CHAPTER 86
Masonic Offenses
REG. 86-1 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS.
The Grand Lodge cannot by a
general rule circumscribe within equitable bounds the conduct and practices of
all members. Therefore, it must be left with the members of the Craft to
determine whether or not, in the light of surrounding circumstances a brother
is bringing reproach upon Masonry by his conduct, and thereby is, or is not,
guilty of unmasonic conduct. A Masonic offense is the
violation of the moral law, or the civil law, or of Masonic obligations, or a
violation of the laws, usages, and customs of Masonry and, in a general way, a
Mason should be guided in his conduct by the following.
1. Where the
statute law expressly permits certain conduct or is silent as to it, Masons are
bound to obey the moral law and to observe the lessons and duties inculcated in
the several degrees.
2. Where the
statute law prohibits or commands certain conduct, Masons, in obedience to
their duties as good citizens in support of civil government, should obey.
3. Where the
statute law permits but does not command certain conduct, and the Masonic law
prohibits that conduct, then the Mason must obey the Masonic law as to that
course of conduct.
4. If in
conducting any business or in pursuing any profession or vocation, a Mason
conducts himself, his business, his profession, or his vocation in such a
manner as to bring reproach upon himself or his lodge and shame upon the Order,
he would for these reasons and notwithstanding the statute law be guilty of a
Masonic offense.
5. A Mason’s conduct in general and at all times should be such as not to
bring discredit upon the Order or to degrade it in the estimation of good
people.
6. An Entered
Apprentice or a Fellow Craft is subject to the provisions of this chapter.
REG. 86-2 SPECIFIC MASONIC OFFENSES.
The following are specific
Masonic offenses and, in certain instances, the penalty is specified. These
shall not be construed as excluding any other Masonic offenses or unmasonic conduct or penalties not specifically described
or enumerated in this chapter or in other chapters of THE CODE.
1. To fail to
discharge the duties of a Mason. While this is general in its terms, it
includes the following as well as offenses not specified herein, and the
penalty shall be fixed according to the gravity of the offense unless it is set
forth in THE CODE.
2. To be an
atheist at the time of initiation or to become one after initiation. Penalty expulsion. [52-4;
66-4; Preamble I].
3. To be present
at the conferring, taking or receiving, of any degree or degrees contrary to
duty or in violation of the provisions of THE CODE. [2-6.9;
86-2.58;
86-2.59;
87-1].
A. To be present or to assist in the work of
a lodge knowing that its charter or dispensation has been arrested or revoked.
B. To hold Masonic communication or
conversation with an illegal lodge, with a person who is a member thereof or
who received the degrees therein, or with any person not acknowledged as a
Mason by the Grand Lodge. [2-5; 2-6.9;
86-2.58;
86-2.59;
87-1].
C. Penalty for committing, knowingly, any of
the offenses described in this Subdivision, expulsion. Penalty
otherwise, according to the gravity of the offense.
4. To have
illegal carnal intercourse with wife, sister, mother, or daughter of a Master
Mason. Penalty expulsion
5. To have
illegal carnal intercourse with one who is not the wife, sister, mother, or
daughter of a Master Mason
6. To make known,
declare, intimate, or indicate in any way the kind of ballot cast by oneself or
by a brother, or to declare or indicate the number of favorable, white balls,
or unfavorable, black cubes, ballots cast in a secret ballot on a petition or
application, or purposely seeking to learn the kind of ballot cast by another.
Under this regulation it is obvious that it would be a Masonic offense to
permit any statement or evidence to be offered at a trial as to the kind of
ballot cast by a brother or the number of black cubes or white balls cast. The
offense is the publication of his ballot. Penalty expulsion.
[68-5].
7. To communicate
to the profane, or to a suspended, excluded, or expelled brother or to mention
in their hearing anything transpiring in the lodge room, to converse with such
persons on the secrets of Masonry or on lodge business, or to disclose the fact
that any person has been rejected for any degree or membership, or objected to
for advancement; or to make known to them any remarks made within the lodge or
elsewhere relative to the Masonic standing, qualifications, or character of a
petitioner or a brother. [70-4].
8. To fail
willfully to obey a Masonic summons lawfully issued and served. Penalty expulsion. [83-1;
83-1.2; 87-13.2].
9. To write,
print, typewrite, paint, mimeograph, multigraph,
photograph, photostat, prepare, edit, compile, or in
any other way or manner to make, record, publish, any paper, pamphlet,
manuscript, monograph, book, photograph, picture, photostat,
volume, cryptograph, cipher, writing, printing, typewriting, or sound recording
not specifically authorized by this Grand Lodge, setting forth, or purporting
to set forth the forms, rites, ceremonies, or degrees of Symbolic Freemasonry,
or any part or portion thereof, or extracts or excerpts therefrom.
Penalty expulsion or revocation of charter. (This subsection
amended, effective 1/1/2002)
10. To fail or
refuse, upon written notice or request, or upon oral demand of the Grand
Master, within three days from receipt thereof, to deliver to him or to any
person designated by him any instrument referred to in Regulation 86-2.9.
Penalty expulsion or revocation of charter.
11. To violate a
Masonic obligation or an oath lawfully taken.
12. To arrest the
legitimate work of a lodge, as by "blackballing," from captious,
sinister, or unworthy motives provided such motives and conduct are voluntarily
avowed by the brother, because they cannot be assigned to him by any one.
Penalty expulsion.
13. To make threats
or declarations which, if put into effect, would unlawfully retard the work of
a lodge or disturb its harmony.
14. To solicit
votes by any means, direct, or indirect, to promote the election
of one’s self, or of anyone else, to office in his lodge or in the Grand Lodge
in violation of Regulations 86-2.16, 54-3.3.B. [54-2.2.A;
54-2.2.B; 54-2.2.C; 54-2.2.D].
15. To try to influence
the vote of another, either favorably or unfavorably, for any person for any
Masonic office. However, one may state if asked whether, in his opinion or
judgment, a particular person is well qualified by good character, ability, or
Masonic knowledge to discharge the duties of a particular office. [86-2.16; 54-3.3.B].
16. Electioneering
in any way for one’s self, or for anyone else, for office in the Grand Lodge is
prohibited as unmasonic, and any brother found guilty
of the offense shall be ineligible to office for two years, or if in office
shall forfeit the office held by him and in addition thereto, he may be
punished for unmasonic conduct. [54-3.3.B;
86-2.14;
86-2.15].
17. To declare to
non-Masons that he has withdrawn from his lodge and renounced Masonry while at
the same time maintaining his lodge membership and stating to members of his
lodge that he intends to remain a member.
18. To
misrepresent, or conceal, or to practice fraud or deceit, willfully about any
fact in his petition for the degrees to a lodge in which he is later initiated,
or to the Committee of Investigation appointed on his petition. Penalty
expulsion.
19. To petition a
lodge for the degrees, falsely answering that he has never petitioned another
lodge for the Symbolic degrees when asked the question in his petition or by a
Committee of Investigation. Penalty expulsion.
20. To fail
willfully to reveal that he has committed a heinous offense before being made a
Mason. Penalty expulsion.
21. To fail to
disclose any physical disability on his petition. [78- 11]
22. To solicit a
profane to petition for the three degrees of Symbolic Masonry. [43-3.6]
23. To recommend a
petitioner for the degrees of Masonry, knowing that he has been rejected by
another lodge, whether in this or any other jurisdiction, within one year
preceding the date of the petition.
24. For a lodge to
accept a petition of one who has been rejected within six months preceding the
date of petition and, in case of concurrent jurisdiction, to accept the
petition of one who has been rejected by another lodge in the same concurrent
jurisdiction within one year preceding the date of the petition. [70-1.2; 70-2].
25. To attempt to
influence improperly the action of a Trial Commission or any member thereof by privately
discussing the facts or evidence of a case pending before the commission with a
member thereof.
26. To participate
in forming a club for social or for non-Masonic purposes and to adopt the name Masonic
Club, or any other name, derivation, phraseology, designation, symbol, or
title peculiar to Masonry, or which would identify it with Masonry in the minds
of the public or with other Masons, or to participate in forming any club
within the membership of a lodge. [43-3.11; 86-2.46; 86-2.47]
27. To commit, or
to enter a plea of guilty or nolo contendere
to, or to be convicted of, a felony under the laws of the State in which
committed or tried, or under the laws, civil or military, of the
28. To violate the
moral law or to violate the criminal statutes involving moral turpitude. [66-1.11].
29. Drunkenness is
a serious Masonic offense.
30. To manufacture,
transport, sell, or possess intoxicating liquor in violation of the laws of the
State of
31. To own or keep what
is commonly known as a liquor saloon, or to attend bar in a liquor saloon. A
liquor saloon is defined under this section as a place where the main business
is the sale of intoxicating liquors to be consumed on the premises; provided,
it shall not be considered a Masonic Offense to operate a dining facility
pursuant to the laws of the State of North Carolina where spirituous or
intoxicating liquors are sold in strict conformity with the laws of the State
of North Carolina. Penalty expulsion. [43-3.3].
32. To conduct,
promote, participate in, profit by, aid or assist, in the name or in behalf of
Masonry, in any lottery, game of chance, door prize, or other device or
activity by any name, whether or not permitted by public authority. This
subdivision covers both individual brethren and Masonic bodies in this
jurisdiction and the so called collateral bodies or other organizations in
North Carolina whose membership is dependent upon or related to Masonic
membership or which are likely to be regarded as Masonic organizations in the
public mind as well as individual Masons, within the Jurisdiction of the Grand
Lodge, are enjoined and required to respect the purposes of this regulation. In
addition to the power and authority contained in Chapter 58 of THE
CODE, the Grand Master shall have the authority to direct the Judge Advocate to
institute a Masonic Trial against any Master Mason within the Jurisdiction of
the Grand Lodge whom he believes, after investigation, to have been or is a
party to the promoting of a lottery, or game of chance of any kind or
character. [ 43-3.12 ] (This subsection
amended, effective
33. To be a
professional gambler, or to keep a gambling establishment, or permit gambling
in any form in any place under his control. Penalty expulsion.
34. To play cards
or dice, or otherwise, in any manner, gamble for money or for things of
intrinsic value.
35. To use or allow
the use of lodge room for lotteries, games of chance, gambling, or other
purposes which would discredit Masonry. [43-3.12;
43-3.16]. (This subsection amended, effective
36. To use
profanity, or habitually take the name of God in vain, or to utter blasphemy,
is a serious Masonic offense.
37. To abuse or
injure his wife or a member of his family.
38. To abandon or
desert his wife or family.
39. To fail to
observe and preserve the sanctity of the marital relation.
40. To fail to
provide for his wife and family when capable of doing so.
41. To refuse
willfully and persistently to meet pecuniary obligations which he is able to
discharge. This is an infraction of the moral law. [43-3;
90-2].
42. Obsolete (This subsection amended, effective
43. Obsolete
(This subsection amended, effective
44. To wear the square and compasses, or any
other Masonic emblem, or the emblem of an organization composed exclusively of
Masons, when he stands excluded, suspended, or expelled, or when he is an
Entered Apprentice or a Fellow Craft.
45. To use the
Masonic name, emblems or devices, or the faith and credit of Masonry for
secular business or political purposes; or the name of any order generally
known or considered as a Masonic body on business or political cards, signs,
letterheads, stationery, advertisements, or in any other manner whereby the
owner might be identified as having Masonic connections except for legitimate
recognized Masonic purposes as defined in Subdivision 45 of this regulation. [43-3.8; 43-3.9; 89-1;
86-2.48].
46. To use, or be a
party to using, the Masonic name or emblems, or the names or emblems of orders
and organizations generally known or considered as Masonic bodies as a part of
the style and title, or designation of any business firm, concern, company,
corporation, association, enterprise, or calling organized or prosecuted for
profit; or for a livelihood, or by way of advertisement unless such business
shall be the printing or publishing of Masonic books, papers, or periodicals,
or for the manufacture and sale of Masonic supplies. When applied to a
cemetery, temple association hospital, employment bureau, relief organization,
or charitable enterprise controlled and conducted wholly by Masons or by
Masonry, such use must be authorized and approved by the Lodge Service
Commission with right to appeal to the Grand Lodge. This subdivision shall
apply to the use of Masonic Symbols and phraseology peculiar to Masonry. This
subdivision does not apply to the use of Masonic emblems on the tombstone or other
marker of the grave of a deceased Mason who died a member of a lodge. [86-3; 25-1; 25-2; 43-3.8;
43-3.9; 43-7; 43-8.1.D; 43-8.1.E; 89-1; 86-2.48].
47. Obsolete (This subsection amended, effective
48. To manufacture
or sell a Masonic emblem, square and compasses, for use on a commercial
vehicle, or on business premises, or to use the same thereon. [86-2.46].
49. Obsolete. (This subsection amended, effective
50. To traduce,
slander, libel, or falsely accuse a Mason.
51. It is a Masonic
offense for any brother or any lodge to issue, promote, or to be voluntarily a
party to the issuing or to the circulating of a chain letter containing
A. a promise of personal reward or gain,
C. a solicitation of any kind.
D. On conviction of the brother, the maximum
penalty shall be suspension for not less than three years for the first offense
and for any succeeding offense the penalty shall be named by the Trial
Commission under the Trial Code.
E. If a lodge be guilty, the penalty shall be
a fine of not less than $100.00, or the arrest of its charter.
52. The members of
a lodge individually or as a group shall not, as Masons, do those things the lodge
is prohibited from doing. [43-3.1; 43-8;
38-1; 87-14].
53. It shall be unmasonic to exemplify the monitorial parts of the degrees
in public or in the presence of a profane. [42-4;
43-3.14; 44-7 (Art.22Q);
68-7.1; Chapters 24; 45;
72;
73;
74].
54. No brother may
have in his possession any copy of the Vocabulary after the same has been
accounted for to the Grand Secretary as lost or destroyed. (This subdivision amended, effective
55. It is an
offense for any brother to fail to deliver up, any copy of the Official
Standard of the Work owned by the lodge or the Vocabulary which may have been
receipted for by him, when it is called for or demanded by his subordinate
lodge, the Grand Master or his authorized representative. [26-3.14].
56. Obsolete
(This regulation amended, effective
57. It is an
offense for any brother to make any copy of or from, either in whole or in
part, or to make or permit to be made any writing whatever in any copy of the
Official Standard of the Work or of the Vocabulary, or to violate any rule or
regulation made to govern the use of the same.
58. It shall be a
Masonic offense for any Mason within the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge to
visit, or to affiliate with, or to become a member of, or be a promoter of, any
organization, body, or group claiming to be Masonic, or representing itself in
the name of Masonry, which has been refused recognition, or declared
illegitimate by this Grand Lodge, and upon conviction for a violation of this
section, he shall be liable to be expelled, and while he continues to be such a
member or promoter, he shall be ineligible to membership or office in any
subordinate lodge, or to membership in this Grand Lodge. [2-6.9;
87-1; 86-2.].
59. Any Mason in this
jurisdiction who shall confer, communicate, or sell, or who shall assist in, or
be accessory to, the conferring, communicating, or selling, or who shall
solicit anyone to receive or apply for any degrees called, claimed, or
represented to be Masonic, but which have been refused recognition, or declared
illegitimate by this Grand Lodge, may be expelled from all the rights and
privileges of Masonry. [87-1; 86-2.3].
REG. 86-3
INSURANCE ASSOCIATIONS PROHIBITED.
This Grand Lodge has in no
manner authorized and is in no way responsible for the creation of insurance
companies or mutual benefit associations called Masonic.
1. This Grand
Lodge is neither legally nor morally responsible for any agreement, contract,
or other act of any such associations.
2. Any Mason in
this jurisdiction who, to induce any person to join or become interested in any
such company or association, shall make representations in conflict with this
section, is guilty of unmasonic conduct. [86-2.46].