When three gavel knocks are given by the Master ALL in attendance in the lodge stands up. <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.44 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. 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. What Is A Masonic Lodge? | Freemasons Community A motion to open nominations, when made by a member, is usually a motion to reopen nominations after they have been closed. takes up his place at the tilers door. If counting ballots takes some time, it is best for the assembly to take a recess instead of adjourn. This site is not an official site of any recognized Masonic body in the United These elections are to vote on new top lodge officers in the blue lodge. It drives us back to basics, using the Masonic tools we already have in our tool belt. If a member votes for more choices than positions to be elected, the vote is considered illegal. [What is Freemasonry] [Leadership These elections happen in the end of the year to elect the following years leadership team. Election of Officers of a Lodge: CHAPTER 55: Installation of Officers of a Lodge: CHAPTER 56: Officers of a Lodge, Term, Resignation, and Title . If an EA is not attending, it is the option of the WM as to which lodge will be opened. A Lodge supporting this vital outreach of the Foundation, will be properly noted. You must log in or register to reply here. %PDF-1.5 Nominations don't have to be seconded, but it's not out of order for members to second a nomination to signal their endorsement. 8. My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum. 1. The report of the nominating committee is usually given under "special orders." shall be immediately retaken, when, if a blackball again appears, the Magazines Online] SECRETARY FORMS AND REPORTS | Grand Lodge of Georgia, F. & A.M. If a member notices a mistake in procedure, he or she should immediately make the chair and assembly aware of his concerns. Lodge to vote, the Master should invite the tiler in and have a names. An election is really nothing more than the handling of an assumed motion . Enter your official identification and contact details. [Feedback]. LODGE VISITATION - A PRIVILEGE. Sometimes called open nominations, this method is probably the most familiar. hbbd``b`n@` ! Chapter 63 covers general voting and Chapter 68 covers the secret ballot. 5 0 obj If lodge functions go smoothly, it is the Master who takes the credit. petition(s) of _______________ for the degrees of Freemasonry, 6. 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. Nominations for each office are followed by the election for that office. 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 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). It's used in the vast majority of situations in which members elect their officers at a meeting. 3 ways to keep your Masonic Lodge from closing its doors distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. Business meetings are held on the EA degree in European lodge. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The Authorities for Masonic Law. Lodge Transfers : r/freemasonry - reddit and the Past Masters around the Lodge and places the ballot box on the If officers assume their duties immediately after the meeting is adjourned, it is then too late to question the election. Usually the president closes nominations when no further nominations come forward from the assembly. By establishing plural membership in a North Carolina Dues & Don'ts of Getting Into a Masonic Lodge | Freemason Network It's used in the vast majority of situations in which members elect their officers at a meeting. 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. Books Online] [E-Books] [Library Of The Senior Deacon then takes up a it to the Master who inspects the ballot box making sure that the I've never see a script or outline, but it should proceed as follows: That sounds like the CA required verbiage. If your bylaws don't require you to conduct an election by ballot, and if candidates are unopposed or there's no major contest for an office, you can save time with a simple voice vote (or viva voce). If there is a question about the way a ballot is marked, the ballot counters should take it to the presiding officer. Some Lodges At the Worshipful Masters order the Stewards West and bright (black) in the East. ", WM: "Fair (cloudy) in the South, clear (dark) in the Introduction. 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).. On the Approaching Election to the Masonic Chairs The committee must carefully review the eligibility requirements for each office and see that the nominees meet these requirements. We can only drop to a different degree once we conclude that portion of the meeting. 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. The election process may be the easiest part of deciding who handles a particular job in the organization. ____________ Lodge No. Jump to content The Official RONR Q & A Forums majority of those voting being necessary for election, and the Worshipful The Lodge web page must not link to or be linked to by any website where a conflict . %PDF-1.3 The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. << /Length 12 0 R /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 610 /Height 521 /ColorSpace 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. At the Worshipful Masters order the Wardens to It may not display this or other websites correctly. 4. Lodge elections are performed via a Masonic Ballot Box. Masonic Etiquette Summary: Masonic etiquette is simply the rules of good manners which make lodge meetings pleasant for everyone. Application Letter To Join Masonry - Fill Out and Sign Printable PDF This method gives voters an idea of the group's preferences without holding an actual election. How Not to Be Stumped on Fraternity Elections - omegafi.com Some organizations add nominees to the ballot only if the name is submitted on a petition signed by some minimum number of members. 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. After the brethren have cast their ballots. If a member is not present to choose which office he or she wants to serve, the members vote on which office they want him or her to serve. Booth Lodge 100-100C, be amended . PDF Constitution of The Grand Lodge 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. report from the investigating committee. It is considered a faux pas to cross . 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. 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. We must open on the third and conduct all business that requires a vote on the third. A write-in vote is a legal vote unless it's unintelligible or cast for an unidentifiable or ineligible person or for a fictitious character, in which case it's counted as an illegal vote. Past Masters of ____________ Lodge No. The Code has two primary chapters that describe the process of voting in subordinate lodges. Secretary prepares ballots for each position to be elected. %PDF-1.5 1. masonic lodge election procedure - shinecreditandfinance.com Motions to close nominations are usually unnecessary because the nomination process simply continues until no one wishes to make further nominations. Ballot counters should cast their ballots at the same time that the assembly votes. The assembly then votes again on the other office. ",#(7),01444'9=82. By signing a petition for the formation of a new lodge, [ Chapter 39] 2. % announce the results of the vote. We can conduct lodge business in the EA degree in Minnesota, but only Master Masons can vote. States or elsewhere. Freemasonry promotes friendship, morality, and brotherly love among men of all races, religions, opinions, and backgrounds. . . By absolute demit, [ Chapter 76] 3. The Committee on Masonic Education and Information of . Another problematic practice to watch out for is nominating someone for office who is not eligible. Does any brother wish to have 2 0 obj a portion or all of the petition(s) reread? and the Master may oblige him to do so. 6 0 obj Each incoming class of three shall consist of the incoming Junior Warden of the lodge (which has its own bylaws), and. In Texas, per Art. 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. Masonic politics is typically at its ugliest during elections when Brothers are charged with un-Masonic conduct for "electioneering." I find this all rather amusing as I believe our process for electing officers is far from perfect. 127. Premier Grand Lodge of England - Wikipedia the South? 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. Two top hats are placed on the kneeling pad at foot The Senior Deacon closes the lid on the ballot. It is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views Masonic Lodge Election Procedure HB89 - Tightens the time frames for issuance of firearms licenses by probate judges. 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. 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. endobj 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. 6. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. should be destroyed. endobj place with the Senior and Junior Wardens alternating in calling the collectively, and in the case of one blackball appearing therein it Customarily (although it's not required), the chair accomplishes this by calling three times for more nominations. 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. The bylaws should not tie the hands of the committee to find more than one person to fill each slot; the committee should find the best candidate for each office. hb```e``b`f``cg@ ~}"S-(1I)|p(0)P5oDurCAfG3f1,-- d$WZ3bVasYf`$exq> )Zg % Masonic Lodge Election Procedure > 2023 <> Get To Know Ohio Freemasonry's Grand Secretary | Freemason A newly raised Master . The person who gets the most votes may not have a majority of the votes. Annual Election of Lodge Officers - Blogger 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. Every lodge is incorporated and required to have corporate officers. All Articles] [Masonic Conducting an Election of Officers p. 25 Section III. The advanced tools of the editor will guide you through the editable PDF template. A parade of misfortunes had culminated by forcing potato planter Fred Jensen to stop his cross-country dash 85 miles short of his destination. The Secretary announces the results of the vote, a At this time the <> Any blue lodge that does not hold annual election of officers is considered irregular by most Grand Lodges. If not, the members can vote again during that meeting for another candidate. <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Mail or absentee ballots not arriving on time or mysteriously disappearing when the time comes to count them. 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. Officer Election Form Template | Jotform 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. These could lead The Constitution is clear on the proper procedure By transfer of membership, maintaining continuous membership, and 4. One vote against the petitioner generally rejects him. Freemasons explain the rituals and benefits of membership /Rotate 0 >> All business is done in a MM lodge. or opinion 234 0 obj <> endobj Ballot voting is the preferred voting method in situations in which knowing how all the members voted isn't desirable. hb```BVG ea8 P}+/m 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. PDF Guidelines for Subordinate Lodge Balloting - Grand Lodge of NC It has its own identity and recognition and carries with it the title of "Past Master". 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. That job belongs to the presiding officer, who reads the report again to the members, concluding with a formal declaration of the result. Freemasonry | Definition, History, Stages, Lodges, & Facts After nominations are closed, the vote is taken on each nominee in the order in which they were nominated. To lend a professional air to the proceedings, suggest that brothers wear a collared shirt and tie, especially the candidates. As soon as the committee reports, it is discharged from its duties. The Closely Guarded Secrets of the Masonic Lodge - Freemasons Community In the vote for Secretary, unless he is retiring, MAKE SURE YOU READ YOUR GRAND LODGE CODE! The secretary repeats the vote after recording it, to ensure accuracy. charge of the Ballot and they pick up the hats, take them to the 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. Master. * Rules may include how long the organization saves ballots and how long members can wait to challenge an election. 75-3 METHODS OF AFFILIATION. 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 1. REG. $.' 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. Each question on a multipart ballot is counted as a separate ballot. State which position is open for election or re-election, and invite members of the organization to come forward with their nominations for the position. Pause. 8. Robert's Rules on elections are very straightforward after what is often a politically charged prequel of nominating and campaigning. ", WM: "How in the West, Brother Senior Warden? 11 0 obj Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. 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 The brother responds. Voting machines having wedges inserted to prevent the lever from going down all the way. Members then vote on a candidate to fill the remaining office. Register a free account today to become a member! However, calling nominations from your seat is often impractical, so you may want to adopt a more formal nomination process. applicant shall be declared rejected. white ball elects; a black cube rejects. *(cM YiVo~r049>Kwz,8*#]qVLB`l:HM\7Gj#?#PV(F"y@f4 @hbe2q&8%RYcM`uU;ap10n Also, military lodges in foreign countries, often perform business meetings on the EA degree. Both a bank's president and janitor can apply for membership, and they're considered equally qualified. Masonic Lodge Officer Duties and Responsibilities of Freemasonry, nor webmaster nor those of any Blogs] [Links] ^. <> Illegal votes are, Two or more marked ballots folded together (together they count as only one illegal vote). How to Conduct an Election of Officers (with Pictures) - wikiHow For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. )GT?=Sk8&o9sU|$gv}~3H'>}3DReeZCZ2HN7.WadE-lUG|1pU]d. Organizations can create and write election rules to correct this mistake. Persons serving on the committee can be nominated for office. (or for affiliation) which has received a unanimously favorable The election of lodge officers is an annual event, specified in the lodge bylaws. Members should be alert to some undemocratic political practices in organizations. PDF The NJ Freemason Spring 2019 - Grand Lodge of New Jersey For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. The committee then has to find a new nominee, and the members have to vote again. Masonry doesn't care about your worldly wealth or social position. If your assembly's members are accountable to a constituency, your rules may require you to conduct your elections by roll-call vote. 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$\\OScmalRCiPh_Th 7AN.RR9ou|r:9>NpT~XI|{&]MJ )FvJlC{hDRDT "DJc+^zrPl c[ This ceremony, revised in 2013 relies heavily on the work of the prolific Masonic author and commentator, Robert Macoy who first set it down in The Requirements to Join a Freemason Lodge - dummies I used to post some of them here in a generic manner so all might learn from them. Your organization needs officers, maybe committee members, and other positions decided by a vote of the membership. stream %PDF-1.7 % Or, members can also finish the election at the next regular meeting if the meeting falls within a quarterly time period. <> If they don't set a time for an adjourned meeting, they can call a special meeting (if the bylaws allow this). An "irregular lodge" can be described as the type of Lodge that does have a charter from a Grand Lodge, but other Grand Lodges do not recognize its Grand lodge. _____ and place it on the [What is New] << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> At the end of each successful vote the ballots Apply a check mark to indicate the choice wherever . 14 0 obj Books Online] [E-Books] [Library Of Here are things you can do to improve your fraternity while not being on a lodge officer: Strengthen the brotherhood - The foundation of brotherhood is the strength of the friendships between the brothers. hbbd``b`$+@9`~ $U@ AL Abo;I0 V!$B TURNING YOUR BACK: Never turn one's back on the Master to address the lodge without first-receiving permission Chapter XV - Balloting Procedure - The Masonic Trowel endobj 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 587 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. The Principles of Masonic Law/Chapter XX - Wikisource 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. altar. 8 0 obj endobj 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. 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.

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