Masonic Educational Quiz #5A
Internet Version
The following educational quiz is a part of the continuing program of the Masonic Education Committee of the Grand Lodge to provide a monthly educational program for lodge use. The leader simply reads the questions and lets various members provide answers until all the points are covered.
1. WHEN MUST THE BALLOT BOX BE USED?
Balloting is the act of passing on the worthiness of an applicant for the
degrees, the worthiness of a Brother applying for affiliation, or the question
of the Lodge recommending the reinstatement of a suspended or expelled Mason. Ballots should be taken on petitions for degrees, petitions for affiliation, petitions for advancement, and petitions for reinstatement. Balloting is not required when a Brother demits and decides to resume membership within the year of his demit before its expiration. A petition for affiliation by demit would be required along with the original demit and no further action by the lodge is required in this case. It has the same effect as if the Brother did not demit and he would owe current lodge dues if not already paid.
2. WHAT IS THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF WHITE BALLS AND BLACK CUBES REQUIRED IN THE BALLOT BOX?
Every Lodge must have a regulation ballot box having two compartments.
One compartment shall contain sufficient white balls, the minimum being
twenty-four, and black cubes, the minimum being seven to permit all members
present to vote. This compartment shall have an opening through which the
voter’s hand may be inserted and the ballot cast in secrecy through another
opening into the second compartment, which must be a drawer or have a
hinged cover to permit the ballot to be displayed to the proper officers at the
right time.
3. WHEN IS A UNANIMOUS VOTE REQUIRED?
Donations by a Lodge, for whatever purpose, made to an organization
without Masonic connection may be made only upon unanimous vote of
the members present at a meeting held after due notice; donations to the
appendant, concordant and Masonically-related bodies may be made only
upon the favorable vote of two-thirds of the members present at a meeting held
after due notice; provided that these restrictions and notice requirements shall
not apply to Grand Lodge projects or Grand Lodge funds, Grand Master’s
projects, projects of the Lodge which may incidentally benefit others, or to
the support of its own District Lodge.
It shall be legal for the Lodge, by unanimous consent, to permit any designated
officer to cast the ballot for the Lodge for the office of Secretary or Treasurer.
4. MAY A PETITION FOR PLURAL MEMBERSHIP BE RECEIVED AT A CALLED MEETING?
Applications for initiation, advancement or affiliation, shall
be received at stated meetings only.
5. MAY A MAN WHO IS CURRENTLY LIVING IN NEW ORLEANS PETITION A LODGE IN SHREVEPORT?
Any brother who is a permanent resident of the State of Louisiana may
petition for affiliation in any Lodge of the State of Louisiana, regardless of
where his actual residence is located.
6. MAY ANY MEMBER OF A LODGE BE REQUIRED TO CAST A BLACK CUBE?
Yes! The Master is charged with the responsibility of protecting any unfavorable report from the committee. An unfavorable report of a member of the investigating committee has the character of a black ball.
7. IF NINE MEMBERS OF THE LODGE ARE PRESENT WHEN A BALLOT IS CAST, WHAT IS THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF BALLOTS REQUIRED.
Nine. Although every member of the Lodge present at a meeting is required
to vote on a candidate, the inadvertent failure to observe this requirement
does not nullify the ballot.
8. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF VOTE IS REQUIRED FOR:
Reinstatement after NPD; A brother suspended for non-payment of dues and/or assessments may be reinstated, on written application, at any stated meeting of the Lodge held within one year from the date of such suspension, by a two-thirds vote, on payment, or remission, or part payment and part remission of the amount due at the time of suspension, plus dues and assessments for the current year, provided no charge be then pending against him. An investigating committee is not required in connections with reinstatement within one year after a brother is suspended for non-payment of dues and/or assessments. If a brother has been under suspension for non-payment of dues and/or assessments for more than one year, he shall be required to submit a written application for reinstatement, on a form approved by the Grand Lodge, first paying to the Lodge all amounts as prescribed by it. His application must be presented at a stated meeting and shall, when received by the Lodge, be referred to an investigating committee of three members, who shall report to the Lodge not earlier than four weeks after the application was received, after which a vote shall be taken and the applicant declared reinstated if he receives a favorable vote of two-thirds of the members present; such reinstatement to become effective upon the applicant paying to the Lodge full dues and assessments owed the Lodge, including the current year.
Indefinite suspension; after 6 months has elapsed a favorable vote of 2/3 is required.
Expulsion; after three years have elapsed a favorable ballot is required.
Suspensions for other than NPD and expulsions must then be approved by the Grand Lodge.
9. IF 14 MEMBERS ARE PRESENT, HOW MANY VOTES ARE REQUIRED TO MEET THE MORE THAN 2/3 VOTE?
10 votes (14 x .66 = 9.24) “for” are required. Nine votes would not constitute a 2/3 vote. The number of votes “for” must be twice as many as there are “no” votes.
10. IF THE LODGE HAS TWO PETITIONS, MAY BOTH BE BALLOTED ON AS ONE BALLOT?
A Collective Ballot Is Not Permissible.
Used in _______________ Lodge on __________