The Grand Secretary shall collect all moneys due to the Grand Lodge, from whatever source the same may be derived, and deposit the same with the Grand Treasurer each month. He shall give bond in some authorized bonding company to the satisfaction of the Grand Master for the faithful discharge of his duties. The expense of such bond shall be borne by the Grand Lodge. He shall record the proceedings of the Grand Lodge in suitable books kept for that purpose to which marginal notes shall be affixed, and a suitable index kept. He shall notify each member of the Grand Lodge of the Stated Communications thereof. He shall send notice of Special Communications as the Grand Master shall direct. He shall receive all petitions, applications and appeals, and lay them before the Grand Master. He shall engross, attest and affix the seal of the Grand Lodge to all warrants, charters, commissions, diplomas and certificates issued by this Grand Lodge by order of the Grand Master or Grand Lodge, and shall keep a list of all the subordinate lodges according to seniority. He shall furnish the chairman of every committee with a notice of his appointment, and attend all committees, with the records and papers of his office, when required, and record all reports of committees which may be ordered by the Grand Lodge. He shall immediately after the election of officers in each year, transmit a list of said officers and an attested copy of all new General Regulations to the Grand Lodges in correspondence with this Grand Lodge, and to the subordinate lodges, together with a list of all expulsions, suspensions, reinstatements, and rejections communicated to him from time to time. He shall, under the direction of the Grand Master, answer any communication made to the Grand Lodge.
Amended November 16, 1959.
See Decision No. 91; Standing Order Nos. 8, 47, 48.

1.4.5.1 Assistant Grand Secretary
An Assistant Grand Secretary may be appointed from time to time as needs dictate. He shall work under the direct supervision of the Grand Secretary.
Amended November 16, 1996. November 18, 1972.

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.

Related Standing Orders

No. 08. Diploma With Predecessor's Signature

Resolved: That the Grand Master be authorized in his discretion to permit a diploma of this Grand Lodge to be issued with the signature of a previous Grand Master.

Constitution, Art. IV, Sec. 1.4.1; 1.4.5. May 18, 1874.

No. 47. Compilation Of Approved Changes

Resolved: That the Grand Secretary be required to add to the compilation of the Constitution, General Regulations, Decisions and Standing Orders from time to time as they are approved, and that one copy be prepared for the use of the Grand Master of Masons, one copy for the use of the Committee on Jurisprudence and one copy retained in the office of the Grand Secretary.

Constitution, Art. IV, Sec. 1.4.5. November 15, 1909.

No. 48. Communicating With Appendant Bodies
Whereas, The regulations of certain appendant bodies or concordant orders of Freemasonry require that membership therein is dependent upon the good standing of the member in a Symbolic Lodge and whenever a member has remained a voluntary non-affiliate in his lodge for a certain definite period, his name shall be stricken from the roll of these appendant bodies, and:
Whereas, The Grand Secretary has no authority to communicate officially with said bodies in order to give them the information which they may desire or require to purge their rolls, therefore be it Resolved: That the Grand Secretary be and he is hereby authorized to communicate such information relative to the good standing of members of subordinate lodges in this jurisdiction when so requested, to the following recognized Masonic Bodies:
a. Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Rhode Island.
b. Grand Council Royal and Select Masters of Rhode Island.
c. Grand Commandery of Knights Templars of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
d. The Supreme Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America, whose Grand East is in Lexington in the State of Massachusetts.
e. The Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
f. The Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm, Grottoes of North America.
g. The Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America.
h. Also the subordinate Bodies of each of these Grand Bodies and such other Masonic Bodies as are recognized by the said Grand Bodies.
Constitution, Art. IV, Sec. 1.4.5. May 20, 1912.
Amended November 15, 1969; November 19, 1983.

Each District Deputy Grand Master shall visit personally every lodge in his district for the special purpose of inspecting the work, by-laws, books of record and accounts and to inquire into their condition and proceedings. He shall also preside at the election and install the officers of each lodge in his district. He shall at all times exercise immediate supervision over the affairs of the district committed to his charge, and shall make report of his doings, together with the condition of the lodges in his District to the Grand Master at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, and at such other times as the Grand Master shall direct. He shall be reimbursed for his necessary expenses in visiting the lodges.
See Standing Order No. 30.

Related Standing Orders

No. 30. Duties Of District Deputy Grand Masters

Ordered: That the District Deputy Grand Masters shall examine at least once in each Masonic year, the original charter of all the lodges in their respective jurisdictions, and if a lodge at the annual election and installation of its officers uses a duplicate charter, the original charter being in existence but not used because of its fragile condition, the District Deputy Grand Master of the jurisdiction shall state in his report to the Grand Master where the original charter is deposited.

Constitution, Art. IV, Sec. 1.4.6. November 20, 1922.

The powers of the various standing committees are listed in the following paragraphs.
November 16, 1996.

1.4.7.1 Finance And Audit
The Standing Committee on Finance shall examine and cause to be audited annually all financial accounts, records, and securities of Grand Lodge by a disinterested licensed practicing accountant. They shall see that the records of the Grand Secretary are properly kept, and the books and papers of the Grand Lodge properly preserved. They shall recommend such compensation for the services of the Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary, or either of them, as may seem just and proper; and they shall report to the Grand Lodge, at the Annual Communication, before the election of officers, an account of the receipts and expenditures of the preceding year, with a statement of the property of Grand Lodge. They shall supervise the affairs of Grand Lodge and direct the investment and reinvestment by the Grand Treasurer of all Grand Lodge funds. No investment shall be made which is not a legal investment for Savings Banks in Rhode Island which does not receive the unanimous approval of the members of the committee, provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to forbid the retention of investments in the form in which they are now held or in the form in which they may hereafter be received by gift, devise or bequest.
Amended November 17, 1930; November 16, 1996; November 17, 2007.

1.4.7.2 Credentials
The Standing Committee on Credentials shall, at each communication of the Grand Lodge, ascertain the number of brethren present entitled to vote therein, together with their names, rank, and the lodge they represent, and report the same as soon as possible after the opening of the Grand Lodge. They shall also ascertain and report whether or not the returns of the subordinate lodges are in proper form and correct.

1.4.7.3 Foreign Correspondence
The Standing Committee on Foreign Correspondence shall consider and report on all communications from foreign Grand Lodges. They shall have power to review proceedings of other Grand Lodges, and to report on such matters, as in their opinion, may be of interest to Grand Lodge.

1.4.7.4 Library
The Standing Committee on the Library shall have general charge of the library, and are authorized to make additions thereto, by purchase or otherwise, and to cause repairs to be made, provided the amount expended by them shall not exceed the appropriations made therefor.

1.4.7.5 Charters And By-Laws
The Standing Committee on Charters and By-Laws shall consider and report to Grand Lodge on all petitions for charters, and to the Grand Master on all by-laws and amendments to by-laws adopted by subordinate lodges.

1.4.7.6 Jurisprudence
The Standing Committee on Jurisprudence shall examine all reports of the Grand Officers, and shall consider and report on any decisions, recommendations, or suggestions contained therein.

1.4.7.7 Printing
The Standing Committee on Printing shall have supervision of the work of printing for the Grand Lodge.

1.4.7.8 Past Grand Masters Portraits
Deleted November 18, 2000.

1.4.7.9 Financial Advice To Subordinate Lodges
Deleted November 18, 2000.

1.4.7.10 Advancement Of Freemasonry
The Standing Committee for the Advancement of Freemasonry shall review the various and sundry activities of all Masonic organizations within the State of Rhode Island and shall make such recommendations and propose such plans and procedures for action as may fall within the purview of the Grand Lodge.
November 16, 1959.

1.4.7.11 Status Of The Craft
The Standing Committee on the Status of the Craft shall consist of six (6) members including the Grand Secretary, Grand Lecturer and Deputy Grand Master. This committee shall survey all aspects of the condition of Symbolic Lodges within the Grand Jurisdiction, and report to the Grand Lodge at the Annual Communication. In addition, they shall perform such duties as the Grand Master may direct in relation to the condition of the Craft in general.
Amended November 16, 1996.

1.4.7.12 Youth
The Standing Committee on Youth shall consist of four (4) members including the Grand Master. This committee shall study and coordinate the work of DeMolay, Rainbow and the Masonic Youth Foundation, in relationship to the workings of the Symbolic Lodges within this Grand Jurisdiction.
Amended November 16, 1996.

1.4.7.13 Grand Masters Reports
The Standing Committee of the Grand Masters Reports shall consist of three (3) members including the Grand Secretary. This committee shall review all recommendations in the Grand Masters Semi-Annual and Annual reports, and shall inform in writing such committees who are required to act on such recommendations. This committee shall be responsible for such items requiring a vote of this Grand Lodge to be printed in the proceedings.
Amended November 16, 1996.

1.4.7.14 Grand Lodge Freemasons' Hall
The Standing Committee of the Grand Lodge Freemasons' Hall shall consist of eight (8) members. This committee shall supervise and manage the operations, repair, maintenance, renovation and rental of Freemasons' Hall located at 222 Taunton Avenue, East Providence, Rhode Island. The committee shall prepare a budget for the operation, maintenance, and repair of Freemasons' Hall and submit that budget to the Standing Committee on Finance at a time convenient for the Standing Committee on Finance's budget process. The committee must, in all of its activities, strictly comply with the Grand Lodge's Constitution, General Regulations, Decisions and Standing Orders.
All contracts in excess of $3,000 must have a set of specifications for the work to be done and must be offered for bidding. The committee, while exercising sound business practice, is not required to accept the lowest bid when awarding the contract. Not withstanding the aforesaid, in the event of an extreme emergency where action must be taken without delay, the committee shall have the authority to act even though it may exceed $3,000.
Ratification of such action shall be verified as soon as practical by the authority concerned.
November 18, 1995

1.4.7.15 Strategic Planning
Rescinded.
November 20, 2004

All Masonic trials shall be held in the first instance in the subordinate lodge of which the accused Brother shall be a member. The Masonic trial shall be conducted in accordance with the General Regulations of the Grand Lodge and as they may be amended from time-to-time.
Provided, however, that a Masonic trial shall not be required in the instance where a Brother has been found or pleaded guilty in any court having criminal jurisdiction to any crime involving any sexual offense, indecent act, child endangerment offense or exhibition of obscene publications to any person under 18 years of age. In such a case, the Grand Master shall, summarily, impose such punishment as he shall deem meet and proper in the circumstances.
A plea or finding of guilt shall have the same effect within this Grand Jurisdiction as if it had been made at the conclusion of a Masonic trial. For purposes of this Constitution, a plea of nolo contendere is a finding of guilty.
Amended November 17, 2001.

The Grand Master will annually appoint five members of the Grand Lodge to be styled Commissioners of Trials and one of them thereof to be the Chairman. The Commissioners of Trials will assist in the conduct of Masonic trials and the appeals therefrom in accordance with the Constitution and General Regulations.

The Grand Master may, in his sole discretion, suspend a Mason who has been convicted of a crime or who has pleaded guilty thereto in a civil court of competent jurisdiction upon the same being brought to his attention. Provided, however, that no Mason shall be suspended based upon any basis for longer than one hundred and eighty-six (186) days, in its entirety, or until the Mason has been tried to a final verdict, whichever shall first occur.
For the purpose of this section only, a plea of nolo contenders, followed by the imposition of a period of probation, shall be a sufficient basis for the Grand Master to suspend a Mason hereunder even if such does not constitute a conviction under civil law.
Such suspension may be imposed or not in the sole discretion of the Grand Master. However, any suspension so imposed shall specifically allow the suspended Mason to engage in Masonic communication for the purpose of defending himself against any charge of unmasonic conduct including any charge upon which the suspension is based and all Brethren shall be under an affirmative duty to assist a Mason accused of unmasonic conduct in his defense thereof.
In addition to the foregoing power of suspension, a Grand Master may suspend any Mason for unmasonic conduct upon his own motion and without the necessity of the Mason having been convicted of a crime. In such case, the Grand Master must notify the Secretary of the suspended Mason's subordinate lodge, which notice shall be treated as if it were an Allegation. The Master of the subordinate lodge shall forthwith investigate the basis of such suspension and the results of such investigation shall be referred to the subordinate lodge's Junior Warden to determine whether a Complaint should be filed against such suspended Mason.

In the event that a Masonic trial has been held, the Verdict arrived at and the Punishment meted out, and the Verdict or the Punishment or both are timely appealed to the Grand Lodge, then the Secretary of the subordinate lodge shall forthwith transmit an attested copy of the record on appeal (as may be defined more fully in the General Regulations) to the Grand Secretary in whose safekeeping it will be placed and such appeal shall be referred to the Chairman of the Commissioners of Trials to whom the Grand Secretary shall make the record on appeal available.

The Chairman of the Commissioners of Trials shall review the record on appeal and make such recommendation to the Grand Lodge, through the Grand Master, as to a disposition of the appeal as he shall deem fair and just to the Grand Lodge in writing in the manner which may be provided for in the General Regulations.
The Grand Lodge may affirm, reverse or modify the Verdict, the Punishment or either of the subordinate lodge or it may remand the matter back to the subordinate lodge for a new trial or for reconsideration of the Punishment as being either too lenient or too severe. If the Grand Lodge is not in session then the Grand Master shall take such action on its behalf.

The Grand Lodge may, on its own motion or on the motion of the Accused, assume original jurisdiction of the case on appeal and may retry it either as new (either all or in any part) if it believes that an injustice has been visited upon the Accused or the fraternity as a result of the conduct of the proceeding before the subordinate lodge. If the Grand Lodge is not in session then the Grand Master shall take such action on its behalf.

In such case, the trial shall be conducted in Grand Lodge in accordance with the General Regulations as much as possible with the appropriate Grand Lodge Officers assuming the roles and functions of the subordinate lodge Officers as set forth in the General Regulations.

A Verdict is final in accordance with the provisions of the General Regulations.

Upon a Verdict becoming final without appeal, the Master of the subordinate lodge shall impose such Punishment as has been imposed by the subordinate lodge (or the Master of the subordinate lodge sitting without a jury), as the case may be, upon the Defendant.

The Secretary of the subordinate lodge shall report the Verdict (whether final or not) and Punishment imposed, if any, to the Grand Lodge on a form to be provided for such purpose by the Grand Secretary who shall, in turn, include it in his report at the next regularly scheduled communication of the Grand Lodge.

If the Verdict and Punishment, or either, are appealed to the Grand Lodge and the appeal becomes final then the Grand Lodge or the Grand Master (if the Grand Lodge is not in session), as the case may be, shall then impose Punishment upon the Defendant.

The Grand Secretary shall report the result of the appeal and the Punishment imposed to the subordinate lodge on a form to be provided by him for such purpose which shall become a part of the permanent records of the Grand Lodge and of the subordinate lodge and he shall include it in his report at the next regularly scheduled communication of the Grand Lodge.