masonic lodge election proceduremasonic lodge election procedure
98% sure that it is. If this occurs and it does not affect the outcome of the vote, the election is still valid. gjzUS&31+W&nck')*Uf{|mON6E4GKIpFT(o o.RJ MXqy-) MR of altar. 292, elections may be held in a lodge opened in an EA as long as there is an EA attending. REG. Achieve this by asking them to hang out with you. 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 election of lodge officers is an annual event, specified in the lodge bylaws. It is considered a faux pas to cross . endobj The motion to have a vote for a particular office recounted needs a second, is not debatable, and takes a majority vote to adopt. Grand Lodge Dues 24 Conducting an Election of Officers 24-25 Section . In either case, you need to appoint reliable ballot counters to hand out and collect ballots and to count the votes. The advanced tools of the editor will guide you through the editable PDF template. (The chair usually just announces the opening of nominations at the appointed time when they are in order. A motion to open nominations, when made by a member, is usually a motion to reopen nominations after they have been closed. )GT?=Sk8&o9sU|$gv}~3H'>}3DReeZCZ2HN7.WadE-lUG|1pU]d. % The Worshipful Master orders the Wardens to take Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. Note: Prior to opening elections, the WM will go over prerequisites, eligibility, exceptions, nominations, limitations and procedures in accordance with Lodge By Laws and the ACGL Code, sections 2.21 through 2.29. The election of lodge officers is an annual event, specified in the lodge bylaws. A member can't make the motion to adjourn while the assembly is occupied with taking a vote, verifying a vote, or announcing a vote, except when the vote is by ballot. It's never proper to drop the candidates receiving the lowest vote totals from a ballot unless they withdraw voluntarily. Elections are decided by majority vote unless your bylaws provide differently. Lodge to vote, the Master should invite the tiler in and have a It has its own identity and recognition and carries with it the title of "Past Master". Once you're a Master Mason, you've got a few options. report from the investigating committee. The balloting committee can still count the ballots. )Cv`3!VOYe%K]'d4'kH&]x*"W.L+P|WUyl>TlUTZZh=7wE%4 DoH+5%Y+*:*2*&^Ol\Td4G]:^[DdVXQn*mNI#]Vv?v:]W6x H|z=|-!q1 oF?$Ul(V1C:[jhDe4nsl65gpr'fKuo2a0$T$W.6 ` 5SR_? We must open on the third and conduct all business that requires a vote on the third. If something doesn't quite add up, a member should question it during the meeting. We can only drop to a different degree once we conclude that portion of the meeting. Senior Deacon,", WM: "Prepare and present the ballot box.". <> x`TU?5%BBH*5XHRjD5IPJ@Z"MDE]sm.Cs)}{n/JFtZ_!ms6g:8_\Xt hq[gGBqvZ(}%p&N"4t 4b2hEs 9 0 obj 3. 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. Small technical errors, such as spelling mistakes or marking an X when a checkmark is called for, don't make a vote illegal as long as the voter's intent is discernible. Doing this may allow an unpopular or hand-picked candidate to get the office even though he or she was not elected. stream altar. 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. collect the ballots and place the hats with the ballots at the The above procedure is repeated for each position or % 33 0 obj <> endobj As JPM of my lodge, I've been asked to serve in this role for our upcoming officer elections. salute with the Worshipful Master. No candidate whose application has 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. "30*5gDcJuk.w^m=12Ua&0cE'|H%KV L%|c]c0l;v=[, Cj+M 38xHDL\. By establishing plural membership in a North Carolina petition(s) of _______________ for the degrees of Freemasonry, endstream Or, they can tell members publicly that they do not have a nominee for a certain office; this allows members to volunteer. A member has the right to vote until the polls are closed. 5. position north of the altar. If counting ballots takes some time, it is best for the assembly to take a recess instead of adjourn. Procedure for Contempt: CHAPTER 101: Restoration after Suspension or Expulsion: CHAPTER 102: However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. By signing a petition for the formation of a new lodge, [ Chapter 39] 2. Masonic Lodges, Masonic Organizations, and Youth Orders may conduct in-person meetings and events in compliance with county and city restrictions, if any. JavaScript is disabled. endobj a portion or all of the petition(s) reread? endobj Business meetings are held on the EA degree in European lodge. The secretary repeats the vote after recording it, to ensure accuracy. It's never in order to vote Yes or No (or For or Against) a candidate when electing persons to office. 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. endobj endobj 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. Adam is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Pennsylvania and is employed as a Senior Manager of International Tax in Latrobe, PA. The brother responds. If an EA is not attending, it is the option of the WM as to which lodge will be opened. The Authorities for Masonic Law. However, calling nominations from your seat is often impractical, so you may want to adopt a more formal nomination process. In determining how long to hold the ballots before destroying them, your main consideration is the possibility of needing a recount. 7 0 obj <> collect the ballots, the Deacons approach the altar, pick up the hats, WM: "You will present the ballot to the officers and 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. 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. JFIF C 4[>56[Wbz ; ~D.Lf Y`S=#A.%* ^Ckk8a)W=Lt!z3 EHDG}S?#&,y$OAYNOQ kKl_B ? 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 An officer election form is a document used by groups, clubs, and organizations to elect leaders and fill vacant positions. If the lodge is not able to contact the individual after a reasonable period of time, the non-paying Mason is dropped (suspended). 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. ballot drawer is empty and that there are both white balls and black rejection. 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. Freemasonry's Requirements for Membership. 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. 12 0 obj It's used in the vast majority of situations in which members elect their officers at a meeting. The position of Worshipful Master in the East occupies the most exalted position within the lodge. 11 0 obj This saves time and allows for polling at a time and place other than a meeting. The report of the nominating committee is usually given under "special orders." After the period during which a recount can be conducted has passed, you don't need to keep the ballots. Votes cast by illegal voters must not be counted at all, not even included in the number of total votes cast. endobj 6. :7YA/gOwNw|\g[u|I}?F. The requirement for election by ballot is a majority, and a candidate has no obligation to withdraw just because he polls low numbers. Blogs] [Links] If the bylaws specifically address this situation, members should follow the bylaws. Same in NM amd OR. The appointive officers of the Grand Lodge, save the Deputy Grand Secretary, shall be 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. Only MMs vote. the Senior Warden hands each ballot to the Junior Warden who announces %PDF-1.5 Members should be alert to some undemocratic political practices in organizations. 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. Masonic Lodge Election Procedure HB89 - Tightens the time frames for issuance of firearms licenses by probate judges. When called on to give the report, the chairman of the nominating committee states the nominations for each office. of Freemasonry, nor webmaster nor those of any ___________, you have been elected to serve as ____________ of %PDF-1.3 takes up his place at the tilers door. I guess that would depend on the jurisdiction. 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. The election (or rejection) of a candidate in a Masonic lodge is a secret ballot, and with few exceptions, must be completely unanimous. will advance to the altar and cast their ballot. 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. In a ballot vote, after the ballot counters have collected all the ballots, a member can make the motion to adjourn. [Articles] [Masonic 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. A Lodge supporting this vital outreach of the Foundation, will be properly noted. 3. ;J @*Ix~6ia 023X85i=%/v')^KkHaQaA {DCAH ' 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. Collectively, these motions are known as motions related to nominations. ;D[{cv,#(145:n') 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. You are using an out of date browser. Be careful and make no A properly planned and executed meeting results in good participation. of Freemasonry, nor webmaster nor those of any If lodge functions go smoothly, it is the Master who takes the credit. endstream endobj startxref hbbd``b`$+@9`~ $U@ AL Abo;I0 V!$B BALLOTING PROCEDURE CHAPTER xv THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER'S HANDBOOK Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M. If you have a nominating committee in place, ask this group to declare their nominee for a specific officer role. 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).. <> If a person is elected to two different positions, she can either choose which office to accept or serve in more than one position, if that's allowed. %%EOF 1 0 obj 1. It may not display this or other websites correctly. <> All Articles] [Masonic 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. stream This example is based on moving to have nominations by committee, but the form is essentially the same for any of the methods. 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 One of the most important franchises which the Masonic character offers is THE ELECTION OF MASTER FOR THE ENSUING TWELVE MONTHS. When the secretary prepares the eligibility list for the meeting, only those members who are willing to serve are on the list. A member may for indecorous or unmasonic conduct be excluded from a single meeting of the lodge. New Jersey checking in. endobj 4 0 obj 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. $.' In counting the votes, the balloting committee must not confuse a majority vote with the highest number of votes. . Join a brotherhood of over 2,000,000 men of all ages, from all races, religions, and countries, and from all walks of life. In this case, the members must vote again until one candidate receives a majority vote. 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. 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." 2. Illegal votes cast by legal voters count toward the total votes cast, but they don't count for any individual choice or candidate. 2. 127. 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 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. 15 0 obj Another problematic practice to watch out for is nominating someone for office who is not eligible. 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. You must log in or register to reply here. If someone is not willing to serve, the committee needs to meet again and find another candidate. The Master may approve a collective ballot if there 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. Booth Lodge 100-100C, be amended . ", JW: "Fair (cloudy) in the South, Worshipful. %`y`aSW2.9]!BBI << /Im1 11 0 R >> >> <> The entire ballot counters' report should be included in the minutes of the meeting. If a marked ballot is folded together with a blank ballot, the marked ballot counts as one legal vote, and the blank ballot is considered scrap paper. For this reason, members should listen carefully to the report of the ballot counters' committee. 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. Join us as we strive to make good men better by teaching universal values through the use of geometry and architecture metaphors. 9. Ie!W2UP7MEdq-2Y+(jVW`Y, z?D;tr>[iqqF7!FR$uh?%b The Senior Deacon presents the ballot to each officer 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 A website endorsed by a Lodge will be considered the official Lodge website, and will be subject to these criteria and rules. It is the duty of every member present to vote, place with the Senior and Junior Wardens alternating in calling the programs and procedures of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, a Masonic District and their Lodge. If it is discovered after an election that the person elected does not meet the eligibility requirements, and even if the person has begun to serve, the election is void. The assembly then votes again on the other office. <> Or, members can also finish the election at the next regular meeting if the meeting falls within a quarterly time period. After the person elected to office assumes the position, it is too late to nullify an illegal election. cubes in the box. The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. Depending on the Grand Lodge, this can be anywhere from 18 to 25. elected. endobj In the vote for the position of Worshipful Master [What is New] WB Christopher J. Hathaway was raised in Catlin Masonic Lodge #285 and is a plural member of Normal . other regular Masonic body other than those stated. At the Worshipful Masters order the Stewards This method requires more time for the election process, making it probably best limited to smaller groups. After the votes are counted, the lead ballot counter reads aloud to the membership the complete report of the vote counts but doesn't declare the result.
