Section 3-44 Occasional Lodges – Lodges with memberships of 35 or less Master Masons may elect, by a majority of its membership present at a Stated Communication of the Lodge, to become an Occasional Lodge, with the Grand Masters approval, thereby, operating and being governed under the following regulations:
1. Required to hold at least an Annual communication to elect and install a
Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden and a Secretary/Treasurer.
2. Send a copy of the minutes of this Annual Stated Communication within 30 days
to the Grand Secretary. The Grand Secretary will be responsible to see that the
Dues Notices are mailed to each member of the Occasional Lodge and that the dues
shall be returned to the Grand Secretary’s Office for filing.
3. The records of the Occasional Lodge shall be maintained in the Grand Lodge
Office with copies being sent to the Lodge Secretary, who, also will be
responsible for sending any communications he receives immediately to the Grand
Secretary keeping a copy of the same for the lodge records.
4. The fee for this service shall be $5.00 per member above the normal
per-capita for members plus customary charges for materials provided by Grand
Lodge. Proceeds above the Grand Lodge per-capita shall be returned to the
Treasurer for the Occasional Lodges use with acknowledgement of receipt of
payment being sent to the Grand Secretary.
5. If a member of the Occasional Lodge has not previously served as Master in a
regular Lodge and is elected an Officer of the Occasional Lodge he will not be
entitled to vote at the Annual Grand Lodge Communication.
6. All other Constitution and By-laws shall apply in the governing of the
Occasional Lodge with the exception of those listed above.
Rationale: There have been numerous Lodges merged and consolidated which has
netted the Grand Lodge with a loss in membership. The cause being that the
members did not want to merge or consolidate with any lodge or more especially,
with the chosen lodge.
This will allow a lodge to remain in existence, maintaining their Lodge Number
thus, retaining their members for as long as they desire to be a member.
This By-law in no way prohibits any merger or consolidation of any Lodge. This
By-law also in no way would interfere with its ability to return to regular
constituent Lodge status at the request and approval of the Grand Lodge.
Submitted by:
Gary C. Griffith
Grand Master of Masons
Grand Lodge AF&AM of SD
Proposed Change to By-Laws Number 1
Presently Reads:
Section 4-11. Annual Dues: Every chartered Lodge shall pay annually to the Grand
Lodge the sum of fifteen ($15.00) dollars for each Master Mason reported in the
annual returns except those whose dues have been remitted and those who are
Purchased Life Members. Of this fifteen ($15.00) dollars, four ($4.00) dollars
is dedicated to the Masonic Model Student Assistance Training Program,
twenty-five (25¢) cents shall be for the Grand Charity Fund, seventy-five (75¢)
for the Grand Lodge General Fund Endowment, and the balance shall be placed in
the General Fund. One ($1.00) dollar shall be for the purpose of defraying a
portion of the cost of sending the “Masonic Messenger,” the official Grand Lodge
publication to each Master Mason. If any Lodge shall collect from a suspended
member dues for the non-payment of which he shall have been suspended, such
Lodge shall pay to the Grand lodge that portion of the dues collected which is
due it and which has not previously been accounted for. (Amended 1999)
Change to read, changes in bold type and underlined:
Section 4-11. Annual Dues: Every chartered Lodge shall pay annually to the
Grand Lodge the sum of fifteen ($15.00) dollars for each Master Mason reported
in the annual returns except those whose dues have been remitted and those who
are Purchased Life Members. Of this fifteen ($15.00) dollars, four ($4.00)
dollars is dedicated to the Masonic Model Student Assistance Training Program,
one ($1.00) dollar dedicated to the George Washington Masonic National Memorial,
twenty-five (25¢) cents shall be for the Grand Charity Fund, seventy-five (75¢)
for the Grand Lodge General Fund Endowment, and the balance shall be placed in
the General Fund. One ($1.00) dollar shall be for the purpose of defraying a
portion of the cost of sending the “Masonic Messenger,” the official Grand Lodge
publication to each Master Mason. If any Lodge shall collect from a suspended
member dues for the non-payment of which he shall have been suspended, such
Lodge shall pay to the Grand lodge that portion of the dues collected which is
due it and which has not previously been accounted for. (Amended 1999)
Submitted by Donald R. Salmon, PGM
Proposed Change to By-Laws Number 2
Presently Reads:
Section 4-11. Annual Dues: Every chartered Lodge shall pay annually to the Grand
Lodge the sum of fifteen ($15.00) dollars for each Master Mason reported in the
annual returns except those whose dues have been remitted and those who are
Purchased Life Members. Of this fifteen ($15.00) dollars, four ($4.00) dollars
is dedicated to the Masonic Model Student Assistance Training Program,
twenty-five (25¢) cents shall be for the Grand Charity Fund, seventy-five (75¢)
for the Grand Lodge General Fund Endowment, and the balance shall be placed in
the General Fund. One ($1.00) dollar shall be for the purpose of defraying a
portion of the cost of sending the “Masonic Messenger,” the official Grand Lodge
publication to each Master Mason. If any Lodge shall collect from a suspended
member dues for the non-payment of which he shall have been suspended, such
Lodge shall pay to the Grand lodge that portion of the dues collected which is
due it and which has not previously been accounted for. (Amended 1999)
Change to read, changes in bold type and underlined:
Section 4-11. Annual Dues: Every chartered Lodge shall pay annually to the
Grand Lodge the sum of sixteen ($16.00) dollars for each Master Mason reported
in the annual returns except those whose dues have been remitted and those who
are Purchased Life Members. Of this fifteen ($15.00) dollars, four ($4.00)
dollars is dedicated to the Masonic Model Student Assistance Training Program,
one ($1.00) dollar dedicated to the George Washington Masonic National Memorial,
twenty-five (25¢) cents shall be for the Grand Charity Fund, seventy-five (75¢)
for the Grand Lodge General Fund Endowment, and the balance shall be placed in
the General Fund. One ($1.00) dollar shall be for the purpose of defraying a
portion of the cost of sending the “Masonic Messenger,” the official Grand Lodge
publication to each Master Mason. If any Lodge shall collect from a suspended
member dues for the non-payment of which he shall have been suspended, such
Lodge shall pay to the Grand lodge that portion of the dues collected which is
due it and which has not previously been accounted for. (Amended 1999)
Donald R. Salmon, PGM