Page 18 - Mar Apl 2022 MF C.indd

Session Infor mation

Duty to Attend Session card will show an expiration date of December 31, 2022.
Failure to present your 2022 Dues Card will result in you
Every year, Worshipful Masters and Wardens promise not being able to participate in Session.
to submit to the “ancient charges and regulations of
Masonry” during their installation. These charges point Tie Vote
out the duties of the Master of a Lodge and are deemed
so important that they are read to ensure accuracy. The Grand Master shall have a regular vote in all matters
before Grand Lodge. In case of a tie vote, he may also
In these charges, you promise a regular attendance on cast the deciding vote.
the committees and communications of the Grand Lodge
upon having received proper notice and pay attention to Balloting & Other Matters Before Grand Lodge
all the duties of Masonry. A Lodge is a constituent of the
Grand Lodge when in session. In order for a lodge to be There shall be no appeal from the rulings of the Grand
a component of Grand Lodge, it must be represented. Master as the presiding officer.
Thus, its presence is mandatory, either personally or
by proxy. Additionally, our Code requires each Lodge Notice for Balloting on
be represented by the attendance of their Master and Grand Lodge Officers for 2022 -2023
Wardens.
During the Annual Communication, the voting delegates
Representation in Grand Lodge will be voting for the following officers.

Section 25050 states that “Each chartered and duly Deputy Grand Master (Grand Master-elect)
constituted lodge shall be represented in Grand Lodge at Senior Grand Warden
every non-ceremonial communication by one or more of Junior Grand Warden
its Master and Wardens, or by an elected representative. Grand Secretary
Where a Master or Warden is unable to attend, the lodge Grand Treasurer
Instructor shall be given the preferential representation.
The various duties of these officers are specified within
Proxies the Constitution and Code of Statues.

Whenever the Master, Senior Warden or Junior Warden Presentation of Lodge Banners
cannot attend the annual communication, he may grant
a proxy (using the Proxy Card provided by the Grand Again, this year, Lodges are encouraged to bring
Secretary,) to some member of his lodge to act in his their Lodge Banner for display during the Annual
stead. The proxy must be issued and signed by him at Communication. The Banners will be able to be posted in
least two days prior to the annual communication, and a designed area.
he must notify the other officers of the granting of the
proxy. The proxy must be presented when checking in Apron at Session
and registering at the annual communication.
All Mason and Lodge Officers are encouraged to bring
If either the Master, Senior or Junior Warden has died and wear the apron appropriate to their office or station
during his term of office or has permanently moved from within the Lodge. All Past Masters are encouraged to
this jurisdiction, the lodge may, at a regular meeting held wear their Past Master Apron. There will be a limited
at least two days prior to the annual communication, number of plain paper aprons available for use.
elect a proxy for such officer. If the member designated as
a proxy does not use it, the credential cannot be used by The lambskin apron is the prized possession of every
anyone else. If a proxy is being given, it should be given to Mason. It is customary to wear a substitute, a white cloth
a member of the other than a Past Master, as they have apron. Some Lodges provide special aprons for their
a vote. If attending as a Proxy, the member must present officers, and most Grand Lodges have more elaborate
his current Montana Dues Card and the Proxy Card to the aprons for their Grand Officers and past Grand Officers.
registration committee. To be “properly clothed,” a Mason must wear the apron
in Lodge unless, as an officer, he wears the appropriate
Dues Cards Must Be Presented apron supplied him by the Lodge of Grand Lodge. Within
the Grand Jurisdiction of Montana, Masons always wear
The Current Dues Card will need to be presented at their aprons outside of clothing, not under a coat or
Check-In and Registration at Session. The current dues jacket.

Montana Freemason Page 18 March/April 2022 Volume 98 No. 2