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Art. V, Sec. 5
Nominations and Rules Governing Election of Junior Grand Warden.

Sec. 5. Nominations.

The Grand Master shall call the Past Grand Masters to a meeting not earlier than April 10 for the purpose of nominating qualified members for any of the elective positions except for the Junior Grand Warden whose nomination and election shall be conducted in accordance with the Rules Governing the Election of Junior Grand Warden. The presence of the five Past Grand Masters shall be necessary to constitute a quorum.

a. Only the incumbent Junior Grand Warden, Senior Grand Warden who were elected as such and Deputy Grand Master shall be deemed automatically nominated to the next higher position, respectively, and the incumbent Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer shall be deemed renominated to their respective positions, without prejudice in all these cases to other nominations that may be made by the Past Grand Masters; Provided, however, that only Past Grand Masters may be nominated to the position of Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary.

b. No member shall be eligible for election unless he is deemed automatically nominated or is nominated by the Past Grand Masters.

c. The names of the nominees shall be submitted to the Electoral Committee not later than April 15 for screening of their qualifications.

d. Rules Governing the Election of Junior Grand Warden.

Lodge Level

  1. All nominations for the position of Junior Grand Warden (JGW, for brevity), shall originate from the subordinate lodges only. Each subordinate lodge may nominate, in writing, only one candidate for the position of JGW; provided, that a nominee must be a regular or plural member of the nominating lodge. In addition, he must possess all the qualifications enumerated in Section 4, Article V (Part 1) of the Constitution.

  2. The nominee shall duly accept his nomination in writing. Said nomination and acceptance shall be submitted by the nominating lodge to the District Deputy Grand Master (DDGM) not later than fifteen (15) days before the District Meeting, which shall be convened by their respective DDGMs any day from July 15 to August 15 of each year to elect their nominees for the position of JGW.

  3. The nomination, once accepted, cannot be withdrawn. Such acceptance shall be valid and effective from the lodge level up to the ANCOM level: any form of withdrawal by the nominee shall be reported by the DDGM or Host DDGM concerned (at the Lodge. District and Multi-District levels) to the Grand Secretary; and if unjustified, shall cause his disqualification for nomination for the next three (3) years.

  4. A brother can be validly nominated in only one (1) Masonic District. Once he accepts his nomination from a particular subordinate lodge, he shall be disqualified from accepting another nomination from another lodge belonging to another Masonic District.

However, a brother may be nominated by one or more subordinate lodges; provided, that said lodges belong to the same Masonic District; and provided, further, that he is either a regular or a plural member of either of the nominating lodges.

  1. A subordinate lodge cannot validly nominate a brother belonging to a Masonic District other than the District where the nominating lodge belongs.

District Level

  1. After the receipt by the DDGM of the nominations from the subordinate lodges, each lodge in the District shall be furnished by the DDGM thru the respective Lodge Secretaries with a Certified List of all nominees not later than five (5) days before the District Meeting.

  2. The qualified nominees of the District shall then be voted upon thru secret ballot by the voting members of the District during their District Meeting scheduled between July 15 and August 15 of each year. The voting members are the Incumbent Masters, Senior Wardens, Junior Wardens of the Lodges in the District, the Past Grand Masters and other Grand Lodge Officers, elected and appointed, as provided in our Constitution; provided, that they are regular or plural members of any of the subordinate lodges within that particular District. The Grand Lodge Inspector (GLI) shall not be a voting delegate. Voting members at the District Level shall vote for one (1) nominee only.

  3. The incumbent DDGM and District Grand Lecturers (DGLs) shall act as the Chairman and members, respectively of the District Electoral Committee (ELECOM) and shall not be entitled to vote. They may call on the brethren in the District to assist them in the discharge of their duties.

  4. Districts with seven (7) or less lodges shall be entitled to one (1) nominee and the brother garnering the highest number of votes shall be the official nominee of that particular district. Districts with more than seven (7) lodges shall be entitled to two (2) nominees and the two brothers, who garner the highest number of votes, shall be their official nominees. Only nominees who are personally present at and duly registered in, the District Meeting can be elected. A deliberate or unjustified absence at, as well as a deliberate or unjustified failure to register in the District Meeting shall be tantamount to a withdrawal of candidacy which is expressly prohibited and which will merit similar sanctions prescribed by Sec 5 par d-3. This fact shall be reported by the host DDGM to the Grand Secretary for future reference.

  5. The brethren who garner the highest number of votes according to the aforementioned entitlement shall then be proclaimed by the District ELECOM as the District's official nominee/s to be included in the Multi-District election of nominees for the position of JGW.

  6. In case of a tie, the tied candidates shall exclude those with a lower number of votes. If, after excluding the candidates with a lower number of votes, a tie still remains for one slot the same shall be broken by a toss coin and the candidate who wins in said toss coin shall be proclaimed the winner. The toss coin shall be done in public by the DDGM.

  7. The DDGM shall, within ten (10) days after the proclamation by the District ELECOM, officially communicate to the DDGM of the Host District of the Multi-District Convention, the official nominees of the District for the position of JGW.

  8. Within ten (10) days after their proclamation by the District ELECOM the winning nominees shall secure a certification from the Office of the Grand Secretary to the effect that they have all the qualifications for Grand Lodge elective office as provided for in Section 4. Article V of the Constitution. This certification shall be submitted to the host DDGM of the Multi-District directly or through the District Secretary In order to qualify them for Inclusion in the Consolidated Official and Certified List of nominees in the various districts for the position of JGW.

  9. To avoid giving undue advantage to any incumbent Grand Lodge Officer once he is elected as a nominee for the position of JGW at the District Level he shall ipso facto be considered RESIGNED from his Grand Lodge position. The act of accepting his nomination in writing at the lodge level and his participation in the nomination process shall be the operative acts constituting his assent and acquiescence to this proviso.

Multi-District Level

  1. After receipt of the official list of the nominees from the Districts, the Host DDGM thru the District Secretary shall prepare and disseminate to each District a Consolidated Official and Certified List of Nominees from the various districts for the position of JGW, not later than fifteen (15) days before the Multi-District Convention. For this purpose the Multi District Convention to elect the Multi-District's nominees for the position of JGW shall be held from September 1 to November 30 of each year following the schedule prescribed by the Grand Lodge.

  2. On the basis of the number of Lodges and the number of members in good standing, the DDGM of the Host Multi-District shall prepare the number of Multi-District nominees by coming up with a short-list from the Consolidated Official and Certified List of District Nominees submitted by the various Districts, in accordance with the following entitlement:

Northern Luzon 4 nominees Central Luzon 6 nominees National Capital Region 7 nominees Southern Luzon 4 nominees Visayas 2 nominees Mindanao Northern Mindanao 2 nominees Western Mindanao 2 nominees Southern Mindanao 2 nominees Total Mindanao 6 nominees from 3 Multi-Districts Overseas 2 nominees

TOTAL: 31 shortlisted nominees

  1. During the Multi-District Convention, the Host DDGM shall publicly draw by lot the above number of nominees from the Consolidated Official and Certified List of nominees of the various districts for the position of JGW.

Thereafter, the names of the brethren drawn by lot shall be voted upon thru secret ballot, to determine the Multi-District's Official nominees in the selection process of JGW at the Annual Communication (ANCOM) level in accordance with the following entitlement, to wit:

Northern Luzon 2 nominees Central Luzon 3 nominees National Capital Region 3 nominees Southern Luzon 2 nominees Visayas 1 nominee Mindanao Northern Mindanao 1 nominee Western Mindanao 1 nominee Southern Mindanao 1 nominee Total Mindanao 3 nominees from 3 Multi-Districts Overseas 1 nominee TOTAL: 15 elected nominees

  1. The brethren garnering the highest number of votes according to the entitlement provided in the preceding section shall forthwith be proclaimed by the Multi-District ELECOM as the Multi-District Convention's official nominees in the selection process at the ANCOM Level for the position of JGW.

  2. Only nominees who are personally present at and duly registered in the Multi-District Convention may be elected. A deliberate or unjustified absence at as well as a deliberate or unjustified failure to register in, the Multi-District Convention shall be tantamount to a withdrawal of candidacy which is expressly prohibited and which will merit similar sanctions prescribed in Sec 5 par d-3. This fact shall be reported by the host DDGM to the Grand Secretary for future reference.

  3. The Host DDGM and his DGLs shall act as the Chairman and members of the Multi District ELECOM and shall not be entitled to vote. They may seek the assistance of the brethren in the Multi-District to assist them in the discharge of their duties.

  4. Only the incumbent Worshipful Masters and Wardens shall be the voting members of the Multi-District, including the Past Grand Masters and other Grand Lodge officers, elected and appointed, as provided in our Constitution; provided that, they are regular or plural members of any of the subordinate lodges in that particular Multi-District. The Grand Lodge Inspector (GLI) shall not be a voting delegate. Voting, members at the Multi-District Level shall vote for one (1) nominee only.

  5. The brethren who garner the highest number of votes according to the aforementioned entitlement (paragraph 17 above) shall then be proclaimed by the Multi-District ELECOM as the Multi-District's official nominees for the position of JGW at the ANCOM Level.

  6. In case of a tie, the tied candidates shall exclude those with a lower number of votes. If after excluding the candidates with a lower number of votes a tie still remains for one slot the same shall be broken by toss coin and the candidate who wins in said toss coin shall be proclaimed the winner. The toss coin shall be done in public by the DDGM of the Host District.

  7. The DDGM of the host District shall, within ten (10) days after the Multi-District nomination, officially communicate and certify to the Most Worshipful Grand Master and Past Grand Masters, through the Office of the Grand Secretary, the names of the brethren who are the official nominees of the Multi-District, by way of a Consolidated Official and Certified List of Nominees for said Multi-District.

  8. This Consolidated Official and Certified List, together with the respective program of governance of each nominee, shall be announced and disseminated thru The Cabletow, Grand Lodge website and a corresponding Circular of the Most Worshipful Grand Master addressed to all the Subordinate Lodges on or before December 15 of each year.

  9. Upon being elected at the Multi-District Level the prohibitions and restrictions enumerated hereunder shall strictly apply. Thus, all nominees elected at the Multi District level·are strictly enjoined to follow all the laws, edicts, rules and regulations governing Masonic elections. Any breach thereof, whether done directly or indirectly, personally · or thru agents or representatives shall not be tolerated. In addition to the present laws, edicts, rules and regulations, said elected nominees shall bind themselves, in writing and under the Masonic oath, to refrain from committing any or all of the following acts: (a) directly tolerate any person or group of persons to work in favor of his election; (b) attend any blue lodge meetings (except in his mother lodge), district or regional convention;

(c) accept any Invitation to be the speaker or lecturer in any blue lodge meeting or district or regional convention or be the guest honor or installing officer in any blue lodge installation, and attend or participate in any Masonic function, fellowship or gathering whether in the blue lodge or appendant bodies and other related institutions; (d) commit any act, directly or indirectly, in violation of Sections 4 and 5, Article VI, part I of the Constitution. Compliance with the foregoing prohibitions shall be monitored by the ELECOM. The prohibition shall last until the day of election for the position of Junior Grand Warden.

  1. It is understood that the foregoing restrictions and prohibitions do not apply to situations wherein the nominees are constrained to register and be present at the District Meetings, Multi-District Conventions and ANCOM in order to be qualified to vote and be voted upon or elected as nominees for the position of JGW.

  2. The complete list of nominees for the position of JGW submitted by the various Multi-Districts to the Grand Secretary shall be forwarded to the most senior member of the Past Grand Masters at least thirty (30) days before the election of a Junior Grand Warden but not later than April 15 of every year. Immediately thereafter, the Past Grand Masters (PGMs) shall convene and make a preliminary determination as to who they believe are best qualified to be considered by the brethren as Junior Grand Warden. Of the fifteen (15) nominees elected by the various Multi-Districts, the PGMs may opt to reduce the number of candidates to not less than seven (7). Such option by the PGMs to reduce the number of candidates shall not be exercised if for any reason, only seven (7) nominees or less are submitted by the various Multi-Districts. (Edict Nos. 268-E & 268-F, MW Momo)

  3. On the day of the election, and right before the election of JGW the Past Grand Masters present shall choose from among themselves a representative or representatives who shall draw by lot in public. FIVE (5) names from among the nominees elected by the various Multi-Districts and as may be reduced in accordance with the immediately preceding section (Edict No. 268-C MW Gazmin).

  4. The five (5) candidates drawn by lot shall be required to speak briefly (not to exceed ten [10] minutes each) according to the order in which their names were drawn on their respective platform of governance, plans and programs (Edict No. 268-C MW Gazmin).

  5. Only candidates who are personally present at and duly registered in the ANCOM may be elected. A deliberate or unjustified absence at as well as a deliberate or unjustified failure to register in the ANCOM shall be tantamount to a withdrawal of candidacy which is expressly prohibited and which will merit similar sanctions prescribed in Sec 5 par d-3. This fact shall be reported by the ELECOM Chairman to the Grand Secretary for future reference.

  6. The ANCOM Electoral Committee (ELECOM) shall, in accordance with and as mandated by the Constitution, conduct the election of the Junior Grand Warden and other elective Grand Lodge Officers.

  7. The incumbent Worshipful Masters, Wardens and Immediate Past Masters shall be the voting members at the ANCOM, including the Past Grand Masters and Grand Lodge officers, elected and appointed, as provided in our Constitution. The Grand Lodge Inspector (GLI) shall not be a voting delegate.

  8. In the election of the JGW, the candidate who obtains the highest majority vote cast by the voting delegates shall be declared the winner. Should none of the candidates voted upon garner the required majority votes on the first balloting, the election shall proceed to a second balloting. Only the candidates who obtain the first and second highest number of votes shall be qualified to be voted upon on the second balloting. (Edict Nos. 268-E & 268-F, MW Momo).

  9. The candidate who obtains the highest number of votes by plurality in the second balloting shall be proclaimed the winner and the duly elected Junior Grand Warden. In case of a tie, the same shall be broken by a toss coin and the candidate who wins in said toss coin shall be proclaimed the winner and the duly elected Junior Grand Warden. The toss coin shall be done in public by the Chairman of the ELECOM (Edict Nos. 268-E & 268-F, MW Momo).

  10. The number of votes currently required by our Constitution to elect the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Senior Grand Warden, Grand Treasurer, and Grand Secretary shall remain.

Continuity Clause

  1. Henceforth, all lodge nominations, with the written acceptance of the nominees concerned, shall be submitted to the respective Masonic Districts within the period June 30 to July 31 of every Masonic Year depending on the date of the District Meeting. All Masonic Districts shall elect their respective District nominees within the period July 15 to August 15 of that Masonic Year; and Multi-District conventions shall be convened from September 1 to November 30 of the same Masonic Year in accordance with the schedule to be prescribed by the Grand Lodge.

  2. The DDGMs of the different Host Districts shall, within ten (10) days after the conclusion of their respective Multi-District nominations, officially communicate and certify to the Most Worshipful Grand Master through the Office of the Grand Secretary, the names of the brethren who are the official nominees of the said Multi-Districts, by way of a Consolidated Official and Certified List of Nominees.

  3. Such Consolidated Official and Certified List, together with the respective program of governance of each nominee, shall be announced and disseminated thru The Cabletow, the Grand Lodge website and a corresponding Circular of the Most Worshipful Grand Master addressed to all the Subordinate Lodges, on or before December 15 of each year. (Edict No. 268-B MW Rentoy)

Penal Clause

  1. Any violation of the foregoing shall be considered as unmasonic conduct, and after due notice and proper proceedings, be punishable with a penalty of Reprimand in Open Lodge, Suspension or Expulsion, depending on the severity of the offense and the attendance of modifying circumstances, if any (Edict No. 268-B MW Rentoy, as further amended by Edict No. 282 MW Rentoy).