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The same procedure and rules as outlined in the earlier sections apply in the case of a proposal for joining and re-joining the Lodge. In addition, however, the brother proposed for joining shall be a member in good standing in a Lodge under the English Constitution or a Constitution recognized by it. Before the proposal in respect of a brother coming from a 'foreign' jurisdiction is considered, particularly if the WM or Secretary is not fully convinced by personal knowledge or reliable documentation, it is necessary that a reference be made to the Grand Lodge through the District Grand Lodge, to ascertain the status of recognition of the Constitution to which the candidate belongs. The Secretary should also examine the Grand Lodge Certificate of the Candidate, and obtain Certificates of Good Standing (variously known as Clearance Certificate or No Due Certificate) from every Lodge of which the candidates is or had been a member, before the ballot is taken. Where the Lodge of which the candidate was a member does not exist and the member is unable to produce a certificate of clearance, a request must be made to the District Grand Secretary concerned or to the Grand Secretary for information about the Lodge and the candidate's membership and dues thereto. A clean certificate should be obtained from the Grand or District Grand Secretary before the ballot is taken. If the Lodge accepts a member or past member of a Lodge with outstanding dues to that Lodge, the receiving Lodge will be liable to the other Lodge for all amounts due by the joining member. As soon as the ballot is favourably decided, the candidate is eligible to be made a member, but the membership will commence only from the date he takes up the membership by paying the fees required of him for joining. Before he is admitted to the Lodge as a member, the joining member from a Lodge not under the UGLE must make the Declaration of Allegiance to the UGLE in the open Lodge by word of mouth or in writing witnessed by a Brother. See Rule 163(f) for the declaration. A joining member from a Lodge under the UGLE is exempted from the Joining Fees; but is not exempt from any other subscription or fee and as such is required to pay the annual subscription and other contributions, as per the Bylaws of the Lodge before taking up membership. If the membership is not taken up within one year of the balloting the election will become void. The peculiar situation as regards the Lodges in India is worth mentioning here. In September 1992 the UGLE had withdrawn the recognition of the Grand Lodge of India with the result that the brethren who held dual memberships had to choose one and to resign from the other. In December 2002 the recognition and amity were restored, but with a proviso prohibiting dual membership except for those brethren who were members of both the Orders on 31st July 1992 and opted for re-joining within a period of one year from the restoration. As such no Lodge under UGLE can now admit a member of a Lodge under the Grand Lodge of India and vice versa. However, a proposal of such a member can be considered if he offers to resign from the GLI, and is not indebted to his Lodge. Here again, a good amount of tactful handling will be required as, in a normal case there should be no reason why one should resign from GLI to join a Lodge under UGLE, unless there is no GLI Lodge nearer to his place of residence or work (which is very rare) or he has some personal grudges. Admission of such a person may even threaten the harmony in the receiving Lodge. |
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Joining and re-joining |
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membership |