ARTICLE I
Name and Number

Section 1.
This Commandery shall be known and styled as San Antonio Commandery No. 7, Knights Templar. top

ARTICLE II
Conclaves

Section 1.
The Stated Conclaves of this Commandery shall be held on the THIRD MONDAY of February, May, August, October, November and December at 7:30 p.m., except in months in which the THIRD MONDAY is a National Holiday and the Scottish Rite Cathedral is closed; and in months in which the Grand Commandery of Texas is in Grand Conclave onthe THIRD MONDAY. (May 15, 2000)

Section 2.
Special Conclaves may be called by the Commander.

Section 3.
No business shall be transacted at a Special Conclave except to specified in the original notice or summons.

Section 4.
When the Order of the Temple is to be conferred, the Officers shall appear in full dress uniform. All other Sir Knights are requested to appear in full dress uniform. At all other Conclaves the dress for Officers shall be as designated by the Commander. Other members may attend in civilian clothing. top

ARTICLE III
Officers and Elections

Section 1.
The Officers of this Commandery shall be a Commander, Generalissimo, Captain General, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Prelate, Treasurer, Recorder, Standard Beam, Sword Bearer, Warder, Sentinel and three Guards.

Section 2.
The Commander, Generalissimo, Captain General Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer, Recorder, Standard Bearer, Sword Bearer, Warder and Sentinel shall be elected by ballot at the Stated Conclave in November of each year. (Apr. 18, 1994)

Section 3.
The remaining officers shall be appointed by the Commander-elect.

Section 4.
All Officers shall be installed as soon after election and appointment as practicable but not later than January 15th. They shall hold and discharge the duties of their respective offices until their successors have been duly elected, or appointed, and installed. (Apr. 18, 1994)
No member of this Commandery elected or appointed to an office may be installed in that office until he has paid his dues for the Templar year in which he is to serve in the office to which he has been elected or appointed. (Apr. 18, 1994)

Section 5.
The duties of the officers shall be such as are prescribed by the Constitution, Statutes, and Rituals of the Grand Encampment, Knights Templar of the United States of America, by the Statutes and Regulations of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas and as the traditions of the Order have established, together with such other duties as may be prescribed by these By-Laws.

Section 6.
It is the special duty of the Commander to see that all the officers properly discharge the duties of the officers to which they are elected or appointed and to appoint such special committees as he may deem necessary.

Section 7.
The Treasurer shall receive all monies belonging to the Commandery; pay all orders drawn authorized by the Commandery and submit his books for audit when so requested by the Commandery. He shall make an annual report to the Commandery of all monies received and paid out by him. He shall be exempt from payment of dues during his term of office. (Apr. 18, 1994)

Section 8
The Recorder shall keep a record of the proceedings of the Commandery, collect all revenue and pay same to the Treasurer, shall keep a Register of all members, showing their Lodge, Chapter and Council membership, and dues owing and collected and such other records as pertains to the history of the member. He shall make an annual report to the Commandery and annual and other reports to the Grand Recorder as may be required by the Statutes. He shall issue all notices and summons as directed by the Commandery and shall submit his books for audit when so ordered. He shall receive a sum of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) per month. He may receive a travel allowance to be specified annually in the budget. (Apr. 18, 1994)

Section 9.
The Sentinel shall guard all Conclaves of the Commandery. He shall deliver notices and summons when required to do so. He shall, under the direction of the Captain General, make necessary preparations for Conclaves and shall have charge of the property belonging to the Commandery not otherwise provided for. He shall perform such other duties pertaining to his office as may be required.

Section 10.
The Generalissimo with the Recorder and Treasurer, after the Stated Conclave in December shall prepare the proposed budget for the following Commandery year. The proposed budget shall be presented to the Commandery for its approval not later then the February Stated Conclave. (Apr. 18, 1994)

Section 11.
The Treasurer and Recorder shall be bonded by the Grand Commandery of Texas in accordance with the provisions of Article 251 of the Statutes and Regulations of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas (Complete Review 1992) editions (Apr. 18, 1994) top

ARTICLE IV
Fees and Dues

Section 1.
The fees for the Order conferred in this Commandery shall be Seventy Five Dollars ($75.00), and must in all cases, accompany the petition.

Section 2.
Effective January 1, 1988, the annual dues of this Commandery shall be Twenty Dollars ($20.00) and shall be payable on or before the first day of January each year. Members who have not purchased either a Life, Associate or Patron Sponsorship in the Knights Templar Eye Foundation as speciHed in the Constitution and Statutes of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America, shall be required to pay an additional One Dollar ($1.00) assessment to the Knights Templar Eye Foundation. (May 18, 1987).

Section 3.
Any member of this Commandery who has been a member in good standing for a period of fifty years, or more, shall be exempt from the payment of dues. This does not exempt the Commandery from Payment of the Grand Encampment per capita tax or assessment.

Section 4.
All members, except Honorary, the Treasurer, Recorder, Dependent Members and 50-year Members shall be required to pay dues as above.

Section 5.
Any member failing to pay dues for one year or more shall be reported to the Commandery, and he shall be summoned to attend a stated Conclave to show cause why he should not be suspended; after which, upon vote of the Commandery, he may be suspended for their non-payment. top

ARTICLE V
Honorary Members

Section 1.
Sir Knights, members of other Commanderies, may, by unanimous vote, be elected to Honorary Membership according to the provisions of Article 261, Statutes and Regulations of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas. top

ARTICLE VI
Committees

Section 1.
As soon as practicable after the Commander will appoint a Finance Committee of three members whose duty it will be to examine all claims against the Commandery for approval before payment, unless previously approved in the budget. The Finance Committee will audit or arrange for the audit of the records of the Treasurer and Recorder for the preceeding year. The audit report shall be submitted to the Commandery not later than the Stated Conclave in March.

Section 2.
Any Special Committees shall be appointed by the Commander. top

ARTICLE VII
Petitions

Section 1.
Petitions for the Orders of Knighthood in this Commandery shall be in required form, accompanied by the fees provided in Article IV, Section 1 of these By-Laws and signed in person by the applicant, who shall be recommended by at least two members of this Commandery. The petition shall be received at any Stated or Special Conclave and shall be referred to a committee of three members of this Commandery ONLY when requested to do so by a member in good standing in this Commandery. The committee appointed by the Commander shall report thereon. Only the fact of the report being made, and not its character, shall be entered in the minutes of the Commandery (See Article 314, Statutes & Regulations of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas (Complete Revision 1992) edition). A petition may be withdrawn at any time before ballot, and also when it shall appear that the Commandery has no jurisdiction. Fees cannot be remitted, directly or indirectly. (Edited 1994)

Section 2.
Petitions for affiliation shall be in required form, signed by the applicant who shall be recommended by at least two members of this Commandery, and may be received or balloted upon only at a Stated Conclave unless otherwise authorized by Dispensation by the Grand Commander. Petitions must be accompanied by the required Demit, or equivalent, from the Commandery of which he was last a member. A petition for Dual Membership must be accompanied by a Certificate of Good Standing issued by the Commandery of which the petitioner is a member. Petitions for membership by affiliation or dual membership shall be referred to a committee of three members of this Commandery ONLY when requested to do so by a member in good standing in this Commandery.
The Committee appointed by the Commander shall report thereon. Only the fact of the report being made, and not its character shall be entered in the minutes of the Commandery. A petition for affiliation can be rejected only by casting a black ballot. A protest against affiliation shall not be entertained. (Edited 1994)

Section 3.
In balloting on a petition for the orders, should two or more negative ballots appear, the petitioner shall be declared rejected; if only one negative ballot appears, the Commander shall cause a second ballot to be held immediately, before the result of the first ballot has been announced and before any member of the Commandery has left the Asylum, then if one negative vote still appears, the candidate shall be declared rejected. It shall not be in order to receive a petition from a rejected petitioner within six months after his rejection. top

ARTICLE VIII
Amendments

Section 1.
Amendments to these By-Laws may be submitted in writing at a Stated Conclave, lie over until at least the next Stated Conclave, at which time the amendment will be voted upon without further change. Approval of amendments shall require a two-thirds vote of the members present however, such amendments shall not be effective until approved by the Grand Commandery or Grand Commander as provided for in Article 167, Statutes and Regulations of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas, except such amendments as are authorized by to Statutes.

ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. The reading of all unapproved minutes and action thereon.
2. Reports of officers and standing committees.
3. Reports of special committees and action thereon.
4. Reading petitions and reference to committees.
5. Unfinished business.
6. New business.

The Rules of Order shall have precedence in the manner enumerated, and must not be temporarily suspended unless ordered by a two-thirds vote of the Commandery at a Stated Conclave only. top

ARTICLE IX
Sponsorship of San Antonio Assembly No 3,
International Order of the Rainbow for Girls

Section 1.
On November 4, 1922 San Antonio Commandery No. 7, Knights Templar, became the original sponsor of San Antonio Assembly No. 3, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, and since that date has been the only sponsor of said Assembly

Section 2.
This Commandery acting within the authority of Section 2, Sponsoring Bodies, Statutes of the Supreme Assembly Pertaining to Subordinate Assemblies (Revised by Supreme Assembly, July 1988), International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, shall enact and/or direct the implementation of such procedures necessary for the government and/or operation of said Assembly, including but not limited by the following:

1. The Generalissimo then in office in November of each Templar Year (the person who presumably will be elected and installed as Eminent Commander for the ensuing Templar Year, hereinafter called the Eminent Commander-elect for the purposes of this Article), shall, prior to the November Stated Conclave:
   
   1. Select not less than five (5) nor more than fifteen (15) adults to be nominated to act as the Advisory Board of San Antonio Assembly No. 3, I.O.R.G., for the ensuing calendar year. Of the persons so nominated, not less than five (5) shall be male and each male member nominated shall be a member in good standing in this Commandery, three (3) of whom shall be the Templars expected to be elected and installed as Eminent Commander, Generalissimo and Captain General for the ensuing Templar Year. (Apr. 18, 1994)
      
   2. Nominate the person to serve as Mother Advisor of the Assembly during the ensuing calendar year, and the Generalissimo shall nominate the person to serve as Mother Advisor-elect, who shall, barring any unforseen situation, serve as the Mother Advisor of the Assembly for the second ensuing calendar year. (Apr. 18, 1994)
      
   3. May also, at his discretion, nominate one or more alternates to serve on the Board.
      
2. The Eminent Commander-elect, upon making the selections directed above, shall submit for confirmation the names of the persons so selected to the membership of this Commandery at the November Stated Conclave. Any persons nominated, but not confirmed, shall not serve in the capacity for which they were nominated.
   
3. The Eminent Commander shall be the presiding officer (Chairman of the Board). In the absence of the Eminent Commander, the Generalissimo will preside at the meetings of said Board, and, in the absence of the Eminent Commander and the Generalissimo, the Captain General will preside.
   
4. The Advisory Board of San Antonio Assembly No. 3, I.O.R.G., shall, at the first meeting of such Board, propose such Operating Procedures which the Board considers to be necessary for the operation of the Board and/or Assembly during the ensuing calendar year. All proposed Operating Procedures shall be presented to this Commandery, by and through its Chairman, for approval and ratification prior to March 31 of each year. Any proposed procedures which fail to be ratified by this Commandery shall be of no force or effect. (Apr. 22, 1991) top
   

CERTIFICATION OF ADOPTION AND APPROVAL

The above By-Laws, with Amendments cited, were consolidated for publication as a single document vacating all previously published issuances and amendments.

The original version of the foregoing By-Laws proposed by the Committee on By-Laws of San Antonio Commandery No. 7, Knights Templar, were legally adopted by San Antonio Commandery No. 7, Knights Templar at its Stated Conclave held in San Antonio, Texas on March 18, 1985, and O.A. 867. These By-Laws were subsequently approved by the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas on October 23, 1985. An amendment regarding dues (Article IV, Section 2) was adopted by this Commandery May 18, 1987). An amendment regarding Stated Conclaves (Article 11, Section 1) was adopted by this Commandery September 21, 1987). An amendment regarding compensation of the Recorder (Article III, Section 8) was adopted by this Commandery on May 15, 1989. These amendments did not require Grand Commandery approval. An amendment regarding Sponsorship of San Antonio Assembly No. 3, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, was adopted by this Commandery January 21, 1991, and was approved by the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas April 22-23, 1991. Specific Articles and Section noted as "April 18, 1994", were adopted by this Commandery June 21, 1993 and approved by the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas on April 18, 1994.

Articles and Sections noted as "Edited 1994" were added to correct grammatical and typographical errors and to convert the language to conform to that of companion Articles of the Statutes and Regulations of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas (Complete Revision 1992) edition.

Full documentation of the foregoing original ByLaws and amendments cited above are in the official files of San Antonio Commandery No. 7, Knights Templar, San Antonio, Texas.

Attested:
Frank E. Draper, Jr., P.C.
Recorder
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AMENDMENT
March 18, 1996

Be it, resolved that the ByLaws of San Antonio Commandery No. 7, Knights Templar, San Antonio, Texas, Article IV, Fees and Dues, page 4, 1994 edition, which now reads:

"Effective January 1, 1988, the annual dues of this Commandery shall be Twenty Dollars ($20.00) and shall be payable on or before the first day of January each year. Members who have not purchased either a Life, Associate or Patron Sponsorship in the Knights Templar Eye Foundation as speciHed in the Constitution and Statutes of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar, of the United States of America, shall be required to pay an additional One Dollar ($1.00) assessment to the Knights Templar Eye Foundation. (May 18, 1987)"

be amended to read:

"Effective January 1, 1997, the annual dues of this Commandery shall be Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) and shall be payable on or before the first day of January each year. Members who have not purchased either a Life, Associate or Patron Sponsorship in the Knights Templar Eye Foundation as speciHed in the Constitution and Statutes of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America, shall be required to pay an additional One Dollar ($1.00) assessment to the Knights Templar Eye Foundation. (May 1996)"The foregoing proposed change to the Bylaws of San Antonio Commandery No. 7, Knights Templar was read at the Stated Conclave on March 18, 1996, and following discussion without amendment was laid over until the next Stated Conclave on April 15, 1996, at which time it was read for the second time, voted upon without further discussion, and unanimously approved by the members present." top