PETITION TO SUPPORT THE FLORIDA EA/FC LEGISLATION

The following FLORIDA MASONS hereby support the pending
legislation to be voted upon at the 176th Annual Grand
Communications of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of
Free & Accepted Masons of Florida to be held in Jacksonville
on May 29th - June 1st, 2005.

Below is the proposed legislation:

ALLOW EA/FC BROTHERS TO ATTEND BUSINESS MEETINGS

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the business of a Particular Lodge may be conducted at
a Stated or Special Communications.

WHEREAS, Entered Apprentice (hereinafter "EA") and Fellow Craft
(hereinafter "FC") Brothers are currently prohibited from attending such
Communications as per Article X, Section 12 of the Constitution whereby:

"The work and business of the Lodge must be transacted in a Master Mason Lodge, except the work and lectures in conferring the Degrees of Entered
Apprentice and Fellow Craft; but those Degrees should be opened when there
is no work to be done, for the instruction of the young Masons, and all
Degrees should be closed at the close of every Stated Communication."

WHEREAS, it is desired to allow EA/FC Brothers to attend such Communications
in order to:

1. Instill a sense of belonging in the Lodge and, as such,
encourages their interest, loyalty and participation in Lodge activities.

2. Encourages them on their journey through Freemasonry by
promoting Masonic Education.

WHEREAS, the participation of EA/FC Brothers at Stated/Special Communications
is desired, voting and balloting should be restricted to Master Masons.

WHEREAS, several other Masonic jurisdictions have implemented similar
legislation, including the Grand Lodges of Alabama, Arizona, Colorado,
Connecticut, England, Idaho, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana,
Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Article X, Section 12 of the Constitution
be amended to read:

"The work and business of the Lodge will be conducted in a lodge of
Entered Apprentices. Any Entered Apprentice and/or Fellow Craft Mason
qualified to attend such meetings, shall not be permitted to ballot on
petitions or for the election of Officers, or to vote on the lodge business."

Note: This legislation does not alter section 35.01 - "All balloting must be
done in a Master Mason Lodge, and at Stated Communications; except by special
permission of the Grand Lodge or its authority."

(Note: One by-product of this legislation would be that it would encourage
Lodge officers to master the floor-work of all three degrees.)

Respectfully submitted:
W:.Timothy L. Bryce, P.M. - Zone 6 Chairman, Publicity & P.R.
R:.W:.William Petrey, D.D.G.M. - District 20
R:.W:.Jack G. Stabler, P.D.D.G.M. - District 20
R:.W:.William P. Macken, P.D.D.G.M. - Zone 5 Chairman, F.A. Endowement Fund