If I join a new lodge before demitting from the mother lodge, will I still need to go through the initiation ceremony again at the new lodge? Typically, if you join a new lodge before formally demitting from your mother lodge, you will need to go through the initiation ceremony again at the new lodge. This is because each lodge is an independent entity, and membership in one lodge does not automatically transfer to another. However, some Grand Lodges allow Master Masons to be 'plural affiliates,' meaning they can be members of more than one lodge simultaneously without needing to repeat the initiation ceremony. But this privilege is not universal and can vary by jurisdiction.
How is demitting from the mother lodge after joining a new lodge different from demitting from the mother lodge and then joining a new lodge? The key difference between joining a new lodge before demitting and demitting after joining is the formal process of resignation. When you join a new lodge first, you are not formally resigning from your mother lodge, whereas demitting involves a formal resignation from your current lodge. If you demit first and then join a new lodge, you will not need to repeat the initiation ceremony unless the new lodge requires it as part of their membership process.