masonic lodge election procedure

If a member notices a mistake in procedure, he or she should immediately make the chair and assembly aware of his concerns. <> 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? 234 0 obj <> endobj Register a free account today to become a member! appears the ballot shall be immediately retaken, and if a blackball The committee should meet, carefully review the membership list, and select the people who they think will do the best job in each office. endobj Achieve this by asking them to hang out with you. Masonic Lodges, Masonic Organizations, and Youth Orders may conduct in-person meetings and events in compliance with county and city restrictions, if any. New Jersey checking in. elected (rejected) Mister ___________ for the degrees of Elections are decided by majority vote unless your bylaws provide differently. (After June 15, individual counties and cities could choose to continue their own meeting limitations, in which case those limitations would continue in force.) <> 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). Illegal votes cast by legal voters count toward the total votes cast, but they don't count for any individual choice or candidate. Lodge No. hbbd``b`n@` ! In Kentucky, the individual is normally sent a certified letter. One example occurs if a person is elected and then resigns, the office is considered vacant, and the president or board fills it by appointment instead of having another election. stream _____ In determining how long to hold the ballots before destroying them, your main consideration is the possibility of needing a recount. [Feedback]. If a member votes for more choices than positions to be elected, the vote is considered illegal. Pause. Secretary prepares ballots for each position to be elected. You must come recommended by at least two existing Freemasons from the lodge you're petitioning. Cell phones, chewing gum, crinkly snack wrappers and other distractions should be disallowed during a fraternity election (except during breaks). A decision on how long to keep them can be made at the meeting when the vote takes place, or a short retention period for ballots can be adopted as a standing rule. 11 0 obj 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). place with the Senior and Junior Wardens alternating in calling the 2. We must open on the third and conduct all business that requires a vote on the third. This method gives voters an idea of the group's preferences without holding an actual election. 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. 4 0 obj One vote against the petitioner generally rejects him. %%EOF 1. 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. Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. 292, elections may be held in a lodge opened in an EA as long as there is an EA attending. The requirement for election by ballot is a majority, and a candidate has no obligation to withdraw just because he polls low numbers. other regular Masonic body other than those stated. 587 of altar. <> ;D[{cv,#(145:n') The election (or rejection) of a candidate in a Masonic lodge is a secret ballot, and with few exceptions, must be completely unanimous. endobj once petition the same or any other Lodge in the jurisdiction. In a voice vote, the winner is easy to determine and the vote is over when someone wins the election. <> collect the ballots, the Deacons approach the altar, pick up the hats, ), 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. Procedure for Contempt: CHAPTER 101: Restoration after Suspension or Expulsion: CHAPTER 102: 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. It has its own identity and recognition and carries with it the title of "Past Master". 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 ____________ Lodge No. endobj And whenever you want to specify when nominations can be made, you use a motion to open or close nominations. The election process may be the easiest part of deciding who handles a particular job in the organization. The following shall be the methods of affiliation: 1. If someone is not willing to serve, the committee needs to meet again and find another candidate. petition(s) of _______________ for the degrees of Freemasonry, 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. <> WM: "You will present the ballot to the officers and Like all of us, I've heard it annually since the election in the year of my raising. 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. << /Length 12 0 R /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 610 /Height 521 /ColorSpace According to Robert's Rules, a motion to close nominations is out of order as long as any member wishes to make a nomination. TURNING YOUR BACK: Never turn one's back on the Master to address the lodge without first-receiving permission The Senior Deacon closes the lid on the ballot. 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. As soon as the committee reports, it is discharged from its duties. Members then vote on a candidate to fill the remaining office. ", WM: "How in the West, Brother Senior Warden? 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. Magazines Online] <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.44 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> endobj 10 0 obj other regular Masonic body other than those stated. some brother of the Lodge other than the Secretary should tally and 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. Do you 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. Or, they can tell members publicly that they do not have a nominee for a certain office; this allows members to volunteer. 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. 6 0 obj LODGE VISITATION - A PRIVILEGE. announce the results of the vote. Books Online] [E-Books] [Library Of 6. Sometimes there is a split in the nominating committee over who to nominate. charge of the Ballot and they pick up the hats, take them to the 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. Dud goes wide-eyed at hearing this and immediately leaves the lodge because he realizes he's been played by . 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 Your members may wind up voting for Mr. Low as the compromise candidate. should be destroyed. Yes, every year Masonic Lodges do have elections. Same in NM amd OR. 3. the Senior Warden hands each ballot to the Junior Warden who announces If they don't set a time for an adjourned meeting, they can call a special meeting (if the bylaws allow this). 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.". The election of lodge officers is an annual event, specified in the lodge bylaws. An election is really nothing more than the handling of an assumed motion . 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. Officers Duties and Responsibilities . Suggested Procedure For Electing Lodge Officers. 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. [What is New] 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. endobj rejection. * endobj Don't implement a new process to 450 lodges until it is . If an EA is not attending, it is the option of the WM as to which lodge will be opened. <>>> 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. /Rotate 0 >> However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. collect the ballots and place the hats with the ballots at the 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. Senior Deacon,", WM: "Prepare and present the ballot box.". 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! A member has the right to vote until the polls are closed. When called on to give the report, the chairman of the nominating committee states the nominations for each office. BALLOTING PROCEDURE CHAPTER xv THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER'S HANDBOOK Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M. A Lodge member who has held the highest office in the Lodge has for life a Masonic position of his own. 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. The Senior Deacon presents the ballot to each officer % 5. The position of Worshipful Master in the East occupies the most exalted position within the lodge. 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. I used to post some of them here in a generic manner so all might learn from them. endobj 13 0 obj It varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. 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. To help with the Masonic experience at Lodge meetings, you were allowed to open on any degree, and use the Chamber A member may for indecorous or unmasonic conduct be excluded from a single meeting of the lodge. <> masonic lodge election procedure; shkolla viktor hygo logo October 28, 2021. masonic lodge election procedure . Development] [Education] [Masonic Join us as we strive to make good men better by teaching universal values through the use of geometry and architecture metaphors. You take nominations from the floor for one office, and when no further nominations are forthcoming, you proceed to the balloting for that office. 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. An officer election form is a document used by groups, clubs, and organizations to elect leaders and fill vacant positions. 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. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. Work on making your brothers become better friends. <> 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. Fund raising is underway. is more then one candidate for the degrees. Talks] [Masonic ", JW: "Fair (cloudy) in the South, Worshipful. Enter your official identification and contact details. 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 a member votes for fewer choices than positions to be elected, the vote is legal and those votes count. REG. 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 $^JG{vxGVW9Z;-*r4b@fSM(o/ ?-vz}J=Pu&NC\H#^SKUvN)A@+a)eU"PvrNLsi;:~8J8 9 salute with the Worshipful Master. Introduction. hb```e``b`f``cg@ ~}"S-(1I)|p(0)P5oDurCAfG3f1,-- d$WZ3bVasYf`$exq> )Zg The committee must carefully review the eligibility requirements for each office and see that the nominees meet these requirements. It is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views . 1. Voting by ballot enables a member to vote for a candidate not formally nominated by writing in a name a write-in vote. Section 3. 0 9. Another problematic practice to watch out for is nominating someone for office who is not eligible. JavaScript is disabled. The presiding officer votes along with all the other members, although she is never allowed to cast a tie-breaker in a ballot vote. After each nomination, the president repeats the name to the assembly. If officers assume their duties immediately after the meeting is adjourned, it is then too late to question the election. 263 0 obj <>stream