How do I know you're a brother?

Verification of a visiting brother's Masonic standing occurs either through personal avouchment or formal examination conducted under the authority of the lodge 13. An unknown visitor may not be admitted without passing such an examination according to established usage unless a Master Mason present can vouch for him 3.

Personal avouchment requires lawful Masonic information 13. A brother possesses this information only if he has sat in an open lodge of Master Masons with the visitor or has previously subjected him to an authorized examination 13. The right to vouch belongs exclusively to Master Masons; Entered Apprentices and Fellowcrafts lack the requisite standing to vouch for others 1. Furthermore, lawful information cannot be conveyed by letter or through a third party 3.

Where no brother can vouch for a visitor, the Worshipful Master—who holds sole responsibility for purging the lodge—must order a formal examination 1. Private examinations undertaken without the Master's or Grand Master's authority are generally prohibited 1. The examination requires strict trial and due examination, during which the examiner inquires into the visitor's background, including the time and place of initiation, while avoiding leading questions or prompting 3.

Lodges also rely on administrative credentials, such as good standing cards issued under a recognized Grand Lodge, to guard against clandestine bodies or individuals who have been suspended 12. However, physical credentials alone do not replace the necessity of lawful Masonic information or formal examination 13.