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. Voting machines having wedges inserted to prevent the lever from going down all the way. of Freemasonry, nor webmaster nor those of any Sometimes called open nominations, this method is probably the most familiar. Another problematic practice to watch out for is nominating someone for office who is not eligible. 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. <> In writing the nomination, election, and vacancy conditions in the bylaws, the organization should make sure that if a vacancy is created early in the term of office, the vacancy is filled by election instead of by appointment, whenever possible. Every lodge is incorporated and required to have corporate officers. 3. If they don't set a time for an adjourned meeting, they can call a special meeting (if the bylaws allow this). The person who gets the most votes may not have a majority of the votes. 14 0 R /BitsPerComponent 8 /Filter /FlateDecode >> TURNING YOUR BACK: Never turn one's back on the Master to address the lodge without first-receiving permission APPOINTMENT. 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. Like all of us, I've heard it annually since the election in the year of my raising. Sometimes the committee is revived to make nominations to fill vacancies. The secretary places all nominations in the minutes. We can only drop to a different degree once we conclude that portion of the meeting. - "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 . 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. charge of the Ballot and they pick up the hats, take them to the The Worshipful Master orders the Wardens to take The appointive officers of the Grand Lodge, save the Deputy Grand Secretary, shall be stream 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. Remember brethren, a If not, Brother 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. Depending on the Grand Lodge, this can be anywhere from 18 to 25. Votes cast by illegal voters must not be counted at all, not even included in the number of total votes cast. If counting ballots takes some time, it is best for the assembly to take a recess instead of adjourn. 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. 2 0 obj 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. WM: "Brother Junior Warden, how stands the ballot in It is considered a faux pas to cross . The Senior Deacon presents the ballot to each officer A newly raised Master . At the end of each successful vote the ballots If a minority of the committee wishes to nominate someone else, the members in the minority can make the nomination when nominations are taken from the floor. In most of the same grand lodge jurisdictions, there is also a G painted, sculpted, or otherwise suspended in the symbolic East of the lodge room (typically over the Master's chair).. If polling is conducted outside of a meeting, members should verify their credentials with election officials when casting their votes at the polls, and members' names should be checked on a list showing who has voted. Masters are required to see that the ballot box is WB Christopher J. Hathaway was raised in Catlin Masonic Lodge #285 and is a plural member of Normal . Collectively, these motions are known as motions related to nominations. vote. 'xzwQ38/4b|T}R-g|7uhw 4!"icE)S7AEo It's used in the vast majority of situations in which members elect their officers at a meeting. It is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views <> F powered by Dr. Stefanus Hadi, Ph.D. visit www.FLIVE.com email: club@flive.com follow Clubhouse: @stefanus send SMS Text to +1 213-749-8777 Los Angeles, California Development] [Education] [Masonic 127. Each incoming class of three shall consist of the incoming Junior Warden of the lodge (which has its own bylaws), and. Same in NM amd OR. WM: "The brethren of ____________ Lodge No. After the brethren have cast their ballots. By transfer of membership, maintaining continuous membership, and 4. endobj JavaScript is disabled. "If so, I declare 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. In Europe, it takes often a year, to advance per degree. 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. 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. a portion or all of the petition(s) reread? [What is New] Clearwater Lodge No. The Senior Deacon closes the lid on the ballot. 66 0 obj <>stream Rules may include how long the organization saves ballots and how long members can wait to challenge an election. 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. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. Or, members can also finish the election at the next regular meeting if the meeting falls within a quarterly time period. 2 0 obj 3. Books Online] [E-Books] [Library Of 8 0 obj Interestingly, some years ago, Virginia implemented a dues amnesty program. 3 0 obj If the lodge is not able to contact the individual after a reasonable period of time, the non-paying Mason is dropped (suspended). endobj If someone is not willing to serve, the committee needs to meet again and find another candidate. ^. announce the results of the 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. Lodge elections are performed via a Masonic Ballot Box. 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.. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. accept?" JFIF C One of the most important franchises which the Masonic character offers is THE ELECTION OF MASTER FOR THE ENSUING TWELVE MONTHS. 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 drives us back to basics, using the Masonic tools we already have in our tool belt. 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. 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. These rules supersede the adopted parliamentary authority. Persons serving on the committee can be nominated for office. 11 0 obj By establishing plural membership in a North Carolina Each question on a multipart ballot is counted as a separate ballot. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. 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. At this time the endstream Brother Secretary conduct a roll call. Whatever nomination method you propose, be specific. )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_? <> endobj Is it permissible to hold election of officers in an EA lodge? _____ and place it on the Organizations can create and write election rules to correct this mistake. >> /ExtGState << /Gs1 13 0 R >> /Font << /Tc1 10 0 R /TT2 9 0 R >> /XObject A lodge which does not honor its Master, no matter how they personally feel about the man, himself, lacks Masonic . Robert's Rules on elections are very straightforward after what is often a politically charged prequel of nominating and campaigning. Conducting an Election of Officers p. 25 Section III. places. A member may for indecorous or unmasonic conduct be excluded from a single meeting of the lodge. Marshal takes up his place at the West Gate and the Junior Deacon shall be immediately retaken, when, if a blackball again appears, the 2. %PDF-1.3 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. 13 0 obj 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. Join a brotherhood of over 2,000,000 men of all ages, from all races, religions, and countries, and from all walks of life. The entire ballot counters' report should be included in the minutes of the meeting. Past Masters of ____________ Lodge No. It has its own identity and recognition and carries with it the title of "Past Master". If it's determined that enough illegal votes were cast by illegal voters to affect the result, and these votes can't be identified and removed from the count, then the vote is deemed null and must be retaken. All business is done in a MM lodge. 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). << /ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageB /ImageC /ImageI ] /ColorSpace << /Cs1 7 0 R Development] [Education] [Masonic 12 0 obj )GT?=Sk8&o9sU|$gv}~3H'>}3DReeZCZ2HN7.WadE-lUG|1pU]d. The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. ____________ Lodge No. <> In Kentucky, the individual is normally sent a certified letter. 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. All eyes are upon the Master. 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. Ie!W2UP7MEdq-2Y+(jVW`Y, z?D;tr>[iqqF7!FR$uh?%b 6 0 obj A member has the right to vote until the polls are closed. 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. endobj New Jersey checking in. If officers assume their duties immediately after the meeting is adjourned, it is then too late to question the election. Polls closing or opening at times different than the times posted. 263 0 obj <>stream 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. 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. The advanced tools of the editor will guide you through the editable PDF template. is more then one candidate for the degrees. Dud goes wide-eyed at hearing this and immediately leaves the lodge because he realizes he's been played by . distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. 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 <> "30*5gDcJuk.w^m=12Ua&0cE'|H%KV L%|c]c0l;v=[, Cj+M 38xHDL\. Freemasonry (or Brother __________for affiliation)." A late-arriving member can vote only with other members' consent by majority vote. Members then vote on a candidate to fill the remaining office. endobj 8. Are there any further nominations for president? It's used in the vast majority of situations in which members elect their officers at a meeting. 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. 6. 14 0 obj white ball elects; a black cube rejects. Because fraud does happen in the election process, members need to be alert and watchful of the election process. 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. A member shouldn't offer more than one nomination to a position if there are several seats for the same office such as for nominees to a board or a committee until all other members have had the opportunity to make nominations. 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. Magazines Online] 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. 292, elections may be held in a lodge opened in an EA as long as there is an EA attending. WM: "Have all of the brethren of _______________ ____ for the ensuing Masonic year. <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.44 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> petition(s) of _______________ for the degrees of Freemasonry, 1. 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. Robert's Rules sets out several methods of making nominations for positions: An organization can nominate candidates in several ways: This method is used whenever the membership wants to rely on the presiding officer to recommend candidates but also wants to reserve for itself (or its designee, such as the board of directors) the approval of the nominee. Masonry doesn't care about your worldly wealth or social position. This method gives voters an idea of the group's preferences without holding an actual election. If a member leaves one part blank, the votes entered on the other questions still count. Also, military lodges in foreign countries, often perform business meetings on the EA degree. *.MXPY!~@Aa%^ N&4D1la`:v@Ai,^t #. hb```e``b`f``cg@ ~}"S-(1I)|p(0)P5oDurCAfG3f1,-- d$WZ3bVasYf`$exq> )Zg endobj If members adjourn before an election is complete, they should set the time for an adjourned meeting to finish the election. 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. endobj . <>>> majority of those voting being necessary for election, and the Worshipful {V++6o <>`ulr<>[lLDdTVVQ4Mt{<1iz;E 4 0 obj A Lodge member who has held the highest office in the Lodge has for life a Masonic position of his own. Here are some other things to consider during the election process: A quorum needs to be present throughout the election meeting. If an elected candidate declines the office after he or she is elected and after the meeting has adjourned, another election needs to take place, if at all possible. In this case, the members must vote again until one candidate receives a majority vote. <> In counting the votes, the balloting committee must not confuse a majority vote with the highest number of votes. 1 0 obj If members are voting for offices that have staggered terms or that last more than a year, the secretary should include in the minutes when the term expires. ballot drawer is empty and that there are both white balls and black 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. ", SW: "Clear (dark) in the West, Worshipful. To lend a professional air to the proceedings, suggest that brothers wear a collared shirt and tie, especially the candidates. In the vote for the position of Worshipful Master endstream 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 One vote against the petitioner generally rejects him. hbbd``b`n@` ! Do you A member can rise and decline the nomination during the nominating process. Balloting for your acceptance into a Masonic lodge After the investigative committee reports to the lodge, your petition is voted on. Both a bank's president and janitor can apply for membership, and they're considered equally qualified. 16 0 obj Master informs the successful individual as follows: "Brother If the motion is adopted, the assembly can adjourn before the vote is announced if it has another meeting scheduled. If the bylaws specifically address this situation, members should follow the bylaws. The report of the nominating committee is usually given under "special orders." By signing a petition for the formation of a new lodge, [ Chapter 39] 2. endobj report from the investigating committee. The Lodge web page must not link to or be linked to by any website where a conflict . Any blue lodge that does not hold annual election of officers is considered irregular by most Grand Lodges. ___________, you have been elected to serve as ____________ of 2 0 obj However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. Robert's Rules on elections are very straightforward after what is often a politically charged prequel of nominating and campaigning. 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. Masonic Etiquette Summary: Masonic etiquette is simply the rules of good manners which make lodge meetings pleasant for everyone. %%EOF For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. [What is Freemasonry] [Leadership Secretary prepares ballots for each position to be elected. 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. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. I /8ZzeL%kxF~/a&MBkd/cK"zBARqG(/%:}4Q;l@)R^M,s;p Rx P~DV(GR,&Gj;v}yh/5F3ibD,eZJ 98% sure that it is. 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. In a ballot vote, after the ballot counters have collected all the ballots, a member can make the motion to adjourn. After the person elected to office assumes the position, it is too late to nullify an illegal election. % WM: "Brethren, you have heard read the endobj Introduction. Mail or absentee ballots not arriving on time or mysteriously disappearing when the time comes to count them. This method requires more time for the election process, making it probably best limited to smaller groups. 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. Some Lodges have their bills paid automatically each month electronically, such as for utilities and telephones for example. endobj Often the extra ballot comes from someone who has entered the assembly but has not signed in to the meeting. Secretary prepares ballots for each position to be 1. so presented that each officer and member shall cast his ballot should be destroyed. 4 0 obj _____ cast their ballot?" While the . Talks] [Masonic Motions to close nominations are usually unnecessary because the nomination process simply continues until no one wishes to make further nominations. If lodge functions go smoothly, it is the Master who takes the credit. 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! %PDF-1.5 <> This method of nominations is based on the principle of allowing all voters to make nominations for all offices by completing a nominating ballot. 11 0 obj Doing this may allow an unpopular or hand-picked candidate to get the office even though he or she was not elected. Brethren, I declare that you have Since it is the obligation of every brother of the However only Masters can vote. No candidate whose application has Election of Officers of a Lodge: CHAPTER 55: Installation of Officers of a Lodge: CHAPTER 56: Officers of a Lodge, Term, Resignation, and Title . Two top hats are placed on the kneeling pad at foot time immemorial. 5 0 obj Ballot counters should cast their ballots at the same time that the assembly votes. Further, I don't think I have ever seen a Lodge election where there isn't some form of politics involved. << /Length 12 0 R /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 610 /Height 521 /ColorSpace 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. That means run-offs are just plain out of order. 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. (After June 15, individual counties and cities could choose to continue their own meeting limitations, in which case those limitations would continue in force.) Suddenly it's 3am. A website endorsed by a Lodge will be considered the official Lodge website, and will be subject to these criteria and rules. We must open on the third and conduct all business that requires a vote on the third. In either case, you need to appoint reliable ballot counters to hand out and collect ballots and to count the votes. His term expires July, 2014.". 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. 2. At the Worshipful Masters order the Stewards 234 0 obj <> endobj The motion to have a vote for a particular office recounted needs a second, is not debatable, and takes a majority vote to adopt. Once you're a Master Mason, you've got a few options. Depending on your organization and the decisions being made, balloting may take place during a meeting, or polls may be open during polling periods including times when no meeting is in progress. Can't interrupt a speaker who has the floor or a member making a nomination, Requires a majority vote (except the motion to close nominations, which requires a two-thirds vote), Can be reconsidered if it's a negative vote to reopen nominations. You must log in or register to reply here. %`y`aSW2.9]!BBI Enter your official identification and contact details. My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum. This site is not an official site of any recognized Masonic body in the United 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 . By absolute demit, [ Chapter 76] 3. endobj endobj The election (or rejection) of a candidate in a Masonic lodge is a secret ballot, and with few exceptions, must be completely unanimous. The presiding officer can continue presiding, even if he or she is one of the nominees for the office. place with the Senior and Junior Wardens alternating in calling the 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. (rap). <> 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. And whenever you want to specify when nominations can be made, you use a motion to open or close nominations. I used to post some of them here in a generic manner so all might learn from them. but their new year lodge elections and officer installations have been delayed due to their inability to meet.
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