03A Petition Committee Suggestions - Overview

Lodge Secretary’s HOW TO GUIDE

Petition Committee Suggestions - OVERVIEW

The Chairman of the Petition Committee is appointed by the Worshipful Master. In some Lodges, the Junior Warden is the Chairman of the Petition Committee. If this is the case, then the Secretary can initiate a Petition Committee directly without going through the Worshipful Master. However, it is incumbent upon the Secretary to always inform the Worshipful Master when a Petition Committee is working with a Petitioner. Unless appointed by the Worshipful Master, the Petition Committee Chairman appoints members of the Lodge to serve on the committee. The Chairman and two or more Master Masons schedule and conduct the Petition Committee meeting at the Lodge. A member who signed as a recommender or is a reference on the Petition is not eligible to serve on the committee.

The Chairman will be provided a Supplemental Information Sheet (GL602) by the Secretary. Sometimes the Worshipful Master will select a date to act on RECEIVING the Petition to coincide with other Petitions in preparation for a new Entered Apprentice class. A suggested procedure that works for many lodges is as follows:

The Secretary initiates the Petition Committee activity by sending a Committee Appointment letter to the Chairman. Refer to the ‘03B Petition Committee Appointment Letter Mail Merge.doc’ file in this Guide. If the Petitioner’s name and address has been entered into the Lodge Membership Excel spreadsheet, then this file can be printed using mail merge, folded, and mailed in a #10 window envelope.

The Chairman calls the Petitioner and schedules the meeting date and time at the Lodge.

Ensure that all questions are answered and that all signatures are included on the form.

Return the completed Supplemental Information Sheet to the Secretary

The Secretary will inform the Worshipful Master when a Petition is ready to be RECEIVED.

Note: The Petition Committee should be familiar with sections 33.08 – 33.07 in the Digest of Masonic Law.

The Petition Committee is very important in that it is the first opportunity for the Petitioner to experience how the Lodge functions. The tone of the meeting should be cordial. The Petitioner should be encouraged to ask questions and the committee should provide him with a tour of the Lodge. There are many topics which can be discussed with the Petitioner to help him understand what is planned for his journey through the degrees.

To copy and customize this Overview page for your Lodge, refer to the file listed in the footnote of each page.