Article I: Name

1. The name of this Council shall be Texas Council No. 45, Knight Masons.
   
2. It shall be located at San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas.
   
3. It holds its Charter from, and owes fealty and allegiance to the Grand Council of Knight Masons of the United States of America and to the Masonic Grand Lodge of the Jurisdiction in which it operates. top
   

Article II: Meetings

The stated meetings of this Council shall be quarterly in the months of March, July and October. The last stated meeting in each calendar year shall be the Annual Meeting for election of officers. Special meetings may be held at the time and place designated by the Excellent Chief. (Amended January 21, 2002) top

Article III: Officers and Committees

1. The following Officers shall be elected and installed each year and shall serve until their successors shall have been elected and installed: Excellent Chief; Senior Knight; Junior Knight; Scribe and Treasurer.
   
2. The following Officers shall be appointed by the Excellent Chief and shall serve at his pleasure: Senior Warden; Junior Warden; Director of Ceremonies; Priest; Steward and Sentinel.
   
3. The Excellent Chief may appoint such committees as may be useful for carrying on the Council's affairs. The Excellent Chief shall be, ex officio, a member of all committees. top

Article IV: Membership

1. Membership in this Council shall be by invitation only. To be eligible for membership, candidates must be Royal Arch Masons in good standing in Lodge and Chapter. Good standing in the prerequisite Bodies is necessary for continuing membership.
   
2. Invitations for membership shall be given after unanimous election by the Council using the secret ballot or ballot by first class mail. If an invitation is not accepted within three years of its date of issue, such invitation shall be rendered null and void. However, the individual may be re-proposed at a later date and he must be re-elected by ballot. top
   

Article V: Fees and Dues

1. The fee for the degrees shall be $100.00.
   
2. Annual dues shall be $12.00 payable annually in advance.
   
3. A member of this Council in good standing may become a lifemember of this Council by the payment of $240.00 to the Life Membership Fund. top
   

Article VI: Local Regulations

1. The fee for the degrees shall include apron, sash, jewel, lapel pin and ritual and the initial annual dues.
   
2. The affiliation fee of Knight Masons for single, dual, or plural membership shall be the annual dues plus a sum of money equivalent to the cost of a member's apron, sash, jewel, lapel pin and ritual, inasmuch as each Knight Mason must provide himself with the regalia of the order which he does not have, plus $7.50.
   
3. The officers and members of this Council shall clothe themselves in their appropriate regalia for all meetings of the Council which includes apron, sash, and jewel. officers shall be clothed in tuxedo. Members are encouraged to be clothed in tuxedo but at a minimum are required to be clothed in a dark business suit.
   
4. At the Annual Meeting of the Council in December, the Council shall fix the time and date of the Stated Meetings of the Council, which shall be held in the months of March, June and September, and the Annual Meeting which shall be held in December.
   
5. Because of the Irish Heritage of the Order, the March Stated Meeting shall be held on or near St. Patrick's Day, March 17th.
   
6. A retiring Excellent Chief shall receive a Past Excellent Chief's jewel from the Council. top
   

Article VII: Termination

In the event this Council shall cease to exist, except for the purpose of consolidation or merger, the Excellent Chief, Secretary and Treasurer shall, within 30 days thereafter, transmit to the Grand Scribe, all the property of the Council, including, without limitation, all the books, records, jewels, paraphernalia, and funds or assets thereof. top

Article VIII: Conflict Disclaimer

Anything contained in these by-laws in conflict with the Statutes of the Grand Council of Knight Masons of the United States of America is hereby declared null and void. top

Article IX: Council Funds

All Council Funds shall be kept in the name of the Council in a financial institution in which the funds are federally insured. top

Article X: Amendments

These by-laws may be amended at any meeting of the Council by a 2/3 majority vote of the members present, if written notice has been given to the membership at least 30 days prior to the meeting where action is to be taken. Such by-laws shall become effective when signed by the M.E. Great Chief. top

ADOPTED: 21 December 1991
/s Reese L. Harrison, Jr.
Excellent Chief

/s Sidney Shaenfield
Scribe

APPROVED: 30 January 1992
/s Howard Caldwell
Excellent Chief

BYLAWS AMENDMENTS:

RESOLUTION

BE IT RESOLVED that Article V, Section A of the By-Laws of Texas Council No. 45 be amended to read as follows:
The fee for the degrees shall be the amount set from time to time by the Council.
Adopted unanimously June 20, 1992.  top

Submitted by:

/s JOHN S. HENDERSON

/s JOHN E. JACK KELLY

RESOLUTION

BE IT RESOLVED that Article II of the By-Laws of Texas Council No. 45 be amended to read as follows:
The stated meetings of the Council shall be quarterly in the months of January, March, July and October. The last stated meeting of the calendar year shall be the Annual Meeting for the election of officers. special meetings may be held at the time and place designated by the Excellent Chief.
Adopted unanimously September 20, 1992. top

Submitted by:
/s REESE L. HARRISON, JR., EC, PEC

STANDING RESOLUTION

At the annual meeting the Council will by majority vote set a maximum number of candidates to be initiated during the following calendar year. Proposals for membership will then be made. A secret ballot vote will then be taken. Election of candidates will be by a plurality of votes for the number set and agreed upon by the Council to be initiated. If there are any declinations, the proposed candidate or candidates receiving the next largest number of plurality votes will be extended an invitation to membership.
Adopted unanimously December 30, 1991.   top