dimit

A dimit is a certificate or formal letter of withdrawal issued by a Masonic lodge (or similar fraternal body) to a member who wishes to leave the organization. The term comes from the Latin dimittere, meaning to send away or dismiss. When a member requests a dimit, the lodge grants formal permission for that member to withdraw in good standing, as opposed to suspension or expulsion for cause.

In Masonic practice, the dimit serves as proof that a member has settled all financial obligations to the lodge, maintained proper conduct, and left with the lodge's consent. The certificate typically bears the lodge seal, the date of issuance, and statements confirming the member's status and standing. A member who receives a dimit can petition to join another lodge elsewhere without restarting the degrees of initiation, though they may need to reaffiliate formally in their new jurisdiction.

A member typically requests a dimit by written petition to the lodge. The lodge secretary prepares the certificate once any outstanding dues are paid and the membership records are in order. The lodge may vote on granting the dimit, though consent is normally given as a matter of course if the member is in good standing. Some jurisdictions permit plural dimits for members relocating or temporarily inactive; others recognize only a single dimit per membership.

The dimit is distinct from other membership statuses. Suspension follows misconduct or non-payment of dues; expulsion is permanent removal for serious offense. A plural card or dual membership allows concurrent membership in multiple lodges without dimitting from the original. A member who simply stops attending without formally dimitting remains on the rolls until suspended or expelled after a set period of non-payment.

Trade usage of the term outside Masonry is rare but appears in historical industrial records where Masonic lodge membership overlapped with workplace organization. The word remains standard vocabulary in fraternal governance and lodge administration today.