CONSTITUTION, LAWS, and REGULATIONS of the THE GRAND COMMANDERY of KNIGHTS TEMPLAR of FLORIDA Organized May 31, 1895 Revision of 2018 (Approved May 21, 2018) Supersedes All Previous Versions Published by Authority of the Grand Commandery Anthony L. Griffon Right Eminent Grand Commander Constitution, Laws, and Regulations Committee Carl E. Gilmore, REPGC, Chairman Paul W. Friend, REPGC William G. Ellis, Jr., REPGC A member of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the U.S.A. CONSTITUTION, LAWS, AND REGULATIONS 2018 PREFACE This updated edition of the Constitution, Laws, and Regulations includes legislation adopted at the 124th Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Florida held on May 21, 2018 at Lake Mary, Florida. GRAND COMMANDERY OF KNIGHTS TEMPLAR OF FLORIDA Page ii CONSTITUTION, LAWS, AND REGULATIONS 2006 CONTENTS CONSTITUTION PREAMBLE ...................................................................................................................................1 ARTICLE I STYLE, JURISDICTION, AND POWERS ....................................................................1 Section 1. Style. .............................................................................................................................1 Section 2. Jurisdiction Generally. ...................................................................................................1 Section 3. Concurrent Jurisdiction. .................................................................................................1 Section 4. Powers and Duties. .......................................................................................................1 Section 5. Appeal to the Grand Encampment. ...............................................................................2 ARTICLE II GRAND OFFICERS, MEMBERS, AND TITLES .........................................................2 Section 1. Grand Officers. ..............................................................................................................2 Section 2. Members. ......................................................................................................................3 Section 3. Proxies. .........................................................................................................................3 Section 4. Titles. ............................................................................................................................4 Section 5. Elective and Appointive Officers. ...................................................................................4 Section 6. Vacancies in Office; How Filled. ....................................................................................4 Section 7. Absence or Incapacity of Grand Commander. ...............................................................4 ARTICLE III GRAND CONCLAVES ..............................................................................................4 Section 1. Annual Conclave, Time, Place, and Duration. ...............................................................4 Section 2. Special Conclaves. ........................................................................................................5 Section 3. Quorum. ........................................................................................................................5 Section 4. Presiding Officer; Order of Precedence. ........................................................................5 Section 5. Votes and Manner of Voting. .........................................................................................5 Section 6. Rulings from the Chair; Appeals. ...................................................................................5 Section 7. Deleted ..........................................................................................................................5 Section 8. Honors and Recognition. ...............................................................................................5 ARTICLE IV GRAND OFFICERS; ELECTION AND QUALIFICATIONS .......................................6 Section 1. Qualifications for Grand Office. ......................................................................................6 Section 2. Election; Order and Manner. .........................................................................................6 ARTICLE V DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND COMMANDERS ..........................................................6 Section 1. Appointment and Duties. ...............................................................................................6 ARTICLE VI DUTIES OF GRAND OFFICERS ..............................................................................6 Section 1. The Grand Commander. ................................................................................................6 Section 2. Grand Commander’s Annual Report. .............................................................................7 Section 3. The Deputy Grand Commander. ...................................................................................7 Section 4. The Grand Generalissimo and Grand Captain General. ................................................8 Section 5. The Grand Treasurer. ....................................................................................................8 Section 6. The Grand Recorder. ....................................................................................................8 Section 7. General Duties. .............................................................................................................9 Section 8. Vacancies in Office; How Created. ................................................................................9 Section 9. Assumption of Grand Commander’s Duties by Past Grand Commander. ......................9 Section 10. General Duties Regarding Unity. ...............................................................................10 Section 11. Southeastern Regional Meetings. ..............................................................................10 Section 12. Deleted ......................................................................................................................10 GRAND COMMANDERY OF KNIGHTS TEMPLAR OF FLORIDA Page iii CONSTITUTION, LAWS, AND REGULATIONS 2006 ARTICLE VII GRAND COMMANDERY COMMITTEES .............................................................. 10 Section 1. Grand Commander to Appoint. ................................................................................... 10 Section 2. Standing Committees.................................................................................................. 10 ARTICLE VIII ORDERS .............................................................................................................. 11 Section 1. Chivalric Orders. ......................................................................................................... 11 Section 2. Order of Knights Crusader of the Cross. ..................................................................... 11 ARTICLE IX CONSTITUENT COMMANDERIES ........................................................................ 11 Section 1. Definitions and Powers. .............................................................................................. 11 Section 2. Minimum Membership................................................................................................. 12 Section 3. Reception of Petitions, Conferral, Visitation, Fees, and Dues. .................................... 12 Section 4. Formation and Naming. .............................................................................................. 12 Section 5. Uniforms. .................................................................................................................... 13 Section 6. Allegiance. .................................................................................................................. 13 Section 7. Composition. ............................................................................................................... 13 Section 8. Titles. .......................................................................................................................... 13 Section 9. Conclaves. .................................................................................................................. 13 Section 10. Quorum..................................................................................................................... 14 Section 11. Duty of Officers to Attend Annual Conclaves............................................................. 14 Section 12. Appeals from Commander’s Decision. ...................................................................... 14 Section 13. Term of Office. .......................................................................................................... 14 Section 14. The Commander. ...................................................................................................... 14 Section 15. Succession to the Office of Commander. .................................................................. 14 Section 16. The Treasurer. .......................................................................................................... 15 Section 17. The Recorder. ........................................................................................................... 15 Section 18. Fidelity Bonds. .........................................................................................................