The title of this Grand Lodge shall be the name by which it is designated in the act of incorporation, originally granted by the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island, at its May Session, A.D. 1812, and returned to this Grand Lodge by the General Assembly at its January Session, A.D. 1861, and which name is "The Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons for the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations."

See Standing Order No. 1.

Related Standing Orders

No. 01. Acceptance Of Restored Charter

Resolved: That the original charter, granted at the May session of the General Assembly, A.D. 1812, and voluntarily surrendered March 17, A.D. 1834, and restored by an Act of the General Assembly, passed at the January session, A.D. 1861, be and the same is hereby accepted.

Constitution, Art. I, Sec. 1.1.1. May 27, 1861.

The seals of the Grand Lodge and the Grand Master of Masons are as represented by the devices heretofore adopted and herewith shown; and the seal of the Grand Lodge shall be kept by the Grand Secretary.
See Decision No. 91 Seals of The Grand Lodge And Grand Master.

1.1.2.1 ARMS OF THE GRAND LODGE
Or, on a chevron gules, between three castles, a pair of compasses somewhat extended of the first.
a. Crest: A dove bearing an olive branch, proper.
b. Supports: Two beavers, proper.
c. Motto: Suivez Raison.

Fig. 1-1. Seal of the Grand Lodge

1.1.2.2 ARMS OF THE GRAND MASTER
Per pale: The Arms of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island with azure; beneath a royal crown, or, on the summit whereof is a cubical stone, argent, a lion rampant of the second.
a. Crest: A dove bearing an olive branch, proper.
b. Motto: Non nobis Domine.

Fig. 1-2. Seal of the Grand Master of Masons

Amended November 16, 1996. 

Related Decisions

No. 91. Seals Of The Grand Lodge And Grand Master

Decision: I rule that the seals of the Grand Lodge and Grand Master are the property of the Grand Lodge. The Grand Master's seal is to be used by the Grand Master only. The Grand Lodge seal is to be used by the Grand Master and the Grand Secretary only. No other past or present Grand Lodge officers, lodge or Mason may reproduce these seals for their own use.

Constitution, Article I, Sec. 1.1.2. November 18, 1995. (Cole, GM)

Constitution, Article IV, Sec. 1.4.5.

The Grand Lodge shall consist of the Grand Master of Masons, Deputy Grand Master, Senior Grand Warden, Junior Grand Warden, Grand Treasurer, Grand Secretary, District Deputy Grand Masters, Grand Chaplain, Associate Grand Chaplains, Senior Grand Deacon, Junior Grand Deacon, Senior Grand Steward, Junior Grand Steward, Grand Marshal, Grand Sword Bearer, Grand Pursuivant, Grand Lecturer, Assistant Grand Lecturers, Director of Masonic Education, Director of Forums, Grand Historian, Grand Curator/Librarian, Grand Musical Director, Grand Standard Bearer, Grand Masters of Ceremonies, Grand Tiler, the Masters and Wardens for the time being of the chartered lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge, and all Past Masters of such lodges while members of any lodge under this jurisdiction.

Amended November 19, 1983.

There shall be two stated communications of Grand Lodge in each year, namely, the Annual Communication on the Monday following the third Saturday in May and the Semi-Annual Communication on the third Saturday in November. The Annual Communication shall commence at ten o'clock in the morning and the Semi-Annual Communication at three o'clock in the afternoon unless some other hour is appointed by the Grand Master and notice thereof is stated in the call for such Annual or Semi-Annual Communication.

Amended November 16, 1996.

1.1.4.1 Call for communications
The call for the Annual and Semi-Annual Communications may be printed in the two issues of the R.I. Freemason prior to the date of such meeting. In the event of any restricted or arbitrary business in such meetings, the call shall be issued by mail.
Amended November 21, 1981.

1.1.4.2 Communication precluded by emergency
Should a national, state or other emergency, officially proclaimed by legislative or executive order, preclude any Annual or Semi-Annual Communication of this Grand Lodge, the Grand Master may call a meeting or communication of the elective officers, together with the members of the Jurisprudence and Finance Committees, who shall act as proxies of the entire membership of Grand Lodge, with the power to conduct such business as may be necessary, including the election and installation of officers of this Grand Lodge for the ensuing year.
May 21, 1951.

Grand Lodge at each Annual Communication shall assess a per-capita tax upon each subordinate lodge based upon the membership of said subordinate lodge as of the thirty-first day of May next preceding and payable on or before the fifteenth day of September next succeeding.
Amended May 18, 1959; May 18, 1964; November 16, 1996, May 23, 2022.

The title, rank and precedence of the Grand and Past Grand Officers shall be as follows:

• a. The Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons.
• b. The Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master.
• c. The Right Worshipful Senior Grand Warden.
• d. The Right Worshipful Junior Grand Warden.
• e. The Most Worshipful Past Grand Masters.
• f. The Right Worshipful Past Deputy Grand Masters.
• g. The Right Worshipful Past Senior Grand Wardens.
• h. The Right Worshipful Past Junior Grand Wardens.
• i. The Right Worshipful Grand Treasurer.
• j. The Right Worshipful Grand Secretary.
• k. The Right Worshipful Assistant Grand Secretary.
• l. The Right Worshipful District Deputy Grand Masters.
• m. The Right Worshipful Past District Deputy Grand Masters.
• n. The Right Worshipful Grand Chaplain.
• o. The Right Worshipful Associate Grand Chaplains.
• p. The Right Worshipful Grand Marshal.
• q. The Right Worshipful Grand Lecturer.
• r. The Right Worshipful Assistant Grand Lecturers.
• s. The Worshipful Assistant Grand Lecturers.
• t. The Right Worshipful Director of Masonic Education.
• u. The Worshipful Director of Forums.
• v. The Right Worshipful Grand Historian.
• w. The Right Worshipful Grand Curator/Librarian.
• x. The Worshipful Senior Grand Deacon.
• y. The Worshipful Junior Grand Deacon.
• z. The Worshipful Senior Grand Steward.
• aa. The Worshipful Junior Grand Steward.
• bb. The Worshipful Grand Sword Bearer.
• cc. The Worshipful Grand Pursuivant.
• dd. The Worshipful Grand Musical Director.
• ee. The Worshipful Grand Standard Bearer.
• ff. The Worshipful Grand Masters of Ceremonies.
• gg. The Worshipful Grand Tiler.

Amended November 16, 1959; November 20, 1978; May 18, 1981; May 21, 1984; November 18, 1989; November 16, 1996, May 23, 2022.
See Decision Nos. 78, 89, 90.

Related Decisions

No. 78. Grand Lecturers And Grand Marshals

Decision: That upon an appointment of a Grand Lecturer, his title shall be Right Worshipful, and any Grand Marshal, after appointment, shall be entitled to the title of Right Worshipful. I ruled that any brother having held these offices shall bear this title thereafter, and shall always be Right Worshipful.

Constitution, Article II, Sec. 1.2.1. May 15, 1961. (Tucker, GM)

Amended November 16,1996.

No. 89. Assistant Grand Lecturers

Decision: Upon the written recommendation of the Grand Lecturers with whom he has served and with the approval of the presiding Grand Master the title Right Worshipful be given to an Assistant Grand Lecturers who have served continuously as Assistant Grand Lecturers for three (3) years or more and shall bear this title thereafter, and shall always be Right Worshipful. In the event that one or more of the Grand Lecturers shall be deceased or incapacitated, their recommendations shall not be required.

Constitution, Article II, Sec. 1.2.1. May 21, 1990. (McGuire, GM)

No. 90. Grand And Associate Grand Chaplains

Decision: I rule that the Grand Chaplains and the Associate Grand Chaplains carry the title Right Worshipful without the requirement of being Master or Past Master of a lodge, and they continue to use the title Right Worshipful only during their term of office.

I further rule that, with the approval of the presiding Grand Master, the title Right Worshipful be retained by Grand Chaplains and Associate Grand Chaplains who hold Grand Lodge membership and have served continuously as Grand Chaplain or Associate Grand Chaplain for three (3) years or more and shall bear this title thereafter, and shall always be Right Worshipful.

Constitution, Article II, Sec. 1.2.1. May 21, 1990. (McGuire, GM)

No brother shall be eligible to the office of Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Grand Warden, or District Deputy Grand Master, unless he has been duly elected and installed, and has presided over some subordinate lodge, and is a member of a subordinate lodge in this jurisdiction. All other officers (except Grand Chaplain and Grand Musical Director), shall, to be eligible for election or appointment, be members of Grand Lodge.
Amended November 20, 1999.

At the Semi-Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, the Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Grand Wardens, Grand Treasurer, and Grand Secretary, shall be elected by ballot. They shall be installed at the next succeeding Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge and shall hold their respective offices for one year following their installation and until their successors are duly installed.
Amended November 16, 1959; November 19, 1966; November 20, 1999

1.2.3.1 Appointed officers
The remaining officers shall be appointed by the Grand Master-elect at the Annual Communication in which he is installed. The officers shall hold their respective offices for one year and until their successors are duly installed.