29 September 2022
MEMBER RETENTION AND FINANCIAL AMNESTY
We want to encourage members who have been excluded due to financial reasons to re-join Freemasonry.
At the same time, we must be cognisant of the both the Book of Constitutions and the impact on the Lodge members where members have failed in their financial obligations to Freemasonry.
A number of situations may arise:
- Member Excluded (Lodge Now Closed)
- Member Excluded (Member re-joining the Lodge from which he was excluded)
- Member Excluded (Member Joining another Lodge to the one from which he was excluded)
1. Member Excluded (Lodge Now Closed)
In this situation a Brother who is seeking to re-join would not have a clearance certificate and as such should be referred to the Grand Secretary for approval.
In this case a $50 contribution to charity would be requested and this would be applied accordingly by the Grand Secretary or his delegate.
2. Member Excluded (Member re-joining the Lodge from which he was excluded)
This situation is covered by the Book of Constitutions, Rule 235.
The Book of Constitutions states that the Lodge from which the Brother was excluded would need to receive payment in full or as much as will satisfy the members. The exclusion is then lifted automatically. The member then is free to re-join this Lodge.
In this situation a financial amnesty is proposed and would be applied subject to the members of the Lodge approval.
The Lodge would receive from the member an intention to re-join. The member should be aware of his financial obligations to the Lodge including both Lodge fees and capitation fees. He would be informed that there was a provision for an amnesty and subject to the members agreement his debts would be foregone.
The Secretary would inform the Grand Secretary and a reimbursement of capitation fees outstanding would be approved from Grand Lodge up to a maximum of $150.
The Lodge would be encouraged therefore with the financial incentive to then lift the exclusion and invite the member to re-join.
The Lodge may request a greater payment from the member, but in this event the Lodge would not receive any reimbursement from Grand Lodge.
3. Member Excluded (Member Joining another Lodge to the one from which he was excluded)
This situation is covered by the Book of Constitutions, Rule 235.
The Book of Constitutions states that the Lodge would from which the Brother was excluded would need to receive payment in full or as much as will satisfy the members. The exclusion is then lifted automatically. The member then is free to re-join Freemasonry.
In this situation a financial amnesty is proposed and would be applied to the Lodge from which he was excluded subject to the members approval.
The member should be aware of his financial obligations including both Lodge fees and capitation fees to the Lodge from which he was excluded.
He would be informed that there is a provision for an amnesty and subject to the members agreement his debts would be foregone, however this would be subject to the Lodge that applied the exclusion lifting the exclusion.
The Lodge to which the member has applied to join would need to communicate with the Secretary of the Lodge from which the Brother was excluded.
The Secretary, of the Lodge from which the Brother was excluded would inform the Grand Secretary and a reimbursement of capitation fees outstanding would be offered from Grand Lodge up to a maximum of $150.
The Lodge from which the Brother was excluded would be encouraged therefore with the financial incentive to then lift the exclusion.
When this has been completed the member would be free to re-join Freemasonry.
Important
Amnesty for re-joining would not apply to a Brother who has been excluded for non-financial reasons.
It is acknowledged that members who have left the organisation with debts outstanding has caused some distress for Lodges and members who have faithfully paid their financial dues.
Accordingly, the final decision for members who have been excluded for financial reasons will remain with the Lodge from which they were excluded. This is in terms of the provisions of the Book of Constitutions.
