Palestine Commandery No. 17
By-Laws
Article I
Section 1. The title of this body is Palestine Commandery No. 17, located at Independence, Missouri.
Article II
Section 1. Stated Conclaves. The stated Conclaves of this Commandery shall be held on the First Thursday of each month, there will be no stated Conclave in July and August. All stated Conclaves at 7:30 P.M.
Section 2. Special Conclaves. Special Conclaves may be called by the Commander or set by action of the Commandery as provided in the Grand Commandery By-Laws.
Article III
Section 1. Quorum. A quorum for any Conclave consists of nine members entitled to vote therein, including one authorized officer to open the same.
Article IV
Section 1. Officers and Election. The officers of this Commandery are: Commander, Generalissimo, Captain General, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Prelate, Treasurer, Recorder, Standard Bearer, Sword Bearer, Warder, Sentinel, and three Guards.
Section 2. Election. The first five officers together with the Treasurer and Recorder, are elected annually by a majority vote at the First Conclave in April, and no nominations may be made for any office. All other officers are appointed by the Commander. The Installation will take place after the Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery.
Section 3. Duties. The duties of the Officers of this Commandery are such as prescribed by the By-Laws of the Grand Commandery.
Section 4. Committees. It shall be the duty of the incoming Commander, each year to appoint an Auditing Committee who shall, promptly after the close of the books on December 31st audit the books of the Treasurer and Recorder and promptly report to the Commandery. The Commander each year shall appoint a Chairman of the following Committees: Budget, Hospitaller, Knight Templar Eye Foundation, Sick, Membership, Patriotic, Religious and Telephone. Commander also will appoint ONE board member to Independence Temple Association for a period OF ONE YEAR. The Budget Committee shall promptly after the close of the books on December 31st prepare and present to the Commandery a budget for the ensuing year.
Article V
Section 1. Funds, Receipts and Disbursements. It shall be the duty of the Recorder and Treasurer, respectively, to see that all monies of the Commandery are safely received and deposited in a Banking Firm approved by the Commandery and to its accounts.
The Treasurer shall pay out only such money as may be ordered by the Commandery on warrants drawn by the Recorder and countersigned by the Commander.
Section 2. Interest. The interest of all money on savings by the Commandery shall be paid annually to the General Fund of the Commandery.
Section 3. Salaries. The Recorder shall receive the amount of $1.00 per member annually for his faithful service, and in addition such expenses as are necessary in carrying out the duties of that office. The Treasurer shall receive $20.00 for his faithful service.
Section 4. Life – Endowed Membership. The Trustees with the Treasurer and Recorder, will deposit all funds received from the sale of LIFE – ENDOWED memberships in an account and the interest only shall be drawn annually and deposited into the GENERAL FUND.
Section 5. In the event this Commandery loses its charter and the Commandery to which members are assigned by the Grand Commandery of MO, does not have or will not recognize, LIFE – ENDOWED memberships sold by Palestine Commandery, then the purchase price will be returned to the living LIFE – ENDOWED members of Palestine Commandery before any money in this fund is given to the assigned Commandery.
Section 6. No money from this fund will be returned to a member who is transferring his membership to another Commandery or resigns his membership.
Article VI
Section 1. Fees. Petitions for the Orders shall be on the form prescribed and shall be accompanied by a fee of $50.00.
Section 2. Dues. The annual dues of this Commandery shall be $40.00 and in addition any amount assessed by the Grand Commandery and Grand Encampment. These dues are payable in advance on the First day of January and shall become delinquent if not paid by the First day of July following. Members may be exempted from paying dues and per capita tax only as provided in Grand Commandery By-Laws. Members who have 50 years of good standing membership shall be exempted from payment of annual dues and any amounts assessed by the Grand Commandery and Grand Encampment.
ARTICLE VII
Section 1. Uniforms. The uniform is that fixed by the Grand Commandery and purchase of which shall be optional, but required by all officers.
ARTICLE VIII
Section 1. Amendments. Amendments to these By-Laws must be presented in writing and read at a stated Conclave. No action shall be taken thereon until the succeeding Stated Conclave and only after due notice to the members. A two-thirds majority of the members present and voting shall be required for adoption.
All amendments shall be approved by the Grand Commander before they become effective. Any By-Law conflicting with the Grand Encampment or the Grand Commandery of Missouri shall be automatically amended to conform.
Adopted by Palestine Commandery # 17, October 6, 2016
Donald MacCormick______
Commander
Attested By Larry E. Walters
Recorder
Approved by the Grand Commander of Knights Templars of the State of Missouri.
_______________________ ____________________________
Grand Recorder Grand Commander
_____________________, 2016
