Article I, Title

Section 1. This Grand Chapter shall be known by the name and style of the Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star of the State of Wisconsin.

Article II, Of Whom It Consists

Section 1. the Grand Chapter shall consist of a Grand Matron, Grand Patron, Associate Grand Matron, Associate Grand Patron, Grand Secretary, Grand Treasurer, Grand Conductress, Associate Grand Conductress, Grand Chaplain, Grand Marshal,* Grand Adah, Grand Ruth, Grand Esther, Grand Martha, Grand Electa, Grand Warder, Grand Sentinel, together with the Matrons, Patrons and Associate Matrons (or their proxies regularly appointed) of all Subordinate Chapters of this jurisdiction, whose official character shall be duly certified to the Grand Chapter by the several secretaries of their respective chapters, and such Past Matrons, Past Grand Matrons, Past Patrons and Past Grand Patrons as shall remain in good standing in some Subordinate Chapter in this Grand Jurisdiction. (*Grand Organist was not mentioned. May have been misprint.)

Section 2. All the above named Grand Officers shall be sisters, except the Grand Patron and Associate Grand Patron; provided that the Grand Chaplain, Grand Secretary and Grand Sentinel, may be either sister or brother.

Section 3. The first eight officers above named shall be elected, the remaining to be appointed by the Grand Matron and Grand Patron.

Section 4. the foregoing Grand officers, Past officers, Past Grand officers and delegates only shall be entitled to vote and take part in the proceedings of the Grand Chapter. They shall have but one vote each on every question, except the presiding officer, who in case of a tie, may give the casting vote; provided that any member may call for a vote by chapters, when each chapter shall be entitled to as many votes as it is entitled to representatives, which may be cast by one or more of them.

Article III, Qualification for Office

Section 1. Any member in good standing in a subordinate chapter in this jurisdiction shall be eligible to any office in the Grand Chapter, subject to the restrictions contained in Section 2, Article II, provided that no one shall be elected Grand Matron, Associate Grand Matron, Grand Patron or Associate Grand Patron, unless he or she be a Matron, Past Matron, or Patron or Past Patron of some subordinate chapter of the Order.

Article IV, Powers of the Grand Chapter

Section 1. This Grand Chapter being supreme in all matters appertaining to its affairs, has the sole right to superintend and govern all chapters of the Order within its jurisdiction. It has power to grant dispensations and charters for forming and holding new chapters and to extend or revoke the same; to enact rules and regulations, issue edicts, and to amend or repeal the same; to discipline, censure, suspend or annul chapters for willful violation or infringement of the constitution, regulations or edicts of this Grand Chapter, to decide all appeals from subordinate chapters, their officers or the officers and committees of this Grand Chapter, to exercise all rights of sovereignty within the limits of its jurisdiction, subject to the General Grand Chapter; and all powers not especially delegated to subordinate chapters are inherent in and reserved to this Grand Chapter.

Article V, Time of Meeting

Section 1. There shall be one annual meeting of the Grand Chapter beginning at 2 o’clock p.m. on the first Wednesday after the third Tuesday in February of each and every year at such place as shall be agreed upon at any annual meeting, beginning with the third Thursday in February, 1891.

Section 2. Special meetings may be ordered by the Grand Matron, or in her absence or disability, by the Grand Patron, at such time or place as in her or his opinion the interests of the Order require; provided that each chapter in this jurisdiction shall be notified at least thirty days previous to such called meetings and no business except such specified in the call shall be transacted at such special meeting.

Article VI, Quorum

Section 1. Representatives or proxies, regularly appointed of five subordinate chapters under the jurisdiction of this Grand Chapter, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Article VII, Representatives and Proxies

Section 1. It shall be the duty of the Matrons, Patrons and Associate Matrons of Subordinate Chapters to attend all meetings of the Grand Chapter and they shall present to the Grand Chapter a certificate from the Secretary authenticated by the seal of their respective chapters of their election and installation into office.

Section 2. A proxy may be appointed to represent the chapter by either of the delegates but such proxy must be a member of the chapter represented and must present a certificate of such appointment duly authenticated.

Article VIII, Powers and Duties of Grand Officers

Section 1. The grand Matron shall open, preside over and close the Grand Chapter, appoint all committees not otherwise specially appointed; see that the rules and regulations of the Order are strictly enforced and that the officers faithfully perform their respective duties, and give such instructions and directions as the good of the Order may require. She has power to convene a chapter within this jurisdiction (in person or by proxy), to preside therein, to inspect the proceedings and require conformity to the laws of the Order; to suspend for good cause, for a limited period or until the next annual meeting of the Grand Chapter, and to require the attendance of and information from, any Grand officers respecting her or his office. She shall decide all questions of law and usage submitted to her; subject, however, to an appeal to the Grand Chapter, and until such decisions and opinions are reversed by the Grand Chapter, they shall be in force and binding as between the parties thereto. During the vacation of the Grand Chapter, she shall exercise all its executive powers, except so far as they are made the duty of the Grand Patron; she shall report to the Grand Chapter at each annual meeting all her official acts. She may call upon the Grand patron to preside at any time.

Section 2. The Grand patron shall assist and advise the Grand Matron in the discharge of her duties. He has power to grant dispensations for new chapters upon proper application; provided no new chapter shall be formed in any town or city where one or more chapters exist except upon the recommendation of the chapters already organized in said town or city; to delegate authority to confer the degrees at sight upon a sufficient number of worthy persons in towns and cities where no chapter exists for the purpose of organizing a chapter. He shall preside whenever called upon by the Grand Matron, and in the absence of both the Grand Matron and Associate Grand Matron he shall call the Grand Chapter to order, and appoint some Matron or Post Matron present to act as Grand Matron pro tem. He shall report to the Grand Chapter, at each annual meeting, all his official acts.

Section 3. In the absence of their respective superiors, the Associate Grand Matron and Associate Grand Patron shall severally act as Grand Matron and Grand Patron in order according to rank. At all other times they shall perform such duties as may be assigned them by the Grand Matron or Grand Chapter.

Section 4. It shall be the duty of the Grand Secretary to keep a faithful record of all the transactions of the Grand Chapter, to collect all moneys due the Grand Chapter, and pay the same promptly to the Grand Treasurer, taking her receipt for the same; to make annually a report in writing, or oftener if required by the Grand Matron or Grand Chapter, of the amount collected; to execute such orders as may be issued by the Grand Matron or Grand Chapter, and to deliver to his or her successor in office all books, papers and other property belonging to the Grand Chapter, in his or her possession. He or she shall receive such compensation as the Grand Chapter may direct.

Section 5. the Grand Treasurer shall receive all moneys from the hands of the Grand Secretary and give her receipt therefore. Shall pay all orders from the moneys on hand as may be directed by the Grand Chapter, carefully number and file all vouchers, and annually or oftener if required by the Grand Matron or Grand Chapter, make in writing a full statement at the time, deliver the books and vouchers to the Grand Chapter for examination. She shall deliver to her successor in office all books, vouchers, papers and moneys or property belonging to the Grand Chapter which may be in her hands.

Section 6. the remaining Grand officers shall perform such duties as are appropriate to their several stations and such as may be assigned them by the Grand Matron or the Grand Chapter.

Article IX, Election of Officers

Section 1. All officers shall be elected or appointed annually and installed after the regular business of the Grand Chapter shall have been completed; provided the installation ceremonies may be public or private as may be determined by the Grand Chapter. No officer shall officiate in her or his station until she or he has been legally installed.

Article X, Dispensations

Section 1. During the recess of the Grand Chapter, the Grand Patron may grant dispensations, attested by the Grand Secretary and authenticated by the seal of the Grand Chapter, for the formation of new Chapters. Such dispensation shall expire at the next annual meeting of the Grand Chapter when, if there work is approved, such chapter shall receive a charter, paying therefore an additional fee of five dollars.

Section 2. No charger shall be granted a new chapter until the Grand Chapter shall be satisfied that the proposed officers are thoroughly qualified to discharge their duties properly.

Section 3. Chapters under dispensation shall have all the rights and privileges of chartered chapters, except to be represented in this Grand Chapter and to elect and install officers.

Article XI, Revenue

Section 1. the revenue of the Grand Chapter shall be derived from the following sources, viz: For every Dispensation, including three copies of the Ritual, and a Signet, Twenty dollars, and for each charter granted, Five dollars.

Section 2. Every chapter shall pay annually to the Grand Chapter on or before the lst day of February, twenty-five cents for each and every member belonging to it on the lst day of January preceding and twenty-five cents for each initiation during the year; and no chapter shall be entitled to representation in the Grand Chapter until such dues are paid.

Article XII, Annual Reports

Section 1. Each subordinate chapter shall send to the Grand Secretary on or before the first day of February of each year, an abstract of its proceedings for the year ending December 31st, next preceding. This report shall include the names of the officers last elected and installed, the number initiated, the number affiliated, the number withdrawn, suspended, expelled and died, and the number of remaining members, setting out the names of each class in full alphabetical order, making a distinction by prefixing the title Mrs. or Miss to the names of sisters.

Section 2. Any chapter failing to make such report, and pay Grand Chapter dues for two consecutive years without furnishing satisfactory reasons to the Grand Chapter shall forfeit its charter at the discretion of the Grand Chapter and it is made the duty of the Grand Secretary to report such delinquencies to the Grand Chapter.

Article XIII, Pay of Grand Officers and Representatives

Section 1. The Grand Officers and one Representative of each subordinate chapter shall receive from the funds of the Grand Chapter such sums as it may appropriate for attending to the business and meetings of the Grand Chapter; provided no such payment for attending the meetings of this Grand Chapter shall exceed six cents per miles for the distance by the nearest traveled route from the location of the subordinate chapter to which such Grand Officer or Representative belongs, to the place of meeting of this Grand Chapter; and provided further that no Representative shall be paid a greater amount than the dues paid by the chapter to the Grand Chapter for that year.

Article XIV, Committees and Duties Thereof

The following standing committees shall be appointed at each annual session: On Credentials, Finance and Ways and Means, Unfinished Business, Jurisprudence, Appeals and Grievances, Dispensations and Charters, Foreign Correspondence.

The standing committees of the Grand Chapter shall perform and discharge the following specified duties, to-wit:

On Credentials - the committee on Credentials shall report the name of each representative and proxy present, with the name and number of the chapter represented.

On Finance and Ways and Means - it shall be the duty of the committee on Finance and Ways and Means to examine the books and vouchers of the Grand Secretary and the Grand Treasurer, balance the same and report the actual state and condition of the funds of the Grand Chapter, and also to take into consideration all propositions and resolutions affecting its revenue which may be offered; they shall specifically report thereon, and may recommend any measure which in their opinion will be for the benefit financially of the Grand Chapter.

Unfinished Business - it shall be the duty of the Committee on Unfinished business to examine the journal of the previous annual meeting and report all matters then pending and undetermined.

On Jurisprudence - the committee on Jurisprudence shall carefully examine all propositions to revise, alter or amend the Constitution, By-Laws and General Regulations of the Grand Chapter, as well as all questions of law and usage and make report thereon in writing to the Grand Chapter.

On Appeal and Grievances - it shall be the duty of the committee on Appeals and Grievances to examine all matters of controversy and grievance when presented to them with such recommendations for the action of the Grand Chapter as they may deem proper.

On Dispensations and Charters - the committee on Dispensations and Charters shall examine the returns of chartered chapters and their By-Laws when submitted to them, and shall note all improper informal or illegal proceedings, and report the same to the Grand Chapter with their recommendations. They shall also examine the work, records and By-Laws of all chapters under dispensation and the proceedings of the Grand officers granting the same, note all matters that are improper or unconstitutional and report the Grand Chapter with their recommendations.

On Foreign Correspondence - the committee on Foreign Correspondence shall have the charge of all matters of foreign correspondence referred to them, review all the printed or written proceedings emanating from other Grand Chapters and report to the Grand Chapter by resolution or otherwise.

Article XV, Amendments

All amendments to this Constitution must be submitted in writing at an annual meeting, when, if approved by a majority of the members present they shall lie over until the next annual meeting, when, if adopted by a two-thirds vote they shall become a part of this Constitution.