Brethren, St. John’s No. 1 will be reopening for our stated communication on July 1, 2020. This meeting will be conducted under guidelines issued by the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire. Please review these guidelines listed carefully – they are a requirement for us to be able to meet. Stage 2 requirements and subsequent notices will be posted as the situation progresses. PLEASE NOTE; It is recommended that those brothers considered in a high risk category ( 65 years of age and older, and /or with medical conditions remain home at this time).

Stage 1 Reconvene Stated Communications and Special Communications 

Masonic Lodges shall communicate to members and workers that if they are feeling sick, are exhibiting any of the following symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell), or have potentially been exposed to someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, then they should not attend Lodge Communications or in-person activities. A potential exposure means having household contact or having close contact (within 6 feet) with an individual with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 for a prolonged period (over 10 minutes) while the person is symptomatic or 48 hours before symptoms developed. 

Persons who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control (e.g., due to age 65 or greater, or underlying medical conditions), are encouraged to stay home. 

Restrictions for Stated and Special Communications: 

Occupancy Limitations o All Lodges shall limit occupancy to levels compliant with state and local guidelines, while assuring compliance with 6-foot social distancing within the Lodge Room. 

o The Worshipful Master shall designate a Lodge Officer to monitor the number of attendees entering the Lodge building to ensure compliance with the maximum occupancy level. 

Per CDC guidelines o Continue to practice social distancing—this may include the Chaplain finding another seat in the Lodge to ensure being at least 6 feet from the Master. All Brethren must be seated at least 6 feet from each other 

o All attendees and members must wear face coverings or masks while inside and while entering and exiting Lodge buildings or otherwise participating in in-person meetings, except where a person is unable to wear a face covering or mask because of a medical or disabling condition. 

o Please wash your hands frequently 

o Cleanliness of the Lodge and Lodge building • All common area surfaces will be cleaned before you reopen: doorknobs, bathroom, and kitchen surfaces, etc. 

All Lodge implements will be cleaned—Gavels, Wardens Truncheons, Rods, etc. 

The Lodge will be thoroughly cleaned before and after communications and gatherings 

If available, an abundance of hand sanitizer will be readily accessible 

Until further notice, I am suspending the sending up/down of the Grand Masonic Word for Stated Communications opened under the Master Mason Degree 

Lodges/members will launder their white aprons before and after use 

Use of shared items such as officer aprons and collars are discouraged at this time 

When conducting a ballot, the Ballot Box will be placed in a central location within the Lodge Room (not on the Altar), and Brethren will be asked to cast their ballot in a socially distant manner. Use of hand sanitizer immediately following balloting is encouraged. If 

hand sanitizer is not available, then following the vote, the Master is encouraged to put the Lodge at ease so that the Brethren may wash their hands. • Get well or similar cards will not be passed around the Lodge. The Secretary is authorized to sign the card on behalf of the Lodge and members present 

No handouts will be distributed 

Consistent with the 6-foot separation rule, no handshakes, elbow bumps, or hugs are allowed 

Lodge communications shall not have a communal gathering pre- or post-service (e.g., dinner or collation) at this time

Meals to accompany meetings have resumed, but with restrictions

No dine-in public meals (spaghetti dinners, community breakfasts, etc.) are allowed at this time. Community to-go meals are allowed

Investigating committees – Face-to-face investigations are allowed so long as you are compliant with the above guidelines (social distancing, use of hand sanitizer and face masks) 

o You are still encouraged to meet at the prospect’s home, but meetings should be held outside 

If a Masonic Lodge or building has an attendee or worker who has tested positive for COVID-19, it shall notify the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire Office and follow all state and local laws to assist in contact tracing, isolation and self-quarantine. The Office will inform the DDGM and Grand Master of any such occurrences

To ensure that social distancing is honored, no Visitations will be held in June 2020. 

A modified Degree Inspection process is currently being developed. Until that process is introduced, no Degree Inspections will take place. Please also refrain from holding Degree rehearsals until further notice