Chartered 1876

Incorporating all amendments up to April 12, 2004

ARTICLE I. The Lodge--Its Title and Meetings.

Section 1. The name and title of this Lodge is, "Newport Lodge, No. 118 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota."

Sec. 2. The authority of this Lodge is a charter granted on the thirteenth day of January, A.D. 1876 by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, to whose constitutions, rules and edicts the most implicit respect and obedience ever will be paid by this Lodge and its members.

Sec. 3. The stated communication of this Lodge shall be held on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 P.M. with the exception of July and August as months of darkness.

Sec. 4. Special communications may be called by the Master as provided for the purposes specified in Article XIII, Section G 13.10, of the General Regulations.

ARTICLE II. Membership.

Section 1. The members of this Lodge are those charter members who were duly named as such when the Lodge was constituted, all who have received or shall receive the degree of Master Masons herein (except those, if any, upon whom the degrees were conferred for another Lodge), and those, previously not affiliated, who have been duly admitted to membership herein. All who are now members shall immediately sign these by-laws, and all who are hereafter admitted may become such by signing the same.

Sec. 2. A demit shall be granted to any member of this Lodge, except the Master, or a Warden, upon his written application for the same; PROVIDED, his dues to date have been paid; AND PROVIDED FURTHER, that he is not under charges for any unmasonic conduct.

Sec. 3. Any member of this Lodge in good standing (except the Master or a Warden), whose dues are paid, who is clear on the books and who is free of charges may withdraw from membership by filing written notice, as provided by Article XVI, Section G 16.01, General Regulations.

ARTICLE III. Officers-Their Election and Duties.

Section 1. The elective officers of this Lodge are Master (whose title is Worshipful), Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer and Secretary, who shall be elected by ballot on the first stated communication in January annually, and a majority of all the votes cast shall be necessary to elect.

Sec. 2 The Master, immediately after his installation, shall appoint the following officers: Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Senior and Junior Stewards, Lodge Education Officer, Chaplain, Tyler, Marshall, and such other officers as may be required.

Sec. 3. The installation of the officers shall take place as soon as practicable; on or before the next stated communication, after their election or appointment.

Sec. 4. The Master and Wardens are a standing committee on charity, whose duty it shall be to attend to the necessities of members of this Lodge, or a distressed worthy Brother, their widows and orphans; and they are hereby authorized to draw on the funds of the Lodge for any sum not exceeding two hundred and fifty ($250) dollars in a given case between stated communications for charitable purposes.

Sec. 5. The Master shall appoint after his installation, a finance committee, consisting of three or more members , who shall examine the books and vouchers of the treasurer and secretary from time to time, and shall make a detailed report in writing of the financial affairs of the Lodge at the first stated communication in December annually. They shall also examine all bills and demands against the Lodge referred to them.

Sec. 6. The duties of the Master shall be such as are traditionally appropriate to his office, and set forth in the Constitution of the M.W. Grand Lodge of Minnesota, the Ancient Constitutions of the Craft, and Masonic usages.

Sec. 7. In the event of the death, or the absence from the jurisdiction either temporarily or permanently, of the Master, or of his inability for any reason to serve his Lodge, the Senior Warden and Junior Warden, in order, will succeed to his duties and prerogatives, except to install officers.

Sec. 8. The Treasurer shall receive all moneys from the Secretary, receipting for the same, and pay them out upon the order of the Master and the consent of the Lodge and attested by the Secretary with a voucher or order. He shall prepare a correct detailed statement of his official account with the Lodge and submit the same to the Lodge at the first stated communication in December annually. He shall deliver to his successor in office all books, papers and information in his possession concerning the financial condition of the Lodge, and shall pay over to his successor, upon his being installed, all moneys belonging to the Lodge.

Sec. 9. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep the records, and record all proceedings of the Lodge proper to be written; to receive all moneys on behalf of the Lodge, and pay them over to the Treasurer, taking his receipt for the same; to attest all orders of the Master upon the Treasurer, to keep a separate record of all continuing motions passed by the Lodge, to make out all reports to the M.W. Grand Lodge; and, at the close of his official term, to submit a full report in writing of au moneys received and orders drawn on the treasury; and for his services for each calendar year he shall receive such compensation as shall be fixed by a majority vote of the members present at the stated communication held during the preceding month of November.

Sec.10. The duties of all appointed officers shall be outlined by the Master.

Sec.11. The Master and Wardens of each Lodge shall be the Trustees as provided by Article XII, Section G 13.20(a)

ARTICLE IV. Petitions, Balloting and Advancement.

Section 1. All petitions for membership, degrees and affiliation must be in writing and shall contain all data required by Article XIV Section 14.01 of the General Regulations. Each petition must contain the names of two Master Masons in good standing, at least one of which must be a member of this Lodge, and the other may be a member of a Lodge recognized by the M.W. Grand Lodge of Minnesota, and who recommend applicant as a suitable person for membership or to receive the degrees. If no objection be raised, the petition shall be received and referred to a committee of three, who shall examine into the character or Masonic standing of the applicant and report at the next stated communication of the Lodge, or at any special communication, unless they ask and are granted further time by the Master.

Sec. 2. An applicant for membership shall not be present during the time that the Lodge is balloting upon his petition.

Sec. 3. Should an applicant for the degrees be rejected, the deposit fee should be returned to him, and the Master shall immediately draw an order therefor. Should he be elected and fail to avail himself of the election for one (1) year, unless for good and sufficient reasons the Lodge has previously extended the time, he shall not be entitled to the degrees, and the proceedings had shall be ineffective, leaving him at liberty to apply again.

Sec. 4. Dual or plural membership is permitted as provided by Article XIV, Section G 14.2 of the General Regulations.

Sec. 5. All balloting on petitions for membership or degrees must be by secret ballot, and it shall require an unanimous vote to elect.

Sec. 6. Every member of the Lodge present at the time the ballot is spread shall vote.

Sec. 7. Neither the second nor third degree shall be conferred until the applicant shall have proved his proficiency, by examination into the preceding degree at any stated or special communication.

ARTICLE V. Financial.

Section l. The fees for degrees shall be as follows:

With Petition $30.00

With Degree of Entered Apprentice 30.00

With Degree of Fellow Craft 30.00

With Degree of Master Mason 30.00

The fees for the degrees is inclusive of any and all assessments pursuant to the M.W. Grand Lodge Resolutions.

Each Petitioner for affiliation or for reinstatement or for restoration to membership shall pay any M.W. Grand Lodge assessments for the amount required pursuant to the M.W. Grand Lodge Resolutions and that said sum shall be paid in full before he becomes a member of this Lodge, except that if the petitioner be a Master Mason petitioning for restoration or reinstatement or affiliation and has previous to the time he presents his petition for restoration or reinstatement or affiliation, paid such assessment in full, such fact shall be stated in his petition, and no further payment of said assessment shall be required of him. Before such petitioner for affiliation, reinstatement or restoration shall become a Master Mason of a subordinate Lodge in Minnesota,, shall be required to pay, provided that such petitioner has not prior thereto paid for the benefit of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association the amount required pursuant to the M.W. Grand Lodge Resolutions.

Sec. 2. The dues of this Lodge shall be $40.75 per year plus M.W. Grand Lodge dues and assessments for each member, payable in advance, and a proportional amount prorated quarterly for each new member for the unexpired part of the Lodge year.

Sec. 3. The Lodge may at any stated communication by a two-thirds vote of the members present, relieve any poor brother who is unable to pay his dues, from paying the same, but such exemption does not absolve the Lodge from the payment of Grand Lodge dues.

Sec. 4. Any member in arrears for one year's dues may be stricken from the roll in the manner prescribed by the M.W. Grand Lodge.

Sec. 5. The Lodge may maintain a fund to be designated as a Building, Repair and Equipment fund.

Sec. 6. The Lodge shall establish an annual budget at the January stated communication for anticipated regular receipts and expenditures. The budget may include any other items that would impact the finances of the Lodge. The budget for the proceeding year shall be presented, and voted on, at the December stated communication. The Secretary and Treasurer may pay regular and or anticipated expenditures throughout the year that do not exceed 110% of the budgeted amount. Amounts more than 110% of the budgeted amount, or items not budgeted, shall be discussed and voted on at the next stated or special communication.

ARTICLE VI. Surrender of Property

Section 1. If the Lodge surrenders its charter, as provided in Article XV, Section G 15.06 of the General Regulations, or if it is revoked or forfeited by action of the Grand Lodge, the Master shall at once forward it to the Grand Secretary, together with all books, papers and records and personal property of the Lodge; if it owns or has an interest in any real estate, the same becomes the property of the Grand Lodge, through such surrender, revocation or forfeiture.

The officers, trustees or others, who may hold legal title thereto, must at once transfer and convey such real estate to the Grand Lodge by proper conveyances.

ARTICLE VII. Rules of Order and Order of Business.

Section 1. The order of business at stated communications shall be as follows, subject to the will of the Master:

1. Reading or publishing (distributing) minutes of last stated and all intervening communications.

2. Petitions for degrees and membership.

3. Reports of committees.

4. Balloting on petitions.

5. Unfinished business.

6. New business.

7. Work.

Sec. 2. All business of the Lodge must originate and be transacted at stated communications of the Lodge, except as provided, in Article 1, Section 4.

Sec. 3. The rules of order at all stated communications shall be these by-laws, the constitution, rules and edicts of the M.W. Grand Lodge, the Ancient Constitutions and Masonic usages.

Sec. 4. A majority vote shall decide all questions not otherwise provided for.

ARTICLE VIII. Amendments.

Section. 1. The whole of these by-laws, or any portion thereof, may be amended, or other substituted in their stead, at any stated communication: PROVIDED, that the Constitution of the M.W. Grand Lodge of Minnesota, the Ancient Constitution of the Order, the Landmarks of Masonry, and well established Masonic usages are not infringed; AND PROVIDED FURTHER, that all proposed amendments and substitutes shall be proposed in writing at a stated communication, read in open Lodge, and laid over one stated communication before a vote of the Lodge shall be taken on their adoption, and a two-thirds vote of the members present shall be necessary to adopt such amendments or substitute; PROVIDED FURTHER, that no amendment shall take effect until approved by the M.W. Grand Master. (Reference - See Article XIII, Section G13.32 of the General Regulations in Masonic Code of Minnesota.)