What's new
By:
Advanced search…
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!

Can an EA or FC transfer?

Bill Lins

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Yes. An EA or FC may request a Certificate of Dismissal from his Lodge, pursuant to Art. 446. Art. 447 provides that, if the request is granted, he may petition the (or one of the) Lodge(s) holding territorial jurisdiction over him to take him in. Should he wish to join a different Lodge, the Lodge he wishes to join must request and receive a Waiver of Jurisdiction from those Lodges holding territorial jurisdiction over him.


Art. 446. (476g). Certificate of Dismissal.
A Lodge, by unanimous favorable vote, taken at a stated meeting, either by ballot or show of hands at the discretion of the Master presiding may grant to one of its EA's or FC's, who has not been rejected by ballot or protest after receiving the last degree, and against whom no charges are pending, a Certificate of Dismissal recommending him for advancement. <snip> Upon the granting of such certificate the Lodge thereby loses personal jurisdiction over him and his name shall be dropped from its rolls. He, thereupon, becomes an unaffiliated E.A. or F.C. and further jurisdiction over him is territorial, and governed by the provisions of Article 441.

Art. 447. (476h). Certificate of Dismissal, Procedure Under.
An E.A. or F.C., domiciled in this Grand Jurisdiction and holding a certificate of dismissal from a regular Lodge wheresoever situated, may petition a Lodge having, or acquiring by waiver, jurisdiction over him, and after election and passing the required examination as to proficiency (if he has not previously passed such examination) have the remaining degree or degrees conferred upon him. Any such candidate must have sat in the Lodge petitioned opened in the last degree he has received or be properly vouched for before he is advanced therein. A certificate of waiver of jurisdiction or dismissal will not be sufficient to meet this requirement.
 
Beathard

Beathard

Premium Member
The new lodge could also do the rest of the work as a courtesy for the original lodge. Once raised the mason can apply to transfer. I'm not sure which is easier.
 
Michaelstedman81

Michaelstedman81

Premium Member
Brother Bill said it...lol I actually did do this. I was initiated in the lodge in my hometown, and right afterwards I went back into the Army. When I got done with my training and made it to my duty station, I went to one of the local lodges in the area and got things started. Went from being an EA in one lodge to becoming an EA in another lodge where I recieved the rest of my degrees. The process was just like Bro. Bill outlined.
 
vanderson78102

vanderson78102

Registered User
I did this when I was an EA. We didn't do the request for a certificate of dismissal until I was ready to be passed to FC though.
 
Robert G

Robert G

Premium Member
This can also be done across jurisdictions. We had an EA from a lodge in W.VA. go through the FC and MM degrees here in Texas because he had moved to Texas after his EA degree. The Texas lodge conferred the FC and MM degrees as a courtesy to his W.VA. lodge. After he was raised here he demitted from his lodge in W.VA. and was elected to membership at the Texas lodge which passed and raised him. (W.VA. does not provide certs of good standing; one must demit and then seek affiliation elsewhere.)
 
B

BK Harp

Registered User
Brothers,
I became an EA many years ago. I then started working overseas and was not able to advance. I no longer live in my old state(NC) and use an address in Illinois and one in Virgina(company) in order to protect my family from some of the hazards of my career. I requested to transfer or have an Illinois Lodge to do the Courtesy work, but my Old lodge will not release or assist me. They are requiring that I must come to them to go forward and actually failed to respond to Letter from GL of Ill.

This is not really an option and frankly I have been talked down to by members of the Lodge as though i am gum on their shoe! Do I have any options or shall I mail them my Apron and walk away? I will not tarnish the Brotherhood willingly, but I am trapped and especially saddened by this experience!

Thank You,
BK
 
goomba

goomba

Neo-Antient
Site Benefactor
BK Harp said:
Brothers,
I became an EA many years ago. I then started working overseas and was not able to advance. I no longer live in my old state(NC) and use an address in Illinois and one in Virgina(company) in order to protect my family from some of the hazards of my career. I requested to transfer or have an Illinois Lodge to do the Courtesy work, but my Old lodge will not release or assist me. They are requiring that I must come to them to go forward and actually failed to respond to Letter from GL of Ill.

This is not really an option and frankly I have been talked down to by members of the Lodge as though i am gum on their shoe! Do I have any options or shall I mail them my Apron and walk away? I will not tarnish the Brotherhood willingly, but I am trapped and especially saddened by this experience!

Thank You,
BK
Click to expand...

I would contact the Grand Secretary of North Carolina as he would know the absolute correct answer. Different grand lodges have different policies. In Alabama an EA or FC can receive a certificate of good standing that includes his Masonic history. Another option I've seen is when an EA from Hawaii moved to Alabama. An Alabama lodge (after going through official channels) conducted courtesy work. Upon being raised by an Alabama lodge he became a Master Mason in his Hawaii lodge.
 
Bloke

Bloke

Premium Member
goomba said:
I would contact the Grand Secretary of North Carolina as he would know the absolute correct answer. Different grand lodges have different policies. In Alabama an EA or FC can receive a certificate of good standing that includes his Masonic history. Another option I've seen is when an EA from Hawaii moved to Alabama. An Alabama lodge (after going through official channels) conducted courtesy work. Upon being raised by an Alabama lodge he became a Master Mason in his Hawaii lodge.
Click to expand...
Good advice I think, go to GL and sidestep your uncooperative lodge.

Under UGLV, and EA can transfer lodges and even GLs if the destination GL will accept him. I've done several FC degrees for EAs who joined UGLV from interstate..
 
dfreybur

dfreybur

Premium Member
BK Harp said:
Brothers,
I became an EA many years ago. I then started working overseas and was not able to advance. I no longer live in my old state(NC) and use an address in Illinois and one in Virgina(company) in order to protect my family from some of the hazards of my career. I requested to transfer or have an Illinois Lodge to do the Courtesy work, but my Old lodge will not release or assist me. They are requiring that I must come to them to go forward and actually failed to respond to Letter from GL of Ill.

This is not really an option and frankly I have been talked down to by members of the Lodge as though i am gum on their shoe! Do I have any options or shall I mail them my Apron and walk away? I will not tarnish the Brotherhood willingly, but I am trapped and especially saddened by this experience!

Thank You,
BK
Click to expand...

Usually asking to do degrees by courtesy has less paperwork but it takes the cooperation of your mother lodge. Even if it's just signing and returning a form.

Unfortunately in Masonry guys get to be bleeps. Our level of trust allows that to happen.

I suggest that you send a letter requesting a demit. Point out that since Illinois does not charge dues to EAs you can't be NPD. Rather than offering to pay a year of dues or whatever, I tend to add a check marked "general fund donation" every time I send a letter to any of my lodges. Doing that would make you the generous one and them the bleeps. Which they already are. Keep a copy. If you get neither a signed demit form nor a response containing a bill in several months, take that letter to your nearest lodge and ask them for a petition plus whatever waiver forms they think might be needed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top