CHAPTER 60
Trustees of a Lodge
The powers and duties of
the trustees are determined as follows.
1. No part of
Regulations 60-1, 60-2, 60-3, 60-4, or 60-5 shall automatically apply to a subordinate lodge
which is incorporated under the laws of the State of
2. Each
subordinate lodge which is not incorporated shall have not less than three nor
more than five trustees.
3. Duties and
powers of the trustees shall be as follows.
A. They shall receive, take, and hold in
trust for the lodge the property of every nature and kind belonging to the
lodge which may be committed by the lodge to their care.
B. They shall have the care and management of
the real and personal property belonging to the lodge when committed to them.
C. They shall hold the same in trust solely
for the use and benefit of the lodge, but the management and control thereof
shall always be subject to the by-laws, rules, and orders of the lodge. [60-10].
D. They shall negotiate all investments for
the lodge at its order.
E. They shall make, execute, and deliver any
evidence of debt, conveyance, or other documents as and when directed by the
lodge to do so.
F. They shall insure and keep insured all
lodge property when and as directed by the lodge. [43-2.14].
G. They shall do all other legitimate and
proper acts that the lodge may direct or the law may require.
H. They shall give such bonds as the lodge or
the Grand Lodge may require. [44-7(Art.20)]
I. A majority of the trustees shall
constitute a quorum for transaction of their business.
Each trustee of a lodge who
is not also the Master, or the Senior Warden, or the Junior Warden shall be and
remain at all times during his term as trustee a member in good standing
therein and a resident of the State of
In the event of a vacancy
among the trustees by resignation, death, or otherwise, if he is not also the
Master, the Senior Warden, or the Junior Warden of the lodge, the lodge shall elect
by a majority vote a qualified member at the next stated communication held
after such vacancy has occurred or has come to the attention of the lodge, and
such member so elected shall fill the unexpired term to which he has been
elected.
The lodge may remove any
trustee if he is not also the Master, the Senior Warden, or the Junior Warden
of the lodge by two-thirds of the votes of the members present at a stated
communication. Not less than five days’ written notice that such action will be
considered by the lodge shall be given in person or by first-class mail to the
last known address of the trustee or trustees to be voted on, and the lodge may
at the same, or a subsequent, communication fill any vacancy thus created among
the trustees.
REG. 60-5
ABSENCE OF A BY-LAW.
In the absence of a by-law
of the lodge as provided in Paragraph 1 of this regulation, the Master, the
Senior Warden, and the Junior Warden as provided by THE CODE, and their
respective successors in office shall be the trustees of a subordinate lodge
which is not incorporated as hereinbefore set forth.
The lodge may lend its
surplus funds under the supervision of its trustees on such security as it may
deem proper but shall make no such loan to a member of the lodge. The trustees
shall lend the funds of the lodge in their names as trustees but only as and
when directed to do so by a vote of the lodge. [25-2; 35-4; 43-8; 60-7].
REG. 60-7
FUNDS USED FOR MASONIC PURPOSES.
Lodge funds shall not be
used for other than Masonic purposes. The purchase of properly selected bonds
or other forms of investment is not prohibited except as provided in
Regulations 25-2 and 43-8. [13-3.9; 43-2.16; 60-6; 85-1].
REG. 60-8
TRUSTEE STATUTORY OFFICER.
A trustee of a lodge shall
be a statutory, not a Masonic, officer and may, therefore, hold any elective or
appointive office in his lodge. A dispensation is not necessary to hold an
election to fill a vacancy in the office of trustee of a lodge. This regulation
is subject to Regulation 60-5. [3-3.2; 53-1; 53-2.4; 57-2].
REG. 60-9
PROPERTY IN NAME OF TRUSTEES.
A lodge which is not
incorporated may hold real estate only in the names of its trustees; leases,
deeds of trust, mortgages, or conveyances of the same may be made only to or by
such trustees as directed by the lodge. [43-8.1.B; 43-8.1].
REG.
60-10 LODGE SHALL RETAIN CONTROL.
Each lodge shall always
retain control over its own property and financial affairs and shall administer
them by a majority vote of its members present at any stated communication
without the interposition of a board of control, board of trustees, or any
similar board. Any by-law, resolution, or other enactment of a lodge which
shall be in conflict with this subdivision is void and of no effect. Trustees
shall not make any disposition of the property of a lodge without its order. A
contract entered into by the trustees attempting to bind a lodge without its
specific consent and approval shall be illegal and void. The trustees shall not
have authority to lease or grant the use of property owned by the lodge or to
notify tenants of the cancellation of leases without authorization of the
lodge. [4-4; 4-6; 49-5; 43-2.15; 43-8.1.D; 43-8.1.E; 60-1.2; 63-13].
The trustees at the end of
each fiscal year, and oftener if required by the lodge, shall file with the
Secretary an inventory of all lodge property in their possession, and unless
otherwise ordered by the lodge, shall account for and turn over to him all
moneys in their possession.
The trustees shall report
and make recommendations to the lodge in matters affecting the finances of the
lodge. The lodge should give such reports and recommendations, respect and
consideration either to adopt, amend, or reject them.
REG.
60-13 REFUSAL OF A TRUSTEE TO COMPLY.
The failure or refusal of a
trustee to comply with any of the provisions of the law or with the directive
and mandate of the lodge in any particular shall constitute a Masonic offense
for which he may be disciplined or removed from office, and on due proceedings,
he may be tried for such offense. [44-7(Art16); 44-7(Art17); 44-7(Art
18)].