Hey Gents: Once again thanks for the awesome website. Have a question concerning Masonic law. I am soon moving stateside and have been in touch with two lodges in the vicinity of where I will be living. One has brought up a point of Masonic Law that one is required to have lived in the state where I am moving for a year and have lived in that particular lodge's jurisdiction for at least six months prior to petitioning. I don't have a problem with the six month requirement... in my opinion it would take that long to get to know the members of a lodge and for them to get to know you on even a basic level. The requirement to have lived there for a year prior to becoming an active member is what worries me. Given my job as a military officer, I can expect to move every two and a half to three years. Either way, my up and coming assignment is going to afford me the opportunity to be very active in the community in which we will be living (something I've been looking forward to after spending most of the last four and a half years forward deployed). I was hoping, however, that my activity in the community could be through the local lodge.
Any military officers out there who are current Masons have any experience with this or ideas???
Your opinion/guidance would be much appreciated.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
31.08
Every applicant for the benefits of Masonry must have resided twelve months within the State and six months within the jurisdiction of the Lodge to which he applies.
31.09
A Lodge shall determine the qualifications of every petitioner as to residence on the basis of two factors:
1. Actual physical presence of the petitioner in the state for twelve (12) months, and within the jurisdiction of the Lodge for six (6) months, and,
2. The intent of the petitioner to remain in such jurisdiction permanently.
These factors are to be considered without regard to the fact that petitioner may be in the military service or pursues an occupation which requires frequent absences from the jurisdiction of the Lodge.
Residence is established by actual physical presence of the petitioner in the state for twelve (12) months and in the jurisdiction of the Lodge for six (6) months, coupled with an intent on the part of the petitioner to make such place his permanent home.
Any military officers out there who are current Masons have any experience with this or ideas???
Your opinion/guidance would be much appreciated.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
31.08
Every applicant for the benefits of Masonry must have resided twelve months within the State and six months within the jurisdiction of the Lodge to which he applies.
31.09
A Lodge shall determine the qualifications of every petitioner as to residence on the basis of two factors:
1. Actual physical presence of the petitioner in the state for twelve (12) months, and within the jurisdiction of the Lodge for six (6) months, and,
2. The intent of the petitioner to remain in such jurisdiction permanently.
These factors are to be considered without regard to the fact that petitioner may be in the military service or pursues an occupation which requires frequent absences from the jurisdiction of the Lodge.
Residence is established by actual physical presence of the petitioner in the state for twelve (12) months and in the jurisdiction of the Lodge for six (6) months, coupled with an intent on the part of the petitioner to make such place his permanent home.