CHAPTER 27
Boards, Commissions, and Committees of the Grand Lodge
The mandatory boards,
commissions, and committees of the Grand Lodge are those required by law, and
shall consist of the number of members provided by law whom the Grand Master
shall nominate or appoint, and whose chairman he shall name except as otherwise
provided. The Mandatory boards, commissions, and committees of the Grand Lodge
shall be as follows: [3-1.4].
A. The Board of General Purposes. [Chapter 28]
B. The Board of Custodians. [17-5.2;
Chapter 29].
C. The Board of Publications. [34-20]
A. The Lodge Service Commission. [Chapter 31]
B. The Code Commission. [Chapter 33]
C. On
Subordinate Lodge Special Activities Commission. [Chapter
32]
A. On Masonic Jurisprudence. [34-1]
B. On Finance. [34-3]
C. On
Appeals. [34-6].
D. On Charters and Dispensations of Lodges. [34-8]
E On Fraternal Correspondence. [34-11]
F. On Charity. [34-12]
G. On Credentials. [34-13]
H. On Necrology. [34-13]
J. On Unfinished Business. [16-1.17; 34-16].
K. On Masonic and Eastern Star Home of
L. On The Masonic Home for Children at
M. On Miscellaneous Masonic Ceremonies. [34-19]
N. On
O. On Masonic Education. [Chapter 30]
P. On Masonic Public Relations. [34-22]
Special committees may be
created by either the Grand Lodge or the Grand Master. Such special committees
shall have only such powers as shall be conferred on them by either the Grand
Lodge or the Grand Master when they are created.
They shall perform with due
dispatch all duties assigned to them and report thereon to the Grand Lodge, or
to the Grand Master as ordered.
Unless otherwise specified
by the Grand Master or the Grand Lodge when creating the committee, each
special committee shall consist of five members, appointed from time to time by
the Grand Master to serve the Grand Lodge in its work and activities. Unless
otherwise specified by the Grand Master or the Grand Lodge when creating the
committee, the Grand Master shall name the chairman of each special committee.
[11-11; 13-2.7; 13-2.20]
REG. 27-3
ELIGIBILITY TO SERVE.
A brother to be eligible to
serve on any board, commission, or committee of this Grand Lodge shall be and
remain a member in good standing in a subordinate lodge of this Grand Lodge and
shall continue to be a resident of this state during his tenure. Failure to do
so will create a vacancy. [3-2; 28-1; 31-1.1; 33-1; 34-1; 34-19; 35-1]
REG. 27-4
BOARDS OF DIRECTORS.
The Board of Directors of
Masonic Home for Children at Oxford, Inc. shall consist of twelve members. The
Board of Directors of the Masonic and Eastern Star Home of
1. The following
officers of the Grand Lodge for the time being and during their respective
terms of office shall be members of the Boards of Directors of Masonic Home for
Children at Oxford, Inc. and the Masonic and Eastern Star Home of
The Grand Master, who shall
be Chairman
The Deputy Grand Master
The Senior Grand Warden
A. In addition there shall be nine qualified
members nominated by the Board of General Purposes and elected by the Grand
Lodge.
B. At each Annual Communication the Board of
General Purposes shall nominate three members, each of whom shall serve for
three years when elected by the Grand Lodge.
C. In the event of a vacancy on a Board by
death or otherwise, the Grand Master shall fill the vacancy until the next
Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, when the vacancy shall be filled for
the unexpired term on nomination of the Board of General Purposes and election
by the Grand Lodge.
2. No member of
these Boards shall serve as a director of both corporations at the same time
except
3. No member of these Boards shall succeed himself or serve
as a member of the Board on which he serves until twelve months shall have
elapsed since his last term of service expired, provided, a member appointed or
elected to fill an unexpired term of not more than twelve months will be eligible
for election to a full three-year term.
4. Not more than one member of either Board shall have as
his legal place of residence the same city or county, except
5. The Junior
Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge shall be an observer at meetings of both Boards
by virtue of his office, and all of his expenses in conjunction therewith shall
be borne by the Grand Lodge.
6. With respect
to the Masonic and Eastern Star Home of
The Grand Master-elect
shall promptly nominate all members of boards, commissions, and committees who
must be confirmed by the Grand Lodge so that it can act thereon before the
annual communication is closed except such nominations as may be
provided for in Regulation 27-4, or otherwise provided for. [28-2.2;
34-6]
REG. 27-6
APPOINTMENTS BY THE GRAND MASTER.
Within thirty days after
the close of the communication at which he is elected, the Grand Master elect
shall appoint those mandatory committees provided for in Regulation 27-1 which do
not require confirmation by the Grand Lodge. (This regulation amended,
effective 4/29/2000)
Except as otherwise
provided the following provisions shall govern all boards, commissions, and
committees.
1. All term of
the boards, commissions, and committees shall end and begin with the
installation of the
2. They
shall assemble at such time and place, and submit their respective reports as
the Grand Master may direct.
3. Their reports
shall be made from day to day immediately after the grand officers have made
their reports, at such other times as the Grand Master may call for them, and
shall be in writing. [1-1.3; 2-6.7; 36-10.5]
4. Their actual
and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, other than
those expenses incurred while in attendance at the annual communication of the
Grand Lodge shall be paid by the Grand Lodge, subject to approval by the Grand
Master or his representative designated for that purpose.
5. No member of a
board, commission, or committee shall receive compensation for his services as
such member except as provided by law nor shall he receive expenses as such
member, and in addition thereto, receive per diem and mileage in any other
capacity for attendance at the Grand Lodge. [15-1.9; 21-4; 29-3]
6. A board,
commission, committee shall not consider any matter until it has been offered
in the Grand Lodge and duly referred to the committee except matters referred
to the committee in recess of the Grand Lodge by the Grand Master or unless
otherwise provided by law. [13-2.15; 27-3]
7. Any board, commission,
or committee may meet during the recess of the Grand Lodge when authorized to
do so by the Grand Master or by law.
8. Unless
otherwise authorized by the Grand Master or by law, a board, commission, or
committee consisting of more than two members shall act only by a majority of
its members present at a proper meeting, and not by correspondence. [28-1; 28-6; 29-3; 34-1; 34-3]
REG. 27-8
GRAND MASTER EX-OFFICIO CHAIRMAN.
The Grand Master, if
present at the meeting, shall be ex-officio chairman of all boards,
commissions, and committees consisting of more than one member, except the Committee
on Finance, the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence, a Trial Commission, and the
Committee on Appeals.
In his absence the chairman
previously named for the group shall serve and in the absence of both, a
chairman pro tempore shall be selected by the members present to serve
for that meeting only. [13-2.20; 27-4; Chapter
34]