TALL CEDAR NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF FOREST OFFICERS Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America November 2016
This page intentionally left blank. of Forest Officers 1
NOMINATION and ELECTION of OFFICERS Nominations: GTC: (1 Rap) We are ready for the report of the Nominating Committee. NOMINATING COMMITTEE CHM.: The following names are placed in nomination for offices in Forest No. for the coming year. For GTC For SDGTC For JDGTC For Scribe For Treasurer _ For Trustees GTC: I will now accept nomination from the floor for the various offices of this Forest for the coming year. GTC: The Name of has been placed in Nomination for Grand Tall Cedar. Are there any further nominations for this office? Hearing no further nominations, I declare the nominations for Grand Tall Cedar closed. (1 Rap) GTC: The Name of has been place in Nomination for Senior Deputy Grand Tall Cedar. Are there any further nominations for this office? Hearing no further nominations, I declare the nominations for Senior Deputy Grand Tall Cedar closed. (1 Rap) of Forest Officers 2
GTC: The Name of has been placed in nomination for Junior Deputy Grand Tall Cedar. Are there any further nominations for this office? Hearing no further nominations, I declare the nominations for Junior Deputy Grand Tall Cedar closed. (1 Rap) GTC: The Name of has been placed in nomination for Scribe. Are there any further nominations for this office? Hearing no further nomination, I declare the nominations for Scribe closed. (1 Rap) GTC: The Name of has been placed in nomination for Treasurer. Are there any further nominations for this office? Hearing no further nominations, I declare the nominations for Treasurer closed. (1 Rap) GTC: The Name(s) of has been placed in nomination for Trustees for years. Are there any further nominations for this office? Hearing no further nominations, I declare the nominations for Trustee closed. (1 Rap) (When electing a Scribe/Treasurer in lieu of both offices substitute the Office of Scribe/Treasurer for both offices.) ELECTION: (The meeting must be properly tiled prior to opening and only those with valid credentials shall be permitted to vote. Prior to the election, the Scribe shall have prepared ballots with space provided for several candidates for each office. The Grand Tall Cedar shall appoint tellers to hand out and Collect the ballots. They shall make their count and report the votes cast.) of Forest Officers 3
GTC: I will accept a motion that the Scribe be instructed to cast a ballot in favor of the unopposed candidates. (Motion made and seconded) All those in favor of the motion say Aye, Opposed, No. Ayes have it; so ordered. Brother Scribe, you will cast a collective ballot for the unopposed offices. GTC: The Tellers will now distribute the ballots for the contested offices to all of those with proper credentials. (Current year membership card of the Forest and current year membership card for Masonic Lodge) GTC: The members of Forest No. _will mark their selection and deposit their ballots in the ballot box. GTC: Have all the members balloted? The Tellers will collect and count the ballots. TELLER: Grand Tall Cedar, the ballot count is complete and we find the following totals: (the teller will read the results for each office giving the total vote count and those for each nominee) of Forest Officers 4
GTC: The following have been elected as officers of this Forest for the coming year. They will be installed by the District Deputy Supreme Tall Cedar on (date) at (time & place). As Grand Tall Cedar: As Senior Deputy GTC: As Junior Deputy GTC: As Scribe: As Treasurer: As Trustees: GTC: I hereby declare the election of officers of Forest No for the ensuing year closed. of Forest Officers 5
INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS OF CONSTITUENT FORESTS (The District Deputy Supreme Tall Cedar or his designate shall conduct the installation. Any Officer not present may be installed by proxy. The investment of an Officer with the jewel and pyramid of his Office may be performed by anyone chosen by the newly elected Officer.) (District Deputies should memorize his work.) DDSTC: (The DDSTC shall call for the present Grand Tall Cedar and address him as follows.) You are about to retire from the highest office in your Forest. I would like to join with your Brother Officers and congratulate you on your success. When you step down, do not step out, but be always ready and willing to help and assist whenever called upon. It is my sincerest hope that you will strive for greater height in Cedarism, and for doing this, you will have done your part in the promotion and growth of Tall Cedarism in general. We thank you for all your efforts, for all your services, and for being an outstanding Cedar. You may be seated. DDSTC: The elected Officers for, of Forest No. will present themselves for Installation as their names are called. of Forest Officers 6
(The newly elected Grand Tall Cedar, Senior Deputy Grand Tall Cedar and Junior Deputy Grand Tall Cedar, Scribe, Treasurer, and Trustee(s) will present themselves in order before the installing Officer. They will form per the following diagram.) REAR OF ROOM TRUSTEES SCRIBE TREASURER JDGTC SDGTC GTC ALTAR WITH BIBLE INSTALLING OFFICER FRONT OF ROOM (The Elected Officers to serve the Forest will assemble as shown in the above diagram. The installing Officer will call the Officers to be installed. After the Elected Officers have been installed, the Appointed Officers will be assembled and brought to the Altar in their sequence as called for in the ceremony, from left to right. After being installed, the Appointed Officers will be seated in their usual positions.) of Forest Officers 7
Installation of the Grand Tall Cedar: DDSTC: (To the newly-elected Grand Tall Cedar) Tall Cedar, you have been elected Grand Tall Cedar of this Forest for the ensuing year. The duties of the Grand Tall Cedar are numerous, exacting, and important. You are to preside over the meetings of the Forest and shall guide and rule with a firm and impartial hand. You are to be governed first by the Constitution, By-laws, Rules, Regulations, and Directives of the Supreme Forest, and second by the By-Laws of your own Forest, and shall do nothing that will conflict with any of them. You are the Custodian of the Charter (or Dispensation) and the Rituals. The Charter (or Dispensation) must be displayed at every meeting of the Forest. At the end of your term, which shall begin on the first day of January and shall end on the thirty-first day of December next following, and after your successor has been installed, your term extending, if necessary, until that event has occurred, you shall turn over to him without delay the Charter (or Dispensation), Rituals and all other books and papers pertaining to the office. You must be diligent to avoid and prevent internal dissension, and to further the prosperity and growth of Tall Cedarism in general. To this end, you must see that our Ritual and Work are presented as fully and correctly as possible. You are responsible for the financial welfare of your Forest and are expected to keep it in a prosperous condition. You are required to call at least one full ceremonial meeting (Prologue, Royal Court and Sidonian Degree) in each year. In accepting this Office, do you promise to perform these duties to the best of your ability? of Forest Officers 8
GTC: I do. DDSTC: You will now be invested with the jewel and pyramid of your office. INSTALLING OFFICER: (To the newly-elected Senior and Junior Deputy Grand Tall Cedar) Tall Cedars and, you have been duly elected Senior Deputy Grand Tall Cedar and Junior Deputy Grand Tall Cedar respectively, of this Forest for the ensuing year. It is your duty to help and assist the Grand Tall Cedar in guiding and ruling the Forest, and in all his work for its prosperity and advancement. Your term of office coincides with that of your Grand Tall Cedar. In accepting these offices, do you each promise to perform your duties to the best of your ability? SDGTC: I do. JDGTC: I do. DDSTC: You will now be invested with the jewel and pyramid of your office. DDSTC: (to the newly elected Scribe) Tall Cedar, you have been duly elected Scribe of this Forest for the ensuing year. You are to keep a full and accurate record of all the proceedings of the Forest and to give due and timely notice of all meetings to the members, as directed by the Grand Tall Cedar. You are to keep an accurate record of each member and shall of Forest Officers 9
collect all fees, dues and other money due the Forest, and transfer the same immediately to the Treasurer, taking his receipt therefore. At all times, your books must be open for inspection by the proper officers. At the end of your term, which will begin on the first day of January and shall end on the thirty-first day of December next following, and after your successor has been installed, your term extending, if necessary, until that event has occurred, you shall turn over to him without delay all books, records, accounts, papers and property of every kind belonging to the Forest. At all times, you are to give hearty cooperation and assistance to all your Brother Officers in their work for the Forest. In accepting this Office, do you promise to perform these duties to the best of your ability? Scribe: I do. DDSTC: You will now be invested with the jewel and pyramid of your Office. DDSTC: (to the newly elected Treasurer) Tall Cedar you have been duly elected Treasurer of this Forest for the ensuing year. It is your duty to receive from the Scribe all money collected by him for the Forest, giving him a receipt therefore, and to pay out the same only upon the written order of the proper Officers. At all times, your books must be open for inspection by the proper Officers. At the end of your term, which will begin on the first day of January and shall end on the thirty-first day of December next following, and after your successor has been installed, your term extending if necessary, until that event has occurred, you shall turn over to him of Forest Officers 10
without delay all books, accounts, papers, and property of every kind belonging to the Forest. It is an Office of responsibility and requires great care to avoid mistakes and errors. In accepting this Office, do you promise to perform your duties to the best of your ability? TREASURER: I do. DDSTC: You will now be invested with the jewel and pyramid of your Office. DDSTC: (To the newly- elected Scribe/Treasurer) Tall Cedar, you have been duly elected Scribe/Treasurer of this Forest for the ensuing year. You are to keep a full and accurate record of all the proceedings of the Forest and to give due and timely notice of all meetings to the members, as directed by the Grand Tall Cedar. You are to keep an accurate record of each member and shall collect all fees, dues and other money due the Forest, and pay out the same only upon the written order of the proper Officers. At all times your books must be open for inspection by the Proper Officers. At the end of your term, which will begin on the first day of January and shall end on the thirty-first day of December next following, and after your successor has been installed, your term extending, if necessary, until that event has occurred, you shall turn over to him without delay all books, records, accounts, papers, and property of every kind belonging to the Forest. It is an office of responsibility and requires great care to avoid mistakes and errors. In accepting this Office, do you promise to perform your duties to the best of your ability? of Forest Officers 11
SCRIBE/ TREASURER: I do. DDSTC: You will now be invested with the jewel and pyramid of your Office. DDSTC: (To the newly- elected Trustee) Tall Cedar, you have been duly elected a Trustee of this Forest for a term of 3 years. As a Trustee, you are the custodian of the property of the Forest, and of all securities and invested funds belonging to it. You shall make investments only as directed by the Forest and only in such securities as are allowed by law for investment of trust funds. At all times, your books and accounts must be open for inspection by the Grand Tall Cedar and the Finance or Executive Committee. In accepting this office, do you promise to perform your duties to the best of your ability? Trustee: I do. DDSTC: You will now be invested with the jewel and pyramid of your Office. DDSTC: The Guide will conduct the new Officers to their respective stations. (After the Guide conducts the new Officers to their stations the DDSTC shall pass the gavel to the new Grand Tall Cedar who shall assume the chair and immediately announce his appointments for the ensuing year and proceed to install them.) of Forest Officers 12
GTC: Brothers of Forest, I have appointed the following Tall Cedars to serve as Officers of this Forest for the ensuing year. As their names are called, they will present themselves before me for installation. GTC: For: Preceptor, Tall Cedar Guide, Tall Cedar Chaplain, Tall Cedar Sentinel, Tall Cedar Chief Ranger, Tall Cedar Historian, Tall Cedar Chief Sidonian, Tall Cedar GTC: Tall Cedars, you are appointed to Offices in this Forest for the ensuing year. It is to you, as well as the Elected Officers, that I confidently look for support and assistance in the work and growth of the Forest. Without the loyalty and hearty cooperation of all its Officers, the Forest cannot achieve the success, which is its rightful desire. Your duties are of importance. The Preceptor is the exponent of all ritualistic work. The Guide is to meet and introduce visitors and assist in Initiations, and the conferring of degrees. The Chaplain shall pronounce the Invocation and Benediction at the opening and closing of the Forest. The Sentinel shall strictly guard the door and allow no one to enter without the password and proper credentials. of Forest Officers 13
The duties of all other appointed Officers are of no less importance in the operation of the Forest and your commitment to the duties of the Office is required. In accepting these Offices, do you each promise to perform your duties to the best of your ability? APPOINTED OFFICERS: I do. (Each will answer) (The GTC-ELECT now returns gavel to DDSTC.) DDSTC: The Officers for the ensuing year shall rise and the Chaplain will offer a prayer. (3 Raps) Cedars remove your Pyramid. Chaplain: Prayer (1 Rap) DDSTC: In the name of the Supreme Forest, Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America, I proclaim the elected and appointed Officers duly installed for the ensuing year. (The DDSTC returns the gavel to the current GTC) GTC: This concludes the installation of the new Officers. of Forest Officers 14