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BALLOTING PROCEDURE
CHAPTER xv
THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER'S
HANDBOOK
Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M. of the
District of Columbia
Since it is the obligation of every brother of the
Lodge to vote, the Master should invite the tiler in and have a
visiting brother take his place so that the tiler may cast his
vote.
WM: "Brethren, you have heard read the
petition(s) of _______________ for the degrees of Freemasonry,
(or for affiliation) which has received a unanimously favorable
report from the investigating committee. Does any brother wish to have
a portion or all of the petition(s) reread? If not, Brother
Senior Deacon,"
SD: "Worshipful Master"
WM: "Prepare and present the ballot box."
The Senior Deacon obtains the ballot box and presents
it to the Master who inspects the ballot box making sure that the
ballot drawer is empty and that there are both white balls and black
cubes in the box. The Master then casts his own vote. At this time the
Marshal takes up his place at the West Gate and the Junior Deacon
takes up his place at the tiler’s door.
WM: "You will present the ballot to the officers and
Past Masters of ____________ Lodge No. _____ and place it on the
altar."
The Senior Deacon presents the ballot to each officer
and the Past Masters around the Lodge and places the ballot box on the
altar. Each officer and member, before voting, must exchange the
salute with the Worshipful Master. The Senior Deacon then takes up a
position north of the altar.
WM: "The brethren of ____________ Lodge No. _____
will advance to the altar and cast their ballot. Remember brethren, a
white ball elects; a black cube rejects. Be careful and make no
mistake."
After the brethren have cast their ballots.
WM: "Have all of the brethren of _______________
Lodge No. _____ cast their ballot?" Pause. "If so, I declare the
ballot closed." * (rap once)
The Senior Deacon closes the lid on the ballot.
WM: "Brother Senior Deacon"
SD: "Worshipful Master"
WM: ‘Take charge of the ballot."
The Senior Deacon presents the ballot for examination
to the Junior Warden, then the Senior Warden and then the Worshipful
Master.
WM: "Brother Junior Warden, how stands the ballot in
the South?"
JW: "Fair (cloudy) in the South, Worshipful."
WM: "How in the West, Brother Senior Warden?"
SW: "Clear (dark) in the West, Worshipful."
WM: "Fair (cloudy) in the South, clear (dark) in the
West and bright (black) in the East. Brethren, I declare that you have
elected (rejected) Mister ___________ for the degrees of
Freemasonry (or Brother __________for affiliation)." *
(rap)
All officers resume their stations and
places.
Notes:
1. The Master may approve a collective ballot if there
is more then one candidate for the degrees.
2. Masters are required to see that the ballot box is
so presented that each officer and member shall cast his ballot
unobserved by others, so that the secrecy of the ballot shall be
inviolably preserved. It is the duty of every member present to vote,
and the Master may oblige him to do so.
3. A ballot shall be taken for the three degrees
collectively, and in the case of one blackball appearing therein it
shall be immediately retaken, when, if a blackball again appears, the
applicant shall be declared rejected. No candidate whose application has
been rejected by a Lodge shall again be proposed within six months after
rejection. In balloting on a petition for affiliation, if one blackball
appears the ballot shall be immediately retaken, and if a blackball
again appears the petitioner shall be declared rejected, but he may at
once petition the same or any other Lodge in the jurisdiction.
MAKE SURE YOU READ YOUR GRAND LODGE CODE!
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