:7YA/gOwNw|\g[u|I}?F. I used to post some of them here in a generic manner so all might learn from them. When two gavel knocks are heard, only officers of the lodge stand. Jump to content The Official RONR Q & A Forums States or elsewhere. If there is a question about the way a ballot is marked, the ballot counters should take it to the presiding officer. Introduction. %PDF-1.5 % At the end of each successful vote the ballots Masonic Lodge Officer Duties and Responsibilities In the vote for Secretary, unless he is retiring, These rules supersede the adopted parliamentary authority. When the nominations stop, the chair just declares nominations closed after making sure that no more nominations are forthcoming. The above procedure is repeated for each position or hb```BVG ea8 P}+/m Like all of us, I've heard it annually since the election in the year of my raising. 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. 4 0 obj 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. 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. Balloting for your acceptance into a Masonic lodge After the investigative committee reports to the lodge, your petition is voted on. The ballots are tallied very much like an election ballot, and the report becomes the list of nominees for each office. The person who gets the most votes may not have a majority of the votes. The Committee on Masonic Education and Information of . collect the ballots, the Deacons approach the altar, pick up the hats, It varies! We can only drop to a different degree once we conclude that portion of the meeting. WB Christopher J. Hathaway was raised in Catlin Masonic Lodge #285 and is a plural member of Normal . WM: "You will present the ballot to the officers and <> {V++6o <>`ulr<>[lLDdTVVQ4Mt{<1iz;E ^. Magazines Online] These elections are to vote on new top lodge officers in the blue lodge. All business is done in a MM lodge. 3 ways to keep your Masonic Lodge from closing its doors Only members entitled to vote are given ballots or are allowed to deposit ballots with a ballot counter or place them in the ballot receptacle. Ballot voting is the preferred voting method in situations in which knowing how all the members voted isn't desirable. Senior Deacon,", WM: "Prepare and present the ballot box.". 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 When using this procedure, make it clear that a person can be nominated for and elected to more than one office. 98% sure that it is. Organizations can create and write election rules to correct this mistake. If they don't set a time for an adjourned meeting, they can call a special meeting (if the bylaws allow this). However only Masters can vote. Lodge to vote, the Master should invite the tiler in and have a 4[>56[Wbz ; ~D.Lf Y`S=#A.%* ^Ckk8a)W=Lt!z3 EHDG}S?#&,y$OAYNOQ kKl_B ? The secretary repeats the vote after recording it, to ensure accuracy. Robert's Rules on elections are very straightforward after what is often a politically charged prequel of nominating and campaigning. %%EOF The Principles of Masonic Law, by Albert G. Mackey, M.D. A ballot shall be taken for the three degrees Masonic lodge officer - Wikipedia We must open on the third and conduct all business that requires a vote on the third. APPOINTMENT. 14 0 R /BitsPerComponent 8 /Filter /FlateDecode >> 3. 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. endobj ByLaws - Clearwater Lodge No. 127, F&AM 13 0 obj Freemasonry | Definition, History, Stages, Lodges, & Facts Illegal votes are, Two or more marked ballots folded together (together they count as only one illegal vote). 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. distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. [What is New] Nominations are taken for successive offices in the order they're listed in the bylaws. At the Worshipful Masters order the Stewards If a member votes for fewer choices than positions to be elected, the vote is legal and those votes count. collectively, and in the case of one blackball appearing therein it The duty of a nominating committee is to find the best candidate for each office. altar. <> may use different methods of electing officers. As each nomination is received (assuming multiple candidates), ask each nominee "If elected, are you willing to serve?" Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. I guess that would depend on the jurisdiction. 2. Section 3. Discover the world's largest and oldest fraternal organization with over 3 million members. 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. This method of nominations is based on the principle of allowing all voters to make nominations for all offices by completing a nominating ballot. 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. elected. 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. Some practices to watch out for include: Ballot boxes being stuffed or written ballots being changed. )GT?=Sk8&o9sU|$gv}~3H'>}3DReeZCZ2HN7.WadE-lUG|1pU]d. 7. <> A motion to open nominations, when made by a member, is usually a motion to reopen nominations after they have been closed. The advanced tools of the editor will guide you through the editable PDF template. The position of Worshipful Master in the East occupies the most exalted position within the lodge. <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.44 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> *.MXPY!~@Aa%^ N&4D1la`:v@Ai,^t #. Chapter XV - Balloting Procedure - The Masonic Trowel ", WM: "How in the West, Brother Senior Warden? Nomination by petition is another method of nomination by mail; provisions must be made for it in the bylaws, and standard forms must be provided to candidates and electors upon request. The committee should meet, carefully review the membership list, and select the people who they think will do the best job in each office. 705 South Hercules Avenue. Every day , before I retired, I would receive a wide variety of questions and comments from Constituent Lodge Secretaries and other officers, many of which are quite applicable to other lodges. Freemasonry (or Brother __________for affiliation)." Masonry doesn't care about your worldly wealth or social position. will advance to the altar and cast their ballot. 8. stream Join us as we strive to make good men better by teaching universal values through the use of geometry and architecture metaphors. The Requirements to Join a Freemason Lodge - dummies At the Worshipful Master s order the Stewards distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. 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 5 0 obj 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. If no candidate is found, the committee can leave that slot open for nominations from the floor. You are using an out of date browser. 10. 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." 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. If a member leaves one part blank, the votes entered on the other questions still count. % vote. (rap). xU]o@|_cZR%q"b$*/}E(k nK6hb'_ D(|}5Dsq PBY%_'Dru.{,dW9PeOw9 d6!=#3r/iby+4C~9^-GT.d You must log in or register to reply here. If you have only two candidates and the vote is a tie, you repeat the balloting until one candidate receives a majority. Annual Election of Lodge Officers - Blogger The Code has two primary chapters that describe the process of voting in subordinate lodges. If the committee does its job well, the membership can enjoy some basic assurance that the candidates nominated have at least expressed interest in the job, have agreed to serve, and are qualified for the offices for which they're nominated. ", SW: "Clear (dark) in the West, Worshipful. election of officers in April each year. The only exceptions are: (1) a newly instituted lodge, (2) one that has received written approval from the General Governor, based upon membership action, or (3) an emergency situation requiring the election to be changed or waived. While the . Freemasons meet in a temple, which they call a "lodge", as that is where ancient stonemasons met when working on a church or cathedral Lodges are grouped by region, roughly in line with the old. Masonic Lodges, Masonic Organizations, and Youth Orders may conduct in-person meetings and events in compliance with county and city restrictions, if any. Club elections and officers are an integral part of the organization and must be conducted according to the group's bylaws and rules. You must come recommended by at least two existing Freemasons from the lodge you're petitioning. endobj xWMo1#[YO !T6T=D9Jhnwv5ofm4_0Vgu=_|[~jC5}YWyYWw45lv4~JS'AdQiewV?=few_Xu9pTX(*HYfh5Y2Q=[6(ao)\\O 9|b|+x Up % ZDEpV`,QI8.3mb'Vs5cAZ!X^S"W7FZ$%W8Fh,)Jrt $^JG{vxGVW9Z;-*r4b@fSM(o/ ?-vz}J=Pu&NC\H#^SKUvN)A@+a)eU"PvrNLsi;:~8J8 9 Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. petition(s) of _______________ for the degrees of Freemasonry, One vote against the petitioner generally rejects him. In a voice vote, the winner is easy to determine and the vote is over when someone wins the election. Does any brother wish to have <> Suggested Procedure For Electing Lodge Officers. My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum. You follow the same procedures for elections by ballot, as far as arriving at the point of the election is concerned, but instead of casting your vote by ballot, each member announces his vote when the secretary calls that person's name. 11 0 obj The Master then casts his own vote. endobj endstream endobj 37 0 obj <>stream If the organization uses a nominating committee and then takes nominations from the floor, the secretary records the nominating committee's report first and then lists nominations for each office in the order they are presented as given by the members from the floor. endobj HWG l!$"' g]9=3>3U}Zo.wjyiQo?\>,:lFYE#q IBZ.rwi/A%f_N'_LDX The motion to have a vote for a particular office recounted needs a second, is not debatable, and takes a majority vote to adopt. endstream The Authorities for Masonic Law. 66 0 obj <>stream stream TURNING YOUR BACK: Never turn one's back on the Master to address the lodge without first-receiving permission /Rotate 0 >> The presiding officer votes along with all the other members, although she is never allowed to cast a tie-breaker in a ballot vote. 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.. it to the Master who inspects the ballot box making sure that the 6. ",#(7),01444'9=82. Welcome | Grand Lodge of NC 16 0 obj By absolute demit, [ Chapter 76] 3. JavaScript is disabled. The Worshipful Master What it all means: A Worshipful Master simply depicts a deity or one in authority who is held in honor and considered as an honorable man. Doing this may allow an unpopular or hand-picked candidate to get the office even though he or she was not elected. 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? The Louisiana Freemason Spring 2020 Issue by Grand Lodge of Louisiana