When three gavel knocks are given by the Master ALL in attendance in the lodge stands up. At the end of each successful vote the ballots LODGE VISITATION - A PRIVILEGE. In Europe, it takes often a year, to advance per degree. By signing a petition for the formation of a new lodge, [ Chapter 39] 2. Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. A member can rise and decline the nomination during the nominating process. Decision Making For Dummies. <> some brother of the Lodge other than the Secretary should tally and It's used in the vast majority of situations in which members elect their officers at a meeting. I used to post some of them here in a generic manner so all might learn from them. stream Cell phones, chewing gum, crinkly snack wrappers and other distractions should be disallowed during a fraternity election (except during breaks). (The chair usually just announces the opening of nominations at the appointed time when they are in order. 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. 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. In this case, the members must vote again until one candidate receives a majority vote. By establishing plural membership in a North Carolina Nominations don't have to be seconded, but it's not out of order for members to second a nomination to signal their endorsement. My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum. 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. 6 0 obj 14 0 obj to the Junior Warden, then the Senior Warden and then the Worshipful )Cv`3!VOYe%K]'d4'kH&]x*"W.L+P|WUyl>TlUTZZh=7wE%4 DoH+5%Y+*:*2*&^Ol\Td4G]:^[DdVXQn*mNI#]Vv?v:]W6x H|z=|-!q1 oF?$Ul(V1C:[jhDe4nsl65gpr'fKuo2a0$T$W.6 ` 5SR_? qQ^&FJ J } It is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. endobj We can only drop to a different degree once we conclude that portion of the meeting. ^. However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation. It may not display this or other websites correctly. [What is Freemasonry] [Leadership For the qualifications of candidates in order to join a Masonic Lodge in Texas there are a series of "Freemason requirements". The bylaws should not tie the hands of the committee to find more than one person to fill each slot; the committee should find the best candidate for each office. Apply a check mark to indicate the choice wherever . That means run-offs are just plain out of order. In Texas, per Art. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. All Articles] [Masonic accept?" Discover the world's largest and oldest fraternal organization with over 3 million members. JFIF C No matter which procedure you use, the order in which you take up each election is the order in which the offices are listed in your bylaws. If this occurs and it does not affect the outcome of the vote, the election is still valid. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. hmo@W}w*JGEa]/p o?_%au/$"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$\\OScmalRCiPh_Th 7AN.RR9ou|r:9>NpT~XI|{&]MJ )FvJlC{hDRDT "DJc+^zrPl c[ When the next meeting begins, the first order of business is to hear the report of the balloting committee and for the presiding officer to announce the vote that was taken at the previous meeting. RESOLVED, that the Handbook of Masonic Law, Digest of Edicts, sec- Authors of Resolution: Bros. John F. tion on Perpetual Membership, pages Knox, Jr., P.M., W.H. Once you're a Master Mason, you've got a few options. 4[>56[Wbz ; ~D.Lf Y`S=#A.%* ^Ckk8a)W=Lt!z3 EHDG}S?#&,y$OAYNOQ kKl_B ? Like all of us, I've heard it annually since the election in the year of my raising. 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 While the . collectively, and in the case of one blackball appearing therein it 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. 5 0 obj The most important thing associations or governments can do is appoint conscientious and honest people to serve on the ballot counters' committee and to watch the polls. My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum. may use different methods of electing officers. (rap). %PDF-1.3 An election is really nothing more than the handling of an assumed motion . When using this procedure, make it clear that a person can be nominated for and elected to more than one office. endobj rejection. the vote. A Lodge member who has held the highest office in the Lodge has for life a Masonic position of his own. APPOINTMENT. report from the investigating committee. endobj other regular Masonic body other than those stated. The committee should meet, carefully review the membership list, and select the people who they think will do the best job in each office. . It is considered a faux pas to cross . but their new year lodge elections and officer installations have been delayed due to their inability to meet. 8. A late-arriving member can vote only with other members' consent by majority vote. Each question on a multipart ballot is counted as a separate ballot. <> vote. the South? Magazines Online] ", SW: "Clear (dark) in the West, Worshipful. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. Westside Toastmasters is located in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, California. 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. 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. To lend a professional air to the proceedings, suggest that brothers wear a collared shirt and tie, especially the candidates. <> The appointive officers of the Grand Lodge, save the Deputy Grand Secretary, shall be 8. The Senior Deacon presents the ballot for examination it to the Master who inspects the ballot box making sure that the 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. When two gavel knocks are heard, only officers of the lodge stand. 2 0 obj It drives us back to basics, using the Masonic tools we already have in our tool belt. The Committee on Masonic Education and Information of . Ballot voting is by far the surest way to allow for the free expression of the will of the membership. The Trustees of the Charitable Foundation have authorized the "build out" of the Grand Lodge Library into the space formerly the drive through banking area. A poor meeting achieves the opposite results. <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> That job belongs to the presiding officer, who reads the report again to the members, concluding with a formal declaration of the result. . x`TU?5%BBH*5XHRjD5IPJ@Z"MDE]sm.Cs)}{n/JFtZ_!ms6g:8_\Xt hq[gGBqvZ(}%p&N"4t 4b2hEs 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 ;D[{cv,#(145:n') The brother responds. endstream endobj 37 0 obj <>stream If you have only two candidates and the vote is a tie, you repeat the balloting until one candidate receives a majority. <> These rules supersede the adopted parliamentary authority. f;-^*//%^je)R%^eKuZJQ\LU/Zgy:FDt8KF:US1OG+T/5i]\V5qhw`6mjzS"m].#{T^]q p;43[9[C nF^y' 64 For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Secretary prepares ballots for each position to be elected. 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. In a voice vote, the winner is easy to determine and the vote is over when someone wins the election. 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 If the lodge is not able to contact the individual after a reasonable period of time, the non-paying Mason is dropped (suspended). By absolute demit, [ Chapter 76] 3. However, in some national organizations that meet yearly or biennially (every two years), this is difficult. This saves time and allows for polling at a time and place other than a meeting. Same in NM amd OR. 6 Y~0 0@ Masonry doesn't care about your worldly wealth or social position. The main advantage here is that it allows members to consider the election results of one office before proceeding to the election of another office. It's used in the vast majority of situations in which members elect their officers at a meeting. Booth Lodge 100-100C, be amended . programs and procedures of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, a Masonic District and their Lodge. << /Type /Page /Parent 3 0 R /Resources 6 0 R /Contents 4 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] 33 0 obj <> endobj altar.". Marshal takes up his place at the West Gate and the Junior Deacon Blogs] [Links] - "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 . Persons serving on the committee can be nominated for office. According to Robert's Rules, a motion to close nominations is out of order as long as any member wishes to make a nomination. I've never see a script or outline, but it should proceed as follows: That sounds like the CA required verbiage. "30*5gDcJuk.w^m=12Ua&0cE'|H%KV L%|c]c0l;v=[, Cj+M 38xHDL\. 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. [What is Freemasonry] [Leadership . <> << /Length 12 0 R /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 610 /Height 521 /ColorSpace << /ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageB /ImageC /ImageI ] /ColorSpace << /Cs1 7 0 R of Freemasonry, nor webmaster nor those of any 1. 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. If counting ballots takes some time, it is best for the assembly to take a recess instead of adjourn. %PDF-1.5 The Senior Deacon closes the lid on the ballot. 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. Any blue lodge that does not hold annual election of officers is considered irregular by most Grand Lodges. Masters are required to see that the ballot box is It's never proper to drop the candidates receiving the lowest vote totals from a ballot unless they withdraw voluntarily. However only Masters can vote. I've never performed or even practiced the role before, though via "osmosis," should be able to piece it together to at least a minimally functional level. These could lead The Constitution is clear on the proper procedure A member has the right to vote until the polls are closed. All Articles] [Masonic 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). All eyes are upon the Master. If there is a question about the way a ballot is marked, the ballot counters should take it to the presiding officer. endstream distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. Blogs] [Links] MAKE SURE YOU READ YOUR GRAND LODGE CODE! It's never in order to vote Yes or No (or For or Against) a candidate when electing persons to office. I guess that would depend on the jurisdiction. 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. If lodge functions go smoothly, it is the Master who takes the credit. ballot drawer is empty and that there are both white balls and black Business meetings are held on the EA degree in European lodge. ), Members rarely make a motion to close nominations because it's never in order to make this motion as long as anyone wants to make a nomination. appears the ballot shall be immediately retaken, and if a blackball Suggested Procedure For Electing Lodge Officers. When holding ballot elections, you have two procedural options: Nominations for all offices conclude before any balloting begins. 7 0 obj << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> <>>> 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 committee must carefully review the eligibility requirements for each office and see that the nominees meet these requirements. >> /ExtGState << /Gs1 13 0 R >> /Font << /Tc1 10 0 R /TT2 9 0 R >> /XObject shall be immediately retaken, when, if a blackball again appears, the in Season 1, episode 2 of Lodge 49 on AMC, our hero Dud (Wyatt Russel) tells Blaise (David Pasquesi) "You'd have more people if the membership fee wasn't so high.". Nominees do not have to leave the room during the nominations, when the vote is taken, or when the vote is counted. A person can nominate himself or herself. Masonic Lodge Election Procedure HB89 - Tightens the time frames for issuance of firearms licenses by probate judges. 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. In the vote for the position of Worshipful Master Master. endobj altar. and the Past Masters around the Lodge and places the ballot box on the From his home in Pocatello, Idaho, across almost 3000 miles of highway, Fred's car had given trouble, and now, at Henniker, N.H., the cooling system finally gave up. places. endobj elected. For this reason, members should listen carefully to the report of the ballot counters' committee. endobj A ballot shall be taken for the three degrees The Master then casts his own vote. 1 0 obj % 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.. Procedure for Contempt: CHAPTER 101: Restoration after Suspension or Expulsion: CHAPTER 102: Brother Secretary conduct a roll call. {V++6o <>`ulr<>[lLDdTVVQ4Mt{<1iz;E 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. 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. 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. WM: "Brother Junior Warden, how stands the ballot in Robert's Rules on elections are very straightforward after what is often a politically charged prequel of nominating and campaigning. 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! petition(s) of _______________ for the degrees of Freemasonry, Freemasonry promotes friendship, morality, and brotherly love among men of all races, religions, opinions, and backgrounds. Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. The Lodge web page must not link to or be linked to by any website where a conflict . 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. "If so, I declare the Past Masters have a standing in Masonic Law; certain duties may be assigned to them. In Kentucky, the individual is normally sent a certified letter. Senior Deacon,", WM: "Prepare and present the ballot box.". * (rap once). 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. This site is not an official site of any recognized Masonic body in the United A Lodge supporting this vital outreach of the Foundation, will be properly noted. If a member notices a mistake in procedure, he or she should immediately make the chair and assembly aware of his concerns. 1. 3. 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. 1. The way to fill out the Mason form form form online: To start the form, use the Fill camp; Sign Online button or tick the preview image of the document. Work on making your brothers become better friends. Sent from my LG-H811 using My Freemasonry Pro mobile app. 4 0 obj ____ for the ensuing Masonic year. If a member votes for more choices than positions to be elected, the vote is considered illegal. 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. Lodge No. charge of the Ballot and they pick up the hats, take them to the In Tennessee, the only time you open an EA or FC lodge is to confer those degrees. 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. Balloting must continue until a candidate receives a majority. Mail or absentee ballots not arriving on time or mysteriously disappearing when the time comes to count them. You must come recommended by at least two existing Freemasons from the lodge you're petitioning. of Freemasonry, nor webmaster nor those of any Is it permissible to hold election of officers in an EA lodge? A common mistake in elections is having too many ballots cast for the number of members present. REG. Magazines Online] Or, they can tell members publicly that they do not have a nominee for a certain office; this allows members to volunteer. The election of lodge officers is an annual event, specified in the lodge bylaws. unobserved by others, so that the secrecy of the ballot shall be 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 you have a nominating committee in place, ask this group to declare their nominee for a specific officer role. inviolably preserved. If something doesn't quite add up, a member should question it during the meeting. place with the Senior and Junior Wardens alternating in calling the ",#(7),01444'9=82. 2 0 obj The Senior Deacon obtains the ballot box and presents Each officer and member, before voting, must exchange the Brethren, I declare that you have 4 0 obj Sometimes there is a split in the nominating committee over who to nominate. AUTHORITY. Illegal votes are, Two or more marked ballots folded together (together they count as only one illegal vote). West and bright (black) in the East. Secretary prepares ballots for each position to be 292, elections may be held in a lodge opened in an EA as long as there is an EA attending. Ask for nominations for an officer position. once petition the same or any other Lodge in the jurisdiction. 16 0 obj Depending on the Grand Lodge, this can be anywhere from 18 to 25. However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. 12 0 obj endstream endobj startxref If you become a Free Mason, you will: Join both the oldest and the largest fraternity in the world. ballot closed." Robert's Rules on elections are very straightforward after what is often a politically charged prequel of nominating and campaigning. 75-3 METHODS OF AFFILIATION. Freemasonry's Requirements for Membership. If they don't set a time for an adjourned meeting, they can call a special meeting (if the bylaws allow this). 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. Voting machines having wedges inserted to prevent the lever from going down all the way. We can only drop to a different degree once we conclude that portion of the meeting. To help with the Masonic experience at Lodge meetings, you were allowed to open on any degree, and use the Chamber These Masonic rituals represent three degrees which are taken in sequence. %%EOF After the person elected to office assumes the position, it is too late to nullify an illegal election. <> You take nominations from the floor for one office, and when no further nominations are forthcoming, you proceed to the balloting for that office. Election of Officers of a Lodge: CHAPTER 55: Installation of Officers of a Lodge: CHAPTER 56: Officers of a Lodge, Term, Resignation, and Title . The Code has two primary chapters that describe the process of voting in subordinate lodges. of altar. Grand Lodge Dues 24 Conducting an Election of Officers 24-25 Section . After the brethren have cast their ballots. a portion or all of the petition(s) reread? or opinion 13 0 obj I /8ZzeL%kxF~/a&MBkd/cK"zBARqG(/%:}4Q;l@)R^M,s;p Rx P~DV(GR,&Gj;v}yh/5F3ibD,eZJ 1 0 obj 5 0 obj <> Sometimes called open nominations, this method is probably the most familiar. HB280 - Allows a weapons carry license holder to hold a handgun concealed whereas on campus of public technical schools and public colleges.

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