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Session Infor mation

Duty to Attend Session Balloting & Other Matters Before Grand Lodge

Every year, Worshipful Masters and Wardens promise to There shall be no appeal from the rulings of the Grand Master
submit to the “ancient charges and regulations of Masonry” as the presiding officer.
during their installation. These charges point out the duties of
the Master of a Lodge and are deemed so important that they Notice for Balloting on
are read to ensure accuracy. Grand Lodge Officers for 2022 -2023
In these charges, you promise a regular attendance on the
committees and communications of the Grand Lodge upon During the Annual Communication, the voting delegates will
having received proper notice and pay attention to all the be voting for the following officers.
duties of Masonry. A Lodge is a constituent of the Grand Deputy Grand Master (Grand Master-elect)
Lodge when in session. In order for a lodge to be a component Senior Grand Warden
of Grand Lodge, it must be represented. Thus, its presence Junior Grand Warden
is mandatory, either personally or by proxy. Additionally, our Grand Secretary
Code requires each Lodge be represented by the attendance Grand Treasurer
of their Master and Wardens.
The various duties of these officers are specified within the
Representation in Grand Lodge Constitution and Code of Statues.

Section 25050 states that “Each chartered and duly Presentation of Lodge Banners
constituted lodge shall be represented in Grand Lodge at
every non-ceremonial communication by one or more of its Again, this year, Lodges are encouraged to bring their Lodge
Master and Wardens, or by an elected representative. Where Banner for display during the Annual Communication. The
a Master or Warden is unable to attend, the lodge Instructor Banners will be able to be posted in a designed area.
shall be given the preferential representation.
Apron at Session
Proxies All Mason and Lodge Officers are encouraged to bring and

Whenever the Master, Senior Warden or Junior Warden wear the apron appropriate to their office or station within
cannot attend the annual communication, he may grant a the Lodge. All Past Masters are encouraged to wear their Past
proxy (using the Proxy Card provided by the Grand Secretary,) Master Apron. There will be a limited number of plain paper
to some member of his lodge to act in his stead. The proxy aprons available for use.
must be issued and signed by him at least two days prior to The lambskin apron is the prized possession of every Mason.
the annual communication, and he must notify the other It is customary to wear a substitute, a white cloth apron. Some
officers of the granting of the proxy. The proxy must be Lodges provide special aprons for their officers, and most
presented when checking in and registering at the annual Grand Lodges have more elaborate aprons for their Grand
communication. Officers and past Grand Officers. To be “properly clothed,” a
If either the Master, Senior or Junior Warden has died Mason must wear the apron in Lodge unless, as an officer,
during his term of office or has permanently moved from this he wears the appropriate apron supplied him by the Lodge
jurisdiction, the lodge may, at a regular meeting held at least of Grand Lodge. Within the Grand Jurisdiction of Montana,
two days prior to the annual communication, elect a proxy Masons always wear their aprons outside of clothing, not
for such officer. If the member designated as a proxy does under a coat or jacket.
not use it, the credential cannot be used by anyone else. If
a proxy is being given, it should be given to a member of the Concerning Balloting
other than a Past Master, as they have a vote. If attending as
a Proxy, the member must present his current Montana Dues In Anderson’s Constitutions and in Mackey’s
Card and the Proxy Card to the registration committee. Jurisprudence, we find that the “immemorial usages”
concerning balloting and electing that it be independent
Dues Cards Must Be Presented and secret. The secrecy of the ballot is as essential to its
perfection as its unanimity and its independence.
The Current Dues Card will need to be presented at
Check-In and Registration at Session. The current dues Frequently we hear those who would propose that we
card will show an expiration date of December 31, 2023. change our procedures to match that of political parties or
Failure to present your 2023 Dues Card will result in you other organizations in the name of transparency but doing
not being able to participate in Session. so would throw out secrecy and would be un-masonic.

Tie Vote On legislation M.W.P.G.M.-Hon Dean Lindal (#5), Grand
Secretary 1982-2001 frequently stated “The only good
The Grand Master shall have a regular vote in all matters legislation is legislation that will do something for the
before Grand Lodge. In case of a tie vote, he may also cast the Mason in his Lodge that he can see and makes the Lodge
deciding vote. better.”

Montana Freemason Page 32 May/June 2023 Volume 100 No.2