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Question regarding lodge jurisdiction

Gary Harper

Registered User
Anyone familiar with West Virginia Freemasonry, your input here would be greatly appreciated.
I asked and was told that here in West Virginia, I can only petition one specific lodge depending on where I live based on their jurisdiction. Is that true?
 

MarkR

Premium Member
I hope someone has your answer for you. I found no information on the Grand Lodge of W.Va web site. That used to be pretty common, and the Grand Lodge of W.Va. tends to be quite conservative, so I wouldn't be surprised. However, in many states that had that rule, you could seek a waiver from the lodge that had jurisdiction to allow you to join a different lodge. You might also look into that.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
Anyone familiar with West Virginia Freemasonry, your input here would be greatly appreciated.
I asked and was told that here in West Virginia, I can only petition one specific lodge depending on where I live based on their jurisdiction. Is that true?
First critical question - are you already a Freemason?? If you are not, then I would be shocked if the above was not true - that you can only petition one specific lodge to become a Freemason. However, one would hope you might be able to check out some lodges before you put that petition in.

If you are a Freemason and talking about membership to a lodge as a joining member, then yes, we will need to wait for someone with knowledge of that specific jurisdiction (West Virginia) to chime in..
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
It's traditional to petition a lodge within 50 miles of your residence because any further will imply low attendance after your degrees. This is called your "cable tow" or the length you'd go out of your way to help a Brother.

Among my jurisdictions I only recall the Illinois details off the top of my head. There's a "Waive of Jurisdiction" form available from the grand secretary. It's supposed to be signed by the nearest lodge any time a candidate applies to any lodge farther than 50 miles away. The rule has not been enforced in Illinois since long before I affiliated.

I would not be surprised if West Virginia enforced such a policy.

Notice that there can be more than one lodge within 50 miles of your residence. You would be able to petition any one of them without special paperwork.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
I asked and was told that here in West Virginia, I can only petition one specific lodge depending on where I live based on their jurisdiction. Is that true?
According to the List of Lodges Masonic, GLoWV does not permit either dual or plural membership- no word as to what Lodge you can petition, but you can only belong to one Lodge there.
 

Gary Harper

Registered User
I think some of you misunderstood as to what I meant, but to those of you that did understand thank you for your responses.
I am not a Freemason yet, though I intend to petition. My question was not in regard to attempting to petition more than one lodge as some of you seem to have assumed.
I was told that you can only petition certain lodges based on where you live, dfreybur explained it pretty well. But I was told that it wouldn't matter if the other lodges were that close, I would be required to petition one specific lodge that has jurisdiction over petitioners in my area. I assume I'll have to try contacting the Grand Lodge to get clarification.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
I think some of you misunderstood as to what I meant, but to those of you that did understand thank you for your responses.
I am not a Freemason yet, though I intend to petition. My question was not in regard to attempting to petition more than one lodge as some of you seem to have assumed.
I was told that you can only petition certain lodges based on where you live, dfreybur explained it pretty well. But I was told that it wouldn't matter if the other lodges were that close, I would be required to petition one specific lodge that has jurisdiction over petitioners in my area. I assume I'll have to try contacting the Grand Lodge to get clarification.
Yes, that would be the advice to follow. As you garnered, the jurisdictions vary.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
As you garnered, the jurisdictions vary.
Very much so. Here in Kentucky in approx. half of the counties you have to join the lodge closest to where you live unless you can obtain a waiver from the GL to join another. In the other half of the counties, such as mine, you can pick any lodge that you want to join.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Very much so. Here in Kentucky in approx. half of the counties you have to join the lodge closest to where you live unless you can obtain a waiver from the GL to join another. In the other half of the counties, such as mine, you can pick any lodge that you want to join.
How is it that there are different rules for some counties? That sounds like it would be an interesting story.
 

Canadian Paul

Registered User
There are 'different rules' in different jurisdictions because each jurisdiction is a sovereign body and may make any rule it deems necessary as long as the ancient landmarks aren't violated. The problem, of course, is that jurisdictions don't always agree on what are or are not landmarks.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
each jurisdiction is a sovereign body and may make any rule it deems necessary as long as the ancient landmarks aren't violated. The problem, of course, is that jurisdictions don't always agree on what are or are not landmarks.
True but it makes things interesting, lol.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
There are 'different rules' in different jurisdictions because each jurisdiction is a sovereign body and may make any rule it deems necessary as long as the ancient landmarks aren't violated. The problem, of course, is that jurisdictions don't always agree on what are or are not landmarks.
In the US, Grand Lodge jurisdictions are typically by state, not by individual counties or groups of counties comprising just part of a state, hence the question.
 

Keith C

Registered User
In the US, Grand Lodge jurisdictions are typically by state, not by individual counties or groups of counties comprising just part of a state, hence the question.

In PA the DDGMs are given some leeway in how things operate in their district. A couple examples: The GL requirements to be elected WM is at least one Masonic Year as a Warden and Exemplification of Business of the Lodge and either the EA and FC Degree OR the MM Degree, in the district my lodge is in we must exemplify all of the above. The GL only requires the DDGM to attend official District Visitations, in our District the Masters and Wardens of ALL the Lodges in the District are expected to attend all District Visitations.

So the Districts in KY may be delineated by County and each one's DDGM has the leeway to create different criteria. In any case, to know for sure the WM should know or be able to consult the DDGM and get an answer.
 
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