Masonic Balloting is the process by which a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons elects candidates for the three symbolic degrees of masonry or the process by which an expelled member of the fraternity is reinstated into his lodge and the fraternity in general.

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  • Masonic Balloting is the process by which a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons elects candidates for the three symbolic degrees of masonry or the process by which an expelled member of the fraternity is reinstated into his lodge and the fraternity in general. Voting on the petition of a candidate for the three symbolic degrees of Free Masonry or for reinstatement into the fraternity takes place on the regularly scheduled stated meeting of that lodge and all members of the lodge who are Master Masons and in good standing are eligible to vote, visitors may not vote and must remain seated during the balloting process. The Worshipful Master of the lodge will ask if there are any committees out and if they wish to make their report now or be given an extension until the next stated meeting to gather more information about the candidate. The chairman of the committee and the committee members will then arise and come before the altar and then they all salute the great lights and the Worshipful Master of the lodge with the due guard and penal sign of the Master's degree, then the chairman will announce that they are ready to report. The chairman of the committee will then either report favorable or unfavorable and then the Worshipful Master will then direct the Senior Deacon to prepare the lodge for voting the Senior Deacon will then take the ballot box pass it to the East, West and South for inspection prior to it being placed upon the altar. The Senior Deacon then rearranges the altar to accommodate the ballot box which is a wood usually oak box with a cut out in the front containing the balls each white or black respectively, a receptacle into which the balls are placed and a rear inspection lid the box also has a handle on the back to carry it with. All things then being in order and the Lodge prepared to vote the Senior Deacon returns to his place and the Worshipful Master calls up the entire body of the lodge with three raps of his gavel and then says the following Brethren the committee has reported on the petition of ________ (either favorable or unfavorable) remember white balls elect and black balls reject vote for the good of masonry The officers go first and then a line is formed then each member casts the ball of their choice either white or black when all are finished the ballot box is taken up again and passed to the West, South and East. The wardens will either find the ballot favorable or unfavorable and announce this out loud the Worshipful Master then does likewise and then says Brethren by your vote you have elected / rejected ________ for the symbolic degrees or for reinstatement into the fraternity If rejected the candidate must wait six months and repetition again if rejected again the candidate must wait a year before he can petition the lodge again .
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  • Masonic Balloting is the process by which a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons elects candidates for the three symbolic degrees of masonry or the process by which an expelled member of the fraternity is reinstated into his lodge and the fraternity in general.
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  • Masonic Balloting
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