Article:  
Name, Number and Location
Fiscal or College Year
Purposes
Membership
College Officers
Assemblies
Fees and Dues
Committees
Defunct Colleges
Vacant Offices
Conflict Disclaimer
Amendments

The Uniform Code of Bylaws contains those basic elements of the Constitution, Bylaws and Uniform Code of Bylaws of the York Rite Sovereign College that every York Rite College must have in its Bylaws. Options consistent with the Sovereign College Regulations have been added as permitted by the Uniform Code of Bylaws and approved by the Governor General.

This York Rite College hereby declares its fealty to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas, and to the York Rite Sovereign College of North America.

ARTICLE I
NAME, NUMBER AND LOCATION

A. This College shall be known as Texas York Rite College No. 14.

B. The City of Waco, State of Texas, shalI be the home or the usual Assembly place, of this College.

C. There shall be no jurisdiction within the State of Texas.

ARTICLE II
FISCAL OR COLLEGE YEAR

A. The fiscal year of this College shall begin on 1 June and end on 31 May of the following year.

ARTICLE III
PURPOSES

A. The purposes of this York Rite College shall be:

  1. To foster a spirit of cooperation and consideration 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 greater appreciation of the principles, ideals and programs of York Rite Masonry.
      
  4. To strengthen York Rite Masonry in every way possible.
  5. To build up a 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 Regular Members who are in good standing in a Symbolic Lodge of Master Masons, a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, a Council of Cryptic Masons and a Commandery, or Preceptory, of Knights Templar, and who are actively engaged in working for the 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 filed by the Secretary, but a majority vote of the Assembly can bring a Proposal up for ballot if he qualifies by "A" above.

C. Membership in this College shall be by invitation only.

D. Any member in good standing may recommend an eligible York Rite Mason for membership on the Proposal form 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 Texas.

F. Life (or Prepaid) Membership.

  1. General:
    1. Each of the Chartered Colleges of the York Rite Sovereign College of North America is authorized to establish a Life (or Prepaid) Membership plan in order to establish a Prepaid Dues Plan.
    2. Each Prepaid Dues Fund shall be the property of the College adopting a Life Membership Plan.
    3. A member's dues must be current at the time of becoming a prepaid member.
        
    4. A College shall not co-mingle any of its assets with the Prepaid Dues Fund.
       
    5. A College shall not in any case borrow from the Prepaid Dues Fund, pledge its assets as security, or loan any part of such Prepaid Dues Fund to any individual or private corporation.   
  2. Establishment and Cost of a Life (Prepaid) Membership, hereafter known in this College as Endowed Membership:
      
    1. This College shall have Endowed Membership and establish a Prepaid Dues Fund.
        
    2. Prepaid dues for an endowed membership shall be $200.00 (Two-Hundred Dollars).
        
    3. Investment of the funds shall be consistent with investment policies of the Grand Lodge of Texas, AF&AM, and shall be approved in advance by the Grand Governor and be reported to the Sovereign College Office.
        
    4. The College may use all or any part of the income earned by said Prepaid Dues Fund treating it the same as the annual dues paid by a member. The College may not use the principle.

G. 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
COLLEGE OFFICERS

A. The Officers of this York Rite College by Title and 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
     
  11. Noble organist (optional)
      
  12. Noble Herald(s) (optional)

B. The first five shall be elected at or before the Annual Assembly.

C. The Governor shall make all appointments.

D. The term of office shall be one year, or until a successor is duly installed.

E. The five Elected Officers shall constitute the Council of this 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 dates of Assemblies shall be fixed by the By-laws of the College (Section 104 of Constitution, York Rite Sovereign College of North America).

B. The Annual Assembly of this York Rite College shall be held on the second Saturday of May.

C. There shall be a minimum of two Assemblies per College year including the Annual Assembly.

D. The fixed date of the second Assembly shall be the first Sunday in December following the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of Texas.

E. Other regular Assemblies may be at the call of the Governor.

F. The Governor may call Special Assemblies at his discretion providing due notice is sent to the membership.

G. Nine (9) Companion Knights shall constitute a Quorum

H. Due Notice shall be given of all Assemblies

ARTICLE VII
FEES AND DUES

A. The fee for membership in this College shall be forty-five dollars plus any Per Capita or special assessment levied by the York Rite Sovereign College of North America.

B. The annual dues for membership in this College shall be seven dollars plus any Per Capita or special assessment levied by the York Rite Sovereign College of North America.

ARTICLE VIII
COMMITTEES

A. The Council shall serve as a Standing Committee on Charity and may authorize an amount not to exceed fifty dollars 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. Audit, Budget and Finance
  4. Degree Teams
  5. Entertainment
  6. Other Committees as needed

ARTICLE IX
DEFUNCT COLLEGES

If this College shall cease to exist, except for the purpose of consolidation, the 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. Any Office may be vacated in the following ways:

  1. Death.
  2. Inability or refusal to serve.
  3. Temporary or permanent suspension.
      
  4. Expulsion from 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., 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 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 Bylaws 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 and passed by a majority vote at a Regular Assembly or a Special Assembly called for that purpose.
  5. It must then lay over, due notice be given the membership (ARTICLE VI-F), and adopted by a 2/3 majority vote at a subsequent Assembly.
  6. It must be properly signed and submitted in triplicate to the Secretary General for the Governor Generals signature.

APPROVED

     May 11, 2001
Noel M. Smith
Governor 		 
Date
        
 
Kenneth B. Fischer
Grand Governor 		 
Date
      
 
Wayne E. Turton
Governor General		  
Date
      
 
George C. Sellars
Secretary General		  
Date

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