BY-LAWS
Dated October 11, 2001
The Stated Meetings of this Lodge shall be held on the last Thursday of each month opening at 5:30 oclock p.m., except if such date is a legal holiday or the day before a legal holiday; then the Stated Meeting will be held on the third Thursday of that month. No Stated Meetings will be held in the months of July and August due to the lack of air conditioning in the building. Stated Meetings shall be held in Freemasons Hall, 525 N. Illinois Street, Indianapolis, IN.
Regular
business shall be conducted only at those Stated Meetings held on the last
Thursday of the month. At all other Stated Meetings, the only business conducted
shall be to receive communications, authorize the payment of Lodge bills,
receive petitions for the degrees or affiliation, and to ballot on candidates.
If the Worshipful Master, or other presiding Officer in his absence, shall
determine that none of these items of business need to be conducted, he shall
not open Lodge for a Stated Meeting.
Called
Meetings for trials, conferral of degrees, or ceremonial observances may be held
upon the call of the Worshipful Master, or other presiding Officer, at such
times as the interests of the Lodge may require.
Officers
Section 1. The Officers of this Lodge shall be a Worshipful
Master, a Senior Warden, a Junior Warden,
a Treasurer, a Secretary, a Senior Deacon, a Junior Deacon, a Chaplain, a
Senior Steward, a Junior Steward, a Tyler, and three Trustees.
Section 2. The annual election of Officers shall be held at
the Stated Meeting next preceding the anniversary of St. John the Evangelist
(December 27). The first five (5) Officers for a term of one year, and one
Trustee for a term of three (3) years, must be elected by ballot, and a majority
of all votes cast shall be necessary to elect. Blank ballots shall not be
counted. The Worshipful Master-elect shall appoint the remaining Officers. All
Officers shall be installed on or before the next Stated Meeting or as soon
thereafter as practicable.
Duties of Officers
Section 1. It shall be the duty of the Worshipful Master to
see that the by-laws and Regulations of this Lodge, and those of the Grand
Lodge, are enforced, and that the several Officers perform their respective
duties. He shall appoint all Committees, and see that the Ancient Landmarks of
the Order are not removed. The Worshipful Master is responsible for the overall
management of the Lodge, and accountable to the members of Century Lodge and to
the Grand Lodge of Indiana.
Section 2. It shall be the duty of the Wardens to assist the
Worshipful Master in the performance of his duties, and, in his absence, to
preside on order of seniority.
The
Senior Warden is responsible for actively directing all activities and programs
of the Lodge. He is responsible for the agenda of all Lodge Officer (Board)
Meetings, reports on actions taken during Officer Meetings to the membership,
and provides direction to the Junior Warden and other Officers for leadership
development purposes.
The
Junior Warden is responsible for managing the staffing, and implementation of
all programs and activities of the Lodge. He provides guidance and supervision
to all other Officers and Standing Committees. It shall also be his duty as an
Officer, not individually, to prefer charges against those members who are
delinquent in the payment of annual dues consistent with Indiana Grand Lodge
regulations.
Section 3. The Treasurer shall receive all monies from the
Secretary, and pay them out when directed by the Lodge and certified to him by
the Secretary, and keep a correct account of the receipts and disbursements.
The
Treasurer is responsible to the Lodge for both preparing and maintaining all
Lodge financial records which includes budgeting, preparation of financial plans
and projections, monthly and annual financial reports, and performs all
financial transactions approved by the Lodge.
Section 4. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a
record of all proceedings of the Lodge, properly written, and make a monthly
report to the Grand Lodge, as required. He receives all monies due the Lodge,
and immediately pays the same to the Treasurer, taking his receipt therefore. He
shall make and present a financial statement at monthly Stated Meetings, in form
required by the Grand Lodge. He shall open an account with each member, showing
all of his names (in full), and shall keep up the historical as well as the
financial record in each case. The annual compensation or honorarium of the
Secretary shall be $15.00 per member or a minimum of $500.00 whichever is
greater and paid quarterly beginning in January.
Section 5. Both the Treasurer and the Secretary shall, at the
annual meeting for election of Officers, report the receipts and expenditures of
the Lodge for the preceding year, specifying the different kinds of receipts and
the items of expenditure, with the amount of each, which shall be referred to a
Committee for Examination and Audit.
Section 6. The Deacons shall perform their described duties
and shall welcome and introduce visitors.
In
addition, the Senior Deacon is responsible for all membership activities for the
Lodge. He is also responsible for the reception and introduction of visitors and
distinguished guests. He plans the conferrals of Degrees, Membership Development
Programs, and provides direction and supervision to the Chairman of the
Publicity and Ritual Committees respectively.
The
Junior Deacon is responsible for all program activities of the Lodge except
Ritual. He manages the activities and performance of all Standing Committees,
and supervises the Masonic Education and Arrangements Chairmen.
Section 7. The Chaplain shall perform his prescribed duties,
assist in the funeral ceremony, and give spiritual advice and consolation where
it is needed and desired.
In
addition, the Chaplain will be responsible for all Masonic Education
programming. This includes the responsibility for the planning and provisioning
of all Masonic Education for the membership of the Lodge, involvement with the
Masonic family members when called upon, plans and coordinates visitations to
other Lodges, and provides regular reports of his activities.
Section 8. It shall be the duty of the Stewards to attend to
the introduction of candidates and to assist the other Officers in the
performance of their Lodge duties, when called upon.
In
addition, the Senior Steward is responsible for supervising the scheduling and
casting of all Degrees including the establishment of a Mentor Program.
The
Junior Steward is responsible for the planning and supervision of all internal
and external publicity of the Lodge. He keeps the members informed of special
events, directs all publicity of Lodge functions including the preparation of
media releases, Indiana Freemason
articles, and maintains a calendar of all fraternal and social events scheduled
by the Lodge.
Section 9. It shall be the duty of the Tyler to guard the
Lodge, keep rooms and furniture clean and in order, and perform other customary
services. He supervises the
logistical arrangements or other activities following Stated or Called Meetings,
as well as Lodge Family events scheduled at the will and pleasure of the Lodge.
Section 10. The duties of the Trustees shall be to manage any
and all real estate of the Lodge. As fiscal agents of the Lodge they will
have the power to rent and keep the Lodge Room in repair in such manner, and to
such extent as in their judgement will be for the best interests of the Lodge.
They will be subjects at all times to the instructions, orders, and authority of
the Lodge with the assistance and direction of the Freemasons Hall Building
Trustees.
Section 11. No sale of real estate belonging to this Lodge and
no purchase of real estate by this Lodge shall be made by the Trustees without
express authorization and approval of the Lodge, after consideration of the
matter at least two consecutive monthly Stated Meetings of the Lodge, and after
all members shall have been notified by mail of such proposed sale or purchase
at least ten days before final action is taken thereon.
Section 12. It shall be the duty of every Officer, Committee,
or member having control of Lodge funds, to deposit such funds in the depository
designated by the Lodge and in the name of this Lodge.
Committees
Section 1. Finance. Immediately
after his installation, the Worshipful Master shall appoint three members of the
Lodge as a Standing Committee on Finance, whose duty it shall be to examine the
books and accounts of the Secretary and the Treasurer and of all other persons
entrusted with the handling of Lodge funds, as well as all bills and claims
against the Lodge, and no allowance shall be made until such examination, except
by unanimous consent of the Lodge.
Section 2. Masonic Home.
Immediately after his installation, the Worshipful
Master shall appoint the Masonic Home Ambassador whose duty it shall be to
cooperate with the Directors of the Indiana Masonic Home in all affairs
pertaining to the Home, in which the Lodge is or may become interested. He shall
keep a regular account of his business, and make a written report of the same at
the annual meeting of the Lodge.
Section 3. Charity. The Worshipful Master and Wardens shall constitute
a Committee on Charity, and shall have authority to draw on the Relief Fund for
any sum not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the relief of any member, his
widow or orphans, who may need assistance. They shall report their action in all
such cases at the next Stated Meeting of the Lodge and report the balance
remaining in the Relief Fund.
Section 4. Family. The Worshipful Master shall appoint one or more
Brothers to a Committee to be known as the Committee of the Family, whose duty
it shall be:
1.
To maintain
a location file on each members widow and orphans; and
2.
To maintain
contact with each members widow and orphans and to inform the Lodge as
occasion should require, but no less than once annually, concerning the
well-being of a deceased Brothers family;
3.
To
encourage, whenever possible, a Brothers widow and orphans being included in
Lodge activities. For purposes of this Regulation, a widow shall be defined as
the non-remarried widow of a deceased Mason, and an orphan shall be defined as a
child, under eighteen years of age, of a deceased Mason.
Section 5. Masonic
Education.
A.
The
Worshipful Master shall appoint five (5) members as a Committee on Masonic
Education whose duty it shall be:
1.
To promote
interest among members and candidates in the knowledge of Masonic history,
literature, and symbolism by the regular presentation of appropriate programs;
2.
To keep the
Lodge informed concerning the activities of Freemasonry in general and the Grand
Lodge of Indiana and its program in particular; and
3.
To promote
the establishment, maintenance and use of such a library of Masonic literature
as the Worshipful Master and the Lodge shall direct.
4.
The Chaplain
will be a regular member and Chairman of this Committee.
B.
In order
that the Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Education may render assistance by
direct communication to the Lodge Committee, as soon as the Chairman thereof is
appointed, his name and address shall be reported, on forms furnished for this
purpose, to the Officers of the Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Education.
Masonic Relief Fund
A Masonic Relief Fund shall be maintained in the Lodges general fund to be drawn upon for no other purpose than extending relief to Freemasons or their dependents, and all such relief extended by the Lodge shall be drawn from this Fund.
The
Fund shall be deposited in the depository designated by the Lodge subject to
checks signed by any two members of the Committee on Charity.
Should
the balance in this Fund become less than an average of one dollar ($1.00) per
member, it shall be replenished by voting money to it from the Lodge General
Treasury or voting an assessment against the members for that purpose. Failure
to pay such an assessment shall be the equivalent to non-payment of dues and
shall be dealt with in the same manner and carry the same penalty.
Dues
Section 1. Lodge Dues. The dues of this Lodge shall be $200.00 per year
for each member, to which shall be added the annual per capita assessment as
established by the Grand Lodge each year for operation of the Indiana Masonic
Home. Dues and the annual per capita assessments are payable in advance on or
before the first day of January of each year. Such dues and assessments not paid
on or before January 1st in advance shall be deemed in arrears.
Section 2. Dues in
Arrears.
A.
On the first
day of February, or not later than the date of the first Stated Meeting in
February, the Secretary shall give notice by mail to all Brethren who are in
arrears for dues and assessments stating that they must, at or before the first
meeting in March, pay or satisfactorily explain to the Lodge in writing, all
arrearage in dues and assessments.
B.
At the first
Stated meeting in March, the Worshipful Master shall appoint a Dues Committee of
three (3) or more members, including the Senior Warden, Junior Warden and
Secretary, to investigate all arrearage in dues and assessments. Instructions to
said Committee are to ascertain the cause of such arrearage wherever possible,
and prepare charges to be filed for non-payment of dues against all members
whose dues and assessments are not paid or, in worthy cases, to recommend that
such indebtedness be remitted.
C.
At the first
Stated Meeting in April, the Worshipful Master shall appoint at least one
additional member to the Dues Committee for each delinquent member of the Lodge.
The Worshipful Master shall appoint Brothers concerned and able to relate to the
delinquent members or member of this Committee. Each such Committee shall make a
complete and full investigation by personal contacts wherever possible.
Communications by personal letter or telephone calls shall be made when personal
contacts are prohibitive due to great distance being involved.
D.
At the first
Stated Meeting of the Lodge in May, the Worshipful Master shall call for a
report from the Dues Committee and shall take up the matter of remission in
worthy cases. The Lodge may vote to remit either upon recommendation of the
Committee or upon other motion properly made and seconded. The Worshipful Master
shall next order that charges for non-payment of dues and assessments shall then
be filed by the Committee against all Brethren whose dues and assessments are
not paid or remitted.
E.
It may
become necessary for the Lodge to send a final notice of dues, or a notice of a
hearing, or notice for Masonic trial for non-payment of dues by either
registered or certified mail. The delinquent member will be required to
reimburse the Lodge for the cost of sending notices by registered or certified
mail equal to the costs incurred.
A. If a petitioner is elected to receive the three degrees, or if an application for affiliation is accepted after January 1 of any year, the annual dues shall be prorated as of the month raised or affiliated.
Petitions
Section 1. All petitions for the degrees, for affiliation
either by demit or transfer, and for restoration, must be signed by the
petitioner with all his names written in full, and must contain the
recommendation of at least two (2) Master Masons who are members of this Lodge.
Section 2. If an application for the degrees, and for
affiliation either by demit or transfer, or for restoration shall have been
rejected by balloting, he may petition the Lodge again after a six month time
period from date of said rejection.
Fees
Section 1. Every petition for initiation must be accompanied
with a fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) which shall be in full for the three
degrees.
In
addition to the fee for the degrees as specified in the Lodge by-laws, the
Secretary of the Lodge shall collect from each petitioner a contribution of ten
dollars ($10.00). This will be sent to the Grand Secretary, and be forwarded by
him to the George Washington Masonic National Memorial for its maintenance.
Note:
This will be
shown on the Lodge Recapitulation at the end of the year. The ten dollars
($10.00) is not to be sent until the Lodge receives its Recapitulation from
Grand Lodge.
Section 2. No part of the fee may be refunded to one who is
elected and receives the three degrees. If the petition is rejected, the entire
fee shall be refunded. Should only one degree be conferred, two-thirds of the
fee shall be refunded. Should only two degrees be conferred, one-third of the
fee shall be refunded.
A. Every petition for Plural membership must be accompanied with payment of annual dues ($200.00) plus a five dollar ($5.00) affiliation fee. The $5.00 fee will be transmitted to the office of the Grand Secretary with the Lodge Activity Report on which the Plural members election is reported.
B.
Plural
members are required to pay the same amount of Lodge annual dues and other per
capita assessments established by the
Grand Lodge each year for operation of the Indiana Masonic Home.
Demits
Section 1. Any Master Mason Brother wishing to demit from this
Lodge shall petition in writing. Upon receipt of the application at a Stated
Meeting, the Worshipful Master shall appoint a qualified Brother to investigate
the reasons, circumstances, and desirability surrounding the application at the
following Stated Meeting.
At
the following Stated Meeting, the appointed Brother shall report to the Lodge
the results of his investigation, at which time, action on the application will
be taken.
If
there are no charges pending against him, and he has no unpaid indebtedness to
the Lodge, the demit shall be granted by majority vote of the Lodge.
The
same applies to Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts, excepting that a
unanimous favorable vote is required.
Section 2. Notice of Intention to Transfer membership, as
provided in the Grand Lodge Regulations, shall be considered a request for a
demit if elected in the other Lodge.
Order of Business
Section 1. The
order of business for Stated Meetings shall be:
A.
Reading and
Approval of Minutes.
B.
Presenting
and Referring Petitions.
C.
Reports of
Standing Committees.
D.
Communications
and Bills.
E.
Reports of
Investigating Committees and Balloting on Petitions.
F.
Unfinished
Business.
G.
At the
annual meeting for the election of Officers, reports for the year should be made
by the Treasurer, the Secretary, the Charity Committee, and the Masonic Home
Ambassador.
H.
Miscellaneous
Business.
I.
Conferring
Degrees.
J.
Financial
Statement.
Section 2. The Worshipful Master shall be the judge of all
questions of order that may arise, and there shall be no appeal to the Lodge
from his decision.
Section 3. When a motion is made and seconded, it shall,
before debate, be stated by the Worshipful Master. Motions shall be made in
writing when requested by any Brother. A Brother making a motion may withdraw
it, if the motion is not amended.
Section 4. The Worshipful Master shall put all questions
distinctly; if a division is called for, he shall request those who vote in the
affirmative to rise and count them; then those who vote in the negative shall
rise and be counted, and he shall declare the result. In the case of a tie, the
motion is lost.
Section 5. While a question is under debate, no motion shall
be received which does not pertain to the question under consideration.
Section 6. Every member having a right to vote, who is present
when a question is put, shall vote, unless for special reasons given he be
excused by unanimous vote of the Lodge.
Section 7. When a motion has been acted upon, it shall be in
order for any member of the majority to move the reconsideration thereof; Provided,
that no motion for reconsideration shall be in order, unless made at the
same meeting at which the question shall have been voted upon.
Section 8. Every member on a committee shall attend a Call
of the Chairman, who shall be the first person named on said committee, and
in case of his neglect to call the committee together, or in his absence or
other cause, the committee shall attend the call of the next person named.
Section 9. The reports of committees to investigate
petitioners shall be made in open Lodge, but no record shall be made of the
nature of the report.
Amendments
Section 1. A motion to amend or alter any of these by-laws
shall be submitted in writing at a Stated Meeting and read. If seconded, it may
be debated, but a final vote can not be taken thereon before the next succeeding
Stated Meeting.
Section 2. Every member of this Lodge shall be entitled to a
copy of these by-laws, and the same shall be binding on him so long as he
continues a member of this Lodge.
____________________________________Secretary
Ronald
D. Simpson, PM
Full
Set
Approved
Grand
Lodge Committee on By-laws
Approved as
Amended
Grand
Lodge Committee on By-laws
Approved as
Amended
Grand
Lodge Committee on By-laws
Approved as
Amended
Grand
Lodge Committee on By-laws