MassachusettsGC2016 BYLAWS RULES

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GRAND CONSTITUTIONS, BY-LAWS RULES

RULES AS TO BY-LAWS

General References:

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

  • GC1843: Rule I, adopted 06/11/1873, 1873-49; the word 'subordinate' is used in place of 'particular'.
  • Vote of Grand Lodge, 1881-48, 03/08/1881, "That the Grand- Lodge recommends that the several Lodges under its jurisdiction, within the limits of Massachusetts, provide by suitable by-laws for the annual. elections of officers in the months of October or November."
  • GC1918: Rule I, 1918-417
  • GC1930: Rule I, 1930-181
  • GC1953: RULE I
  • GC1989: Rule I

References

none.


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."
  • GC1843: Rule II, adopted 06/11/1873, 1873-49; the text does not include the final sentence.
  • GC1918: Rule II, 1918-417
  • GC1930: Rule II, 1930-181
  • GC1953: RULE I; 1953-55; approved 1953-197
  • GC1989: Rule II

References

  • 1910-193, 12/14/1910, refers to commentary by Grand Master Flanders regarding balloting for officers. ". . . my attention was called to a matter of balloting for officers, and in this particular instance the result of the ballot for Worshipful Master was in question. The committee reported and included in the number of votes cast certain blank ballots {which increased} . . . the number votes necessary for a majority . . . I decided that the blank ballots should not have been counted, but might properly have been reported as having been found in the box. . . I believe it is a correct opinion that blank pieces of paper found in the box should not be counted; that they have no effect, and the Brethren, if they were purposely cast, have no right to expect that they shall influence the election in the slightest degree."

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

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

  • GC1843: Rule IV, adopted 06/11/1873, 1873-49; "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 remains a member of the Lodge in good standing; for misdemeanor in office he may be suspended, subject to the action of the M.W. Grand Master or Grand Lodge. Should a vacancy occur from any cause, it cannot be permanently filled without a Dispensation from the M.W. Grand Master."
  • Grand Master's Address, 12/27/1858, 1858-39; the Grand Master reports on a number of petitions to fill vacancies in elective offices in particular Lodges; "It is a maxim in Masonic jurisprudence that no officer after his installation can resign, yet circumstances do sometimes exist under which such resignation may not only be permitted, but may be required; as when an officer removes his residence into another jurisdiction, leaving his station in his Lodge vacant, perhaps immediately after his installation and at the commencement of the Masonic year. In such case, however, the Master has power to supply the office, pro tempore, at each meeting of the Lodge, but such a mode of filling a vacancy, especially of so important an office as that of Warden, is liable to many objections. II through contumacy an officer neglect his duties and should offer his resignation, it should not be accepted, but he should be dealt with for unmasonic conduct; and in view of such a case the maxim referred to would hold good. There can be no doubt that the Grand Master has the power to authorize the supplying a vacancy existing in any office of a subordinate Lodge by election, when, in his judgment, its peace and interests require it. He can grant Dispensations to form Lodges, the officers of which he appoints; he may convene any Lodge within his jurisdiction, preside therein, &c.; he may suspend a Lodge, and may grant Dispensations for conferring the degrees, or confer them himself, through the instrumentality of a Lodge, at least; all of which powers are greater than that which he exercises when by his Dispensation he permits a Lodge to supply a vacancy occurring in any of its offices. Moreover, on the death or permanent absence of the Master and Wardens of a Lodge, it is his duty to provide it with these officers, temporarily by his appointment, and, if necessary, permanently by ordering an election. In the Dispensations which I have granted, I have ordered doe notice to be given to the members of the Lodges of the time of election, and that the officers elect should be installed before entering upon their duties; and when the vacancy to be filled was that of the station of Senior Warden, that the Junior Warden's assent to the election should be obtained before it could take place."
  • Grand Lodge Committee Report, VII-15, 06/14/1865, regarding the petition for a charter for William Parkman Lodge, which included a provision for the Master to remove at pleasure any appointed officer; the committee recommended a ruling to exclude that section, as the Master is empowered to appoint and to suspend, but not to remove.
  • GC1918: Rule IV, 1918-417
  • GC1930: Rule IV, 1930-181
  • GC1953: RULE IV
  • GC1989: Rule IV

References

  • 1918-176, 09/11/1918, refers to a ruling by Grand Master Leon Abbott, indicating rights and privileges of officers acting in the stead of absent ones.

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

References

none.


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

References

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

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

  • GC1843: Rule VII, adopted 06/11/1873, 1873-50; In this revision, the final phrase does not appear.
  • 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.
  • GC1953: RULE VII; 1953-55; approved 1953-197; "In balloting, whether for degrees or for membership, the ballot must be unanimous to elect except as provided in Section 423."
  • GC1989: Rule VII

References

none.


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

References

none.


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

References

none.


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

  • GC1843: Rule X, adopted 06/11/1873, 1873-52; In this revision, there is no provision for Life Membership Fee.
  • 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.
  • GC1953: RULE X; 1953-55; approved 1953-197
  • GC1989: Rule X

References

  • 1883-255, 12/12/1883, is a commentary by Grand Master Lawrence on life membership in Lodges. "Under the By-Laws of some of the Lodges members are exempted from the payment of annual clues by the payment of a stipulated sum. This provision, properly guarded, is an eminently wise one, and worthy of general adoption ; but it is not a matter which Lodges should rush into without due consideration. They should be careful to secure a fair equivalent for the exemption from clues, and they should be especially careful of the disposition they make of the money thus received. The By-Laws of some Lodges make no provision for the funding of life-membership fees, and the money is thoughtlessly sunk in current expenses, which ought to form part of a permanent fund, the income from which would be a source of comfort and safety to the Lodge. Such a misapplication of life-membership fees not only destroys the confidence of life-members in the security of their investment, but is calculated to demoralize the Lodge itself."
  • 1909-200, 12/08/1909, refers to a report by the Committee on Charters and By-Laws which recommended the adoption of a regulation: "The fee for Life Membership in a Lodge shall not be less than fifteen times the amount of the Annual Dues."
  • 1918-173, 09/11/1918, refers to remarks by Grand Master Leon Abbott regarding dues and lodge notices. "I am constantly impressed that the dues of many of our Lodges are entirely inadequate properly to meet their regular running expenses. It needs no argument to prove that these expenses should not have to be paid from the fees of initiates . . . The question of dues is, of course, a matter for each Lodge to decide for itself, but I am entirely confident that if every Lodge depended upon its receipts from dues to pay its ordinary running expenses and did not at all rely upon fees from candidates for the payment of such expenses, it would be far better . . . The dependence upon initiation fees for running expenses encourages evils which are a constant menace to the Lodge and Fraternity{'s} welfare. . . I am also impressed that it would be better and make for greater interest if every Lodge should send out notices of its meetings. It helps the officers to keep in touch with the members and the members in touch with the Lodge and what it is doing. . . I earnestly suggest that the members of the Grand Lodge carefully consider the desirability of appropriate legislation at some early Communication of the Grand Lodge to the end that every Lodge be required to send out to all of its members notices of all regular and special communications."
  • 1936-115 and 1936-117, 06/10/1936, are commentaries by Grand Master Allen regarding financial difficulties of lodges that have enacted Life Membership by-laws. He notes that "One of the acute problems of many Lodges today in connection with the balancing of their budgets is the substantial loss in Lodge revenue due to the automatic exemption of the older members from the payment of Lodge dues." He provides a detailed description of the problems created by the system, and concludes with the request that "Masters and Wardens of such lodges {as have dues exemptions} to study the effect that the modification or elimination of automatic exemption from dues would have on your Lodge finances." He notes the same regarding Life Membership plans, noting that "under present low interest rates it is a question as to how far any Lodge can afford to go in building for the future by the sale of life memberships that will perhaps earn less than half the annual dues."
  • 1937-135, 09/08/1937, refers to additional remarks by Grand Master Allen on life memberships. "I pointed out the vital necessity of segregating in a permanent fund so that only the income could be used for current expenses, all sums paid into the Lodge for the purpose of life memberships. Such segregation . . . is absolutely vital and essential to the success of any plan. . . I have suggested to the Committee on Charters and By-Laws the propriety and advisability of requiring all Lodges seeking to amend their by-laws providing for an increased fee for life membership to require them at the same time to make any necessary amendments protecting those fees as above suggested."
  • 1939-236, 06/14/1939, is a commentary by Grand Master Perry on life memberships, based on a study commissioned by Grand Lodge. After detailing the current schedule of fees employed by lodges offering life membership, he notes that if every new initiate purchased such a membership, every such lodge would be ruined. "The automatic life memberships leave the Lodge without any fund whatsoever to offset dues . . . Fifty-five of our Lodges still give automatic life membership for twenty or less years of continuous membership . . . Will Grand Lodge legislation be necessary, or can our Lodge themselves read and profit by an illustrated story?"
  • 1956-226, 09/12/1956, refers to a proposed amendment to this section which would provide automatic life membership to any Brother age 70 or above whose dues had been paid for not less than thirty years, including in cases where the dues were remitted. This amendment was deferred on 1956-451, 12/12/1956, and indefinitely postponed by vote of the Grand Lodge on 1957-90, 06/12/1957.

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."
  • GC1843: RULE XII, adopted 06/08/1881, 1881-69; "Candidates for honorary membership in a Lodge shall be regularly proposed and balloted for in the same manner as is required for other candidates, but must be received without a fee."
    • Amended 03/12/1884, 1884-40, to read: "Candidates for honorary membership in a Lodge shall be regularly proposed and balloted for in the same manner as is required for other candidates, but must be received without any fee. And 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."
    • Proposed 06/12/1895, 1895-129, adopted 09/11/1895, 1895-222, replacing "proposed and balloted for" with "proposed, named in the notice, and balloted for".
  • GC1918: Rule XII, 1918-419
  • GC1930: Rule XI, 1930-183
  • GC1953: RULE XI
  • GC1989: Rule XI

References

  • 1881-167, 12/14/1881, refers to comments by Grand Master Lawrence regarding the adoption of the new regulation regarding honorary membership. "The regulation adopted by the Grand Lodge . . . is found to annul a provision in the by-laws of a Lodge under which its retiring Master becomes an honorary member without a formal ballot. It has been questioned whether the Grand Lodge contemplated such a result. I must frankly confess that I have grave doubts of the expediency of conferring honorary membership at all upon Past Masters in their own Lodges. It is open to question whether a Mason who has been honored by an election to the Mastership of his Lodge can receive a higher compliment from the same source; and if honorary membership confers no additional honor, but is simply valuable by ensuring an exemption from dues, I fail to see the advantage of a practice which multiplies members who contribute nothing to the financial support of a Lodge, of which they continue to enjoy the benefits . . . But . . . it has been the settled policy of this Grand Lodge to abstain from all unnecessary interference with the regulations of the subordinate Lodges, especially in regard to their membership."

Rule XII. ABSENTEE BALLOTS FORBIDDEN

Absentee votes or ballots are illegal.

Earlier Revisions

References

  • 1926-240, 06/09/1926, refers to comments by Grand Master Simpson regarding balloting by mail. "The By-Laws of a Lodge provide that certain actions require a vote of two-thirds of the members of the Lodge. The very great difficulty of obtaining that vote in a meeting raised the question of whether the Worshipful Master might take a vote by mail. I ruled that such action would be improper and declined to issue a dispensation to permit it."

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