Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176P, § 2: Lodge system

Section 2. A society shall be deemed to be operating on the lodge system when it has a supreme governing or legislative body, and subordinate lodges or branches, by whatever name known, to which members are elected, initiated and admitted in accordance with its constitution, by-laws, and prescribed ritualistic ceremonies, and the subordinate lodges or branches are required by the by-laws of such society to hold regular or stated meetings at least once in each month.