Inform

Each District Deputy Grand Master shall visit every Lodge in his District, at a Stated or Called Communication, at least once during his term of office, and of such intended visit he shall give notice to the Master or Secretary of the Lodge. He shall examine the records of the Lodge, and see if they are regularly kept, inform himself of the number of members, inquire into the condition of the Lodge, point out any errors he may observe in the condition or manner of working, instruct the Lodge in every particular wherein he may conceive them to require information, recommend attention to the moral and benevolent principles of the institution, caution in the admission of candidates, and a punctual representation of their Lodge in every Communication of the Grand Lodge. When any District Deputy Grand Master shall discover, either in his own District or any other part of the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, any Masonic error or evil, he shall immediately endeavor, by Masonic means, to arrest its progress, and if he shall judge it expedient he shall forward to the Grand Master full information of the whole subject. The District Deputy Grand Master shall, under direction of the Grand Master, receive the whole property belonging to any dormant or extinct Lodge, and, except in cases where a different disposition shall be made, or hereafter may be made, in relation to any part of the whole thereof, forward to the Grand Secretary the several Charters, Jewels, Seals, books, papers, etc., and sell the furniture or other personal property of such Lodge, and account to the Grand Lodge for the proceeds thereof. Previous to every Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, every District Deputy Grand Master shall so far as it is proper to be done, make out in writing a full report of the state of each Lodge in his District and forward it to the Grand Master. 

CHAPTER 10

DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND MASTERS AND DISTRICT INSTRUCTORS

As to Appointment, Installation, Term, Title, Vacancies, Succession, and Discipline of Grand Lodge Officers, See Chapter 5

POWERS AND DUTIES

GENERAL

Constitutional Provisions

The officers of the Grand Lodge are: “a District Deputy Grand Master from each Masonic District, which Districts shall not exceed twenty-eight (28) in number, who shall be appointed by the Grand Master, the title of each being Right Worshipful.” (2016) (Art. II, Sec. 1 - Excerpt)

Each District Deputy Grand Master shall visit every Lodge in his District, at a Stated or Called Communication, at least once during his term of office, and of such intended visit he shall give notice to the Master or Secretary of the Lodge. He shall examine the records of the Lodge, and see if they are regularly kept, inform himself of the number of members, inquire into the condition of the Lodge, point out any errors he may observe in the condition or manner of working, instruct the Lodge in every particular wherein he may conceive them to require information, recommend attention to the moral and benevolent principles of the institution, caution in the admission of candidates, and a punctual representation of their Lodge in every Communication of the Grand Lodge. When any District Deputy Grand Master shall discover, either in his own District or any other part of the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, any Masonic error or evil, he shall immediately endeavor, by Masonic means, to arrest its progress, and if he shall judge it expedient he shall forward to the Grand Master full information of the whole subject. The District Deputy Grand Master shall, under direction of the Grand Master, receive the whole property belonging to any dormant or extinct Lodge, and except in cases where a different disposition shall be made, or hereafter may be made, in relation to any part of the whole thereof, forward to the Grand Secretary the several Charters, Jewels, Seals, books, papers, etc., and sell the furniture or other personal property of such Lodge, and account to the Grand Lodge for the proceeds thereof. Previous to every Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, every District Deputy Grand Master shall so far as it is proper to be done, make out in writing a full report of the state of each Lodge in his District and forward it to the Grand Master. (Art. VI, Sec. 11)

References

The District Deputy Grand Master is privileged to install the Master-elect of a Lodge in absence of the Grand Master and Deputy Grand Master. Const. Art. X, Sec. 9; Chapter 19

Regulations

10.01   No Dispensation is necessary to enable a District Deputy Grand Master to hold a district convention, but if a Lodge is opened it must be under the auspices of a Lodge in the District. When a Degree is conferred it must be upon a candidate regularly elected by a Particular Lodge.

10.02   In case of failure of a District Deputy Grand Master to visit any Lodge or Lodges in his District, he may appoint some competent Past Master to visit such Lodge or Lodges for him, and to report to him the status of the same.

10.03   The District Deputy Grand Master is the personal representative of the Grand Master. Any officer, board, commission, or committee desiring the assistance of or action by the District Deputy Grand Master shall first obtain approval of request for such assistance or action before such request is made of the District Deputy. (1984)

10.04   All reports of District Deputy Grand Masters must be made to the Grand Master at least thirty days before the first day of the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, and such reports shall not be made to the Grand Lodge; the Grand Master to take such cognizance of such reports as he may deem proper.

10.05   When a District Deputy Grand Master answers a question on Masonic Law, his answer is advisory only and must be referred to the Grand Master at once for confirmation.

10.06   The Constitution of this Grand Lodge confers no power upon a District Deputy Grand Master to grant Dispensations for any purpose. Their duties are clearly defined in the Constitution and cannot exceed the limitations there fixed.

10.07   According to proper Masonic usage and practice, no Brother shall wear his hat while being received by a Particular Lodge except the Most Worshipful Grand Master in person.

10.08   The District Deputy Grand Master may approve in writing a change of meeting place for any single or particular Stated Communication of a Particular Lodge within his Masonic District, provided such change has been approved by special action of the Lodge and that written notice is given to the membership of the Lodge.

PRESIDING OFFICER

References

When all of the three principal Officers of a Lodge are absent the Lodge may be opened and presided over by the District Deputy Grand Master. Const. Art. X, Sec. 31; Reg. 25.18

LODGE COMMUNICATIONS IN GROUND FLOOR ROOMS

References

The approval of the District Deputy Grand Master must be secured for a Lodge to hold its Communications in ground floor rooms. Reg. 6.12(c)

ELIGIBILITY FOR APPOINTMENT

Regulations

10.09   No Brother shall be appointed Grand Marshal, Senior Grand Deacon, Junior Grand Deacon, Grand Standard Bearer, Grand Sword Bearer, Senior Grand Steward, Junior Grand Steward, Grand Pursuivant, Grand Tyler, or District Deputy Grand Master who is not a Past Master of a Florida Lodge. Any Master Mason in good standing in a Florida Lodge shall be eligible for appointment to any other Grand Lodge appointive office or position and to any Grand Lodge Committee, Board, or Commission. (1982)

DISTRICT INSTRUCTORS

Regulations

10.10   The Grand Master is authorized to appoint one District Instructor for each Masonic District, with one additional Spanish Speaking District Instructor in District 27, which District appointments shall not exceed twenty-nine (29) in number, for a term of one year, to work in their respective Districts under the Supervision of the Grand Lodge Committee on Work, subject to the approval of the Grand Master. (2021)

Each District Instructor shall hold a minimum of a Blue Card certificate of proficiency; provided, however, a Brother appointed as District Instructor who does not have such minimum requirement shall be permitted ninety (90) days within which to achieve such degree of proficiency.

The title of a District Instructor shall be “Right Honorable District Instructor” and the title of all Past District Instructors shall be “Right Honorable Past District Instructor” for life. District Instructor may be abbreviated “D.I.” and Right Honorable Past District Instructor may be abbreviated “R∴H∴ P.D.I.”. (2008)

Masonic Districts

10.11   The Grand Secretary shall annually compile and publish in an appropriate appendix to the Proceedings a list of the Masonic Districts, the name and number of the Lodges in each District, the place and time of Stated Communications of such Lodges, and the name, address, and telephone number of the District Deputy Grand Master.

This compilation shall be the official allocation of Lodges and Districts for the year of such publication.

10.12   There shall be seven (7) Masonic Zones with the twenty-nine (29) Districts as follows (2022):

Zone 1 - Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 (2016)

Zone 2 - Districts 6, 7, 10, & 12 (2016)

Zone 3 - Districts 8, 9, 11, & 13 (2016)

Zone 4 - Districts 14, 18, 19, 20, & 21 (2016)

Zone 5 - Districts 15, 16, 17, & 22 (2016)

Zone 6 - Districts 23 & 24 (2016)

Zone 7 - Districts 25, 26, 27, 28, & 29 (2022)

The officers of the Grand Lodge are: “a District Deputy Grand Master from each Masonic District, which Districts shall not exceed twenty-eight (28) in number, who shall be appointed by the Grand Master, the title of each being Right Worshipful.” (2016) (Art. II, Sec. 1 - Excerpt)

ELIGIBILITY FOR APPOINTMENT

Regulations

10.09   No Brother shall be appointed Grand Marshal, Senior Grand Deacon, Junior Grand Deacon, Grand Standard Bearer, Grand Sword Bearer, Senior Grand Steward, Junior Grand Steward, Grand Pursuivant, Grand Tyler, or District Deputy Grand Master who is not a Past Master of a Florida Lodge. Any Master Mason in good standing in a Florida Lodge shall be eligible for appointment to any other Grand Lodge appointive office or position and to any Grand Lodge Committee, Board, or Commission. (1982)