Revision as of 12:01, 18 November 2013

GRAND CONSTITUTIONS, BY-LAWS RULES

RULES AS TO BY-LAWS

General References:

• 1918-329
• 1930-181

Rule I. REQUIREMENT FOR ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS

By-Laws of a particular Lodge should provide for the election or appointment of a Worshipful Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer, Secretary, Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Senior Steward, Junior Steward, Tyler, and such other officers as may be deemed expedient, the first five always to be chosen by ballot.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1918: Rule I, 1918-417
• GC1930: Rule I, 1930-181

References

• 1873-48
• 1881-48

Rule II. ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

A Lodge may, by its By-Laws, provide for the election, by ballot, of all officers and committees; but where there is no such provision the Worshipful Master alone has the appointing power. In the election of officers, blank ballots shall not be counted.

Earlier Revisions

• Grand Lodge Committee Report, 06/08/1864, VI-504; the committee on charters and by-laws noted in regard to a by-law in a charter petition that specified that the Master's appointment of officers would be made with the consent of the wardens: "Your Committee believe that the inherent appointing power exists in the Master of the Lodge, and that the power of appointment should not lie in the Wardens . . . the Master of the Lodge should have the absolute power of appointing such officers as he may deem proper to fill the places not elective."
• Grand Lodge Committee Report, 12/13/1866, VII-110; the committee on charters and by-laws noted in regard to a by-law in a charter petition that specified that the Master's appointment of officers would be made with the advice and consent of the wardens. "There appears to be an increasing disposition to take from the Masters of Lodges some of their ancient prerogatives and privileges . . . The W. Master is the supreme governor of his Lodge. He rules and governs it according to his will and pleasures. He is not amenable to his Lodge, but to the G. Master and the G. Lodge. There is no appeal to the Lodge from his decisions. The Lodge in its By-Laws may retain the right to elect all the Officers, but it must be done by a general election, in which all the members take part. But the appointing power cannot be divided between the W. Master and any one or two of his officers. He must be unrestrained and untrammelled in all his appointments. He must be independent and not controlled. This principle is as old as Masonry itself, so far as we know anything of its history, by tradition or written records."
• Grand Lodge Committee Report, 06/11/1873, 1873-49; the committee on charters and by-laws noted: "A Lodge may, by its By-Laws, provide for the election, by ballot, of all officers and committees ; but where there is no such provision the W. Master alone has the appointing power."
• GC1918: Rule II, 1918-417
• GC1930: Rule II, 1930-181

References

• 1910-193
• 1953-55

Rule III. MEETINGS OF LODGES

By-Laws should provide for the Regular Meetings of the Lodge; Special Meetings can be held only at the will and pleasure of the Worshipful Master.

Earlier Revisions

• Grand Lodge Committee Report, 06/11/1873, 1873-49; the committee on charters and by-laws noted: "By-Laws should provide for the Regular Meetings of the Lodge; Special Meetings can be held only at the will and pleasure of the W. Master."
• GC1918: Rule III, 1918-417
• GC1930: Rule III, 1930-181

References

none.

Rule IV. NO PROVISION FOR OFFICER REMOVAL

By-Laws cannot provide for the removal of an officer, because when an officer (elected or appointed) has been installed he cannot be removed, and ought not to resign, during his term if he remain a member of the Lodge in good standing; for misdemeanor in office he may be suspended, subject to the action of the Grand Master or Grand Lodge. Should a vacancy occur from any cause, it cannot be permanently filled without a Dispensation from the Grand Master.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1918: Rule IV, 1918-417
• GC1930: Rule IV, 1930-181

References

• 1873-49
• 1918-176

• 1858(O.P.)-39

Rule V. ALTERATION OR ABRIDGEMENT OF USAGE AND RITUAL FORBIDDEN

By-Laws cannot alter or abridge the duties of officers that are fixed by usage and the Ritual, and ought not to define such duties; it is well for them, however, to set forth fully what is specially required of the Treasurer and Secretary.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1918: Rule V, 1918-418
• GC1930: Rule V, 1930-182

References

• 1873-50

Rule VI. DEPRIVATION OF MEMBERSHIP FORBIDDEN

By-Laws cannot deprive a Brother of membership by any language therein; every Mason is entitled to due notice and trial before being deprived of any Masonic rights.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1918: Rule VI, 1918-418
• GC1930: Rule VI, 1930-182

References

• 1872-19 is spurious. This applies to visitors to lodges.
• 1873-50

Rule VII. UNANIMOUS BALLOT REQUIRED TO ELECT

In balloting, whether for degrees or for membership, the ballot must be unanimous to elect, except as provided in Secs. 422 and 521.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1918: Rule VII, 1918-418; In this revision, the final phrase does not appear.
• GC1930: Rule VII, 1930-182; In this revision, the text is the same as in GC1918.

References

• 1873-50
• 1953-55
• 1953-197

Rule VIII. REGULATION OF REGALIA FORBIDDEN

By-Laws cannot regulate the Aprons, Collars, or Jewels, to be worn by officers or members, they being determined by the Grand Constitutions.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1918: Rule VIII, 1918-418
• GC1930: Rule VIII, 1930-182

References

• 1873-50

Rule IX. NO EXTRACTS FROM GRAND CONSTITUTIONS

By-Laws should not contain extracts from the Grand Constitutions as any part thereof. Such forms as may be needed for general reference might very properly be put in a supplement or footnote; but, if this is done, great care should be taken promptly to insert such amendments as may be made by the Grand Lodge.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1918: Rule IX, 1918-418
• GC1930: Rule IX, 1930-182

References

• 1873-50

Rule X. INCLUSION OF FEES AND SEAL

Each code of By-Laws should set forth the fees for the degrees and membership, the annual dues, and a description of the Seal of the Lodge. A Life Membership Fee, if any, shall be at least twenty times the annual Lodge dues, but provision may be made for an appropriate reduction for increasing age or for previous payment of annual dues over a period of years.

Earlier Revisions

• GC1918: Rule X, 1918-418; In this revision, there is no provision for Life Membership Fee.
• GC1930: Rule X, 1930-182; In this revision, the text is the same as in GC1918.

References

• 1873-52
• 1883-255
• 1909-200
• 1918-173
• 1936-115
• 1936-117
• 1937-135
• 1939-236
• 1953-55
• 1953-197
• 1956-226
• 1956-451
• 1957-90

Rule XI. HONORARY MEMBERSHIP

Candidates for honorary membership in a Lodge shall be regularly proposed, named in the notice, and balloted for in the same manner as is required for other candidates, but must be received without any fee. A unanimous ballot shall not be deemed necessary when the candidate is already an active member, unless the Lodge in its By-Laws shall so provide.

Earlier Revisions

• Ruling by Grand Master, V-51, 12/10/1845; "Brethren of eminence out of this State, who have rendered important services to the Craft, may, by a vote of this Grand Lodge duly confirmed, be constituted honorary members thereof, with such rank as the vote constituting them members shall designate."
• GC1918: Rule XII, 1918-419
• GC1930: Rule XI, 1930-183

References

• 1881-89
• 1884-40
• 1881-68
• 1881-167
• 1895-129
• 1895-222

Rule XII. ABSENTEE BALLOTS FORBIDDEN

Absentee votes or ballots are illegal.

Earlier Revisions

References

• 1926-240
• 1953-55, 197

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