Lodges are required to submit an Annual Installation Return to the Grand Secretary following the installation of the Master. This return, prepared by the Lodge Secretary, must include the names of the Master, Wardens, Past Masters, and members eligible to attend the Grand Lodge as Past Masters, specifying the Lodge where each served as Master. Attendance at the Grand Lodge is restricted to those whose names appear on this return. Additionally, the return must provide full names and contact details, including email addresses for the Master, Treasurer, Secretary, and other appointed Officers. Both the Master and Secretary must sign the return for authentication. This procedure is governed by Rule 151, which has been amended to include updated requirements and is applicable across various jurisdictions, including Bedfordshire, Essex, and Hong Kong, among others. Until further direction from the Board of General Purposes, the current rule remains in effect.
December 4th, 2025
February 10th, 2026
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Every Lodge, by its Secretary, shall annually, immediately after the installation of the Master, make a return to the Grand Secretary of the Master, Wardens, and Past Masters of the Lodge, and of all members who claim to be entitled to attend the Grand Lodge as Past Masters, under Rule 9, having served the office of Master in some other Lodge, specifying the Lodge in which each of them has served the office of Master; and no Brother shall be permitted to attend the Grand Lodge unless his name shall appear in such return. This return shall also contain the full names and addresses of the Master, Treasurer, Secretary, Almoner and Charity Steward. The Master and Secretary shall sign the return. *Until the Board of General Purposes has given a direction in relation to any particular area, the current Rule (above) will continue to apply. Rule 151 (Amended): Every Lodge, by its Secretary, shall annually, immediately after the installation of the Master, make a return to the Grand Secretary of the Master, Wardens, and Past Masters of the Lodge, and of all members who claim to be entitled to attend the Grand Lodge as Past Masters, under Rule 9, having served the office of Master in some other Lodge, specifying the Lodge in which each of them has served the office of Master; and no Brother shall be permitted to attend the Grand Lodge unless his name shall appear in such return. This return shall also contain the full names and contact details (which shall, at least in the case of the Master, Treasurer and Secretary, include an e-mail address) of the Master, Wardens and all other Officers appointed. The Master and Secretary shall authenticate the return. *The above and amended Rule has been applied to the following area(s): Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cumberland and Westmorland, Cyprus, Derbyshire, Dorset, Eastern Archipelago, Essex, Gloucestershire, Guernsey and Alderney, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Hong Kong and the Far East, Isle of Man, Jersey, Leicestershire and Rutland, Lincolnshire, Middlesex, Monmouthshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, South Wales, Suffolk, Warwickshire, West Wales and Wiltshire.