Lodge Burroughs Strange No. 87
Vijayawada, India

The Regional Grand Lodge meets under a Regional Grand Master duly appointed and authorised by the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of India.

At present and subject to any exercise by the Grand Master of his powers under Rule 53 of the Book of Constitutions, the Territorial Jurisdiction of the Regional Grand Lodge extends over the State of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Goa and the Union Territories of Puducherry and Lakshadweep.

All daughter Lodges working within this area under and constituted by Warrants authorised by the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of India shall be under the supervision, direction and control of the Regional Grand Lodge.

The interests of the Fraternity in this Region are managed by a general representation of all Daughter Lodges within the Region holding their warrants under the Constitution of the Grand Loge of India, with the Regional Grand Master as their head.

This collective body is styled “The Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India” and consists of

• The Regional Grand Master;

• The Regional Grand Officers of the year;

• The Past Regional Grand Officers who are subscribing members of a Daughter Lodge within the Region;

• The Ruling Master and Ruling Wardens of all Daughter Lodges in the Region; and

• The Past Master of any Lodge under the Grand Lodge or of any duly recognised Grand Lodge, who are subscribing members of a Daughter Lodge within the Region, governed under Rule 9 of the Book of Constitutions.

The Officers of Regional Grand Lodge shall take rank and precedence in the following order:

1. The Regional Grand Master
2. Past Regional Grand Masters
3. The Deputy Regional Grand Master
4. Past Deputy Regional Grand Masters
5. The Asst. Regional Grand Masters
6. Past Asst. Regional Grand Masters
7. The Senior Regional Grand Warden
8. Past Senior Regional Grand Wardens
9. The Junior Regional Grand Warden
10. Past Junior Regional Grand Wardens
11. The Regional Grand Chaplain
12. Past Regional Grand Chaplains
13. The Regional Grand Treasurer
14. Past. Regional Grand Treasurers
15. The Regional Grand Registrar
16. Past Regional Grand Registrars
17. President Regional Board of General Purposes
18. Past Presidents Regional Board of General Purposes
19. The Regional Grand Secretary
20. Past Regional Grand Secretaries
21. The Regional Grand Director of Ceremonies
22. Past Regional Grand Directors of Ceremonies
23. The Senior Regional Grand Deacon
24. Past Senior Regional Grand Deacons
25. The Junior Regional Grand Deacon
26. Past Junior Regional Grand Deacons
27. The Regional Grand Bearers of V.S.L.
28. Past Regional Grand Bearers of V.S.L.
29. The Regional Grand Sword Bearer
30. Past Regional Grand Sword Bearers
31. The Deputy Regional Grand Director of Ceremonies
32. Past Deputy Regional Grand Directors of Ceremonies
33. The Regional Grand Superintendent of Works
34. Past Regional Grand Superintendents of Works
35. The Assistant Regional Grand Secretary
36. Past Assistant Regional Grand Secretaries
37. The Assistant Regional Grand Director of Ceremonies
38. Past Assistant Regional Grand Directors of Ceremonies
39. The Regional Grand Standard Bearers
40. Past Regional Grand Standard Bearers
41. The Assistant Regional Grand Standard Bearers
42. Past Assistant Regional Grand Standard Bearers
43. The Regional Grand Organist
44. Past Regional Grand Organists
45. The Regional Grand Marshal
46. Past Regional Grand Marshals
47. The Regional Grand Inner Guard
48. Past Regional Grand Inner Guards
49. The Assistant Regional Grand Inner Guard
50. Past Assistant Regional Grand Inner Guards
51. The President of Regional Grand Stewards
52. Past Presidents of Regional Grand Stewards
53. The Vice-President of Regional Grand Stewards
54. Past Vice- Presidents of Regional Grand Stewards
55. The Regional Grand Stewards
56. Past Regional Grand Stewards
57. The Regional Grand Tyler
58. Past Regional Grand Tylers

1. The appointment of officers shall take place at the First Annual Meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge and whenever practicable, such officers shall be invested.

2. No brother shall hold more than one office in the Regional Grand lodge at one and the same time.

3. If any office in the Regional Grand Lodge be rendered vacant ant any time, the Regional Grand Master may as soon as possible fill such vacancy by the appointment of some other Brother who shall from the date of his appointment take rank in the same manner as if he had been appointed at an annual meeting and the report of such an appointment shall be entered in the minutes of the following Regional Grand Lodge meeting.

1. The following shall be the maximum scale of appointment fee to be paid on appointment to any of the Offices (Present or Past) specified below:

   Deputy Regional Grand Master	Rs. 10,000.00
   Assistant Regional Grand Master	Rs. 9,000.00
   Senior Regional Grand Warden	Rs. 8,000.00
   Junior Regional Grand Warden	Rs. 7,400.00
   Regional Grand Chaplain	Rs. 6,800.00
   Regional Grand Treasurer	Rs. 6,400.00
   Regional Grand Registrar	Rs. 6,000.00
   President, Regional Board of General Purposes	Rs. 5,600.00
   Regional Grand Secretary	Rs. 5,200.00
   Regional Grand Director of Ceremonies	Rs. 4,800.00
   Senior Regional Grand Deacon	Rs. 4,400.00
   Junior Regional Grand Deacon	Rs. 4,000.00
   Regional Grand Bearer of V.S.L.	Rs. 3,600.00
   Regional Grand Sword Bearer	Rs. 3,400.00
   Deputy Regional Grand Director of Ceremonies	Rs. 3,200.00
   Regional Grand Superintendent of Works	Rs. 3,000.00
   Assistant Regional Grand Secretary	Rs. 2,800.00
   Assistant Regional Grand Director of Ceremonies	Rs. 2,600.00
   Regional Grand Standard Bearers	Rs. 2,400.00
   Assistant Regional Grand Standard Bearers	Rs. 2,200.00
   Regional Grand Organist	Rs. 2,000.00
   Regional Grand Marshal	Rs. 1,800.00
   Regional Grand Inner Guard	Rs. 1,600.00
   Assistant Regional Grand Inner Guard	Rs. 1,400.00
   President, Regional Grand Stewards	Rs. 1,200.00
   Vice-President, Regional Grand Stewards	Rs. 1,000.00
   Regional Grand Stewards	Rs. 800.00
   Regional Grand Tyler	Rs. 600.00

   
   

2. Every Brother on his first Appointment to any office to the Regional Grand Lodge specified above or on first conferment of a Past Rank to any such office, shall pay to the Regional Grand Lodge, the Appointment Fee, as indicated in Bye-law No.6 (i) above.

3. A Regional Grand Lodge Officer on appointment to a higher office (Present or Past) than that held by him previously shall pay only the difference between the fees chargeable for the two offices He shall be deemed to have paid the revised fees for the office which he is how holding.

4. The holder of an active RGL Rank shall also pay an additional fee of Rs.500.00.

All the members of the Regional Grand Lodge shall pay an Annual Subscription of Rs.100.00 in advance for each year directly to the Secretary, Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India, on or before 30th June every year.

Alternatively, any member of the Regional Grand Lodge has the option to pay a lump sum of Rs.1,000.00 at any one time, in lieu of the annual subscription of Rs.100.00 as mentioned above and on such payment being made, he shall not be liable to pay any annual subscription in future.

If there is a default in the payment of annual subscription for two years, notice shall be sent by the Regional Gran Lodge of Southern India, to the defaulting members.

If within two weeks of receipt of such notice the arrears are not paid, the names of such defaulting members who are Regional Grand Lodge Officers shall be removed from the list of Regional Grand Lodge Officers and such removal communicated to the Lodge or Lodges of which they are members. However, their names will be restored to the Register on payment of arrears.

In similar circumstances other members of the Regional Grand Lodge who are not officers, shall not be given any office or Rank in the Regional Grand Lodge until the arrears of subscription are paid up.

So far as not otherwise herein expressly provided and so far as circumstances will admit, the duties of the Regional Grand Officers shall be identical with those of the corresponding officers in the Grand Lodge.

1. The Regional Grand Treasurer shall maintain the accounts of all funds of the Regional Grand Lodge and shall produce them for audit and examination as prescribed by these Bye-laws or whenever he may be required to do so by an order of the Regional Grand Master or by a resolution of the Regional Board of General Purposes or the Regional Grand Lodge.

2. No payment shall be made by the Regional Grand Treasurer except in accordance with these Bye-laws or with a resolution duly passed by the Regional Grand Lodge or by the Regional Board of General Purposes.

1. The Regional Grand Registrar is the law Officer of the Regional Grand Lodge.

2. He shall have the custody of the seals of the Regional Grand Lodge.

3. He shall examine and sign every patent, Certificate or other documents requiring the seal of the Regional Grand Lodge and shall himself affix or may authorise the Regional Grand Secretary to affix thereto the seal of the Regional Grand Lodge.

4. All matters involving explanation, interpretation of Constitution and Bye-law shall be referred to the Regional Grand Registrar and his opinion shall be place before the Regional Board of General Purposes.

1. The Regional Grand Secretary, in addition to performing such duties as may be otherwise imposed upon him by these Bye-Laws, shall be ex-officio Secretary to every committee appointed by the Regional Grand Master, Regional Grand Lodge or the Regional Grand Board of General Purposes and shall receive all communications for the Regional Grand Master, the Regional Grand Lodge and the Regional Board of General Purposes and any such committee and shall lay them before the authority concerned as required by the Constitutions, by these Bye-Laws and by the usage of Craft and shall conduct all correspondence arising there from.

2. He shall hold charge of and be responsible for the records of the Regional Grand Lodge.

3. He shall receive the fees and contributions payable by Daughter Lodges and Brethren to the Funds of Regional Grand Lodge and pay them or cause them to be paid to the account of Regional Grand Lodge.

4. He shall maintain a Register of all Daughter Lodges in the Region registered under the Grand Lodge, showing the dates of their respective warrants and their days and places of meeting.

5. He shall maintain for each Daughter Lodge in the Region, a Register in the prescribed form showing the Masonic career of each member and a general Index of the members of the Lodges in the Region. Those registers shall be checked by the Regional Board of General Purposes with the returns received from the Lodges as required by these Bye-Laws.

6. He shall lay before the Regional Grand Master, all notices or propositions to be brought before the Regional Grand Lodge.

7. He shall prepare the Agenda and issue summonses for all meetings of the Regional Grand Lodge, the Regional Board of General Purposes and or any committee of the Regional Grand Lodge or the Board and shall maintain the record of the proceedings thereof.

8. He shall be responsible for the promulgations of all circulars, orders, decisions and notifications of the Regional Grand Master and of all resolutions of the Regional Grand Lodge and shall require the compliance therewith by all Lodges in the Region.

9. He shall certify the correctness of all claims for payments before submission to the Finance Committee of the Regional Board of General Purposes.

10. He may under the authority of the Regional Grand Registrar affix the seal of the Regional Grand Lodge to such patents, warrants, certificates and other documents as shall be specified in any such authority.

11. He shall be entitled to such remuneration and / or allowances and shall employ such establishment as may from time to time be sanctioned by the Regional Grand Master on the report of the Regional Board of General Purposes.

12. With the approval of the Regional Grand Master in respect of the duties affecting the Regional Grand Master and with the approval of the Regional Grand Board of General Purposes in respect of other duties, the Regional Grand Secretary may authorise in writing, the Assistant Regional Grand Secretary to discharge on his behalf, all or any of those duties under these Bye-Laws.

The Regional Grand Director Ceremonies shall make all arrangements for meetings of Regional Grand Lodge and direct all processions and ceremonies of Regional Grand Lodge.

He shall submit to the Regional Grand Master or to such officer as may be designated by him, an advance copy of the programme for each meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge.

The Deputy Regional Grand Director of Ceremonies and the Assistant Regional Grand Director of Ceremonies shall carry out such duties of the Regional Grand Director of Ceremonies as may be assigned to them by him.

1. The Regional Grand Superintendent or Works shall advice the Board upon all buildings or works projected or undertaken by the Region, furnish estimates thereof and superintend their construction.

2. He shall report regularly to the Board on the state of repair of the premises of the Regional Grand Lodge and his report shall be incorporated in the report made by the Board to the Regional Grand Lodge. He shall also make such further reports from time to time as may be acquired by the Board or as he may deem expedient.

The Regional Grand Inner Guard and the Assistant Regional Grand Inner Guard shall attend at the entrance of the Regional Grand Lodge, preserve order there and ensure that none be admitted except those who are qualified, have their proper clothing and jewels, have signed their names to the accustomed papers and are in all respects entitled to admission. In performing these duties they shall be guided by the general instructions of the Regional Grand Director of Ceremonies.

The President and the Vice-President and the Regional Grand Stewards shall under the direction of the Regional Grand Director of Ceremonies assist in conducting the arrangements made for the meetings of the Regional Grand Lodge.

The Regional Grand Tyler shall attend all meetings of the Regional Grand Lodge and when summoned to do so of the Regional Board of General Purposes and of all committees appointed by the Regional Grand Lodge, assist in the arrangements and see that none be admitted, but those properly entitled.

1. Two Regular Meetings of the Regional Grand Lodge shall be held annually, one in the first and the other in the Second half of the calendar year. The meeting in the first half-year shall be the Annual Investiture Meeting.

2. Special Meetings of the Regional Grand Lodge shall be held whenever the Regional Grand Master or in his absence the Regional Grand Officer in-charge shall deem necessary.

The Regional Grand Secretary shall issue to the members of the Regional Grand Lodge and to the Daughter Lodges, at least fourteen days before each meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge, Regular or Special, a notice of the meeting and of the business to be transacted thereat.

For every meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge a Stewards Committee shall be constituted, if in the city of Chennai, under the Presidentship of the Regional Grand Director of Ceremonies and if in a mofussil centre, under the Presidentship of the Master of the Lodge under whose Banner the Regional Grand Lodge shall be meeting. The committee shall make all arrangements for holding the meeting and for the Banquet, shall collect from every brother attending such amount as may be necessary for the Banquet and other expenses and shall render an account of the receipts and expenses to the Regional Board of General Purposes. Any surplus shall be credited to the General Fund.

1. Except as hereinafter provided, the business of the Regional Grand Lodge shall be conducted as far as possible, in the same manner as that of the Grand Lodge as laid down in the Book of Constitutions.

2. All notices of motion shall be given in writing, either at one meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge for consideration at the next meeting, or to the Regional Grand Secretary at least four weeks before the meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge.

3. No motion or other matter shall be brought into discussion in the Regional Grand Lodge, unless it shall have been entered in the Agenda, except in special cases with the unanimous consent of the Regional Grand Lodge or except as provided in sub-clauses (iv) and (v) below.

4. The foregoing provisions shall not apply to any matter contained in or arising out of any report or recommendation from the Regional Grand Board of General Purposes or any committee appointed by the Regional Grand Master or by the Regional Grand Lodge.

5. Except at a Special Meeting, it shall be competent for the Regional Grand Lodge to consider any matter brought before it by the Regional Grand Master, whether such matter shall have been entered in the agenda or not.

The Regional Grand Master, or the presiding officer, may at his discretion, defer or adjourn the discussion or consideration of any question brought before the Regional Grand Lodge.

No notice of motion shall be entered in the agenda, if the Regional Grand Master shall deem the same to be of a nature improper to be discussed in the Regional Grand Lodge and whenever the Regional Grand Master shall thus disallow any notice of motion, the Regional Grand Secretary shall forthwith inform the Brother, who shall have given the notice of motion, that the same has been disallowed.

No question, once decided shall be raised again in the Regional Grand Lodge, save at the instance of the Regional Grand Master, until twelve months shall have elapsed thereafter.

A Master Mason, not being a member of the Regional Grand Lodge cannot attend the Regional Grand Lodge except by permission of the Regional Grand Master and if admitted, shall not speak on any question without leave of the Regional Grand Master, nor shall he be permitted to vote.

Every member of the Regional Grand Lodge and every Regional Grand Lodge Officer during his year of office shall, unless excused by the Regional Grand Master, attend every meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge. If an Officer is unable to attend, he must give timely notice of his absence to the Regional Grand Secretary to enable the Regional Grand Director of Ceremonies to appoint a substitute.

No Daughter Lodge, other than a Lodge under the banner of which the Regional Grand Lodge may meet and the Madras Masters Lodge, shall hold a meeting on the same date as that on which a meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge is held nor on any one of the three days immediately preceding and three days immediately succeeding the date of meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge. No fee shall be levied for any dispensation which may be issued to regularise the holding of such a meeting on another date. The provisions of this Bye-Law shall also apply when the meeting of the Grand Lodge is held anywhere in the Region.

At each regular Meeting, the President of the Regional Board of General Purposes shall present his report on the proceedings of the Board and its committee for adoption.

1. The Regional Grand Officers for the year shall be appointed, at the First Regular Meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge.

2. The Regional Grand Master shall appoint eight members of the Board of General Purposes and eight other members from among those nominated by the daughter lodges shall be elected.

3. An auditor, or Auditors shall be elected to audit the accounts of the Regional Grand Lodge Funds.

A copy of the proceedings of every meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge shall be circulated to each subscribing member of the Regional Grand Lodge and to the Master and Secretary of each Daughter Lodge. Copies will also be sent to those other members and Master Masons who apply for these on payment of the prescribed fee.

The Regional Board of General Purposes shall consist of the following:

1. The President appointed annually by the Regional Grand Master,

2. The following ex-officio members, namely
   The Regional Grand Master
   The Deputy Regional Grand Master
   The Regional Grand Treasurer
   The Regional Grand Registrar
   The Regional Gran Secretary
   The Regional Grand Director of Ceremonies and

3. Sixteen additional members

Eight of these additional members shall be appointed by the Regional Grand Master at the annual meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge. The other eight members shall be elected as hereinafter provided.

1. Only Past Masters who have completed their tenure as IPM (referred to hereinafter Category I) and Past Masters who have completed 15 years since their initiation (referred to as Category II hereinafter) shall be eligible to be appointed or elected to the Board subject to clause 33 ii) of the rules.

2. Of the 8 other members referred to in clause 32, to be elected, 5 members shall be elected from Category I and 3 shall be elected from Category II, in the manner hereinafter provided, to serve the Board for the year following the 1st Regular Meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge. Each Lodge, in open Lodge assembly, shall be entitled, on or before 30th November in each year to nominate a duly qualified member from any one of the categories referred to above, of the Lodge for election. Such information containing the name of the brother together with the number of his Lodge and his Masonic Rank shall within 7 days from such nomination be forwarded to the Regional Grand Secretary along with the no due certificate.
   
   Provided that a Past Master who has been elected or appointed to serve the Board continuously for two years shall not be entitled to be nominated/appointed / elected for the following term / year.
   
   From among the Brethren so nominated, five from Category I and three from Category II shall be elected by Ballot, either by Postal or otherwise, as decided by the Regional Board of General Purposes from time to time, at the first regular meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge. In the event of the election being indeterminate owing to any equalities of votes, the result shall be decided by the casting vote of the Regional Grand Master or the Presiding Officer.

The Board shall elect annually, one of its Members to be Vice-President.

Should the President and the Vice-President be absent, the Brother senior-most in rank among those present shall preside.

If the President and the Vice-President, or any other member of the Board should die or vacate his seat, the vacancy shall be filled up, if appointed by Regional Grand Master, then by Regional Grand Master and if elected by the Regional Grand Lodge, then by the Board of General Purposes at its next meeting.

The Board shall meet at least once every quarter at such date, time and place as may be determined by the President. Other meetings may be called by the President when necessary or under the orders of the Regional Grand Master

Notice and Agenda of each meeting shall be sent to every member at least fifteen days before the meeting, but in special cases, meetings may be convened at shorter notice.

Five members shall constitute a quorum. All questions shall be decided by a majority of votes, the presiding Brother in case of equality having a second casting vote.

The Board may recommend or report to the Regional Grand Lodge whatever it shall deem necessary or advantageous to the welfare and good government of the Craft and may originate plans for the better regulation of the Regional Grand Lodge and the arrangement of its general business. Every recommendation of the Board or of any Committee, appointed by the Board shall, when adopted by the Regional Grand Lodge, be treated as an Edict of the Regional Grand Lodge.

The furniture, regalia and other property of the Regional Grand Lodge shall be under the direction and control of the Regional Board of General Purposes and a correct list thereof shall be maintained by the Regional Grand Secretary.

All transactions and resolutions of the Board shall be entered in a Minute Book to be maintained by the Regional Grand Secretary.

The Board shall present to the Regional Grand Lodge at each Regular meeting, a general report upon its proceedings during the previous half-year ending 31st March and 30th September.

At its first Regular meeting, the Board shall appoint i)a Finance Committee, ii) a Procedure Committee whose composition and functions shall be as hereinafter described.

The Board may also appoint Committees for specific purposes, which shall report in like manner.

Each committee shall have power to invite to any of its meetings, for purposes of consultation, Brethren (whether members of the Board or not) possessed of special knowledge of the subject with which such committee had to deal. It may also co-opt as members for specific purposes, representatives of other constitutions duly nominated for such purpose by the authorities of the Constitutions concerned, but such Brethren shall not be eligible to vote upon any subject other than the specific purpose for which they are co-opted.

The President and Vice-President shall be ex-officio members of all such Committees.

Each Committee shall report its proceedings to the Board at its next meeting.

1. The Finance Committee shall consist of nine members, four of whom shall be ex-officio viz. The President and Vice-President of the Regional Board of General Purposes who shall be the President and Vice-President of the committee respectively, the Regional Grand Treasurer and the Regional Grand Secretary who shall be the Treasurer and the Secretary of the Committee respectively. Three members shall form a quorum. The committee shall meet at least once in each quarter.

2. It shall be duty of the Finance Committee:

   1. to examine the accounts of the Regional Grand Lodge before they are presented to the Regional Board of General Purposes.

   2. to sanction all normal and routine expenditure and pass the bills thereof for payment from out of the appropriate funds of the Regional Grand Lodge.

   3. to examine and report on all proposals for expenditure other than normal and routine expenditure, prior to consideration of such proposals by the Regional Board of General Purposes.

   4. to frame the Budget of the Regional Grand Lodge for the ensuing year and to place the same before the Board of General Purposes.

The Procedure committee shall consist of seven members, four of whom shall be ex-officio, namely, the President and Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes who shall be the President and Vice-President of the Committee respectively, the Regional Grand Registrar and the Regional Grand Secretary who shall be the Registrar and the Secretary of the Committee respectively.

The Committee shall have power to invite for purposes of consultation, when necessary any brother who is possessed of special knowledge of the subject under consideration. Three shall form a quorum. The Committee shall meet whenever necessary.

The functions of the committee shall be:

1. To lay down procedure for holding enquiries into complaints under Rule 67 of the Book of Constitutions and

2. To advise on any matter referred to it by the Board.

The Regional Grand Lodge shall maintain the following funds:-

1. The General Purpose Fund

2. Hospitality Fund

1. The General Purposes Fund shall be the accumulated balances of the Regional Grand Lodge Revenue account. Grants may be voted from it from time to time by the Regional Grand Lodge to the other funds of the Regional Grand Lodge and to the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India Charitable Trust.

2. The Regional Grand Lodge Revenue account shall be maintained by the levy of appointment fee, Dispensation fees, Registration Fees and Annual Fees from Daughter Lodges and by all other revenues of the Regional Grand Lodge not appertaining to any other fund; and from this account shall be provided a) the expenses of the Regional Grand Lodge b) any other expenditure which the Board may sanction and c) Donations to the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India Charitable Trust.

3. A sum of Rs.40.00 out of the dues received per year from each member of the daughter Lodges or such other higher sum as may be determined by the Regional Board of General Purposes from time to time, may be transferred every year to the Corpus Fund of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India Charitable Trust. (w.e.f. 7th Feb 2007)

4. A sum of Rs.150.00 out of the dues received per year from each member of the daughter Lodges or such other higher sum as may be determined by the Regional Board of General Purposes from time to time, may be transferred every year to the Masonic Foundation. (w.e.f. 7th Nov 2014 by RGL Board resolution).

All monies belonging to the Regional Grand Lodge shall be deposited in such Bank or Banks as the Regional Board of General Purposes may determine, subject to the confirmation of the Regional Grand Lodge.

The Bank Account shall be operated by the Regional Grand Treasurer jointly with either the President or the Regional Grand Secretary, should the Regional Grand Treasurer, for any reason be unable to attend to his duty, the Regional Grand Master may appoint another member of the Regional Board of General Purposes to attend to it.

The Regional Grand Treasurer shall pay all bills for normal and routine expenditure and those relating to proposals sanctioned by the Regional Board of General Purposes on being passed for payment by the Finance Committee.

The control of all the Funds of the Regional Grand Lodge is vested in the Board of General Purposes.

1. The accounts of the Regional Grand Lodge and of all its several finances shall be closed for the year ending 31st March in every year, provided however, for the year 1988-89 the accounts shall be closed on 31st March 1989 that is the period from 1st November 1987 to 31st March 1989.

2. The accounts of all the Regional Grand Lodge Funds, shall be kept by the Regional Grand Treasurer and shall be placed before the Regional Board of General Purposes or its committees, as the case may be, at such meetings of these bodies as may be directed by them from time to time.

3. The Regional Grand Treasurer shall close the Accounts on 31st March and 30th September every year and shall when presenting them to the Board or committee as the case may be, submit a statement showing the balances at the end of the above mentioned periods under each account and how these balances are held.

4. The Regional Board of General Purposes shall present to the Regional Grand Lodge at the first Regular Meeting of each calendar year, an extract of the accounts of the Regional Grand Lodge and each of the several accounts under its control of the previous half-year ending 30th September of each year. The Board shall present to the Regional Grand Lodge at the Second Regular Meeting of each calendar year a report and an audited statement of the accounts of the Regional Grand Lodge and of each of the several accounts under its control for the accounting year ending 31st March in each year.
   
   Note: ‘Statement of Accounts’ for the purposes of this Bye-Law shall mean and include income and expenditure account and Balance Sheet incorporating therein amounts received and receivable, paid and payable in respect of the accounting year and all other transactions of the Regional Grand Lodge and showing details of assets and liabilities as on the last day of the accounting year.

5. The Regional Grand Secretary shall place before the Board at each Meeting, a Statement of the outstanding due to and from several funds.

1. The Accounts shall be audited once in each year by an Auditor or Auditors, who must be a Master Mason or Master Masons, elected annually in the Regional Grand Lodge, on such remuneration as may be fixed from time to time and as such audited accounts be presented to the Regional Grand Lodge, at its First Regular Meeting, as contemplated in Bye-Law No.54 (iv)

2. If for any reason, the Auditor or Auditors so elected is/are unable to conduct the audit, The Regional Grand Master shall appoint a substitute.

Without prejudice to the constitutional right of every Daughter Lodge to regulate its own proceedings, the following regulations shall be observed by Daughter Lodges:

1. One copy each of every summons convening a meeting of Lodge, showing the business to be transacted thereat shall at the time of issue be sent by the Master to the Regional Grand Master, to the Deputy Regional Grand Master, to the Assistant Regional Grand Master and to the President Board of General Purposes to the Regional Grand Secretary and Assistant Regional Grand Secretary of the Regional Grand Lodge. Two copies to the Grand Secretary. The summons can also be sent in electronic form.

2. Immediately after each meeting of the Lodge, the Master shall submit to the Regional Grand Secretary, in the prescribed form a Return of Alterations in Membership other than those due to initiations and joining which have been received in the minutes of such meeting.
   
   The report of exclusions and cessations of membership required by Rule 124 and 156 of the Book of Constitutions are to be made to the Grand Secretary and to the Regional Grand Secretary.

3. Each Lodge shall maintain a Register of members, which shall contain an opening for each member, in the prescribed form. As soon as Brother is initiated in or joins a Lodge, his name shall be filled in as far as practicable. Subsequent events in his Masonic career shall be entered as they occur. The numbers allotted to members shall be consecutive and entered at the top of the form and this number shall be the Brother’s Register number in all returns to the Regional Grand Lodge. It shall never be altered and shall not under any circumstances, be allotted to any other Brother in the same Lodge. A joining Brother shall be assigned a new number in the order of joining.

Every Lodge in the Region shall submit to the Regional Grand Lodge the following returns electronically as prescribed from time to time:

1. Immediately the name of a Brother is entered in the Register prescribed in Bye-Law 56(c), the Master shall transmit to the Regional Grand Secretary, a duplicate of the form used for Register, duly filled in together with a copy of the Application and Proposal Form. Should the Regional Grand Secretary be in possession of particulars regarding the Brother concerned which are wanting in the form so submitted, he shall communicate the same to the Master who shall cause it to be noted in the Register of the Lodge.

2. A list of subscribing members together with changes, shall be submitted half yearly to the Regional Grand Secretary by each Lodge in the prescribed form together with all sums due to the Regional Grand Lodge so as to reach him not later than the 31s January and the 31st July.

3. Every Lodge shall, immediately after the annual installation and the appointment of Officers, submit to the Regional Grand Secretary a return in the prescribed form.
   
   Changes which may occur during the year among the officers of any Lodge shall be immediately reported to the Regional Grand Secretary.

4. In every Lodge within fourteen days of the installation of its Master, the newly installed Master and the outgoing Master or the officer last in charge of the Lodge shall jointly submit to the Regional Grand Secretary a certificate in the prescribed form, in token of the fact that all the registers and other records of the Lodge have been handed over by the retiring Master or the Officer last in charge of the Lodge and received by the newly Installed Master and that they are all in order and in good preservation.

5. On the exclusion of Brother, a report shall made on the prescribed form by the Master of the Lodge to the Regional Grand Secretary.

6. Two copies of the Annual Report of the Permanent and Audit Committees and of the statement of the Annual Accounts of every Lodge shall be forwarded to the Regional Grand Secretary immediately after the meeting of the Lodge at which they are adopted.

7. Every Lodge shall preserve on its files copies of all Reports and Returns submitted to the Regional Grand Secretary and of Inspection Report and important communications received from the Regional Grand Secretary.

The Master of the Lodge or the Officer in charge shall be responsible to ensure that the various returns etc., mentioned in these bye-laws are submitted by the Secretary of the Lodge in due time as specified.

1. When the Regional Grand Master appoints an Officer to Inspect and report upon any Lodge in the Region, the Regional Grand Secretary shall communicate the appointment to the Master of Such Lodge.

2. The Master of the Lodge shall comply with the requirements of the Inspecting Officer in regard to the following matters:

   1. Inspecting the books and accounts of the Lodge,

   2. Convening of meeting of Lodge for the reception of the visiting Officer; and

   3. Supply of information as to the management and condition of the Lodge.

3. The Inspecting Officer shall examine and report upon the following matters, namely:

   1. The condition of the books, accounts, building, furniture and appointments of the Lodge,

   2. The manner in which the minutes are recorded and the business of the Lodge is conducted;

   3. The financial condition of the Lodge and

   4. The arrears of the dues outstanding against the members.

   This report shall be placed before the Regional Grand Master and any remarks by him shall be communicated to the Lodge is so directed.

1. All communications intended for submission to the Regional Grand Master, the Regional Board of General Purposes or any Committee appointed by the Regional Grand Master of Regional Grand Lodge shall be in writing, shall be signed by the Master of the Lodge or Officer in charge and shall be addressed to the Regional Grand Secretary.

2. No communication on any Masonic Matter from Daughter Lodges shall be made to the Regional Grand Master except through Regional Grand Secretary.

1. Should two or more Lodges in the Region fall to adjust any matter of dispute that may arise between them either amicably or by arbitration, the decision shall rest with the Regional Grand Master who may refer the matter to the Regional Board of General Purposes or a Special Committee for consideration and report.

2. Disputes in a Lodge which cannot be adjusted shall be referred to the Regional Grand Master for adjudication, who may refer the matter to the Regional Board of General Purposes or a Special Committee for consideration and report.

3. Any member of a Lodge feeling aggrieved by any decision or action of his Lodge or Master may appeal against the decision or action to the Regional Grand Master. The appeal must be made in writing specifying the particular grievance complained of and be transmitted together with all relevant documents to the Regional Grand Secretary within three months from the date of decision or act appealed against. The appellant shall at the same time submit a certificate and proof that duplicate of the appeal and documentary evidence, if any, have been sent to the Master of the Lodge.

1. Dues and Half yearly Dues

   (i)	Initiation Fee (including Passing and Raising)	Rs. 200.00
   (ii)	Joining fee from a Lodge under the Regional Grand Lodge of India	Rs. 200.00
   (iii)	Joining fee from a Constitution other than Indian Constitution	Rs. 200.00
   (iv)	For each subscribing member during half yearly, the dues are payable for each half-year for each member/ Honorary Member who was on roll through for a day or two in the half year, (w.e.f. 1.1.2015)	Rs. 250.00
   (v)	Joining fee for each Founder Member of a new Lodge shall be the same as for joining given in clauses (ii) and (iii) above	Rs. 200.00

   
   
   

2. Registration Fees

   (i)	Registration of a New Lodge	Rs. 2,500.00
   (ii)	Registering New Bye-Laws	Rs. 500.00
   (iii)	Registering Amendment to Bye-Laws	Rs. 400.00

   
   
   

3. Dispensation Fees

   (i)	To Pass or Raise within four weeks of previous degree per candidate	Rs. 400.00
   (ii)	To initiate as a Serving Brother	Rs. 300.00
   (iii)	For a Brother to be Master of more than one Lodge in the Region at the same time	Rs. 500.00
   (iv)	To continue as Master of a Lodge for more than two years in succession	Rs. 1,000.00
   (v)	For a public procession or assembly other than a funeral	Rs. 400.00
   (vi)	To initiate, Pass or Raise more than two candidates in the same degree in one day, for each additional person	Rs. 300.00
   (vii)	To hold the regular meeting of a Lodge within fourteen days before or after the date specified in the Lodge Bye-Laws	Rs. 500.00
   (viii)	For an Emergency Meeting	Rs. 300.00
   (ix)	To hold a Lodge Meeting at a place other than specified in Lodge Bye-Laws	Rs. 500.00
   (x)	For any dispensation not specified here in	Rs. 300.00
   (xi)	Dispensation fee for photographs (Lumpsum for One Calendar year January-December)	Rs. 500.00
   (xii)	Fees for dispensation - for change of date of regular meeting, applications made at less than 15 days before the regular date of meeting	Rs. 1,000.00

   
   
   Notes:

   1. Dispensation may be granted at the discretion of the Regional Grand Master. Except in an urgent or unforeseen case, applications for the same stating the grounds on which they are based shall be made so as to reach the date on which they are required. The Dispensation fee should in all cases be remitted with the application and should the Dispensation be refused the fee will be refunded.

   2. The Dispensation Fees may be modified or dispensed with at the discretion of the Regional Grand Master in appropriate cases.

   3. Where a dispensation has been issued and is latter not availed of, the fee paid shall not be refunded.

No new Bye-Law, or alteration or abrogation of an existing Bye-Law, shall become valid unless sanctioned and approved by the Regional Grand Lodge and then approved by the Regional Grand Master and the Grand Master as provided in the Book of Constitutions.

1. No motion for amendment of the By-Laws of the Regional Grand Lodge shall be deemed to be valid unless, it is recommended by the Regional Grand Board of General Purposes and circulated to the daughter Lodges in the Region at least 21 days prior to the concerned meeting.

Should any matter arise for which no provisions has been made in these Bye-Law, the provisions in the Book of Constitutions of the Grand Lodge shall apply.

It is incumbent on every Daughter Lodge and every member of the Regional Grand Lodge to possess a copy of these Bye-Laws.