CHAPTER 2
Powers and Authority of the Grand Lodge
SEC. 2-1
SUPREME MASONIC POWER.
The Grand Lodge is the supreme
Masonic power and authority in the state of North Carolina. It is the
only legitimate authority under which Masonic lodges can lawfully be congregated
within its jurisdiction, and then only by virtue of a dispensation or a charter
granted by it. It has all the attributes of sovereignty and government in
matters Masonic, legislative executive, and judicial-limited only by provisions
of its own Constitution and Regulations and by a careful adherence to the
Ancient Landmarks. [4-1; 8-4; 8-5; 13-3.4; Chapter 4].
SEC. 2-2
SOVEREIGNTY OF THE GRAND LODGE.
The sovereignty of the
Grand Lodge touching upon all Masonic matters within, but not outside of, its
territorial boundary is full and complete and any of its subordinate lodges has
the right to receive the petition of any profane for the degrees or the
application of any nonaffiliated Mason for affiliation who possess the
physical, mental, moral, and residential qualifications that may be required by
the Constitution, Regulations, and Laws of the Grand Lodge. No other grand
lodge shall have or exercise any rights within the territorial jurisdiction of
this Grand Lodge.
This Grand Lodge concedes
the same rights and powers to all other grand lodges within their respective
jurisdictions.
By virtue of its sovereign
and undelegated authority, this Grand Lodge is the creator of its subordinate
lodges and is the repository of final and unimpeachable Masonic authority
within all of its jurisdiction and is therefore, the absolute, exclusive, and
indisputable owner and controller of the whole system of creed and symbolism of
the degrees of Entered Apprentice Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. From this
exclusive proprietorship all authority possessed by subordinate lodges or
individuals in this state to assemble or to act in the capacity of Masons and
in the name of Masonry is derived. Whatever superstructure is erected upon
Symbolic Masonry in North Carolina stands upon the foundation, the groundwork,
laid by the Grand Lodge. [4-2; 38-2; 43-1.3].
Any organization,
association, or person within this state professing to have any authority, powers
or privileges in Ancient Craft or Symbolic Masonry not derived from the Grand
Lodge is declared to be clandestine, and all masonic intercourse with or
masonic recognition of them or any of them, is prohibited. [2-6.9; 87-1; 87-3].
SEC. 2-6
POWER OF THE GRAND LODGE.
The Grand Lodge has power
to do whatsoever may be considered necessary to the well-being and perpetuity
of Masonry, subject to the Landmarks and the provisions contained in its own
Constitution and Laws, but particularly:
1. To grant
dispensations and charters for holding lodges of Ancient, Free and Accepted
Masons, with the right to confer therein the several degrees of Entered
Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason; and when deemed expedient and for
good cause, it may arrest, suspend, annul, revoke, or amend such dispensations
or charters or any preexisting dispensations or charters. [Chapters 38; 39; 40].
2. To exercise
original and exclusive jurisdiction (1) over all subjects of Masonic
legislation, interpretation, practice, and administration; (2) appellate,
judicial, and administrative jurisdiction regarding decisions of the Grand
Master, Masters, and Trial Commissions, and decisions and acts of lodges; (3)
and when expedient, to exercise original judicial jurisdiction over its own
officers and members, Masters, and Master Masons, Fellow Crafts, and Entered
Apprentices within its jurisdiction. That is to say, the enactments and
decisions of the Grand Lodge upon all matters, things, and questions Masonic
shall be the supreme Masonic law of the jurisdiction. [8-4; 8-5].
3. To define the
territorial jurisdiction of each lodge, to change the same from time to time,
to settle all controversies that may arise between lodges, and to make final
decision and determination of all matters of controversy or grievances which
may be brought before it by appeal or otherwise. [Chapter 98].
4. To make and
adopt general and special laws and regulations for the government of its
officers and members, and of the several subordinate lodges, their officers and
members, and to alter, amend, or repeal the same. [Chapter 44].
5. To supervise
the state and condition of its own finances and to adopt such measures in
relation thereto as may be deemed necessary. [34-3.2; 34-5.2].
6. To reprimand,
suspend, or expel any member from its own body for violation of its
Constitution, Regulations or Laws, or for any unmasonic conduct; and it may
reprimand, suspend, or expel any accused Mason upon appeal or restore one who
has been suspended or expelled. [90-5; 90-7; 98-2.1; 98-10.5].
7. To consider
and review the reports and doings of its officers, members of its committees,
commissions, and boards, and of the several lodges under its jurisdiction and
to take such action thereon as it may deem proper. [27-7.2].
8. To establish,
maintain, and enforce a uniform mode of work and lectures. [Chapter 24].
9. To declare by
ordinary resolution which bodies in this jurisdiction acting in the name of
Masonry are legitimate; and the moment an independent rite or organization
begins to operate in the name of Masonry and is built mediately or immediately
upon the system of either or all of the three Symbolic degrees of Entered Apprentice,
Fellow Craft, and Master Mason, the Grand Lodge has the right to pronounce
judgment upon its legitimacy and to authorize or interdict Masonic intercourse
therewith. No recognition will be presumed because the Grand Lodge has not
expressly taken affirmative action in recognition or non-recognition thereof. [2-5;
13-4.6; 13-4.7; 87-1; 87-3; 86-2.3.B; Chapter 6].
10. This Grand
Lodge does not recognize as Masonic any body or organization merely because
such body or organization is recognized by a body, rite, or organization which
is recognized by the Grand Lodge. [Chapter 6].
11. Neither this
Grand Lodge nor any of its subordinate lodges, nor any officer of either in his
capacity as such officer, shall at any time act or serve as administrator,
executor, guardian, trustee, or in any fiduciary capacity, except as
expressly provided by the law of the Grand Lodge. [43-3.18; 60-5; Chapter 60].
12. The powers
expressed in this section, whether general or special, shall not limit or
control any power or function so expressed, but each clause shall be construed
in furtherance, and not in limitation, of powers anciently or otherwise
exercised.
SEC. 2-7
JUDICIAL POWERS OF THE GRAND LODGE.
The judicial powers of the
Grand Lodge may be exercised by it, or may be delegated, such powers are both
original and appellate, embracing all matters of controversy and discipline in
matters Masonic. [Chapters 8; 90].
1. All trials of charges
preferred and appeals taken in pursuance of the provisions of this Constitution
shall be conducted in accordance with THE CODE of the Grand Lodge. [The Trial
Code].
2. The rule that
a penal statute, or one in derogation of the common law, is strictly construed
does not apply to THE CODE or to the Trial Code, or to any of the provisions of
either, but all such provisions must be construed according to the fair import
of their terms to promote justice and effect their objects. [90-2; 94-11].