masonic lodge election procedure

In most cases, the threshold is a majority of the votes cast. endobj 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. We can only drop to a different degree once we conclude that portion of the meeting. 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. 2 0 obj Join us as we strive to make good men better by teaching universal values through the use of geometry and architecture metaphors. :7YA/gOwNw|\g[u|I}?F. endstream %`y`aSW2.9]!BBI mistake.". is more then one candidate for the degrees. 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. To help with the Masonic experience at Lodge meetings, you were allowed to open on any degree, and use the Chamber This method requires more time for the election process, making it probably best limited to smaller groups. If not, the members can vote again during that meeting for another candidate. 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. 6 Y~0 0@ or opinion 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. Another problematic practice to watch out for is nominating someone for office who is not eligible. gjzUS&31+W&nck')*Uf{|mON6E4GKIpFT(o o.RJ MXqy-) MR All Articles] [Masonic A motion to open nominations, when made by a member, is usually a motion to reopen nominations after they have been closed. /Rotate 0 >> (The chair usually just announces the opening of nominations at the appointed time when they are in order. It's never proper to drop the candidates receiving the lowest vote totals from a ballot unless they withdraw voluntarily. Brethren, I declare that you have ___________, you have been elected to serve as ____________ of 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. This site is not an official site of any recognized Masonic body in the United 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. other regular Masonic body other than those stated. %PDF-1.5 % If your assembly's members are accountable to a constituency, your rules may require you to conduct your elections by roll-call vote. 15 0 obj A properly planned and executed meeting results in good participation. 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? I guess that would depend on the jurisdiction. the Senior Warden hands each ballot to the Junior Warden who announces These rules supersede the adopted parliamentary authority. Past Masters of ____________ Lodge No. 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. No one should be nominated without his or her consent because, if elected, the person may decline to serve and members will have to hold another election. masonic lodge election procedure; shkolla viktor hygo logo October 28, 2021. masonic lodge election procedure . stream 3. Nominees do not have to leave the room during the nominations, when the vote is taken, or when the vote is counted. ^. 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 salute with the Worshipful Master. a portion or all of the petition(s) reread? The minutes may say, for example, "Eric Olson was elected to the board for two years. "If so, I declare the 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 Elections are decided by majority vote unless your bylaws provide differently. JavaScript is disabled. A website endorsed by a Lodge will be considered the official Lodge website, and will be subject to these criteria and rules. 263 0 obj <>stream My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum. Business meetings are held on the EA degree in European lodge. 98% sure that it is. His term expires July, 2014.". Cell phones, chewing gum, crinkly snack wrappers and other distractions should be disallowed during a fraternity election (except during breaks). 'xzwQ38/4b|T}R-g|7uhw 4!"icE)S7AEo Electing a presiding officer in a mass meeting Nominations From The Floor Sometimes called open nominations, this method is probably the most familiar. <> Magazines Online] AUTHORITY. Same in NM amd OR. One vote against the petitioner generally rejects him. collect the ballots, the Deacons approach the altar, pick up the hats, Same in NM amd OR. elected (rejected) Mister ___________ for the degrees of It has its own identity and recognition and carries with it the title of "Past Master". % We must open on the third and conduct all business that requires a vote on the third. Apply a check mark to indicate the choice wherever . JFIF C A newly raised Master . These elections happen in the end of the year to elect the following years leadership team. * If the motion is adopted, the assembly can adjourn before the vote is announced if it has another meeting scheduled. It is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views 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. %%EOF 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." 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. of Freemasonry, nor webmaster nor those of any The election of lodge officers is an annual event, specified in the lodge bylaws. $.' other regular Masonic body other than those stated. You can use a ballot vote to decide either a motion or an election: If the ballot vote decides a motion, the question is clearly stated by the chair, and you're instructed to mark your ballot Yes or No (or For or Against). endobj 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. Every lodge is incorporated and required to have corporate officers. >> /ExtGState << /Gs1 13 0 R >> /Font << /Tc1 10 0 R /TT2 9 0 R >> /XObject Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Education: CHAPTER 31: Lodge Service Commission: CHAPTER 32: . Yes, every year Masonic Lodges do have elections. As JPM of my lodge, I've been asked to serve in this role for our upcoming officer elections. In Tennessee, the only time you open an EA or FC lodge is to confer those degrees. All officers resume their stations and 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. 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. Collectively, these motions are known as motions related to nominations. ____ for the ensuing Masonic year. Clearwater Lodge No. Chairman of Nominating Committee: Madam President, the nominating committee submits the following nominations: for president, Alex Shaw; for vice president, Bianca Fernandez; for secretary, Raymond Platt; and for treasurer, Donna Agnese. inviolably preserved. 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. 705 South Hercules Avenue. collect the ballots and place the hats with the ballots at the When called on to give the report, the chairman of the nominating committee states the nominations for each office. %%EOF 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. Do you Procedure for Contempt: CHAPTER 101: Restoration after Suspension or Expulsion: CHAPTER 102: 8. The requirement for election by ballot is a majority, and a candidate has no obligation to withdraw just because he polls low numbers. No officer of a Masonic lodge may take up his elected or appointed duties until formally installed to his office by proper authority. 5. If members adjourn before an election is complete, they should set the time for an adjourned meeting to finish the election. Voting by ballot enables a member to vote for a candidate not formally nominated by writing in a name a write-in vote. Brother Secretary conduct a roll call. hmo@W}w*JGEa]/p o?_%au/$"p@ZPI 6AKFQt$8g!AHG[v;~&Wwu~|1xX21`9-Yd]%dsXQNxm -$we/mc5qrq:a/}4Y#A6,UX"{,S(JCs4l>nl,~nn%M&bt_zFPVJ_**#lU6uZe]Y[;M 6tvM{7W/225[n_SOmGP_4U_rH1v %m" &"`hh&q'I%D-rI$\\OScmalRCiPh_Th 7AN.RR9ou|r:9>NpT~XI|{&]MJ )FvJlC{hDRDT "DJc+^zrPl c[ A ballot shall be taken for the three degrees It varies! of altar. After each nomination, the president repeats the name to the assembly. APPOINTMENT. However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. Balloting for your acceptance into a Masonic lodge After the investigative committee reports to the lodge, your petition is voted on. ____________ Lodge No. Or, they can tell members publicly that they do not have a nominee for a certain office; this allows members to volunteer. The appointive officers of the Grand Lodge, save the Deputy Grand Secretary, shall be Adam is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Pennsylvania and is employed as a Senior Manager of International Tax in Latrobe, PA. Be careful and make no If members haven't used the machine before, it may be wise to show them how to use it the day before the election. 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! 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. << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> As each nomination is received (assuming multiple candidates), ask each nominee "If elected, are you willing to serve?" announce the results of the vote. 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. {V++6o <>`ulr<>[lLDdTVVQ4Mt{<1iz;E *.MXPY!~@Aa%^ N&4D1la`:v@Ai,^t #. If you have a nominating committee in place, ask this group to declare their nominee for a specific officer role. Depending on the Grand Lodge, this can be anywhere from 18 to 25. Some Lodges The process of making floor nominations is subject to the following rules: Recognition by the chair is not required to make a nomination. 13 0 obj 4. The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. endobj Suggested Procedure For Electing Lodge Officers. 7. Mail or absentee ballots not arriving on time or mysteriously disappearing when the time comes to count them. 6 0 obj elected. places. These Masonic rituals represent three degrees which are taken in sequence. will advance to the altar and cast their ballot. Magazines Online] WB Christopher J. Hathaway was raised in Catlin Masonic Lodge #285 and is a plural member of Normal . Development] [Education] [Masonic If the lodge is not able to contact the individual after a reasonable period of time, the non-paying Mason is dropped (suspended). 0 Interestingly, some years ago, Virginia implemented a dues amnesty program. 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. Often the extra ballot comes from someone who has entered the assembly but has not signed in to the meeting. You must log in or register to reply here. The Authorities for Masonic Law. You must come recommended by at least two existing Freemasons from the lodge you're petitioning. It is the duty of every member present to vote, One of the most important franchises which the Masonic character offers is THE ELECTION OF MASTER FOR THE ENSUING TWELVE MONTHS. 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. endstream If a person has been nominated to more than one office and is elected to two offices, he or she can choose which office he or she wants. 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. By establishing plural membership in a North Carolina That job belongs to the presiding officer, who reads the report again to the members, concluding with a formal declaration of the result. If this occurs and it does not affect the outcome of the vote, the election is still valid. The balloting committee can still count the ballots. In Texas, per Art. If there is a question about the way a ballot is marked, the ballot counters should take it to the presiding officer. 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. <> Join a brotherhood of over 2,000,000 men of all ages, from all races, religions, and countries, and from all walks of life. 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. * (rap once). Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. ballot drawer is empty and that there are both white balls and black 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. Register a free account today to become a member! It is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views Sometimes the committee is revived to make nominations to fill vacancies. 2 0 obj A parade of misfortunes had culminated by forcing potato planter Fred Jensen to stop his cross-country dash 85 miles short of his destination. Suddenly it's 3am. Each question on a multipart ballot is counted as a separate ballot. <> It's used in the vast majority of situations in which members elect their officers at a meeting. Are there any further nominations for president? Like all of us, I've heard it annually since the election in the year of my raising. f;-^*//%^je)R%^eKuZJQ\LU/Zgy:FDt8KF:US1OG+T/5i]\V5qhw`6mjzS"m].#{T^]q p;43[9[C nF^y' 64 Like any incidental main motion, an election can be decided by voice vote or by ballot. (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.

masonic lodge election procedure 2023