Article IV

ARTICLE IV

ELIGIBILITY AND QUALIFICATIONS OF

ELECTIVE AND APPOINTIVE OFFICERS

Section 1. Basic Requirements. The basic qualifications required to be eligible for any elective or appointive position in the Grand Lodge are the following:

1.1 Membership to a subordinate Lodge and actual residence in this jurisdiction; membership in good standing for at least ten (10) years prior to his selection.

1.2 Past Master of a subordinate Lodge for at least five (5) years and actively participating in Lodge, District or Grand Lodge affairs prior to his selection.

1.3 No record of any conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction involving disloyalty to the Republic of the Philippines, culpable violation of the Philippine Constitution, dishonesty, violation of human rights, misconduct or commission of any offense involving moral turpitude.

1.4 No record of having been found guilty, after due process, of disloyalty to the Grand Lodge or culpable violation of IGLPI Constitution.

1.5 No record of suspension for un-Masonic conduct or any Masonic offense tried by any trial commission, either in this or in any grand jurisdiction.

1.6 Shall not have violated any such other provisions as may be contained in this code, other IGLPI codes, laws, ordinances, edicts, and general regulations of Masonry; or has committed any act or matter inimical to the Fraternity or which in the unanimous opinion of the Grand Lodge is morally culpable.

Section 2. Other Qualifications: In consonance with the “injunction or rather emulation of who best can work and best agree”, personal and Fraternity related qualifications shall be determining factors in selecting and electing Grand Officers.

2.1 The Election Board shall be authorized to require attachments and documentary evidence to support any solicited or unsolicited information or entries relative to the qualifications of a recommendee, nominee or candidate, contained in the data sheets and/or recommendation forms.

2.2 When evaluation criteria are required, such as in the selection of nominees for Grand Junior Warden, the Grand Lodge Executive Committee (EXECOM) shall be authorized to formulate, review and update such criteria which shall consider and gauge, among others the following:

2.2.1 Leadership qualities.
2.2.2 Management skills.
2.2.3 Human relations.
2.2.4 Knowledge of Free Masonry.

Section 3. Added Qualification Required for Grand Master. Consistent with Masonic practice and tradition which has heretofore become part of the Code of By-Laws of Subordinate Lodges in this jurisdiction, no one shall be elected Grand Master unless he had been elected, installed and has served as Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge.

Section 4. Status of Membership. A dual or plural member of subordinate Lodges shall maintain his status as member in good standing in all his Lodges, otherwise he shall be ineligible for any position in the Grand Lodge, or if already elected shall automatically lose his Grand Lodge position.

Article V

ARTICLE V

VOTING ANDLODGE REPRESENTATION

Section 1. Manner of Election. The elective Grand Officers shall be elected through secret balloting by majority vote of the qualified electors.

Section 2. Requirements. Only qualified voting delegates duly accredited, who have registered in the Annual Grand Assembly, and who are in attendance to personally cast their ballots during the election shall be entitled to vote. Only one (1) vote per voting delegate is allowed.

Section 3. Voting Representation. The Grand Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the following qualified electors:

3.1 The six (6) Incumbent Elected Officers of an accredited subordinate Lodge: WM, SW, JW, Treasurer, Secretary, Auditor.

3.2 The immediate Past Master of an accredited subordinate Lodge, in representation of all Past Masters of his Lodge

3.3 The elected Grand Officers3.4 The Regional Grand Deputies3.5 The District Grand Supervisors.


Section 4. No Proxy Rule. No voter shall be allowed to fill up the ballot and cast the vote for and in behalf of any other voter.

Section 5. Accreditation Requirement. Only accredited Subordinate Lodges shall be able to participate in the Annual Grand Election. Election Accreditation Certificate shall be issued by the Committee on Credentials to a Lodge who has submitted its annual report and paid its dues and other Grand Lodge assessment. A Lodge without Election Accreditation shall not be entitled to vote during the election but may participate in other deliberations.

Section 6. Lodges under Dispensation. All elective officers of Lodges under dispensation (U. D.) are qualified to be delegates of their respective Lodges, provided they are duly registered in the Annual Grand Assembly. They shall have no vote in the election of Grand Officers however; they shall be entitled to participate in the proceedings and be allowed to vote on all issues.

Article VI

ARTICLE VI

INSTALLATION OF GRAND OFFICERS,

TERMS OF OFFICE AND VACANCIES

Section 1. Installation. The elected Grand Officers and grand line officers already appointed shall be installed before the conclusion of the Annual Grand Assembly.


Section 2. Terms of Office and Vacancies. The elected and appointed Grand Officers shall hold office for one (1) year, and/or until their successors shall have been elected or appointed and duly installed, unless their terms are shortened due to justifiable reasons. In the event that vacancy occurs in the position of elective and appointive Grand Officers, the following rule on succession shall be observed:

2.1 That in the position of Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master and Senior Grand Warden, the next in line shall serve the unexpired term without prejudice to his nomination to the same position in the succeeding election.

2.2 That in the position of Junior Grand Warden, the Grand Master shall appoint a replacement Pro-Tempore from the Council of Elders who shall serve the unexpired term in a concurrent capacity. The Junior Grand Warden Pro-Tempore shall not be included in the line of succession and shall not be eligible for nomination to any elective position in the Grand Lodge in the succeeding annual grand election.

2.3 For vacancy in any elective position other than the Deputy Grand Master and the Grand Wardens, the Grand Master upon consultation with the Council of Elders, shall appoint a replacement who shall serve the unexpired term without prejudice to his nomination to the same office in the succeeding annual grand election.

2.4 For any vacancy occurring in appointive Grand Lodge positions, the Grand Master shall appoint a replacement who shall serve the unexpired term.