Brother Mason,
This is our final message to you in your new member series of messages. We hope that you have found them interesting and useful in beginning your masonic journey. In this email, we will discuss other lodges and bodies that you can extend your membership to. With the exception of two "special use" lodges, we will not provide any direct links or reference to our affiliated / appendant bodies but speak generally to their role in Freemasonry in order not to accidently leave out or show preference to any organization.
Plural Membership
Plural Membership is a relatively new concept in the world of Freemasonry. Many of our snow birds who spend winter in the south and southwest have become a part of a local lodge and have taken up plural membership. Any Master Mason may hold plural membership in more than one lodge in this jurisdiction or in other jurisdictions under the laws of the current jurisdiction.
When a member becomes a plural member, his lodges are designated as the lodge of original membership and the lodge of plural membership. Plural members are responsible for the same dues as any other member of that lodge, as well as his original lodge. If a member loses his membership in the plural lodge through suspension or expulsion, he also shall lose his membership in the original lodge.
All proceedings and correspondence, with respect to petitions, etc., with another jurisdiction, must pass through the hands of the Indiana Grand Secretary. The procedure to be followed is the same as a petition for the degrees of Masonry except that the member is not required to file a demit, but must show a certificate indicating that he is a member in good standing and it must be signed by the Master and attested to by the Secretary.
Special Purpose Lodges
Membership in a Special Purpose Lodge shall not be considered plural membership. In Indiana, we have three special-purpose lodges. These lodges meet for specific purposes outside of the scope of a standard Blue Lodge. These lodges are given the suffix "U.D." instead of a lodge number which is short for "Under Dispensation." This designation represents that the lodge has a special dispensation from the Grand Master to act in a specific manner.
Two of these lodges support themselves through annual memberships and the other has a cap of 100 members... but none of these U.D. Lodges may accept petitions for the Masonic Degrees.
Otherwise, lodges U.D. possess all the rights of a chartered lodge except a) the right to be represented at Grand Lodge, b) to elect and install its officers, and c) to hold a public celebration unless the consent of the Most Worshipful Grand Master is first obtained.
Schofield Lodge 1818, U.D.
On Founders' Day, January 12, 2019, 201 years after the Grand Lodge was formed, the Grand Master issued a dispensation permitting a lodge to be formed by the name of Schofield Lodge 1818 UD. Membership in the lodge is limited to Master Masons, and its purpose is to support the finances of the Schofield House through the Heritage Foundation. As such, membership is of a supporting nature and does not prove one's Masonic credentials as plural membership in another Lodge may. Because of this, your supporting member fee may be tax-deductible.
The Membership cost for the 1st year is $100.00. In the following years, membership is established at $65.00. The responsibilities of the appointed officers are to encourage Membership in the Lodge. Membership includes invitations to special events throughout the year.
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Dwight L. Smith Lodge of Research, U.D.
The Dwight L. Smith Lodge of Research is a special purpose Masonic lodge under Dispensation, created by the Grand Lodge of Indiana, F. & A. M. for the purpose of furthering research and interest in the history, customs, and societal impact of the Masonic Fraternity. Our mandate is to study these areas from a worldwide perspective, but with a particular emphasis on how they have impacted the lives of Masons, their families, and the general public in the State of Indiana.
Individual membership in the Dwight L. Smith Lodge of Research is open to all Master Masons in good standing in a lodge holden under the Grand Lodge F. & A. M. of Indiana or recognized by the same in the case of a non-voting Associate Member. Sponsorship of a present member of the Lodge or certification of Masonic Status by the applicant’s Lodge Secretary or Worshipful Master is required. Annual membership is $25.
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Bartimaeus Lodge, U.D.
Bartimaeus Lodge, U.D. is re-authorized annually to ensure that Indiana Freemasonry is open to all good men even if they are living with challenges that may otherwise prevent a lodge from conferring the Masonic Degrees. Bartimaeus Lodge will come alongside the candidate's lodge and arrange accommodations.
While membership is limited to 100 members, your primary takeaway should be that there is no reason that an otherwise qualified man be turned away from Masonry due to individual differences.
Affiliated Bodies
From Freemasons for Dummies Cheat Sheet, C. Hodapp
Freemasons are generally a social bunch who want more and more people to join in their love for their rituals. The mid-1800s saw the addition of more groups joining the Masonic family, including groups for female relatives of Masons, as well as their children.
Called appendant bodies, some of these groups developed to confer more-involved, Masonic-style degrees. Others satisfied the desire for military-style drill teams. Still, others were created to allow wives and children to take part in the lodge experience.
As mentioned earlier, we will not jump into detail on all of the Affiliated Bodies, but trust that you can learn more throughout your travels.
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