In the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two.
An Act to incorporate the officers and members of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Maine.
SEC 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, That Charles Fox, Robert P. Dunlap, Lawrence Sprague, Erastus Olney, William P. Davis, with their associates and successors, be, and they herby are incorporated into a body politic, by the name of the officers and members of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Maine; with power to sue and be sued; to have a common seal, and to change the same; to make any by-laws for the management of their affairs, not repugnant to the laws of this State, nor to ancient masonic usages; to take and hold for charitable and benevolent users, any real estate to the value of twenty thousand dollars, and any personal estate to the value of fifty thousand dollars, and give and grant, or bargain and sell the same; and with all the privileges usually granted to other societies instituted for purposes of charity and beneficence.
SEC 2. Be it further enacted, That the first meeting of said corporation, shall be holden at such time and place, and notified in such manner as the majority of the persons herein named may direct.
SEC 3. Be it further enacted, That the powers granted by this act may be
enlarged, restrained, or repealed, at the pleasure of the Legislature.
(This act passed January 19, 1822.)
NOTE. -- By act of the State Legislature in 1935 amendment was passed increasing the original authorization on real estate $20,000. to $50,000. and personal property from $50,000. to $200,000.
NOTE. -- By act of the State Legislature in 1977 amendment was passed increasing the original authorization on real estate $50,000. to $200,000. and personal property from $200,000. to $500,000.
NOTE. -- By act of the State Legislature (1977 - effective 1-1-78) 13-B M. R. S. A. Sections 201, 202 the authorization on holding property become unlimited if the non-profit Corporation elected to file a biennial report pursuant to 13-B M. R. S. A. Section 1301. Such report was filed with the Secretary of State on October 22, 1979.
SECTION 1. Name and Style. This Grand Body shall be known as "The Officers and Members of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Maine" and shall have exclusive jurisdiction of Capitular Masonry in the State of Maine.
SECTION 2. Purposes. The Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Maine is an educational and charitable institution organized for the purpose of disseminating the principles and ethics of Capitular Masonry; the administration of funds established, or accepted, for charitable and such other specific benevolent purposes, as are in accord with Masonic principles and practices, and in conformity with the laws of the State of Maine, with their bestowment being limited only by the necessities of the unfortunate, whoever they may be, and the ability of this Grand Body; Capitular Masonry knowing no other bounds.
SECTION 3. Composition. This Grand Chapter shall consist of the following officers and members, whose rank and title shall be as herein set forth, to wit:
Also of
Together with
All of whom shall be entitled to vote as members of this Grand Chapter, the Grand Sentinel excepted.(Adopted in 1992)
SECTION 4. Votes. Each member of this Grand Chapter, except the Grand Sentinel and the Grand Organists, shall have one vote and one only, in his own right; provided, however, that the regularly installed High Priests, Kings and Scribes of Subordinate Chapters may be represented in Grand Chapter by a Companion of his Chapter, who shall hold a commission as a proxy issued under the hands of his principal which shall entitle said proxy to sit and vote as a temporary member of this Grand Chapter.
A proxy shall not represent more than one Chapter officer, and a commission so issued shall not extend beyond the next Grand Chapter convocation succeeding the date thereof.
SECTION 5. Membership. Every member of this Grand Chapter shall be a member of a subordinate Chapter under this jurisdiction.
SECTION 6. Additional Officers. The Grand Chapter shall provide by law for a Board of Grand Trustees of the funds of the Grand Chapter, and for such additional officers, in addition to the constitutional officers, as may be deemed expedient for the dispatch of its business.
SECTION 7. Convocations. This Grand Chapter shall hold a stated convocation annually, at such time and place as shall be voted by Grand Chapter in stated convocation. The Grand High Priest may, at any time, order a special convocation, to be holden at such time and place as he may think proper; and shall call a special convocation upon the request, under seal, of ten Chapters where cited conditions constitute an emergency. Not less than ten days' notice shall be given of the holding of any special convocation.
SECTION 8. Quorum. A representation of ten subordinate Chapters shall be necessary to constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may meet and adjourn, from time to time, until a constitutional quorum be present.
SECTION 9. Opening. At the time appointed for the convocation of the Grand Chapter, before the transaction of any business, a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons shall be opened in due or ample form.
SECTION 10. Presiding Officer. The Grand High Priest, if present, shall preside at all convocations of the Grand Chapter; in his absence the Deputy Grand High Priest, Grand King, and Grand Scribe shall succeed in the order named.
SECTION 1. Election and Installation. The Grand High Priest, Deputy Grand High Priest, Grand King, Grand Scribe, Grand Treasurer, Grand Secretary, a Committee of Finance, and three companions as members of the Board of Grand Trustees shall be elected by ballot at the Annual Convocation. The companion having a majority of votes shall be declared elected. The committee of Finance shall consist of three members, each to serve a term of three years. Effective with the adoption of this amendment one member shall be elected for one year, one for two years and one for three years. Thereafter one member shall be elected annually for a term of three years, unless other vacancies occur. Three companions shall be elected as members of the Board of Grand Trustees. They shall serve a term of three years, one member to be elected each year, unless other vacancies occur. All other officers and committees shall be appointed by the Grand High Priest after his installation.
The officers shall be installed at the Annual Convocation as soon after their election or appointment as may be convenient, provided if any officer be not present at the Annual Convocation he may be installed in any open subordinate Chapter by some Companion specially authorized by the Grand Chapter or by the Grand High Priest. The installing officer shall cause a certificate of installation to be transmitted to the Grand Secretary, who shall note the same on his record. No officer can be installed by proxy.
SECTION 2. Obligation. Each officer of the Grand Chapter, and of all subordinate Chapters under this jurisdiction, before entering upon the duties of this office, shall take the following obligation:
"I _____________ do promise and swear that I will faithfully perform the duties of the office to which I have been called, to the best of my abilities, and will support and maintain the Constitution and By-laws of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Maine, and the Constitution of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, International, and the ancient usages and landmarks of the fraternity, so far as my knowledge and ability will allow. So help me God."
SECTION 3. Eligibility. No more than one of the first four Grand Officers shall be taken from any one Chapter; nor shall any of these first four officers during his continuance in office in the Grand Chapter, be the High Priest, King or Scribe of a subordinate Chapter.
No Companion shall be eligible for election to a constitutional office unless he be a Past High Priest of a subordinate Chapter under this jurisdiction.
There shall be an order of precedence for the sake of continuity for the four top elective Offices, beginning with the Grand Scribe, to Grand King, to Deputy Grand High Priest to Grand High Priest. The normal term of continuance in each of these offices shall be one year. The Grand Scribe having served a one year term will be eligible for advancement to the office of Grand King; the Grand King having filled his office for one year shall be eligible to be advanced to the office of Deputy Grand High Priest; and the Deputy Grand High Priest having fulfilled the duties of that office for the term of one year shall be eligible for advancement to the office of Grand High Priest. The vacancy created in the office of Grand Scribe by this succession of Officers shall be filled by the election of an eligible Companion by the majority of votes cast at the Annual Convocation. Candidates for this office shall have been presented by recommendation of the subordinate Chapter of which they are a member; said recommendation must have been filed at the office of the Grand Secretary on or before the first day of March preceding the Grand Convocation of the Grand Chapter at which he hopes to be elected. Provided that: this shall not exclude any Companion of this Grand Jurisdiction who has been previously elected, installed and served a one year term in either the office of Grand King or that of Grand Scribe, before the adoption of this change, from being allowed as a candidate for the office of Grand Scribe.(Adopted in 2000)
SECTION 4. Succession. In the case of death, or permanent removal from the State of the Grand High Priest, the Deputy Grand High Priest, shall ex officio, exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the Grand High Priest, as herein provided, until his successor is elected; and during the absence of the Grand High Priest or because of his physical inability to perform the duties of his office, he shall exercise and perform like powers and duties.
In case of the death, permanent removal from the State, or absence, of both the Grand High Priest and the Deputy Grand High Priest, the Grand King, ex officio, shall preside over the Grand Chapter and shall otherwise possess all of the powers of the office of Grand High Priest; in the absence, as above, of the Grand High Priest, Deputy Grand High Priest, and Grand King, the Grand Scribe, ex officio, shall possess all of the powers of the office of Grand High priest. In the absence of all these four officers, then the Junior Past Grand High Priest for the time being shall possess all of the powers of the office of Grand High Priest; and if there be no Past Grand High Priest available, then a District Deputy Grand High Priest whose services are available shall for the time being possess all of the powers of the office of Grand High Priest. In any of these cases, unless he be a Past Grand High Priest, the presiding officer shall wear the jewel of the Deputy Grand High Priest.(Adopted in 2000)
SECTION 5. No Election. Should any casualty at any time prevent the annual election of officers, the several officers shall retain their respective offices until their successors are duly elected, qualified and installed. Should a vacancy occur in the line during the year it may be filled by advancing the officer from the next lower station. In the event that more than one vacancy exists at the time of the Annual Convocation, then each of them shall be filled by elections to said vacancies at that
time. The Grand High Priest shall have power to fill any vacancy that may occur in the offices of the Grand Chapter, pro tempore, until the next annual convocation.(Adopted in 2000)
SECTION 1. Jurisdiction and Powers. This Grand Chapter has the sole superintendence and government of the several Chapters of Royal Arch Masons, and Lodges of Mark, Past and Most Excellent Masters, within the State of Maine, with authority to settle all controversies that may arise between them; to assign the limits of their respective jurisdictions; to give such advice and instruction as may seem most conducive to their peace and to the advancement of the Royal Art; to review and confirm or annul their decisions. It has power to constitute new Chapters of Royal Arch Masons, with the right to open and hold lodges of Mark, Past and Most Excellent Masters; and when expedient revoke, suspend or annul the same. For violation of its laws, it may reprimand, suspend or expel any of its members; and it may require from the subordinate Chapters such dues and fees as it may deem necessary for its support.
SECTION 2. Duties of the Grand Council. It is the duty of the Grand High Priest, Deputy Grand High Priest, Grand King, Grand Scribe and District Deputy Grand High Priests, who compose the Grand Council, severally to improve themselves in the sublime arts and work of Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master and Royal Arch Mason. They, together with the Past Grand High Priests, shall meet at least once in every year for the purpose of consulting together and securing among themselves uniformity in the work and lectures of the several degrees, and perfect procedures for the Operation of Grand Chapter and the constituent Chapters.
It shall be the duty of each member of the Grand Council, at least once in each Masonic year, to visit and preside in the several Chapters to him assigned, and give such lectures and instructions as will tend to a proper and uniform mode of working, always adhering to the ancient landmarks of the Order; and their actual necessary traveling expenses for such visits shall be paid by the Grand Chapter.
SECTION 3. Duties of the Grand High Priest. It shall be the duty of the Grand
High Priest to require strict conformity to Masonic law, usage and custom on the
part of all officers and members; to exercise all powers and prerogatives, as properly
pertain to the office, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution
and By-laws, and perform and discharge the executive functions of the
Grand Chapter, when it shall not be in session. He shall make a report in full of
all official activities at the annual convocation.
SECTION 4. Duties of Other Grand Council Officers. The Deputy Grand High
Priest, Grand King, Grand Scribe and District Deputy Grand High Priests shall
severally perform the duties of their respective offices according to established
usage, actively assisting the Grand High Priest in the proper government of the
Royal Craft, and counseling and supporting him in every laudable undertaking.
They shall submit a report of their official activities to the Grand High Priest on
or before the fifteenth (15) day of April annually and at such other times as
requested.
SECTION 5. Duties of the Grand Treasurer. The Grand Treasurer shall receive
and have custody and charge of all the property and funds of the Grand Chapter.
He shall, before entering upon the duties of his office, give bond with surety or
sureties to the satisfaction of the Grand High Priest and Finance Committee,
conditioned for the faithful discharge of his trust. He shall deposit Grand
Chapter funds in such depositories as shall be approved by The Grand High
Priest and Finance Committee, and disburse said funds for bills approved by the
Finance Committee, or for appropriations made by the Grand Chapter, or Board
of Grand Trustees charged with the distribution of the charitable funds of the
Grand Chapter, when attested by the Grand Secretary.
He shall render an account at the annual convocation, and at such other times as may be required by the Grand High Priest or Finance Committee, of all moneys by him received and paid, with a schedule of the property and funds of the Grand Chapter. He shall deliver to his successor in office all the funds and other property of the Grand Chapter entrusted to him, taking duplicate receipts therefore, one of which he shall deposit with the Grand Secretary.
SECTION 5A. Duties of the Assistant Grand Treasurer. In the case of death,
permanent removal or temporary incapacity, the Assistant Grand Treasurer shall
exercise all the powers and duties of the Grand Treasurer as listed in ARTICLE III,
Section 5, until such time as the Treasurer returns to full status or a new treasurer is installed.(adopted in 2006)
SECTION 6. Duties of the Grand Secretary. The Grand Secretary shall attend
upon the convocations of the Grand Chapter, observe and record the proceedings
thereof, and preserve the same in suitable books kept for that purpose.
He shall give notice of all convocations of the Grand Chapter by addressing a circular to the several officers and permanent members thereof, and one to each Chapter.
He shall send a notice to each Chapter which shall state the time the annual returns must be made and the dues paid.
He shall receive all petitions, applications and appeals, and lay them before the Grand High Priest.
He shall keep a list of all Chapters under this jurisdiction according to seniority.
He shall furnish all committees with records and information necessary for their work, when requested; and record all reports of committees which may be accepted by the Grand Chapter.
He shall at the close of each Grand Convocation, collect and arrange the proceedings, cause them to be printed and transmitted to the several Chapters in the jurisdiction, and elsewhere as the Grand Chapter shall order.
He shall forward to each Chapter and to each member of the Grand Chapter such number of the copies of the edicts and regulations adopted by the Grand Chapter, including a list of the Grand Officers for the time being, as shall be directed by the Grand High Priest; and of all other such transactions of the Grand Chapter as may be necessary for the information and regulation of the subordinate Chapters.
He shall be the Librarian of the Grand Chapter, and safely keep the books and papers belonging to the library, and be responsible for the same; and he shall enter in a book kept for that purpose the title and number of all such books and papers.
He shall have the custody of the Seal of the Grand Chapter, and affix the same to all official acts.
He shall annually communicate to the Grand Secretaries of the several Grand Chapters recognized by this Grand Chapter, and to the General Grand Secretary of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, International, a list of the Grand Officers, and all such other matters as may be deemed necessary for the mutual benefit and information of said Grand Chapters.
He shall render a written report of his official acts during the Grand Chapter year at the annual convocation.
During intervals between convocations of the Grand Chapter he shall, at his discretion, answer all correspondence addressed on the subject of Capitular Masonry.
He may, with the consent of the Grand High Priest, appoint an assistant secretary to serve during the convocations of the Grand Chapter, whose duty it shall be to assist in keeping the minutes of the transactions.
SECTION 6A. Duties of the Assistant Grand Secretary. In the case of death,
permanent removal or temporary incapacity, the Assistant Grand Secretary shall
exercise all the powers and duties of the Grand Secretary as listed in ARTICLE III,
Section 6, until such time as the Grand Secretary returns to full status or a new
Secretary is installed.(adopted in 2006)
SECTION 7. Duties of Appointive Officers. The appointive officers shall perform such duties as by usage pertain to their respective offices, or as prescribed by law.
SECTION 1. During Convocations. The Grand Chapter may punish
summarily, as for contempt, any offense committed in its presence, or by any member while in attendance upon a convocation thereof.
SECTION 2. Grand Chapter Officers. The Grand Chapter has exclusive power
to try and punish its own officers for any offense.
SECTION 3. Subordinate Chapters. Any Chapter which shall act with
contumacy to the authority of the Grand High Priest, or the Grand Chapter; or be
willfully disobedient to the Constitution and Laws of the Grand Chapter; or depart
from the original plan of Capitular Masonry; or neglect to meet in a stated
convocation for one year; or neglected to be represented in Grand Chapter for three
years; or neglect to make annual returns, or pay its obligations to Grand Chapter
for two years; or neglect to accept and work petitioned material for the degrees for
an unreasonable time, shall be guilty of an offense against the Body of Capitular
Masonry, and may be punished in such manner and to such extent as shall be
decreed and ordered by the Grand Chapter.
SECTION 4. Royal Arch Masons. Any Royal Arch Mason, or any brother who
has been advanced to any of the Capitular degrees, who shall willfully violate the
Moral Law, or the Constitution and By-laws of this Grand Chapter, or the Bylaws
of the Chapter of which he shall be a member, or be guilty of an offense involving
moral turpitude; or disregard his obligations, and the established usages of the
Fraternity; or do any act which will tend to impair the purity of Royal Arch
Masonry shall be guilty of an offense against the Body of Capitular Masonry, and
shall be punished in such manner as is decreed and ordered by the Grand Chapter.
SECTION 5. Jurisdiction of Offenses. The Grand Chapter shall have
jurisdiction of offenses involving suspension or expulsion, except the suspension
from membership for the non-payment of dues.
SECTION 6. Trial Commission. For the trial of offenses against Masonic law
the Grand High Priest shall appoint a Trial Commission, from the membership of
the Grand Chapter for the hearing of charges against any Royal Arch Mason, or a
brother of a Capitular degree, and the rules and forms of procedure in connection
with such hearing shall be as established by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of
Maine for the trial of offenses against the Body of Masonry. Said Trial
Commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the Grand Chapter
which shall determine and fix such penalty as it may deem right and proper.
SECTION 7. Restoration. A Companion who has been expelled or indefinitely
suspended from Capitular Masonry can only be restored on a written petition to
the Grand Chapter. Said petition shall be filed in the office of the Grand Secretary,
not less than sixty days prior to the holding of an annual convocation, shall have a
favorable recommendation from the Chapter of which he was a member, and
accompanied by satisfactory evidence of his good standing as a Master Mason;
provided, should the Chapter of which he was a member having become extinct,
he may be restored upon the recommendation of the Chapter nearest the location
of the extinct Chapter, and paying to the Grand Secretary any dues that may have
been due the defunct Chapter.
SECTION 8. Appeals. The Grand Chapter shall hear all appeals upon the record, unless for special reasons it shall determine to hear other testimony; and, according to immemorial usage, may confirm, modify or reverse any proceedings appealed from, and render such final judgment and penalty as seems just.
SECTION 9. Review of Proceedings. The Grand Chapter shall review the
proceedings in all cases in which the penalty of suspension or expulsion is
recommended, with full power of confirmation, modification or reversal.
SECTION 10. Penalties. The penalty to be inflicted for Masonic offenses is
reprimand, suspension, or expulsion. When a penalty of suspension is imposed,
said penalty is absolute, and not for any specified time.
SECTION 1. Ritual. The system and ritual established by this Grand Chapter shall be the standard for the regulation of all subordinate Chapters under this jurisdiction, and no alteration shall be made in the work or lectures without permission of the Grand Chapter. The form and manner for conducting private and public ceremonies shall be prescribed by the Grand Chapter.
SECTION 2. Written Ritual. The written ritual shall be accepted by this Grand
Chapter. The Excellent High Priest of each subordinate Chapter, each Inspecting
Officer, and the Grand Lecturer or Lecturers of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of
Maine, shall each have one copy of the written ritual which they shall be
responsible for, and which they shall turn over to their successor immediately
upon leaving office.(Adopted in 1994)
SECTION 3. Symbolic Journey. The use of the symbolic journey ritual by the
Principal Sojourner in the Royal Arch Degree shall be allowed. Such use shall be
optional at the discretion of each Chapter, but only that ritual approved by the
Grand Chapter shall be used.(Adopted in 1994)
SECTION 1. Revenue. The revenue of the Grand Chapter shall be derived from an annual per capita tax on each member of subordinate Chapters, and such fees and assessments as may be provided by law.
SECTION 1. Marks. Each subordinate Chapter shall provide itself with a BOOK OF MARKS, which shall be in the lodge whenever 'the MARK MASTER MASONS degree is conferred. The use and purpose of the MARK must be explained to every candidate upon his advancement, and also the requirement that he must devise his own MARK before he may receive the Royal Arch degree.
Any Chapter that confers the Royal Arch degree on any candidate before the Mark of said candidate has been permanently recorded in the Lodge Book of Marks, shall be subject to a penalty of $10.00 for each occurrence. Any past or future violation will be recorded by the inspecting officer at the Chapter's inspection, forwarded to the Grand Secretary, and will be due and payable to the Grand Chapter with the Chapter's annual return.(Adopted in 1993)
No one can alter or change a Mark Master Mason's mark when properly chosen
and recorded as such in the Lodge Book of Marks; if erased or changed on the book,
such action, being illegal, does not thereby alter or change the Mark, which remains
as originally selected and recorded.
SECTION 1. Electioneering. Electioneering for office in this Grand Jurisdiction is prohibited, and shall be deemed a Masonic offense, except that it shall be the duty of all candidates for the office of Grand Scribe to send a letter of intent with their qualifications for that office to the Grand Chapter and to each constituent Chapter on or before the first day of March preceding the Grand Convocation of the Grand Chapter at which he hopes to be elected.(Adopted in 2000)
SECTION 1. Business. All business matters of a Chapter shall be transacted only when opened in the seventh degree. Nine Royal Arch Masons constitute a quorum for opening a Chapter. To conduct business of a Chapter, a member of the Council plus the secretary or secretary pro tempore plus at least four other Companions of that Chapter must be among this quorum.(Adopted in 2000)
SECTION 1. Amendments. This Constitution may be altered or amended in the following manner only: The proposed alteration or amendment shall be made in writing at an Annual Convocation; if entertained by the majority of members present and voting it shall be entered upon the minutes, published in the proceedings of the convocation, referred to the Committee on Amendments to the Constitution, and lie over until the next Annual Convocation, and if then concurred in by a majority of the members present and voting, shall be of full force and effect.