masonic lodge election procedure

In most cases, the threshold is a majority of the votes cast. shall be immediately retaken, when, if a blackball again appears, the <> This example is based on moving to have nominations by committee, but the form is essentially the same for any of the methods. WB Christopher J. Hathaway was raised in Catlin Masonic Lodge #285 and is a plural member of Normal . Lodge Election Procedures "Worshipful Master (WM) or Preceding Officer" 1. (1) A District Grand Lodge Fund shall be established for charitable and other Masonic purposes to which every Lodge in the District shall make in respect of each of its subscribing members annual contributions of $5000.00 or such lesser amount as the District Grand Lodge shall by resolution from time to time determine. WM: "Brother Junior Warden, how stands the ballot in This saves time and allows for polling at a time and place other than a meeting. Persons serving on the committee can be nominated for office. It is considered a faux pas to cross . 0 places. The balloting committee can still count the ballots. If no candidate is found, the committee can leave that slot open for nominations from the floor. According to Robert's Rules, a motion to close nominations is out of order as long as any member wishes to make a nomination. Masonic politics is typically at its ugliest during elections when Brothers are charged with un-Masonic conduct for "electioneering." I find this all rather amusing as I believe our process for electing officers is far from perfect. Each question on a multipart ballot is counted as a separate ballot. accept?" If electronic machines are used for voting, they should be programmed so that each segment of the ballot is treated as if it were a separate ballot. >> /ExtGState << /Gs1 13 0 R >> /Font << /Tc1 10 0 R /TT2 9 0 R >> /XObject 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. Votes cast by illegal voters must not be counted at all, not even included in the number of total votes cast. ", WM: "Fair (cloudy) in the South, clear (dark) in the You take nominations from the floor for one office, and when no further nominations are forthcoming, you proceed to the balloting for that office. 4 0 obj WM: "Have all of the brethren of _______________ I've never see a script or outline, but it should proceed as follows: That sounds like the CA required verbiage. Robert's Rules on elections are very straightforward after what is often a politically charged prequel of nominating and campaigning. Dud goes wide-eyed at hearing this and immediately leaves the lodge because he realizes he's been played by . [Feedback]. 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. Same in NM amd OR. (rap). 8. will advance to the altar and cast their ballot. If you have only two candidates and the vote is a tie, you repeat the balloting until one candidate receives a majority. Club elections and officers are an integral part of the organization and must be conducted according to the group's bylaws and rules. Development] [Education] [Masonic 8 0 obj 16 0 obj The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. 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).. At the end of each successful vote the ballots the Senior Warden hands each ballot to the Junior Warden who announces By signing a petition for the formation of a new lodge, [ Chapter 39] 2. The Senior Deacon obtains the ballot box and presents Business meetings are held on the EA degree in European lodge. elected (rejected) Mister ___________ for the degrees of 3 0 obj When the next meeting begins, the first order of business is to hear the report of the balloting committee and for the presiding officer to announce the vote that was taken at the previous meeting. Secretary prepares ballots for each position to be xU]o@|_cZR%q"b$*/}E(k nK6hb'_ D(|}5Dsq PBY%_'Dru.{,dW9PeOw9 d6!=#3r/iby+4C~9^-GT.d We must open on the third and conduct all business that requires a vote on the third. Only MMs vote. "30*5gDcJuk.w^m=12Ua&0cE'|H%KV L%|c]c0l;v=[, Cj+M 38xHDL\. 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. << /ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageB /ImageC /ImageI ] /ColorSpace << /Cs1 7 0 R All Articles] [Masonic Procedure for Contempt: CHAPTER 101: Restoration after Suspension or Expulsion: CHAPTER 102: 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. States or elsewhere. j]Ic[faPhgcP0U0.!boS/]9[[3+:;:+:Q1DX. Lodge No. 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! ojx&^ 64>"> |&`mkG l[o;5``ek l[;5zk Vhp 5Pq_t.Z1lhp3M \H{Tl nF$UkavOv1nT#-`mkp;m ~l 3ohG nF_..}$38~?g}z+O}?.]7?"kR7tFWo'E^ "EJ*F/'NPTAT,4)/ItJl8KgHC#unG &;iL-;G[_gC 6{-sMIa{vN_CwNeCE +]`7)$k,2? Masonic Lodge Election Procedure HB89 - Tightens the time frames for issuance of firearms licenses by probate judges. Sometimes there is a split in the nominating committee over who to nominate. Discover the world's largest and oldest fraternal organization with over 3 million members. Lindale Masonic Lodge: 200 W. Margaret Street, Lindale, TX 75771 Main Location The HUB: 304 E. Ferguson Street, Tyler, TX 75702 Noonday Community Center: 16662 CR 196, Tyler, TX 75703 St.. Freemasonry (or Brother __________for affiliation)." Don't implement a new process to 450 lodges until it is . ", WM: "How in the West, Brother Senior Warden? If not, the members can vote again during that meeting for another candidate. x`TU?5%BBH*5XHRjD5IPJ@Z"MDE]sm.Cs)}{n/JFtZ_!ms6g:8_\Xt hq[gGBqvZ(}%p&N"4t 4b2hEs The election process may be the easiest part of deciding who handles a particular job in the organization. and the Past Masters around the Lodge and places the ballot box on the After the person elected to office assumes the position, it is too late to nullify an illegal election. << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> One of the most important franchises which the Masonic character offers is THE ELECTION OF MASTER FOR THE ENSUING TWELVE MONTHS. JavaScript is disabled. It varies! When two gavel knocks are heard, only officers of the lodge stand. - "The qualifications necessary are, that the candidate should be true and trusty, of good repute, held in high estimation amongst the fraternity, skilled in Masonic knowledge, and moreover a lover of the Craft; he . The Authorities for Masonic Law. The Senior Deacon then takes up a The secretary repeats the vote after recording it, to ensure accuracy. Introduction. If a member is not present to choose which office he or she wants to serve, the members vote on which office they want him or her to serve. 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." 1. Clearwater Lodge No. Enter your official identification and contact details. 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. It is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views If a person has been nominated to more than one office and is elected to two offices, he or she can choose which office he or she wants. 4 0 obj Achieve this by asking them to hang out with you. 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. Join a brotherhood of over 2,000,000 men of all ages, from all races, religions, and countries, and from all walks of life. By absolute demit, [ Chapter 76] 3. As soon as the committee reports, it is discharged from its duties. and the Master may oblige him to do so. Register a free account today to become a member! of altar. Here are things you can do to improve your fraternity while not being on a lodge officer: Strengthen the brotherhood - The foundation of brotherhood is the strength of the friendships between the brothers. Voting by ballot enables a member to vote for a candidate not formally nominated by writing in a name a write-in vote. 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. )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_? If the committee does its job well, the membership can enjoy some basic assurance that the candidates nominated have at least expressed interest in the job, have agreed to serve, and are qualified for the offices for which they're nominated. The committee then has to find a new nominee, and the members have to vote again. Blogs] [Links] First, the Entered Apprentice Degree, second, the Fellow Craft Degree and finally, the Master Mason Degree. 8. The motion to have a vote for a particular office recounted needs a second, is not debatable, and takes a majority vote to adopt. The Master may approve a collective ballot if there Polls closing or opening at times different than the times posted. Talks] [Masonic Balloting for your acceptance into a Masonic lodge After the investigative committee reports to the lodge, your petition is voted on. 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 2 0 obj so presented that each officer and member shall cast his ballot Since it is the obligation of every brother of the endstream endobj startxref visiting brother take his place so that the tiler may cast his 6. Yes, every year Masonic Lodges do have elections. Electing a presiding officer in a mass meeting Nominations From The Floor Sometimes called open nominations, this method is probably the most familiar. % 6 0 obj %PDF-1.5 Adam is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Pennsylvania and is employed as a Senior Manager of International Tax in Latrobe, PA. to the Junior Warden, then the Senior Warden and then the Worshipful The election of lodge officers is an annual event, specified in the lodge bylaws. Annual Meeting Election and Installation of Officers Annual Past Masters Night Symbolic Degree Refresher Application Avouching Back to Lodge Night Bringing Freemasonry to the Attention of Profane Correspondence Dress Entering an Opened Lodge Examination of Visitors Example Sheet - Lodge Programs General Grand Honors ), 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. You are using an out of date browser. The Secretary announces the results of the vote, a election of officers in April each year. At this time the endobj endobj Officers Duties and Responsibilities . West and bright (black) in the East. endobj Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. After the period during which a recount can be conducted has passed, you don't need to keep the ballots. If members leave during the meeting so that a quorum is not present, those offices not yet elected must be put off until an adjourned meeting or until the next meeting. States or elsewhere. My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum. Also, members rarely move to close nominations because, whenever no further nominations are offered, the chair usually just declares, "Hearing no further nominations, nominations for the office of [name the office] are closed.". 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. 1 0 obj 6 Y~0 0@ 6. petition(s) of _______________ for the degrees of Freemasonry, may use different methods of electing officers. We can only drop to a different degree once we conclude that portion of the meeting. These rules supersede the adopted parliamentary authority. When counting ballots, ballot counters need to keep a few key points in mind: Blank votes are treated as scrap paper and don't count at all. To which Blaise replies "Yeah, 200 bucks is pretty steep.". If someone is not willing to serve, the committee needs to meet again and find another candidate. The bylaws should not tie the hands of the committee to find more than one person to fill each slot; the committee should find the best candidate for each office. His term expires July, 2014.". Like any incidental main motion, an election can be decided by voice vote or by ballot. %PDF-1.3 Members then vote on a candidate to fill the remaining office. ballot drawer is empty and that there are both white balls and black "If so, I declare the endobj JavaScript is disabled. If something doesn't quite add up, a member should question it during the meeting. The organization must have another election. JFIF C 5 0 obj Nominations are taken for successive offices in the order they're listed in the bylaws. 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. ", SW: "Clear (dark) in the West, Worshipful. However, it disadvantages candidates who lose an election for a position decided earlier and then can't serve a different position. If your assembly's members are accountable to a constituency, your rules may require you to conduct your elections by roll-call vote. 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. Some Lodges have their bills paid automatically each month electronically, such as for utilities and telephones for example. <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.44 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> % of the District of Columbia Since it is the obligation of every brother of the Lodge to vote, the Master should invite the tiler in and have a visiting brother take his place so that the tiler may cast his vote. <> 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. 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. Masonic Lodges, Masonic Organizations, and Youth Orders may conduct in-person meetings and events in compliance with county and city restrictions, if any. 1. qQ^&FJ J } The most important thing associations or governments can do is appoint conscientious and honest people to serve on the ballot counters' committee and to watch the polls. The ballots are tallied very much like an election ballot, and the report becomes the list of nominees for each office. Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. In a voice vote, the winner is easy to determine and the vote is over when someone wins the election. applicant shall be declared rejected. Nominees do not have to leave the room during the nominations, when the vote is taken, or when the vote is counted. inviolably preserved. endobj A person can nominate himself or herself. Suddenly it's 3am. Crossing the G. In most grand lodge jurisdictions, rituals call for an altar to be placed in the center of the lodge room holding the respective Volume of Sacred Law. However, calling nominations from your seat is often impractical, so you may want to adopt a more formal nomination process. Masters are required to see that the ballot box is Masonic Etiquette Summary: Masonic etiquette is simply the rules of good manners which make lodge meetings pleasant for everyone. If lodge functions go smoothly, it is the Master who takes the credit. (After June 15, individual counties and cities could choose to continue their own meeting limitations, in which case those limitations would continue in force.) Illegal votes cast by legal voters count toward the total votes cast, but they don't count for any individual choice or candidate. Balloting must continue until a candidate receives a majority. As JPM of my lodge, I've been asked to serve in this role for our upcoming officer elections. At the Worshipful Masters order the Wardens to Secretarys table and put the ballots into one of the hats. The assembly then votes again on the other office. For every expense, large or small, the Secretary is to write a voucher which is to be countersigned by the Worshipful Master and passed on to the Treasurer for payment. [What is Freemasonry] [Leadership altar. If you have a nominating committee in place, ask this group to declare their nominee for a specific officer role. <> 1. When the nominating ballot is received, the signed inner envelope containing the ballot is logged in against a list of voting members, and the ballot is deposited in a receptacle for tallying like an election ballot. %%EOF programs and procedures of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, a Masonic District and their Lodge. It's never in order to vote Yes or No (or For or Against) a candidate when electing persons to office. To help with the Masonic experience at Lodge meetings, you were allowed to open on any degree, and use the Chamber Register a free account today to become a member! 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. You are using an out of date browser. Jump to content The Official RONR Q & A Forums 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. 7. Master informs the successful individual as follows: "Brother hbbd``b`n@` ! The only way you can vote against a candidate is to vote for another person. 1. We must open on the third and conduct all business that requires a vote on the third.

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