The Masonic Kilties of New Jersey

ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of the organization shall be The Masonic Kilties of New Jersey.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
The purpose of the organization shall be to promote Scottish heritage and traditions through Freemasonry, by conferring or exemplifying the Ritual Work of the Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons for the State of New Jersey, in full traditional Scottish Highland Dress accompanied, if possible, by Bagpipes and Drums.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Regular Membership shall be limited to Master Masons in good standing, who are members of Lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey, or any other Grand Lodge recognized thereby.

Section 2. A current Lodge Dues Card or equivalent proof of such membership must be presented to the Secretary-Treasurer by each newly-elected Regular Member before a Kilties' Dues Card will be issued.

Section 3. All Regular Members must agree to obtain Highland Dress within six (6) months of their election to membership, and to attend at least one (1) Visitation or Regular Communication during each Calendar Year, unless excused by the President. Failure to comply with either of these requirements shall be grounds for suspension by vote of a majority of the Regular Members present at a Regular or Annual Communication.

Section 4. Life Membership may be purchased by any Regular Member in good standing, who has already obtained suitable Highland Dress and has attended at least one (1) Visitation, Regular or Annual Communication during the twelve (12) months preceding such purchase. Application for Life Membership must be made in writing to the Secretary-Treasurer, and must be accompanied by the payment of twenty-five (25) years' Annual Dues, in advance, at the then-current rate.

Section 5. Honorary Membership shall be likewise limited to Master Masons in good standing, who are members of Lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey, or any other Grand Lodge recognized thereby. Honorary Membership shall be for life, and shall be bestowed by unanimous Ballot of the Regular Members present, in recognition of service to the Kilties, or to Freemasonry in New Jersey.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. The Elective Officers shall be: President, First Vice President, Second Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer. Upon election, the incoming President shall appoint: one (1) or more Chaplains, Marshals and Color Sergeants.

Section 2. The officers shall be elected for a term of one (1) year. The President shall not serve more than two (2) consecutive terms.

Section 3. The Election of Officers shall be held at the Annual Communication. Newly elected Officers shall be installed by a Past President, immediately following the Election.

Section 4. The President shall preside over all Visitations and Communications; greet Candidates at the conclusion of degree work; direct, guide and set an example for his Brother Kilties; limit innovations to a vote of the Regular Members and recommend changes only for the good of the Craft.

Section 5. The First Vice President shall assist the President in the performance of his duties, and in his absence will assume the duties of the President.

Section 6. The Second Vice President shall assist the President in the performance of his duties, and in his absence and that of the First Vice President, will assume the duties of the President.

Section 7. The Secretary-Treasurer shall:

1. keep accurate minutes of the Visitations and Communications; send all necessary notices and other correspondence, transmitting copies to the President;


2. receive all monies due and deposit them in a designated Checking Account;


3. pay all disbursements by order of the President and with the consent of the Regular Members;


4. issue Dues Cards and advise delinquent Regular Members of any arrears;


5. maintain a Dues Record and advise the Elected Officers of delinquencies;


6. render an Annual Report at the Annual Communication.

ARTICLE V - APPLICATIONS, FEES AND DUES
Section 1. The Application Fee shall be five dollars ($5.00), payable in advance.

Section 2. The Application for Regular Membership must be signed by the Applicant, and by two (2) Regular Members in good standing, and must be accompanied by the Application Fee and one (1) year's Annual Dues in full (no pro-rata). All Fees and Dues shall be returned if the Application is rejected.

Section 3. The Application for Regular Membership shall be balloted upon by open vote at a Visitation within sixty (60) days of its receipt by the Secretary-Treasurer, or at the next Regular or Annual Communication, whichever comes first. If approved, the new Regular Member shall be notified by the Secretary-Treasurer as soon as is practical.

Section 4. The Annual Dues shall be two dollars ($2.00), payable in advance at the Annual Communication. Arrearage of Dues of more than two (2) years shall be grounds for suspension for non-payment, by vote of a majority of the Regular Members present.

Section 5. Any Regular Member who has been suspended for non-payment of Dues, after paying his Dues in full to the date of his suspension, plus the current year's Dues, may be restored to full membership by an open vote of a majority of the Regular Members present at a Visitation, Regular or Annual Communication.

ARTICLE VI - COMMUNICATIONS AND VISITATIONS
Section 1. The Annual Communication shall be held as close as practical to the First Friday in November each year. The business of the Annual Communication shall be: to receive the Report of the Secretary-Treasurer, to take action upon any delinquencies in Dues, to Elect and Install Officers for the ensuing year, and to conduct such other business as shall come regularly before it.

Section 2. Regular Communications shall be held as close as practical to the First Friday in March and the Second Friday in September each year. The business of each Regular Communication shall be to approve or reject by open vote of the Regular Members present, any Invitations for Visitations or Applications for Membership, and to conduct such other business as shall come regularly before it.

Section 3. The Annual and Regular Communications shall be held at the regular meeting place of Boiling Spring Lodge No. 169, F. & A. M., unless written notice is given to every Regular Member at least thirty (30) days in advance of said Communication.

Section 4. Visitations shall be held as and when the membership approves invitations from Lodges, Districts, Grand Lodges or other Masonic Organizations. The business portion of a Visitation, before entering the Lodge Room, shall be to approve or reject any Invitations for Visitations or Applications for Membership, and to conduct such other business as shall come regularly before it. Highland Dress shall be worn upon all Visitations.

Section 5. Social Events shall be held annually as follows:

1. The Burns Night Dinner Dance on a Saturday as close as practical to the 25th day of January;
2. The Burns Stag Night on a Friday as close as practical to the 25th day of January;
3. The Kilties' Picnic on a suitable Saturday in June.

ARTICLE VII - Amendments
Section 1. These bylaws may be amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Regular Members present. Such amendment may be proposed by five (5) Regular Members; or collectively by the President, First and Second Vice Presidents.

Section 2. Any proposed amendment must be read during the business portion of the three (3) Visitations, Regular or Annual Communications following its receipt by the Secretary-Treasurer.

Section 3. Within thirty (30) days after the THIRD such reading, the Secretary-Treasurer will distribute a copy of the proposed amendment to every Regular Member, together with written notice of the date upon which it will be balloted.

Section 4. The proposed amendment shall be voted upon by written ballot at a Visitation, Regular or Annual Communication within sixty (60) days of its distribution to the membership. If approved, the amendment shall be effective as of the date of approval.

Section 5. These bylaws shall not be suspended at any time.

Section 6. All former bylaws are hereby repealed.

APPENDIX I - Amendments Log
Approved by Unanimous Vote at the Annual Communication on November 14, 2003.

Amended by Unanimous Vote at the Fall Communication on September 9, 2005: moving the Fall Business Meeting to the SECOND Friday in September.

Amended by Unanimous Vote at the Annual Communication on November 4, 2005: moving the Spring Business Meeting to the First Friday in MARCH.