Bylaws of Albert Pike Court of Chevaliers
 

​

 

                                                      ARTICLE

                                                           01                                       NAME  & PURPOSE

                                                           02                                       MEMBERSHIP

                                                           03                                       OFFICERS

                                                           04                                       MEETINGS & QUORUM

                                                           05                                       COMMITTEES

                                                           06                                       FINANCES

                                                           07                                       PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

                                                           08                                       AMENDMENTS

                                                           09                                       ADOPTION

​

                                                         

​

ARTICLE I.


Name and Purpose

Section 1. This Court shall be known as the ALBERT PIKE COURT OF CHEVALIERS, and shall be under the control and direction of the International Supreme Council Order of DeMolay, the Executive Officer in Texas, the Texas State Court of Chevaliers, and Albert Pike Chapter No. 58.



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 Albert Pike Chapter No. 58 and of all 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 Albert Pike Chapter No. 58, or who is nominated by the Advisory Council of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58, 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: Commander, Vice Commander, Secretary, and Treasurer. The appointive officer of this Court shall be: the Sergeant-at-Arms.

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

Section 3. The term of office for Commander and for all other elective officers of this Court shall be a triennial. Officers shall be elected in years evenly divisible by three. The term of office for all appointive officers of this Court shall be at the pleasure of the Commander.

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

Section 5. The Commander shall, in addition to the duties prescribed by the International Supreme Council, the Executive Officer in Texas, the Texas State of Chevaliers, and Albert Pike Chapter No. 58, 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 may at any annual meeting at his option retire and assume the rank and title of Past Commander; Provided further the Commander may at the announcement of his retirement be elected by a majority of the membership of this Court present at such meeting to the position and title of Commander Emeritus and at his expiration shall be accorded the rank and title of Past Commander; Provided further that a Commander Emeritus may at any annual meeting at his option retire and assume the rank and title of Past Commander.

Section 7. The Vice Commander shall assist the Commander in the discharge of the latter's duties and in the latter's absence preside.

Section 8. The Secretary shall have like duties of office as those duties prescribed for a DeMolay Chapter Scribe in the Statutes of the Supreme Council.

Section 9. The Treasurer shall have like duties of office as those duties prescribed for a DeMolay Chapter Treasurer in the Statutes of the Supreme Council.

Section 10. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall perform those duties which naturally pertain to such an office and which may be enjoined upon them by the Commander.

Section 11. A vacancy which occurs in the office of Commander shall be filled in accordance with Sections 7 and 8 of this Article and the Vice Commander filling the vacancy shall preside until the next annual meeting at which time a commander shall be duly elected. A vacancy in any other office shall be filled by appointment of the 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 both Commanders and Commander Emeritus, a Past Commander in order of seniority shall preside until the next annual meeting at which time a new Commander shall be elected and a Vice Commander shall be elected to serve the balance of the term of office. If there be no living Commander, Vice Commander, Commander Emeritus, or Past Commander, the Senior Chevalier who is a member of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58 shall preside until the election of a new Commander and a new Vice Commander.
 

ARTICLE IV.


Meetings and Quorum

Section 1. The annual meeting of the Albert Pike Court of Chevaliers shall be held on or about November 8 of each year at a time and place as determined by the 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 Commander provided notice thereof is mailed at least one week prior to the date of the meeting and only for the transaction of the business stated in the notice. The 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, place, purpose, and place as above provided.

Section 3. No 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, which may include any Commander Emeritus, Provided, however, that in the absence of both Commanders and all Commander Emeriti, a Past Commander of said Court in order of seniority shall preside.
 

ARTICLE V.


Committees

Section 1. An Executive Committee shall be comprised of the Commander, Vice Commander, Secretary, Treasurer, and all Past 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 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 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 at which the assessment is levied.

Section 3. The 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; Provided that such funds shall be considered a part of the general assets of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58 with the custody and use thereof assigned to Albert Pike Court of Chevaliers. The 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 Albert Pike Court of Chevaliers with the authorized signatures being those of the Commander and the Treasurer.
 

ARTICLE VII.


Parliamentary Authority

This Court shall be governed by Sturgis' Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, Latest Edition, 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, the bylaws, rules and regulations of the Texas State Court of Chevaliers, and the bylaws, rules and regulations of Albert Pike Chapter No. 58.
 

ARTICLE VIII.


Amendments

Section 1. These Bylaws 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 Bylaws.

Section 2. Any action of the International Supreme Council, the Executive officer in Texas, the Texas State Court of Chevaliers or Albert Pike Chapter No. 58 which may affect or alter these Bylaws in any respect is hereby declared to be an amendment.
 

ARTICLE IX.


Adoption

These Bylaws shall be placed in full force and effect upon approval in the manner prescribed for amendments to these Bylaws and shall then supersede all previous Bylaws for this organization.
Adopted November 8, 1963
Amended November 8, 1964
Amended November 6, 1978
Amended November 8, 1990
Amended November 28, 2004