By-Laws and Rules and Regulations of Frederick T. Meyers Council No.189 (Amended March 30,, 2014 and Approved on.? Article I: Name and Communications The name of this Council shall be Frederick T. Meyers Council No.189 under the jurisdiction of the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America. There shall be four quarterly stated meetings of the Council each year. The fourth quarterly meeting shall be the annual meeting. Special meetings may be called by the Sovereign Master. A quorum consists of five members, one of whom must be the Sovereign Master or one of the Wardens in order to conduct business. Article II: Elections and Duties of Officers The elected officers of the Council are the Sovereign Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer and Secretary. The latter two can be one and the same person. They shall be elected at the Annual Meeting. No member shall be elected to any office unless he shall be present or has authorized some other Brother to accept the election for him. A member must have served as a Warden before being eligible to run for the Sovereign Master s position except by special dispensation.
A Senior or Junior Warden must present a paper to during his term of office prior to his election and installation into the Sovereign Master s chair. Starting in 2014, a brother must attend the AMD grand council at least once as a Junior or Senior Warden before being eligible to become Sovereign Master. The sitting Sovereign Master must attend the AMD grand council during his term. Section 4: The appointed officers of the Council shall be the Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Chaplain, Director of Ceremonies, Marshal and Tyler. All officers shall be installed at the annual meeting in December. Section 5: The Sovereign Master shall preside at all meetings, support and maintain the bylaws and rules and regulations of this council. He is to direct the Council in working toward the achievement of its mission to conduct responsible Masonic research, prepare authoritative papers for presentation to the council, and preserve the various ancient degrees entrusted to the Grand Council. The Sovereign Master during his term of office must attend the Annual Allied Masonic Degrees Conference on the date and place designated by the Grand Council. Section 6: The Senior Warden, in the absence of the Sovereign Master, shall assume his duties. In the absence of the Sovereign Master and Senior Warden, the Sovereign Master s duties will be performed by the Junior Warden. Section 7: The Treasurer shall receive all funds from the Secretary and give a report at the annual meeting. The Treasurer and a Supernumerary will be listed on the Council bank account. In the event the Treasurer is unable to perform his duties, a Supernumerary will remain in control of the bank account and then add control of the bank account to the new Treasurer once identified. The Treasurer will also make his books available for inspection for an annual financial audit. Section 8: The Secretary shall record all proceedings of the Council, receive all moneys due the Council and pay them to the Treasurer, give a report at the annual meeting, prepare timely annual returns to the Grand Council in accordance with its constitution, and forward such returns to the Grand Secretary. Officers jewels, charter, altar furnishings and other property of the Council shall remain in
the safe-keeping of the Secretary. Reading of Council minutes will be read and submitted to Council no later than the next scheduled meeting. The Secretary will have the discretion of reading Council minutes at the end of regular meeting if deemed necessary. Article III: Membership and Eligibility Membership shall consist of Brethren proposed by any member of the council and shall be limited to twenty-seven (27) in number by invitation only. Such proposal may be submitted at any meeting. All proposals shall be posted in the annual bulletin. Balloting on such proposals shall receive a clear ballot at the first meeting after the annual meeting of the council, before an invitation is extended. Membership shall be predicated on membership in good standing in a chapter of Royal Arch Masons. This limit shall be exclusive of emeriti, honorary, and plural members as prescribed by the Grand Council. Plural membership is by invitation only. Plural members must submit to the same rules, regulations and guidelines as regular members. Any qualified brethren may be proposed by any member of the Council in good standing when a vacancy exists. The names and qualifications of a proposed candidate must be offered to the council and communicated to all the members by the Secretary. If no written objections are received by the Sovereign Master or Secretary within 30 days of mailing, an invitation may be extended. Section 4: A proposed new member must agree to provide a written paper of his own work to the secretary within 180 days from the date of taking his obligation into our council. He is expected to deliver a paper to the Council within that same period of time, if the Sovereign Master s scheduling permits. That period can be extended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present. Section 5: A proposed member shall have no rights in the Council until he has been duly obligated. Such obligation must be taken within two meetings from the date of the invitation letter, unless extended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present.
Article IV: Membership and Continuing Qualifications To maintain membership in our council, a member must: 1. Attend at least two (2) stated meetings in a one (1) year period, unless excused by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present 2. Submit an additional written paper of his own work to the secretary no less than once every 2 years following his initial paper to the council 3. Attend the A.M.D. Conference of the Grand Council at least once every five (5) years 4. Not fail to pay the council annual dues for 2 years 5. Maintain a good standing status with a Royal Arch Chapter and a regular Blue Lodge 6. Abide by the bylaws, rules and regulations of the Frederick T. Meyers Council No.189 and the constitution of the Grand Council. Failure to abide by the requirements detailed in Section 1 under Article IV will result in being dropped from the rolls of Frederick T. Meyers Council No.189, unless excused by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership present, where applicable. Members subject to being dropped from the Council shall be notified in writing within sixty (60) days of the last council meeting. Membership in the Council may be terminated by submitting a letter of resignation to the Secretary, along with settlement of any dues, or other moneys due to the Frederick T. Meyers Council No.189.
Section 4: Reinstatement; A former member of the Frederick T. Meyers Council No.189 must be invited, voted upon, and re-initiated in order to re-join the Frederick T. Meyers Council No.189, provided all previous financial obligations to the Council have been met, that there are no objections to such readmission, and that there is an available opening in the membership ranks. Section 5: A dress code for the Stated Meeting shall be jacket and tie ( or Business Casual) (and an A.M.D. apron). On special occasions the dress code may be changed at the option of the Sovereign Master. Article V: Fees, Dues and Contributions The initial fee for a candidate or Dual Member in Frederick T. Meyers Council No.189 is $50 plus the current annual dues prorated on a quarterly basis. Dues cards for new members obligated in and after the quarter period shall expire at the end of the ensuing year. Members being elected Sovereign Master will be presented with a new Sovereign Master s apron and collar jewel at the Council s expense, returning his regular membership apron to the Council. Article VI: Amendments These By-Laws may be amended by a two-third (2/3) vote of all members present at any meeting provided that the Secretary has advised all members in good standing in writing at least thirty (30) days in advance of such intentions. Amendments shall become effective upon approval of the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America. Article 5 Amendment Balloting such proposals Shall receive a clear ballot at the first meeting after the annual meeting of Council before an installation is extended. All proposals shall be posted in the annual bulletin.