(Form No. 23a)

By-Laws of the

Masters Wardens and Secretaries Association

Article I.
NAME

Section A – The name of this Association shall be “The Masters, Wardens and Secretaries Association, A.F.&A.M. of the 93A & 93B District of Texas”, and this Association exists only at the will and pleasure of the Grand Lodge of Texas, acting through the Grand Master and in turn through the District Deputy Grand Master in the District.

Article II.
PURPOSE

Section A – This Association is a cooperative service organization dependent upon the Masonic Lodges of the 93A & 93B Masonic District of Texas for support and has no authority or right to concern itself in any manner with the business or other affairs of the Lodges of this District, or of any member thereof All members of this Association shall retain all rights and privileges invested in them as Master Masons under the Constitution and Laws of the Grand Lodge of Texas and nothing herein shall ever be construed to restrict such rights in any manner.

Section B – The purpose of this Association shall be:

  1. To assist the District Deputy Grand Masters and members of any Grand Lodge Committee in the performance of their duties when requested.
  2. To promote a cooperative plan of attendance when all the Lodges of the 93A & 93B Masonic District act as host to the M: W: Grand Master and visiting Masons when in attendance at the annual Regional or District meetings.
  3. To foster and encourage ideas and plans determined to promoting better spirit of Brotherhood and widen acquaintances among the Brethren of this District.
  4. To promote and support educational meetings designed to bring more light to all Master Masons.

Article HI.

MEMBERSHIP

Section A – All Worshipful Masters, Wardens and Secretaries of Lodges in the 93A & 93B Masonic District shall by virtue of their respective offices be regular members of the Association. This Association may, at its option, include Junior Past Masters, Past Presidents and Past Masters as regular members.

Section B – All Past Masters and affiliated Past Masters of Lodges in the 93A & 93B Masonic District shall be honorary members of the Association.

Section C – Each regular member present shall be entitled to one vote in the transaction of business. Honorary members shall have no vote in the transaction of business, but may offer suggestions for consideration, and may serve on committees when properly appointed.

Form 23a — Revised 2009 (Art. 10 — note)

Article IV.
OFFICERS

Section A – The officers of this Association shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. All of whom shall be elected from the regular membership and by a majority vote of the regular members present. The office of the Secretary and Treasurer may be combined at the discretion of this Association.

Section B – No President shall succeed himself in office.

Section C – In case of the death, resignation, inability or refusal to serve of the President, the Vice-President shall assume the duties of that office until the next regular meeting of the Association at which time that office shall be filled by election. In the event a vacancy occurs in the office of Vice-President, Secretary or Treasurer, the President may appoint a protem officer until the next regular meeting of the Association at which time that office will be filled by election.

Article V.
MEETINGS

Section A – Not less than four meetings shall be held per annum.

Section B – The regular meetings of this Association shall be held on 2nd Sat- January, April, July and October.

Section C – The election of officers shall be held at the first regular or called meeting after June 24th and prior to August 1st.

Section D – Called meetings may be held at any time on written notice mailed to all regular members by the President at least five days prior to such meeting.

Section E – Any business proper to be transacted by this Association may be transacted at either a regular or called meeting, except amendments to these By-Laws.

Section F – All meetings of this Association shall be opened and closed with prayer.

Article VI.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

Section A – The order of business at regular or called meetings shall be as follows, unless otherwise ordered by the President:

  • 1. Opening Prayer
  • 2. Roll Call of Lodges
  • 3. Reading Minutes of Preceding Meeting
  • 4. Reports of Committees
  • 5. Unfinished Business
  • 6. New Business
  • 7. Announcements
  • 8. Program
  • 9. Closing Prayer

Article VII.

COMMITTEES

Section A – The President may appoint such committees as he deems desirable and necessary to carry out the various activities of the Association.

Article VIII.

FINANCE

Section A – The work of this Association shall be carried on only by voluntary contributions, in a manner to be determined by the Association.

Form 23a — Revised 2009 (Art. 10 — note)

Article IX.

AMENDMENTS

Section A – No amendments to the By-Laws, either by alteration or addition, shall be made, unless in the following manner:

(1) The proposed amendment must be in writing, signed by the proposers, and presented and read at a regular meeting of this Association, at which time it may be discussed and amended, if necessary.

  1. At the next regular meeting of this Association, it shall again be considered and voted upon without further amendment and approved by a two-thirds majority of the regular members present.
  2. With approval of the Grand Lodge, the proposed amendment shall become a part of the by-laws of this Association.

Your Committee recommends that the Grand Secretary mail to each existing Association in the Grand Jurisdiction one copy, of these By-Laws and that they in turn adopt these By-Laws if they so desire, make any necessary additions, and file the complete set of By-Laws with the Grand Secretary. Existing Association not desiring to adopt this set of By-Laws shall forward a complete set of their By-Laws to this Grand Lodge for approval. All subsequent amendments to Association By-Laws shall be submitted to this Grand Lodge for approval. Your Committee further recommends that each Association Secretary be required to file with the Grand Secretary a list of present Association Officers no later than January 15th of each year and a list of new Association Officers no later than August 15th of each year.

Article X

The above By-Laws having been approved by the said Masters, Wardens and Secretaries Association,

A.F.&A.M., of the  93A & 93B Masonic District of Texas on the  12 day of  May  

A.D. 2025 , of which witness my hand and seal.

By order of the Association

, Secretary

The above By-Laws having been approved by the M…W:. Grand Lodge of Texas, on the day

of A.D.

(Grand Lodge Seal)

Grand Secretary

Form 23a — Revised 2009 (Art. 10 — note)