The preliminary form is then presented at the next Officers' Meeting and, if all is satisfactory, letters will be sent to the referees asking their opinions in confidence of the candidate. The candidate is given further forms to complete, in much more detail. They will also have a talk with his wife, possibly alone, and satisfy themselves that she is quite happy about her husband's application to join the Craft, and that she does understand and agree with the commitments, both in terms of finance and time. If necessary the committee may give them together some of the information referred to in the previous chapter, although this should have been provided by the Proposer much earlier in the proceedings. The visiting committee reports back to the Lodge and, if all is satisfactory, the application becomes formal.
Initiation can follow at any regular meeting within twelve months.
All this presumes no hitch in the proceedings, but should any cause for dissatisfaction arise then the proceedings could be delayed and, in event of problems proving insurmountable, then the worst might occur and the application be refused. This, of course, would be most embarrassing to all concerned, not least the Proposer, and really the responsibility for ensuring it cannot occur lies with him. A person who is refused at a late stage is bound to feel resentment, and that does no good for Freemasonry, no matter how justified. He may collect and take the candidate with him to Lodge, introducing him as necessary to the Master, Secretary and Tyler, and will leave him to the tender mercies of the latter, from which point the candidate simply does as he is told. After the ceremony the Candidate usually receives special treatment.