The Washington Masonic Code makes it clear that there is no right of visitation. An objection to any visitor to any Lodge can be entertained and upheld. I presume that similar policies exist in most Jurisdictions.
When I first became a Mason, there wasn’t much to this objection process. If a member objected to a visitor, that visitor wasn’t allowed to sit in the Lodge. Now it’s a bit more complex, and a single member can’t have a sole veto over a visitor. But the idea remains the same. A visitor can be objected to, and if that objection is upheld, the visitor can’t sit in Lodge.
This right to objection exists here, but despite attending vast numbers of Lodge meetings through the years, all across my Jurisdiction, I’ve never actually seen an objection made.
That brings up some interesting questions…
Under what circumstances would it be proper and right to object to a visitor to your Lodge?
Can you see any circumstance in which you would object to a visitor?
Could an objection preserve harmony in some cases? If so, what would those cases be?
Or is objecting to a visitor always the wrong course of action to take?
We do accept visitors at any meeting, with only one exception. If in that meeting an important issue, that only pertain to the lodge, is going to be discuss then the visitors will be escorted out until the matter has been talked about.
This is an interesting topic. About 5-6 years ago my mother lodge was celebrating its 100th birthday. The Grand Master that year was not a very popular Mason and had offended several of the members of the Lodge. The Master of the Lodge mentioned that an invitation was going to be sent to the Grand Master to attend the Centennial Meeting. Five Brothers (myself included) rose to object to inviting the Grand Master. We all agreed that it was still the Masters call, but we would not be attending that ceremony. I had a discussion after the lodge closed with the Master of the Lodge, he declared he was inviting the Grand Master of the day as was his prerogative and he did. The 5 members of the lodge did not attend the centennial meeting of their own lodge and the lodge ended up loosing 5 active members who requested demits that year. The membership went from 40 to 35 members and now 5 years later it has about 20 members. Of the 5 that took demits 3 joined another lodge, I left the Grand Lodge and am in a different Grand Lodge on a bordering State, and one Brother left the Craft completely! Arrogant & bigoted Grand Masters or anyone in a position of authority can ruin our beautiful Craft! The security & peace I used to feel in my “Mother Lodge” has vanished and I have not set foot in the building ever since. Peace & harmony must prevail in Lodge. If one cannot sit in lodge with another Mason and they cannot resolve their differences it’s far better to not attend and stay home! Unfortunately the Lodge suffers. I do attend Lodges in my city but I do not and will not attend my mother Lodge. I do not feel the welcome there anymore! The Master chose the Grand Master of the Day to 5 of his members and the Lodge took the loss of those members.
Didn't a lodge in our (Washington) jurisdiction ( I won't say who) try to deny their own District Deputy from entering their lodge a few years back?
Honestly, while as others here have mentioned there are circumstances where visitors can be politely barred from a lodge, I can't personally see a reason why I would refuse to sit in lodge with anyone. I could be sitting next to my own worst enemy, but I will be still courteous and professional about it. Peace and Harmony prevailing. I guess from my military background, where I've had to work with people from all walks of life, we all learned to get along regardless of how we personally felt towards each other.
I have in the past objected to a visitor when it was clear no one in the lodge had any idea who the person was, but no one wanted to challenge the person and make them feel unwelcome. The visitor was removed from Lodge, properly tried and either returned to Lodge or not based on that outcome. Sometimes we can be too friendly 😁
We do accept visitors at any meeting, with only one exception. If in that meeting an important issue, that only pertain to the lodge, is going to be discuss then the visitors will be escorted out until the matter has been talked about.
This is an interesting topic. About 5-6 years ago my mother lodge was celebrating its 100th birthday. The Grand Master that year was not a very popular Mason and had offended several of the members of the Lodge. The Master of the Lodge mentioned that an invitation was going to be sent to the Grand Master to attend the Centennial Meeting. Five Brothers (myself included) rose to object to inviting the Grand Master. We all agreed that it was still the Masters call, but we would not be attending that ceremony. I had a discussion after the lodge closed with the Master of the Lodge, he declared he was inviting the Grand Master of the day as was his prerogative and he did. The 5 members of the lodge did not attend the centennial meeting of their own lodge and the lodge ended up loosing 5 active members who requested demits that year. The membership went from 40 to 35 members and now 5 years later it has about 20 members. Of the 5 that took demits 3 joined another lodge, I left the Grand Lodge and am in a different Grand Lodge on a bordering State, and one Brother left the Craft completely! Arrogant & bigoted Grand Masters or anyone in a position of authority can ruin our beautiful Craft! The security & peace I used to feel in my “Mother Lodge” has vanished and I have not set foot in the building ever since. Peace & harmony must prevail in Lodge. If one cannot sit in lodge with another Mason and they cannot resolve their differences it’s far better to not attend and stay home! Unfortunately the Lodge suffers. I do attend Lodges in my city but I do not and will not attend my mother Lodge. I do not feel the welcome there anymore! The Master chose the Grand Master of the Day to 5 of his members and the Lodge took the loss of those members.
We allow a single
Member to object to visitation. That said, the lodge does not accept visitors at Masonic
trials due to it being no one else’s business.
Didn't a lodge in our (Washington) jurisdiction ( I won't say who) try to deny their own District Deputy from entering their lodge a few years back?
Honestly, while as others here have mentioned there are circumstances where visitors can be politely barred from a lodge, I can't personally see a reason why I would refuse to sit in lodge with anyone. I could be sitting next to my own worst enemy, but I will be still courteous and professional about it. Peace and Harmony prevailing. I guess from my military background, where I've had to work with people from all walks of life, we all learned to get along regardless of how we personally felt towards each other.
I have in the past objected to a visitor when it was clear no one in the lodge had any idea who the person was, but no one wanted to challenge the person and make them feel unwelcome. The visitor was removed from Lodge, properly tried and either returned to Lodge or not based on that outcome. Sometimes we can be too friendly 😁
Brought my wife to a nearby Lodge for dinner and a special lecture. After opening, we went off-session so the ladies could join us for the lecture.
But something else came up. The WM was upset about it.
So the Masons, members and visitors alike, got a lengthy scolding.
The ladies sat there baffled and embarrassed.
It made an impression. Probably not the one the WM meant.