1.4.5 Grand Secretary
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.