Letter of the month: May 2005

Message-ID: <000501c54c55$d863afb0$b8e289d1@D9D41B21>
From: "Larry Cronenwett" <larrycr@imt.net>
To: <masonry-ask@mit.edu>
Subject: Masonry Question
Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 18:53:21 -0600

I was a mason for a number of years and then went inactive. I also moved from the area of my home lodge in Ohio. I now live in Montana and have been thinking about coming active again. What must I do to accomplish this?

Thank you in advance for any help you may give to me to consider............larry

Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 23:43:33 -0400
From: "Rt. Wor. Gary L. Dryfoos" <dryfoo@MIT.EDU>
To: Larry Cronenwett <larrycr@imt.net>
Subject: Re: Masonry Question

Dear Bro. Cronenwett,

First, you could contact your home lodge and get in touch with the lodge's secretary. He can tell you how you stand with them.

If you took a proper demit while you were all square and paid-up with your lodge dues, then you can simply get a copy of that demit certificate from the lodge, and take to to any lodge in your new location.

If you left without a demit, and haven't paid dues since then, your lodge probably suspended you years ago for non-payment of dues. In that case, you'll have to make arrangements with the secretary of the old lodge to apply for re-instatement -- no new lodge will accept you while you're suspended from somewhere else. The rules on re-instatement vary from state to state, but you'll probably have to pay some back dues and have the lodge vote to re-instate you. Once that's done, you can apply to a new lodge in your new area.

One more thing: if you're not going to stay in contact with your old lodge, then be sure to ask for a demit after your re-instatement, so that you don't get suspended again!

It's a fairly standard procedure, and your lodge secretary should be familiar with it. If not, he can contact the grand secretary of his grand lodge and they'll give him all the details and the paperwork.

Best wishes,

-- Gary L. Dryfoos
A Page About Freemasonry
now at http://MasonryPage.org/