Revision as of 19:13, 20 September 2013

GRAND CONSTITUTIONS, PART VI

PART VI: GRAND CHARITY

Sec. 600. MASONIC EDUCATION AND CHARITY TRUST

Whereas, the Grand Lodge has accepted "An Act to establish and incorporate the Masonic Education and Charity Trust," enacted by the General Court of Massachusetts, and approved May 8, 1884, the following regulations are adopted by the Grand Lodge to aid in carrying out the provisions of said Act:

• (a) The Grand Lodge shall elect one Trustee for said Trust at each Annual Communication and may fill vacancies at any Quarterly Communication, or at any Special Meeting called for this purpose. A Trustee may serve his eight year term, but one year must elapse before he is eligible for reelection. An elected Board Member is allowed no more than 25% unexcused absences each year. Exceeding this automatically ends his term.
• (b) It is the sense of this Grand Lodge that the M.W. Grand Master for the time being should be the President of the Board of Trustees of the Masonic Education and Charity Trust.
• (c ) The annual income, less premium on investments, hereafter generated by the Grand Charity Fund and of such additions as may be made to it by the Grand Lodge and by gifts and bequests or otherwise, all held in trust by the Masonic Education and Charity Trust, shall annually be added to the Grand Lodge Charity Fund, except in the case of special funds where the expenditure of income is given to said Trustees by the will, deed, or other instrument creating the trust.
• (d) Income of funds in the hands of the Trustees shall be disposed of as the Grand Lodge shall from time to time direct except in the case of specific funds where the expenditure of income is given to said Trustees by the will, deed, or other instrument creating the trust.

References

• GC1918:

I:403 II: 37, 123, 124 465, 524 III: 219 IV: 631 VII: 290 1878: 48, 87 1884: 36, 78, 87: 106, 109, 177, 231 1915: 321 1918: 399 1930: 151 2009: 55

(b): 1884: 112 1910: 216 1918: 399 (c ): IV: 631 VI: 335 1910: 216 1918: 399 1989: 96 (d): IV: 633 1910: 47, 216 1918: 323, 400

Sec. 601. REPRESENTATIVES TO THE MASONIC HOME

There shall also be a Board of Representatives to the Masonic Home composed of the following;

• (a) One District Representative chosen by and from each Masonic District in Massachusetts. It shall be the duty of the Masters of the Lodges in each District, under the direction of the District Deputy Grand Master, to annually elect a District Representative for their respective District.
• (b) Each Lodge at its Annual Communication may elect a Lodge Representative; and in the event of the failure of any Lodge to elect, the Master of the Lodge shall appoint a Lodge Representative, who shall hold office during the year of his appointment.

MEETINGS

The Representatives to the Masonic Home shall meet twice a year at the Masonic Home in Charlton; usually in the fall and spring. Additional meetings may be called by the Grand Master, who is to be Chairman of the Board. Due notice in writing of all meetings shall be sent to all Representatives.

DUTIES

It is expected that each Representative will attend the Board meetings, report to the Lodges the happenings at the Masonic Home, assist the Director of the Home in the processing of applications when requested, and perform such other duties as the Grand Master may from time to time direct. MASONIC SERVICE COMMITTEE

References

• GC1918:

1910: 91, 138 1914: 87 1918: 325, 401 1926: 104, 254 1927: 51,344 1930: 153 1983: 146 1989: 96

Sec. 602. MASONIC SERVICE COMMITTEE

MEMBERS

The Masonic Service Committee, consisting of the Zone Committeemen, appointed annually by the Grand Master, shall meet in the Grand Lodge building on the mornings of the Quarterly Communications of the Grand Lodge and at such other times as the Chairman or Grand Master shall direct. This Committee shall be the Charity Committee of the Grand Lodge.

OFFICERS

The Chairman of the Committee will be appointed by the Grand Master. They will elect their own clerk.

DUTIES

The Committee shall supervise and direct the service and charity activities of Grand Lodge, in concert with the Director of Masonic Service.

References

• GC1918:

II: 524, 582, 609 III: 220 1910: 91, 138 1914: 88 1918: 401 1926: 105, 256 1927: 49,51 1930: 153 1953: 54, 197 1983: 146 1989: 96

Sec. 603. DIRECTOR OF MASONIC SERVICE

A Director of Masonic Service shall be appointed by and act under and be subject to the direction of the Grand Master.

DUTIES

The Director of Masonic Service, and the Masonic Service Committee, shall be responsible for acting on applications for relief and financial assistance, the Grand Lodge Blood Program, widows program, and hospital visitation. He will also perform such other duties as the Grand Master may from time to time direct.

APPLICATIONS

Applications for service or financial assistance shall be processed by the Director of Masonic Service, who shall make, or cause to be made, such investigation thereof as may be directed by the Grand Master.

References

none.

Sec. 604. REPORTS OF COMMITTEE

The Masonic Service Committee shall be subject at all times to the direction of Grand Lodge and shall make a full report of its doings at each Annual Communication of Grand Lodge.

References

• GC1918:

1910: 92, 138 1918: 402 1926: 106, 257 1927: 52 1930: 154 1983: 146 1989: 96

Sec. 605. INITIATES' CONTRIBUTION

There shall be contributed for each initiate Five Dollars to the charitable funds of the Grand Lodge. CONTRIBUTION This amount shall be added to the initiation fee by all Lodges which have not already so provided.

References

• GC1918:

II: 524 III: 8, 219 IV: 631 1912: 103 1918: 326, 403 1930: 155 See Sec. 329

Sec. 606. CONTRIBUTIONS FOR REINSTATEMENT OR AFFILIATION

Five Dollars shall likewise be contributed for each member reinstated or admitted by affiliation. This amount shall be added to the affiliation fee by all Lodges which have not already so provided.

These amounts shall be collected from the Lodges by the District Deputy Grand Masters at their official visitations and remitted with the returns.

References

• GC1918:

1917: 241 1918: 403 1922: 554 1923: 41 1930: 156 1974: 176 1983: 146 1989: 96

Sec. 607. EXPENSES FOR RELIEF

The Board of Directors unless otherwise directed by the Grand Lodge may, with the approval of the Grand Master, reserve from the amounts collected under Sec. 605 and 606 so much thereof as may be deemed by the Board necessary for the conduct of the charities of Grand Lodge during the current fiscal year,

• (a) for expenditures on permanent account for which no other provision is made;
• (b) to supply deficiencies caused by expenditures on maintenance account over available income; and
• (c ) to be appropriated if specifically recommended by the Grand Master for relief upon extraordinary occasions of great disaster or distress, whether within or without the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge.

All amounts not so reserved shall promptly be transmitted to the Trustees of the Masonic Education and Charity Trust to be added to the Masonic Home Fund.

References

• GC1918:

1918: 403 1930: 156 1989: 96

Sec. 608. DISTRICT CHARITY FUNDS

Lodges without the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall be exempt from the provisions of Section 607. There shall, however, be contributed for each initiate and for each such affiliate as described in Sec. 605 and 606, Five Dollars to a District Charity Fund. This amount shall be added to the initiation fee by all Lodges in such Districts which have not already so provided. These amounts shall be remitted by said Lodges to the District Grand Master with the annual returns. The District Grand Master shall pay the same to a Board of Trustees, consisting of the District Grand Master as Chairman, ex-officio, three members at large to be elected by the District Grand Lodge and of one member annually to be elected by each Lodge in said District. Three members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Said Board of Trustees shall receive, hold, invest, reinvest the same and all gifts, devises, and bequests made either to said Board or to said District Grand Lodge upon trusts for educational or charitable purposes and relief connected with the families of deceased or living members of said District Grand Lodge and its subordinate organizations, or for the relief of distressed Freemasons, their widows, orphans, or other dependents of said District or of other states or countries, and may expend the income thereof, or principal if necessary, for such purposes, with the approval in each case of the District Grand Master. Said Trustees shall annually report the condition and investment of all funds intrusted to them, and the expenditure of the income thereof, to the District Grand Lodge.

References

1915: 118 1918: 327, 404 1930: 157 1931: 333 1983: 146

2012 Grand Constitutions Main Page