Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of the District of Columbia
Proposed Amendments to the Grand Chapter Code (draft June 21, 2001)
For Consideration by the Grand Chapter at its Semi-Annual meeting – October 2001
Submitted by John Vergalla, PGHP, and Dan L Frederick, PGHP
At our Grand Chapter’s March 2001 Annual Convocation, the Grand High Priest for March 2000 through March 2001 made several recommendations. They, plus an additional, are included in the proposals here for consideration at the Semi-Annual Communication of our Grand Chapter which is to be held in October 2001.
Proposal #1 – to change the length of time required in a Chapter for the awarding of the Meritorious Companion from 15 to 10 years. (new language is underlined and language to be eliminated is stricken through):
STANDING RESOLUTIONS
2. Awards
(b) Grand Chapter “Meritorious Companion” Award
Authorized a Grand Chapter “Meritorious Companion” Award or a certificate in place of the award. The following regulations were adopted regarding the award.
(1) [no change]
(2) Up to 3 awards each year to Companions of this jurisdiction who have rendered outstanding service over 15 10 years or more to their own Chapter. Service as High Priest is not required for eligibility, but past officers and past grand officers are not barred.
[no change to remainder of this resolution]
Reasons: Our Chapters are experiencing a rebirth and the bast majority of active members have been Chapter members for 5-6 years. It is important to reward those members who are making a substantial contribution to the success of their Chapters, including those who have been Royal Arch members for a shorter period of time, but whose contributions are worthy of this reward.
Proposal #2 – to extend the Grand Chapter progressive, elected line by two positions. (new language is underlined and language to be eliminated is stricken through):
Sec. 8. Officers.
(a) Elected Officers.
The officers of this Grand Chapter shall be chosen at the annual convocation. The following officers shall be elected separately by ballot:
Grand High Priest
Grand King
Grand Scribe
Grand Secretary
Grand Treasurer
Grand Visitor and Lecturer
Grand Chaplain
Grand Captain of the Host
Grand Principal Sojourner
Grand Royal Arch Captain
(b) Appointed Officers.
The following officers shall be appointed by the Grand High Priest for a term of one year, and are not eligible for appointment to any higher office until one year after the expiration of the term for which they are appointed:
Grand Principal Sojourner
Grand Royal Arch Captain
Grand Master of the Third Veil
Grand Master of the Second Veil
Grand Master of the First Veil
Reasons: The continuity and dedication of our Grand Chapter officer line needs to be increased. If a member of the Grand Chapter line has to drop out, this would give the other officers more time to prepare for their advancement. A longer line helps our Grand Lodge, and can similarly help our Grand Chapter.
Proposal #3 – to encourage Chapters to hold fewer, but better, meetings. (new language is underlined and language to be eliminated is stricken through):
Standing Resolutions
8. Number of Chapter Meetings
The Grand Chapter encourages Chapters to consider the possibility of holding fewer meetings per year, such as every other month or quarterly meetings, to permit the Chapter officers to devote more time to the planning and conduct of each meeting, to make each meeting more meaningful and rewarding for the Companions.
Reasons: Ours is a small jurisdiction and the active members of our Chapters also belong to many other Masonic bodies and are stretched for time. If there were fewer meetings, the officers could devote more time to each meeting, and make every one more meaningful and rewarding.
Proposal #4 – to change the title of the office of Grand Visitor and Lecturer to Grand Lecturer, and make corresponding changes in duties. (new language is underlined and language to be eliminated is stricken through):
Section 3. The Grand Chapter shall be composed of –
(a) Officers as follows:
Grand Visitor and Lecturer
[no other changes in the list]
Sec. 8. Officers.
(a) Elected Officers.
The officers of this Grand Chapter shall be chosen at the annual convocation. The following officers shall be elected separately by ballot:
Grand Visitor and Lecturer
[no other changes in the list]
Grand Visitor and Lecturer
Sec. 29. The Grand Visitor and Lecturer shall be responsible for maintaining the accuracy of the work and lectures of Capitular Masonry as determined upon and established by this Grand Chapter assisting the Chapters and Companions with the ritual work. He shall, with the assistance of the Committee on Work and Lectures, instruct the officers of the constituent Chapters in the work and lectures of Capitular Masonry as adopted by this Grand Chapter; visit each constituent Chapter in this jurisdiction at least once in every 6 months for that purpose; correct erroneous work observed by him and report at the annual convocation upon the work as rendered by the Chapters, together with the official visits made during the year and the Chapters to which made. He shall not be a member of the Committee on Work and Lectures. He shall receive an honorarium in an amount to be determined by the Grand Chapter upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accounts.
Sec. 30. The Grand Visitor and Lecturer should, in the opinion of the voting members of Grand Chapter, have the ability to be a positive force in our Grand Chapter by assisting Chapters and Companions to practice the ritual work can only be installed after he has produced a certificate, signed by a majority of the Committee on Work and Lectures, that he is fully qualified to exemplify the work as prescribed by the Grand Chapter.
Sec. 41. The Committee on Work and Lectures shall examine each companion presenting himself for such examination (and who is recommended for such examination by the High Priest of his Chapter) in the work and lectures of the several Capitular degrees ritual work, and if found proficient, to issue to him a certificate to that effect. Such a certificate shall be accepted as sufficient qualification for the election and installation as Grand Visitor and Lecturer….
Sec. 60. Each High Priest must furnish to the Chapter Secretary, before the High Priest can be installed:
(a) a certificate from the Grand Visitor and Lecturer stating that the Companion to be installed as High Priest
[no other changes in this section]
Sec. 91. Every Chapter shall adopt and practice the ritual work standard work and lectures of this Grand Chapter as determined by the voting members of this Grand Chapter exemplified by the Grand Visitor and Lecturer under the direction of the Committee on Work and Lectures, and any Chapter violating this provision shall be subject to forfeiture of its charter.
Standing Resolutions
6. Casts for Conferring Degrees
[change the reference to Grand Visitor and Lecturer to Grand Lecturer — no other changes]
Reasons: Our Grand Lodge originally titled its similar officer “Grand Visitor and Lecturer,” but in the 1870s changed this to Grand Lecturer. Our Grand Chapter should make a similar change, to make it clear that the responsibilities of this position are limited and do not overlap with the responsibilities of the Grand High Priest, who is really responsible for visiting each of the Chapters and making recommendations about their non-ritual activities. It should also be clarified that the purpose of the ritual is to enhance the experience of Companions, not to impose unduly rigid and unneeded or unwanted, and counterproductive restrictions that simply lead to a decline in participation. We must remember that this is a volunteer organization and we cannot and should not allow negativism and cynicism to become the order of the day. If we do, members will no longer attend and the Chapters will not survive.
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