), Members rarely make a motion to close nominations because it's never in order to make this motion as long as anyone wants to make a nomination. Members then vote on a candidate to fill the remaining office. However, in some national organizations that meet yearly or biennially (every two years), this is difficult. $.' distinctive apron has been designated by the Grand Lodge is present at a Masonic meeting or communication, he may wear the apron so designated. so presented that each officer and member shall cast his ballot The requirement for election by ballot is a majority, and a candidate has no obligation to withdraw just because he polls low numbers. This ceremony, revised in 2013 relies heavily on the work of the prolific Masonic author and commentator, Robert Macoy who first set it down in WM: "Have all of the brethren of _______________ For the qualifications of candidates in order to join a Masonic Lodge in Texas there are a series of "Freemason requirements". Masonic Lodges, Masonic Organizations, and Youth Orders may conduct in-person meetings and events in compliance with county and city restrictions, if any. Achieve this by asking them to hang out with you. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. It is important to remember that once someone is elected, the election can't be rescinded unless there is some provision for it in the bylaws. A member may for indecorous or unmasonic conduct be excluded from a single meeting of the lodge. 4 0 obj At the Worshipful Masters order the Wardens to This requires secretaries (and possibly grand secretaries if different jurisdictions) to get involved, but is a somewhat common occurrence. After nominations are closed, the vote is taken on each nominee in the order in which they were nominated. Because fraud does happen in the election process, members need to be alert and watchful of the election process. These could lead The Constitution is clear on the proper procedure Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. If it is discovered after an election that the person elected does not meet the eligibility requirements, and even if the person has begun to serve, the election is void. These rules supersede the adopted parliamentary authority. Join us as we strive to make good men better by teaching universal values through the use of geometry and architecture metaphors. 1. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. By signing a petition for the formation of a new lodge, [ Chapter 39] 2. Polls closing or opening at times different than the times posted. That job belongs to the presiding officer, who reads the report again to the members, concluding with a formal declaration of the result. All Articles] [Masonic 1. The election of lodge officers is an annual event, specified in the lodge bylaws. This saves time and allows for polling at a time and place other than a meeting. Rules may include how long the organization saves ballots and how long members can wait to challenge an election. An election is really nothing more than the handling of an assumed motion, with the question being on whom to elect to fill a position. The Lodge web page must not link to or be linked to by any website where a conflict . The secretary repeats the vote after recording it, to ensure accuracy. You follow the same procedures for elections by ballot, as far as arriving at the point of the election is concerned, but instead of casting your vote by ballot, each member announces his vote when the secretary calls that person's name. In the vote for the position of Worshipful Master The position of Worshipful Master in the East occupies the most exalted position within the lodge. After the person elected to office assumes the position, it is too late to nullify an illegal election. At this time the 9 0 obj One of the most important franchises which the Masonic character offers is THE ELECTION OF MASTER FOR THE ENSUING TWELVE MONTHS. << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> %%EOF If you become a Free Mason, you will: Join both the oldest and the largest fraternity in the world. As Masons, we hone our skills to apply their use, improving ourselves daily. salute with the Worshipful Master. If the bylaws don't prohibit it, a person can be nominated for more than one office and can even serve in more than one office if elected. petition(s) of _______________ for the degrees of Freemasonry, The Necessity of Lodge Audits | Freemason Information [What is Freemasonry] [Leadership Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation. 54 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[]/Index[33 34]/Info 32 0 R/Length 100/Prev 87331/Root 34 0 R/Size 67/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream I guess that would depend on the jurisdiction. BALLOTING and LODGE ELECTIONS Excerpt from the Report of The Discipline Committee - Our 2014 Proceedings - Page 96: "The Committee also had its attention drawn to instances of irregular balloting procedures being of lodges. Ballot voting is the preferred voting method in situations in which knowing how all the members voted isn't desirable. Sometimes called open nominations, this method is probably the most familiar. endobj If members question the validity of an election or the procedure in taking the vote, a member should make a motion to recount the votes within a reasonably brief time after the president announces the election outcome. distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. At the Worshipful Masters order the Stewards Same in NM amd OR. 11 0 obj Grand Master's Decisions on Masonic-Sponsored Meetings and Events Masonry doesn't care about your worldly wealth or social position. ByLaws - Clearwater Lodge No. 127, F&AM The advanced tools of the editor will guide you through the editable PDF template. <> Your group's rules and customs determine when floor nominations are accepted. << /Length 12 0 R /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 610 /Height 521 /ColorSpace 1. The election of lodge officers is an annual event, specified in the lodge bylaws. RESOLVED, that the Handbook of Masonic Law, Digest of Edicts, sec- Authors of Resolution: Bros. John F. tion on Perpetual Membership, pages Knox, Jr., P.M., W.H. elected. In most of the same grand lodge jurisdictions, there is also a G painted, sculpted, or otherwise suspended in the symbolic East of the lodge room (typically over the Master's chair).. endobj Sometimes nominations aren't taken until the election is pending, and sometimes they're taken at other times, such as at a meeting before the election meeting. Interestingly, some years ago, Virginia implemented a dues amnesty program. >> /ExtGState << /Gs1 13 0 R >> /Font << /Tc1 10 0 R /TT2 9 0 R >> /XObject endstream endobj 37 0 obj <>stream Grand Lodge Officers - Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania That means run-offs are just plain out of order. Masonic Etiquette Summary: Masonic etiquette is simply the rules of good manners which make lodge meetings pleasant for everyone. PDF Constitution of The Grand Lodge When two gavel knocks are heard, only officers of the lodge stand. No one should be nominated without his or her consent because, if elected, the person may decline to serve and members will have to hold another election. How to Conduct an Election of Officers (with Pictures) - wikiHow (The chair usually just announces the opening of nominations at the appointed time when they are in order. The laws which govern the institution of Freemasonry are of two kinds, unwritten and written, and may in a manner be compared with the "lex non scripta," or common law, and the "lex seripta," or statute law of English and American jurists. Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox! During an election, especially when ballot counters are not trained or when candidates are running in opposition, members may become aware of mistakes or illegal procedures in collecting or counting the ballots. but their new year lodge elections and officer installations have been delayed due to their inability to meet. 1.01 Charter: This Lodge exists by virtue of a Charter, dated 20th day of January, 1892 from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Florida, and is located in the City of Clearwater, in the County of Pinellas, in the State of Florida. It may not display this or other websites correctly. We can conduct lodge business in the EA degree in Minnesota, but only Master Masons can vote. the vote. ____ for the ensuing Masonic year. ballot drawer is empty and that there are both white balls and black Past Masters of ____________ Lodge No. Magazines Online] WM: "The brethren of ____________ Lodge No. If members haven't used the machine before, it may be wise to show them how to use it the day before the election. Using a nominating committee to assemble a list of willing and qualified candidates for office can greatly benefit members when the time comes to select their leaders. A member has the right to vote until the polls are closed. other regular Masonic body other than those stated. <> However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. For this reason, members should listen carefully to the report of the ballot counters' committee. 587 How Not to Be Stumped on Fraternity Elections - omegafi.com 4 0 obj First, the Entered Apprentice Degree, second, the Fellow Craft Degree and finally, the Master Mason Degree. Robert's Rules on elections are very straightforward after what is often a politically charged prequel of nominating and campaigning. A late-arriving member can vote only with other members' consent by majority vote. From his home in Pocatello, Idaho, across almost 3000 miles of highway, Fred's car had given trouble, and now, at Henniker, N.H., the cooling system finally gave up. It varies! inviolably preserved. These Masonic rituals represent three degrees which are taken in sequence. The Masonic Oath is hugely significant, as it is represents a Masons' integrity and is an example of their strong bond to all other brothers within the fraternity. Announce that you are about to conduct the election of Lodge officers for the ensuing Masonic year and state that you will now accept nominations for the office of WM. Sent from my LG-H811 using My Freemasonry Pro mobile app. When using this procedure, make it clear that a person can be nominated for and elected to more than one office. 6. announce the results of the vote. 9. Election of officers | My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Election of Officers of a Lodge: CHAPTER 55: Installation of Officers of a Lodge: CHAPTER 56: Officers of a Lodge, Term, Resignation, and Title . The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. The bylaws of a charitable trust affiliated with a masonic lodge provide that its 9-member board consists of three "classes"of three, each class serving rotating three-year terms. This site is not an official site of any recognized Masonic body in the United unobserved by others, so that the secrecy of the ballot shall be When called on to give the report, the chairman of the nominating committee states the nominations for each office. 2017 2 PREFACE This Manual has been assembled to enable Brethren to better understand the laws, customs, programs and procedures of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, a Masonic District and their Lodge. In Tennessee, the only time you open an EA or FC lodge is to confer those degrees. Chapter 63 covers general voting and Chapter 68 covers the secret ballot. stream 4 0 obj Note: Prior to opening elections, the WM will go over prerequisites, eligibility, exceptions, nominations, limitations and procedures in accordance with Lodge By Laws and the ACGL Code, sections 2.21 through 2.29. At the Worshipful Master s order the Stewards distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. Here are some other things to consider during the election process: A quorum needs to be present throughout the election meeting. Depending on your organization and the decisions being made, balloting may take place during a meeting, or polls may be open during polling periods including times when no meeting is in progress. been rejected by a Lodge shall again be proposed within six months after The presiding officer can continue presiding, even if he or she is one of the nominees for the office. Master informs the successful individual as follows: "Brother stream This method is applicable when, Appointing members to committees, if specified in the motion creating the committee, or if prescribed in the bylaws, Electing a presiding officer in a mass meeting. Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Education: CHAPTER 31: Lodge Service Commission: CHAPTER 32: . Once you're a Master Mason, you've got a few options. [What is Freemasonry] [Leadership Business meetings are held on the EA degree in European lodge. A motion to close nominations is usually not necessary unless it is apparent that members are nominating people just to honor them, and that the nominees have no intention of serving. No officer of a Masonic lodge may take up his elected or appointed duties until formally installed to his office by proper authority. Two top hats are placed on the kneeling pad at foot of altar. PDF Lodge Election Procedures1 - ACGL Section 12: How To Run A Good Business Meeting - Masonic Grand Lodge of After the brethren have cast their ballots. Every lodge is incorporated and required to have corporate officers. election of Trustees to Board - General Discussion - The Official RONR The secretary places all nominations in the minutes. In determining how long to hold the ballots before destroying them, your main consideration is the possibility of needing a recount. If it's determined that enough illegal votes were cast by illegal voters to affect the result, and these votes can't be identified and removed from the count, then the vote is deemed null and must be retaken. <> All eyes are upon the Master. The Senior Deacon presents the ballot to each officer report from the investigating committee. Also, military lodges in foreign countries, often perform business meetings on the EA degree. The report of the nominating committee is usually given under "special orders." The Master may approve a collective ballot if there He is ultimately responsible for every other lodge officer and their duties, every lodge committee, ritual and degree work, Masonic education, social functions, fundraisers, District and Grand Lodge liaison, Trestle Board communication, etc. Blogs] [Links] His term expires July, 2014.". Only one (1) official website per Lodge will be recognized by the Grand Lodge and linked to by the Grand Lodge of Georgia's website. On the Approaching Election to the Masonic Chairs The committee must carefully review the eligibility requirements for each office and see that the nominees meet these requirements. <> ;J @*Ix~6ia 023X85i=%/v')^KkHaQaA {DCAH ' SECRETARY FORMS AND REPORTS | Grand Lodge of Georgia, F. & A.M. It is possible that because of a mistake in counting the ballots, or another procedural mistake, someone can be declared elected to office when he or she did not receive the majority votes. the South? should be destroyed. hb```e``b`f``cg@ ~}"S-(1I)|p(0)P5oDurCAfG3f1,-- d$WZ3bVasYf`$exq> )Zg Chapter XVII - Suggested Procedure For Electing Lodge Officers Masonic etiquette decries anyone who does not obey the gavel. You are using an out of date browser. It will take you step by step through the election process, help you to identify your responsibilities during each step, and provide suggestions to make your job easier. REG. The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. . A Lodge member who has held the highest office in the Lodge has for life a Masonic position of his own. Work on making your brothers become better friends. JFIF C The Anti-Masonic Party in the United States : 1826-1843 - Google Books A website endorsed by a Lodge will be considered the official Lodge website, and will be subject to these criteria and rules. These elections are to vote on new top lodge officers in the blue lodge. If they don't set a time for an adjourned meeting, they can call a special meeting (if the bylaws allow this). Here is how: You must first find a Masonic lodge location near you, contact them, and ask for a petition to join. If not, the members can vote again during that meeting for another candidate. <> The main advantage here is that it allows members to consider the election results of one office before proceeding to the election of another office. While the . <> ;D[{cv,#(145:n') appears the ballot shall be immediately retaken, and if a blackball Secretary prepares ballots for each position to be elected. He or she should present it to the assembly to decide what to do with the vote - whether to count it and toward what name to credit the vote. it to the Master who inspects the ballot box making sure that the A member shouldn't offer more than one nomination to a position if there are several seats for the same office such as for nominees to a board or a committee until all other members have had the opportunity to make nominations. endstream endobj startxref Does any brother wish to have [ 11 0 R] mistake.". 8 0 obj The Louisiana Freemason Spring 2020 Issue by Grand Lodge of Louisiana 7. 7 0 obj 2. Your organization needs officers, maybe committee members, and other positions decided by a vote of the membership. %`y`aSW2.9]!BBI Locals file for May 6 city, school board elections; many unopposed JavaScript is disabled. The Authorities for Masonic Law. You must log in or register to reply here. When the secretary prepares the eligibility list for the meeting, only those members who are willing to serve are on the list. Persons serving on the committee can be nominated for office. JavaScript is disabled. To lend a professional air to the proceedings, suggest that brothers wear a collared shirt and tie, especially the candidates. endobj Nominations are taken for successive offices in the order they're listed in the bylaws. "30*5gDcJuk.w^m=12Ua&0cE'|H%KV L%|c]c0l;v=[, Cj+M 38xHDL\. 3 ways to keep your Masonic Lodge from closing its doors Blogs] [Links] Votes cast by illegal voters must not be counted at all, not even included in the number of total votes cast. altar. If your bylaws don't require you to conduct an election by ballot, and if candidates are unopposed or there's no major contest for an office, you can save time with a simple voice vote (or viva voce). Organizations can create and write election rules to correct this mistake. According to Robert's Rules, a motion to close nominations is out of order as long as any member wishes to make a nomination. /Rotate 0 >> endobj endstream endobj startxref The Code has two primary chapters that describe the process of voting in subordinate lodges. 13 0 obj 11 0 obj 2. 6 Y~0 0@ WM: "Brother Junior Warden, how stands the ballot in Conducting Local Union Officer Elections | U.S. Department of Labor <> APPOINTMENT. <> Secretarys table and put the ballots into one of the hats. Brother Secretary conduct a roll call. << /Im1 11 0 R >> >> xU]o@|_cZR%q"b$*/}E(k nK6hb'_ D(|}5Dsq PBY%_'Dru.{,dW9PeOw9 d6!=#3r/iby+4C~9^-GT.d 10. [What is New] vote. . Brethren, I declare that you have We must open on the third and conduct all business that requires a vote on the third. collect the ballots, the Deacons approach the altar, pick up the hats, stream Yes, every year Masonic Lodges do have elections. States or elsewhere. You have to fill out and file with the Lodge Secretary a Petition for the Degrees of Freemasonry, pay the required fee, and attach a copy of your birth certificate. When presenting the nominations or taking the vote for a list of offices, the president should follow the order of offices that appears in the bylaws. The Principles of Masonic Law/Chapter XX - Wikisource 2. 5 0 obj 8. ", WM: "How in the West, Brother Senior Warden? Remember brethren, a The Master then casts his own vote. Whenever you need to specify a way to come up with nominees, as you probably will for situations your bylaws don't cover, you use a motion related to the method of nominations. may use different methods of electing officers. endobj It's never in order to vote Yes or No (or For or Against) a candidate when electing persons to office. WM: "You will present the ballot to the officers and If officers assume their duties immediately after the meeting is adjourned, it is then too late to question the election. Each officer and member, before voting, must exchange the altar.". If the bylaws specifically address this situation, members should follow the bylaws. Can't interrupt a speaker who has the floor or a member making a nomination, Requires a majority vote (except the motion to close nominations, which requires a two-thirds vote), Can be reconsidered if it's a negative vote to reopen nominations. 2. time immemorial. The duty of a nominating committee is to find the best candidate for each office. 3. Be careful and make no If you have only two candidates and the vote is a tie, you repeat the balloting until one candidate receives a majority. Some organizations add nominees to the ballot only if the name is submitted on a petition signed by some minimum number of members. This site is not an official site of any recognized Masonic body in the United State which position is open for election or re-election, and invite members of the organization to come forward with their nominations for the position. The Senior Deacon closes the lid on the ballot. A decision on how long to keep them can be made at the meeting when the vote takes place, or a short retention period for ballots can be adopted as a standing rule. <> Past Masters have a standing in Masonic Law; certain duties may be assigned to them. Adam is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Pennsylvania and is employed as a Senior Manager of International Tax in Latrobe, PA. If a member is elected and not present and has not previously said that if elected he or she will serve, someone should call the member to see if he or she will accept the office. If there is a question about the way a ballot is marked, the ballot counters should take it to the presiding officer. However only Masters can vote. The Closely Guarded Secrets of the Masonic Lodge - Freemasons Community HB280 - Allows a weapons carry license holder to hold a handgun concealed whereas on campus of public technical schools and public colleges. A write-in vote is a legal vote unless it's unintelligible or cast for an unidentifiable or ineligible person or for a fictitious character, in which case it's counted as an illegal vote. If the ballot vote decides an election, you're instructed to write the name of the nominee of your choice on your ballot. Some Lodges in Season 1, episode 2 of Lodge 49 on AMC, our hero Dud (Wyatt Russel) tells Blaise (David Pasquesi) "You'd have more people if the membership fee wasn't so high.". Since it is the obligation of every brother of the [Feedback]. yy MWY*^K$@48SyFHv! The person who gets the most votes may not have a majority of the votes. He serves as Chairman of the Trustees of Title to the Masonic Temple and other Real Estate of the Grand Lodge, is a Trustee of the Consolidated Fund and Trustee of the Masonic Charities Fund. By establishing plural membership in a North Carolina * (rap once). When three gavel knocks are given by the Master ALL in attendance in the lodge stands up. Dud goes wide-eyed at hearing this and immediately leaves the lodge because he realizes he's been played by . << /ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageB /ImageC /ImageI ] /ColorSpace << /Cs1 7 0 R of altar. The election process may be the easiest part of deciding who handles a particular job in the organization. a portion or all of the petition(s) reread? Sometimes there is a split in the nominating committee over who to nominate. This method gives voters an idea of the group's preferences without holding an actual election. The conventions are over, election day draws near, and the usual round of political rhetoric from candidates is blasted all over the TV, radio and internet, voters begin to wear out and are usually just ready for Election Day to be over with. If polling is conducted outside of a meeting, members should verify their credentials with election officials when casting their votes at the polls, and members' names should be checked on a list showing who has voted. endstream endobj 34 0 obj <>>>/Metadata 18 0 R/Pages 31 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 35 0 obj <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]>>/Rotate 0/Type/Page>> endobj 36 0 obj <>stream It's used in the vast majority of situations in which members elect their officers at a meeting. 246 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<75266C93CDC0804A95BB4A6C74B63ADD>]/Index[234 30]/Info 233 0 R/Length 67/Prev 302045/Root 235 0 R/Size 264/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream Masonic Rituals for the Blue Lodge - Ephesians 5:11 In a ballot vote, after the ballot counters have collected all the ballots, a member can make the motion to adjourn. Ie!W2UP7MEdq-2Y+(jVW`Y, z?D;tr>[iqqF7!FR$uh?%b j]Ic[faPhgcP0U0.!boS/]9[[3+:;:+:Q1DX. endobj )Cv`3!VOYe%K]'d4'kH&]x*"W.L+P|WUyl>TlUTZZh=7wE%4 DoH+5%Y+*:*2*&^Ol\Td4G]:^[DdVXQn*mNI#]Vv?v:]W6x H|z=|-!q1 oF?$Ul(V1C:[jhDe4nsl65gpr'fKuo2a0$T$W.6 ` 5SR_? Mail or absentee ballots not arriving on time or mysteriously disappearing when the time comes to count them. majority of those voting being necessary for election, and the Worshipful By absolute demit, [ Chapter 76] 3. %PDF-1.5 This method of nominations is based on the principle of allowing all voters to make nominations for all offices by completing a nominating ballot. The motion to have a vote for a particular office recounted needs a second, is not debatable, and takes a majority vote to adopt.
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