What is a protest in your jurisdiction?
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CHAPTER 3— TITLE IV PROTESTS
Art. 421. (458). Against Whom Effective.
The election of a candidate to receive the degrees or any of them, can be prevented or set aside by protests made to the Worshipful Master or any officer acting as Worshipful Master of a Lodge. A protest against the reinstatement to good standing in the Lodge of a former member or restoration to the status of a nonaffiliated Mason of a former member of another Lodge, convicted in said Lodge, who is laboring under a sentence of indefinite suspension or expulsion, for a Masonic disciplinary violation, other than for nonpayment of dues, shall be given effect by the Worshipful Master, or the officer acting as such, as a rejection of such petition as provided in Art. 627. Such protests cannot be withdrawn after they have been announced. (Revised 1992)
Art. 422. (458a). Against Whom Not Effective.
A protest is not effective on a petition for affiliation; or on applications for a dimit; waiver of jurisdiction, certificate of dismissal; or for a certificate
of good standing.
Art. 423. (462). When and By Whom Made.
Any member of a Lodge in this jurisdiction may protest, either orally or in writing, a candidate for any degree, either before or after his election. In each case the protestor must give clearly his name and the name, number and location of his Lodge. Protest may be made by telephone if the person called is satisfied as to the identity and qualification of the Protestor; in each such case the person called must in the same telephone conversation advise the caller whether or not the protest is accepted. The Worshipful Master or officer acting as Worshipful Master, shall not disclose the identity of the Brother who made the protest, but shall immediately upon receipt of the protest notify the Wardens and Secretary that it has been made. To be effective as to any petitioner for a degree, protests must be made after the petition is received by the Lodge and before conferring the degree has begun. (Revised 1992)
An outgoing Master is under duty to transmit to his successor all unannounced protests made to him. Only members in good standing of the acting Lodge may protest against reinstatement or restoration as authorized in Art. 627.
Art. 423a. Separate and Joint Protests: Defined.
A separate protest is that made by an individual Brother to the Worshipful Master. A joint protest is that made by two or more Brethren who
simultaneously appear before the Worshipful Master and lodge a protest. Separate and joint protests shall have the same value or effect.
Art. 424. (459). Withdrawn: When.
A protest may be withdrawn by a Brother who made it, at any time before it is announced, but not thereafter.
Art. 425. (460). Effect of Protests.
A protest shall have the same effect and value and be counted as a blackball under Art. 418. Three protests, or a combination of protests and blackballs with a combined total of three shall reject for one year. Four protests, or a combination of protests and blackballs totaling four shall reject the petitioner for two years; five or more protests, or a combination of protests and blackballs having a collective total of five or more, shall reject the Petitioner for three years. (Revised 1992)
Art. 426. (460a). Advancement After Protests.
When a candidate is protested after receiving the Entered Apprentice or Fellowcraft Degrees and wishes to advance after expiration of the time for which he was protested, he shall be required to present a new petition in writing for advancement and be reelected before he shall be permitted to advance. A committee on investigation and report shall be appointed and the petition shall lie over not less than one lunar month before the ballot is taken thereon. (Revised 1992)
Art. 427. (461). Rejection Must Not Be Published.
The identity of rejected candidates shall not be published to the world.
Art. 428. (463). Announcement of Protests.
When three or more protests are lodged against a petitioner for the degrees or a degree or for advancement, before his election thereto, no announcement thereof shall be made by the Worshipful Master, or officer acting as such, until after the ballot on said petition has been taken and the result announced. The Worshipful Master shall then announce that three or more protests have been lodged against the petitioner, stating the number of such protests, which shall be recorded in the minutes of said Lodge; provided that the Brethren making such protests were not present during the taking of the ballot on such petition. In case they are present during the balloting, the protests of such are as present shall be disregarded,
not counted, nor announced. (Revised 1992)
When three or more protests are lodged against a petitioner after his election to receive the degrees or a degree, it shall be the duty of the Worshipful Master, or officer acting as such, to announce said protests at the first meeting of the Lodge, whether it be a stated or called meeting and it shall be recorded in the minutes. (Revised 1992)
No degree shall be conferred on a protested candidate during the term of his rejection, after three or more protests have been lodged against him. (Revised 1992)
Art. 429. Duty of Worshipful Master. It shall be the imperative duty of the Worshipful Master, or officer acting as Worshipful Master, to recognize and announce three or more protests as provided in Art. 428 and a failure to do so shall constitute a Masonic Disciplinary violation for which he may be suspended from office by the Grand Master upon the filing of an allegation of Masonic disciplinary violation for such failure to act, if the Grand Master accepts the allegation. (Revised 2012)