Original
Constitution and By-Laws
of
Washburn Lodge, No.92,
F. & A. M.
1871
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Amended
By-Laws
of
Washburn Lodge, No.92,
Free and Accepted Masons
of Danville, VT.
1927
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Current
By-Laws
of
Washburn Lodge, No.92, F & A. M.
Adopted October 4,
2006
PREAMBLE
This
lodge shall be governed by the law of the land; the landmarks, articles of
incorporation, and constitution of The Grand Lodge of The Most Ancient And
Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Vermont; bylaws of
the Vermont Masonic Code; and these bylaws not inconsistent therewith.
ARTICLE 1
Name & Charter
§1.1
Name. The name of this lodge is Washburn Lodge. No. 92, F. & A. M.
§1.2 Charter. The Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society
of Free and Accepted Masons for the State of Vermont, having exclusive and
sovereign authority over all matters pertaining to Ancient Craft Masonry
therein, did, on June 11, 1869, A.L. 5869, charter and constitute this lodge by
patent under its seal.
ARTICLE 2
Communications
§2.1 Required Officers.
This lodge cannot be opened, do any work, or
transact any business, unless at least the Master or one of the wardens is
present.
§2.2
Regular Communication. Regular communications shall be held on the first
Wednesday of each month commencing at 7:30 p.m., unless a regular communication
in January and February are suspended by vote of the lodge at the regular
communication prior to the suspension. The order of business, in general, is as
follows: (a) reading and approval of minutes of the last regular communication
and intervening special communications, if any; (b) unfinished business of
last regular communication; (c) reports of committees; (d) balloting upon
petitions; (e) reception of petitions; (f) appointment of committees; (g)
conferring degrees; and (h) new business.
§2.3
Annual Communication. The annual communication shall be the regular
communication in
April.
§2.4
Special Communication. A special communication may be called by the Master
for conferring degrees, Masonic funerals and burial services, and public
ceremonies. He may also call a special communication to conduct business if the
Grand Master grants a dispensation therefore. In such event, only such business
as authorized by the dispensation may be conducted thereat.
§2.5 Notice of Communication. Resident members should be notified of
all regular and special communications.
§2.6 Prayer.
No communication shall be opened or closed
without solemn prayer to Almighty God.
ARTICLE 3
Officers
§3.1
Officers.
(a) Elected officers. The elected officers are the Master, Senior
Warden, Junior Warden,
Treasurer, and
Secretary.
(b)
Appointed officers. The appointed officers are the Senior Deacon, Junior
Deacon,
Senior Steward,
Junior Steward, Chaplain, Marshal, Tyler, Assistant Treasurer and Assistant
Secretary, and such others as may be appointed by the Master.
(c)
Organist. The Master and Wardens may, in their discretion, appoint an
Organist.
(d) Term. The officers shall hold their offices for one year and until
their successors have been duly elected or appointed and installed.
§3.2
Time of Election or Appointment. The officers are to be elected or
appointed, as appropriate, at the annual communication. The appointment of the
Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Secretary shall be approved by the Treasurer
and Secretary, respectively, and must be confirmed by a majority of the brethren
in attendance.
§3.3 Installation. Unless the lodge votes otherwise, the installation
of the officers shall be at the annual communication, but in no case later than
the fifteen day of May following the election. The installation may be held in
open lodge or, if so desired, in a public assembly. If it is held in a public
assembly, the covenant shall be given privately and the private grand honors
omitted.
§3.4 Duties. The duties of the officers are governed by the provisions
of the Vermont Masonic Code.
§3.5
Compensation. The officers, other than the treasurer and secretary, shall
serve without
compensation. The
lodge may determine whether the treasurer and secretary shall receive any
compensation and,
if so, the amount thereof.
§3.6
Indemnification. All officers and committeemen shall be indemnified by the
lodge for all
expenses reasonably
incurred by them in defending themselves from any proceedings instituted or
threatened against
them provided the lodge votes that they have acted within the scope of their
authority and are
not guilty of misfeasance or malfeasance.
ARTICLE 4
Fees, Dues & Assessments
§4.1
Degrees. The fees for the petition and the degrees are the amounts
presently in effect or as may be subsequently revised.
§4.2
Rejection or dismissal. If the candidate is rejected or his petition
dismissed, the deposit
fee shall be
returned.
§4.3
Non-appearance. If the candidate is elected and fails to present himself
for initiation within
one year after he
is notified thereof, he shall forfeit his deposit fee unless remitted by a
two-thirds
vote of the lodge.
He shall not thereafter be initiated without a renewal of his petition.
§4.4
Affiliation. The fee for affiliation is the amount in effect or as may be
subsequently revised.
§4.5
Dues. The annual dues are the amount presently in effect or as may be
subsequently revised.
(a)
Life Member. A member who has been constituted a life member, as authorized
by the provisions of the Vermont Masonic Code.
(b)
Exemption. A brother who has been a continuous member of this lodge for 50
years is exempt from payment of dues.
§4.6 Per Capita Tax. Each member of this lodge, except those who are
exempt as provided by the bylaws of the Vermont Masonic Code, are liable for the
annual per capita tax to the Grand Lodge.
§4.7
Assessments. A proposal for an assessment shall be presented at a regular
communication.
The proposal is
then laid over to the next regular communication or a special communication
called
for action
thereon. The notice of the communication must be sent to every member of the
lodge
and must recite the
text or substance of the proposed assessment.
(a)
Exemption. A brother who has been a continuous member of this lodge for 50
years is exempt from payment of assessments.
§4.8 Remission.
By affirmative vote at a regular communication, the lodge may remit the dues
of
a brother, or
extend the time for payment, for good cause shown either to the lodge or a
committee
selected for that
purpose.
§4.9
Change in Fees And Dues. The fees for the petition, degrees, affiliation
and annual dues may be changed by vote of the lodge, at a regular or special
communication, provided notice of the
intended change is
sent at least one week in advance to each member of the lodge.
ARTICLE 5
Lodge Membership
§5.1 Petitions.
The procedures for petitions for the
degrees, advancement, affiliation, transfer of membership, dual membership and
demit are governed by the provisions of the Vermont Masonic Code.
§5.2
Disclosure. No brother, whether or not a member of the lodge, shall inform
a rejected
petitioner,
directly or indirectly, how a member of the lodge voted or how he believes a
member
of the lodge voted,
on his petition. A brother doing so is guilty of unmasonic conduct. This
section is to be read to the brethren by the Master, or an officer designated by
him, prior to balloting on petitions for the degrees.
§5.3
Discipline. A brother violating the preceding section is guilty of
unmasonic conduct.
§5.4
Admonition. The preceding two sections shall be read by the Master to the
brethren prior
to balloting on
petitions for the degrees.
§5.5 Admonition, Suspension, Termination,
Expulsion, Reinstatement and Restoration.
These are governed by the provisions of the
Vermont Masonic Code.
ARTICLE 6
Standing and Special Committees
§6.1
Committees. The Master, with the advice and consent of the Wardens, shall
appoint the standing committees immediately after his installation and announce
the members thereof at the first regular communication thereafter.
(a) Standing
Committees.
(1) Masonic Assistant and Relief Committee. It shall consist of the
Master,
Senior Warden,
Junior Warden and Secretary. Any request for Masonic assistance or relief shall
be referred to this committee. The committee shall carefully and sensitively
investigate the worthiness of the request and the availability of funds and
present a report with recommendations to the brethren at a regular
communication. The lodge shall then take such action on the request as it deems
appropriate.
(2) Nominating Committee. It shall consist of three members of
the lodge, one of
whom shall be a
past master. The committee shall meet not less than once every three months in
a continuing effort to identify members of the lodge who are qualified for
elective office by their leadership, integrity, virtue and dedication. Then, at
the annual communication, or communication at which elections are held, the
committee shall present nominations for each elective office. Other members may
be placed in nomination from the floor.
(3) Membership Committee. It shall consist of three members of the
lodge, one of
whom shall be a
past master. The committee shall meet not less than once each month. It shall
create a list of individuals in the community who they believe possess the
prerequisites for membership in Freemasonry. The committee, or their designees,
shall then personally and discreetly approach these individuals, discuss
Freemasonry with them, and encourage them to submit petitions for the degrees.
This committee shall be in addition to, and not to the exclusion of, the right
of each brother to encourage qualified individuals to submit petitions for the
degrees.
(4) Committee on Finance. It shall consist of
three members of the lodge. The committee shall review all requests for
contributions and bills presented to the lodge and report its recommendations at
a regular communication, and make a report to the lodge at each annual meeting
and oftener if required or requested.
(5) Committee on Grievances. It shall consist
of three members of the lodge. The committee shall take cognizance of the
conduct of the brethren within the jurisdiction of the lodge, reconcile
difficulties that may occur whenever reasonable, and file a complaint with the
Grand Secretary, when necessary, against any brother in violation of Masonic law
or for conducting himself in a manner unbecoming a Mason.
(6) Committee on Giving. It shall consist of
the Master, Senior Warden, Junior
Warden, Treasurer
and Secretary. Any request for a financial grant, gift, contribution or
donation shall be referred to this committee. The committee shall carefully
investigate the worthiness of the request, the availability of funds, and its
consistency with the operating budget of the lodge, and present a report, with
recommendations, to the brethren at the next regular communication. The lodge
shall then take such action on the request as it deems appropriate.
(7) Committee on Audit. It shall consist of two
members of the lodge and they shall be appointed by the Master and Wardens. Its
duties are to audit the bills presented by the lodge and the accounts of the
Treasurer and Secretary at least once a year and make a report of its activities
and findings at the annual communication and oftener, if requested. The
Treasurer and Secretary may not sit on this committee.
(b)
Special Committees. The Master may appoint such special committees as he
deems
appropriate,
designating the members thereof and their duties.
ARTICLE 7
Budget and Revenue
§7.1
Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the lodge shall commence on the first day
of April and end
on the last day of
March of each year.
§7.2 Membership Year. The membership year of this lodge shall end on
the last day of March of each year. On or before the tenth day of April of each
year, the Secretary shall return to the Grand Secretary his report of lodge
membership as of the last day of March, and such other information as may be
required, on forms to be furnished by The Grand Lodge.
§7.3 Budget.
The treasurer and secretary shall prepare and complete a proposed lodge
budget
for the ensuing
year in time for submission and adoption at the lodge annual communication.
§7.4
Adoption. The annual budget shall be adopted at the annual communication or
at a
special
communication called for that purpose.
§7.5
Fidelity Bond. The trustees of the Grand Lodge have purchased and carry a
blanket
position fidelity
bond covering the officers of the lodge and indemnifying the lodge against loss
resulting from
infidelity, defalcation or misappropriation by the officers, employees or
members of its
funds, assets or property. The lodge is assessed and required to pay to the
Grand
Lodge its
proportionate share of the premium annually, based on coverage provided.
ARTICLE 8
Amendments
§8.1
Amendments. These bylaws may be amended as provided in the Vermont Masonic
Code.
§8.2
Code. If a change is made in the Vermont Masonic Code, and that change
affects the
bylaws of this
lodge, these bylaws are amended, ipso facto, to conform to the code.
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