No. 62.1. Non-Refund Of Dues
Ordered: No subordinate lodge shall return any member thereof the amount of dues which said member shall have paid into the treasury of said lodge; provided, however, that this regulation shall not prevent a lodge from relieving the necessities of a member of said lodge by dispensing charity to said member.
Constitution, Art. VII, Sec. 1.7.27. November 19, 1883.
Re-designated from No. 31 November 16, 1996.
No. 72. Conferring Of The Master Mason Degree
Ordered: That in accordance with the portion of the preamble of the Constitution of the Grand Lodge which authorizes Grand Lodge "to establish and preserve a uniform system of work and lectures," each and every subordinate lodge shall confer upon its candidates the first, second, and third sections of the Master Mason Degree at the same communication; provided, however, that if time will not permit, or if the closing of the lodge would be greatly delayed by so doing, the third section of said degree, consisting of the lectures and the Chaplain's charge, may be given at a later date.
November 21, 1949.
Amended November 16, 1996.
NO. 72.1. Second Section Of The Degree
Ordered: The second section of the Master Mason Degree should implant in the mind of the candidate a deep and lasting impression of the fundamental teachings of Freemasonry. Anything which distracts his attention from the reception of these ideas is foreign to the purpose of the work in hand.
Undue roughness, acting in a manner to arouse the amusement of the brethren or audible laughter from the sidelines, cannot fail to produce such distraction. It is the direction of the Grand Lodge that the work be conducted with dignity and decorum that the ritual envisages and that the candidate has a right to expect.
This Standing Order shall be read immediately preceding the beginning of the second section of the third degree, whenever the third degree is conferred in a Rhode Island Lodge, and the Secretary of the lodge shall make a record of the fact that it was read.
Omission of the reading on the part of the Worshipful Master, or failure to comply with its intent on the part of any officer or member, may become the basis of reprimand or other disciplinary action.
November 21, 1987.
No. 73. Re-Designated
Re-designated No. 44.1.
November 16, 1996.
NO. 74. Annual Report Of The Worshipful Master
Ordered: That it be compulsory for each Worshipful Master to make a written report to his lodge at each Annual Communication, and that a copy of it be filed by him in the Grand Secretary's Office. This report shall afford the lodge detailed information of all activities performed outside of the lodge by the Master, committees or other individuals under his direction, and the information required in the report may be determined from time to time by the Grand Master, but in general shall include the following subjects:
a. Work relating to meetings:
1. Special features (in elaboration).
2. Rehearsals.
3. Conferences with officers: Past Masters, etc.
b. Work outside of the lodge:
1. Visitations:
(a) Sick.
(b) Relief.
(c) Funerals.
2. Visitations to other Masonic functions.
(a) Participation in civic affairs.
(1) Representing the lodge.
(2) Personally.
(3) Other officers.
(4) Members.
(b) Contacts with members:
(1) Personally.
(2) Through officers.
(3) Through other members.
(4) Through committees.
(5) Through letters, birthday greetings, etc.
3. Work of committees:
(a) Achievements of each committee.
c. Recommendations:
(a) Pertaining to the work in the lodge.
(b) Pertaining to work outside the lodge.
Approved May 18, 1936. Amended November 16, 1996.
No. 76. Celebration Of St. John'S Day.
Resolved: That the Sunday nearest Saint John's Day, which falls on June 24th of each year, may be designated by any Lodge of Freemasons in this Grand Jurisdiction to attend Divine Service in lodge formation without first obtaining a special dispensation for that purpose.
May 16, 1938.
No. 78. Time Limitation For Petitions
Ordered: That after a petition for the degrees of Freemasonry, or an application for membership, has been received and presented, a ballot shall be taken upon the name of said petitioner within a period of six months and not thereafter.
November 16, 1953.
No. 79. Re-Designated
Re-designated No. 91.2.
November 16, 1996.
