Page images
PDF
EPUB

9. To transmit to the several Grand Councils in correspondence with this Grand Council, a certificate of the election of the Grand Officers immediately thereafter, containing their signatures respectively and authenticate under his hand and the seal of the Grand Council, with a request for a similar document from each of said Grand Councils;

10. To attend to all such other matters and duties as by Masonic usage appertain to his office.

SEC. 9. It shall be the duty of the Grand Treasurer:

1. To take charge of all the funds, property, securities and vouchers of the Grand Council;

2. To pay all orders duly drawn and attested under general regulations or special direction of the Grand Council;

3. To attend on the Grand Council or its presiding officer, when required, with the books and all necessary documents relating to his office, and to attend, when required, the meetings of any committee, whose duty it may be to act in relation to the fiscal affairs of the Grand Council.

4. To report annually to the Grand Council the amount of his receipts and expenditures, by items, and from whom received and to whom paid;

5. To pay and deliver at the expiration of his term of office to his successor or such person as shall be designated by the Grand Council, all moneys, securities evidences of debt, books, writings and property of the Grand Council under his control, with all proper assignments when necessary.

SEC. 10. It shall be the duty of the Grand Officers, whose duties have not been herein before specifically set forth, to discharge such functions as by ancient usage pertain to their offices.

SEC. 11. Meetings of the Grand Council.

1. The stated meetings of this Grand Council shall be held in the city of Baltimore, on the first Tuesday after the second Monday in November, at three o'clock in the afternoon, annually; and a quorum for business shall consist of the representatives of three Councils.

2. Special meetings of the Grand Council may be called by the Most Ill. Grand Master, or in his absence or physical inability, by the Deputy Grand Master, whenever deemed necessary.

SEC. 12. The Grand Master shall appoint at the Annual Assembly, or as soon after his installation as practicable, a Grand Lecturer, whose duty it shall be to attend the Annual Assembly of the Grand Council, and shall during the session exemplify to the members the standard work of the Grand Council, for the practice of the subordinate Councils, unless the Grand Council shall otherwise order.

SEC. 13. The Grand Recorder and Grand Sentinel shall receive such compensation as this Grand Council may from time to time determine upon.

SEC. 14. The revenues of this Grand Council shall be derived from the following sources:

For every Charter or Warrant,

And if a Charter is afterwards granted, the additional sum of

For every Dispensation to form a new Council,

$15.00 10.00 5.00

50

For affixing Seal to every Grand Council Diploma,

50

For every Dispensation,

For every Companion received and greeted in a subordinate Council, 50 For adjoining fee of every Select Master,

[ocr errors]

Every Council shall pay for each member annually,

25 25

SEC. 15. Every Council shall be accountable to the Grand Council for the dues of each of its members embraced in its returns.

SEC. 16. There shall not be a greater number of Councils established in the State than there are Royal Arch Chapters, nor more than one Council within the jurisdiction of each Chapter.

SEC. 17. Any Council neglecting or refusing to make returns and pay dues for more than two years, shall forfeit its warrant.

SEC. 18. All governmental powers, whether executive, legislative, or judicial, not expressly delegated by the Grand Council, are inherent in and reserved to it as the supreme governing body.

ARTICLE II.

REGULATIONS FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF SUBORDINATE COUNCILS.

SEC. 1. A Council of Royal and Select Masters shall consist of a Master, a Deputy Master, a Principal Conductor of the Work, a Recorder, a Treasurer, a Captain of the Guard, Conductor, Steward, and Marshall, and as many members as may be convenient, congregating and working by virtue of a warrant held under the Grand Council, and at the place designated on the warrant or by the Grand Council.

SEC. 2. The powers and privileges of a subordinate Council are such as are defined by this Constitution, or by the ancient Landmarks.

SEC. 3. No warrant of a Council can be forfeited except upon charges regularly made in the Grand Council, at the Annual Assembly of which, due notice shall be given the Council and an opportunity of being heard in defense, and then only for disobedience to this Constitution, ceasing to meet for one year or more, or for contumacy to the authority of the Grand Master or Grand Council; but a warrant may be suspended by the Grand Council or Grand Master at any time upon proper cause, which suspension shall not extend beyond the next Annual Assembly.

SEC. 4. The first five officers of a subordinate Council, hereinbefore named, must be chosen annually by ballot, and the remaining officers shall be appointed by the Master.

SEC. 5. The Master shall not be responsible for his official acts or otherwise, to the Council over which he presides; but shall be at all t.mes subject to discipline from the Grand Council or Grand Master.

SEC. 6. It shall be the duty of the Recorder of a Council:

1. To record the proceedings of the Council, under the direction of the presiding officer, which shall be read and approved by the Council before it is closed, and such proceedings shall be submitted to the Grand Council whenever required;

2. To receive all moneys paid into the Council, and pay the same to the Treasurer;

3. To transmit, immediately after every election, a certificate thereof to the Grand Recorder;

4. To make full and complete returns to the Grand Council annually, of all the members of the Council, in the form furnished by the Grand Recorder;

5. To certify and affix the seal of the Council to all returns, and certificates of election rendered to the Grand Council;

6. To attest the official signature of the Master to all other Masonic documents when necessary.

SEC. 7. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer of a Council:

1. To receive all moneys paid into the Council from the hands of the Recorder;

2. To keep a just and correct account thereof;

3. To pay them out by direction of the presiding officer and consent of the Council.

SEC. 8. A Council has full power and authority to enact By-Laws for its own government not inconsistent with this Constitution.

SEC. 9. No Council under this jurisdiction shall confer the degrees for a less sum than three ($3) dollars, nor upon any one who shall not have received, in a regular manner, the several degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, Master Mason, Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch Mason.

ARTICLE III.

AMENDMENTS.

SEC. 1. This Grand Council is competent at any time to alter or amend this Constitution on the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present, at an Annual Assembly. Provided the proposed alteration shall have been submitted in writing at one Annual Assembly, and laid over un'il the next for consideration; unless such proposition shall be unanimously concurred in, and in that case it may be adopted at once.

[merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][graphic]
« PreviousContinue »