[GLoT] Question on officers present when opening lodge

Here is the scenario: A called meeting on the EA degree was to be opened to hear the proficiency of an EA. The officers present were the SW, SD, JD, Marshall, Tiler, and a PM (all members of the lodge), 2 FCs, and 2 EAs, for a grand total of 11 members present. The WM had given permission for the SW to open said called meeting.

The issue: It was thought that the SW was to act as WM, but the SD, JD, Marshall, and Tiler were all required to sit in their places during the opening and closing of said lodge; and that the other brothers present were required to fill in other required places and stations. I have found nothing in the Laws of the GLoT, or the bylaws of the lodge stating this, but it was argued by some of the bretherin that all lodge officers were to occupy their elected and appointed places and not pro-temp for other "indispensable" positions.

The question: Is it required that officers are always, no matter the reason, are to sit in their stations and places when the lodge is duly opened?

The only articles I have found in the Law Book concerning this are the two following...

Art. 229. (267a). Quorum for Each of the Three Degrees.
To open a subordinate Lodge chartered by this Grand Lodge on the
Masters Degree, and a quorum for a Lodge on said degree, requires
the presence of not less than three Master Masons who are
members of such Lodge, and one of said three must be the Worshipful
Master, a Warden or a Past Master of such Lodge; to open on the
Fellowcraft Degree, and a quorum for a Lodge on said degree,
requires the presence of not less than five Masons of at least that
degree, at least two of whom must be Master Masons and members
of such Lodge and one of said two must be the Worshipful Master,
a Warden or a Past Master of such Lodge; to open on the Entered
Apprentice Degree, and a quorum for a Lodge on said degree,
requires the presence of not less than seven Masons, at least one of
whom must be the Worshipful Master, a Warden or a Past Master
of such Lodge.

Art. 235. (273). Called Meetings: Business Permitted.
Called Meetings may be ordered by the Master of the Lodge, or
by the Senior Warden in his absence, or by the Junior Warden in
the absence of both, at any time not prohibited by law for any one
or more of the following purposes: to receive the Grand Master
or his Representative or other distinguished Mason; to confer
degrees on candidates previously elected; to examine and vote on
the proficiency of candidates; to install officers; to conduct funerals,
to receive and vote on adoption of by-laws under Subdivision 4
of Art. 216; to adopt by-laws and amendments thereto when duly
called for that purpose after reasonable notice given; to transact
any other business not required by law to be acted on at a Stated
Meeting. The Secretary may be ordered to issue summons for such
meetings when the circumstances are deemed such as to warrant
it; such summons must be in writing and under the seal of the
Lodge.

Any light would be appreciated.

 

Re: [GLoT] Question on officers present when openning lodge

Would a moderator be able to correct the spelling error in the title of this thread from "openning" to "opening"? Thanks!

 

Re: [GLoT] Question on officers present when openning lodge

You must sit in the place or station of your office during opening unless as Brother Stewart said above, the Master is not present.

However, with all that you listed above, the seven required for an EA were not present as you have to be a MM to sit in an office.

 

Re: [GLoT] Question on officers present when openning lodge

Interesting. So there are potentially several scenarios where you may have a requisite number of masons present, but still unable to properly open a lodge? (ex: SW and JW absent, only others present are already officers and 1 EA there for a proficiency. In such case, a steward or Marshall could not sit for the vacancy?)

Or is it written such that in a similar case, that rule can be overruled?


Freemason Connect HD

 

Re: [GLoT] Question on officers present when openning lodge

fixed.

 

Re: [GLoT] Question on officers present when openning lodge

Thank you brother, but I cannot find this information in the Law Book, I did find...

Art. 268. Temporary Vacancies: How Filled. The presiding
officer alone has the right to fill vacancies pro tempore.

... which implies that pro-tempore positions can be filled at the presiding Master's will. Also, emphasis mine,...

Art. 271. Vacancies in Office: How Filled. When an
installed officer, other than the Worshipful Master, ... is unable to devote his services
to the office, the office can only be filled pro tempore, at each
meeting of the Lodge, except as hereinafter provided:
... the Master shall have
the right to appoint any officer pro tempore, including Secretary or
Treasurer, any specific meeting upon the absence of such officer
from the particular meeting. (See Art. 277 for vacancy in office of
Worshipful Master.) (Revised 1967)

Which actually says the opposite of what you have described. Am I reading this right? I was told by more knowledgeable brethren what you have told me as well, but I must have some Missourian in my blood because I'd like to see it in the law and make sure that it wasn't a myth that continues to be propagated by word of mouth.

 

I've heard both answers given by brothers of my lodge so I'm just as confused. I get the reasoning, but doesn't it seem strange that GL would put a rule into place that puts propriety over being able to hold a meeting?

 

Re: [GLoT] Question on officers present when openning lodge

Art. 277. (315). Office Vacant: When and How Filled. His
office becomes vacant whenever the Worshipful Master:
1. Is elected and installed as Grand Master or Deputy Grand
Master; or
2. Dies after he is installed; or
3. Is found disqualified, or fails from any cause to be installed
within the time prescribed by Law, and the person filling the office
for the previous year has been installed in another office; or
4. When the Worshipful Master has been removed by the
Grand Master or the Grand Lodge, the Grand Master shall notify
the Grand Secretary, and shall inform the affected subordinate
Lodge of such action. Such action of removal shall prohibit recognition
of such individual as a Past Master and preclude such
individual from the rights and privileges pertaining thereto.
(Revised 1997)
In any such case the Senior Warden (or the Junior Warden, if
the office of Senior Warden is also vacant) shall succeed to all the
duties of the office.
If a Worshipful Master, after being duly installed, dies during
the term of his office, and if he is not suspended or under charges
at the time of his death, he shall be classified and recorded as a
Past Master of his Lodge.

As far as I read it, this article says nothing on our topic.

 

I don't know that this refers to what happens when the WM isn't there "today"

 

So, just to be clear, in my original scenario, it was legal to open a lodge with the officers and members present. Thanks!