masonic lodge election procedure

Ballot voting is the preferred voting method in situations in which knowing how all the members voted isn't desirable. ", JW: "Fair (cloudy) in the South, Worshipful. hbbd``b`$+@9`~ $U@ AL Abo;I0 V!$B When holding ballot elections, you have two procedural options: Nominations for all offices conclude before any balloting begins. endobj I used to post some of them here in a generic manner so all might learn from them. Clearwater Lodge No. The secretary repeats the vote after recording it, to ensure accuracy. 10. hb```e``b`f``cg@ ~}"S-(1I)|p(0)P5oDurCAfG3f1,-- d$WZ3bVasYf`$exq> )Zg The committee then has to find a new nominee, and the members have to vote again. Magazines Online] Grand Lodge Dues 24 Conducting an Election of Officers 24-25 Section . 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.. endobj endobj You must log in or register to reply here. 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. Elections are decided by majority vote unless your bylaws provide differently. For this reason, members should listen carefully to the report of the ballot counters' committee. endstream endobj startxref 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. Past Masters of ____________ Lodge No. The organization must have another election. BALLOTING PROCEDURE CHAPTER xv THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER'S HANDBOOK Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M. 15 0 obj This example is based on moving to have nominations by committee, but the form is essentially the same for any of the methods. 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. 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. The election (or rejection) of a candidate in a Masonic lodge is a secret ballot, and with few exceptions, must be completely unanimous. visiting brother take his place so that the tiler may cast his takes up his place at the tilers door. stream "30*5gDcJuk.w^m=12Ua&0cE'|H%KV L%|c]c0l;v=[, Cj+M 38xHDL\. A motion to open nominations, when made by a member, is usually a motion to reopen nominations after they have been closed. Work on making your brothers become better friends. A member has the right to vote until the polls are closed. _____ and place it on the masonic lodge election procedure; shkolla viktor hygo logo October 28, 2021. masonic lodge election procedure . 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! 8. If you become a Free Mason, you will: Join both the oldest and the largest fraternity in the world. 98% sure that it is. Be careful and make no petition(s) of _______________ for the degrees of Freemasonry, announce the results of the vote. endstream endobj 37 0 obj <>stream 2 0 obj If not, Brother 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 However, in some national organizations that meet yearly or biennially (every two years), this is difficult. Illegal votes are, Two or more marked ballots folded together (together they count as only one illegal vote). Two top hats are placed on the kneeling pad at foot of altar. Votes cast by illegal voters must not be counted at all, not even included in the number of total votes cast. collectively, and in the case of one blackball appearing therein it For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. All Articles] [Masonic This saves time and allows for polling at a time and place other than a meeting. The person who gets the most votes may not have a majority of the votes. << /Length 12 0 R /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 610 /Height 521 /ColorSpace Interestingly, some years ago, Virginia implemented a dues amnesty program. Members then vote on a candidate to fill the remaining office. 9. The Worshipful Master orders the Wardens to take should be destroyed. [Articles] [Masonic Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. endobj As Masons, we hone our skills to apply their use, improving ourselves daily. These could lead The Constitution is clear on the proper procedure The election of officers of the Grand Lodge shall be the first order of business at the afternoon session of the first day of each annual communication, unless a different time shall have been fixed by a two-thirds vote of the Grand Lodge. 1. distinctive apron has been designated by the Grand Lodge is present at a Masonic meeting or communication, he may wear the apron so designated. Discover the world's largest and oldest fraternal organization with over 3 million members. is more then one candidate for the degrees. 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 Decision Making For Dummies. 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. 8. Depending on the Grand Lodge, this can be anywhere from 18 to 25. ", WM: "How in the West, Brother Senior Warden? (After June 15, individual counties and cities could choose to continue their own meeting limitations, in which case those limitations would continue in force.) Balloting must continue until a candidate receives a majority. The only way you can vote against a candidate is to vote for another person. Booth Lodge 100-100C, be amended . [What is New] (or for affiliation) which has received a unanimously favorable 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. xU]o@|_cZR%q"b$*/}E(k nK6hb'_ D(|}5Dsq PBY%_'Dru.{,dW9PeOw9 d6!=#3r/iby+4C~9^-GT.d the name on the ballot and the Secretary repeats the name and tallies The following shall be the methods of affiliation: 1. 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. _____ cast their ballot?" Senior Deacon,", WM: "Prepare and present the ballot box.". One vote against the petitioner generally rejects him. endobj Motions to close nominations are usually unnecessary because the nomination process simply continues until no one wishes to make further nominations. Master informs the successful individual as follows: "Brother other regular Masonic body other than those stated. it to the Master who inspects the ballot box making sure that the Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. It's never proper to drop the candidates receiving the lowest vote totals from a ballot unless they withdraw voluntarily. names. %PDF-1.5 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. 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. endobj 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 3. Because fraud does happen in the election process, members need to be alert and watchful of the election process. report from the investigating committee. My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum. *.MXPY!~@Aa%^ N&4D1la`:v@Ai,^t #. 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! The presiding officer votes along with all the other members, although she is never allowed to cast a tie-breaker in a ballot vote. REG. 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).. altar.". Only MMs vote. In a voice vote, the winner is easy to determine and the vote is over when someone wins the election. <> 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. It varies! Jump to content The Official RONR Q & A Forums Dud goes wide-eyed at hearing this and immediately leaves the lodge because he realizes he's been played by . 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 <> 4. Persons serving on the committee can be nominated for office. Any blue lodge that does not hold annual election of officers is considered irregular by most Grand Lodges. inviolably preserved. rejection. endobj One of the most important franchises which the Masonic character offers is THE ELECTION OF MASTER FOR THE ENSUING TWELVE MONTHS. F powered by Dr. Stefanus Hadi, Ph.D. visit www.FLIVE.com email: club@flive.com follow Clubhouse: @stefanus send SMS Text to +1 213-749-8777 Los Angeles, California Your members may wind up voting for Mr. Low as the compromise candidate. West and bright (black) in the East. 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. Here are some other things to consider during the election process: A quorum needs to be present throughout the election meeting. Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. The Code has two primary chapters that describe the process of voting in subordinate lodges. Another problematic practice to watch out for is nominating someone for office who is not eligible. We can only drop to a different degree once we conclude that portion of the meeting. An officer election form is a document used by groups, clubs, and organizations to elect leaders and fill vacant positions. Sometimes there is a split in the nominating committee over who to nominate. 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 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. In Texas, per Art. A properly planned and executed meeting results in good participation. position north of the altar. 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. % <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.44 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> stream Each officer and member, before voting, must exchange the At the Worshipful Masters order the Wardens to endobj collect the ballots, the Deacons approach the altar, pick up the hats, Books Online] [E-Books] [Library Of and the Past Masters around the Lodge and places the ballot box on the The Senior Deacon obtains the ballot box and presents 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. 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? At this time the 14 0 R /BitsPerComponent 8 /Filter /FlateDecode >> Adam is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Pennsylvania and is employed as a Senior Manager of International Tax in Latrobe, PA. << /ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageB /ImageC /ImageI ] /ColorSpace << /Cs1 7 0 R Cell phones, chewing gum, crinkly snack wrappers and other distractions should be disallowed during a fraternity election (except during breaks). Further, I don't think I have ever seen a Lodge election where there isn't some form of politics involved. If a member leaves one part blank, the votes entered on the other questions still count. 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. 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. Illegal votes cast by legal voters count toward the total votes cast, but they don't count for any individual choice or candidate. Lodge elections are performed via a Masonic Ballot Box. Business meetings are held on the EA degree in European lodge. The entire ballot counters' report should be included in the minutes of the meeting. These elections happen in the end of the year to elect the following years leadership team. If a member votes for fewer choices than positions to be elected, the vote is legal and those votes count. <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> In Freemasonry, a brother's word is of paramount importance, so revealing the secrets of the ceremonies and rituals within the lodge after reciting the Masonic Oath is not permitted. ", SW: "Clear (dark) in the West, Worshipful. so presented that each officer and member shall cast his ballot 705 South Hercules Avenue. ",#(7),01444'9=82. Remember brethren, a Marshal takes up his place at the West Gate and the Junior Deacon Blogs] [Links] When nominations are taken from the floor or when a nominating ballot is used, a good practice is to provide the members with an eligibility list so that they are not nominating people who will not be able to serve. It varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Education: CHAPTER 31: Lodge Service Commission: CHAPTER 32: . 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. However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. The Master then casts his own vote. once petition the same or any other Lodge in the jurisdiction. It drives us back to basics, using the Masonic tools we already have in our tool belt. Rules may include how long the organization saves ballots and how long members can wait to challenge an election. 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. Freemasonry (or Brother __________for affiliation)." <> We must open on the third and conduct all business that requires a vote on the third. Enter your official identification and contact details. It is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views of altar. [Articles] [Masonic 1. gjzUS&31+W&nck')*Uf{|mON6E4GKIpFT(o o.RJ MXqy-) MR Talks] [Masonic Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. WM: "Brother Junior Warden, how stands the ballot in 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. Also, military lodges in foreign countries, often perform business meetings on the EA degree. % Nominees do not have to leave the room during the nominations, when the vote is taken, or when the vote is counted. accept?" 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. Is it permissible to hold election of officers in an EA lodge? The secretary should give the committee a copy of the membership list, the bylaws, a description of the duties of each office, and the eligibility requirements. We can only drop to a different degree once we conclude that portion of the meeting. Masonry doesn't care about your worldly wealth or social position. In counting the votes, the balloting committee must not confuse a majority vote with the highest number of votes. hbbd``b`n@` ! <> By establishing plural membership in a North Carolina charge of the Ballot and they pick up the hats, take them to the 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 to the Junior Warden, then the Senior Warden and then the Worshipful When two gavel knocks are heard, only officers of the lodge stand. [What is Freemasonry] [Leadership 4 0 obj WM: "Have all of the brethren of _______________ 16 0 obj <> Take security measures to protect the privacy of the nominating ballot; each member is instructed to fold his or her ballot inside a signed envelope and mail it back in an outer envelope. 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. The Committee on Masonic Education and Information of . 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. If you have a nominating committee in place, ask this group to declare their nominee for a specific officer role. HB280 - Allows a weapons carry license holder to hold a handgun concealed whereas on campus of public technical schools and public colleges. When the secretary mails the members a notice about the nomination and election meeting, the letter can include a request that members who do not wish to be considered for office notify the secretary in writing. 1. << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> After the brethren have cast their ballots. The way to fill out the Mason form form form online: To start the form, use the Fill camp; Sign Online button or tick the preview image of the document. j]Ic[faPhgcP0U0.!boS/]9[[3+:;:+:Q1DX. <> Freemasonry promotes friendship, morality, and brotherly love among men of all races, religions, opinions, and backgrounds. Or, they can tell members publicly that they do not have a nominee for a certain office; this allows members to volunteer. yy MWY*^K$@48SyFHv! %PDF-1.5 . 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. x`TU?5%BBH*5XHRjD5IPJ@Z"MDE]sm.Cs)}{n/JFtZ_!ms6g:8_\Xt hq[gGBqvZ(}%p&N"4t 4b2hEs The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. 1. <> 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. Once you're a Master Mason, you've got a few options. If the motion is adopted, the assembly can adjourn before the vote is announced if it has another meeting scheduled. In balloting on a petition for affiliation, if one blackball %%EOF 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. 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. 2 0 obj 0 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. 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. ;J @*Ix~6ia 023X85i=%/v')^KkHaQaA {DCAH ' The above procedure is repeated for each position or 2. <> Voting machines having wedges inserted to prevent the lever from going down all the way. The committee should meet, carefully review the membership list, and select the people who they think will do the best job in each office. The Secretary announces the results of the vote, a However only Masters can vote. As soon as the committee reports, it is discharged from its duties. A ballot shall be taken for the three degrees endobj >> /ExtGState << /Gs1 13 0 R >> /Font << /Tc1 10 0 R /TT2 9 0 R >> /XObject A common mistake in elections is having too many ballots cast for the number of members present. When using this procedure, make it clear that a person can be nominated for and elected to more than one office. Blogs] [Links] - "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 . Customarily (although it's not required), the chair accomplishes this by calling three times for more nominations. 5 0 obj will advance to the altar and cast their ballot. Electing a presiding officer in a mass meeting Nominations From The Floor Sometimes called open nominations, this method is probably the most familiar. or opinion Here is how: You must first find a Masonic lodge location near you, contact them, and ask for a petition to join. 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 an EA is not attending, it is the option of the WM as to which lodge will be opened. 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. If a member notices a mistake in procedure, he or she should immediately make the chair and assembly aware of his concerns. ;D[{cv,#(145:n') All officers resume their stations and Masonic Etiquette Summary: Masonic etiquette is simply the rules of good manners which make lodge meetings pleasant for everyone. Ballot counters present during the voting should be carefully instructed in their duties and should be able to explain to other members how to use the machine. places. the South? ____________ Lodge No. If you have only two candidates and the vote is a tie, you repeat the balloting until one candidate receives a majority. Organizations can create and write election rules to correct this mistake. Secretary prepares ballots for each position to be elected. ____ for the ensuing Masonic year. That means run-offs are just plain out of order. Like any incidental main motion, an election can be decided by voice vote or by ballot. ), 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. The balloting committee can still count the ballots. An "irregular lodge" can be described as the type of Lodge that does have a charter from a Grand Lodge, but other Grand Lodges do not recognize its Grand lodge. <> When called on to give the report, the chairman of the nominating committee states the nominations for each office. You are using an out of date browser. endobj 4 0 obj . Or, members can also finish the election at the next regular meeting if the meeting falls within a quarterly time period. I guess that would depend on the jurisdiction. (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. 5 0 obj 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 [Feedback]. 234 0 obj <> endobj

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