A Master Mason, in good standing, has a right at any time to demand from his lodge a certificate to that effect.

Whatever other rights may appertain to Master Masons will be the subjects of separate sections.

Section II.

Of the Right of Visit.

Every Master Mason, who is an affiliated member of a lodge, has the right to visit any other lodge as often as he may desire to do so.  This right is secured to him by the ancient regulations, and is, therefore, irreversible.  In the “Ancient Charges at the Constitution of a Lodge,” formerly contained in a MS. of the Lodge of Antiquity in London, and whose date is not later than 1688,[81]it is directed “that every Mason receive and cherish strange fellows when they come over the country, and set them on work, if they will work as the manner is; that is to say, if the Mason have any mould stone in his place, he shall give him a mould stone, and set him on work; and if he have none, the Mason shall refresh him with money unto the next lodge.”

This regulation is explicit.  It not only infers the right of visit, but it declares that the strange Brother shall be welcomed, “received, and cherished,” and “set on work,” that is, permitted to participate in the work of your lodge.  Its provisions are equally applicable to Brethren residing in the place where the lodge is situated as to transient Brethren, provided that they are affiliated Masons.

In the year 1819, the law was in England authoritatively settled by a decree of the Grand Lodge.  A complaint had been preferred against a lodge in London, for having refused admission to some Brethren who were well known to them, alleging that as the lodge was about to initiate a candidate, no visitor could be admitted until that ceremony was concluded.  It was then declared, “that it is the undoubted right of every Mason who is well known, or properly vouched, to visit any lodge during the time it is opened for general masonic business, observing the proper forms to be attended to on such occasions, and so that the Master may not be interrupted in the performance of his duty."[82]

A lodge, when not opened for “general masonic business,” but when engaged in the consideration of matters which interest the lodge alone, and which it would be inexpedient or indelicate to make public, may refuse to admit a visitor.  Lodges engaged in this way, in private business, from which visitors are excluded, are said by the French Masons to be opened “en famille.”

To entitle him to this right of visit, a Mason must be affiliated, that is, he must be a contributing member of some lodge.  This doctrine is thus laid down in the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of England: 

“A Brother who is not a subscribing member to some lodge, shall not be permitted to visit any one lodge in the town or place in which he resides, more than once during his secession from the craft.”