A candidate for Masonry is rejected if three black balls appear against him on the ballot, although Lodge by-laws may stipulate that two or one black ball(s) can also result in exclusion. Additionally, by-laws may require a waiting period before a rejected candidate can be proposed again. Rule 165A outlines the procedure for transferring membership during the amalgamation of Lodges, as authorized by the Grand Master under Rule 102A. Each member wishing to transfer must complete a joint Registration Form, signed by the member and certified by the Master and Secretary of the Amalgamating Lodge, confirming no debts are owed. This form is submitted to the continuing Lodge, where a two-thirds majority approval is required at a regular meeting. The transfer becomes effective upon the removal of the Amalgamating Lodge from the Grand Lodge register, with specific exclusions for members who are indebted or have ceased membership under Rules 148 or 181.
December 4th, 2025
February 10th, 2026
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No person shall be made a Mason in, or admitted a member of, a Lodge, if, on the ballot, three black balls appear against him; but the by-laws of a Lodge may enact that two black balls or one black ball shall exclude a candidate; and the by-laws may also enact that a reasonable period therein prescribed shall elapse before any rejected candidate can be proposed again in that Lodge. Rule 165A: Transfer of membership on Amalgamation Notwithstanding the provisions of Rules 163, 164 and 165, where the Grand Master grants a Certificate of Amalgamation between two or more Lodges under Rule 102A compliance with the following procedure shall, subject to the proviso below, be sufficient to effect the transfer of membership to the continuing Lodge of members of the other Lodge or Lodges (the “Amalgamating Lodge(s)”) that are party to the amalgamation: (a) there shall be completed in respect of each Amalgamating Lodge a joint Registration Form (as approved from time to time by the Board of General Purposes) giving the full name, place of abode, date of birth and occupation of each member of the Lodge desirous of transferring his membership; (b) the joint Registration Form shall be signed, against his name, by each such Brother and shall have appended thereto a certificate signed by the Master and Secretary of the Amalgamating Lodge that none of the Brethren therein named is indebted to the Lodge; (c) the joint Registration Form shall be transmitted to the Secretary of the continuing Lodge in order that names of the Brethren listed therein and the particulars required above may be placed on the summons for a regular meeting of the Lodge, to be held not later than the date of the removal of the Amalgamating Lodge from the register of the Grand Lodge, at which the transfer of membership must be approved by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting; (d) upon the removal from the register of the Grand Lodge of the Amalgamating Lodge the transfer of membership shall become effective provided that the foregoing procedure (i) shall not be used in the case of any Brother who is indebted to his Amalgamating Lodge or who has at any time ceased to be a member of any Lodge by the operation of Rule 148 or 181; and (ii) shall not be effective to transfer the membership of any Brother who shall prove to have been, at the date of the removal from the register of the Grand Lodge of the Amalgamating Lodge, indebted to any Lodge of which he then was or had at any time been a member.