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Cessation of Membership |
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Cessation of membership may occur in five different circumstances viz. Death Election to Honorary Membership Resignation Exclusion Expulsion Death Death being a natural cause all that is required to be done is to make a note in the Register of Members and an announcement in the Lodge at the earliest opportunity. It is customary to observe a minute of silence in respect for the deceased. A condolence message, under the hand of the WM, may also be sent to the bereaved family. Formal Oration in the Lodge is not encouraged, beyond short speeches of remembrance. Announcement of death must be recorded in the minutes. Election to Honorary Membership On election to honorary membership a member ceases to be a subscribing member of the lodge and loses all rights attached to his membership except those specifically reserved under Rule 167 of the Book of Constitutions. Resignation from the Lodge Resignation of a member from a Lodge may occur for various personal reasons such as physical inability to attend the Lodge Meetings or to pay dues. Other causes could be loss of interest in the Lodge or the Craft, which might include frustration due to delay in attaining Mastership or lack of opportunity to participate in Lodge affairs, technical, administrative or ritualistic. In Lodges with large membership numbers, the problems are more acute. The solution lies in the Master and Secretary initiating activities by which the participation of members can be enhanced. For example, organizing Charity programmes, encouraging brethren to visit other Lodges to enlarge their sphere of acquaintances, cultural programmes etc. Extending Masonic Education has been found a stable and unique form of incentive. It is a fact that in many Lodges Masonic education is limited to occasional lectures based on the rituals. The vast literature available on the historical, symbolical and mystical relevance of Masonry to the history of human development and current state of public and private morality remains practically untouched. The system of mentoring advocated by the Grand Master recently deserves to be attempted whole heartedly. The following Rules regarding resignation may be noted. 1. A member of the Lodge may at any time resign his membership. 2. Resignation may be with immediate effect or with effect from a future date, not retroactively. 3. Resignation may be announced by a written letter addressed to the Secretary or orally in an open Lodge during a regular meeting. It cannot be done in an Emergency Meeting as such meeting cannot transact any business not on its agenda. 4. Resignation tendered to the Secretary may be withdrawn in writing before it is reported to the Lodge. 5. A resignation, if not withdrawn, shall be reported to the immediately following regular meeting of the Lodge. 6. The resignation takes effect immediately, if it is announced in the Lodge. If it was communicated to the Secretary then it takes effect from the date of receipt of the communication by the Secretary or from the future date indicated thereon. 7. A resignation does not require acceptance. As no action is required the resignation should not be included in the summons or placed on the agenda. 8. Once the Lodge is informed about the resignation it cannot be revoked or withdrawn a. if the member has already been served with a notice under Rule 181 that a resolution is being proposed in the Lodge to exclude him b. if the Lodge has, either before or after receiving the resignation has decided that he be excluded. 9. In other cases, including one where the Lodge has resolved not to exclude the brother, by a resolution by a majority of the brethren present, he may be requested to withdraw the resignation. If the brother does not withdraw his resignation within 21 days it becomes final and no further revocation is allowed. 10. A brother who has resigned from the membership of a Lodge may seek to join another Lodge or to rejoin the same Lodge. Rules regarding re-joining will apply. |
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membership |