By-Laws of Whatcom Lodge, No. 151
F. & A.M. of Washington
Bellingham, Washington
ARTICLE I – Name
Section 1. The name of this lodge shall be Whatcom Lodge. No. 151 F. & A.M. of Washington.
ARTICLE II – Communications
Section 1. The stated communications of this Lodge shall be held on the third Thursday of each month, at the hour of 6:30 P.M.
Section 2. All communications of this Lodge shall be held in the Masonic Hall at 2626 West Maplewood Ave. in the City of Bellingham, Washington
ARTICLE III – Fees and Dues
Section 1. The fees for the three degrees shall be $100.00 and in addi- tion to any fees required by the Grand Lodge which must accompany the petition.
Section 2. If for any reason it becomes necessary to segregate the fees, the fee to accompany the petition of an Entered Apprentice for Second and Third Degrees shall be $70.00 and in addition any fees required by the Grand Lodge, and to accompany of a Fellowcraft for the Third Degree shall be $30.00 and in addition any fees required by the Grand Lodge.
Section 3. The fee for affiliation shall be $0.00 and in addition any fees required by the Grand Lodge.
Section 4. The annual dues for each member shall be $75.00 payable in advance on the first day of January of 2015, $85.00 payable in advance on the first day of January of 2016 and $100.00 payable in advance on the first day of January of 2017 and each January there after.
Section 5. The annual amount levied by the Grand Lodge of each member under Section 7.03 B.L. of Washington Masonic Code shall be assessed each member in addition to the Lodge annual dues. This Lodge assessment is payable in advance on the first day of January each year. Members exempt per Section 7.03 B.L. of the Washington Masonic Code are not required to pay this assessment. Adopted November 15th 2012.
ARTICLE IV – Standing Committees
Section 1. The three principal officers shall constitute the Executive Committee.
Section 2. The Senior Warden, Junior Warden and the Secretary shall compose the Finance Committee and that no claim shall be paid until referred to the said Committee, except as provided in Article V.
ARTICLE V – Charity
Section 1. The Worshipful Master is empowered to draw on the Treasurer for sums not to exceed one $100.00 for each draft, for the relief of indigent members or their families and shall report the same to the Lodge at the next Stated Communication.
ARTICLE VI – Amendments
Amendments to these By-Laws shall be proposed in writing at a Stated Communication and approved by a 2/3 vote of all members present at a subsequent State Communication, shall be immediately effective when approved by the Grand Master, whose action shall be conclusive.
Standing Resolutions/Rules and Wills/Bequests
Instructions for completing Form 28A
1. All blanks must be completed.
2. Section 1. List the Lodge’s standing resolutions, if any. Additionally, this Section is where a Lodge may adopt policy that are not inconsistent with the Washington Masonic Code. It is recommended that a Lodge contact the Bylaws Committee before adding sections in Section 1 to avoid potential problems.
Section 2. List all bequests, gifts, etc. that have restrictions on their use. If a bequest, gift, etc. is not restricted it should not be listed.
Section 3. Insert the percentage required to adopt standing resolutions or accept bequests, etc. The minimum percentage is a simple majority of the members present.
SECTION 1 LODGE STANDING RESOLUTIONS/RULES
List the Name or Number of the Resolution/Rule, the complete language adopted by the Lodge at a Stated Meeting and the date it was adopted:
Resolution/Rule #: 1 25—Year Membership Award
Language: WHEREAS a goodly number of the membership of Whatcom Lodge No. 151, F. & A. M. have maintained a membership of 25 year in a Symbolic Lodge, and WHEREAS, some of those afore said may never be awarded a 50-year Certificate and Pin, and WHEREAS, this Committee feels that any member of Whatcom Lodge No. 151, F. & A. M., who has maintained a membership of 25 years in any Symbolic Lodge has by his action and continued membership contributed something of worth to the Lodge.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That Whatcom Lodge No. 151 F. & A. M., shall award a 25 year Certificate and Pin to each member of Whatcom Lodge No. 151, F. & A. M., who shall have maintained actual membership in a symbolic Lodge for 25 years and the Worshipful Master shall set aside one night each year to honor such member or members and shall present a 25- year Certificate and Pin to each member who shall become eligible.
Fraternally submitted, this 19th day of October, 1950. John Wilson, Harold W. Adams and Charles B. Porter – Committee.
Date Adopted: November 16th, 1950
Resolution/Rule #: 2 Exclusion of 50 Year Life Members from paying the Annual Grand Lodge enrolled Master Mason Fee.
Language: WHEREAS the foundation of our Lodge, in great measure, is laid and supported by the brothers who have put many years of dedicated service into Whatcom Lodge, and WHEREAS, many of those 50 Year members have purchased or been awarded Life Membership,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that in recognition of such devotion, hereafter, 50 Year Life Members of Whatcom Lodge No. 151 shall be exempt from payment of the Annual Grand Lodge Fee, Article III, Section 5., with the cost to be borne by the Lodge.
Date Adopted: November, 15th, 2012
Resolution/Rule #: 3 Life Membership
Language: For any exceptional service to the Fraternity, or this Lodge in particular, or for any unusual honors earned in the Fraternity, the Lodge may, by unanimous vote of the membership present at any Stated Meeting, grant a Life Membership in the Lodge.
Date Adopted: July, 17th, 2014
Resolution/Rule #: 4 Dues & Fees – Active Duty Military Brothers
Language: WHEREAS our Military Service Brethren, when on active duty, are serving our homeland and interests, and WHEREAS, said active duty presents a hardship to our brother’s family and finances,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, those active duty military brethren of Whatcom Lodge, as described above, shall be exempt from paying Lodge Dues and Assessments until released or retired from active duty.
Date Adopted: July, 17th, 2014
Resolution/Rule #:
Language:
Date Adopted:
Resolution/Rule #:
Language:
Date Adopted:
SECTION 2 BEQUESTS, WILLS or other DEVICES donated to the Lodge
List the various donations and the purpose of each as defined in the legal documents. Include date donation is made and if there is a time limit on each.
Name of Donor:
Amount of Donation:
Type Device:
Purpose of Donation:
Name of Donor:
Amount of Donation:
Type Device:
Purpose of Donation:
Name of Donor:
Amount of Donation:
Type Device:
Purpose of Donation:
Name of Donor:
Amount of Donation:
Type Device:
Purpose of Donation:
SECTION 3 AMENDMENTS
Amendments to these standing resolutions, bequests, wills, or other devices shall be proposed in
writing at a Stated Communication, and if adopted by a 2/3 vote of all members present at a sub- sequent Stated Communication, shall be immediately effective when approved by the Grand Mas- ter, whose action shall be conclusive.
NOTE: ARTICLE AND SECTION AMENDED ON THE BELOW STATED
DATE ARE CHECKED BELOW:
ARTICLE I
ARTICLE II SECTION 1 SECTION 2
X ARTICLE III SECTION 1 SECTION 2 X SECTION 3
SECTION 4 X
SECTION 5
ARTICLE IV SECTION 1
ARTICLE V ARTICLE VI ARTICLE VII
ARTICLE VIII
ARTICLE IX
SECTION 2
A complete rewritten set of By-Laws
FORM 28 A
Two additional Standing Resolution/Rules have been added:
Resolution/Rule #: 3 Life Membership
Date Adopted: July, 17th, 2014
Resolution/Rule #: 4 Dues & Fees – Active Duty Military Brothers
Date Adopted: July, 17th, 2014
To the Most Worshipful Bro. Sam Roberts
Grand Master of Masons in Washington:
On 6/19/2014 AL 6014, AD 2014 , at a regular Stated Communication of Whatcom
Lodge, No. 151, F & A. M., the above and foregoing were presented for consideration by the
Lodge.
At a subsequent Stated Communication of Whatcom Lodge, No. 151, F. & A. M., after ten (10)
days written notice to all the members of the Lodge, held on 7/17/2014, AL 6014 , AD 2014,
adopted by a vote of members present, and are herewith submitted to the Grand Master for his ap-
proval or disapproval.
(Lodge Seal)
Dated this 17th day of July, AL 6014, AD 2014.
These By-Laws and Standing Rules were adopted by a vote of members present at the Stated Meeting held on 7/17/2014 and subsequently approved by MWB Sam Roberts on August 14th, 2014. Original By-Laws copy is held in the custody of the Lodge Secretary.