By Laws
BY-LAWS OF
THE LODGE OF KING SOLOMON’S TEMPLE
NUMBER 4611
CONSECRATED 28TH MARCH 1924
IN JERUSALEM, PALESTINE


THIS LODGE IS CONSTITUTED BY VIRTUE OF A WARRANT
NO 4611,
FROM THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ANCIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF ENGLAND, BEARING THE DATE 14TH NOVEMBER AD 1923, AND AL 5923
,
AND WE THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER, WARDENS AND BRETHREN OF THE LODGE, HAVE AGREED TO, AND ESTABLISHED, THE FOLLOWING BY-LAWS.
1.TITLE OF LODGE
In conformity with the provisions of the warrant, above mentioned, this Lodge shall bear the title of “Lodge of King Solomon’s Temple” and shall bear the number 4611.


2.REGULAR MEETINGS
The regular meetings shall be held at Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ, on the third Friday in February, the fourth Fridays in April and May, and the second Fridays in October and November.
The regular meeting held in February will be the Installation meeting.


3. EMERGENCY MEETINGS
Emergency meetings may be held under Rule 140 of the Book of Constitutions of the United Grand Lodge of England whenever it may be found expedient so to do


4. OFFICERS
The office-bearers of the Lodge shall consist of the Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer, Secretary, Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Inner Guard and Tyler. A Chaplain, a Director of Ceremonies, an Assistant Director of Ceremonies, an Almoner, an Organist, an assistant Secretary, and Stewards may be appointed.


5. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The Master and Treasurer shall be annually elected by ballot at the regular meeting held in November, and at the regular meeting held in February, the Master-Elect shall be installed. The Master will then invest the Treasurer and appoint and invest his Wardens and Officers for the ensuing twelve months.
The method of electing the Master and Treasurer shall be by each subscribing brother writing on paper the name of the brother he wishes to elect. The papers shall be then collected and read out by the Master, and the brother having the largest number of votes shall be declared the Master-Elect and Treasurer-Elect respectively. In case of equality of votes the Master shall then give his casting vote to decide the election.
The Master-Elect must have previously served for one year as a Warden of a regular Lodge under the Grand lodge of England.
The Tyler shall be elected annually by a show of hands at the regular meeting held in November.
Every brother who has been elected to an office shall by his acceptance thereof be considered pledged to a strict performance of the duties attached thereto.


6. DUTIES OF TREASURER
All monies belonging to the Lodge shall be deemed to be the property of the Treasurer for the time being. He will hold them in trust for the lodge to be applied as shall be ordered and directed by the Lodge. The Treasurer shall receive all monies due to the Lodge and shall give a receipt for same. He shall make such payments to the Grand Lodge as are necessary according to the Constitution.
He shall discharge all claims made on the Lodge, which have been duly vouched for by the Master, provided any such claim does not exceed the sum of £100. All other payments must be sanctioned by the brethren at a regular meeting, before being paid.
The Treasurer shall keep the books in which shall be entered a true and correct account of all receipts and disbursements. The books shall be kept in such a manner as to show at once the amount of cash in hand. These books shall be open to the inspection of all members of the lodge at all regular meetings of the Lodge. The Treasurer shall keep the list of members who are in arrears so that they may be dealt with as the Lodge may direct. The Treasurer will see that no Lodge monies are voted to be applied, to a non-Masonic purpose, except by unanimous vote, or for the benefit of a member of the Lodge, or [he being deceased] for the benefit of his widow or children except by a two-thirds majority.  At the regular meeting in February the Treasurer shall hand over to the Treasurer-Elect [after he has been invested] all the books and accounts and the balance of money in hand shown in the report of the Audit Committee,
The financial year of the lodge shall end on 31st December in each year.


7. AUDIT OF ACCOUNTS
At the regular meeting of the lodge in November in each year an Audit Committee shall be appointed which shall consist of five Master Masons who shall be elected by the lodge. Three members of this committee shall form a quorum.
The treasurer shall finally close his accounts on 31st December in each year and shall personally produce them and all books, bills, receipts, vouchers and other necessary documents to the audit committee for their inspection.
The audit committee shall audit the treasurer’s accounts and at the regular meeting in February they shall present an abstract of the accounts and read in open Lodge a report of their examination. The audit committee will also check the Lodge furniture, Jewels and other Lodge property with the inventory book kept by the secretary and will submit a report to the Lodge on the result of their examination.


8. DUTIES OF SECRETARY
The secretary shall keep a Register of full names, ages, professions and addresses of all members. Also proper minutes of all meetings and of such transactions and matters as are regularly proposed and seconded in the Lodge which shall be fairly transcribed in a book to be kept for that purpose.
He shall issue summonses under the direction of the Master to every subscribing member and to the Tyler at least seven days before every regular meeting. All summonses shall give notice of all elections, initiations, passings, raisings, or admission of new members, with the proper details, and also motions of which any member has given notice in open Lodge and any other Masonic business to be brought before the Lodge.
He shall also prepare all returns and communications to Grand Lodge and all petitions for charitable aid, and under the direction of the Master, deal with all Lodge correspondence.
He shall also keep a book in which shall be entered an inventory of all the Lodge furniture, Jewels and other Lodge property, which book shall be produced to the Audit committee when they check the Lodge property.


9. DUTIES OF TYLER
The Tyler shall attend punctually at every meeting and shall have the Lodge room prepared by the time notified on the summons. He shall take care of the furniture, Jewels and Lodge property, and shall be particular in seeing that every brother inscribes his name in the book provided for that purpose, and see that he is masonically-clothed before he is announced. After the Lodge is tiled he shall report the name and number of each visiting brother before his admission. For these services he shall receive such remuneration from the Lodge funds, as the members shall from time to time determine upon.


10. GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE
There shall be a General Purposes Committee consisting of the Master, the Immediate Past Master and all subscribing Officers and Past Masters of the Lodge. Three members of this committee shall form a quorum.
The Master may refer any matter to this committee for investigation and report.


11. PROPOSALS AND ELECTION OF CANDIDATES AND JOINING MEMBERS
All applications of Candidates and Joining members, before being proposed and seconded in open Lodge, shall be first submitted to the General Purposes Committee who will enquire into the moral character and circumstances of every candidate, and the said committee shall report to the Master the result of their enquiries.
Every candidate for initiation or brother for joining, shall be proposed and seconded in open Lodge, at a regular meeting, and shall be balloted for at the next regular meeting. If a candidate for Initiation is elected and does not present himself for Initiation within twelve months, his election shall be void; provided that in case of emergency, a proposition may be made in accordance with Rule 160 of the Book of Constitutions.
The proposer and seconder of any candidate for Initiation or brother for joining are responsible for seeing that the proper forms required by the Book of Constitutions are completed and sent to the secretary in due time.
NOTE: Should there be any objection to a candidate either for Initiation, or brother for joining, it is desirable that such objection be mentioned in confidence to the Master, so that he may communicate with the proposer and seconder and so give them an option of withdrawing the candidate.
At any ballot for the election of a candidate for initiation. or brother for joining or rejoining, one black ball shall exclude. Any candidate for initiation, or brother for joining or rejoining, who has been excluded by a black ball cannot present himself for election again until twelve months have elapsed.
Any brother wishing to join the Lodge as a joining member shall, previous to the ballot being taken, produce his Grand Lodge Certificate and also certificates of clearance from any Lodges he belong to, or has belonged to, showing that all his dues have been paid.


12. FEES
The following fees shall be payable in all cases in advance: an Initiation fee of £75 and a joining or rejoining fee of £25, such fees to be exclusive of subscription.


13. SUBSCRIPTIONS
The annual subscription for members, due and payable in advance on 1st January of each year, shall be such amount as the Lodge shall from time to time decide by resolution after notice on the summons. Candidates for initiation, joining and rejoining shall pay a proportion of the annual subscription dependant on the time of year they are received into the Lodge. Any member who, for reasons acceptable to the Lodge, is not in a position to enjoy the privileges of the Lodge regularly, may on written application to the secretary, and by resolution of the Lodge General Purposes Committee, become a Country member and have his annual subscription reduced by the amount considered to be the dining fee. When Country members are able to attend the Lodge and dine, they shall pay the current guest-dining fee.


14. MEMBERS
There shall be two categories of subscribing members, namely members and country members. Honorary Life members and country members cannot be appointed to hold office in the Lodge.


15. CHARITY
The fund for charitable purposes shall be kept separate and distinct from the  Lodge funds. At every meeting of the Lodge a collection shall be made for Charity and the Treasurer will declare the sum collected. All sums voted from the Lodge funds for charity will be placed to the credit of the charity fund.
The Master, or in his absence the Senior warden, or in the absence of both, the Junior Warden, may authorise the Treasurer to grant relief to the extent of £100, reporting the circumstances to the Lodge at the next regular meeting.
All applications for charity shall be reported to the General Purposes Committee who shall report to the Master, as early as practicable, and he shall be empowered to act on such report.


16. RESIGNATION
Any member desirous of withdrawing from the lodge must give notice personally to the Master in open Lodge, or to the secretary in writing, and upon payment of his arrears [if any] he shall be entitled to a certificate of clearance.

17. HONORARY MEMBERS. The Lodge may elect Honorary Members in accordance with Rule 167 in the Book of Constitutions


18. VISITORS
Visiting brethren must conform to the rules of the Lodge when attending any meeting. Every brother visiting the lodge must sign his name in the attendance book and state therein the number and name of the Lodge to which he belongs or has belonged, his Masonic rank and the name of the member who has introduced him. A member wishing to introduce a visitor shall notify the secretary who, if time allows, will send him a summons together with an invitation. It is within the power of the Master to refuse admission to any visitor whose presence, in his opinion, is likely to disturb the harmony of the Lodge.


19. LANGUAGE. The business of the Lodge shall be conducted in the English language.


20. INSURANCE. The Lodge furniture, Jewels and other property shall be insured at full value against loss by fire or theft. They shall be insured in an insurance company to be approved by the Lodge and in the name of the Master and Wardens for the time being as Trustees of the Lodge.


21. REFRESHMENTS. The brethren shall take refreshments at such time and at such place, and in such company, as the Master shall decide


22. ALTERATION OF BY-LAWS
Every proposition for a new By-Law or for the amendment or repeal of the existing By-Laws, shall be made at a regular meeting in open Lodge, in writing and signed by the members proposing and seconding the proposition.
The secretary shall give due notice of the motion on the summons and the proposition will be considered at the next regular meeting.
If the proposition is approved by the Lodge it shall not become effective until it has been confirmed at a subsequent Lodge meeting, and until it has received the approval of the Most Worshipful The Grand Master.


23. QUESTIONS: HOW DECIDED
Notice of matters to be determined in connection with, or relating to, the affairs of the Lodge, by or on behalf of a brother proposing the same, must be given in writing at a regular meeting and in open Lodge and signed by the brethren proposing and seconding the same. All such matters and all questions, motions and resolutions shall, unless otherwise provided for in the Book of Constitutions, or in these By-Laws, be decided by a majority vote.
Voting, except where otherwise provided for, shall be by a show of hands and, in the event of an equal number of votes on any question, to be decided by a majority, the Master shall have a casting vote.


24. BY-LAWS TO BE PRINTED AND SUPPLIED TO ALL MEMBERS
These By-Laws shall be printed in book form and supplied free of charge to all members.
Every candidate for initiation shall sign the Lodge Declaration Book which includes his declaration of submission to the Lodge By-Laws. Joining members shall, as a condition of their membership, agree to abide by the Lodge By-Laws in respect of all matters relating to the Lodge.


25. BY-LAWS TO BE READ ANNUALLY IN OPEN LODGE
These By-Laws may be read aloud in open Lodge at least once in every year.


26. MATTERS NOT PROVIDED FOR IN THE BY-LAWS
If any case occurs for which no provision is made in the foregoing By-Laws, reference shall be made to the Book of Constitutions of the United Grand Lodge of England and decided accordingly.


LIST OF OFFICERS OF FIRST ADMINISTRATION

W BroClement W Cowell, IPM 2905WM
W BroBrig Gen Sir Gilbert F Clayton,
  KBE, CB, CMG, PDGW[Egypt &Sudan]IPM
W BroJ F Rowlands SW
W BroF H Baker     JW
W BroA P S Clark, MBE Treasurer
W BroI R De W Lash, OBE    Secretary
W BroA S Mavrogordato, PM 2798 DC
W BroC F Wolfe    SD
W BroB O DenhamJD
W BroW Hudson, OBE. MC  Almoner
W BroS G White   Organist
W BroRS Champion      IG
W BroLJ Harris, OBE    Steward
W BroFJ TearSteward
W BroWH Wyatt   Tyler



FOUNDERS


W BroBrig Gen Sir GF Clayton, KBE, CB, CMG, PDGW[Egypt & Sudan]
W BroClement W Cowell, IPM 2905
BroWD Priestley, 1355
BroEE Wiles 416
BroFH Baker, 1165
BroJF Rowlands, 3229
BroRT Little, 2202
BroW Hudson, ODE, MC, 3325
BroRS Champion, 3367
BroCF Wolfe, 1157
W BroAS Mavrogordato, PM. 2798
BroLJ Harris, OBE, 410
BroBO Denham, 3530
BroIR De W Lash, OBE. 3367
BroAPS Clark, MBE. 1157
BroFJ Tear, 2877
BroSG White, 3296
BroRL Vance, 3367


CO-OPTED FOUNDERS

RW BroCE Keyser, PGW [Eng], PGM [Herts]
W BroSir William Hodgson, Kt, PPGW [Ches]       PM  3464
W BroDavid L Hewitt, JP, PAGDC [Eng]              WM 3464
W BroWJ Kerr, PPGT [W Lancs], PPGW [Ches]    PM  3464
W BroJF Swift, PPGW [Ches]  PM 3261,    Treasurer 3464
W BroJS Warren, PPAGDC [Ches]…………………..       PM   332
W BroHS Hayco, PPGD [W Lancs], PPGD [Ches]   PM  3464
W BroW Swancott Morgan, PPDGRegr [Ches]      PM  3464
W Bro  Charlie Woods, LR                                    PM  1869
W BroM Mott-Cowan      PM  1356
W BroWT Bell, PPGT [Ches]      SD  3464
W BroEvan Roberts Jnr, MBE, PPGD [E Lancs]     PM  2891
W Bro  Ernest Lea      PM  2905
BroJGA Lawson             3464
BroN Spencer             3464
BroAJ Sidall             3464
BroC Childs             3464
BroWilliam H Denson, JP     JW  3464
BroLH Hardman             3464
BroEH Lawes, MBE             2475
BroAW Servante             1768
W Bro  EG Parker, PPGW [Ches]             3464

The original By-Laws were passed at a General Meeting of Founders held at Jerusalem on 22nd February 1924 before the Consecration of the Lodge of King Solomon’s Temple, no 4611.
The By-Laws were again approved and passed without alteration or amendment at the First regular meeting after Consecration of the Lodge of King Solomon’s Temple, no 4611, held at Jerusalem on 12th April 1924, and the same were submitted to the Most Worshipful The Grand Master for confirmation and approval as the By-Laws of the Lodge of King Solomon’s Temple no 4611.
[signed] Clement W Cowell, WM
[signed] JF Rowlands, SW
[signed] Francis H Baker, JW
[signed] I R De W Lash, Secretary
Masonic Rooms, Jerusalem, 6th May 1924
Approved by the M W The Grand Master 29th May 1924
[signed] P Colville Smith, Grand Secretary

The 1986 Amended By-Laws included amendments to the Original By-Laws of the Lodge, such as to place of meeting and finance, etc. A major change was to make the annual reading out of the By-Laws an optional rather than a compulsory requirement. The amendments were approved at the regular meeting of the Lodge held at the Park Court Hotel, Lancaster Gate, London W2 on Friday 28th February 1986, and submitted to the Most Worshipful The Grand Master for confirmation and approval, as the Current 1986 Amended By-Laws of the Lodge of King Solomon’s Temple, no 4611.
[signed]  Walter A Ede, WM
[signed]  James R Titcombe, SW
[signed]  Ralph M Brown, JW
[signed]  James A Bochsler, Secretary
Park Court Hotel, Lancaster Gate, London W2, 23rd May 1986
Approved by MW, The Grand Master, 9th June 1986.
[signed] MBS Higham, Grand Secretary.

The 2001 Amended By-Laws contain further amendments, in order to comply with changes in the Book of Constitutions, and other minor changes. A major change was to delete the requirement that all members of the Lodge must be British Subjects. The amendments were approved at the regular meeting of the Lodge held at the Thistle Hotel, Lancaster Gate, London W2 3NN on Friday 23rd November 2001, and submitted to the MW, The Grand Master for approval, as the Current 2001 Amended By-Laws of King Solomon’s Temple, no 4611.
[signed]  Barry E Greenberry, WM
[signed]  Matthew E Outram, SW
[signed]  Sean A Simpson, JW
[signed]  James A Bochsler, Secretary
Thistle Hotel, Lancaster Gate, London W2 3NN, 23rd November 2001.
Approved by the MW, The Grand Master, 21st February 2002.
          [signed]  A J Henderson, London Management.


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