The Board of General Purposes has the authority to reject any notice of motion deemed scandalous, frivolous, vexatious, irregular, abusive of the Grand Lodge's laws and procedures, outside the Grand Lodge's cognizance, or not in the Craft's interests. Upon rejection, the President reports the decision to the Grand Master, including a copy of the notice. If the Grand Secretary anticipates a rejection, they may allow the member who submitted the notice to attend the Board meeting to present their case. The Board must provide this opportunity whenever reasonably possible. Following a rejection, the Grand Secretary informs the member of the decision and their right to submit a written statement for the Grand Master's consideration. This process ensures that members have a chance to defend their motions before the Board makes a final decision.
December 4th, 2025
February 10th, 2026
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The Board of General Purposes shall direct that any notice of motion which in its sole judgment is (a) scandalous, frivolous, vexatious, or irregular; or (b) an abuse of these general Laws and Regulations or of the procedure of the Grand Lodge; or (c) not within the cognizance of the Grand Lodge; or (d) not in the interests of the Craft shall be omitted from the paper of business, and in such case the President is to report the same to the Grand Master with a copy of the notice. If on receiving any such notice the Grand Secretary considers that its terms are such that a direction under this Rule is likely to be given he shall, if time and circumstances make it reasonably possible to do so, arrange that at the meeting of the Board at which the matter is to be considered the member of the Grand Lodge who has given the notice may attend for the purpose of showing cause why the direction should not be given, and in every case, before giving such direction, the Board shall if reasonably possible give such member an opportunity to attend at its meeting for such purpose. When any such notice of motion has been directed by the Board to be omitted as aforesaid, the member of the Grand Lodge who gave such notice of motion shall forthwith be informed by the Grand Secretary of such direction, and of the right of such member to submit in writing a statement on the matter for consideration by the Grand Master.