Metropolitan Grand Rank

(a) (i) A Metropolitan Grand Master may once a year confer Metropolitan Grand Rank, designated by reference to the name of his Metropolitan Area (e.g. London Grand Rank), on Past Masters in Lodges of his Metropolitan Area, who have rendered long and meritorious service to the Craft in the Metropolitan Area and are members of the Grand Lodge in accordance with Rule 9, to a number not exceeding one for every Lodge in his Metropolitan Area registered in the books of the Grand Lodge on 1 September of the preceding year. Masonic Celebrations (ii) On such occasions as shall seem to him proper either for Masonic celebration or otherwise, the Grand Master may authorise a Metropolitan Grand Master to confer Metropolitan Grand Rank on an additional number of qualified Brethren. Metropolitan Rank (iii) A Metropolitan Grand Master, to the extent that the numbers permitted to be appointed to Metropolitan Grand Rank under this Rule have not been exceeded, may confer the rank designated Metropolitan Rank on Master Masons in Lodges of the Metropolitan Area who have rendered long and meritorious service to the Craft in the Metropolitan Area, the holders of such ranks to take precedence immediately after Past Metropolitan Grand Stewards; and any holder of Metropolitan Rank shall, in the event that he becomes a Past Master and thereby a member of the Grand Lodge in accordance with Rule 9, thereupon become a Holder of Metropolitan Grand Rank without the need for further appointment. Additional Metropolitan Grand Ranks (iv) A Metropolitan Grand Master may also at his discretion and without regard to the above limitation confer Metropolitan Grand Rank on Past Masters in Lodges of his Metropolitan Area who have rendered long and meritorious service to the Craft in his Metropolitan Area and who are Officers (present or past) of Provincial or District Grand Lodges or holders of Metropolitan Grand Rank (in another Metropolitan Area) or Overseas Grand Rank. Senior Metropolitan Grand Rank (v) A Metropolitan Grand Master may annually at his discretion appoint Brethren who already hold Metropolitan Grand Rank or any Overseas Grand Rank, or Past Provincial or District Grand Officers, to be holders of Senior Metropolitan Grand Rank. (vi) The holders of such respective ranks shall be entitled to wear at all Masonic meetings the distinctive regalia prescribed under Rules 246, 249, 260, 265 and 268, but can claim precedence as such only within their Metropolitan Area. (b) For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that any Brother who before 1 October 2003 was a holder of Senior London Grand Rank, London Grand Rank, or London Rank shall in all respects be treated as a holder of the equivalent Metropolitan rank, notwithstanding that he may no longer be a subscribing member of a Lodge within that Metropolitan Area or of any Lodge under the Grand Lodge. Metropolitan Grand Officer (c) A Metropolitan Grand Master is also empowered to appoint annually from among the Installed Masters in Lodges of his Metropolitan Area such Metropolitan Grand Officers as are specified in the schedule to this Rule. The Brethren appointed to such Offices, other than that of Metropolitan Grand Steward, shall, if not already holders of Senior Metropolitan Grand Rank, or Metropolitan Grand Rank (as the case may be), be appointed to such of those ranks (and shall be counted against the quota, if any, provided in paragraph (a) above), and shall rank amongst themselves for investiture and otherwise in the order, specified in the schedule. Metropolitan Grand Stewards appointed to that office after 31 December 2021 shall rank immediately after the Holders of Metropolitan Grand Rank, and on ceasing to hold office shall be designated Past Metropolitan Grand Stewards and shall rank immediately after the Metropolitan Grand Stewards. With the exception of Metropolitan Grand Masters and Pro Metropolitan Grand Masters, present and past, Metropolitan Grand Officers can claim precedence as such only within their own Metropolitan Area. They and past Metropolitan Grand Officers are, however, entitled to wear their regalia as defined in Rules 247, 248, 249, 256, 260, 265 and 268 at all Masonic meetings. SCHEDULE TO RULE 61: APPOINTMENTS AS METROPOLITAN GRAND OFFICERS Senior Metropolitan Grand Rank: Metropolitan Senior Grand Warden Metropolitan Junior Grand Warden Metropolitan Grand Chaplain Metropolitan Grand Treasurer – elected Metropolitan Grand Registrar Metropolitan Grand Secretary Metropolitan Grand Director of Ceremonies Metropolitan Grand Sword Bearer Metropolitan Grand Superintendent of Works Metropolitan Deputy Grand Chaplain Metropolitan Deputy Grand Registrar Metropolitan Deputy Grand Secretary Three Metropolitan Deputy Grand Directors of Ceremonies Metropolitan Deputy Grand Sword Bearer Metropolitan Deputy Grand Superintendent of Works Not more than one hundred and fifty Metropolitan Assistant Grand Inspectors Metropolitan Grand Almoner Metropolitan Grand Charity Steward Metropolitan Grand Membership Officer Metropolitan Grand Communications Officer Metropolitan Grand Mentor Metropolitan Grand Learning and Development Officer Five Metropolitan Senior Grand Deacons Metropolitan Grand Rank: Five Metropolitan Junior Grand Deacons Two Metropolitan Assistant Grand Chaplains Two Metropolitan Assistant Grand Registrars Two Metropolitan Assistant Grand Secretaries Ten Metropolitan Assistant Grand Directors of Ceremonies Two Metropolitan Assistant Grand Sword Bearers Two Metropolitan Assistant Grand Superintendents of Works Metropolitan Grand Organist Two Metropolitan Grand Standard Bearers Four Metropolitan Assistant Grand Standard Bearers Metropolitan Deputy Grand Organist Metropolitan Grand Pursuivant Three Metropolitan Assistant Grand Pursuivants Metropolitan Grand Tyler Metropolitan Grand Stewards: Twenty Metropolitan Grand Stewards Metropolitan Grand Treasurer to be elected annually (d) The Metropolitan Grand Officers shall be annually appointed in the Metropolitan Grand Lodge, and such Officers whenever practicable shall be then invested together with the Metropolitan Grand Treasurer who shall be elected annually. Casual Vacancies (e) Casual vacancies among Metropolitan Grand Officers may be filled by the Metropolitan Grand Master, and the rank, if any, required to be conferred in accordance with paragraph (c) above shall not be counted against the quota there referred to. Removal of Metropolitan Grand Officers (f) Should a Metropolitan Grand Master be dissatisfied with the conduct of any of his Metropolitan Grand Officers he may displace such Metropolitan Grand Officer and deprive him of his rank and privileges. A Metropolitan Grand Master has power in a like case to deprive a holder of Senior Metropolitan Grand Rank, Metropolitan Grand Rank or Metropolitan Rank or a Past Metropolitan Grand Steward of his rank and privileges. No such action, however, shall in either case be taken by a Metropolitan Grand Master without the approval of his Metropolitan Grand Lodge, unless at the same time as or within the twelve months preceding such action the Brother concerned shall have been subjected by Masonic authority to the penalty of admonition or suspension.