How to Join a Freemason Lodge - dummies 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. The Senior Deacon closes the lid on the ballot. Register a free account today to become a member! )GT?=Sk8&o9sU|$gv}~3H'>}3DReeZCZ2HN7.WadE-lUG|1pU]d. Because this form of voting favors one candidate over another based on the order of nomination, you should avoid using it except in mass meetings or when there's no serious contest for the office and a ballot is not required. In Europe, it takes often a year, to advance per degree. Premier Grand Lodge of England - Wikipedia The Senior Deacon presents the ballot for examination Voting by ballot enables a member to vote for a candidate not formally nominated by writing in a name a write-in vote. 2 0 obj Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox! endobj Chapter XV - Balloting Procedure - The Masonic Trowel 234 0 obj <> endobj I /8ZzeL%kxF~/a&MBkd/cK"zBARqG(/%:}4Q;l@)R^M,s;p Rx P~DV(GR,&Gj;v}yh/5F3ibD,eZJ WB Christopher J. Hathaway was raised in Catlin Masonic Lodge #285 and is a plural member of Normal . From his home in Pocatello, Idaho, across almost 3000 miles of highway, Fred's car had given trouble, and now, at Henniker, N.H., the cooling system finally gave up. The secretary places all nominations in the minutes. The minutes may say, for example, "Eric Olson was elected to the board for two years. A member may for indecorous or unmasonic conduct be excluded from a single meeting of the lodge. xU]o@|_cZR%q"b$*/}E(k nK6hb'_ D(|}5Dsq PBY%_'Dru.{,dW9PeOw9 d6!=#3r/iby+4C~9^-GT.d Section 12: How To Run A Good Business Meeting - Masonic Grand Lodge of endstream If a member notices a mistake in procedure, he or she should immediately make the chair and assembly aware of his concerns. The assembly then votes again on the other office. 4. 1.01 Charter: This Lodge exists by virtue of a Charter, dated 20th day of January, 1892 from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Florida, and is located in the City of Clearwater, in the County of Pinellas, in the State of Florida. Masonic Rituals for the Blue Lodge - Ephesians 5:11 246 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<75266C93CDC0804A95BB4A6C74B63ADD>]/Index[234 30]/Info 233 0 R/Length 67/Prev 302045/Root 235 0 R/Size 264/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. Two top hats are placed on the kneeling pad at foot of altar. New Jersey checking in. The Politics of Freemasonry | Freemason Information 8 0 obj 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. 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 Lodge Officers Manual - Masonic Grand Lodge of Maine We can conduct lodge business in the EA degree in Minnesota, but only Master Masons can vote. Electing a presiding officer in a mass meeting Nominations From The Floor Sometimes called open nominations, this method is probably the most familiar. APPOINTMENT. election of officers in April each year. As soon as the committee reports, it is discharged from its duties. election of Trustees to Board - General Discussion - The Official RONR HOW TO BECOME A FREE MASON - Joining the Masonic fraternity. 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. It has its own identity and recognition and carries with it the title of "Past Master". % The duty of a nominating committee is to find the best candidate for each office. Lodge Transfers : r/freemasonry - reddit SECRETARY FORMS AND REPORTS | Grand Lodge of Georgia, F. & A.M. [Articles] [Masonic If a member is not present to choose which office he or she wants to serve, the members vote on which office they want him or her to serve. 5 0 obj I guess that would depend on the jurisdiction. Persons serving on the committee can be nominated for office. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. << /Type /Page /Parent 3 0 R /Resources 6 0 R /Contents 4 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] A motion to open nominations, when made by a member, is usually a motion to reopen nominations after they have been closed. When the nominations stop, the chair just declares nominations closed after making sure that no more nominations are forthcoming. All business is done in a MM lodge. This site is not an official site of any recognized Masonic body in the United Past Masters have a standing in Masonic Law; certain duties may be assigned to them. If someone is not willing to serve, the committee needs to meet again and find another candidate. Masonic Lodge Election Procedure HB89 - Tightens the time frames for issuance of firearms licenses by probate judges. and the Master may oblige him to do so. F powered by Dr. Stefanus Hadi, Ph.D. visit www.FLIVE.com email: [email protected] follow Clubhouse: @stefanus send SMS Text to +1 213-749-8777 Los Angeles, California 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$\\OScmalRCiPh_Th 7AN.RR9ou|r:9>NpT~XI|{&]MJ )FvJlC{hDRDT "DJc+^zrPl c[ Yes, every year Masonic Lodges do have elections. Voting machines having wedges inserted to prevent the lever from going down all the way. 10. All Articles] [Masonic (rap). When using this procedure, make it clear that a person can be nominated for and elected to more than one office. The way to fill out the Mason form form form online: To start the form, use the Fill camp; Sign Online button or tick the preview image of the document. 8. hb```e``b`f``cg@ ~}"S-(1I)|p(0)P5oDurCAfG3f1,-- d$WZ3bVasYf`$exq> )Zg Westside Toastmasters is located in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, California. The Master may approve a collective ballot if there At the Worshipful Masters order the Wardens to 2. Past Masters of ____________ Lodge No. 3 0 obj Do Freemasons elect their top leadership? - Freemasonry Report Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. Only MMs vote. My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum. Using a nominating committee to assemble a list of willing and qualified candidates for office can greatly benefit members when the time comes to select their leaders. If they don't set a time for an adjourned meeting, they can call a special meeting (if the bylaws allow this). Magazines Online] Talks] [Masonic Masonic etiquette decries anyone who does not obey the gavel. Chairman of Nominating Committee: Madam President, the nominating committee submits the following nominations: for president, Alex Shaw; for vice president, Bianca Fernandez; for secretary, Raymond Platt; and for treasurer, Donna Agnese. ",#(7),01444'9=82. Take security measures to protect the privacy of the nominating ballot; each member is instructed to fold his or her ballot inside a signed envelope and mail it back in an outer envelope. HWG l!$"' g]9=3>3U}Zo.wjyiQo?\>,:lFYE#q IBZ.rwi/A%f_N'_LDX Doing this may allow an unpopular or hand-picked candidate to get the office even though he or she was not elected. One vote against the petitioner generally rejects him. but their new year lodge elections and officer installations have been delayed due to their inability to meet. 0 During an election, especially when ballot counters are not trained or when candidates are running in opposition, members may become aware of mistakes or illegal procedures in collecting or counting the ballots. stream Depending on the Grand Lodge, this can be anywhere from 18 to 25. stream Votes cast by illegal voters must not be counted at all, not even included in the number of total votes cast. endobj 8. 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. All eyes are upon the Master. However, calling nominations from your seat is often impractical, so you may want to adopt a more formal nomination process. You must log in or register to reply here. elected. If this occurs and it does not affect the outcome of the vote, the election is still valid. Is it permissible to hold election of officers in an EA lodge? 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. Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation. In the vote for the position of Worshipful Master and the Past Masters around the Lodge and places the ballot box on the The report of the nominating committee is usually given under "special orders." This site is not an official site of any recognized Masonic body in the United Jewels of Masonic Secretary The Secretary's official duties include issuing the summons (a formal notice of an impending meeting, with time, date and agenda), recording meeting minutes, completing statistical returns to the Grand Lodge, and advising the Worshipful Master on matters of procedure. <> Chapter XVII - Suggested Procedure For Electing Lodge Officers 4 0 obj Fund raising is underway. 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 are, Two or more marked ballots folded together (together they count as only one illegal vote). [Feedback]. Grand Secretary "Stuff" Information for Lodge Secretaries - December Same in NM amd OR. Polls closing or opening at times different than the times posted. An officer election form is a document used by groups, clubs, and organizations to elect leaders and fill vacant positions. And whenever you want to specify when nominations can be made, you use a motion to open or close nominations. 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. Booth Lodge 100-100C, be amended . A member can rise and decline the nomination during the nominating process. If the motion is adopted, the assembly can adjourn before the vote is announced if it has another meeting scheduled. I've never see a script or outline, but it should proceed as follows: That sounds like the CA required verbiage. It is the duty of every member present to vote, Robert's Rules of Order, Nominations And Elections - Westside Toastmasters Lodge Election Procedures "Worshipful Master (WM) or Preceding Officer" 1. Two top hats are placed on the kneeling pad at foot PDF The Grand Lodge of The presiding officer votes along with all the other members, although she is never allowed to cast a tie-breaker in a ballot vote. The Louisiana Freemason Spring 2020 Issue by Grand Lodge of Louisiana The election (or rejection) of a candidate in a Masonic lodge is a secret ballot, and with few exceptions, must be completely unanimous. To lend a professional air to the proceedings, suggest that brothers wear a collared shirt and tie, especially the candidates. 1. 1 0 obj 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. If officers assume their duties immediately after the meeting is adjourned, it is then too late to question the election. endstream endobj startxref 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 'xzwQ38/4b|T}R-g|7uhw 4!"icE)S7AEo 2. <> The entire ballot counters' report should be included in the minutes of the meeting. %PDF-1.5 endobj . Locals file for May 6 city, school board elections; many unopposed <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.44 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> A Lodge supporting this vital outreach of the Foundation, will be properly noted. majority of those voting being necessary for election, and the Worshipful so presented that each officer and member shall cast his ballot 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. white ball elects; a black cube rejects. Motions to close nominations are usually unnecessary because the nomination process simply continues until no one wishes to make further nominations. By absolute demit, [ Chapter 76] 3. All Articles] [Masonic [Feedback]. If there is a question about the way a ballot is marked, the ballot counters should take it to the presiding officer. Or, members can also finish the election at the next regular meeting if the meeting falls within a quarterly time period. 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. endobj 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. Masonic Lodge Election Procedure > 2023 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. The Master then casts his own vote. endstream 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. The committee then has to find a new nominee, and the members have to vote again. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. 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. endobj it to the Master who inspects the ballot box making sure that the "30*5gDcJuk.w^m=12Ua&0cE'|H%KV L%|c]c0l;v=[, Cj+M 38xHDL\. Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. 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. 2 0 obj 33 0 obj <> endobj Balloting must continue until a candidate receives a majority. again appears the petitioner shall be declared rejected, but he may at Your members may wind up voting for Mr. Low as the compromise candidate. Masonic Lodges, Masonic Organizations, and Youth Orders may conduct in-person meetings and events in compliance with county and city restrictions, if any. In Texas, per Art. Ballot voting is the preferred voting method in situations in which knowing how all the members voted isn't desirable. WM: "The brethren of ____________ Lodge No. Masonic Lodge Officer Duties 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. accept?" Some Lodges [What is Freemasonry] [Leadership <> 6. Suddenly it's 3am. REG. altar. the South? While the . Blogs] [Links] 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. You are using an out of date browser. 0 It is considered a faux pas to cross . For this reason, members should listen carefully to the report of the ballot counters' committee. Some practices to watch out for include: Ballot boxes being stuffed or written ballots being changed. x`TU?5%BBH*5XHRjD5IPJ@Z"MDE]sm.Cs)}{n/JFtZ_!ms6g:8_\Xt hq[gGBqvZ(}%p&N"4t 4b2hEs endobj If members adjourn before an election is complete, they should set the time for an adjourned meeting to finish the election. 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. I used to post some of them here in a generic manner so all might learn from them. [What is Freemasonry] [Leadership 2. *.MXPY!~@Aa%^ N&4D1la`:v@Ai,^t #. 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. If a member leaves one part blank, the votes entered on the other questions still count. Freemasons explain the rituals and benefits of membership 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. 14 0 obj A late-arriving member can vote only with other members' consent by majority vote. After nominations are closed, the vote is taken on each nominee in the order in which they were nominated. 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. Welcome | Grand Lodge of NC 3 ways to keep your Masonic Lodge from closing its doors 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. <> PDF Constitution of The Grand Lodge The brother responds. This method gives voters an idea of the group's preferences without holding an actual election. endobj At the end of each successful vote the ballots Remember brethren, a In Tennessee, the only time you open an EA or FC lodge is to confer those degrees. Apply a check mark to indicate the choice wherever . If counting ballots takes some time, it is best for the assembly to take a recess instead of adjourn. endobj <> Development] [Education] [Masonic However, in some national organizations that meet yearly or biennially (every two years), this is difficult. Suggested Procedure For Electing Lodge Officers. Masonry doesn't care about your worldly wealth or social position. Illegal votes cast by legal voters count toward the total votes cast, but they don't count for any individual choice or candidate. 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. _____ cast their ballot?" Elections are decided by majority vote unless your bylaws provide differently. Masonic lodge officer - Wikipedia By establishing plural membership in a North Carolina You follow the same procedures for elections by ballot, as far as arriving at the point of the election is concerned, but instead of casting your vote by ballot, each member announces his vote when the secretary calls that person's name. 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. Blogs] [Links] 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. The conventions are over, election day draws near, and the usual round of political rhetoric from candidates is blasted all over the TV, radio and internet, voters begin to wear out and are usually just ready for Election Day to be over with. 263 0 obj <>stream However only Masters can vote. charge of the Ballot and they pick up the hats, take them to the Officers Duties and Responsibilities . It's never in order to vote Yes or No (or For or Against) a candidate when electing persons to office. It may not display this or other websites correctly. * Collectively, these motions are known as motions related to nominations. When the secretary prepares the eligibility list for the meeting, only those members who are willing to serve are on the list. of altar. or opinion endobj 98% sure that it is. 705 South Hercules Avenue. Master informs the successful individual as follows: "Brother Freemasonry promotes friendship, morality, and brotherly love among men of all races, religions, opinions, and backgrounds. the name on the ballot and the Secretary repeats the name and tallies Be careful and make no If your assembly's members are accountable to a constituency, your rules may require you to conduct your elections by roll-call vote. Jump to content The Official RONR Q & A Forums gjzUS&31+W&nck')*Uf{|mON6E4GKIpFT(o o.RJ MXqy-) MR 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. <> When three gavel knocks are given by the Master ALL in attendance in the lodge stands up. (or for affiliation) which has received a unanimously favorable 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.. elected (rejected) Mister ___________ for the degrees of 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. 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. 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. The requirement for election by ballot is a majority, and a candidate has no obligation to withdraw just because he polls low numbers. However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. The organization must have another election. endobj 292, elections may be held in a lodge opened in an EA as long as there is an EA attending. other regular Masonic body other than those stated. On the Approaching Election to the Masonic Chairs Only MMs vote. Further, I don't think I have ever seen a Lodge election where there isn't some form of politics involved. The Grand Lodge was founded shortly after George I, the first Hanoverian king of the Kingdom of Great Britain, ascended to the throne on 1 August 1714 and the end of the first Jacobite rising of 1715.. Officially, the Grand Lodge of England was founded in London on St. John the Baptist's day, 24 June 1717, when four existing Lodges gathered at the Goose and Gridiron Ale-house in St. Paul's . 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.