Of the General Grand Encampment. Sect. 1. There shall be a General Grand Encampment of Knights Templars, and the Appendant Orders, for the United States of America, which shall consist of a general grand master, deputy general grand master, general grand generalissimo, general grand captain general, general grand prelate, general grand senior wardeo, general grand junior warden, general grand treasurer, general grand recorder, general grand warder, general grand standard bearer, general grand sword bearer, all past general grand masters, deputy general grand masters, general grand generalissimos, and general grand captain generals of this general grand encampment; the grand masters, deputy grand masters, grand generalissimos, and grand captain generals of all such state grand encampments as may be instituted or holden by virtue of this constitution; and the said enumerated officers, or their proxies, shall be the only members and voters in the said general grand encampment. Sect. 2. The general grand encampment shall be instituted and opened on the 22d day of June, A. D. 1816; it shall meet on the third Thursday in September, A. D. 1819, and septennially thereaf ter, for the choice of officers, and other business, on the third Thursday in September, at such place as may from time to time be appointed. Sect. 3. A special meeting of the general grand encampment shall be called whenever any two of the first four general grand officers may deem it necessary; and also whenever it may be required by a majority of the grand encampments of the states aforesaid; provided such requisition be made known, in writing, by the said grand encampments respectively, to either of the before mentioned general grand officers. Sect. 4. The general grand master, deputy general grand master, g. g. generalissimo, and g. g. captain general, are severally hereby authorized and empowered, to visit and preside in any and every assernbly of knights of the red cross, knights templars, and of Malta, throughout the jurisdiction of the general grand encampment, and to give such instructions and directions as the good of the institution may require; always adhering to the ancient landmarks. Sect. 5. In all cases of the absence of any officer from any assembly instituted or holden by virtue of this constitution, the officer next in rank shall succeed his superior; unless through courtesy such officer should decline in favour of a past superior officer present. And in case of the absence of all the officers, the members present, according to seniority and abilities, shall fill the several offices. Sect. 6. In every assembly of knights, all questions (except upon the admission of members or candidates) shall be determined by a majority of votes; the presiding officer for the time being, shall be entitled to a vote, if a member; and in case the votes should be equally divided he shall also give the casting vote. Sect. 7. The general grand encampment shall be competent, on concurrence of two thirds of its members present, at any time hereafter, to revise, amend, and alter this constitution. Sect. 8. In case any casualty should at any time hereafter prevent the septennial election of officers, the several general grand officers shall sustain their respective offices until successors shall be duly elected and qualified. Sect. 9. The general grand master, deputy general grand master, g. g. generalissimo, and g. g. captain general, shall severally have power and authority to institute new councils of knights of the red cross, and encampments of knights templars, and of Malta, in any state or territory wherein there is not a grand encampment regularly established. The fees for instituting a new Council and Encampment, in manner aforesaid, shall be ninety dollars, exclusive of such compensation for executing the letters of dispensation, or charter, as may be deemed reasonable. Sect. 10. The general grand master, and deputy general grand master, are severally authorized to appoint a general grand visitor, of more than one if necessary, to superintend and perform such distant business, and to communicate such instructions as may come within the cognizance of the said grand officers respectively, conformably to the duties and prerogatives of their respective offices. Sect. 1. ARTICLE II. Of State Grand Encampments. Whenever there shall be three or more encampments instituted or holden under this constitution in any ope state, a Grand Encampment may be formed in such state, after obtaining the approbation and consent of the general grand master, the deputy general grand master, or the general grand encampment. Sect. 2. The state grand encampments shall severally consist of a grand master, deputy grand master, grand generalissimo, grand cap. tain general, grand prelate, grand senior warden, grand junior warden, grand treasurer, grand recorder, grand warder, grand standard bearer, and grand sword bearer; all past grand masters, deputy grand masters, grand generalissimos, and grand captain generals, of any state grand encampment, wheresoever they may reside; the grand commander, generalissimo, and captain general for the time being of the encampments over which they shall respectively preside; and all past grand commanders of such encampments; and the said enumerated officers, or their proxies, shall be the only members and voters in the said state grand encampments respectively. Sect. 3. The state grand encampments shall be holden at least once in every year, at such times and places as they shall respectively direct, and the grand or deputy grand masters respectively may call special meetings when they may deem the same necessary. Their officers shall be chosen annually, by ballot. Sect. 4. The several state grand encampments (subject to the provisions of this constitution) shall have the sole government and superintendence of the several councils of knights of the red cross, knights templars and knights of Malta, within their respective jurisdictions; to assign their limits, and settle controversies that may happen between them; and shall have power, under their respective seals, and the sign manual of their respective principal grand officers, attested by their respective secretaries, to constitute new councils and encampments of the above mentioned orders, within their respective jurisdictions. Sect. 5. The grand and deputy grand masters severally shall have the power and authority (during the recess of the grand en, campment of which they are officers) to grant letters of dispensation under their respective hands and private seals to a competent number of petitioners, residing within their respective jurisdictions, (pos. sessing the constitutional qualifications) empowering them to form and open a council and encampment, for a certain specified term of time, not extending beyond the next meeting of the grand encampment. And in all cases of such dispensations, the officer granting the same shall make report thereof at the next meeting of the grand encampment, who may either continue or recall the same, or may grant the petitioners a charter. Sect. 6. The several state grand encampments shall possess authority, upon the institution of new councils and encampments, within their respective jurisdictions, to require the payment of such fees as they may deem expedient, which said fees shall be advanced and paid before a charter of letters of dispensation shall be issued. Sect. 7. The state grand encampments severally shall have pow er to require from the several councils and encampments within their respective jurisdictions, such reasonable proportion of sums received by them for the promotion of candidates, and such certain annual sums from their respective members, as may be necessary for supporting the grand encampment with propriety and respectability; which said dues shall be made good, and paid over, by the councils and encampments respectively at such times as the said grand encampments may direct. Sect. 8. No charter shall be issued for constituting a council of knights of the red cross excepting upon the petition of at least seven knights of that order; nor for constituting an encampment of knights templars and knights of Malta, excepting upon the petition of nine knights of those orders; and the petitioners must be recommended by the council or encampment in the same state, nearest the place where the new council or encampment is to be established. Sect. 9. The grand recorders shall severally make an annual communication to each other, and also to the general grand recorder, containing a list of grand officers, and all such other matters as may be deemed useful for the mutual information of the several grand encampments. And the said state grand recorders shall also regularly transmit to the general grand recorder a copy of all their bylaws and regulations. Sect. 10. The jurisdiction of the several state grand encampments shall not extend beyond the limits of the state in which they shall re spectively be holden; excepting any case wherein, before the formation of this constitution, a grand encampment had been formed by an united representation of the encampments in two adjoining states. ARTICLE III. OF SUBORDINATE COUNCILS AND ENCAMPMENTS. Sect. 1. All regular assemblies of knights of the red cross are called Councils; and ali regular assemblies of knights templars, and knights of Malta, are called Encampments. Every council and encampment ought to assemble at least quarterly, for business and improvement. Every encampment shall consist of a grand commander, generalissimo, captain general, prelate, senior warden, junior warden, treasurer, recorder, warder, standard bearer, sword bearer, and as many members as may be found convenient. Sect. 2. No encampment shall confer the orders of knighthood for a less sum than twenty dollars, nor upon any one who shall not have regularly received the several degrees of entered apprentice, fellow craft, master mason, mark master, past master, most excellent master, and royal arch mason. The rule of succession in conferring the orders of knighthood shall be as follows, viz. knight of the red cross, knight templar, and knight of Malta. Sect. 3. Every council and encampment shall have a charter or warrant from the grand encampment of the state in which they may respectively be holden, or from one of the first four general grand officers. And no council or encampment that may hereafter be formed and opened shall be deemed legal, without such charter or war rant; and communication is hereby interdicted and forbidden, between any council or encampment under this jurisdiction, or any member of either of them, and any council, encampment or assembly, that may be so formed, opened or holden, without such charter or warrant, or any or either of their members, or any person introduced into such illegal assembly. Sect. 4. The grand commander of every encampment and council has it in special charge to see that the by laws of his council or encampment are duly observed, as well as the general constitution, and the regulations of the grand encampment; that accurate records are kept, and just accounts rendered; that regular returns are made to the grand encampment, and to the general grand recorder, annually, and that the annual dues are promptly paid; he has authority to call special meetings at pleasure; and it is his duty, together with his second and third officers, to attend all meetings of the grand encampment, in person or by proxy. Sect. 5. It shall not be deemed regular for any encampment, or council, to confer the orders of knighthood upon any sojourner whose fixed place of abode is within any state in which there is an encampment regularly established; and in case any encampment shall confer the said orders, contrary to this section, such encampment shall, on demand, pay over to the encampment situated nearest the candidate's fixed place of abode, the whole amount of fees received for his admission. Sect. 6. The officers of every council and encampment under this jurisdiction, before they enter upon the exercise of their respective offices, and also the members of all such councils and encampments, and every candidate, upon his admission into the same, shall take the following obligation, viz. 1, A. B.do promise and swear, that I will support and maintain the Constitution of the United States' General Grand Encampment of Knights Templars and the Appendant Orders."" I hereby certify, that the foregoing is a true copy of the Constitu tion of the United States' General Grand Encampment, adopted and ratified in convention at the city of New-York, on the 21st day of June, A. D. 1816. J. J. LORING, General Grand Recorder. List of General Grand Officers, elected June 21st, A. D. 1816; to continue in office until the third Thursday in September, A. D. 1819. M. E. and Hon. DEWITT CLINTON, Esq. of New-York, General Grand Master. THOMAS SMITH WEBB, Esq. of Boston, Deputy General Grand Master. HENRY EOWLE, Esq. of Boston, G. G. Generalissimo. MARTIN HOFFMAN, Esq. of New-York, G. G. Senior Warden. |