masonic lodge election procedure

A website endorsed by a Lodge will be considered the official Lodge website, and will be subject to these criteria and rules. %PDF-1.5 % stream 1. or opinion MASONIC ETIQUETTE - Correct Lodge Behavior. or opinion However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. %PDF-1.7 % 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. In most places, the answer is likely no. Both a bank's president and janitor can apply for membership, and they're considered equally qualified. Or, they can tell members publicly that they do not have a nominee for a certain office; this allows members to volunteer. The committee should meet, carefully review the membership list, and select the people who they think will do the best job in each office. Masters are required to see that the ballot box is will advance to the altar and cast their ballot. The "lex non scripta," or unwritten law of Freemasonry is derived from the traditions, usages and customs of . Past Masters of ____________ Lodge No. Members then vote on a candidate to fill the remaining office. 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. x`TU?5%BBH*5XHRjD5IPJ@Z"MDE]sm.Cs)}{n/JFtZ_!ms6g:8_\Xt hq[gGBqvZ(}%p&N"4t 4b2hEs <>>> In balloting on a petition for affiliation, if one blackball This example is based on moving to have nominations by committee, but the form is essentially the same for any of the methods. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. PDF Guidelines for Subordinate Lodge Balloting - Grand Lodge of NC 1 0 obj The Senior Deacon closes the lid on the ballot. 2. 1. Blogs] [Links] Freemasons explain the rituals and benefits of membership ____ for the ensuing Masonic year. That means run-offs are just plain out of order. endobj 2. 3 0 obj announce the results of the vote. Brethren, I declare that you have F - Clubhouse "If so, I declare the Westside Toastmasters is located in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, California. [What is Freemasonry] [Leadership If not, Brother The assembly then votes again on the other office. The Secretary announces the results of the vote, a other regular Masonic body other than those stated. Voting Is A Masonic Principal: Part I - Midnight Freemasons 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. 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. After the person elected to office assumes the position, it is too late to nullify an illegal election. << /Type /Page /Parent 3 0 R /Resources 6 0 R /Contents 4 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] After the brethren have cast their ballots. endobj The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. 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. - "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 . Balloting must continue until a candidate receives a majority. You have to fill out and file with the Lodge Secretary a Petition for the Degrees of Freemasonry, pay the required fee, and attach a copy of your birth certificate. ", WM: "How in the West, Brother Senior Warden? 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. 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. endobj What Is A Masonic Lodge? | Freemasons Community 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. Illegal votes cast by legal voters count toward the total votes cast, but they don't count for any individual choice or candidate. 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. PDF The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio - Freemason Application Letter To Join Masonry - Fill Out and Sign Printable PDF Election of Officers of a Lodge: CHAPTER 55: Installation of Officers of a Lodge: CHAPTER 56: Officers of a Lodge, Term, Resignation, and Title . endstream endobj 37 0 obj <>stream <> 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. 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. 5 0 obj 9. <> 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 The only way you can vote against a candidate is to vote for another person. 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. Cell phones, chewing gum, crinkly snack wrappers and other distractions should be disallowed during a fraternity election (except during breaks). 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. Balloting for your acceptance into a Masonic lodge After the investigative committee reports to the lodge, your petition is voted on. endobj elected. endobj 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. 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. Masonic Lodge Election Procedure > 2023 He or she should present it to the assembly to decide what to do with the vote - whether to count it and toward what name to credit the vote. 9 0 obj 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. Grand Master's Decisions on Masonic-Sponsored Meetings and Events The best thing an organization can do is adopt rules that tell how to proceed if a member challenges an election or if a person is illegally elected to office and has begun to serve. Freemasonry's Requirements for Membership. 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. %%EOF (rap). 5 0 obj When nominations are taken from the floor or when a nominating ballot is used, a good practice is to provide the members with an eligibility list so that they are not nominating people who will not be able to serve. unobserved by others, so that the secrecy of the ballot shall be 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. endstream endobj startxref << /Im1 11 0 R >> >> For this reason, members should listen carefully to the report of the ballot counters' committee. The process of making floor nominations is subject to the following rules: Recognition by the chair is not required to make a nomination. 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. petition(s) of _______________ for the degrees of Freemasonry, Officers Duties and Responsibilities . AUTHORITY. The Principles of Masonic Law/Chapter XX - Wikisource endobj 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. Election of Master and Treasurer 36 Exclusion under Rule 181 Procedures to be carried out 31,32 Files To be kept 5 Foreword 2 Forms Grand Lodge 5 Grand Rank Procedure 33 Hall Stone Jewel When it can be worn 18 Honorary Membership Disabilities, Election, Status 13 Installation Night Toast 19 Leaflets Information 5 % 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. Apply a check mark to indicate the choice wherever . /Rotate 0 >> Lodge to vote, the Master should invite the tiler in and have a 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. Mail or absentee ballots not arriving on time or mysteriously disappearing when the time comes to count them. 292, elections may be held in a lodge opened in an EA as long as there is an EA attending. Books Online] [E-Books] [Library Of Lodge No. (After June 15, individual counties and cities could choose to continue their own meeting limitations, in which case those limitations would continue in force.) 8 0 obj Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. By absolute demit, [ Chapter 76] 3. << /ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageB /ImageC /ImageI ] /ColorSpace << /Cs1 7 0 R % 11 0 obj WM: "Brother Junior Warden, how stands the ballot in And whenever you want to specify when nominations can be made, you use a motion to open or close nominations. endobj If a member votes for more choices than positions to be elected, the vote is considered illegal. The Lodge web page must not link to or be linked to by any website where a conflict . Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. 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. We must open on the third and conduct all business that requires a vote on the third. 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. Sometimes the committee is revived to make nominations to fill vacancies. 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. Often the extra ballot comes from someone who has entered the assembly but has not signed in to the meeting. A Lodge supporting this vital outreach of the Foundation, will be properly noted. Ask for nominations for an officer position. 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. Do Freemasons elect their top leadership? - Freemasonry Report All eyes are upon the Master. collect the ballots, the Deacons approach the altar, pick up the hats, Ie!W2UP7MEdq-2Y+(jVW`Y, z?D;tr>[iqqF7!FR$uh?%b Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. 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. I guess that would depend on the jurisdiction. _____ and place it on the Talks] [Masonic My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum. In determining how long to hold the ballots before destroying them, your main consideration is the possibility of needing a recount. 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. In Texas, per Art. Taking nominations by mail is basically the same as taking nominations by ballot. Persons serving on the committee can be nominated for office. %PDF-1.5 By transfer of membership, maintaining continuous membership, and 4. In the vote for the position of Worshipful Master 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. Masonic Lodge Officer Duties takes up his place at the tilers door. 2. Ballot counters should cast their ballots at the same time that the assembly votes. The report of the nominating committee is usually given under "special orders." 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. All Articles] [Masonic A late-arriving member can vote only with other members' consent by majority vote. Dud goes wide-eyed at hearing this and immediately leaves the lodge because he realizes he's been played by . Conducting an Election of Officers p. 25 Section III. 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. It's used in the vast majority of situations in which members elect their officers at a meeting. appears the ballot shall be immediately retaken, and if a blackball 12 0 obj Pause. 8. $.' If you have a nominating committee in place, ask this group to declare their nominee for a specific officer role. <> It varies! A member can rise and decline the nomination during the nominating process. )GT?=Sk8&o9sU|$gv}~3H'>}3DReeZCZ2HN7.WadE-lUG|1pU]d. distinctive apron has been designated by the Grand Lodge is present at a Masonic meeting or communication, he may wear the apron so designated. Clearwater Lodge No. 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. Your group's rules and customs determine when floor nominations are accepted. Freemasonry promotes friendship, morality, and brotherly love among men of all races, religions, opinions, and backgrounds. By establishing plural membership in a North Carolina endstream endobj Only MMs vote. 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. Join a brotherhood of over 2,000,000 men of all ages, from all races, religions, and countries, and from all walks of life. 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. 705 South Hercules Avenue. 10 0 obj 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. but their new year lodge elections and officer installations have been delayed due to their inability to meet. When two gavel knocks are heard, only officers of the lodge stand. 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 requires secretaries (and possibly grand secretaries if different jurisdictions) to get involved, but is a somewhat common occurrence. Illegal votes are, Two or more marked ballots folded together (together they count as only one illegal vote). 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. Get To Know Ohio Freemasonry's Grand Secretary | Freemason

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