Petition Question

[Help-Slip-Franklin]

All
Back in the beginning of December I submitted my Petition to join a Lodge.
So far I have not heard anything from anyone, my references have not been
contacted and my check has not yet been cashed. My sponsor told me to be
patient and that the Petition is in the right hands. Is the process a slow
one?
Thanks
H-S-F

[Mudge]

Post by Help-Slip-Franklin
Back in the beginning of December I submitted my Petition to join a
Lodge. So far I have not heard anything from anyone, my references have
not been contacted and my check has not yet been cashed. My sponsor
told me to be patient and that the Petition is in the right hands. Is
the process a slow one?

Certainly not that slow - at least here !

[Richard Watson]

The usual process is to have your petition read at the next stated meeting. If accepted the WM will assign an investigating committee (usually 3 Master Masons) to review the details of your petition and set up an appointment with you. In my jurisdication (Oregon) this must be done before the very next stated meeting. At the second stated meeting, the investigating comm. Will give its reports and if favorable, a ballot on your petition will occur. Generally your check will not be cashed until the ballot on your petition is favorable.

So the whole process can take up to 60 days depending upon when you submitted your petition relative to the next stated meeting.

Now added complications can occur in that if the lodge is in the cold north, it may be "dark" during January and February. Or because of inclement weather in winter, the lodge may not have been able to have a quorum at a meeting. Or the lodge just may be slow in the petition process, which, sadly, happens in some cases.

But yes, be patient. I wish you well.

Richard Watson, Treasurer
Kenton Lodge No. 145
Portland, OR


-----Original Message-----
From: sof-mail-***@mail.cybermango.org [mailto:sof-mail-***@mail.cybermango.org] On Behalf Of Help-Slip-Franklin
Sent: Monday, February 08, 2010 10:40 AM
To: sof-***@mail.cybermango.org
Subject: [sof] Petition Question

All
Back in the beginning of December I submitted my Petition to join a Lodge.
So far I have not heard anything from anyone, my references have not been
contacted and my check has not yet been cashed. My sponsor told me to be
patient and that the Petition is in the right hands. Is the process a slow
one?
Thanks
H-S-F

[Torence]

I would check with whoever signed your petition as to its status.
You should have received some action by now. Other toruble than those
things cited here can occur, such as an Illness involving the Lodge
Secretary or, in these winter months, bad weather can cancel the
meeting where your peition should be read or otherwise acted upon. The
Brother who brings your peitition into the lodge has an obligation to
your lodge; but he also has one to you. He should not be leaving you
to hang out when you can be potentially working on earning your
degrees.
Please let us know what he reports to you.

Fraternally,
Torence Evans Ake
Secretary - Auburn Park Lodge No. 789 - Crete, Illinois
PM - Arcadia Lodge No. 1138, Lansing, Illinois

[Chris H]

Post by Richard Watson
The usual process is

There is no "usual process" it varies from place to place. Different
Provinces and GL's all do it differently. There are even variations
within provinces

Post by Richard Watson
to have your petition read at the next stated meeting. If accepted the
WM will assign an investigating committee (usually 3 Master Masons)

Where I am it is Past Masters and they "make enquires" before the
petition is read out in Lodge. Thus the candidate is screened before his
application becomes public. Therefore if the PM's find him unsuitable
only they, the candidate, prepares and seconded, secretary know about
it. Not the whole lodge.

Post by Richard Watson
to review the details of your petition and set up an appointment with
you. In my jurisdication (Oregon) this must be done before the very
next stated meeting.

We have no time limits on this.

Post by Richard Watson
At the second stated meeting, the investigating comm. Will give its
reports and if favorable, a ballot on your petition will occur.
Generally your check will not be cashed until the ballot on your
petition is favorable.

Where I am you write the cheque on the evening of initiation when you
sign the book prior to knocking on the lodge door.

Post by Richard Watson
So the whole process can take up to 60 days depending upon when you
submitted your petition relative to the next stated meeting.

The whole process can take 6 months (or more).

Post by Richard Watson
Now added complications can occur in that if the lodge is in the cold
north, it may be "dark" during January and February.

Or December and January....

Post by Richard Watson
Or because of inclement weather in winter, the lodge may not have been
able to have a quorum at a meeting. Or the lodge just may be slow in
the petition process, which, sadly, happens in some cases.

The sponsor should be talking to "both" sides and will know if it is
still on track, if slow.

[Doug Freyburger]

Post by Help-Slip-Franklin
Back in the beginning of December I submitted my Petition to join a Lodge.
So far I have not heard anything from anyone, my references have not been
contacted and my check has not yet been cashed. My sponsor told me to be
patient and that the Petition is in the right hands. Is the process a slow
one?

The clock of Masonry does tick very slowly. My experience went like
this:

Month zero - You submit your petition. The lodge only reads petitions
at one meeting per month so the exact timing of when you submit
determines if there's a month zero. I submitted my petition a week
after the business meeting so I had a month zero.

Month one - Your petition is read in lodge and accepted. A committee is
appointed. They call you and your references.

Optional skipped month - If your references are slow to respond there
might be an extra month inserted here. It didn't happen for me but I've
seen it happen for others.

Month two - You get voted on. It needs to be unanymous. No votes are
rare enough that they get talked about for years.

Month three - They arrange for your first degree. The check is not
deposted until you get your first degree.

Wait a time with patience.

[Help-Slip-Franklin]

I've talked to my sponsor who advised me that my name also needed to be sent
to the State Lodge and to each local Lodge in the State, I guess to be sure
I didn't apply somewhere else and get rejected. My check has been cashed and
he said the interview with my wife and I will be soon. I'm an inpatient
person anyway so the slow ticking hands of time give me fits! Thanks for
your input.
H-S-F

[Rob Sandilands]

Post by Help-Slip-Franklin
I've talked to my sponsor who advised me that my name also needed to be sent
to the State Lodge and to each local Lodge in the State, I guess to be sure
I didn't apply somewhere else and get rejected. My check has been cashed and
he said the interview with my wife and I will be soon. I'm an inpatient
person anyway so the slow ticking hands of time give me fits! Thanks for
your input.
H-S-F

... the bit with Grand Lodge and other Lodges applies over here as well
... the basic idea is that Grand Lodge, at least here, receives the
details of petitioners and the outcome of petitions ... the idea with
the local Lodges involves letting anyone else who may know of you become
aware of your petition ... two reasons ... one, if anyone knows anything
against you ... second, if they know you, you might be surprised who
turns up at your initiation ... best wishes with your petition ...