masonic lodge election procedure

endobj The Senior Deacon presents the ballot to each officer (or for affiliation) which has received a unanimously favorable Members should be alert to some undemocratic political practices in organizations. Lodge Election Procedures "Worshipful Master (WM) or Preceding Officer" 1. In most cases, the threshold is a majority of the votes cast. Only MMs vote. 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. endobj Since it is the obligation of every brother of the F powered by Dr. Stefanus Hadi, Ph.D. visit www.FLIVE.com email: [email protected] follow Clubhouse: @stefanus send SMS Text to +1 213-749-8777 Los Angeles, California 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. 7. other regular Masonic body other than those stated. or opinion To which Blaise replies "Yeah, 200 bucks is pretty steep.". Persons serving on the committee can be nominated for office. If members don't understand exactly how it works, the ones whose preferred candidate doesn't get voted on are likely to think something is amiss. The election of lodge officers is an annual event, specified in the lodge bylaws. As each nomination is received (assuming multiple candidates), ask each nominee "If elected, are you willing to serve?" You are using an out of date browser. %PDF-1.7 % It varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Ask for nominations for an officer position. j]Ic[faPhgcP0U0.!boS/]9[[3+:;:+:Q1DX. Sometimes the committee is revived to make nominations to fill vacancies. will advance to the altar and cast their ballot. Masonic etiquette decries anyone who does not obey the gavel. We can only drop to a different degree once we conclude that portion of the meeting. WM: "Brethren, you have heard read the 4 0 obj << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> shall be immediately retaken, when, if a blackball again appears, the collectively, and in the case of one blackball appearing therein it 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. *.MXPY!~@Aa%^ N&4D1la`:v@Ai,^t #. 6. 9. If members haven't used the machine before, it may be wise to show them how to use it the day before the election. An officer election form is a document used by groups, clubs, and organizations to elect leaders and fill vacant positions. In Tennessee, the only time you open an EA or FC lodge is to confer those degrees. The balloting committee can still count the ballots. As soon as the committee reports, it is discharged from its duties. Masonic Lodge Officer Duties For Their Term in Office: 1 Year Appointed Lodge Officer Positions: The other officers, which include the Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Senior Steward, Junior Steward, Marshal, Tiler and Chaplain are appointed positions by the Worshipful Master. The committee must carefully review the eligibility requirements for each office and see that the nominees meet these requirements. stream Voting by ballot enables a member to vote for a candidate not formally nominated by writing in a name a write-in vote. When holding ballot elections, you have two procedural options: Nominations for all offices conclude before any balloting begins. WB Christopher J. Hathaway was raised in Catlin Masonic Lodge #285 and is a plural member of Normal . Depending on the Grand Lodge, this can be anywhere from 18 to 25. ), 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. NOTE: This is only a suggested procedure. At the Worshipful Masters order the Stewards At the end of each successful vote the ballots All business is done in a MM lodge. Join us as we strive to make good men better by teaching universal values through the use of geometry and architecture metaphors. 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. The Masonic rituals provided here are as practiced under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Nevada, circa 1986. endobj Or, members can also finish the election at the next regular meeting if the meeting falls within a quarterly time period. New Jersey checking in. 0 should be destroyed. ballot drawer is empty and that there are both white balls and black If lodge functions go smoothly, it is the Master who takes the credit. 1. States or elsewhere. Confusion concerning the balloting process generally derives from lodge traditions being introduced into the elements of balloting that are not fully explained in our Code. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. This may be done by the Master, under a provision of the bye-laws giving him the authority, or on his own responsibility, in which case he is amenable to the Grand Lodge for the correctness of his decision. been rejected by a Lodge shall again be proposed within six months after Your group's rules and customs determine when floor nominations are accepted. Sometimes called open nominations, this method is probably the most familiar. In determining how long to hold the ballots before destroying them, your main consideration is the possibility of needing a recount. The Senior Deacon obtains the ballot box and presents endobj Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. 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. {V++6o <>`ulr<>[lLDdTVVQ4Mt{<1iz;E 3. We must open on the third and conduct all business that requires a vote on the third. In balloting on a petition for affiliation, if one blackball No candidate whose application has After the period during which a recount can be conducted has passed, you don't need to keep the ballots. Voting machines having wedges inserted to prevent the lever from going down all the way. 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. 234 0 obj <> endobj The position of Worshipful Master in the East occupies the most exalted position within the lodge. By signing a petition for the formation of a new lodge, [ Chapter 39] 2. 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 . time immemorial. WM: "You will present the ballot to the officers and 2. Illegal votes are, Two or more marked ballots folded together (together they count as only one illegal vote). [Feedback]. gjzUS&31+W&nck')*Uf{|mON6E4GKIpFT(o o.RJ MXqy-) MR <> Does any brother wish to have collect the ballots, the Deacons approach the altar, pick up the hats, After the committee reports, the chair states: President: The nominating committee nominates Alex Shaw for president, Bianca Fernandez for vice president, Raymond Platt for secretary, and Donna Agnese for treasurer. endobj 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. 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. mistake.". In Texas, per Art. If the lodge is not able to contact the individual after a reasonable period of time, the non-paying Mason is dropped (suspended). 2. <> This example is based on moving to have nominations by committee, but the form is essentially the same for any of the methods. 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. Usually the president closes nominations when no further nominations come forward from the assembly. Master informs the successful individual as follows: "Brother After the brethren have cast their ballots. Each question on a multipart ballot is counted as a separate ballot. it to the Master who inspects the ballot box making sure that the salute with the Worshipful Master. endobj stream Books Online] [E-Books] [Library Of This requires secretaries (and possibly grand secretaries if different jurisdictions) to get involved, but is a somewhat common occurrence. the name on the ballot and the Secretary repeats the name and tallies If this occurs and it does not affect the outcome of the vote, the election is still valid. Ballot voting is the preferred voting method in situations in which knowing how all the members voted isn't desirable. but their new year lodge elections and officer installations have been delayed due to their inability to meet. $.' In the vote for Secretary, unless he is retiring, You simply say, "Mr. Chairman, I move that the chair appoint a committee of three to consider and make recommendations on the replacement of Mr. Exeter, who has resigned as chairman of the membership committee." 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. 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 hb```BVG ea8 P}+/m %PDF-1.3 A member can't make the motion to adjourn while the assembly is occupied with taking a vote, verifying a vote, or announcing a vote, except when the vote is by ballot. Procedure for Contempt: CHAPTER 101: Restoration after Suspension or Expulsion: CHAPTER 102: altar.". Blogs] [Links] <> Taking nominations by mail is basically the same as taking nominations by ballot. <> As JPM of my lodge, I've been asked to serve in this role for our upcoming officer elections. 6. <> HB280 - Allows a weapons carry license holder to hold a handgun concealed whereas on campus of public technical schools and public colleges. Talks] [Masonic The advanced tools of the editor will guide you through the editable PDF template. According to Robert's Rules, a motion to close nominations is out of order as long as any member wishes to make a nomination. 75-3 METHODS OF AFFILIATION. 1. 1 0 obj endstream endobj startxref 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 masonic lodge election procedure; shkolla viktor hygo logo October 28, 2021. masonic lodge election procedure . Masonic Lodges, Masonic Organizations, and Youth Orders may conduct in-person meetings and events in compliance with county and city restrictions, if any. <> 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. 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. %PDF-1.5 Lodge No. Adam is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Pennsylvania and is employed as a Senior Manager of International Tax in Latrobe, PA. 3. 6 Y~0 0@ For this reason, members should listen carefully to the report of the ballot counters' committee. 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. Booth Lodge 100-100C, be amended . 5 0 obj 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. cubes in the box. Illegal votes cast by legal voters count toward the total votes cast, but they don't count for any individual choice or candidate. is more then one candidate for the degrees. AUTHORITY. TURNING YOUR BACK: Never turn one's back on the Master to address the lodge without first-receiving permission If a member notices a mistake in procedure, he or she should immediately make the chair and assembly aware of his concerns. 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. Magazines Online] In this case, the members must vote again until one candidate receives a majority vote. 1. 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. 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. 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. Freemasons meet in a temple, which they call a "lodge", as that is where ancient stonemasons met when working on a church or cathedral Lodges are grouped by region, roughly in line with the old. A member can rise and decline the nomination during the nominating process. Sometimes there is a split in the nominating committee over who to nominate. One of the most important franchises which the Masonic character offers is THE ELECTION OF MASTER FOR THE ENSUING TWELVE MONTHS. /Rotate 0 >> This site is not an official site of any recognized Masonic body in the United Don't implement a new process to 450 lodges until it is . % Masonry doesn't care about your worldly wealth or social position. If you have only two candidates and the vote is a tie, you repeat the balloting until one candidate receives a majority. In a ballot vote, after the ballot counters have collected all the ballots, a member can make the motion to adjourn. If someone is not willing to serve, the committee needs to meet again and find another candidate. 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. When called on to give the report, the chairman of the nominating committee states the nominations for each office. Same in NM amd OR. Do you Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. Lodge to vote, the Master should invite the tiler in and have a Clearwater Lodge No. 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. However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. 4[>56[Wbz ; ~D.Lf Y`S=#A.%* ^Ckk8a)W=Lt!z3 EHDG}S?#&,y$OAYNOQ kKl_B ? 2. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. In a voice vote, the winner is easy to determine and the vote is over when someone wins the election. Some organizations add nominees to the ballot only if the name is submitted on a petition signed by some minimum number of members. The secretary repeats the vote after recording it, to ensure accuracy. other regular Masonic body other than those stated. Join a brotherhood of over 2,000,000 men of all ages, from all races, religions, and countries, and from all walks of life. A ballot shall be taken for the three degrees A Lodge member who has held the highest office in the Lodge has for life a Masonic position of his own. 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. 98% sure that it is. 0 [What is New] The secretary places all nominations in the minutes. the South? When it comes to ballot elections, your election isn't complete until a position is filled, and a position is never filled until a candidate receives the threshold number of votes required for election. The Secretary announces the results of the vote, a However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. 14 0 obj 1. ", WM: "How in the West, Brother Senior Warden? If you have a nominating committee in place, ask this group to declare their nominee for a specific officer role. One vote against the petitioner generally rejects him. In either case, you need to appoint reliable ballot counters to hand out and collect ballots and to count the votes. ;D[{cv,#(145:n') That means run-offs are just plain out of order. 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. yy MWY*^K$@48SyFHv! Secretary prepares ballots for each position to be endobj 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. << /Im1 11 0 R >> >> The Senior Deacon then takes up a Yes, every year Masonic Lodges do have elections. The Worshipful Master orders the Wardens to take The ballots are tallied very much like an election ballot, and the report becomes the list of nominees for each office. If the ballot vote decides an election, you're instructed to write the name of the nominee of your choice on your ballot. After nominations are closed, the vote is taken on each nominee in the order in which they were nominated. announce the results of the vote. 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. 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. once petition the same or any other Lodge in the jurisdiction. %%EOF <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> endobj All Articles] [Masonic You must log in or register to reply here. inviolably preserved. vote. or opinion 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.". Same in NM amd OR. endobj A member may for indecorous or unmasonic conduct be excluded from a single meeting of the lodge. Each officer and member, before voting, must exchange the If a minority of the committee wishes to nominate someone else, the members in the minority can make the nomination when nominations are taken from the floor. If a member leaves one part blank, the votes entered on the other questions still count. 7 0 obj Another problematic practice to watch out for is nominating someone for office who is not eligible. Masonic Lodge Election Procedure HB89 - Tightens the time frames for issuance of firearms licenses by probate judges. 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