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December 20, 2024 Clouds | 32°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Section 72: Fraternal names; use in publication

Section 72. Whoever, in a newspaper or other publication, or in any written or printed letter, notice, matter or device, without authority of the grand or supreme governing lodge, council, union or other governing body, fraudulently uses or aids in any way in the use of the name, title or common designation of any fraternity, association, society, order, organization or union which has such a governing body, having priority in such use in the commonwealth, or any name, title or designation so nearly resembling the same as to be calculated or likely to deceive; and whoever, without such authority, fraudulently publishes, sells, circulates or distributes any written or printed letter, notice, matter or device, in any way soliciting members of such fraternity, association, society, order, organization or union, or for any alleged or pretended fraternity, association, society, order, organization or union, using any such name, title, designation, or near resemblance thereto; and whoever therein or thereby in any way, without such authority, fraudulently offers to sell, confer, communicate or give information where, of whom or by what means any degree or work, in whole or in part, of such fraternity, association, society, order, organization or union, or of any alleged or pretended fraternity, association, society, order, organization or union using any such name, title or designation or near resemblance thereto, can or may be obtained, conferred or communicated, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or both.