masonic lodge election procedure

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.. 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? Same in NM amd OR. If a member notices a mistake in procedure, he or she should immediately make the chair and assembly aware of his concerns. hbbd``b`n@` ! 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. If the motion is adopted, the assembly can adjourn before the vote is announced if it has another meeting scheduled. Don't implement a new process to 450 lodges until it is . Past Masters have a standing in Masonic Law; certain duties may be assigned to them. Marshal takes up his place at the West Gate and the Junior Deacon appears the ballot shall be immediately retaken, and if a blackball 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. If you have only two candidates and the vote is a tie, you repeat the balloting until one candidate receives a majority. Apply a check mark to indicate the choice wherever . This saves time and allows for polling at a time and place other than a meeting. 1. 10. endobj Blogs] [Links] Suggested Procedure For Electing Lodge Officers. In either case, you need to appoint reliable ballot counters to hand out and collect ballots and to count the votes. 12 0 obj Taking nominations by mail is basically the same as taking nominations by ballot. Brother Secretary conduct a roll call. other regular Masonic body other than those stated. If they don't set a time for an adjourned meeting, they can call a special meeting (if the bylaws allow this). Sometimes the committee is revived to make nominations to fill vacancies. . Master. Some organizations add nominees to the ballot only if the name is submitted on a petition signed by some minimum number of members. The process of making floor nominations is subject to the following rules: Recognition by the chair is not required to make a nomination. 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). This example is based on moving to have nominations by committee, but the form is essentially the same for any of the methods. 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). majority of those voting being necessary for election, and the Worshipful 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. 2. Once you're a Master Mason, you've got a few options. 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. 263 0 obj <>stream By absolute demit, [ Chapter 76] 3. After the period during which a recount can be conducted has passed, you don't need to keep the ballots. Sometimes there is a split in the nominating committee over who to nominate. 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. Collectively, these motions are known as motions related to nominations. ____________ Lodge No. 127. 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. I /8ZzeL%kxF~/a&MBkd/cK"zBARqG(/%:}4Q;l@)R^M,s;p Rx P~DV(GR,&Gj;v}yh/5F3ibD,eZJ APPOINTMENT. When the nominations stop, the chair just declares nominations closed after making sure that no more nominations are forthcoming. Section 3. (The chair usually just announces the opening of nominations at the appointed time when they are in order. You take nominations from the floor for one office, and when no further nominations are forthcoming, you proceed to the balloting for that office. 11 0 obj In Kentucky, the individual is normally sent a certified letter. %PDF-1.7 % 5 0 obj Your group's rules and customs determine when floor nominations are accepted. This may be done by the Master, under a provision of the bye-laws giving him the authority, or on his own responsibility, in which case he is amenable to the Grand Lodge for the correctness of his decision. 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. (rap). Sent from my LG-H811 using My Freemasonry Pro mobile app. Robert's Rules on elections are very straightforward after what is often a politically charged prequel of nominating and campaigning. elected. Ask for nominations for an officer position. xU]o@|_cZR%q"b$*/}E(k nK6hb'_ D(|}5Dsq PBY%_'Dru.{,dW9PeOw9 d6!=#3r/iby+4C~9^-GT.d 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 this occurs and it does not affect the outcome of the vote, the election is still valid. 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 distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. Some Lodges have their bills paid automatically each month electronically, such as for utilities and telephones for example. The balloting committee can still count the ballots. << /Im1 11 0 R >> >> 6. Organizations can create and write election rules to correct this mistake. ", WM: "How in the West, Brother Senior Warden? Nominees do not have to leave the room during the nominations, when the vote is taken, or when the vote is counted. or opinion Join us as we strive to make good men better by teaching universal values through the use of geometry and architecture metaphors. Freemasonry's Requirements for Membership. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. stream Books Online] [E-Books] [Library Of We can only drop to a different degree once we conclude that portion of the meeting. - "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 . The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. If you have a nominating committee in place, ask this group to declare their nominee for a specific officer role. <> A member can rise and decline the nomination during the nominating process. inviolably preserved. 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. <> white ball elects; a black cube rejects. mistake.". 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).. A parade of misfortunes had culminated by forcing potato planter Fred Jensen to stop his cross-country dash 85 miles short of his destination. 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. Join a brotherhood of over 2,000,000 men of all ages, from all races, religions, and countries, and from all walks of life. $.' accept?" so presented that each officer and member shall cast his ballot TURNING YOUR BACK: Never turn one's back on the Master to address the lodge without first-receiving permission This method requires more time for the election process, making it probably best limited to smaller groups. 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. Motions to close nominations are usually unnecessary because the nomination process simply continues until no one wishes to make further nominations. 7 0 obj 4 0 obj JavaScript is disabled. 234 0 obj <> endobj endobj 705 South Hercules Avenue. 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. the South? My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum. BALLOTING PROCEDURE CHAPTER xv THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER'S HANDBOOK Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M. %PDF-1.5 ballot drawer is empty and that there are both white balls and black 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. Votes cast by illegal voters must not be counted at all, not even included in the number of total votes cast. In most cases, the threshold is a majority of the votes cast. If a member votes for more choices than positions to be elected, the vote is considered illegal. <>>> The election process may be the easiest part of deciding who handles a particular job in the organization. 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. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. The "lex non scripta," or unwritten law of Freemasonry is derived from the traditions, usages and customs of . If there is a question about the way a ballot is marked, the ballot counters should take it to the presiding officer. masonic lodge election procedure; shkolla viktor hygo logo October 28, 2021. masonic lodge election procedure . endobj [Feedback]. Doing this may allow an unpopular or hand-picked candidate to get the office even though he or she was not elected. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. %PDF-1.5 Both a bank's president and janitor can apply for membership, and they're considered equally qualified. [What is Freemasonry] [Leadership endobj The election process may be the easiest part of deciding who handles a particular job in the organization. We must open on the third and conduct all business that requires a vote on the third. All Articles] [Masonic 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. and the Past Masters around the Lodge and places the ballot box on the States or elsewhere. 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. When the secretary prepares the eligibility list for the meeting, only those members who are willing to serve are on the list. The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. . The minutes may say, for example, "Eric Olson was elected to the board for two years. Ballot voting is by far the surest way to allow for the free expression of the will of the membership. 4[>56[Wbz ; ~D.Lf Y`S=#A.%* ^Ckk8a)W=Lt!z3 EHDG}S?#&,y$OAYNOQ kKl_B ? 6 0 obj Nominations for each office are followed by the election for that office. Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. Masonic Lodges, Masonic Organizations, and Youth Orders may conduct in-person meetings and events in compliance with county and city restrictions, if any. 15 0 obj In Europe, it takes often a year, to advance per degree. petition(s) of _______________ for the degrees of Freemasonry, 292, elections may be held in a lodge opened in an EA as long as there is an EA attending. stream Freemasonry (or Brother __________for affiliation)." endobj Depending on your organization and the decisions being made, balloting may take place during a meeting, or polls may be open during polling periods including times when no meeting is in progress. Fund raising is underway. 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! It may not display this or other websites correctly. )GT?=Sk8&o9sU|$gv}~3H'>}3DReeZCZ2HN7.WadE-lUG|1pU]d. All Articles] [Masonic The Code has two primary chapters that describe the process of voting in subordinate lodges. * If the committee does its job well, the membership can enjoy some basic assurance that the candidates nominated have at least expressed interest in the job, have agreed to serve, and are qualified for the offices for which they're nominated. Only MMs vote. [What is New] . The advanced tools of the editor will guide you through the editable PDF template. Two top hats are placed on the kneeling pad at foot of altar. << /ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageB /ImageC /ImageI ] /ColorSpace << /Cs1 7 0 R This method of nominations is based on the principle of allowing all voters to make nominations for all offices by completing a nominating ballot. Also, members rarely move to close nominations because, whenever no further nominations are offered, the chair usually just declares, "Hearing no further nominations, nominations for the office of [name the office] are closed.". Or, they can tell members publicly that they do not have a nominee for a certain office; this allows members to volunteer. unobserved by others, so that the secrecy of the ballot shall be When holding ballot elections, you have two procedural options: Nominations for all offices conclude before any balloting begins. Any blue lodge that does not hold annual election of officers is considered irregular by most Grand Lodges. If the organization uses a nominating committee and then takes nominations from the floor, the secretary records the nominating committee's report first and then lists nominations for each office in the order they are presented as given by the members from the floor. :7YA/gOwNw|\g[u|I}?F. These Masonic rituals represent three degrees which are taken in sequence. All business is done in a MM lodge. hb```e``b`f``cg@ ~}"S-(1I)|p(0)P5oDurCAfG3f1,-- d$WZ3bVasYf`$exq> )Zg Magazines Online] been rejected by a Lodge shall again be proposed within six months after According to Robert's Rules, a motion to close nominations is out of order as long as any member wishes to make a nomination. In most places, the answer is likely no. These could lead The Constitution is clear on the proper procedure 14 0 R /BitsPerComponent 8 /Filter /FlateDecode >> Polls closing or opening at times different than the times posted. 8. other regular Masonic body other than those stated. of altar. 8. The election (or rejection) of a candidate in a Masonic lodge is a secret ballot, and with few exceptions, must be completely unanimous. Register a free account today to become a member! Talks] [Masonic endstream endobj 34 0 obj <>>>/Metadata 18 0 R/Pages 31 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 35 0 obj <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]>>/Rotate 0/Type/Page>> endobj 36 0 obj <>stream Rules may include how long the organization saves ballots and how long members can wait to challenge an election. 1. place with the Senior and Junior Wardens alternating in calling the Here are some other things to consider during the election process: A quorum needs to be present throughout the election meeting. <> If a member votes for fewer choices than positions to be elected, the vote is legal and those votes count. Ballot counters should cast their ballots at the same time that the assembly votes. As soon as the committee reports, it is discharged from its duties. Your group's rules and customs determine when floor nominations are accepted. gjzUS&31+W&nck')*Uf{|mON6E4GKIpFT(o o.RJ MXqy-) MR It may not display this or other websites correctly. elected (rejected) Mister ___________ for the degrees of Ie!W2UP7MEdq-2Y+(jVW`Y, z?D;tr>[iqqF7!FR$uh?%b Secretary prepares ballots for each position to be The Worshipful Master orders the Wardens to take 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 If counting ballots takes some time, it is best for the assembly to take a recess instead of adjourn. It has its own identity and recognition and carries with it the title of "Past Master". All business is done in a MM 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. These elections happen in the end of the year to elect the following years leadership team. A website endorsed by a Lodge will be considered the official Lodge website, and will be subject to these criteria and rules. Because this form of voting favors one candidate over another based on the order of nomination, you should avoid using it except in mass meetings or when there's no serious contest for the office and a ballot is not required. [Feedback]. One of the most important franchises which the Masonic character offers is THE ELECTION OF MASTER FOR THE ENSUING TWELVE MONTHS. Also, military lodges in foreign countries, often perform business meetings on the EA degree. may use different methods of electing officers. It varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Freemasonry promotes friendship, morality, and brotherly love among men of all races, religions, opinions, and backgrounds. should be destroyed. time immemorial. programs and procedures of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, a Masonic District and their Lodge. Conducting an Election of Officers p. 25 Section III. once petition the same or any other Lodge in the jurisdiction. endstream If not, the members can vote again during that meeting for another candidate. 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. 7. This requires secretaries (and possibly grand secretaries if different jurisdictions) to get involved, but is a somewhat common occurrence. of Freemasonry, nor webmaster nor those of any it to the Master who inspects the ballot box making sure that the The duty of a nominating committee is to find the best candidate for each office. collect the ballots and place the hats with the ballots at the The Master then casts his own vote. Each officer and member, before voting, must exchange the %%EOF Balloting for your acceptance into a Masonic lodge After the investigative committee reports to the lodge, your petition is voted on. the name on the ballot and the Secretary repeats the name and tallies >> /ExtGState << /Gs1 13 0 R >> /Font << /Tc1 10 0 R /TT2 9 0 R >> /XObject 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. 2. The Senior Deacon obtains the ballot box and presents Illegal votes are, Two or more marked ballots folded together (together they count as only one illegal vote). _____ By transfer of membership, maintaining continuous membership, and 4. If a member leaves one part blank, the votes entered on the other questions still count. 33 0 obj <> endobj <> It is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views