SECTION 1. This lodge shall be known as Golden Rule Lodge No. 90, A.F. & A. M. of Kansas. It acknowledges allegiance to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Kansas, by which it was chartered, October 20, 1870 and to which the Grand Lodge Constitution, By-Laws and Edicts obedience shall ever be paid by its Officers and members.
SECTION 1. The Stated Communication of this Lodge shall be held on the Second and Fourth Thursdays of each month, except when these Thursdays fall on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The hour of opening Lodge shall be 7:30pm of each meeting.
SECTION 1. The fees for the Degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry shall be $75.00, of which the amount of $20.00 shall accompany the petition, $20.00 at the time of receiving the Entered Apprentice Degree, $20.00 at the time of receiving the Fellowcraft Degree, and $15.00 at the time of receiving the Master Mason Degree.
SECTION 2. The dues of each member shall be increased $1.00 per year, beginning with dues of $21.00 for 2006, plus Grand Lodge assessments, for a period of 5 years, ending in 2010. The dues and assessments are due on January 1 of the current year and the member will be suspended for non-payment of dues on December 31 of that year. The dues for a newly made Master Mason will be prorated.
SECTION 1. The Master, Wardens and Secretary shall represent this Lodge on the Masonic Board of Relief of the City of Topeka, said Board being a voluntary Association consisting of a like number of representatives from Topeka Lodge No. 17, Orient Lodge No. 51 and Siloam Lodge No. 225 and having for its object the care and relief of worthy sojourners and their families.
SECTION 1. The Worshipful Master shall appoint each year a Finance Committee whose duty it shall be to examine and if found correct and just, approve all bills presented to the Lodge for payment.
SECTION 2. The Worshipful Master shall appoint each year an Auditing Committee to audit the books of the Treasurer and Secretary, and make in writing to the Lodge a detailed report of their findings. No Officer shall be eligible to serve on this Committee.
SECTION 3. The Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens, shall constitute the Committee on Charity. They shall have the power in the interim between Stated Communications to expend for immediate relief. Such action shall be reported to the Lodge at the first Stated Communication following such expenditures.
SECTION 4. The Worshipful Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer and Secretary shall constitute a Board of Trustees. The Worshipful Master shall be the President and the Secretary shall be the Secretary of said Board.
SECTION 5. The Trustees as such shall not enter into any formal contract or obligation until the Lodge shall have authorized such action.
SECTION 6. All investments of monies shall be passed upon by the Board of Trustees before being presented to the Lodge for approval.
SECTION 7. A Board of Control consisting of three members, one to be elected at each Annual Communication for a term of three years. The member serving his last year of office shall be Chairman of the Board. The duties of this board shall be:
SECTION 8. An Endowment Fund Committee consisting of 3 members, one to be appointed by the Master each year for a term ofthree years. The member serving his last year of office shallbe Chairman for the Committee. A retiring member may notbe reappointed to the Committee for at least one year. Theduties of this Committee shall be to manage the fundsspecified in Article IX and to recommend expenditures forthe approval of the Lodge.
SECTION 1. The Secretary’s salary shall be determined by the Board of Trustees prior to the first Stated Communication of each year and approved by the Lodge
SECTION 2. In addition to other duties prescribed by law, the Treasurer and Secretary shall prepare and place in the hands of the Auditing Committee of the receipts and disbursements of the funds of the Lodge for the preceding Masonic fiscal year. This report will be made not later than March 1 of each year.
SECTION 1. The order of business at Stated Communication, unless otherwise ordered by the Worshipful Master, shall be as follows:
SECTION 1. These By-Laws may be revised or amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of members present at a Stated Communication, notice having been given of such proposed amendments at a previous Stated Communication.
SECTION 1. The purpose of this article is to specify the two endowment funds at Golden Rule Lodge #90, A.F. & A. M. of Kansas
SECTION 2. There shall exist two endowment funds. One shall be called the Golden Rule Lodge #90 Kansas Masonic Foundation Endowment Fund, and the other shall be called the Golden Rule Lodge #90 Special Fund.
SECTION 3. All monies deposited into the Kansas Masonic Foundation Endowment Fund will be managed by the Kansas Masonic Foundation. The interest accumulated may be used for charitable, educational, or scientific endeavors at the discretion of the membership.
SECTION 4. All monies deposited into the Golden Rule Lodge #90 Special Fund will be managed by the Endowment Committee and their designated officials. The interest accumulated may be used for any purpose that the Lodge deems necessary, which includes but is not limited to building maintenance, Grand Lodge registration fees/hotel expenses, office supplies, furniture and Lodge apparel.
SECTION 5. All monies received will be deposited into their respective accounts. If a donation is not designated, the Endowment Committee will decide which fund to invest the money within.
SECTION 6. Only the interest should be used from each fund. The membership may elect to withdraw from the principle by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present at a Stated Communication, notice having been given of such action at the previous Stated Communication.
SECTION 7. In the event that Golden Rule Lodge #90 suspends its Charter, all monies invested in the Golden Rule Lodge #90 Special Fund will be deposited into the Golden Rule Lodge #90 Kansas Masonic Foundation Endowment Fund.
ADOPTED AT STATED COMMUNICATION – MAY 24, 1956
AMENDED AT STATED COMMUNICATION – APRIL 12, 1979
AMENDED AT STATED COMMUNICATION – MAY 28, 1992
AMENDED AT STATED COMMUNICATIION – SEPTEMBER 12, 1996
AMENDED AT STATED COMMUNICATION – JUNE 13, 2002
AMENDED AT STATED COMMUNICATION – FEBRUARY 12, 2004
AMENDED AT STATED COMMUNICATION – MARCH 25, 2004
AMENDED AT STATED COMMUNICATION – OCTOBER 28, 2004