STANDING REGULATIONS

NOTE: By immemorial usage Standing Regulations can be adopted or amended at any annual convocation at which proposed, but no Standing Regulation can be adopted which conflicts with the Constitution or By-laws of the Grand Chapter.

1. Each Chapter is required to have three copies of the Royal Arch Text Book.(Proc. 1889, p.78)

2. (Rescinded May 8, 1985. Provisions included in duteis of Committee on Memorials.)

3. RESOLVED, That charter certificates may be issued, signed by the Grand High Priest and attested by the Grand Secretary, under the seal of the Grand Chapter, in each case and subject to the following regulations:

a. The charter shall be kept or deposited in such a manner that the High Priest, upon reasonable notice, can have access thereto and take the same into his possession at his discretion.

b. It shall be the duty of the High Priest to have the charter present in the Chapter at the time of the installation of the High Priest, into whose custody the same shall be delivered, to be kept or deposited by him as hereinbefore provided.

c. Upon the visitation of the Chapter by the Grand High Priest or other visiting officer, or any special representative of the Grand Chapter or Grand High Priest, the charter shall be produced, provided notice to that effect shall have been reasonably given.

d. The life of the certificate shall depend upon and be coexistent with the life of the charter in all respects, the authority of the certificate proceeding from the charter, for which it is merely a physical substitute and evidence that the Chapter has, and works under, a regular charter.

e. The fee of the Grand Secretary for issuing his certificate shall be two dollars, to be paid by the petitioners.(Proc. 1926, p.79)

4. RESOLVED, That the use of electricity when in direct contact with the person of the candidate is strictly prohibited in the work of any of the Capitular degrees in this Grand Jurisdiction, and that any violation of this regulation will be considered a misdemeanor.(Proc. 1946, p.65)

5. RESOLVED, That this Grand Chapter allow dual membership outside the State with any Grand Jurisdiction with which we have fraternal relations, contingent upon the similar assent of the State in question.
(Proc. 1972, p.225)

33Rev. 1997


6. RESOLVED, That beginning with the Annual Convocation of 1983, the Grand Treasurer pay from the funds of the Grand Chapter to each duly elected, or appointed, and installed Grand Officer of the Grand Chapter, each Permanent Member, also the regularly elected and installed High Priest, King or Scribe, or his regularly designed proxy, of each of the subordinate Chapters who shall be present at all sessions of the Grand Chapter's Annual Convocation, five dollars ($5.00) plus ten cents (10c) per mile for the distance actually traveled each way within the state.
Only one of the top three officers of each subordinate Chapter (The Senior Officer in attendance or his proxy) may draw mileage and per diem.(Proc. 1889, p.78)


7. RESOLVED, That this Grand Chapter allow dual membership within this Grand Jurisdiction, permitting a Companion to retain membership in his persent Chapter, while exercising the privilege of active membership in a second Chapter, where circumstances of residence or vocation make such activity more likely. Application for membership will take the same course as for normal affiliation, except that a "Certificate of Recommendation" rather than a demit-from the applicant's present Chapter shall accompany the application. Upon acceptance into the second Chapter, a Companion remains subject to the assessments of his original Chapter, as well as to those of his new Chaapter; however, he may hold elective office in only one Chapter during any given year.
See page 34a for sample copy of Application for Dual Membership(Proc. 1993, p.52)


8. RESOLVED, That the use of any rope, pulley, or other lowering device, other than a ladder, for descending into the arch in the Royal Arch Degree is strictly prohibited, and that any violation of this regulation will be considered a Masonic offense punishable under the laws and rules of this Grand Jurisdiction.(Adopted in 1995)

9. RESOLVED, That the pouring of water or other substance, upon any candidate, or into the pit or arch in the Royal Arch Degree, or in the work of any of the Capitular degrees in this Grand Jurisdiction is strictly prohibited, and that any violation of this regulation will be considered a Masonic offense punishable under the laws and rules of this Grand Jurisdicition.(Adopted in 1995)


10. RESOLVED, Manual of Visitation Guidelines: That the "Manual of Visitation Guidelines" as prepared for the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Maine in 1990 and since then used as an unofficial instructional manual be adopted as a part of these Standing Regulations of the Grand Chapter of Maine for an official reference source for its Inspecting Officers and also for other Officers and Companions.(Adopted in 1997)


11. RESOLVED, That the Annual Conclave of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Maine will be held on the fourth Saturday in April. Said Annual Conclave will meet on the even year in the greater Portland, Maine area and on the odd year in Bangor, Maine. This Standing Regulation will commence with the Annual Conclave in the year 2004.(Adopted in 2002)

Rev. 200234


FORM FOR DUAL MEMBERSHIP

To ______________________ Chapter of Royal Arch Masons

______________________, Maine

THIS IS TO CERTIFY

That Companion ______________________________________ who has signed his name in the margin, is a Royal Arch Mason in good standing in___________________________Chapter, R.A.M.; and that he has honorably requested permission to apply for DUAL MEMBERSHIP in your Chapter, while maintaining those ties of membership within his present Chapter.

THEREFORE, in the interests of promoting ever stronger bonds of friendship and brotherly love among the Companions of our Craft, the Officers and members of __________________ Chapter recommend our Companion as a worthy candidate for membership in both ______________________________________
and______________________________________
under the jurisdiction of the GRAND ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER OF MAINE

Given under my hand and the seal of the Chapter

at _________________________, Maine this _________ day

of ____________________, A.L. _________ A.D. _________

______________________ High Priest


______________________ Secretary






(seal)

(Adopted in 1993)

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