Rules of Order

For Conducting the Business of the Grand Chapter

1. At the annual meeting of the Grand Chapter, the Grand Matron shall take the chair at 2 o’clock, p.m. and if there is a constitutional number of chapters represented, see that the Grand officers are in their stations, fill vacancies pro tem, and open the Grand Chapter in usual form. The Grand Matron, immediately after opening the Grand Chapter at each annual meeting, shall appoint the Standing Committee on Credentials, to consist of three members.

2. After the Grand Chapter is opened, the officers, members, and visitors shall conduct themselves with that order and decorum which the dignity of the institution requires. They shall pay due respect to the presiding officer, to whom commands they shall be attentive and obedient. No person shall be permitted to enter or leave the Grand Chapter without permission of the presiding officer.

3. The business of the Grand Chapter (unless otherwise directed) shall be disposed of as follows, viz:

1. Appointment of Committee on Credentials.
2. Annual address of Grand Matron.
3. Annual address of Grand Patron.
4. Report of Committee on Credentials.
5. Unfinished Business.
6. Report of Special Committees.
7. Report of Secretary.
8. Report of Treasurer.
9. Report of Standing Committees.
10. Election of Grand officers.
11. Miscellaneous Business.
12. Installation of Officers.

4. All Committees shall be appointed by the Grand Matron, and consist of three members each, the first named to be Chairman, unless otherwise ordered by the Grand Chapter.

5. All resolutions shall be reduced to writing and presented to the Grand Secretary and read, with the name of the mover indorsed thereon; when, upon being duly seconded, they shall be submitted for the consideration and decision of the Grand Chapter.

6. All business and reports must be disposed of before the session of the Grand Chapter is closed, except such as lie over by virtue of the Constitution or by consent of the Grand Chapter.

7. All reports of officers and committees shall be written or printed and signed if by a committee by at least a majority of its members.

8. No member shall speak more than twice upon the same question without permission of the presiding officer of the Grand Chapter.

9. Any member may call for a division of a question if divisible, and three may demand a vote by yeas and nays.

10. No motion or resolution involving the expenditure or money, except the report of the Committee on Pay Roll, shall be adopted until the same shall have been reported upon by the Committee on Finance.

11. Motions to lay on the table, to reconsider, to refer to committee, for the order of the day, for the previous question, to call off, and to close, shall be decided without debate.

12. All motions shall be seconded, and stated by the presiding officer, before they shall be open for debate or action. A majority vote shall determine all questions, except as otherwise specifically provided.

13. Any member persisting in the violation of these rules of order, after being called to order by the presiding officer, may be reprimanded, suspended or expelled from the Grand chapter, at its discretion.

14. Parliamentary law, not in conflict with the foregoing regulations, shall govern the deliberations of the Grand Chapter.

15. These regulations may be amended at any annual meeting by a two-thirds vote.