Can a Mason hold joint membership in more than 1 lodge? Be active in
both concurrently? Or does he have to be put on a sort of inactive list?  If
this is possible, how does a Mason go about joining a 2nd or 3rd lodge?

Thanks, JC

Yes, it’s called being a dual member (or multiple member).  The lodge you were raised in is considered your “home lodge”, but you would have equal voice in any and all lodges you choose to join in dues payment.  There may be a bit of paperwork—you would have to have your home lodge send a statement of standing or something like that to certify that you are a member in good standing, just so that everyone is on the same page as far as record-keeping is concerned.  For most, The lodge will get to vote to accept your membership, but you don’t have to redo your degree work.

You would be responsible for dues for both/all lodges, every year.  If you live someplace where dues are low and many lodges are close together, it’s a nice thing to do, it gives you more connection with those lodges you enjoy visiting on a regular basis. We have one guy in our area who must belong to 4 or 5 local lodges, and holds some kind of office in most of them!

The answer is yes, a Mason can belong to multiple lodges (I belong to three). But there are stipulations. A man will join one lodge at first. Once he has completed the MM degree, and is a Mason in good standing, then he is free to join other lodges, subject to the concurrence of his original lodge.

Some Grand Lodges permit their members to join as many lodges as they choose. Some Grand Lodges permit their members to join one lodge in their jurisdiction, and multiple lodges in other states. Some Grand Lodges permit their members to join only one lodge.  The regulations vary from Grand Lodge to Grand Lodge.

Some men join two lodges in their community, and are active in both.  Some men will take out a membership in another state, and cannot be active in a lodge that is hundreds of miles away.

If you wish to join multiple lodges, you should first inquire with the secretary of your home lodge, and verify the regulations with your Grand Lodge. If your home lodge permits plural membership, then contact the secretary of the second lodge, and ask for a petition of affiliation. Once the second lodge is satisfied that you are a Master Mason in good standing, your petition will be presented at a lodge meeting, and will be voted on.

The regulations vary from state to state. Some Grand Lodges require a petitioner to receive a unanimous ballot. Some require a 2/3 vote. Again, you should check the regulations of any lodge you wish to affiliate with.

Hey John

Looks like you got a lot of quick answers!

As the other brothers said, there is usually no issue with joining multiple lodges, but how it works does vary from state to state.

Generally, once you become a Master Mason in good standing in your Mother Lodge you may petition to “Affiliate” with as many other Lodges that you would like. You still go through the vetting process with each Lodge and will usually pay an
affiliation fee that may even (but not usually) be higher than the fee to
join your first Lodge. But because you are already a Mason it usually goes quite quickly.

I am a member of both a Lodge in the suburbs and one downtown where I work.
Some men find they enjoy the company of both, and others, like me, find I
spend most of my time and energy on one—in my case I became an officer
and Master of my downtown Lodge.

I am now considering joining a Lodge in Rhode Island since I now live in Providence. Even after 20 years as a member, the thought is kind of exciting.

Bob Heruska
Forum Administrator