CHAPTER 29
Board of Custodians, Masonic Education, Lecture Service
REG. 29-1
BOARD OF CUSTODIANS.
The Board of Custodians
shall consist of eight members. The Grand Master and the Grand Lecturer shall
be members of the board. The six other member shall be brethren learned in the
ritualistic work, the law, and the customs of Masonry, at least four of whom
shall be Certified Lecturers. At each annual communication of the Grand Lodge
the Grand Master shall appoint two qualified brethren, each to serve for three
years. [27-1.1.B; 27-6].
REG. 29-2
CHAIRMAN AND SECRETARY.
In January of each year the
Board of Custodians shall elect its chairman from its members and a secretary
who need not be from its membership but who shall be a member of a subordinate
lodge obedient to the Grand Lodge; and if the secretary is not a member of the
board, he shall not have a vote. [27-6; 27-7.7; 27-7.8]. (This regulation amended, effective
A quorum of the Board of
Custodians shall consist of five members. Business shall be transacted only by
a majority of its members present at a proper meeting and not by
correspondence. The proper expenses of the board shall be paid by the Grand
Lodge, but the members shall not be compensated for their services. [27-7; 27-7.7].
The Board of Custodians
shall meet as often as necessary upon call of the Grand Master or the chairman.
In the event of a vacancy
on the Board of Custodians by death or for any other cause, the Grand Master
shall fill the vacancy by appointment for the unexpired term.
REG. 29-6
DUTIES, POWERS, AND AUTHORITY.
The duties, powers, and
authority of the Board of Custodians shall be as follows:
1. To nominate
the Grand Lecturer. [17-5.2].
2. To have complete
charge of the Authorized Ritualistic Work and lectures which have been approved
by the Grand Lodge, and to preserve the same permitting no change therein
whatever unless such change has been approved by the Grand Lodge prior to the
change becoming a part of the Authorized Work. [Chapter
23].
3. To confer with
the Grand Lecturer and with brethren who have been examined and certified as
proficient in the Work and to instruct and examine them as often as the board
deems necessary to determine their continued proficiency therein.
4. To perform
such other duties as may be assigned to it from time to time by the Grand
Master or by the Grand Lodge.
5. To have charge
of Masonic ritualistic education in the subordinate lodges and among the
members at large. The Board is authorized to prepare and promote such plans,
programs, and rules from time to time as may be deemed proper to carry out its
duties, provided no program or plan of Masonic ritualistic education shall be
inaugurated or promoted until it and the expense thereof have been approved by
the Grand Master or by the Grand Lodge. [61-7.2].
REG. 29-7
CLASSES OF LECTURERS.
The Board of Custodians is
authorized, in its discretion:
1. To establish
not more than two grades, or classes, of examination for proficiency in the
Authorized Work. The highest grade or class shall include the entire Work, both
esoteric and exoteric parts, and a brother who satisfactorily passes such
examination shall be known as Certified Lecturer.
2. To establish a
roster for each grade or class authorized by it, on which shall be posted the
names of each brother qualified for the roster of each grade or class, these
rosters shall be printed in the Annual Proceedings of the Grand Lodge.
3. To adopt and
promulgate, from time to time, such rules as may be necessary to govern the
examination, the reexamination, and the certification of all brethren of, or
for, any grade or class.
4. To drop from
the roster of his grade or class any certified brother who fails to appear for
reexamination when notified to do so for the first time and who does not give a
satisfactory reason to the board for his failure, or one who fails, for any
reason, to appear for reexamination when notified the second time to do so, and
his certificate shall be canceled and made void, and he shall be notified
accordingly.
5. To issue certificates for each grade or class for the period of time which it shall establish, but not to exceed five years. At the expiration of such time, the holder shall either renew the same by such reexamination as the board may determine, or his name shall be removed from the roster of his class, and he shall cease to be considered as a certified brother. Notwithstanding the five year limitation, after a brother has been certified for twenty-five years, reexamination may be waived at the request of a brother. (The section amended, effective January 1, 2007)
REG. 29-8
APPOINTMENT OF DISTRICT LECTURERS.
The Board of Custodians, on
recommendation by the Grand Lecturer, shall nominate and the Grand Master shall
appoint District Deputy Grand Lecturers to serve the several masonic districts
established from time to time by the Grand Master pursuant to 26-1.
1. No more than
two districts may be assigned to one District Deputy Grand Lecturer.
2. A District
Deputy Grand Lecturer need not reside in any district assigned to him.
3. No appointment
of a District Deputy Grand Lecturer shall extend beyond the next annual
communication of the Grand Lodge.
4. District
Deputy Grand Lecturers shall not be installed.
5. A District
Deputy Grand Lecturer must and remain a Certified Lecturer throughout his
tenure.
6. District
Deputy Grand Lecturers shall not be compensated for their services as such.
7. Subject to the
following limitations a District Deputy Grand Lecturer may be reimbursed for
his actual and necessary travel expense when approved by the Grand Lecturer.
A. The rate of the reimbursement for mileage
shall be determined by the Committee on Finance and approved by the Board of
General Purposes.
B. He shall not be reimbursed for more than
two visits to each lodge in his district during a calendar year.
C. Before December tenth each year each
District Deputy Grand Lecturer shall file an itemized account of his expense
with the Grand Lecturer for his approval, and if approved, the Grand Lecturer
shall file the same with the
REG. 29-9
DUTIES OF DISTRICT LECTURERS.
The duties of a District
Deputy Grand Lecturer shall be as follows.
1. Promote the
lecture service and the education work in his district.
2. Work with and
make reports to the District Deputy Grand Master as to the progress of Masonic
Education in his district.
3. Visit the
subordinate lodges when required, inspect their ritualistic work, advise and
instruct them therein, see that they properly practice the Authorized Work of
the Grand Lodge, correct their errors, and generally supervise, direct,
advance, and promote the lecture service among the lodges and members in his
jurisdiction.
4. To encourage
candidates for examination for proficiency in the ritualistic work. [29-7].
5. To arrange for
and conduct Schools of Instruction in the ritualistic work in his district as
may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Custodians. Each lodge in
the district shall actively participate in at least two Schools of Instruction
each calendar year. Ritualistic work done in or by one lodge only shall not
constitute a School of Instruction.
6. To cooperate
fully with the District Deputy Grand Master of any district assigned to him in
promoting the Lecture Service and schools of instruction in such district.
7. To file a written report with the Grand Lecturer and with the District Deputy Grand Master on the ritualistic work of each lodge in his district with such recommendations as he may consider proper. The report shall be filed before November fifteenth each year.(This section amended, effective 1/1/2006)
8. To perform
such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Grand Master, the Board of
Custodians, or the Grand Lecturer.
9. A brother who
has served faithfully and performed his duties as District Deputy Grand Lecturer
shall be eligible to succeed himself for two additional successive terms and
may serve such additional terms thereafter as may be necessary and advisable.
10. On recommendation of the Board of Custodians and with the approval of the Grand Master, the Grand Lodge, by a majority vote, may grant the honorary title of Past District Deputy Grand Lecturer to a brother who has served at least one year as a District Deputy Grand Lecturer. [11-4].
The Board of Custodians
shall have charge of, direct, and promote the Lecture Service in this Grand
Jurisdiction. The term Lecture Service comprehends the plan promulgated
by the Board of Custodians by which official instruction in the Authorized Work
is given to the officers and members of subordinate lodges.
1. The Board of
Custodians is authorized, empowered, and directed, to make such rules and
regulations for the government of ritualistic instruction as will best and most
efficiently promote, extend, and encourage ritualistic proficiency in the
subordinate lodges and the membership.
2. Rules for the
Government of the Lecture Service may be adopted, modified, or amended by a
two-thirds vote of the Board of Custodians at any regular meeting of the Board.
3. Each
subordinate Lodge shall engage the services of a Certified Lecturer for Lecture
Service as required by the Rules for the Government of the Lecture Service.
4. The Board of
Custodians regulations shall establish compensation for services and expenses
for the Grand Lodge Lecture Service subject to the following limitations. [17-5.5].
A. No financial commitments or engagements on
behalf of the Grand Lodge shall exceed the amount that may be authorized by the
Grand Lodge from time to time.
B. The Board of Custodians shall present for
adoption by the Grand Lodge at each annual Communication, a resolution
establishing the amount of fee a lodge may receive as reimbursement for Lecture
Service.
5. No brother
shall be authorized to instruct in the ritualistic work of the Grand Lodge
Lecture Service unless he is a Certified Lecturer whose certificate as such is
in full force and effect. This paragraph shall not apply to instruction of a
lodge by any of its own members. [17-5.5].
6. Subordinate
lodges shall refuse to hear lectures on ritualistic work or to receive
instruction therein from unauthorized lecturers. The Grand Lodge will hold them
strictly accountable for violating this regulation. No subordinate lodge or
Master in this jurisdiction shall furnish credentials in favor of an
unauthorized lecturer.
No lodge nor any brother
shall issue any certificate or letter of proficiency in the Authorized Work or any
part thereof.
1. A subordinate
lodge may present a Certificate of Proficiency to a member who has
satisfactorily passed an examination in open lodge on the Third Degree
catechism. The form of this certificate shall be established by the Board of
Custodians.
2. The Board of
Custodians may present a Certificate of Certified Lecturer or a Certificate of
Certified Instructor to a member who has satisfactorily passed a thorough
examination in the ritualistic work conducted under and by the authority and
direction of the Board of Custodians.
3. The Board of Custodians may present a Certificate of Special Recognition known as "Laudamus" to those Certified Lecturers of the highest grade or class who maintained their proficiency in that grade or class for fifteen years.
The use of improper and
unauthorized books is pernicious in its influence. The use of such books within
this jurisdiction for instruction or in any ritualistic work will be regarded a
high offense, the charter of any lodge so offending shall be arrested, and any
brother so offending shall be expelled for so doing. No part of the Work shall
be omitted, abridged, or shortened except as authorized by the Grand Lodge. No
ritual or ceremonial may be used except that approved by the Grand
Lodge, or as authorized in Regulation 24-1.6. [ 43-3.8; 43-3.9; 86-2.9]
No robes or regalia shall
be used in conferring the Symbolic degrees unless approved by the Board of
Custodians, and such approval may be revoked or changed by said board. [71-16].