By-Laws
BY-LAWS
OF
BRADFORD LODGE #123
ARTICLE I ….Warrant and Name
Bradford Lodge #123, F & A M, (hereafter referred to as the “Lodge”) is located in the city of Independence, County of Kenton and State of Kentucky
Whereas, the Lodge derives its powers and authority to work by our charter from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Kentucky, F & A M; and,
Whereas, the Grand Lodge of Kentucky authorizes a subordinate Lodge to adopt By-Laws to properly govern its own affairs provided that all rules and regulations set forth and prescribed by the Grand Lodge have been met;
We therefore respectively submit and attest that the contents of this document do hereby constitute the By-laws of our Lodge, and that all known regulations of the Grand Lodge have been complied with.
ARTICLE II….Meetings
Section 1:
The stated communications of this Lodge will be monthly on the 2nd (second) Thursday of each month and on St. Johns Day which is on December 27th, unless it falls on Sunday or a day which makes it impractical. Then it shall be held at a stated communication of the Lodge in December, provided the date of election if not on December 27th is set at the last stated communication in November.
Section 2:
The Lodge will be called to order at 7:30 P.M.
Section 3:
All Lodge business shall be conducted in a Lodge of Master Masons, excepting proficiency examinations and approval, and the work of the first and second degrees, or the trial of Entered Apprentices or Fellow Crafts.
Section 4:
All official communications from the Grand Master and Grand Secretary relating to the Lodge shall be read publicly in the Lodge at its next stated meeting after their reception.
Section 5:
No communication of the Lodge shall be held on Sunday, except on funeral occasions or to attend Religious Services, to lay cornerstones or hold dedications.
Section 6:
The Master, or one lawfully acting in his place, may call a communication of his Lodge at his pleasure; and upon the written request of 8 (eight) or more members of his Lodge he shall call a communication for the consideration of such matters as may be named in said request. Due notice of all called communications shall be given to the members of the Lodge; and no business shall be transacted at a called communication except that specified in the notice. However, a Lodge may be opened for instruction at any time.
Section 7:
Three (3) Master Masons, one of whom shall be authorized to open the Lodge, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business that may lawfully come before a Lodge of Master Masons.
Section 8:
Two (2) Master Masons, one of whom is authorized to open a Lodge, and three (3) Fellow Crafts shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of such business as may lawfully come before a Lodge of Fellow Crafts.
Section 9:
One (1) Master Mason authorized to open the Lodge, and six (6) Entered Apprentices shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of such business as may lawfully come before a Lodge of Entered Apprentices.
Section 10:
When the Master is absent, the Senior Warden shall perform his duties; when both the Master and Senior Warden are absent, the Junior Warden shall act as the Master. At a stated communication or a lawfully called communication, if the Master and both Wardens are absent, the Lodge may be opened by the Junior Past Master of the Lodge in attendance, and business may be transacted as if the Master were present – but the powers of such Past Master shall not extend beyond that particular communication.
Section 11:
The ballot for membership shall be taken only in a Master Masons Lodge and the only at a stated communication.
Section 12:
The balloting for the Degrees shall be at a stated communication and a favorable ballot on the petition shall elect the candidate to receive all the Degrees.
ATRICLE III…Order of Business
Section 1:
The order of business at every stated communication of this Lodge will be as follows:
1. Reading of the minutes
Communication and all intervening one’s.
2. Reading of the bills.
3. Unfinished business.
4. Report of committees.
5. Balloting.
6. Reception of petitions.
7. New business.
8. Degree work.
Section 2:
The order of business may be changed or temporarily dispensed with at the discretion of the Lodge.
ARTICLE IV….Officers and members
Section 1:
The corps of officers shall consist of the following:
1. Master
2. Senior Warden
3. Junior Warden
4. Chaplain
5. Treasurer
6. Secretary
7. Senior Deacon
8. Junior Deacon
9. Senior Stewart
10. Junior Stewart
11. Tyler
12. 3 Trustees
and as many other officers as may be elected or appointed by the Lodge and/or the Master.
Section 2:
The title of the Master is “Worshipful”; that of the other officers and members is “Brother”.
Section 3:
It is the duty of every Freemason to obey the moral law, to be neither an
Atheist nor a skeptic, but be a good man and true, to live in peace, practice charity and be a member of some Lodge.
Section 4:
The several officers shall hold and discharge the duties of their respective offices until their successors are duly elected or appointed and installed, except as provided by Section 5. Any officer may resign at any time, provided the Lodge is notified in writing.
Section 5:
Any elected or appointed officer of a Subordinate Lodge other than the Master or the Secretary, may be removed from office by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present, all members having been notified by mail at their last known address and upon dispensation of the Grand Master, good cause having been shown in writing.
Section 6:
The Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer, Secretary, Junior and Senior Deacon, Junior and Senior Steward, Tyler, and Trustees shall severally be nominated and then be elected by ballot.
Section 7:
The remaining officers shall be appointed by the Master.
Section 8:
All Lodge officers shall be Master Masons and members of the Lodge of which they are officers. Not Brother shall be elected as Master of a Lodge unless he shall have proved his proficiency in all three (3) Degrees and obtained a Grand Lodge Certificate of the same; he shall have been previously installed as a Master or Warden of a Lodge in the State of Kentucky, except when no such Brother who is so qualified and consents to act as Master shall be found among the members and except at the formation of a new Lodge.
ATRICLE V….Duties of Lodge Officers
Section 1:
The duties of the Master are:
1. To preside and have general supervision over his Lodge and decide questions of law and order, subject to appeal as in Section 174 of the Book of Constitution.
2. To see that the By-laws and resolutions of his Lodge are observed and that the Constitution, rules, regulations and edicts of the Grand Lodge are duly obeyed.
3. To see that monthly reports are promptly made to the Grand Lodge by the Lodge Secretary.
4. To attain such proficiency in the Degree work so as to enable him to conduct the ceremonies of his Lodge in creditable manner.
5. To call communication of his Lodge as provided in Section 6 of Article II of these By-laws.
6. To attend the communications of the Grand Lodge, or if unable to attend, to see that his Lodge is represented thereat.
7. To attend the District meeting and Educational conference held in his district and region.
8. To see that all volumes of the Book of Constitution held by the Lodge Officers are updated after the Lodge Secretary has received such copies from the Grand Secretary.
9. To see that all candidates who receive the Master Masons Degree get a copy of the Kentucky Monitor and By-laws of this Lodge.
10. To appoint all officers and standing committees after his installation.
Section 2: Duties of the Wardens
The Wardens shall assist the Master in the discharge of his duties and perform such other duties as may be devolved upon them by the usages of the craft, By-laws of the Lodge and the laws of the Grand Lodge, to see that their book of constitution is updated.
Section 3: Duties of the Treasurer
1) To receive all monies due the Lodge from the hands of the Secretary, give receipts thereof, and pay the same out by consent of the Lodge on warrants of the Master, countersigned by the Secretary.
2) To give bond, with good and sufficient surety, in such form and amount as shall be determined by the Lodge.
Section 4: Duties of the Secretary
1) To keep correct minutes of the transactions of his lodge
2) To collect and receive all money of the Lodge, keep true accounts thereof, and promptly pay the same to the Treasurer, taking receipts thereof.
3) To have charge of the seal of the Lodge and affix the same to all papers and documents requiring it.
4) To issue notices to attend the stated and called communication of the Lodge, under direction of the Master
5) To issue summons when directed by the Lodge.
6) Where there are two (2) or more Lodges in the same city, and in counties having concurrent jurisdiction, secretaries in such cities or counties shall give notice of all petitions for initiation or membership to all other Lodges in such city or county at least one week before the ballot thereon shall be taken. Notice of rejections, suspensions, expulsions and re-instatements shall also be promptly given to said Lodges.
7) To promptly make the returns required by sections 144-146 of the Constitution, and remit to the Grand Secretary the amount of dues and other indebtedness owing by his Lodge to this Grand Lodge. After each election he shall immediately report to the Grand Secretary the names of the Officers elected and appointed, such report shall be made in December, whether there was or was not an election.
8) To report all suspensions and re-instatements by his Lodge to the Grand Secretary.
9) To promptly transmit to the Grand Secretary, copies of all By-laws and amendments thereof adopted by his Lodge.
10) To submit his books and accounts to an examination whenever required to do so by his Lodge or the Grand Lodge.
11) To give bond, with good and sufficient surety, in such form and amount as shall be determined by his Lodge.
12) To send to all the members of the Lodge of which he is Secretary, annually, one month prior to the election of Officers, a notice of dues owing the Lodge.
13) To see that all necessary copies of the updates to the Book of Constitutions are received from the Grand Secretary after each Grand Lodge communication in October and that said copies are given to the Master.
Section 5: Duties of the Senior and Junior Deacons
With such assistance as may be necessary, are entrusted the introduction of visitors. It is also their province to attend on the Master and Wardens, and to act as their proxies in the active duties of the Lodge, such as in the reception of candidates into the different Degrees of Masonry, and in the immediate practice of our rites, and perform other duties that are required of them by the Master.
Section 6: Duties of the Senior and Junior Stewards
The duties of the Stewards are to assist in the collection of dues and subscriptions; to see that the tables are properly prepared at refreshment, and that every Brother is suitably provided for; and generally to assist the Deacons and other Officers in performing their duties. To collect all monies due the Lodge from candidates before receiving any Degrees and give to the Secretary of his Lodge.
Section 7: Duties of the Tyler
To guard against the approach of cowans and eavesdroppers, and suffer none to pass but such as are duly qualified.
Section 8: Duties of the Trustees
The Trustees will be vested with the power-of –attorney to act in behalf of the Lodge in all legal and property matters including, but not limited to, deeds, mortgages, notes, contracts, insurance and property management. Except in an emergency, when immediate action is clearly in the best interest of the Lodge, the Trustees will take no action, nor make any commitments, without having first been so instructed and authorized by a vote of the membership at a stated or called communication. Any emergency action, as indicated above, will be taken only by the unanimous consent of all the elected Trustees.
ATRICLE VI….Annual Dues and Fees
Section 1:
The dues of this Lodge shall be $73.50 per year, plus Grand Lodge assessments, for each member. The dues shall be due on January 1st and payable in advance for the full year.
Section 2:
Entered Apprentices and Fellowcraft shall be equally liable for dues with Master Masons.
Section 3:
Fees for initiation, passing, and raising shall be ninety dollars ($90.00). Thirty dollars ($30.00) to accompany petition for initiation; thirty dollars ($30.00) for Fellowcraft Degree, and thirty dollars ($30.00) for Master Mason Degree. These fees are to be paid before degrees are conferred.
Section 4:
If a candidate be initiated before June 30th, he shall be liable for dues for the full year. If initiated on or after July 1st, he shall be liable for the amount of the Grand Lodge assessment.
Section 5:
If a candidate be rejected, any deposit made by him shall be promptly refunded to the said candidate(s).
Section 6:
A Master Mason, who has been a member of a Kentucky Lodge fifty (50) years, having regularly paid dues for that length of time, is exempt from further dues.
Section 7:
No dues or assessments shall be charged to any Lodge for a member who is in an asylum for the insane of upon a member who may be a resident of the Old Masons Home, during the period of such residency.
ATRICLE VII…Petitions
Section 1:
All petitions for initiation must be accompanied by the fee required (Article VI, Section 3). Such petitions shall be recommended by two (2) Master Masons who are members of this Lodge; referred to an investigating committee and lie over for twenty-eight (28) days, or one lunar month. Petitions for affiliation, by demit, shall be recommended and referred, in this same manner, and lie over for the same time.
Section 2:
A candidate must present himself for initiation within six (6) months after notice of his election or such election shall be void, unless the Lodge shall declare reason for such failure to be good and sufficient. In which case, the Lodge extension has expired, the person must again petition and balloted on. However, if a candidate is in the Armed Services, outside the United States, the Lodge may grant an extension until he returns, and for a period of not exceeding six (6) months after his return.
ATRICLE VIII…Balloting
Section 1:
Ballot for membership will be taken only when the Lodge is at labor on the Master Mason Degree and only at a stated communication.
Section 2:
Balloting for the Degrees shall be at a stated communication and a favorable ballot shall elect the candidate to receive all the Degrees.
Section 3:
Every ballot shall strictly be secret, whether a favorable or unfavorable ballot was cast, and every Brother shall be secured in his right to cast his ballot privately. If any Brother shall make known or reveal his own or another’s ballot, he shall be guilty of unmasonic conduct.
Section 4:
The ballot must be unanimous to elect a candidate to receive the Degrees or for membership, except for affiliation in the Lodge which issued the demit, the applicant may be re-elected to the membership by three-fourths (3/4) of the members present (expressed by ballot).
Section 5:
Every member present must cast a ballot and no one shall enter or leave the Lodge room while balloting is in progress, except to allow the Tyler to ballot.
Section 6:
If two (2) unfavorable ballots appear against a candidate, he shall be declared rejected; nor can his petition for the Degrees be balloted on in less than twelve (12) months, or for membership in less than six (6) months after such rejection and then only after one (1) month’s previous notice.
Section 7:
In balloting on a petition, if only one (1) negative appears, a second ballot shall immediately take place; if on the second ballot, one (1) negative again appears, the petitioner shall be declared rejected for the Degrees. No ballot shall be taken again for the same candidate in less than twelve (12) months; or for membership, no ballot shall again be taken for the same candidate in less than six (6) months.
Section 8:
Candidates may be balloted on collectively.
ARTICLE IX….Suspensions
Section 1:
Suspension for non-payment of dues is a suspension from all the rights and privileges of Masonry, and no Brother shall be suspended for non-payment of less than dues owing for the previous year.
Section 2:
No Brother shall be suspended for non-payment of dues until he shall have been notified by registered or certified mail or personal service, of the amount of his indebtedness and of the time when the Lodge will consider the question of his suspension for such non-payment, which notice shall be given not less than twenty-eight (28) days next before the date of such hearing. The facts as to when and how such notice was given shall be entered into the minutes of the communications when action in the case is taken. If the delinquent e suspended, notice of the suspension shall be delivered or mailed to the suspended member and all other Lodges in our district. Also, the Grand Lodge must be notified.
Section 3:
When a Brother’s address is unknown and after every reasonable means to discover it shall have been exhausted, notice shall be given by registered or certified letter sent to him at his last known address, in which case the steps taken shall be reported in open Lodge, noted on record and read at three (3) consecutive stated communications; after which the Lodge may proceed as if notice has been received by the accused and he has failed to answer.