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Lodge with less than five members

Constitutional Authority
boc constitutional
UGLE
Rule 188
Priority: 10
Verbatim Quote

Key Themes

AI-extracted
Membership Threshold
Lodge Suspension Protocol
Grand Master's Authority
Dispensation Conditions
Erasure Consideration
AI-Generated Summary
Generated January 25th, 2026 • gpt-4o-mini

When a Lodge has fewer than five subscribing members, as indicated in its last return to the Grand Lodge, it must cease to meet. The Lodge is required to surrender its warrant, books, and papers to the Grand Master. However, the Grand Master has the discretion to grant a dispensation allowing the Lodge to continue meeting under specific conditions he considers appropriate. This temporary measure remains in effect until the Grand Master makes a final decision regarding the Lodge's continuation or erasure. This policy ensures that Lodges maintain a minimum membership for operational viability while providing a mechanism for temporary continuation under the Grand Master's oversight.

Created:

December 4th, 2025

Last Updated:

February 10th, 2026

Document Type:

boc constitutional

Category:

constitutional documents

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Whenever the number of subscribing members of any Lodge, as shown on the last return to Grand Lodge, shall be fewer than five, the Lodge shall cease to meet, and the warrant, books and papers shall be delivered up to the Grand Master, who may, nevertheless, if he thinks proper, grant a dispensation to enable the members to meet, subject to such conditions as he may deem expedient, until he has finally decided whether the Lodge shall be continued or erased.