Current By-laws
Revised 2010
Name Of The Lodge
(1) This Lodge shall be known by the name of Beaver Ionic Lodge No. 25, Grand Registry of Manitoba, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
Acknowledgment Of Grand Lodge
(2) This Lodge fully acknowledges the supremacy of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba, A.F. & A.M., and will at all times pay implicit obedience to its laws, rules, edicts and regulations.
Meetings And Conduct Of Lodge Business
(3) The regular meetings of the Lodge shall be held on the first Wednesday in each month except June, July and August, at 7:30 o'clock p.m. providing, that should the first Monday of the month be a statutory holiday, then the regular meeting will be held on a date to be selected by the Worshipful Master.
(4) The business of the Lodge shall be conducted in the Master Mason Degree except when brethren of a lesser rank are present, at which time the Lodge shall be opened or lowered sufficiently to provide for their attendance.
(5) Emergent Meetings may be held at any time at the discretion of the Worshipful Master for the purpose of conferring degrees or participation in funeral services.
(6) Generally officers of the Lodge will endeavour to wear tuxedo attire at regular and emergent meetings with others wearing a business suit/jacket with tie, however since attendance in Lodge is strongly encouraged, under exigent circumstances the usual order of dress may be suspended
Order of Business
(7) The order of business at every regular meeting shall be as follows, subject to change at any time by the Worshipful Master:
A. Presentation of our Canadian flag
B. Memorial Service for departed brethren
C. Reading minutes of the last regular and all intervening
meetings
D. Reading minutes of the Committee of General Purposes
Reports of Committees
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Sick Visiting / Shut-Ins Committee
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Benevolence Committee
-
Entertainment Committee
-
Widows Committee
-
Investment Committee
-
Candidate Coaching Committees
-
Temple Board
F. Correspondence
G. Accounts
H. Presentation of Petitions for Initiation or Affiliation
I. Reports of Investigation Committee(s)
J. Balloting on Petitioners
K. Unfinished Business
L. New Business
M. Masonic Education
N. Conferring Degrees
O. Good of the Order / Welfare of the Lodge
(8) No new business shall be brought forward after 10:30 o'clock p.m. and the meeting shall not be adjourned to another day.
(9) The Lodge shall be closed in proper form before the brethren disperse.
Rules Of Order
(10) Every member, when speaking, shall address himself to the Worshipful Master, and no member shall speak more than once on the same question, unless in explanation, or the mover in reply.
(11) On a point of order being raised while a member is speaking or when he is called to order by the Worshipful Master, the member speaking shall at once take his seat. The point of order shall then be stated by the member objecting, and the Worshipful Master shall decide thereon without debate, after which the member may continue his presentation or cease speaking to the matter, depending on the decision of the Worshipful Master.
(12) All balloting on petitions for initiation, affiliation or restoration or on a motion to confer Honourary Membership and other business of the Lodge as may be required in the Constitution shall be made only at regular meetings.
(13) No motion shall be required for the payment of the Lodge’s current expenses or the making of gifts or grants in the interest of the Lodge when such expenses are $100.00 or less.
(14) A Lodge visitor shall not speak to any question without leave of the Worshipful Master, nor on any occasion be allowed to vote. At all times visitors in the Lodge shall be subject to these by-laws.
Motions
(15) No motion shall be open for discussion until stated to the Lodge by the Worshipful Master.All motions shall be decided by a majority of votes of the members present. The votes of the members shall be given by each holding out his right hand, and shall be counted by the Deacons, unless the numbers should be so unequal so as to render counting unnecessary. The Worshipful Master, when the vote is called, may vote or abstain from voting in his absolute discretion; however, in the event he has elected to abstain, he shall not vote subsequently to break a tie.In the event of a tie vote, the Worshipful Master shall declare the motion lost.
(16) All Notices of Motions must be given in writing at a regular meeting, entered in the minutes and published in the summons for the next regular meeting. The publication of the notice shall state that the motion shall come before the Lodge for discussion at the next following regular meeting or at a special meeting called for that purpose. All such motions shall be decided by a majority of votes of the members present, save and except for a motion to amend these by-laws, as provided in by-law #82, or a motion to grant Honourary membership, as provided in by-law #71.
(17) No amendment to a motion, or to a motion subject of a Notice of Motion, shall be in order after an amendment to an amendment.
Officers
(18) The Officers of this Lodge shall consist of the Worshipful Master, Immediate Past Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Secretary, Treasurer, Director of Ceremonies, Chaplain, Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Inner Guard, Senior Steward, Junior Steward, Organist and Tyler.The duties of the Secretary and Treasurer may be combined and performed by one member, to be known as Secretary/Treasurer.
(19) The elected Officers shall be the Worshipful Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer, Secretary and Tyler.One member may be elected to be both the Secretary and Treasurer, to be known as Secretary/Treasurer.
(20) Elections of Officers for the ensuing year shall take place after the close of the regular business of the Lodge at the regular November meeting in each year in accordance with the procedure set out herein.
(21) All officers shall be Master Masons in good standing and, with the exception of the Tyler and Organist, they shall be members of this Lodge. All Officers who are required to pay dues shall not take office until any dues owing for the ensuing year are paid.
Election of Officers
(22) The Worshipful Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Secretary and Treasurer shall each be elected by ballot if more than one brother is nominated for one of these positions.The Tyler shall be elected by open vote in Lodge if more than one brother is nominated for this position.
(23) Each of the elected Officers shall be nominated in writing by two members, consented to by the nominee, and each nomination shall be in the hand of the Secretary not later than noon two days prior to the election.There shall be no nominations from the floor.
(24 At the regular November meeting in each year and after the regular business of the Lodge has been transacted the Worshipful Master shall order the Lodge to prepare for the election of Officers, and appoint two brethren to act as scrutineers.
(25) The Secretary shall announce the names of those who have been nominated to the elected offices. When only one nomination for an office is received, the Worshipful Master shall declare the nominee elected by acclamation.Where there is a contest for an office, Stewards shall distribute one ballot to each member present, after which all members entitled to vote shall proceed to ballot.
(26) When all the ballots have been collected they shall be delivered to the scrutineers who shall, after they have carefully ascertained the result of the vote, report to the Worshipful Master, who shall then proclaim elected the member who has received the largest number of votes of the members present.He shall then destroy the ballot.
(27) The Worshipful Master-elect shall announce his appointment of all other officers of the Lodge at the same meeting in which members are elected.
(28) The Worshipful Master-elect shall be installed and the officers elected and appointed shall be invested and installed in person at the regular meeting in December.
(29) An officer re-elected or re-appointed to the office in which he has just served need not be invested.
(30) In the event a vacancy shall occur in the number of elected or appointed members of the Lodge, the Worshipful Master shall appoint a member with the proper qualifications to fill the un-expired term of such position.
Officers’ Duties
(31) All officers shall perform the duties prescribed to them by the Constitution of Grand Lodge and these by-laws and those duties assigned to them by the Ritual and by the Worshipful Master, as well as those duties which are purely traditional and therefore unwritten.
(32) It shall be the duty of the Worshipful Master to:
A. represent the Lodge at all Communications of Grand Lodge.
B. see that his successor in office is properly installed.
C. turn over to his successor, after installation, the Charter, books, documents, papers, furniture, regalia and paraphernalia of the Lodge.
D. arrange for the instruction of the brethren in the Work of the Lodge.
(33) In addition to the duties prescribed elsewhere in these by-laws it shall be the duty of the Senior Warden and the Junior Warden to represent the Lodge at all Annual Communications of the Grand Lodge.
(34) In addition to those duties prescribed elsewhere in these by-laws, it shall be the duty of the Secretary:
A. to furnish demits signed as provided by the Constitution of Grand Lodge,
B. to see that proper notice is given to Lodges having concurrent jurisdiction of all petitions for membership in the Lodge,
C. to keep safely all books, records, correspondence and documents of the Lodge and turn them over to his successor in office before the next regular meeting of the Lodge subsequent to the installation of office,
D. to keep a membership roll showing the standing of every member with regard to payment of dues.
E. For the satisfactory discharge of his duties, he may be paid such honorarium as the Lodge shall by vote determine; said honorarium to be paid at the request of the Secretary either, monthly, quarterly or annually.
(35) The duties of the Treasurer of the Lodge, which may be included with those of the Secretary shall be:
A. to have charge of the accounts of the Lodge and shall be responsible for their correctness.He shall keep a strict record of the Lodge funds and of the receipts and payments of all monies in the appropriate accounts, and of the investments of the various funds of the Lodge,
B. to keep safely all books, accounts, receipts and other documentation relating to receipts and expenditures of the Lodge,
C. to receive dues from members, issue receipts and membership cards to members,
D. to issue dues invoices for the current year to all unpaid Lodge members via the regular Lodge mailing in January of each year,
E. to issue dues notices to delinquent members when directed by the Worshipful Master,
F. to advise the Worshipful Master of the names of all delinquent members who have not paid their dues within the time frames prescribed by the Constitution of the Grand Lodge,
G. on a timely basis, to keep the Principal Officers aware of all those whose dues are delinquent,
H. to make bank deposits as and when requested and provide the deposit receipts and a list of remitters to the Secretary,
I. to have co-signing authority for all cheques issued against all Lodge funds and have joint access to the Safety Deposit Box of the Lodge.
(36) In addition to the duties prescribed elsewhere in these by-laws it shall be the duty of the Tyler to attend all meetings of the Lodge and tyle the door, subject to the orders of the Worshipful Master. It shall also be his duty to ensure the maintenance of the regalia and paraphernalia of the Lodge and is in place for the punctual opening of the Lodge.
(37) All other officers shall perform such other duties as may be directed by the Principal Officers, not conflicting with the Constitution, Directives and Regulations of Grand Lodge, these by-laws or the usages and traditions of Freemasonry.
Committees
(38) The standing committees of the Lodge are:
A. Committee of General Purposes - Senior Warden, Chairman
B. Sick Visiting / Shut-Ins Committee
C. Benevolence Committee
D. Community Support Committee
E. Entertainment Committee
F. Widows Committee
G. Investment Committee
H. Candidate Coaching Committee - Senior Warden, Chairman
I. Temple Board
J. Telephone Committee
(39) The duties and responsibilities of the Standing Committees shall be as set forth in the Constitution of Grand Lodge and as may be directed by the Worshipful Master from time to time.
(40) Special committees may be appointed by the Worshipful Master.
(41) All Committees, whether standing or special, shall be composed of Master Masons of the Lodge in good standing who shall hold office until their successors are appointed.
Committee Of General Purposes
(42) The Committee of General Purposes shall consist of all members of the Lodge in good standing.
(43) The Senior Warden shall be the Chairman of the Committee of General Purposes.
(44) The Senior Deacon shall be Secretary of the Committee of General Purposes.
(45) Seven members of the Committee of General Purposes shall form a quorum for the transaction of business.
(46) The Committee of General Purposes shall meet when called by the Worshipful Master or the Senior Warden. Should urgent and unforeseen circumstances occur whereby the meeting date or place needs to be changed or cancelled, notice shall be given to all members using email and/or the Telephone Committee.
(47) All communications relative to the general business of the Lodge shall be referred to the Committee of General Purposes, or be presented at a regular meeting of the Lodge, for consideration. The Committee of General Purposes shall authorize payment of such accounts, as are in order by a majority vote by the members present. The Committee shall consider and shall make such recommendations and suggestions to the Lodge as it may deem expedient or advisable in connection with the welfare of the Lodge, its regulation and government.
(48) The Chairman of the Committee of General Purposes shall submit a written report to each regular meeting of the Lodge and make a motion for its approval.
Benevolence Committee
(49) The Benevolence Committee shall consist of the principal officers and one Master Mason appointed by the Worshipful Master.
(50) It shall be the duty of every member to report to the Lodge when at labour any case of sickness or distress amongst its members within his knowledge. Any application for benevolence must be submitted to the Secretary in writing with sufficient particulars to warrant convening the committee.
(51) The Worshipful Master may at his discretion grant temporary relief not exceeding $100.00 to any distressed member in good standing, or to the family of such member, and shall report the same at the next regular meeting when, upon investigation, such action shall be taken as the Lodge may deem proper and necessary.
Community Support Committee
(52) The Community Support Committee shall consist of a Chairman, appointed by the Worshipful Master and two Master Masons. Their duties include management of the bursary funds, charitable fund-raising efforts and any other worthwhile community projects.
Bursaries
(53) The Lodge shall endeavour to issue annually one bursary each to a student at Dakota Collegiate Institute and Glenlawn Collegiate Institute, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, selected by the respective institutions. The bursary is to assist with each student’s tuition, who will be attending an accredited university or community college in the next year. The amount of each bursary to be passed by resolution at a regular meeting of the Lodge and the payment sent directly to the institution at which the student has enrolled.
Investment Committee
(54) The Worshipful Master shall, on the day of his installation, appoint three members who shall act as an Investment Committee.
(55) The Investment Committee shall supervise the management of all funds of the Lodge that are made available for that purpose. Its recommendations shall be presented to a regular meeting of the Lodge for ratification by open vote.
(56) The Investment Committee shall restrict the investment and reinvestment of all such funds to such investments or forms as may be authorized by Grand Lodge, the Constitution or by the laws of Manitoba governing the investment of trust funds.
Other Committees
SICK VISITING / SHUT-INS COMMITTEE
(57) The Sick Visiting / Shut-Ins Committee shall consist of three Master Masons appointed by the Worshipful Master, in addition to the Chairman who shall be the Senior Warden or a brother appointed by the Worshipful Master to be Chairman. In cases of sickness or death of any member or any of his immediate family, the Chairman of the Committee may provide an appropriate gift to express the concern of the Lodge, to be paid for by the Lodge not to exceed $100.00.
ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE
(58) The Entertainment Committee shall consist of two Master Masons appointed by the Worshipful Master, in addition to the Junior Warden, who shall be the Chairman. Refreshments for Lodge events shall be paid for from Lodge funds and shall be managed and overseen by the Junior Warden. To provide for such refreshments, the Lodge may furnish the Junior Warden with up to $250.00 in petty cash at any one time via a motion at a regular meeting of the Lodge, accountable with paid receipts and in an annual report to the Lodge or otherwise as required by the Worshipful Master.
Financial Management
(59) The Worshipful Master, Treasurer and Secretary shall have the joint custody of all funds, securities and financial papers of the Lodge for safekeeping and all such funds, securities and financial papers shall be deposited in a Chartered Bank, Credit Union or Trust Company in Manitoba.
(60) The signing authority for securities and financial papers of the Lodge, other than cheques in such financial institution, shall be any two of the Worshipful Master, Senior Warden, Immediate Past Master, Treasurer, Secretary or Secretary/Treasurer.
(61) Payments from Lodge funds for expense of the Lodge not approved, or considered for approval, by the Committee of General Purposes, and in excess of $100.00, shall only be made when approved by a majority vote by the members present at the Lodge’s regular meeting.
(62) All monies and investments of the Lodge shall be deposited in the name of the Lodge in any financial institution as authorized by the Lodge. Funds shall be withdrawn only by cheque.
(63) The Lodge shall maintain a fund or investment instrument(s) to support bursaries to be given annually to Dakota Collegiate Institute and Glenlawn Collegiate Institute students destined for an accredited university college, as outlined in by-law #53 above.
Property
(64) All property of every kind belonging exclusively to the Lodge, shall be under the care of theWorshipful Master and the Wardens for the time being, who shall personally inspect the same as soon as possible after their installation and at frequent intervals during their term of office.
Masonic Memorial Temple Limited
(65) A representative of this Lodge to the Board of Masonic Memorial Temple Limited, together with an alternate representative, shall be appointed by the Worshipful Master at the December regular Lodge meeting for the ensuing calendar year.
Auditors
(66) The Worshipful Master shall, on the day of his installation, appoint two or more Master Masons who shall act as an audit committee and whose duty it shall be to audit the books and accounts of the Lodge and report thereon annually or as may be required by the Worshipful Master. No member shall be appointed an auditor while holding office with fiscal responsibility in the Lodge.
Membership Fees
(67) The fee for membership by initiation in this Lodge shall be set at a regular meeting of the Lodge. Upon his initiation, the member shall be given a book of Constitution and a copy of the by-laws of this Lodge.
(68) When a member is raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason, the Lodge shall present him with a Master Mason's apron. When a new member satisfactorily proves his proficiency in the Master Mason Degree, the Lodge shall present him with a Grand Lodge Certificate.
(69) Designated members and Life Memberships issued by former Ionic Lodge No. 25 or former Beaver Lodge No. 139 or former Windsor Lodge #138 shall be recognized as such by Beaver Ionic Lodge No. 25. The Lodge, however, shall not issue any further Life Memberships nor recognize additional Designated members.
(70) The fee for Affiliation shall be set by an open vote in Lodge.
(71) Honourary Membership may be granted on such terms as the Lodge may approve by an affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of the members present after a Notice of Motion has been duly given.
Annual Dues
(72) The annual dues of each member are due and payable on the first day of January. Annual dues may be changed by a notice of motion and resolution at a regular meeting of the Lodge for the next fiscal year.
A. A member joining the Lodge either by initiation or affiliation, for the balance of the calendar year he joined, shall pay a monthly pro-rated fee based on the annual dues rate.
(73) Designated Members shall be entitled to a $40.00 discount from the value of the annual dues.
A. For the purposes of this section, “Designated Member” means a brother of the former Ionic Lodge No. 25, G.R.M., A.F. & A.M., who had attained the age of 65 years in 1992.
B. The Lodge shall maintain a Designated Member Reserve Fund to cover the estimated future expenses in respect of Designated Members receiving a discount on their annual dues under this by-law.
(74) Members paying annual dues for the ensuing year prior to December 1st. shall receive a 10% reduction, rounded to the nearest whole dollar. The annual dues for members who have not paid their annual dues in full on March 1st shall be surcharged an additional 20% of the current annual dues rate, rounded to the nearest whole dollar.
(75) The Secretary, Treasurer, Secretary/Treasurer, Tyler, Life Members and Honourary Members shall be exempt from paying dues.
(76) If all Principal Officers believe that a member is in distress, the Worshipful Master may decree that the Brother’s current annual dues be waived. Such declaration shall be made in open Lodge without identifying the Brother.
(77) The Lodge may by a majority vote remit the dues of any member.
Petitions For Initiation And Affiliation
(78) A petition for initiation shall be made in writing in accordance with the form prescribed by the Constitution. If the petitioner fails to attend for initiation within the period of twelve months after his petition has been balloted upon and accepted, a new petition shall be required.
(79) A petition for affiliation shall be accompanied by the fee, along with a demit or certificate of good standing from the Lodge to which the petitioner belonged / belongs. In case of rejection, the fee shall be returned to the petitioner.
(80) No petition shall be balloted upon at any regular meeting unless the members have been duly notified of such ballot in the summons calling such meeting. No person shall be initiated in, or become a member of this Lodge if, on the ballot being taken, two black cubes shall be found against him.
Amending the By-Laws
(81) Any action of the Grand Lodge or edict of the Grand Master which may conflict with any part of these by-laws shall have the effect of an amendment without any action on the part of the Lodge.
Amending the By-Laws, cont’d.
(82) These by-laws or any part thereto may be amended or others substituted in their stead, only if a Notice of Motion has been given at a regular meeting, which shall be entered in the minutes and inserted in, or mailed with, the notice of the next regular meeting when the proposed alteration shall come before the Lodge for discussion and vote, if necessary. The assent of at least two-thirds of the members present shall be necessary for the adoption of such amendment, repeal, alteration, or substitution, which must then be submitted to the Grand Master for his approval before it becomes effective.
Lodge Seal,By-Laws & Amendments
(83) These by-laws when written in a book designated for that purpose shall be signed by the Worshipful Master and Secretary, and have the seal of the Lodge affixed.
(84) Each member at the time of his initiation or affiliation shall sign the official register, as a declaration of submission to the by-laws, of which one copy shall then be delivered to him.
(85) The seal that appears on the original signed copies of these by-laws shall be the official seal of the Lodge.
(86) If at any time there appears to be a conflict between the provisions of these by-laws and the Constitution or regulations of Grand Lodge, the Constitution and regulations of Grand Lodge shall prevail;and where these by-laws are silent on any matter or thing relating to the powers or duties of the Lodge, the provisions of the Constitution and regulations of Grand Lodge shall apply.
Penalty For Indiscretion
(87) No member or visiting Brother shall disclose or make known by any means whatsoever out of this Lodge any of the proceedings, or any of the decisions or business of any kind transacted within the Lodge, to anyone not a Mason, and no member or visitor shall presume in open Lodge, either at labour or refreshment, to make use of profane, irreverent or improper expressions or sentiments, or to introduce any conversation or remarks tending to cause dissension on partisan or sectarian subjects, under the penalty, if a member, of severe censure and reprimand, and if a visiting Brother, of not being permitted to visit this Lodge until after a unanimous vote of the Lodge for that purpose.
On initiation of each candidate and on the joining of each Brother, the Worshipful Master shall cause this article to be read so that no Brother ever after shall plead ignorance.
(88) The by-laws as printed herein were ENACTED AND PASSED at a regular meeting of Beaver Ionic Lodge No. 25, G.R.M., held in the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Wednesday, the first day of September, 2010.
proposed
Name Of The Lodge
(1) This Lodge shall be known by the name of Beaver Ionic Lodge No. 25, Grand Registry of Manitoba, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
(2) The Worshipful Master (“Master”), Senior Warden and Junior Warden are the Principal Officers of the Lodge.
Acknowledgment Of Grand Lodge
(3) This Lodge fully acknowledges the supremacy of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba, A.F. & A.M., (“Grand Lodge”) and will at all times pay implicit obedience to its Constitution, laws, rules, edicts, directives and Regulations (collectively herein called “the Constitution”).
Meetings And Conduct Of Lodge Business
(4) The Regular meetings of the Lodge shall be held on the first Wednesday in each month except June, July and August, at 7:30 o'clock p.m. Should the first Wednesday of the month be a statutory holiday, then the Regular meeting will be held on a date to be selected by the Master.
(5) The business of the Lodge shall be conducted in the Master Mason Degree except when brethren of a lesser rank are present, at which time the Lodge shall be opened or lowered sufficiently to provide for their attendance.
(6) Emergent meetings may be held at any time at the discretion of the Master for the purpose of conferring degrees or participation in funeral services.
(7) Officers of the Lodge will endeavour to wear black tie attire at Regular meetings and meetings where the Lodge is conferring degrees, with others wearing a business suit with appropriate tie, however, since attendance in Lodge is strongly encouraged, under exigent circumstances the usual order of dress may be suspended with the authority of the Master. Casual dress is welcome at the Committee of General Purposes (“GP") meeting.
(8) A quorum consists of seven members, one of which shall be a Principal Officer. Attendance of members using electronic audio or audio/visual conferencing at any GP meeting shall be allowed provided that audio can be shared by all members attending.
Order of Business
(9) The business conducted at Regular and GP meetings shall be at the discretion of the Master and may consist of:
A. Presentation of our Canadian flag
B. Memorial Service for departed brethren
C. Summarizing and approval of pertinent minutes of meetings
D. Reports of Committees
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Sick Visiting / Shut-Ins Committee
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Benevolence Committee
-
Entertainment Committee
-
Widows Committee
-
Investment Committee
-
Candidate Coaching Committees
-
Temple Board
E. Correspondence
F. Financial Affairs
G. Petitions for Membership and/or Reports of Investigations
H. Balloting on Petitioners
I. Conferring Degrees
J. Unfinished Business
K. New Business
L. Masonic Education
M. Good of the Order / Welfare of the Lodge
(10) No new business shall be brought forward after 10:30 o’clock p.m. and the meeting shall not be adjourned to another day.
(11) The Lodge shall be closed in proper form before the brethren disperse.
Rules Of Order
(12) Every member, when speaking, shall address himself to the Master, and no member shall speak more than once on the same question, unless in explanation, or the mover of a Motion, in reply.
(13) On a point of order being raised while a member is speaking or when a call to order is requested by the Master, the member speaking shall at once cease talking and take his seat. The point of order shall then be stated by the member objecting, and the Master shall rule thereon without debate, after which the member may continue his presentation or cease speaking to the matter, at the pleasure of the Master.
(14) All balloting on petitions for initiation, affiliation or restoration or on a motion to confer Honorary membership and other business of the Lodge as may be required in the Constitution shall be made only at Regular meetings. Only members in good standing shall be allowed to ballot on affairs of the Lodge.
(15) Anyone attending any Lodge meeting while in session, who speaks in such a manner which causes feelings of disharmony to any other person in the meeting may suffer censure or dismissal from the meeting, at the discretion of a Principal Officer or Chairman of the meeting.
Visitors
(16) A Lodge visitor shall not speak to any question without leave of the Master, nor on any occasion be allowed to vote. At all times visitors in the Lodge shall be subject to these by-laws.
Motions
(17) A motion to transact the business of the Lodge may be made only at a Regular Meeting or a Committee of General Purposes meeting of the Lodge. No motion shall be required for the payment of the Lodge’s current expenses or the making of gifts or grants in the interest of the Lodge when such expenses are $100.00 or less, provided such expenditure is pre-authorized by a Principal Officer.
(18) No motion shall be open for discussion until stated to the Lodge by the Master. All motions shall be decided by a majority of votes of the members present. A member may only vote once on any motion or amendments to a motion and shall be given by holding out his right hand. Votes shall be counted by the Deacons, unless the numbers should be so unequal so as to render counting unnecessary. The Master, when the vote is called, has absolute discretion to vote or abstain from voting; however, in the event he abstains, he shall not vote subsequently to break a tie. In the event of a tie vote, the Master shall declare the motion lost. A member shall abstain from voting if he may be in a conflict of interest situation regarding the motion about to be voted on.
(19) All Notices of Motion must be given in writing at a Regular meeting, entered in the minutes and published in the summons for the next Regular meeting or as declared by the Master. The publication of the notice shall state when the motion shall come before the Lodge for discussion at either a Regular meeting or at a special meeting called for that purpose. All such motions shall be decided by a majority of votes of the members present, save and except for a motion to amend these by-laws, as provided in by-law #87 or a motion to grant Honorary membership, as provided in by-law #77.
(20) No amendment to a motion, or to a motion subject of a Notice of Motion, shall be in order after an amendment to an amendment.
Officers
(21) The Officers of this Lodge shall consist of the Master, Immediate Past Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Secretary, Treasurer, Director of Ceremonies, Chaplain, Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Inner Guard, Senior Steward, Junior Steward, Organist and Tyler. The duties of the Secretary and Treasurer may be combined and performed by one member, to be known as Secretary/Treasurer.
(22) The elected Officers shall be the Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Secretary, Treasurer and Tyler. One member may be elected to be both the Secretary and Treasurer, to be known as Secretary/Treasurer.
Election of Officers
(23) Elections of Officers for the ensuing year shall take place after the close of the regular business of the Lodge at the regular November meeting in each year in accordance with the procedure set out herein.
(24) All Officers shall be Master Masons in good standing and, with the exception of the Tyler and Organist, they shall be members of this Lodge. All Officers who are required to pay dues shall not take office until any dues owing for the ensuing year are paid.
(25) The Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Secretary, Treasurer and Tyler shall each be
elected by ballot if more than one Brother is nominated for one of these positions.
(26) Each of the elected Officers shall be nominated in writing by two members, consented to by the nominee, and each nomination shall be transmitted by hand or electronic means to the Secretary not later than 7:00 p.m. of the day of the election. There shall be no nominations from the floor, however, if no nomination is submitted for an elected office, the Master may decree his selection of a member qualified to fulfil the duties. If the selected member agrees to perform the duties of the office, the Master shall declare him elected.
(27) At the regular November meeting in each year and after the regular business of the Lodge has been transacted the Master shall order the Lodge to prepare for the election of Officers. The Deacons shall act as scrutineers if more than one member has been nominated for an elected position.
(28) The Secretary shall announce the names of those who have been nominated to the elected offices. When only one nomination for an office is received, the Master shall declare the nominee elected by acclamation. Where an election for an office is called, members nominated shall not vote but members present otherwise entitled to vote shall proceed to cast a secret ballot.
(29) When all the ballots have been cast they shall be delivered by the Stewards to the scrutineers who shall, after they have carefully ascertained the result of the vote, report only to the Master the name of the member who has received the largest number of votes, without disclosing the count. The Master shall then proclaim that member elected. The Master shall take possession of the ballots and destroy them.
(30) The Master-elect shall announce his appointment of all other Officers of the Lodge at the same meeting in which members are elected.
(31) The Master-elect shall be installed and the Officers elected and appointed shall be invested and installed in person at the Regular meeting in December. Should an Officer not be able to attend, he shall be installed at the first Regular meeting opportunity.
(32) An officer re-elected or re-appointed to the office in which he has just served need not be re-invested.
(33) In the event a vacancy should occur regarding an elected or appointed Officer of the Lodge, the Master shall appoint a member with the proper qualifications to fill the un-expired term of such position, if that Brother agrees to perform the duties of the office.
Officers’ Duties
(34) All officers shall perform the duties prescribed to them by the Constitution of Grand Lodge and these by-laws and those duties assigned to them by the Ritual and by the Master, as well as those duties which are purely traditional and perhaps unwritten.
Master
(35) It shall be the duty of the Master to:
A. Represent the Lodge at all Annual Communications of Grand Lodge and the Masonic District meetings of which the Lodge is associated.
B. see that his successor in office is properly installed.
C. turn over to his successor, after installation, the Charter, books, documents, papers, furniture, regalia and paraphernalia of the Lodge.
D. arrange for the instruction of the brethren in the Work of the Lodge.
E. attend to the affairs of this Lodge as prescribed to him elsewhere in these by-laws.
(36) In addition to the duties prescribed elsewhere in these by-laws it shall be the duty of the Senior Warden and the Junior Warden to represent the Lodge at all Annual Communications of Grand Lodge.
Secretary
(37) In addition to those duties prescribed elsewhere in these by-laws, it shall be the duty of the Secretary:
A. to prepare meeting minutes of all Regular and Emergent meetings for presentation for approval at the Lodge’s next convenient Regular meeting.
B. to furnish demits signed as provided by the Constitution of Grand Lodge,
C. to see that proper notice is given to Lodges, via the Grand Lodge Circular, of all petitions for membership in the Lodge,
D. to keep safely all books, records, correspondence and documents of the Lodge, other than those required and maintained by the Treasurer, and turn them over to his successor in office before the next Regular meeting of the Lodge subsequent to the installation of office,
E. in coordination with the Treasurer, keep a membership roll showing the standing of every member with regard to payment of dues and issue membership cards to members when their dues are paid.
F. For the satisfactory discharge of his duties, he may be paid such honorarium as the Lodge shall by vote determine; said honorarium to be paid at the pleasure
Treasurer
(38) The duties of the Treasurer of the Lodge, which may be included with those of the Secretary shall be:
A. to have charge of the accounts of the Lodge and shall be responsible for their correctness. He shall keep a strict record of the Lodge funds and of the receipts and payments of all monies in the appropriate accounts, and of the investments of the various funds of the Lodge,
B. to keep safely all books, accounts, receipts and other documentation relating to receipts and expenditures of the Lodge,
C. to promptly inform the Principal Officers should there be insufficient funds or a cash flow deficiency needed to cover the liabilities and commitments of the Lodge,
D. to receive dues from members and coordinate with the Secretary with issuing dues cards and/or receipts in payment for dues and maintaining the membership register,
E. to issue dues invoices for the current or ensuing year to all unpaid Lodge members via the regular Lodge mailing in December or January of each year,
F. to issue dues notices to delinquent members when directed by the Master,
G. to advise the Principal Officers of the names of all delinquent members whom have not fully paid their dues within the time frames prescribed by the Constitution of Grand Lodge,
H. to make bank deposits as promptly as possible, and within 10 business days of receipt, and maintain the deposit receipts along with a list of remitters,
I. to have co-signing authority for all cheques issued against all Lodge funds and have joint access to any Safety Deposit Box of the Lodge.
Tyler
(39) In addition to the duties prescribed elsewhere in these by-laws it shall be the duty of the Tyler to attend all meetings of the Lodge and tyle the door, subject to the orders of the Master. It shall also be his duty to ensure the maintenance of the regalia and paraphernalia of the Lodge and that it is in place for the punctual opening and closing of the Lodge.
Other Officers
(40) All other officers shall perform such other duties as may be directed by the Principal Officers, not conflicting with the Constitution of Grand Lodge, these by-laws or the usages and traditions of Freemasonry.
(41) Should circumstances be such that the Lodge cannot hold a tiled meeting nor convene a Committee of General Purposes meeting within a reasonable period of time, either in person or electronically, any three of the Principal Officers, Secretary and Treasurer collectively have the authority to make decisions and cause such actions as would otherwise, in normal circumstances, require a motion and passage at a Lodge meeting. Such action shall only be applied if it is within the confines and spirit of Freemasonry, these by-laws, and not in conflict with the Constitution and Regulations of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba. Such actions shall be individually detailed, recorded and formally brought to the attention of the Lodge at its next tiled meeting and be included in the minutes.
Committees
(42) The standing committees of the Lodge are:
A. Committee of General Purposes
B. Sick Visiting / Shut-Ins Committee
C. Benevolence Committee
D. Community Support Committee
E. Entertainment Committee
F. Widows Committee
G. Investment Committee
H. Candidate Coaching Committee - Senior Warden, Chairman
I. Temple Board
J. Audit Committee
K. Telephone Committee
(43) The Master shall appoint a Chairman for each committee unless otherwise prescribed in these by-laws.
(44) The duties and responsibilities of the Standing Committees shall be as set forth in the Constitution of Grand Lodge and as may be directed by the Master from time to time.
(45) Special committees may be appointed by the Master.
(46) All Committees, whether standing or special, shall be composed of Master Masons of the Lodge in good standing who shall hold office until their successors are appointed.
Committee of General Purposes
(47) The Committee of General Purposes shall consist of all members of the Lodge in good standing with the Senior Warden as the Chairman and the Senior Deacon as the Secretary.
(48) Seven members of the Committee of General Purposes shall form a quorum for the transaction of business, one of which shall be a Principal Officer.
(49) The Committee of General Purposes shall meet when called by the Master or the Senior Warden. Should urgent and unforeseen circumstances occur whereby the meeting date or place needs to be changed or cancelled, all reasonable effort shall be made to provide notice to all members using electronic messaging and/or telephone.
(50) The Committee of General Purposes shall authorize payment of financial matters as are in order, by a majority vote by the members present. All communications relative to the general business of the Lodge shall be referred to the Committee of General Purposes, or be presented at a Regular meeting of the Lodge, for consideration. The Committee shall consider and shall make such recommendations and suggestions to the Lodge as it may deem expedient or advisable in connection with the welfare of the Lodge, its regulation and government.
(51) The Secretary of the Committee of General Purposes shall submit a written summary of its affairs, including motions passed, to each member via electronic messaging five (5) business days before the next Regular meeting. This written summary shall also be presented at the next Regular meeting of the Lodge where he shall make a motion for its approval.
Benevolence Committee
(52) The Benevolence Committee shall consist of the Principal Officers and one Master Mason appointed by the Master. Any application for benevolence must be submitted to the Secretary in writing with sufficient particulars to warrant convening the committee.
(53) It shall be the duty of every member to report to the Lodge, when at labour, any case of sickness or distress amongst its members within his knowledge. The Master may at his discretion grant relief, not exceeding $100.00, to any distressed member in good standing, or to the family of such member, and shall report the same at the next Regular meeting.
Community Support Committee
(54) The Community Support Committee shall consist of a Chairman, appointed by the Master and two Master Masons. Their duties include management of the bursary funds, charitable fund-raising efforts and any other worthwhile community projects.
Bursaries
(55) The Lodge shall endeavour to issue annually one bursary each to a student at Dakota Collegiate Institute and Glenlawn Collegiate Institute, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, selected by the respective institutions.
(56) The educational institution shall be informed that they must base their bursary recipient selection on a student possessing above average scholastic standing in his or her final year of collegiate study, be of good moral character and have been an active participant in a program or effort designed to benefit the local community.
(57) The bursary is to assist with each student’s tuition for full time studies, who will be attending an accredited university or college within the forthcoming scholastic calendar or the year following. The amount of each bursary shall be passed by resolution at a Regular meeting of the Lodge and the payment sent directly to the institution’s Registrar at which the student has enrolled, to be used only for the student’s tuition fee(s).
Investments Committee
(58) The Master shall, on the day of his installation, appoint three members who shall act as an Investment Committee.
(59) The Investment Committee shall supervise the management of all funds of the Lodge that are made available for that purpose. Its recommendations shall be presented to a Regular meeting of the Lodge for ratification by open vote.
(60) The Investment Committee shall restrict the investment and reinvestment of all such funds to such investments, or forms of investments, as may be authorized by Grand Lodge of Manitoba, the Constitution or by the laws of Manitoba governing the investment of trust funds.
Other Committees
SICK VISITING / SHUT-INS COMMITTEE
(61) The Sick Visiting / Shut-Ins Committee shall consist of three Master Masons appointed by the Master, in addition to the Chairman who shall be the Senior Warden or a Brother appointed by the Master to be Chairman. In cases of sickness or death of any member or any of his immediate family, the Chairman of the Committee may provide an appropriate gift to express the concern of the Lodge, to be paid for by the Lodge not to exceed $100.00.
ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE
(62) The Entertainment Committee shall consist of the two Stewards, in addition to the Junior Warden, who shall be the Chairman. Refreshments for Lodge events shall be paid for from Lodge funds and shall be managed and overseen by the Junior Warden, known as the Junior Warden’s Fund. To provide for such refreshments, the Lodge may furnish the Junior Warden with petty cash at any one time via a motion at a Regular meeting of the Lodge, accountable with paid receipts. An annual financial report shall be provided by the Chairman to the Lodge in January each year, covering the expenditures of the Junior Warden’s Fund for the prior year, and/or as required by the Master.
Financial Management
(63) The Master, Treasurer and Secretary shall have the joint custody of all funds, investment securities and financial papers of the Lodge for safekeeping which shall be deposited in a Chartered Bank, Credit Union or Trust Company (“bank”) in Manitoba as authorized by the Lodge. Funds shall be withdrawn only by cheque or by electronic means with both requiring two authorized signatures.
(64) The signing authority for cheques, securities and financial papers of the Lodge shall be any two of the Master, Senior Warden, Immediate Past Master, Treasurer, Secretary or Secretary/Treasurer.
(65) Payments from Lodge funds for expense of the Lodge not approved, or considered for approval, by the Committee of General Purposes, and in excess of $100.00, shall only be made when approved by a majority vote by the members present at the Lodge’s Regular meeting.
(66) The Lodge shall maintain a fund or investment instrument(s) to support bursaries to be given annually to Dakota Collegiate Institute and Glenlawn Collegiate Institute students destined for an accredited university or college, as outlined in by-law #54 above.
Property
(67) All property of every kind belonging exclusively to the Lodge, shall be under the care of the Master and the Wardens, who shall personally inspect the same as soon as possible after their installation and at frequent intervals during their term of office.
Masonic Memorial Temple Limited
(68) A representative of this Lodge to the Board of Masonic Memorial Temple Limited, together with an alternate representative, shall be appointed by the Master at the December regular Lodge meeting for the ensuing calendar year.
Auditors
(69) The Master shall, on the day of his installation, appoint two or more Master Masons who shall act as an Audit Committee whose duty it shall be to audit or review the books and accounts of the Lodge and report thereon annually, before May each year, covering the affairs of the Lodge for the prior year, or as may be required by the Master. No member shall be appointed an auditor while holding office with fiscal responsibility in the Lodge.
(70) Immediately after a change in Treasurer, and every five years thereafter, the financial affairs of the Lodge shall be reviewed or audited by a qualified accountant resulting in the full report being announced to the Lodge at its Regular meeting.
Membership Fees
(71) The fee for membership by initiation or affiliation in this Lodge shall be set through a motion at a Regular meeting of the Lodge. Upon his initiation, the member shall be given a copy of the Constitution and a copy of the by-laws of this Lodge.
(72) When a member is raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason, the Lodge shall present him with a Master Mason's apron. When a new member satisfactorily proves his proficiency in the Master Mason Degree, the Lodge shall present him with a Grand Lodge Certificate.
(73) Designated members and Life Memberships issued by former Ionic Lodge No. 25 or former Windsor Lodge No. 138 or former Beaver Lodge No. 139 shall be recognized as such by Beaver Ionic Lodge No. 25. The Lodge, however, shall not issue any further Life Memberships nor recognize additional Designated members.
(74) Honorary Membership may be granted on such terms as the Lodge may approve by an affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of the members present after a Notice of Motion has been duly given.
Dues & Fees
(75) The annual dues of each member are due and payable on the first day of January. Members whom have paid their dues by this date, or are exempt from paying dues, are considered ‘in good standing’. The annual dues amount shall be changed by a notice of motion, with resolution made no later than at the December Regular meeting of the Lodge, to become effective on the first day of January of the next year.
(76) A member joining the Lodge either by initiation or affiliation, for each full month remaining of the calendar year he joined, shall pay a monthly pro-rated fee based on the annual dues amount.
(77) Designated Members shall be entitled to a $40.00 discount from the value of the annual dues. A. For the purposes of this section, “Designated Member” means a Brother of the former Ionic Lodge No. 25, G.R.M., A.F. & A.M., who had attained the age of 65 years in 1992.
B. The Lodge shall maintain a Designated Member Reserve Fund to cover the estimated future expenses in respect of Designated Members receiving a discount on their annual dues under this by-law.
(78) The annual dues for members who have not paid their annual dues in full on March 1st shall be surcharged an additional 20% of the current annual dues amount, rounded to the nearest whole dollar.
(79) The Secretary, Treasurer, Secretary/Treasurer, Life Members and Honorary Members shall be exempt from paying dues.
(80) If all Principal Officers believe that a member is in distress, the Master may decree that the Brother’s current annual dues be waived. Such declaration shall be made in open Lodge without identifying the Brother.
(81) Any Lodge member may present a case at any Regular meeting of the Lodge to waive the current annual dues of any Lodge member in distress, without in any way identifying the Brother. The Lodge may by a majority vote of members present waive the current annual dues of the member in distress.
Petitions
(82) A petition for initiation shall be made in writing in accordance with the form prescribed by the Constitution, accompanied by the prescribed fee, a Criminal Records Check certificate bearing his name, issued by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or the Winnipeg Police Service. If the petitioner fails to attend for initiation within the period of twelve months after his petition has been balloted upon and accepted, a new petition shall be required. In case of rejection, the fee shall be returned to the petitioner.
(83) A petition for affiliation shall be accompanied by the fee, along with a demit or Certificate of Good Standing from the Lodge to which the petitioner belonged / belongs and a Criminal Records Check certificate bearing his name, issued by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or the Winnipeg Police Service. In case of rejection, the fee shall be returned to the petitioner.
(84) No petition shall be balloted upon at any Regular meeting unless Lodge members have been duly notified of such ballot in the summons calling such meeting. No person shall be initiated in, or become a member of this Lodge if, on the ballot being taken, two black cubes shall be found against him.
Amending the By-Laws
(85) Any action of the Grand Lodge or edict of the Grand Master which may conflict with any part of these by-laws shall overrule these by-law and shall immediately serve as an amendment to these by-laws without any action required on the part of the Lodge. These by-laws or any part thereto may be amended or others substituted in their stead, only if a Notice of Motion has been given at a Regular meeting, which shall be entered in the minutes and inserted in, or transmitted to members with, the notice of the next Regular meeting when the proposed alteration shall come before the Lodge for discussion and vote, if appropriate. The assent of at least two-thirds of the members present shall be necessary for the adoption of such amendment, repeal, alteration, or substitution, which must then be submitted to the Grand Master for his approval before it becomes effective.
Lodge Seal & By-Laws
(86) These by-laws, when inserted in a book designated for that purpose, shall be signed by the Master and Secretary, and have the seal of the Lodge affixed.
(87) Each member at the time of his initiation or affiliation shall sign the official register, as a declaration of submission to the by-laws, of which one copy shall then be delivered to him.
(88) The seal that appears on the original signed copies of these by-laws shall be the official seal of the Lodge.
(89) If at any time there appears to be a conflict between the provisions of these by-laws and the Constitution, the Constitution shall prevail; and where these by-laws are silent on any matter or thing relating to the powers or duties of the Lodge, the provisions of the Constitution shall apply. Where no circumstance or provision is otherwise addressed or prescribed, the Master’s ruling shall prevail.
Penalty for Indiscretion
(90) No member or visiting Brother shall disclose or make known by any means whatsoever out of this Lodge any of the proceedings, or any of the decisions or business of any kind transacted within the Lodge, to anyone not a Mason, and no member or visitor shall presume in open Lodge, either at labour or refreshment, to make use of profane, irreverent or improper expressions or sentiments, or to introduce any conversation or remarks tending to cause dissension on partisan or sectarian subjects, under the penalty, if a member, of severe censure and reprimand, and if a visiting Brother, of not being permitted to visit this Lodge until after a unanimous vote of the Lodge for that purpose. On initiation of each candidate and on the joining of each Brother, the Master shall cause this article to be read so that no Brother ever after shall plead ignorance.
The by-laws as printed herein were ENACTED AND PASSED at a Regular meeting of Beaver Ionic Lodge No. 25, G.R.M., held in the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Wednesday, the first day of June, 2022.
Please treat this information as private and confidential.
Thank you Brother!