CHAPTER 6

Fraternal Recognition and Appendant Organizations

 

SEC. 6-1 RECOGNITION OF GRAND LODGE.

Fraternal recognition may be extended to another grand lodge when it appears to the satisfaction of this Grand Lodge, a committee having first considered and reported thereon:

1.       That such grand body has been formed lawfully by at least three just and duly constituted lodges, or that it has been legalized by a valid act issuing from the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, or from a grand body in fraternal relations with this Grand Lodge.

2.       That it is an independent, self-governing, responsible organization with entire, undisputed, and exclusive dogmatic and administrative authority over the Symbolic Lodges within its jurisdiction, and not in any sense whatever subject to, or dividing such authority with, a supreme council or other body claiming ritualistic or other supervision or control.

3.       That it makes Masons of men only.

4.       That it requires conformity to the following which the Grand Lodge of North Carolina considers necessary in a Masonic Body:

          A.      Acknowledgment of a belief in God, the Father of all men.

          B.      Secrecy.

          C.      The symbolism of operative Masonry.

D.      The division of Symbolic Masonry into the three degrees practiced in North Carolina.

          E.      The legend of the Third Degree.

5.       That its dominant purposes are charitable, benevolent, educational, and for the worship of God, and that it excludes controversial politics and sectarian religion from all activities under its auspices.

6.       That the Sacred Book of the Divine Law, chief among the Three Great Lights of Masonry, is indispensably present in the lodges while at work.

7.       That it occupies its territorial jurisdiction exclusively, or else shares the same with another by mutual consent, and that it does not presume to extend its authority into, or presume to establish lodges in, a territory occupied by a lawful grand lodge without the expressed assent of such supreme governing Masonic body.

8.       That it was not formed in occupied territory against the wishes of a recognized grand lodge in that territory, and that it does not warrant lodges in territory occupied by a regular recognized grand lodge against the wishes of that grand lodge.

 

SEC. 6-2 VOTE ON RECOGNITITON.

No Grand Lodge shall be recognized by the Grand Lodge of North Carolina until by an affirmative vote by a majority of the voting members present. (This subdivision added, effective January 1, 2008 )

 

SEC. 6-3 APPENDANT ORGANIZATIONS.

The Grand Lodge, while acknowledging no degrees of Masonry except those conferred under its authority or under the authority of a Grand Lodge or a Grand Orient which has been, or may hereafter be, recognized by it as a regular and legitimate Masonic organization, nevertheless, recognizes the following named organizations or bodies to be Masonic: [2-6.9; 2-6.10].

1.       The General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of North Carolina, and the Royal Arch Chapters under their jurisdiction.

2.       The General Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of the United States of America, the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters in North Carolina, and the Councils of Royal and Select Masters under their Jurisdiction.

3.       The Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America, the Grand Commandry of Knights Templar of the State of North Carolina, and the Commandries of Knights Templar under their Jurisdiction.

4.       The Supreme Council (Mother Council of the World) of the Inspectors General Knights Commanders of the House of the Temple of Solomon of the Thirty-third Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America, and the various bodies under its jurisdiction.

5.       The Supreme Council, Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the Thirty-third and Last Degree, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America, and the various bodies under its jurisdiction.

6.       The recognition of any rite, body, or organization named in this section shall not be prejudicial to the rights of any other legitimate Masonic organization.