REG. By-Laws | District Grand Lodge of Jamaica & the Cayman Islands Freemason Requirements | Dallas Freemasonry 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. Dues & Don'ts of Getting Into a Masonic Lodge | Freemason Network ____ for the ensuing Masonic year. % PDF The NJ Freemason Spring 2019 - Grand Lodge of New Jersey Each incoming class of three shall consist of the incoming Junior Warden of the lodge (which has its own bylaws), and. At this time the The organization must have another election. This site is not an official site of any recognized Masonic body in the United ;J @*Ix~6ia 023X85i=%/v')^KkHaQaA {DCAH ' << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> The ballots are tallied very much like an election ballot, and the report becomes the list of nominees for each office. Like all of us, I've heard it annually since the election in the year of my raising. 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. 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. 2017 2 PREFACE This Manual has been assembled to enable Brethren to better understand the laws, customs, programs and procedures of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, a Masonic District and their Lodge. _____ cast their ballot?" 11 0 obj All business is done in a MM lodge. In Tennessee, the only time you open an EA or FC lodge is to confer those degrees. endstream As soon as the committee reports, it is discharged from its duties. You are using an out of date browser. A person can nominate himself or herself. endobj 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? (The chair usually just announces the opening of nominations at the appointed time when they are in order. Some Lodges have their bills paid automatically each month electronically, such as for utilities and telephones for example. Grand Lodge Dues 24 Conducting an Election of Officers 24-25 Section . [What is Freemasonry] [Leadership If you have a nominating committee in place, ask this group to declare their nominee for a specific officer role. In determining how long to hold the ballots before destroying them, your main consideration is the possibility of needing a recount. 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 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." place with the Senior and Junior Wardens alternating in calling the Are there any further nominations for president? {V++6o <>`ulr<>[lLDdTVVQ4Mt{<1iz;E To which Blaise replies "Yeah, 200 bucks is pretty steep.". 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. Yes, every year Masonic Lodges do have elections. New Jersey checking in. election of Trustees to Board - General Discussion - The Official RONR All Articles] [Masonic 33 0 obj <> endobj To lend a professional air to the proceedings, suggest that brothers wear a collared shirt and tie, especially the candidates. 16 0 obj 292, elections may be held in a lodge opened in an EA as long as there is an EA attending. The Senior Deacon presents the ballot for examination As JPM of my lodge, I've been asked to serve in this role for our upcoming officer elections. <> At the end of each successful vote the ballots Secretarys table and put the ballots into one of the hats. Electing a presiding officer in a mass meeting Nominations From The Floor Sometimes called open nominations, this method is probably the most familiar. 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. My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum. 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. Depending on the Grand Lodge, this can be anywhere from 18 to 25. yy MWY*^K$@48SyFHv! Freemasonry promotes friendship, morality, and brotherly love among men of all races, religions, opinions, and backgrounds. Blogs] [Links] If this occurs and it does not affect the outcome of the vote, the election is still valid. And whenever you want to specify when nominations can be made, you use a motion to open or close nominations. endstream endobj startxref endobj When holding ballot elections, you have two procedural options: Nominations for all offices conclude before any balloting begins. Lodge elections are performed via a Masonic Ballot Box. 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. _____ and place it on the 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. 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. 1 0 obj 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. However only Masters can vote. 587 [Feedback]. ", SW: "Clear (dark) in the West, Worshipful. ___________, you have been elected to serve as ____________ of Any blue lodge that does not hold annual election of officers is considered irregular by most Grand Lodges. The Closely Guarded Secrets of the Masonic Lodge - Freemasons Community However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. 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. The secretary repeats the vote after recording it, to ensure accuracy. Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Education: CHAPTER 31: Lodge Service Commission: CHAPTER 32: . When called on to give the report, the chairman of the nominating committee states the nominations for each office. As Masons, we hone our skills to apply their use, improving ourselves daily. Blogs] [Links] The election process may be the easiest part of deciding who handles a particular job in the organization. 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. Whatever nomination method you propose, be specific. The brother responds. First, the Entered Apprentice Degree, second, the Fellow Craft Degree and finally, the Master Mason Degree. What Is A Masonic Lodge? | Freemasons Community visiting brother take his place so that the tiler may cast his Nominations are now open from the floor. Illegal votes cast by legal voters count toward the total votes cast, but they don't count for any individual choice or candidate. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. If members haven't used the machine before, it may be wise to show them how to use it the day before the election. Election of Officers of a Lodge: CHAPTER 55: Installation of Officers of a Lodge: CHAPTER 56: Officers of a Lodge, Term, Resignation, and Title . When two gavel knocks are heard, only officers of the lodge stand. 5. shall be immediately retaken, when, if a blackball again appears, the 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. ", JW: "Fair (cloudy) in the South, Worshipful. 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. We can conduct lodge business in the EA degree in Minnesota, but only Master Masons can vote. 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. Senior Deacon,", WM: "Prepare and present the ballot box.". 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. majority of those voting being necessary for election, and the Worshipful Or, members can also finish the election at the next regular meeting if the meeting falls within a quarterly time period. names. In balloting on a petition for affiliation, if one blackball If they don't set a time for an adjourned meeting, they can call a special meeting (if the bylaws allow this). [Articles] [Masonic By absolute demit, [ Chapter 76] 3. 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. It's used in the vast majority of situations in which members elect their officers at a meeting. Freemasons explain the rituals and benefits of membership will advance to the altar and cast their ballot. Lodge Website Criteria | Grand Lodge of Georgia, F. & A.M. ", WM: "How in the West, Brother Senior Warden? The balloting committee can still count the ballots. announce the results of the vote. Business meetings are held on the EA degree in European lodge. When using this procedure, make it clear that a person can be nominated for and elected to more than one office. 2. Each officer and member, before voting, must exchange the [What is New] ballot closed." APPOINTMENT. This method is applicable when, Appointing members to committees, if specified in the motion creating the committee, or if prescribed in the bylaws, Electing a presiding officer in a mass meeting. One of the most important franchises which the Masonic character offers is THE ELECTION OF MASTER FOR THE ENSUING TWELVE MONTHS.