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Potential reasons one might be blackballed

JJones

Moderator
Typically a petition will ask several questions which need to be answered correctly in order to be accepted such as those pertaining to a faith in deity, maims, defects, sanity, and proper age.

Those are the more common reasons a man might not be accepted, but keep in mind that when it comes time for the lodge to vote, nobody has to justify why they voted for or against anyone's acceptance.

When in doubt, ask someone from the lodge you're petitioning, they will know better than anyone here.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
Candidates who are turned away before they come to vote, are told the reasons why they were turned down. They answered no to one of the crucial questions, it came up that their wife objects, they are currently homeless. Being turned away at that stage technically isn't the same as being rejected at the time of the ballot.

Every candidate must face a ballot. The lodge conducts a secret ballot. One negative and you are rejected. In some jurisdictions it takes 2 or 3 negatives rather than one. Few are rejected at this point, but none who are rejected at this point are ever told why. In fact it is forbidden to ask any brother how he balloted or why. It is forbidden to tell anyone how you balloted or why. The time of the ballot is the time when a lodge member may protect his lodge without ever saying why.

Of course there is potential for abuse at the time of the ballot. It is possible for a brother to reject a candidate for petty reasons. Fortunately rejections are rare. It is possible for a brother to kill a lodge by attrition for undisclosed reasons by rejecting every candidate. Fortunately that is even more rare.
 

Joe Ellis

https://UniqueFreemason.com
Premium Member
Like it states in the topic, I am wondering if I do petition what are some reasons I might be turned away?

Hi Robert ,

Best advice is that you visit the lodge and meet the members on several occasions. No lodge would blackball you if it is a good lodge, but would rather say that it is best to seek membership at another lodge. Blackballing someone, in my eyes, is not Masonic. By doing so could severely restrict your access to a lodge.

There are many reasons why someone is blackballed, but do not concern yourself with the reasons. Be genuine, polite and nice and you will be fine.

Good luck.

Joe Ellis, Past Master
England
 

Joe Ellis

https://UniqueFreemason.com
Premium Member
I must disagree. I can think of any number of reasons why a Mason might not want a man in his lodge, but be unwilling to reveal those reasons because they wish to protect someone's privacy. There's a reason we have a secret (in most states) ballot.

I don't believe this to be Masonic. Being polite and informing the person that someone has raised an objection, is not only ethical, it is good Masonic practice.
 

MarkR

Premium Member
What if the person who has the objection doesn't wish to share the reason with anyone? What if the petitioner had sexually assaulted your sister or daughter; he doesn't know that you know, because she chose not to file any charges, and has asked you to never tell anyone? Would you drop the black ball, or would you violate the confidence of your sister/daughter? Or would you let him be voted in and demit?
 

Joe Ellis

https://UniqueFreemason.com
Premium Member
What if the person who has the objection doesn't wish to share the reason with anyone? What if the petitioner had sexually assaulted your sister or daughter; he doesn't know that you know, because she chose not to file any charges, and has asked you to never tell anyone? Would you drop the black ball, or would you violate the confidence of your sister/daughter? Or would you let him be voted in and demit?

Oh dear...!
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
Hi Robert ,

Best advice is that you visit the lodge and meet the members on several occasions. No lodge would blackball you if it is a good lodge, but would rather say that it is best to seek membership at another lodge. Blackballing someone, in my eyes, is not Masonic. By doing so could severely restrict your access to a lodge.

There are many reasons why someone is blackballed, but do not concern yourself with the reasons. Be genuine, polite and nice and you will be fine.

Good luck.

Joe Ellis, Past Master
England
In UGLE, a black ball is indeed unusual. However, to broadly declare it is unmasonic in the US is simply incorrect. As you will learn here, there is a diversity of practice in the world and we cannot take the narrow view of our own obedience.

In addition to the Masonic jurisprudence issues I noted above, there are times I may have information because of my profession or my role in the fraternity which I am prohibited from disclosing. To protect the fraternity, which is also my duty, I must cast the negative ballot
 
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Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
I don't believe this to be Masonic. Being polite and informing the person that someone has raised an objection, is not only ethical, it is good Masonic practice.
I totally disagree. Not every man is Masonic material. If I consider a petitioner to be unworthy of our Fraternity, I'll drop a blackball on him without a second thought. If I believe him to be a good man but not fit the culture of my Lodge, I'll quietly advise him to petition elsewhere.
 

Joe Ellis

https://UniqueFreemason.com
Premium Member
I totally disagree. Not every man is Masonic material. If I consider a petitioner to be unworthy of our Fraternity, I'll drop a blackball on him without a second thought. If I believe him to be a good man but not fit the culture of my Lodge, I'll quietly advise him to petition elsewhere.

My god...really?
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
My g-d...really?
Yes, really. Well, maybe a second thought would be given. But I have done so and would do so.

I would also invite your attention to the charge of the first degree, regarding never mentioning His name but with that awe and reverence which are due from the creature to the Creator.
 

MarkR

Premium Member
I would be curious if any US State GL allows one to disclose his ballot.
In Wisconsin, if there is a black ball, the Worshipful Master informs the lodge that the brother who cast the black ball has 48 hours to tell him the reason for the black ball. If no one comes forward, the ballot is declared clear. If a reason is given to the Master, it is forwarded to the Grand Master, who determines if the reason is within the rules of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin. If so, the black ball is upheld, if not, the petition is accepted.

I was so skeptical when I first heard this, that I checked it myself, and there it was, in the Wisconsin Masonic Code, clear as day.
 
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