The document outlines the procedures for the election of candidates for initiation or joining a Masonic Lodge, as governed by Rules 159, 160, and 163. It mandates that applications include specific details such as the candidate's full name, age, profession, and proposer and seconder information, which must be read in open Lodge before the ballot. If a candidate cannot make the required declaration, the Master must seek certification from the Grand Secretary, whose decision is also read in Lodge. Knowingly providing false information can lead to expulsion or penalties for the candidate and those involved in the application process. Lodges may establish by-laws regarding the timing of candidate information submission, but the minimum notice period of fourteen days remains unchanged. The amended rules apply to various jurisdictions, including Bedfordshire, Essex, and others, ensuring consistent application across these areas.
December 4th, 2025
February 10th, 2026
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(a) (i) The particulars required by Rules 159, 160 and 163 shall be inserted in the printed form of application and considered by the appropriate committee of the Lodge or, if there be no such Committee, by the Master. The certificate to that effect in the form shall be signed by the Master, and the particulars with the Master’s Certificate shall be read in open Lodge immediately before the ballot is taken. If the Candidate is elected and subsequently is Initiated in or joins or rejoins the Lodge, the form shall immediately be signed by the Secretary and sent with the appropriate fee to the Grand Secretary for registration. In a Metropolitan Area, Province or District the Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Master may direct that a duplicate thereof shall be sent to the Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Secretary. (ii) If a candidate for Initiation, or a candidate for joining or re-joining who is unattached in accordance with Rule 127, is unable to make the declaration required of him in the form without qualification, the form with the Master’s Certificate duly signed together with an account of the circumstances shall be transmitted to the Grand Secretary. The Grand Secretary shall certify, if such be the case, that the matters disclosed in connection with the application do not constitute a bar to Initiation (or joining or re-joining, as the case may be). His certificate together with any additional statement that he may require shall be read in open Lodge immediately before the candidate is proposed and seconded and again immediately before the ballot is taken, and shall be entered in the Minutes of the respective meetings. If the Grand Secretary shall decline to grant a certificate, the Master may, if authorised by a resolution of the Lodge following notice on the summons, seek a ruling from the Board of General Purposes under Rule 184. (iii) A candidate who knowingly makes or leaves uncorrected a false statement in the printed form of application shall if he is or subsequently becomes a member of the Craft be liable to expulsion or some lesser Masonic penalty. A candidate’s proposer or seconder, or the Secretary of the Lodge, who knowingly makes or leaves uncorrected such a false statement shall be liable to the same penalty. (b) In the case of a candidate for initiation his (i) full name, (ii) age, (iii) profession or occupation (if any), (iv) place or places of abode, (v) business address or addresses, (vi) the names of his proposer and seconder; and (vii) the date of his proposal in open Lodge, and, in the case of a candidate for joining or rejoining, the same particulars (except of age), together with the name and number of the Lodge or Lodges of which he is and has been a member, shall be specified in the summons for the meeting at which the ballot is to take place, and a copy of such summons shall be sent to each member of the Lodge at least ten days before the day of such meeting. (c) It is competent for a Lodge to specify in its by-laws that the form containing the particulars of a candidate shall be deposited with the Secretary for a reasonable number of days before the meeting at which the candidate is to be proposed, such number being specified in the by-laws, but the period of fourteen days mentioned in Rule 160 shall in no case be abridged. *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 164 (Amended): (a) (i) The particulars required by Rules 159, 160 and 163 shall be considered by the appropriate committee of the Lodge or, if there be no such Committee, by the Master. The Master shall confirm, if such be the case, that he has made due enquiry with regard to the character and qualifications of the Candidate and that in his opinion, or in the opinion of a Committee of members of the Lodge as the case may be, the Candidate is a fit and proper person to be admitted as a member of the Lodge; and the particulars with the Master’s statement shall be read in open Lodge immediately before the ballot is taken. If the Candidate is elected and subsequently is Initiated in or joins or rejoins the Lodge, the Secretary shall immediately inform the Grand Secretary and shall when required remit the appropriate fee to the Grand Secretary for registration. In a Metropolitan Area, Province or District the Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Master may direct that the same information and any appropriate fee shall be sent to the Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Secretary. (ii) If a candidate for Initiation, or a candidate for joining or re-joining who is unattached in accordance with Rule 127, or a candidate for joining from a recognised Grand Lodge, is unable to make any declaration required of him in accordance with Rule 159 without qualification, the matter shall be referred to the Grand Secretary together with an account of the circumstances and a statement from the Master in accordance with sub-paragraph of this paragraph, duly signed. The Grand Secretary shall certify, if such be the case, that the matters disclosed in connection with the application do not constitute a bar to Initiation (or joining or re-joining, as the case may be). His certificate together with any additional statement that he may require shall be read in open Lodge immediately before the candidate is proposed and seconded and again immediately before the ballot is taken, and shall be entered in the Minutes of the respective meetings. If the Grand Secretary shall decline to grant a certificate, the Master may, if authorised by a resolution of the Lodge following notice on the summons, seek a ruling under Rule 184; provided that if a Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Master be of opinion that a certificate should have been granted, he shall cause the matter to be dealt with in accordance with Rule 184(b). (iii) A candidate who knowingly makes or leaves uncorrected a false statement in the particulars he provides in accordance with Rule 159 shall if he is or subsequently becomes a member of the Craft be liable to expulsion or some lesser Masonic penalty. A candidate’s proposer or seconder, or the Secretary of the Lodge, who knowingly makes or leaves uncorrected such a false statement shall be liable to the same penalty. (b) In the case of a candidate for initiation his (i) full name, (ii) age, (iii) profession or occupation (if any), (iv) place or places of abode, (v) business address or addresses, (vi) the names of his proposer and seconder; and (vii) the date of his proposal in open Lodge, and, in the case of a candidate for joining or rejoining, the same particulars (except of age), together with the name and number of the Lodge or Lodges of which he is and has been a member, shall be specified in the summons for the meeting at which the ballot is to take place, and a copy of such summons shall be sent to each member of the Lodge at least ten days before the day of such meeting. (c) It is competent for a Lodge to specify in its by-laws that the particulars of a candidate shall be communicated to the Secretary a reasonable number of days before the meeting at which the candidate is to be proposed, such number being specified in the by-laws, but the period of fourteen days mentioned in Rule 160 shall in no case be abridged. *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.