Cannot disable By Invitation setting

I had originally setup the site to have BY INVITE only. But then disabled it, and it still registers an error saying the site is ONLY BY INVITATION. Before you reply, I have setup a browser who has no connection ot exposure to the site previously, and even as a guest, they get the same error that the site is Invite Only when they click on the JOIN

Where is the value stored in the database? and what to do to FORCE this to allow users to register and create a login

I found that if you have the Mass inviter by Modzzz , it takes over the system setting of BY INVITATION. If you have the system setting in Admin panel turned off, and have the same problem with the Invitation Only error on the JOIN NOW page, then disable the "Invitation Feature Turned On" within the Mass Inviter module. It is the very first option.