masonic lodge election proceduremasonic lodge election procedure

By absolute demit, [ Chapter 76] 3. Ask for nominations for an officer position. Adam is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Pennsylvania and is employed as a Senior Manager of International Tax in Latrobe, PA. Officers Duties and Responsibilities . 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. Freemasonry, the teachings and practices of the fraternal (men-only) order of Free and Accepted Masons, the largest worldwide secret societyan oath-bound society, often devoted to fellowship, moral discipline, and mutual assistance, that conceals at least some of its rituals, customs, or activities from the public (secret societies do not 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! $.' Or, members can also finish the election at the next regular meeting if the meeting falls within a quarterly time period. It is the duty of every member present to vote, appears the ballot shall be immediately retaken, and if a blackball 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. This method requires more time for the election process, making it probably best limited to smaller groups. Are there any further nominations for president? Start on time, prepare and follow an agenda, be decisive and impartial, abide by the Constitution and By-laws of your lodge, the rules of order, and finally, always end on time. Enter your official identification and contact details. In a voice vote, the winner is easy to determine and the vote is over when someone wins the election. Election of Master and Treasurer 36 Exclusion under Rule 181 Procedures to be carried out 31,32 Files To be kept 5 Foreword 2 Forms Grand Lodge 5 Grand Rank Procedure 33 Hall Stone Jewel When it can be worn 18 Honorary Membership Disabilities, Election, Status 13 Installation Night Toast 19 Leaflets Information 5 Business meetings are held on the EA degree in European lodge. 6 0 obj ", WM: "How in the West, Brother Senior Warden? In either case, you need to appoint reliable ballot counters to hand out and collect ballots and to count the votes. Master informs the successful individual as follows: "Brother 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. endobj Because this form of voting favors one candidate over another based on the order of nomination, you should avoid using it except in mass meetings or when there's no serious contest for the office and a ballot is not required. Members should be alert to some undemocratic political practices in organizations. ballot closed." 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. After the person elected to office assumes the position, it is too late to nullify an illegal election. <> A member has the right to vote until the polls are closed. yy MWY*^K$@48SyFHv! It's used in the vast majority of situations in which members elect their officers at a meeting. 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. Discover the world's largest and oldest fraternal organization with over 3 million members. The balloting committee can still count the ballots. Since it is the obligation of every brother of the Grand Lodge Dues 24 Conducting an Election of Officers 24-25 Section . Join us as we strive to make good men better by teaching universal values through the use of geometry and architecture metaphors. JFIF C When two gavel knocks are heard, only officers of the lodge stand. distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. I guess that would depend on the jurisdiction. the vote. 6. The organization must have another election. <>>> (After June 15, individual counties and cities could choose to continue their own meeting limitations, in which case those limitations would continue in force.) However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. endobj The election (or rejection) of a candidate in a Masonic lodge is a secret ballot, and with few exceptions, must be completely unanimous. stream 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. - "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 . endobj 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 8. The election of lodge officers is an annual event, specified in the lodge bylaws. 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. 75-3 METHODS OF AFFILIATION. Often the extra ballot comes from someone who has entered the assembly but has not signed in to the meeting. If someone is not willing to serve, the committee needs to meet again and find another candidate. 14 0 obj endobj Votes cast by illegal voters must not be counted at all, not even included in the number of total votes cast. Organizations can create and write election rules to correct this mistake. The Committee on Masonic Education and Information of . I've never performed or even practiced the role before, though via "osmosis," should be able to piece it together to at least a minimally functional level. The election process may be the easiest part of deciding who handles a particular job in the organization. (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. All Articles] [Masonic should be destroyed. It is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views cubes in the box. If your assembly's members are accountable to a constituency, your rules may require you to conduct your elections by roll-call vote. The only exceptions are: (1) a newly instituted lodge, (2) one that has received written approval from the General Governor, based upon membership action, or (3) an emergency situation requiring the election to be changed or waived. The minutes may say, for example, "Eric Olson was elected to the board for two years. endobj Achieve this by asking them to hang out with you. 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. petition(s) of _______________ for the degrees of Freemasonry, The committee must carefully review the eligibility requirements for each office and see that the nominees meet these requirements. Ballot voting is by far the surest way to allow for the free expression of the will of the membership. takes up his place at the tilers door. If the motion is adopted, the assembly can adjourn before the vote is announced if it has another meeting scheduled. Chapter 63 covers general voting and Chapter 68 covers the secret ballot. All business is done in a MM lodge. white ball elects; a black cube rejects. The following shall be the methods of affiliation: 1. (or for affiliation) which has received a unanimously favorable [What is Freemasonry] [Leadership The Guide is designed to be an easy-to-use reference based on the law and regulations as well as the knowledge and experience of OLMS staff. By transfer of membership, maintaining continuous membership, and 4. However, it disadvantages candidates who lose an election for a position decided earlier and then can't serve a different position. 6 Y~0 0@ Ballot voting is the preferred voting method in situations in which knowing how all the members voted isn't desirable. This example is based on moving to have nominations by committee, but the form is essentially the same for any of the methods. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. The best thing an organization can do is adopt rules that tell how to proceed if a member challenges an election or if a person is illegally elected to office and has begun to serve. If something doesn't quite add up, a member should question it during the meeting. After the brethren have cast their ballots. The Senior Deacon obtains the ballot box and presents When the nominations stop, the chair just declares nominations closed after making sure that no more nominations are forthcoming. In writing the nomination, election, and vacancy conditions in the bylaws, the organization should make sure that if a vacancy is created early in the term of office, the vacancy is filled by election instead of by appointment, whenever possible. If an elected candidate declines the office after he or she is elected and after the meeting has adjourned, another election needs to take place, if at all possible. The Senior Deacon closes the lid on the ballot. endobj Freemasonry's Requirements for Membership. Conducting an Election of Officers p. 25 Section III. so presented that each officer and member shall cast his ballot 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. If counting ballots takes some time, it is best for the assembly to take a recess instead of adjourn. You are using an out of date browser. In balloting on a petition for affiliation, if one blackball However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. One of the most important franchises which the Masonic character offers is THE ELECTION OF MASTER FOR THE ENSUING TWELVE MONTHS. 8 0 obj Whatever nomination method you propose, be specific. JavaScript is disabled. However, in some national organizations that meet yearly or biennially (every two years), this is difficult. vote. 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. 4[>56[Wbz ; ~D.Lf Y`S=#A.%* ^Ckk8a)W=Lt!z3 EHDG}S?#&,y$OAYNOQ kKl_B ? 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. JavaScript is disabled. programs and procedures of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, a Masonic District and their Lodge. charge of the Ballot and they pick up the hats, take them to the An officer election form is a document used by groups, clubs, and organizations to elect leaders and fill vacant positions. The Master may approve a collective ballot if there The Grand Lodge was founded shortly after George I, the first Hanoverian king of the Kingdom of Great Britain, ascended to the throne on 1 August 1714 and the end of the first Jacobite rising of 1715.. Officially, the Grand Lodge of England was founded in London on St. John the Baptist's day, 24 June 1717, when four existing Lodges gathered at the Goose and Gridiron Ale-house in St. Paul's . altar. No matter which procedure you use, the order in which you take up each election is the order in which the offices are listed in your bylaws. Register a free account today to become a member! 2. 705 South Hercules Avenue. endobj To help with the Masonic experience at Lodge meetings, you were allowed to open on any degree, and use the Chamber To lend a professional air to the proceedings, suggest that brothers wear a collared shirt and tie, especially the candidates. %PDF-1.5 % 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. endstream rejection. West and bright (black) in the East. One example occurs if a person is elected and then resigns, the office is considered vacant, and the president or board fills it by appointment instead of having another election. Masonic etiquette decries anyone who does not obey the gavel. The ballots are tallied very much like an election ballot, and the report becomes the list of nominees for each office. The Master then casts his own vote. Clearwater Lodge No. _____ and place it on the A motion to open nominations, when made by a member, is usually a motion to reopen nominations after they have been closed. endobj 292, elections may be held in a lodge opened in an EA as long as there is an EA attending. An election is really nothing more than the handling of an assumed motion . Decision Making For Dummies. election of officers in April each year. 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. At the end of each successful vote the ballots %`y`aSW2.9]!BBI Marshal takes up his place at the West Gate and the Junior Deacon The brother responds. Secretary prepares ballots for each position to be If the organization uses a nominating committee and then takes nominations from the floor, the secretary records the nominating committee's report first and then lists nominations for each office in the order they are presented as given by the members from the floor. <> Here are some other things to consider during the election process: A quorum needs to be present throughout the election meeting. 2. endobj 3. Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. REG. Illegal votes are, Two or more marked ballots folded together (together they count as only one illegal vote). [Feedback]. [ 11 0 R] Brethren, I declare that you have All Articles] [Masonic <>>> %PDF-1.5 Magazines Online] gjzUS&31+W&nck')*Uf{|mON6E4GKIpFT(o o.RJ MXqy-) MR Another problematic practice to watch out for is nominating someone for office who is not eligible. the Senior Warden hands each ballot to the Junior Warden who announces a portion or all of the petition(s) reread? 2 0 obj 4. inviolably preserved. Lodge No. ___________, you have been elected to serve as ____________ of Work on making your brothers become better friends. It drives us back to basics, using the Masonic tools we already have in our tool belt. 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. Lodge to vote, the Master should invite the tiler in and have a %PDF-1.3 << /Im1 11 0 R >> >> New Jersey checking in. If you had to move before you finished receiving the three degrees of the blue lodge, you'd need lodge B to perform courtesy work. [Feedback]. or opinion Each officer and member, before voting, must exchange the Master. States or elsewhere. [Articles] [Masonic Ie!W2UP7MEdq-2Y+(jVW`Y, z?D;tr>[iqqF7!FR$uh?%b Senior Deacon,", WM: "Prepare and present the ballot box.". <> In the vote for Secretary, unless he is retiring, Ballot counters should cast their ballots at the same time that the assembly votes. stream endobj When three gavel knocks are given by the Master ALL in attendance in the lodge stands up. Same in NM amd OR. No officer of a Masonic lodge may take up his elected or appointed duties until formally installed to his office by proper authority. 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. If there is a question about the way a ballot is marked, the ballot counters should take it to the presiding officer. These rules supersede the adopted parliamentary authority. Here is how: You must first find a Masonic lodge location near you, contact them, and ask for a petition to join. The Senior Deacon presents the ballot to each officer The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. 0 Sometimes called open nominations, this method is probably the most familiar. After nominations are closed, the vote is taken on each nominee in the order in which they were nominated. Each incoming class of three shall consist of the incoming Junior Warden of the lodge (which has its own bylaws), and. Lodge Trustees and Charity Foundation become available for you and published in the members only area of our web site so that you know how Grand Lodge and its organizations are spending your money and conducting their business. x`TU?5%BBH*5XHRjD5IPJ@Z"MDE]sm.Cs)}{n/JFtZ_!ms6g:8_\Xt hq[gGBqvZ(}%p&N"4t 4b2hEs 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. 1. Does any brother wish to have * Development] [Education] [Masonic <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Remember brethren, a position north of the altar. Fund raising is underway. 6. Once you're a Master Mason, you've got a few options. TURNING YOUR BACK: Never turn one's back on the Master to address the lodge without first-receiving permission All business is done in a MM lodge. The Antimasonic party, whose avowed goal was the destruction of the Masonic Lodge and other secret societies, was the first influential third party in the United States and introduced the. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. 234 0 obj <> endobj Election of Officers of a Lodge: CHAPTER 55: Installation of Officers of a Lodge: CHAPTER 56: Officers of a Lodge, Term, Resignation, and Title . Pause. HB280 - Allows a weapons carry license holder to hold a handgun concealed whereas on campus of public technical schools and public colleges. Nominations don't have to be seconded, but it's not out of order for members to second a nomination to signal their endorsement. /Rotate 0 >> Suddenly it's 3am. <> If anyone is elected, and it is discovered after the election that the person is not eligible, the election of that officer is null and void. 8. The presiding officer can continue presiding, even if he or she is one of the nominees for the office. Some Lodges hb```e``b`f``cg@ ~}"S-(1I)|p(0)P5oDurCAfG3f1,-- d$WZ3bVasYf`$exq> )Zg I've never see a script or outline, but it should proceed as follows: That sounds like the CA required verbiage. f;-^*//%^je)R%^eKuZJQ\LU/Zgy:FDt8KF:US1OG+T/5i]\V5qhw`6mjzS"m].#{T^]q p;43[9[C nF^y' 64 A member may for indecorous or unmasonic conduct be excluded from a single meeting of the lodge. xU]o@|_cZR%q"b$*/}E(k nK6hb'_ D(|}5Dsq PBY%_'Dru.{,dW9PeOw9 d6!=#3r/iby+4C~9^-GT.d Only MMs vote. In Texas, per Art. Some practices to watch out for include: Ballot boxes being stuffed or written ballots being changed. A Lodge supporting this vital outreach of the Foundation, will be properly noted. Blogs] [Links] 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. Some Lodges have their bills paid automatically each month electronically, such as for utilities and telephones for example. will advance to the altar and cast their ballot. If members adjourn before an election is complete, they should set the time for an adjourned meeting to finish the election. 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. The Senior Deacon presents the ballot for examination applicant shall be declared rejected. A properly planned and executed meeting results in good participation. When called on to give the report, the chairman of the nominating committee states the nominations for each office. Jewels of Masonic Secretary The Secretary's official duties include issuing the summons (a formal notice of an impending meeting, with time, date and agenda), recording meeting minutes, completing statistical returns to the Grand Lodge, and advising the Worshipful Master on matters of procedure. Brother Secretary conduct a roll call. endstream endobj 37 0 obj <>stream Interestingly, some years ago, Virginia implemented a dues amnesty program. 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). The Authorities for Masonic Law. Balloting must continue until a candidate receives a majority. Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Education: CHAPTER 31: Lodge Service Commission: CHAPTER 32: . In Kentucky, the individual is normally sent a certified letter. Masters are required to see that the ballot box is A parade of misfortunes had culminated by forcing potato planter Fred Jensen to stop his cross-country dash 85 miles short of his destination. 3 0 obj 4 0 obj 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.

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