masonic lodge election procedure

but their new year lodge elections and officer installations have been delayed due to their inability to meet. 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. The committee should meet, carefully review the membership list, and select the people who they think will do the best job in each office. A member of the committee should then be designated to call each nominee to see if he or she is willing to serve if elected. 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. The Worshipful Master orders the Wardens to take MAKE SURE YOU READ YOUR GRAND LODGE CODE! Sent from my LG-H811 using My Freemasonry Pro mobile app. <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.44 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> As JPM of my lodge, I've been asked to serve in this role for our upcoming officer elections. 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. "30*5gDcJuk.w^m=12Ua&0cE'|H%KV L%|c]c0l;v=[, Cj+M 38xHDL\. In determining how long to hold the ballots before destroying them, your main consideration is the possibility of needing a recount. If you have a nominating committee in place, ask this group to declare their nominee for a specific officer role. To which Blaise replies "Yeah, 200 bucks is pretty steep.". The election (or rejection) of a candidate in a Masonic lodge is a secret ballot, and with few exceptions, must be completely unanimous. Crossing the G. In most grand lodge jurisdictions, rituals call for an altar to be placed in the center of the lodge room holding the respective Volume of Sacred Law. No candidate whose application has 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. 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. 11 0 obj All officers resume their stations and (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. If a member votes for fewer choices than positions to be elected, the vote is legal and those votes count. endobj Every lodge is incorporated and required to have corporate officers. 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. It varies! 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. 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. At the end of each successful vote the ballots The Master may approve a collective ballot if there 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. 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. If it's determined that enough illegal votes were cast by illegal voters to affect the result, and these votes can't be identified and removed from the count, then the vote is deemed null and must be retaken. endobj 0 The requirement for election by ballot is a majority, and a candidate has no obligation to withdraw just because he polls low numbers. 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 counting ballots takes some time, it is best for the assembly to take a recess instead of adjourn. This requires secretaries (and possibly grand secretaries if different jurisdictions) to get involved, but is a somewhat common occurrence. Brother Secretary conduct a roll call. It's used in the vast majority of situations in which members elect their officers at a meeting. ;J @*Ix~6ia 023X85i=%/v')^KkHaQaA {DCAH ' 4 0 obj Elections are decided by majority vote unless your bylaws provide differently. 33 0 obj <> endobj the vote. 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. Blogs] [Links] Two top hats are placed on the kneeling pad at foot Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation. Ie!W2UP7MEdq-2Y+(jVW`Y, z?D;tr>[iqqF7!FR$uh?%b As Masons, we hone our skills to apply their use, improving ourselves daily. When the next meeting begins, the first order of business is to hear the report of the balloting committee and for the presiding officer to announce the vote that was taken at the previous meeting. In balloting on a petition for affiliation, if one blackball Here is how: You must first find a Masonic lodge location near you, contact them, and ask for a petition to join. Achieve this by asking them to hang out with you. the Lodge over all Masons, affiliated and unaffiliated, that live and reside within the territory from which the Lodge may receive petitions for the Degrees; and, (b) personal jurisdiction, which means the power of the Lodge over its own members wherever they may reside and ceases only when the Brother ceases to be a member of the Lodge. petition(s) of _______________ for the degrees of Freemasonry, 'xzwQ38/4b|T}R-g|7uhw 4!"icE)S7AEo However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. [What is Freemasonry] [Leadership Clearwater Lodge No. 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. According to Robert's Rules, a motion to close nominations is out of order as long as any member wishes to make a nomination. 13 0 obj 127. Robert's Rules sets out several methods of making nominations for positions: An organization can nominate candidates in several ways: This method is used whenever the membership wants to rely on the presiding officer to recommend candidates but also wants to reserve for itself (or its designee, such as the board of directors) the approval of the nominee. The Secretary announces the results of the vote, a 234 0 obj <> endobj Past Masters of ____________ Lodge No. 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. stream It's never proper to drop the candidates receiving the lowest vote totals from a ballot unless they withdraw voluntarily. Secretarys table and put the ballots into one of the hats. gjzUS&31+W&nck')*Uf{|mON6E4GKIpFT(o o.RJ MXqy-) MR vote. 6. Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. qQ^&FJ J } <> Organizations can create and write election rules to correct this mistake. All Articles] [Masonic )GT?=Sk8&o9sU|$gv}~3H'>}3DReeZCZ2HN7.WadE-lUG|1pU]d. collect the ballots, the Deacons approach the altar, pick up the hats, You must come recommended by at least two existing Freemasons from the lodge you're petitioning. 4. Development] [Education] [Masonic WB Christopher J. Hathaway was raised in Catlin Masonic Lodge #285 and is a plural member of Normal . Masonic politics is typically at its ugliest during elections when Brothers are charged with un-Masonic conduct for "electioneering." I find this all rather amusing as I believe our process for electing officers is far from perfect. % 2. In a ballot vote, after the ballot counters have collected all the ballots, a member can make the motion to adjourn. Business meetings are held on the EA degree in European lodge. 6 Y~0 0@ The following shall be the methods of affiliation: 1. In most cases, the threshold is a majority of the votes cast. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Balloting must continue until a candidate receives a majority. If the bylaws don't prohibit it, a person can be nominated for more than one office and can even serve in more than one office if elected. <> WM: "You will present the ballot to the officers and . ojx&^ 64>"> |&`mkG l[o;5``ek l[;5zk Vhp 5Pq_t.Z1lhp3M \H{Tl nF$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? Books Online] [E-Books] [Library Of salute with the Worshipful Master. Brethren, I declare that you have However, in some national organizations that meet yearly or biennially (every two years), this is difficult. If there is a question about the way a ballot is marked, the ballot counters should take it to the presiding officer. Master. 6 0 obj 3. Nominations are taken for successive offices in the order they're listed in the bylaws. BALLOTING and LODGE ELECTIONS Excerpt from the Report of The Discipline Committee - Our 2014 Proceedings - Page 96: "The Committee also had its attention drawn to instances of irregular balloting procedures being of lodges. collect the ballots and place the hats with the ballots at the Dud goes wide-eyed at hearing this and immediately leaves the lodge because he realizes he's been played by . stream endobj other regular Masonic body other than those stated. 587 Two top hats are placed on the kneeling pad at foot of altar. Electing a presiding officer in a mass meeting Nominations From The Floor Sometimes called open nominations, this method is probably the most familiar. West and bright (black) in the East. 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. [Articles] [Masonic j]Ic[faPhgcP0U0.!boS/]9[[3+:;:+:Q1DX. 3 0 obj <> 6 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. States or elsewhere. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. Apply a check mark to indicate the choice wherever . Often the extra ballot comes from someone who has entered the assembly but has not signed in to the meeting. Ballot counters should cast their ballots at the same time that the assembly votes. 75-3 METHODS OF AFFILIATION. Development] [Education] [Masonic 10. Grand Lodge Dues 24 Conducting an Election of Officers 24-25 Section . the South? Members should be alert to some undemocratic political practices in organizations. [What is New] Enter your official identification and contact details. 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. endobj The Senior Deacon closes the lid on the ballot. These Masonic rituals represent three degrees which are taken in sequence. 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. % Pause. The election process may be the easiest part of deciding who handles a particular job in the organization. I guess that would depend on the jurisdiction. This method gives voters an idea of the group's preferences without holding an actual election. 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. After the brethren have cast their ballots. 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. some brother of the Lodge other than the Secretary should tally and This method of nominations is based on the principle of allowing all voters to make nominations for all offices by completing a nominating ballot. JavaScript is disabled. Taking nominations by mail is basically the same as taking nominations by ballot. (After June 15, individual counties and cities could choose to continue their own meeting limitations, in which case those limitations would continue in force.) 1. . it to the Master who inspects the ballot box making sure that the 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. When two gavel knocks are heard, only officers of the lodge stand. 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. xU]o@|_cZR%q"b$*/}E(k nK6hb'_ D(|}5Dsq PBY%_'Dru.{,dW9PeOw9 d6!=#3r/iby+4C~9^-GT.d 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. I /8ZzeL%kxF~/a&MBkd/cK"zBARqG(/%:}4Q;l@)R^M,s;p Rx P~DV(GR,&Gj;v}yh/5F3ibD,eZJ <> These rules supersede the adopted parliamentary authority. 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 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. One of the most important franchises which the Masonic character offers is THE ELECTION OF MASTER FOR THE ENSUING TWELVE MONTHS. Masonic etiquette decries anyone who does not obey the gavel. 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. It is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views 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 Decision Making For Dummies. 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. masonic lodge election procedure; shkolla viktor hygo logo October 28, 2021. masonic lodge election procedure . Freemasonry (or Brother __________for affiliation)." Suddenly it's 3am. Adam is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Pennsylvania and is employed as a Senior Manager of International Tax in Latrobe, PA. <> [Articles] [Masonic the Senior Warden hands each ballot to the Junior Warden who announces 4 0 obj 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. << /Length 12 0 R /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 610 /Height 521 /ColorSpace %PDF-1.7 % hb```e``b`f``cg@ ~}"S-(1I)|p(0)P5oDurCAfG3f1,-- d$WZ3bVasYf`$exq> )Zg It is important to remember that once someone is elected, the election can't be rescinded unless there is some provision for it in the bylaws. He serves as Chairman of the Trustees of Title to the Masonic Temple and other Real Estate of the Grand Lodge, is a Trustee of the Consolidated Fund and Trustee of the Masonic Charities Fund. 9. The election of lodge officers is an annual event, specified in the lodge bylaws. 6. HWG l!$"' g]9=3>3U}Zo.wjyiQo?\>,:lFYE#q IBZ.rwi/A%f_N'_LDX visiting brother take his place so that the tiler may cast his cubes in the box. At this time the 263 0 obj <>stream Masonic Lodges, Masonic Organizations, and Youth Orders may conduct in-person meetings and events in compliance with county and city restrictions, if any. The Guide is designed to be an easy-to-use reference based on the law and regulations as well as the knowledge and experience of OLMS staff. The person who gets the most votes may not have a majority of the votes. endobj My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum. 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. Chapter 63 covers general voting and Chapter 68 covers the secret ballot. altar. Once you're a Master Mason, you've got a few options. endobj endobj Masonic Lodge Election Procedure HB89 - Tightens the time frames for issuance of firearms licenses by probate judges. %%EOF An election is really nothing more than the handling of an assumed motion, with the question being on whom to elect to fill a position. If lodge functions go smoothly, it is the Master who takes the credit. 4 0 obj 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. Lodge to vote, the Master should invite the tiler in and have a NOTE: This is only a suggested procedure. A member shouldn't offer more than one nomination to a position if there are several seats for the same office such as for nominees to a board or a committee until all other members have had the opportunity to make nominations. Introduction. WM: "Have all of the brethren of _______________ Nominations don't have to be seconded, but it's not out of order for members to second a nomination to signal their endorsement. majority of those voting being necessary for election, and the Worshipful distinctive apron has been designated by the Grand Lodge is present at a Masonic meeting or communication, he may wear the apron so designated. Each officer and member, before voting, must exchange the endobj The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. The report of the nominating committee is usually given under "special orders." A motion to open nominations, when made by a member, is usually a motion to reopen nominations after they have been closed. 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. AUTHORITY. 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). 1. or opinion We must open on the third and conduct all business that requires a vote on the third. Some Lodges Both a bank's president and janitor can apply for membership, and they're considered equally qualified. Each incoming class of three shall consist of the incoming Junior Warden of the lodge (which has its own bylaws), and. 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. The Master then casts his own vote. Customarily (although it's not required), the chair accomplishes this by calling three times for more nominations. Procedure for Contempt: CHAPTER 101: Restoration after Suspension or Expulsion: CHAPTER 102: For this reason, members should listen carefully to the report of the ballot counters' committee. If a member leaves one part blank, the votes entered on the other questions still count. If this occurs and it does not affect the outcome of the vote, the election is still valid. Section 3. f;-^*//%^je)R%^eKuZJQ\LU/Zgy:FDt8KF:US1OG+T/5i]\V5qhw`6mjzS"m].#{T^]q p;43[9[C nF^y' 64 1. We can conduct lodge business in the EA degree in Minnesota, but only Master Masons can vote. By absolute demit, [ Chapter 76] 3. WM: "Brother Junior Warden, how stands the ballot in Some practices to watch out for include: Ballot boxes being stuffed or written ballots being changed. 14 0 obj I've never see a script or outline, but it should proceed as follows: That sounds like the CA required verbiage. At the Worshipful Masters order the Wardens to [Feedback]. 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. (or for affiliation) which has received a unanimously favorable endstream <> ", WM: "Fair (cloudy) in the South, clear (dark) in the 1 0 obj %PDF-1.5 % Senior Deacon,", WM: "Prepare and present the ballot box.". Master informs the successful individual as follows: "Brother 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. Here are some other things to consider during the election process: A quorum needs to be present throughout the election meeting. Talks] [Masonic endobj By establishing plural membership in a North Carolina For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. %PDF-1.3 takes up his place at the tilers door. and the Past Masters around the Lodge and places the ballot box on the endobj "If so, I declare the A newly raised Master . It varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. A member has the right to vote until the polls are closed. The advanced tools of the editor will guide you through the editable PDF template. 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. of altar. At the Worshipful Masters order the Stewards Secretary prepares ballots for each position to be These elections happen in the end of the year to elect the following years leadership team. Ballot voting is by far the surest way to allow for the free expression of the will of the membership. The duty of a nominating committee is to find the best candidate for each office. Sometimes called open nominations, this method is probably the most familiar. States or elsewhere. 98% sure that it is. endobj If they don't set a time for an adjourned meeting, they can call a special meeting (if the bylaws allow this). Does any brother wish to have endobj Whatever nomination method you propose, be specific. If a member votes for more choices than positions to be elected, the vote is considered illegal. Officers Duties and Responsibilities . Remember brethren, a When the secretary prepares the eligibility list for the meeting, only those members who are willing to serve are on the list. endobj 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. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. BALLOTING PROCEDURE CHAPTER xv THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER'S HANDBOOK Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M. %%EOF so presented that each officer and member shall cast his ballot Sometimes nominations aren't taken until the election is pending, and sometimes they're taken at other times, such as at a meeting before the election meeting. 1 0 obj Interestingly, some years ago, Virginia implemented a dues amnesty program. If not, Brother 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. 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. If you had to move before you finished receiving the three degrees of the blue lodge, you'd need lodge B to perform courtesy work. 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. You must log in or register to reply here. 3. The motion to have a vote for a particular office recounted needs a second, is not debatable, and takes a majority vote to adopt. 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 Cell phones, chewing gum, crinkly snack wrappers and other distractions should be disallowed during a fraternity election (except during breaks). Any blue lodge that does not hold annual election of officers is considered irregular by most Grand Lodges. In Texas, per Art. The secretary places all nominations in the minutes. 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.. will advance to the altar and cast their ballot. At the Worshipful Master s order the Stewards distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. 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. 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 been rejected by a Lodge shall again be proposed within six months after Don't implement a new process to 450 lodges until it is . Some organizations add nominees to the ballot only if the name is submitted on a petition signed by some minimum number of members. If you have only two candidates and the vote is a tie, you repeat the balloting until one candidate receives a majority. Join a brotherhood of over 2,000,000 men of all ages, from all races, religions, and countries, and from all walks of life. APPOINTMENT. If the motion is adopted, the assembly can adjourn before the vote is announced if it has another meeting scheduled. JavaScript is disabled. distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. 7 0 obj The Code has two primary chapters that describe the process of voting in subordinate lodges. programs and procedures of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, a Masonic District and their Lodge. If someone is not willing to serve, the committee needs to meet again and find another candidate. applicant shall be declared rejected. Work on making your brothers become better friends. . The Senior Deacon obtains the ballot box and presents {V++6o <>`ulr<>[lLDdTVVQ4Mt{<1iz;E report from the investigating committee. First, the Entered Apprentice Degree, second, the Fellow Craft Degree and finally, the Master Mason Degree. endstream endobj startxref New Jersey checking in. << /ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageB /ImageC /ImageI ] /ColorSpace << /Cs1 7 0 R Your members may wind up voting for Mr. Low as the compromise candidate. charge of the Ballot and they pick up the hats, take them to the >> /ExtGState << /Gs1 13 0 R >> /Font << /Tc1 10 0 R /TT2 9 0 R >> /XObject A properly planned and executed meeting results in good participation. All Articles] [Masonic The organization must have another election. Voting machines having wedges inserted to prevent the lever from going down all the way. 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.

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