A. This College shall be known as Iowa York Rite College No. 37.
B. The City of Ames, Iowa is home to the origin of the Charter.
C. This York Rite College hereby declares its fealty to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Iowa, and the York Rite Sovereign College of North America.
D. The jurisdiction of this College shall encompass the entire state of Iowa.
ARTICLE II
Fiscal year and Policies
A. The fiscal year of this College shall begin on June 1 and end on May 31 of the following year.
B. The Secretary shall notify each delinquent member during the month of August and if not paid, a final notice in April. A member's dues that are not paid before the annual assembly in June [one full year in arrears] will be reported by the Secretary and subject to suspension by a 2/3 vote of the members present at that time.
C. The Secretary shall receive, for the use of his equipment and facilities, Three Hundred dollars [$300.00] per College Year.
D. Actual and necessary expenses incurred on behalf of the College [postage, printing, supplies, etc.] will be paid from College funds when billed.
E. The Council may authorize an expenditure of up to One Hundred dollars [$100.00] without prior approval of the College.
ARTICLE III
Purposes
A. The purposes of this York Rite College shall be:
1. To foster a spirit of cooperation and coordination among each of the Bodies of York Rite Masonry.
2. To assist in worthy efforts to improve the ritualistic and dramatic presentation of York Rite work.
3. To conduct an educational program in order to inculcate a greater appreciation of the principles, ideals and programs of York Rite Masonry.
4. To strengthen York Rite Masonry in every proper manner.
5. To build love of country and to aid and support genuine Patriotism.
6. To reward outstanding service to York Rite Masonry by awards, honors and other methods of proper recognition.
7. To support Charitable and Benevolent endeavors of Free Masonry.
ARTICLE IV
Membership
A. Membership shall be limited to members who are in good standing in a
Symbolic Lodge of Master Masons, a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, a
Council of Royal and Select Masters and a Commandery of Knights
Templar, and who are actively engaged in working for York Rite.
B. The Council, acting as a Screening Committee, shall consider all
proposals for membership and cause them to be presented to the Assembly
or be filled by the Secretary, But a majority vote of the members, in
attendance at an Assembly, may bring a Proposal up for ballot if he qualifies by "A" above.
C. Membership in this College shall be by written invitation only.
D. Any member in good standing may recommend an eligible York Right
Mason for membership on the Proposal from provided for that purpose.
E. Membership in this College shall be as follows:
1. Primal: Regular Member
2. Dual: Membership in this College plus Primal Membership in a
Different Grand Jurisdiction.
3. Plural: Membership in more than one College within the State of
Iowa.
F. A unanimous vote of those members present at a Regular Assembly, or a
Special Assembly, called for that purpose, shall be necessary for election to membership.
ARTICLE V
Officers
A. The officers of this York Rite College, by Title ands Rank are:
1. Preeminent Governor
2. Eminent Deputy Governor
3. Eminent Chancellor
4. Eminent Treasurer
5. Eminent Secretary
6. Noble Primate
7. Noble Preceptor
8. Noble Seneschal
9. Noble Marshal
10.Noble Sentinel
B. The first five [5] officers shall be elected at or before the Annual Assembly.
C. The Governor shall make all appointments.
D. The term of office shall be one [1] year, or until a successor is duly installed.
E. The five [5] Elected Officers shall constitute the Council of the College.
F. It shall be the duty and privilege of the Governor to preside at all Assemblies of the College. In his absence, the Deputy Governor, Chancellor or the Junior Past Governor present, in that order, will open the College and preside.
G. Should the office of Governor become vacant, the Deputy Governor or Chancellor, in that order, shall succeed to the Office of Governor until the next Annual Assembly. Should a special election become necessary, the Governor General may grant his dispensation upon application.
H. The election and installation of Officers must comply fully with applicable Sovereign College Regulations.
ARTICLE VI
Assemblies
A. The Annual Assembly of this York Rite College shall be held on the
first Saturday in May.
B. There shall be a minimum of two [2] Assemblies per College Year including the Annual Assembly.
C. The Governor may call special Assemblies at his discretion.
D. Nine [9] Companion Knights shall constitute a quorum.
E. Due notice shall be given for all Assemblies.
F. The Governor may designate the place of the Assembly anywhere within the jurisdiction of the College.
ARTICLE VII
Fees and Dues
A. The Fee for membership in this College shall be Twenty five [$25.00]
plus the Fee of Forty dollars [$40.00] to the York Rite Sovereign College of North America.
B. The annual dues for membership in this College shall be Six dollars
[$6.00] plus the Sovereign College Per Capita of Ten dollars [$10.00]
for a total of Sixteen dollars [$16.00].
ARTICLE VIII
Committees
A. The Council shall serve as a Standing Committee on Charity and may authorize an amount not to exceed Twenty- five dollars [$25.00] to relieve a worthy distressed Companion Knight.
B. Immediately after his election, the Governor shall appoint committees on:
1. York Rite Cooperation
2. Membership
3. Budget ands Finance
4. Degree Teams
5. Entertainment
6. Ritualistic
7. Advisory
8. Correspondence
9. Audit
10. Ritual Assistance [7members]
ARTICLE IX
Defunct Colleges
A. If this College shall cease to exist, except for the purpose of consolidation, Governor and Secretary shall, within thirty [30] days thereafter, transmit to the Secretary General of the York rite Sovereign College of North America all books, papers, rituals, jewels, seals, robes, all paraphernalia and all other property or Funds, or evidence thereof, together with the Charter unless the same has been arrested or removed by order of the Governor General.
ARTICLE X
Vacant Offices
A. An Office may be vacated in the following ways:
1. Death.
2. Inability or refusal to serve.
3.Temporary or permanent suspension
4. Expulsion for the Order.
5. Loss of Prerequisite membership.
B. Appointed Officers serve at the pleasure of the Governor.
C. The Grand Governor may suspend an Elected Officer failing to properly
fulfill the duties of his office [e.g., Article X, A, 2 above].
ARTICLE XI
Conflict Disclaimer
A. Anything contained herein that is in conflict with the spirit and intent of the Sovereign College Constitution and By-Laws, together with the guidelines of the Governor General and the Board of Directors is hereby declared to be null and void.
ARTICLE XII
Amendments
A. These By-Laws may be amended as follows:
1. The written proposal to amend shall identify the Article,
Section, Page and Line(s) to be deleted, amended or replaced.
2. It shall identify the New Amendment by Article, Section and
Page.
3. It shall quote the new language exactly.
4. It must be received by a majority vote at a Regular Assembly
or a Special Assembly called for that purpose.
5. It musts then lay over, and due and proper notice, both as to
content of the Amendment and the time and place of the
Assembly where it will be voted on, be given to the membership.
A 2/3 majority vote of the Assembly is needed for adoption.
6. It must bear the signature of the Grand Governor.
7. It must be properly signed and submitted in triplicate to the
Secretary General for the Governor General's signature.
We hereby certify that the forgoing By-Laws were adopted by a Regular Assembly of the Iowa York Rite College No. 37 held in the City of Marshalltown on the 27th day of January, 2007 and shall be effective as of this date on approval of the Governor General of the York Rite Sovereign College of North America.
Governor
Secretary
Grand Governor
Governor General
Secretary General
Date 01/27/07