Rules and Regulations

For the Government of Subordinate Chapters of the State of Wisconsin

Section 1. Every subordinate chapter must have a charter or dispensation from this Grand Chapter, or a dispensation from the Grand Patron, attested by the Grand Secretary, under the seal of the Grand Chapter, and no chapter shall be deemed legal or regular without such charter or dispensation, nor shall chapters outside this jurisdiction be considered legal or regular unless they hold an unreclaimed dispensation or charter from a Grand Chapter having jurisdiction, or from the General Grand Chapter; and all communications, public or private, by the chapters of this jursidction, or by the members thereof with such illegal chapters is hereby interdicted and forbidden.

Section 2. The elective officers of a chapter shall consist of Matron, Patron, Associate Matron, Secretary, Treasurer, Conductress and Associate Conductress, and shall be elected annually by a majority vote of the members present at the stated meeting next preceding the first day of January. The appointed officers shall consist of Adah, Ruth, Esther, Martha, Electa, Warder and Sentinel, to which may be added Chaplain and Organist, who shall be appointed by the Matron-elect. All the above named officers must be installed at or before the first day of January. Provided, if they are not so installed, they shall be installed as soon thereafter as practicable.

Section 3. Vacancies in the elective offices, except Matron, Patron and Associate Matron may be filled by ballot at a stated meeting, the members being summoned for that purpose.

Section 4. The presence of the dispensation or Charter, one of the first three officers and six other members are indispensable to open a chapter for the transaction of business.

Section 5. No person shall be admitted as a member of a chapter within this jurisdiction, by initiation or affiliation, but Master Masons in good standing, their wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, widows, and legally adopted daughters. Daughters and sisters must be at least eighteen years of age. No person shall be a member of more than one chapter; nor shall any member be permitted to withdraw from a chapter until all dues and indebtedness are paid or remitted.

Section 6. No chapter shall confer the Degrees for a less sum than two dollars, which amount shall accompany the petition.

Section 7. All petitions for initiation or membership, shall be in writing, signed by the applicant and two members of the chapter, accompanied by the initiation fee, which petition shall be presented at a regular meeting, be reported to a committee for investigation, and lay over until the next regular meeting, except by unanimous consent for good reasons given, when the petition may be acted upon at the same meeting it is presented.

Section 8. It shall be the duty of the Investigating Committee to make inquiry as to the character and standing of the petitioner, and, if a lady, also that of the Master Mason through whom she claims to be entitled to membership, and make report in writing; and no action shall be taken on any petition until such report is made. A petition may be withdrawn by consent of the chapter, at the written request of the petitioner, at any time before balloting.

Section 9. A separate ballot must be taken on every petition for membership or the Degrees, which must be inviolably secret, without debate, and no inquiries permitted or statements made as to the character of any one’s vote. One or more negative votes reject the applicant. In case but one negative vote appears, the Matron shall order a second ballot, which shall be final. Every member present must vote.

Section 10. After an applicant for initiation or membership shall have been rejected, the petitioner shall not again apply until three months have elapsed. No rejected applicant shall be initiated by any other chapter without the consent of the rejecting chapter until the lapse of two years.

Section 11. Every chapter has the inherent right to make its own By-Laws; provided they do not conflict with the Constitution or Rules or Regulations of the Grand Chapter.

Section 12. The Matron shall preside at the meetings of the chapter, except when the Degrees are being conferred; see that the Constitution, Rules and Regulations are strictly enforced; appoint all committees, and see that the officers faithfully perform all their duties. She may call upon the Patron to preside at any time.

Section 13. The Patron shall have general supervision of affairs of the chapter; advise with and assist the other office, preside during the conferring of the Degrees, and whenever invited to do so by the Matron.

Section 14. The Associate Matron shall perform the duties appertaining to her office, and, in the absence of the Matron, assume her powers, duties and prerogatives.

Section 15. The remaining officers shall perform the duties indicated by their several titles and stations; be subject to the order of the chapter and to their superior officers.

Section 16. Every chapter shall, within one year from the date of its Charter, procure a seal, with the name, number, and location of the chapter, and such other device as it may deem proper, engraved thereon, and no document emanating from such chapter shall be deemed authentic without the seal affixed.

Section 17. The jurisdiction of chapters, for all purposes, shall extend to a point geographically half way between them; provided that in towns and cities where two or more chapters shall be organized, they shall have concurrent jurisdiction; and it shall be the duty of each and every chapter to take cognizance of the conduct of every member of the Order within its jurisdiction - whether affiliated or not - for the purpose of enforcing obedience to the laws of the Order, and maintaining its good name.