MINUTES OF THE
ORGANIZATION AND INSTITUTION
OF THE SAN ANTONIO
COURT OF CHEVALIERS
November 8, 1969

A meeting of Chevaliers of Elmer J. Reese, Harlandale, William M. Randolph, and San Antonio Chapters was convened at 1:00 P.M. in San Antonio, Texas, by Past State Grand Commander Reese L. Harrison, Jr., Chev., LOH, PGC of Central Texas Chevalier Court.

Past State Grand Commander Harrison appointed Lee C. Bucknum, Chev., LOH, PGC of Central Texas Chevalier Court to act as Temporary Secretary.

The traditional dinner was held with the following Chevaliers in attendance from the several chapters hereinafter listed:

Harlandale Chapter
Jerry F. Nowotny, PGC, LOH, PSGC

Elmer J. Reese Chapter
Tommy Hockaday
Frank Woolf
John Marshall Short

William M. Randolph Chapter
Richard Schoenert
Robert F. Schoenert
A. J. Worthey

Representing San Antonio Chapter but Chevaliers of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58
Lee C. Bucknum, PGC, LOH
Reese L. Harrison, Jr., PSGC, LOH, PGC

Past State Grand Commander Harrison reviewed the Origin and History of the Order or Degree of Chevalier, its establishment in the early years of DeMolay's founding, its abandonment, and its subsequent rehabilitation in 1936 by the International Supreme Council. He then reviewed the Origin and History of the Texas State Court of Chevaliers, its institution in 1919, its period of repose from 1941 to 1948, its rehabilitation in 1948 and its purpose. He then reviewed the Origin and History of the Albert Pike Court of Chevaliers of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58, its institution in 1940 and its specific purpose of retaining the interest of Chevaliers of Albert Pike Chapter and its projects of service to Albert Pike Chapter. He noted that the second chapter in San Antonio - Harlandale - was not instituted until December 1952, the third chapter - Elmer J. Reese - in June 1958, the fourth chapter - William M. Randolph - in August 1967, and the fifth chapter - San Antonio - in April 1969. He commented that Albert Pike Chapter, of which he was a PMC, had a long history dating back to June 30, 1921, antecedent to the establishment of any of the other chapters in San Antonio. He noted that the Albert Pike Court had been in operation for twelve years prior to the institution of another DeMolay Chapter. He concluded that this long history of isolation and the immense size of Albert Pike Chapter and Albert Pike Court as compared to the other chapters in San Antonio and the number of Chevaliers crowned in said chapters were some of the reasons why Albert Pike Chapter should continue to have a Chevalier Court composed almost exclusively of Chevaliers of Albert Pike Chapter and devoted exclusively to the advancement of Albert Pike Chapter. He concluded that Chevaliers from other chapters need to be organized into a cohesive group responsive to the needs of the other chapters of metropolitan San Antonio and that the singularity of purpose of Albert Pike Court and the overwhelming exclusiveness of its membership did not lend itself to fulfilling that need for the Chevaliers of other chapters in metropolitan San Antonio. He pointed out that a chapter the size of Albert Pike No. 58 needed its own Chevalier Court dedicated to the singular purpose of supporting Albert Pike Chapter.

Past State Grand Commander Harrison stated the aforementioned had been discussed with him by the only other Past State Grand Commander from San Antonio, Jerry Nowotny, LOH, PGC, PMC of Harlandale Chapter, along with other Chevaliers from the chapters of metropolitan San Antonio. At the request of the Chevaliers of other Chapters in San Antonio, PSGC Harrison applied to the Executive Officer in Texas for the Declaration of Intention Forms with which to start a second Court of Chevaliers in metropolitan San Antonio, which would include in its membership the Chevaliers of Harlandale, Elmer J. Reese, William M. Randolph, and San Antonio Chapters. A Declaration of Intention was submitted to and approved by the Executive Officer and Letters of Authorization were issued for the "San Antonio Court of Chevaliers" on January 15, 1968.

Past State Grand Commander Harrison remarked that informal meetings were held from that date until the present, because it was felt that it would not be appropriate to accomplish formal institution of the San Antonio Court until Chevaliers were Crowned in Randolph Chapter in 1969 and until San Antonio Chapter was instituted in April of 1969. It was believed that the November 8, 1969, Traditional Observance would be an appropriate time for the organization and institution of the San Antonio Court of Chevaliers. Thus, with the agreement of several Chevaliers of the metropolitan Chapters of San Antonio, PSGC Harrison continued to act as the temporary Custodian of the Letters of Authorization until a suitable occasion could arise for the organization and institution of the San Antonio Court. PSGC Harrison commented that a suitable occasion now appeared to be at hand.

PSGC Jerry Nowotny moved, and it was seconded by Frank Woolf and passed unanimously, that the San Antonio Court of Chevaliers be and the same is hereby organized and instituted as a body politic. PSGC Harrison declared the San Antonio Court of Chevaliers formally instituted.

PSGC Harrison noted that the San Antonio Court was being, instituted with the knowledge and well wishes of the Albert Pike Court inasmuch as Lee C. Bucknum, who was Commander in the West of the Albert Pike Court, and Reese L. Harrison, Jr., who was Commander in the South of the Albert Pike Court, were both present to assist in the organization and institution.

PSGC Jerry Nowotny moved, and it was seconded by Tommy Hockaday and passed unanimously, that invitations to membership in San Antonio Court be extended to Lee C. Bucknum and Reese L. Harrison, Jr., both officers of Albert Pike Court, Senior Members of Albert Pike Chapter and PGC's of Central Texas Chevalier Court. The invitations to membership in the San Antonio Court were accepted by Chevaliers Harrison and Bucknum.

PSGC Reese L. Harrison, Jr. then presented a proposed set of By-Laws for the San Antonio Court which are attached to these Minutes as Attachment A and are hereby incorporated by reference into these Minutes. Each section of the By-Laws was presented severally and as each was presented a motion was duly made and seconded that the various sections be severally approved. Each section was approved severally by a two-thirds vote of the Chevaliers present. At the conclusion of the reading of the entire set of ByLaws, A. J. Worthey moved, and it was seconded by Lee C. Bucknum and passed unanimously, that the By-Laws be adopted as a whole.

PSGC Reese L. Harrison, Jr. then called for the election of officers as determined by the By-Laws. Chevaliers Reese L. Harrison, Jr., LOH, PSGC, PGC from Albert Pike Chapter No. 58 and Gary L. Short, PIKC from Elmer J. Reese Chapter were nominated for Grand Commander for the ensuing year. Chevalier Harrison was elected. The following named Chevaliers were nominated for and unanimously elected without opposition to the office opposite their name for the ensuing year:

The.new Grand Commander Reese L. Harrison, Jr. thanked the brethren for the honor they had bestowed upon him and announced that he would call on the officers to assist in the conferring of the Degree of Chevalier in 1970 after the election of nominees by the Supreme Council.

No further business appearing the meeting was closed at 3:30 P.M. by Grand Commander Reese L. Harrison, Jr.

Respectfully submitted,

Richard G. Schoenert, Chev.
Secretary
PMC, PIKC, RD, BHK,
Grand Commander of the Central Texas Court

ATTEST:Reese L. Harrison, Jr., LOH, COH, Chev.

Grand Commander
Past State Grand Commander
Past Grand Commander

ATTACHMENT "A"

BY-LAWS
SAN ANTONIO COURT OF CHEVALIERS
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

ARTICLE I.
Name and Purpose

Section 1. This Court shall be known as the SAN ANTONIO COURT OF CHEVALIERS, and shall be under the control and direction of the International Supreme Council Order of DeMolay, the Executive Officer in Texas, and the Texas State Court of Chevaliers.

Section 2. The Court shall have for its purpose the promotion and exemplification of the principles and teachings of the Order of DeMolay for the lasting benefit and inspiration of the young manhood of the DeMolay Chapters of Metropolitan San Antonio and wherever the sphere of influence of this Court may extend.

ARTICLE II.
Membership

Every Chevalier in good standing with the International Supreme Council who is an active or Senior Member of the DeMolay Chapters of Metropolitan San Antonio, or who is nominated by the Advisory Council of the same shall be ipso facto a member of this Court and entitled to participate in its activities; Provided, that any Chevalier who is an active or Senior Member of any other Chapter may petition to be elected to membership in this Court by the unanimous consent of the members present at the meeting; Provided further, that such election to membership shall be by secret ballot.

ARTICLE III.
Officers

Section 1. The elective officers of this Court shall be: Grand Commander, Commander in the West, Commander in the South, Grand Secretary-Treasurer, Grand Chaplain, and Grand Marshal.

Section 2. Nominations for office in this Court shall be made from the floor and balloting shall be secret.

Section 3. The term of office for all officers of this Court shall be one year.

Section 4. Any Chevalier in good standing with the International Supreme Council, and a member of this Court is eligible to any office, and may be elected whether present or not and may succeed himself in office as often as he is willing, and may be elected to any office he has held in the past.

Section 5. The Grand Commander, in addition to the duties prescribed by the International Supreme Council, the Executive Officer in Texas, and the Texas State Court of Chevaliers, shall preside at all meetings of this Court, appoint all committees, and be prepared to have the Court perform the Investiture of the Degree of Chevalier when requested to do so, and perform such other duties which naturally pertain to such an office, and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.

Section 6. The Commander in the West shall assist the Grand Commander in the discharge of the latter's duties and in the latter's absence preside.

Section 7. The Commander in the South shall assist the Grand Commander and the Commander in the West in the discharge of their duties and in their absence preside.

Section 8. The Grand Secretary-Treasurer shall keep all minutes, records, and reports, collect all monies and assessments, have charge of all finances, and keep proper books showing all receipts and disbursements and make a report thereof to the members at the annual meeting.

Section 9. The Grand Chaplain and Grand Marshall shall perform those duties which naturally pertain to such an office and which may be enjoined upon them by the Grand Commander.

Section 10. A vacancy which occurs in the office of Grand Commander shall be filled in accordance with Sections 6 and 7 of this Article and the Commander filling the vacancy shall preside until the next annual meeting at which time a Grand Commander shall be duly elected. A vacancy in any other office shall be filled by appointment of the Grand Commander with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee and such appointee shall serve the remainder of the term of office. Should vacancies occur in the offices of all three Commanders, a Past Grand Commander, in order of Seniority, shall preside until the next annual meeting at which time a new Grand Commander shall be elected and Commanders in the West and South shall be elected.

ARTICLE IV.
Meetings and Quorum

Section 1. The annual meeting of the San Antonio Court of Chevaliers shall be held on November 8 of each year at a time and place as determined by the Grand Commander: Provided that such place is within the metropolitan limits of San Antonio, Texas, and that the membership is advised at least one week prior to the meeting as to time and place.

Section 2. Special meetings may be called at any time by the Grand Commander provided notice thereof is mailed at least one week, and not more than three weeks, prior to the date of the meeting and only for the transaction of the business stated in the notice. The Grand Commander, upon written request of at least ten percent of the members resident within the metropolitan limits of San Antonio, Texas, shall call a special meeting giving notice of time, purpose, and place as above provided.

Section 3. No meeting or meetings of the Court shall be held or any business transacted at any meeting unless there is present at least a quorum of the membership. A quorum shall be an indispensable number of 5 members of this Court, including at least two officers of this Court, one of which must be a Commander; Provided however that in the absence of all three Commanders a Past Grand Commander of this Court, in order of Seniority, shall preside.

ARTICLE V.
Committees

Section 1. An Executive Committee shall be comprised of the Grand Commander, Commander in the West, Commander in the South, Grand Secretary-Treasurer, and all Past Grand Commanders of this Court, which shall be empowered to carry on and transact business of this Court during the interim between meetings, except the election of officers or the amendment of these ByLaws. The Executive Committee is authorized to act in all matters concerning the welfare of this Court, and must make a written report of their transactions to the Court for its approval at the next annual meeting.

Section 2. The Grand Commander shall at his discretion appoint any committee that may be deemed necessary by himself or the Executive Committee; Provided that any committee appointed by the Grand Commander shall make a written report of the Committee's activities and functions at the next annual meeting.

ARTICLE VI.
Finances

Section 1. There shall be no annual dues.

Section 2. Assessments may be charged of each member when deemed necessary by a majority of the membership of this Court present at the meeting the assessment is levied.

Section 3. The Grand Secretary-Treasurer shall keep all funds of the Court separately as trust funds on deposit in a bank or savings institution that is insured by an agency of the Federal Government unless the amount is under $10.00. The Grand Secretary-Treasurer is authorized to expend said funds for those materials deemed necessary for the routine business affairs of the Court. He is authorized to make such further expenditures as may be approved by this Court or its Executive Committee.

Section 4. The trust account shall be carried in the name of San Antonio Court of Chevaliers with the authorized signatures being those of the Grand Commander and the Grand Secretary-Treasurer.

ARTICLE VII.
Parliamentary Authority

This Court shall be governed by Roberts' Rules of Order, Revised in all cases where applicable and not inconsistent with the Statutes of the International Supreme Council, the orders and directives of the Executive Officer in Texas, and the by-laws, rules, and regulations of the Texas State Court of Chevaliers.

ARTICLE VIII.
Amendments

Section 1. These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the membership of this Court present at any Annual Meeting; Provided that one month's notice has been mailed to all Chevaliers of this Court; Provided further that there is at least a quorum present, and when approved shall become a part of these By-Laws.

Section 2. Any action of the International Supreme Council, the Executive Officer in Texas, or the Texas State Court of Chevaliers which may affect or alter these By-Laws in any respect is hereby declared to be an amendment.

ARTICLE IX.
Adoption

These By-Laws shall be placed in full force and effect upon approval in the manner prescribed for amendments to these By-Laws and shall then supersede all previous By-Laws for this organization.