Proposed Masonic Law Changes

What is Masonic Law? Masonic law has long guided the orderly operation of our fraternity and enabled the remarkable resilience of our institution.

The oldest expression of Masonic law is found in the Ancient Landmarks, which have governed assemblies of Freemasons from “time immemorial.”

Written codes of Masonic law trace their roots to Anderson’s Constitutions, which were published in London in 1723, shortly following the establishment of the Grand Lodge of England in 1717.

Today, in Pennsylvania, our robust Masonic law comes from three sources: the Ancient Landmarks; the Constitution of the Grand Lodge, which is titled The Ahiman Rezon; and decisions and edicts of Grand Masters.

Unlike many other Grand Lodges, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania does not have a written list of Ancient Landmarks. Instead, questions touching upon the Ancient Landmarks are referred to the Committee on Landmarks for consideration and resolution. The Ancient Landmarks are not subject to change or amendment.

The Ahiman Rezon has been the primary source of Masonic law in Pennsylvania for nearly 300 years. Amendments to The Ahiman Rezon must be proposed at a Grand Lodge Communication and then held over for vote by the members at the succeeding December Communication.

The authority of the Grand Master to promulgate Masonic law through decisions and edicts is derived from The Ahiman Rezon. Section 12.2 states, “He [The Grand Master] is supreme in all matters concerning the Fraternity, and the peace, harmony and Masonic order of the Craft, except when the Grand Lodge limits his power by its Constitution.” It also says that “Edicts of the Grand Master have the force of Masonic Law.”

The Digest of Decisions is a collection of authoritative interpretations of The Ahiman Rezon and other edicts issued by Grand Masters over time.

It is a healthy exercise to revisit Masonic law from time to time and to consider making adjustments that are calculated to advance the interests of the Grand Lodge and Pennsylvania Masons.

Changes to Masonic Law

R.W. Grand Master Brink has already announced a few decisions concerning lodge operations. In the coming months, he will introduce additional changes, some of which will be in the form of decisions and edicts, and others by proposed amendment of The Ahiman Rezon.

While some changes simply reflect good “housekeeping,” others will be of more importance, including the following:

Finance and Operations:

• There will be a new system for the payment of lifetime dues and establishment of Lifetime Dues Endowment Funds.
• Subordinate lodges will be allowed (not required) to increase their dues proportionally to Grand Lodge dues increases without requiring the lodge to go through the formal bylaws update process.
• We will propose that the minimum Initiation Fee be increased to $350, with $175 and $75 going to Grand Lodge and the Subordinate Lodge Permanent Fund respectively.
• We will require Subordinate Lodges to pay Grand Lodge dues by Dec. 31 each year. Lodges will be unable to operate if Grand Lodge dues are not paid by Jan. 31. We will clarify that a vote is not required for a lodge to pay Grand Lodge dues.
• We will propose updating The Ahiman Rezon to remove the concept of a monthly return and replace it with a requirement that Subordinate Lodge Secretaries and Treasurers reconcile their cash books in Grand View monthly.
• We will propose an amendment to The Ahiman Rezon that makes the Grand Treasurer the Chairman of the Committee on Finance and provides that up to four members of the Grand Lodge will serve with the Grand Lodge Officers on the committee. The Committee on Finance will be charged with reviewing and approving the Grand Master’s budget, among other things.
• We will propose an amendment to The Ahiman Rezon that adds the Grand Secretary and the Grand Treasurer, as well as Past Grand Secretaries and Past Grand Treasurers with at least eight years of service, to the Committee on Landmarks.
• We will propose amendments to The Ahiman Rezon concerning the authority of the Grand Lodge Officers.
• We will propose amendments to The Ahiman Rezon for the nomination and approval of candidates for the office of Right Worshipful Junior Grand Warden.