Lodges may exclude a member for sufficient cause through a formal resolution, requiring specific procedures. A written notice must be sent via Registered Post, marked ‘Private and Confidential’, at least fourteen days prior to the meeting where the complaint will be addressed. This notice includes details of the complaint and the member's right to respond in person or in writing. Additionally, Lodge members receive a ten-day notice of the proposed resolution, without naming the Brother involved. Voting occurs by ballot, and a two-thirds majority is necessary for exclusion to take effect immediately. The Lodge must report the exclusion and its cause to the Grand Secretary and relevant Metropolitan, Provincial, or District Grand Secretary. If the exclusion results from unpaid subscriptions, notification is also required upon payment of arrears. The term "exclude" refers to the termination of membership, while "expelled" pertains to removal by the Grand Lodge, as per Rule 148.
December 4th, 2025
February 10th, 2026
boc constitutional
constitutional documents
(a) Any Lodge may by resolution exclude any member for sufficient cause, provided that (i) a notice in writing shall have been served upon him by Registered Post, the envelope being plainly marked on the outside ‘Private and Confidential’, not less than fourteen days before the meeting at which the complaint is to be considered, together with particulars of the complaint made against him, stating the time and place appointed for the meeting and that he may attend to answer the complaint in person or make answer in writing if he prefers. (ii) not less than ten days’ notice in writing shall also have been served on the members of the Lodge of the intention to propose such a resolution. (b) The notices shall be considered duly served if sent by post to the last known address of each member. (c) The name of the Brother concerned shall not appear in the notice served upon the members of the Lodge, but must be made known to the Brethren when the resolution is moved at the meeting. (d) The voting shall be by ballot. (e) The resolution shall not be carried unless two-thirds of the members present vote in favour of it. (f) If the resolution is carried, the exclusion shall be effective forthwith. (g) The name of every Brother excluded from a Lodge, with the cause of the exclusion, shall forthwith be sent to the Grand Secretary and, if the Lodge be within a Metropolitan Area, Province or District, also to the Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Secretary. (h) When the cause of exclusion is non-payment of subscriptions for a period shorter than that prescribed in Rule 148 (if so provided in the Lodge’s by-laws), the Grand Secretary, and if the Lodge be within a Metropolitan Area, Province or District, the Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Secretary shall be notified if the Brother concerned subsequently pays the arrears of subscription. (j) In this Rule to “exclude” a Brother means to terminate the Brother’s membership of the Lodge, and the terms “exclude”, “excluded”, and “exclusion’’ shall be construed accordingly. N.B. the term expelled is used only where a Brother is removed from the Craft by the Grand Lodge.