Texas State Priory By-laws
Table of Contents
Article I – NAME
Article II – PURPOSE AND ALLEGIANCE
Article III – MEMBERSHIP
Article IV – OFFICERS
Article V – DEPARTMENTAL COMMANDERS
Article VI – COMMITTEES
Article VII – PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Article VIII – CONVOCATIONS
Article IX – BUSINESS
Article X – QUORUM
Article XI – FINANCES
Article XII – TEXAS KNIGHTHOOD REGULATIONS
Article XII – AMENDMENTS
Article XIV – ADOPTIONS
ARTICLE I
NAME
This organization of Chivalric Knights of the Holy Order of the Fellow Soldiers of Jacques DeMolay shall be known as the TEXAS STATE PRIORY, ORDER OF KNIGHTHOOD.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE AND ALLEGIANCE
This Texas State Priory shall coordinate and regulate the activities of all Texas priories, promote unity of purpose and effort, and encourage qualities of leadership and service to the Order of DeMolay. The Texas State Priory Order of Knighthood owes its allegiance to the International Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay and is under the direction and control of its Executive Officer in Texas. The Statutes of the International Supreme Council, and the orders and edicts of its Executive Officer in Texas are supreme. This State Priory shall be governed by these Bylaws to the extent they are consistent with the Statutes of the International Supreme Council and with the orders and edicts of its Executive Officer in Texas.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall consist of all duly authorized priories in the State of Texas, Past Illustrious Knight Commanders, and past and present State Commanders and Registrars.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1: The officers of the Texas State Priory shall be: State Illustrious Knight Commander, Deputy State Illustrious Knight Commander, Departmental Commanders, and State Registrar.
Section 2: The State Commanders shall be elected and installed at the State Annual Convocation, and shall serve until their successors have been elected and installed. Elections shall be held in accordance with Article IX.
Section 3: The Deputy State Illustrious Knight Commander shall succeed to the office of State Illustrious Knight Commander when left vacant by resignation or permanent disability, and shall temporarily perform the duties of such office when an absence or temporary disability shall render it necessary.
Section 4: Each State Commander shall be under the age of twenty-one at the time of his installation.
Section 5: Each State Commander shall be, or shall have served as, an Illustrious Knight Commander of a Texas priory.
Section 6: Nominations for the State Commander’s positions shall be made from the floor, with each priory being entitled to the privilege of making only one nomination for any one office.
Section 7: There shall be only one State Commander from any one priory each year.
Section 8: No officer of the Texas State Priory shall serve simultaneously as an officer of the Texas DeMolay Association, provided however, that the State Registrar may serve as State Scribe of the Texas DeMolay Association.
Section 9: The State Registrar shall be appointed by the Executive Officer, to serve at his pleasure, and shall be, or shall have served as, an Illustrious Knight Commander of a Texas priory.
ARTICLE V
DEPARTMENTAL COMMANDERS (Amended 1981)
Section 1: There shall be created within the DeMolay Jurisdiction of Texas several sub-jurisdictions known as departments.
Section 2: The number and size of the several departments shall be presided over by a Departmental Commander.
Section 3: Each of the several departments shall be presided over by a Departmental Commander.
Section 4: The Departmental Commanders shall be elected by the subordinate priories comprising the several Knighthood Departments and shall be installed at the State Annual Convocation, and shall serve until their successors have been elected and installed. Elections shall be held in accordance with the voting provisions of Article IX. (Amended 1977).
Section 5: Each Departmental Commander shall be under twenty-one years of age at the time of his installation, and shall be, or shall have served as, an Illustrious Knight Commander of a Texas priory.
ARTICLE VI
COMMITTEES
Section 1: The State Illustrious Knight Commander shall at the beginning of his term appoint the following standing committees: Jurisprudence Committee, Service Projects Committee, and Convocations Committee. These committees shall serve until the close of the next State Annual Convocation. (Amended 1975).
Section 2: The Jurisprudence Committee shall survey all proposed changes and additions to these Bylaws and to the Priory Regulations, and shall submit them with its recommendations to the next State Annual Convocation. The committee shall also review the Bylaws of each Texas priory and recommend approval or disapproval to the Executive Officer through the Knighthood Director. (Amended 1975).
Section 3: The Service Projects Committee shall recommend service activities to be undertaken by the Order of Knighthood in Texas, and shall provide for carrying out those projects which are adopted by this State Priory. (Amended 1975).
Section 4: The Convocations Committee shall insure that suitable arrangements are made for the State Annual Convocation; and shall, where possible, provide for Convocations at each Area Conclave. (Amended 1975).
Section 5: The State Illustrious Knight Commander may appoint such other special committees as the business of the State Priory may at times warrant. (Amended 1975).
ARTICLE VII
PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE
The Director for the Order of Knighthood, responsible to the Executive Officer in the State of Texas of the International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay, shall act as advisor to the Texas State Priory.
ARTICLE VIII
CONVOCATIONS
Section 1: This State Priory shall hold an Annual Convocation, which, when possible, shall meet in conjunction with the Texas DeMolay Association.
Section 2: Sir Knights in good standing, Senior Sir Knights, and Master Masons may attend all Convocations of the Texas State Priory.
Section 3: Special Convocations of the Texas State Priory may be called by the Executive Officer in Texas or his Personal Representative, or by the State Illustrious Knight Commander with the approval of the Executive Officer provided notice thereof is mailed to the constituent Texas priories at least thirty days prior to the Convocation.
ARTICLE IX
BUSINESS
Section 1: All business shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order except when provided in the Statutes of the International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay; these Bylaws, or subsequent Texas Knighthood Regulations. (Amended 1975).
Section 2: Each of the following shall be entitled to a vote at State Convocations, provided he is under twenty-one years of age, certified by his priory, registered, and present at the time of voting: the Illustrious Knight Commander, Squire Commander, Page Commander, and Registrar from each Texas priory, each past Illustrious Knight Commander of a Texas priory; all present and past State Commanders and Registrars. (Amended, 1973).
Section 3: Only present and past State Officers and Past Illustrious Knight Commanders may hold more than one vote. (Amended 1973).
Section 4: If after five consecutive ballots for the office of State Illustrious Knight Commander or Deputy State Illustrious Knight Commander there exists a tie, the election shall be decided by a coin toss. The Sir Knight having the seniority of membership in the Order of Knighthood shall call the toss. There is no appeal from this process. (Adopted 1994).
ARTICLE X
QUORUM
A quorum shall consist of those attending the Annual Convocation, and a majority of those votes certified shall be necessary to decide any question except amendments.
ARTICLE XI
FINANCES
Section 1: The revenues of this State Priory shall be derived from fees and dues from constituent Texas priories, and from such other sources as the State Priory shall approve.
Section 2: Annual dues from each constituent Texas priory shall be fifteen dollars ($15.00), payable between October 1 and December 31 of each DeMolay year. Priories not paying dues within these dates shall forfeit their entire vote at the next State Annual Convocation. (Amended 1977).
Section 3: A registration fee may be charged each person attending the State Convocation to defray any expenses incurred in holding the Convocations. No monies shall be allotted from the state funds to defray such expenses.
Section 4: The State Registrar shall receive, maintain, and disburse all funds. Upon approval of the Knighthood Director, he may make such disbursements as may be necessary for office supplies, stationary, and materials.
Section 5: The State Illustrious Knight Commander shall be annually allotted not in excess of one hundred dollars from state funds to cover such expenses as he may incur in the official performance of his duties. (Amended 1975, 1994).
ARTICLE XII
TEXAS KNIGHTHOOD REGULATIONS
This State Priory may adopt such regulations for the governing of the Order of Knighthood in the State of Texas as may be consistent with the Regulations of the International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay, and which are approved by the Executive Officer.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended at any Convocation by a two-thirds vote of those certified, provided the proposed Amendment has been submitted to the State Registrar thirty (30) days before the date of the Convocation, and approved by the Executive Officer. (Amended 1979).
ARTICLE XIV
ADOPTION
These Bylaws shall be placed into full force and effect upon approval in the manner prescribed for amendments to the existing Bylaws, and shall then supersede all previous Bylaws for this organization.
AMENDMENTS & DELETIONS
- The word “Imperial” is replaced by the word “State” wherever it appears in these Bylaws. (Adopted, 1973).
- The words “Knighthood Governor” are replaced by the words “Knighthood Director” wherever they appear in these Bylaws. (Adopted, 1974).
- Article V, Section 4: Departmental Commanders shall be appointed by the State Illustrious Knight Commander to serve the Knighthood Departments and shall be installed at the State Annual Convocation, and shall serve until their successors have been appointed and installed. (Adopted, 1977).
- Article V, Section 6: A Departmental Commander may be removed from office for non-performance of duties by the State Illustrious Knight Commander with the approval of the Knighthood Director. All such vacancies created in this manner shall be filled by appointments to have the approval of the Executive Officer of DeMolay in Texas. Notice of all such appointments shall be mailed to all constituent priories. (Adopted, 1975).
- Article V in its entirety deleted, 1981.
- Article VI, Section 1: (Deleted, 1975).
- Article VI, Section 2: (Deleted, 1975).
- Article VI, Section 3: (Deleted, 1975).
- Article VI, Section 4: (Deleted, 1975).
- Article VI, Section 5: The State Illustrious Knight Commander may appoint such committees as the business of the State Priory may at times warrant. (Adopted 1975).
- Article IX, Section 1: All business shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order, latest edition, except when provided in the Statutes of the International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay; these Bylaws or subsequent Texas Knighthood Regulations. (Adopted 1975).
- Article IX, Section 2: Each of the following shall be entitled to a vote at State Convocations, provided he is under twenty-one years of age, certified by his priory, registered, and present at the time of voting: the Illustrious Knight Commander, Squire Commander, Page Commander, and Registrar from each Texas priory, each past Illustrious Knight Commander of a Texas priory; all present and past State Commanders and Registrars. (Adopted, 1973).
- Article IX, Section 3: Only present and past State Officers and Past Illustrious Knight Commanders may hold more than one vote. (Adopted 1973).
- Article IX, Section 4: If after five consecutive ballots for the office of State Illustrious Knight Commander or Deputy State Illustrious Knight Commander there exists a tie the election shall be decided by a coin toss. The Sir Knight having the seniority of membership in the Order of Knighthood shall call the toss. There is no appeal from this process. (Adopted 1994).
- Article XI, Section 2: Annual dues from each constituent Texas priory shall be fifteen dollars ($15.00), payable June 1 of each DeMolay year. Priories not paying dues by this date shall forfeit their entire vote at the next State Annual Convocation. (Adopted, 1977).
- Article XI, Section 2a: No candidate for State Knighthood office can be certified to run for office if his priory has not paid its State Priory dues as prescribed in Article XI. (Adopted, 1977).
- Article XI, Section 5: The State Illustrious knight Commander shall be annually allotted at least one hundred dollars from the State funds to cover such expenses as he may incur in the official performance of his duties. He may also receive such other funds as approved by the Knighthood Director or Executive Officer. (Adopted, 1975).
- Article XI, Section 5: (Deleted, 1994).
- Article XI, Section 6: Each constituent Texas priory shall remit two dollars per new member invested to the Texas State Priory. (Adopted, 1974; amended 1977).
- Article XI, Section 6: Each constituent Texas priory shall remit three dollars per new member invested to the Texas State Priory. (Adopted, 1977; amended 1979).
- Article XI, Section 6: Each constituent Texas priory shall remit ten dollars per new member invested to the Texas State Priory. (Adopted, 1979; rescinded November 23, 1985).
- Article XIII, Section 1: (Article XIII as present) (Adopted, 1979).
- Article XIII, Section 2: These Bylaws may be amended by an edict by the State Knighthood Director. (Adopted, 1979; amended 1994).
- Article XIII, Section 2: Any action of the International Supreme Council or of its Executive Officer in Texas which may effect or alter these Bylaws in any respect is hereby declared to be an Amendment. (Adopted, 1994).
- Housekeeping changes were made to Article II, adding a provision regarding allegiance to the International Supreme Council and its Executive Officer in Texas; Article III, adding Registrars and thus making it consistent with Article IX, Sections 2 and 3; deleting references to the Personal Representative of the Executive Officer in Article IV, Section 9, Article VIII, Section 3, and Article XII; references to State DeMolay Association of Texas were updated to reflect Texas DeMolay Association; Article V is shown to be amended by the same having been deleted in 1981, and the term in “Priory” in Texas Priory Regulations was updated to read “Texas Knighthood Regulations”; and Article XI, Section 5 was deleted because of the number of constituent local priories. This document was revised, updated and made effective September 30, 1994.