of
EUREKA LODGE NO. 69
A. F. & A. M.

of 
MILAN, ILLINOIS
(Last revised 2006)

ARTICLE I
NAME

          Section 1. This Lodge shall be known by the name of Eureka Lodge No. 69 A. F. and A. M.

ARTICLE II
COMMUNICATIONS

          Section 1. The stated communications shall be held on the first Tuesday of each month except when that Tuesday falls on a legal holiday,
at 7:00 P.M.

          Section 2. The first stated communication of December in each year shall be the Annual Communication.

ARTICLE III
OFFICERS

          Section 1. The elective officers shall be a Worshipful Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer and Secretary.

          Section 2. The appointive officers shall be a Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, two Stewards, a Tyler, and in the discretion of the Worshipful Master, a Chaplain, Marshal and Organist.

          Section 3. The Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens shall
be ex-officio the Finance Committee of the Lodge.

ARTICLE IV
ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

          Section 1. The elective officers shall be separately chosen by ballot at the annual communication of each year. A majority of the whole number of votes cast shall be necessary to a choice. The officers named in Article III, Section 2, shall be appointed by the Worshipful Master-elect previous to installation.

          Section 2. The officers thus elected and appointed shall be installed as soon thereafter as convenient, or appointed to serve until their successors are duly elected and installed.

          Section 3. The Worshipful Master-elect, at the annual installation of officers, shall appoint a Grievance Committee, consisting of three members, a Relief Committee, consisting of three members, and an Auditing Committee, consisting of three members, to serve until their successors are appointed.

          Section 4. No Mason, not a member of this Lodge shall be eligible to any office therein, except that of Tyler

ARTICLE V
DUTIES OF OFFICERS

          Section 1. The Worshipful Master, in addition to what is required by the ancient regulations of Masonry, as set forth in Grand Lodge By-Laws, may determine the order of business and of labor, and shall regulate all debates and the conduct of members and visitors in the Lodge. He shall have the custody of the Lodge charter, and general supervision of the hall furniture. He shall be ex-officio a member of all committees. He shall see that the work and lectures used in this Lodge conform as exactly as possible to the standard already established by the Grand Lodge of Illinois, for which the Grand Master provides instructions as directed in the Grand Lodge Constitution.

          Section 2. The duties of the Wardens and other officers shall be as are specified in Grand Lodge By-Laws.

          Section 3. The treasurer shall have charge of the money and other fiscal property of the Lodge; shall deposit all funds in the name of Eureka Lodge No. 69, A.F. & A.M.; shall keep regular and accurate accounts of all Lodge moneys received by him; shall pay out only on proper authority of the Lodge on warrants signed by the Worshipful Master, attested by the Secretary and Seal of the Lodge and shall invest all surplus funds in such securities as the auditing committee may direct; shall at all times hold the accounts, vouchers, funds and securities subject to the inspection of the Worshipful Master, auditing committee or authorized committee and shall make a detailed report of all the receipts and expenditures at each annual communication or oftener if required.

          Section 4. The Secretary shall keep a true and correct record of the proceedings of the Lodge proper to be written; shall preserve in appropriate files all papers and documents relating thereto; shall keep separate accounts with each member of the Lodge; shall conduct the Lodge correspondence under the direction of the Worshipful Master; shall issue all summonses and notices when directed; shall make the necessary returns to the Grand Lodge; shall record in the minutes the names of all members in attendance at each stated communication; shall receive all moneys paid into the Lodge; record the items and amounts in the minutes of each communication, and pay them over to the Treasurer without delay, taking his receipt therefore; shall keep a complete register of the members, showing dates of initiation, passing or raising, or affiliation, also withdrawal, death, expulsion or suspension; shall notify all committees of matter referred to them, and all petitioners of their election or rejection; shall have the custody of the Lodge seal and affix the same to all documents requiring verification, and shall make a full report of all his doings at each Annual Communication.

          Section 5. The Secretary and Treasurer shall give bonds of such amounts with such securities, and upon such conditions as shall be directed and approved by the Finance Committee.

          Section 6. The Tyler, in addition to his well known and indispensable services, shall serve all summonses and notices, and perform such other duties as are required by the Worshipful Master; shall preserve strict order in his department during the sessions of the Lodge, shall have charge of the hall, furniture and clothing, under the direction of the Worshipful Master, and shall cause them to be always kept in proper order for the transaction of business and comfort of the brethren.

          Section 7. The Secretary, Treasurer, and the Tyler shall receive such compensation as the Lodge shall by resolution, determine, i.e., Secretary@ $275.00 per year & Treasurer @ $100.00 per year.

          Section 8. The Auditing Committee shall examine and adjust all accounts, claims and demands against the Lodge, or held by the Lodge against any member or other person; shall examine and report on the accounts and vouchers of the Treasurer and Secretary regarding the safe keeping of the fiscal property of the Lodge; shall examine and audit the annual reports of the Treasurer and Secretary, and report thereon, and shall render a full report of their doings and the financial condition of the Lodge at each Annual Communication.

          Section 9. The Relief Committee shall aid distressed Masons, their widows and orphans, to whom all applicants for such assistance may be referred, with power to act. They shall have authority to draw from the treasury for such relief not exceeding twenty-five dollars for any one case, reporting all such expenditures at the next stated communication of the Lodge thereafter. In case of the sickness of a brother they may provide such comfort, medical assistance, watchers, etc., as they may deem expedient.

          Section 10. The Grievance Committee shall inquire into all difficulties arising between members, when brought to their knowledge, and reconcile the same if within their power; if not, and the same be of sufficiently grave character, they shall report thereon to the Lodge, which shall take such action as the case may require.

ARTICLE VI
MEMBERSHIP

          Section 1. Membership in the Lodge may be acquired and can be terminated only as prescribed in Grand Lodge By-Laws.

          Section 2. All petitions for the degrees or for membership shall conform to the provisions of Grand Lodge By-Laws. Every petition for the degrees shall be accompanied by the fee for the degree of Entered Apprentice, but the fee shall be returned to the petitioner without delay if he be rejected. The balloting on all petitions for the degrees or for membership shall be as directed in Grand Lodge By-Laws.

          Section 3. Any candidate failing to attend for initiation or affiliation within one year after his election, except for good cause, to be approved by
a majority vote of the members present at any stated communications, shall forfeit his elections, and must petition again before he can be initiated or affiliated. This new petition shall be subject to the same rules as govern original petitions.

ARTICLE VII
FEES AND DUES

          Section 1. The fees for the degrees in this Lodge shall be as follows:

          Section 2. The annual dues of each member of this Lodge shall be $20.00, plus $10.00 Grand Lodge per-capita fees, and shall be payable annually in advance. All new members shall pay dues, from the date of raising or date of admission to January 1st following.

          Section 3. A majority vote of the members present at a stated communication, and a notice thereof in writing presented at a previous stated communication, shall be requisite to the remitting of any dues. Provided, further, that at the first stated communication in March of each year such action may be had without such previous notice; and provided further, that no dues shall be remitted, except for the year during which said notice is given or for any previous year.

          Section 4. Any member whose dues are not paid or remitted at the first stated communication in December shall be notified in writing to pay the same on or before the first stated communication in February following, which shall be considered the first notice as required in Grand Lodge By-Laws.

          Section 5. Any member who neglects or refuses to make answer to such notice, and whose dues are not paid or remitted at the first Stated Communication in February, shall be notified in person, if possible, to appear at the first Stated Communication in March following, and show cause why he should not be suspended for non-payment of dues; which shall be considered the Second Notice, as required in Grand Lodge By-Laws. If the member cannot be notified in person, then notice shall be given as provided
in Grand Lodge By-Laws.

          Section 6. If said dues are not paid or remitted at the first Stated Communication in March, the Lodge may at once proceed to discipline the delinquent member, as provided in Grand Lodge By-laws. Provided, no member shall be suspended for non-payment of dues unless the delinquency is for time already passed.

          Section 7. If from any cause the action contemplated by Section 6 of the Article, be not taken at the first Stated Communication in March, such action may be taken at the next Stated Communication: Provided, the notices required by Sections 4 and 5 of the article shall have been given, no other notice being required to make such action legal.

ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS

          Section 1. Any resolutions or edict of the Grand Lodge which has the effect to alter any part of these by-laws shall be deemed an amendment without any action of the Lodge.

          Section 2. No part of these by-laws shall be otherwise repealed, altered, suspended or amended, unless a proposition in writing shall have been presented at a Stated Communication, at lease one month previous, and two-thirds of the members present shall vote in favor of said proposition.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

The Order of Business at each Stated Communication shall be as follows, unless changed at the discretion of the Worshipful Master: