advancement or vote on proficiency. Don't let you not doing your Masonic duty be the reason a person slip through.

That being said, that got me thinking. Could this be a test by the Supreme Architect in dealing with all kinds alike or the rumors? I think that it could bring a Lodge closer if handled properly and possibly as JBD says they seem to be discredited over time causing you to prevail in the long run. I guess the only thing damaged is your image for a time being and if you know you are right and the ones that matters who cares. Really gets me thinking....
 

Wingnut

Premium Member
I was told a story that went like this: a lodge a member that was making life miserable for all the other lodge members. The Officers of the lodge drew up charges on several offenses. They called the brother in and showed him the charges. They basically told the brother, you step into this lodge again, these will be filled with GL. Here is a completed form for you to transfer your membership to another lodge or you can use the demit form. Your choice, but your not welcome here.

It sounds good, not sure it happened or its the right way to handle it but..!
 
Top