Note: Although dated to 1912, there is no evidence to support this date. The Constitution is alleged to have been typed on a 1942 typewriter in Schickshinny circa mid-late 1950s.
CONSTITUTION
and By-Laws
(Statutes)
---------
Adopted May 17, 1912
----------------
American Grand Priory
of the
SOVEREIGN ORDER OF SAINT JOHN
OF JERUSALEM
-Knights of Malta-
including the
GRAND PRIORY OF RUSSIA
----------------
2
I
Title
While
the associates of this Order may be known under the short title "Knights
of Malta," the legal name of the Order shall be known as the "Sovereign Order
of Saint John of Jerusalem," either alone, or in combination with the short
title "Knights of Malta," and as such, shall be defended before the courts
and tribunals of all nations.
The
complete, definitive and explanatory title of the assembly shall be known
as the "American Grand Priory of the Sovereign Order of Saint John
of Jerusalem, -Knights of Malta-, including the Grand Priory of Russia.
Further identification is made by referring to the work of the merchants
of Amalfi and their Founder, the Venerable Founder Peter Gerard. To be more
precise, reference is made to that illustrious Order that began in Jerusalem
1050 until 1291, Cyprus 1292-1310, Rhodes 1311-1523, Malta 1530-1798, Russia
1798-1815 and continued in the United States of America since 1908, namely,
the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem.
II
Synonymous Terms
Constitution,
By-Laws, statutes, rules of the Order, laws.
Hospitallers,
Order, Knight Order, corporation, assembly, members, knights, membership,
associates, affiliates, organisation, chapter, grand priory.
Meeting,
conclave, assembly, chapter general.
Hospitallers,
knight Hospitallers, Hospitallers of Jerusalem, Order of the Hospital of
Saint John, Hospitallers of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem,
Knights of Jerusalem, Knights of Cyprus, Knights of Rhodes, Order of Malta,
Knights of Malta, Hospitallers of Malta, Sovereign Order of St. John of
Jerusalem, American Grand Priory, Russian Grand Priory.
Board
of trustees, board of directors, officers of the corporation, sovereign assembly,
sovereign council.
Grand-Master,
Sovereign Prince, Administrator, President.
Grand
Chancellor, secretary-treasurer.
Convent,
headquarters, sovereign territory.
Prior,
bailli; grand prior, grand prior, grand bailli.
Attorney-General,
general counsel.
3
III
Purposes Religious and Charitable
The
existence of the Order is to be perpetual and based upon the apostolic Christian
religion, the main purpose being religious, that is, to teach the doctrines
and practice of the apostles and to defend and protect the Christian religion
and help to promote Christian morals.
To
exercise Christian charity and Hospitality to all persons and groups without
regard to class, color, race or religion. The Order is also military, its
government being based upon military rules of order and discipline for its
members and officers.
To
select, instruct, educate and confirm chaplains, priests, serving Brothers
and serving Sisters of the Order, Excepting Roman Catholics who may be accepted
for ecclesiastical posts, in which case it is manditory, other members of
the Order are encouraged, but not compelled to take the solemn vows of chastity,
poverty and obedience. Those who take the three vows will be designated as
professed Knights of the Order.
To
build churches for the apostolic denominations recognized by the Order during
the past
To
preach the denominations of the apostolic Christian religion.
To
defend and protect the person and rights of all Christians of whatever
denomination.
In
connection with the religious pursuits of the corporation, the following
historical works of charity for which the Order has been famous, are to be
performed;
To
build and conduct hospitals, and furnish ambulances.
To
aid the needy, sick. lame, blind and afflicted, with help and hospitality
in the form of advice, medical attention, nursing service, medicines, therapeutic
aids, food, clothing, shelter, stipends, alms.
In
dispensing Christian charity, no questions will be asked and no receipt or
acknowledgment will be asked of the recipient, and no records will be made
except in cased where a medical case history is required. The Order is only
required to record the total amount given to charity each month and the number
of persons thus served.
Each
month, depending upon the balance in the Treasury of the Order, the grand-master,
lieutenant grand-master or the grand chancellor shall set aside a certain
amount from the treasury, which in their judgment may be safely and fairly
dispensed as charity.
4
IV
Support of the Order
The
several purposes of the order are to be supported by the voluntary contributions,
gifts, bequests and devises of its members and from the membership fees of
the same members.
V
Ecclesiastical Tribunal
All
questions of apostolic doctrine, practice, faith, morals, ecclesiastical
rules, customs or laws within the Order, shall be presented to a committee
of the various denominations of ecclesiastic members of the Order, appointed
and presided over by the grand-master, and by a majority vote, their decision
shall be final.
Origination
as a religious and charitable knight Order in 1050 A.D., Papal sanction was
obtained in 1098 for its elevation to the status of a monastic Order.
Beginning
the year 1113, the Popes have established, maintained, decreed and confirmed
the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem to be free of all ecclesiastical
jurisdiction by the Roman Church, while at the same time maintaining friendly
and diplomatic relations between the Roman Church and the Order until the
year 1802, at which time the Roman Church established an exclusive papal
Order of an analogous nature, but separate and independent of the original
Order.
Therefore,
the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem is, ever has been, and shall
forever remain to be defined as an independent apostolical religious body
with an independent ecclesiastical tribunal, originating in antiquity, and
the civil courts shall accept as final the decisions of its highest
ecclesiastical tribunal to which any religious dispute has been carried within
or pertaining to the Order, on all questions of Christian apostolic doctrine,
practice, discipline, faith, ecclesiastical rules, morals, customs, or laws,
and that the civil courts will not inquire into the justice or injustice
of its (the Order's) decrees as between the parties before it.
That
whatever the officers, prelates, chaplains, vicars, knights, or the religious
tribunal which the highest judiciary of the said body recognizes, the civil
courts will recognize.
That
whomsoever this ecclesiastical tribunal expels or cuts off, the civil courts
will hold to be no longer members of the said religious Order.
Be
It Known, that the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, -Knights of
Malta-, in upholding, promoting and defending the apostolic Christian religion
under the direction of its ecclesiastical tribunal, the ancient dignities
of the Order hold precedent over episcopal dignities.
5
VI
Chaplains and Priests of the Order
Chaplains
of the Order of Saint John are received without any of those restrictions
which are placed on the admission of the first class or Knights of Justice.
It is sufficient that they be of respectable origin, and that their parents
were duly united in lawful wedlock.
They
may be admitted at the age of sixteen years as clerks, and may be ordained
as sub-deacons two years later. They cannot attain to the rank of deacon
until they have reached the age of twenty-two, nor to that of chaplain earlier
than twenty-five.
They
are then available for all religious offices of the convent; they may perform
divine service in the conventual church; become attached either to the household
of the Grand-Master, the inns of their respective languages, or the hospital.
It
is from this class that the prior of the church and the bishop are selected;
the former by the Grand-Master and council, and the latter by the Pope.
With
regard to the election of the prior of the church, the ancient statutes have
thus expressed themselves:-
"The
more closely a dignity approaches to spiritual matters, the more careful
and considerate ought to be the selection of its holder. Bearing in mind,
we degree that whenever the priory of our church becomes vacant, the Grand-Master
and the council shall assemble, and proceed to a new election with calm and
serious deliberation, Having, for this purpose, carefully examined into matters,
life, doctrine, and qualifications of our chaplains in every language, they
shall elect and nominate as prior a chaplain of upright life and of approved
conduct, learned, and well versed in the practice of things divine. It is
essential that, after his election, he should reside perpetually at the convent,
and if, upon any urgent necessity, he should ever be sent therefrom, the
Grand-Master and council shall fix a definite period for his return."
In
addition to the conventual chaplains thus created, the Order received into
the second division of their fraternity another class, termed priests
of obedience, who were not called upon to reside at the convent, but
performed the duties of their offices in the various continental priories
and commanderies.
These
priests received the emoluments of their various benefices like the other
clergy, and where such revenues are two small for their due and honorable
maintenance, they draw a further provision from the local funds of the Order.
They are, however, ineligible for either of the great offices which are
appropriated to the conventual chaplains, nor are they appointed to hold
commanderies, as the latter are.
VII
6
VII
Courts of Justice
All
disputes, charges or complaints, both civil and criminal, arising between
members of the Order and the officers thereof, may be brought to trail or
arbitration.
Any
members of the Order accused of any civil or criminal offense by non-members,
shall be given a hearing, and if necessary, a trail under the jurisdiction
of the courts of the Order.
The
writ of Habeas Corpus originated by the order, shall continue in force
and effect. It being illegal for the grand-master to detain a knight in custody
for more than twenty-four hours without bringing him to trail, the vow of
obedience notwithstanding.
Courts
of competent jurisdiction shall be installed as follows:
The
grand-master, with the advice of the attorney-general, may formulate and
institute any or all charges against any member or members.
The
defendant and his counsel will select and nominate one member of the Order
learned in the law from each language, not to exceed five, to act as a board
of judges, over whom a president judge will be placed, nominated by the
grand-master. The decisions of these judges will be decided by a majority
vote and will constitute the first hearing in a court of justice.
If
either side of a controversy is dissatisfied with the verdict of the first
court, a second and third court of appeal may be nominated and arranged on
the same basis. The third court will constitute the highest legal tribunal
of the Order and the court of final appeal.
Sentences
of punishment will be meted out by the courts in accordance with the tradition
and historical precedents of the Order.
VIII
Sovereign Assembly
Qualified
national and international geographical divisions or linguistic groups of
the Order may be designated priories, presided over by baillis or priors.
Subdivisions of priories designated as commanderies, presided over by a
commander.
Groups
of priories will be called grand priories and will be presided over by a
grand prior or grand bailli, responsible to the grand-master.
The
sovereign assembly, supreme council, or chapter general of the corporation
shall consist of the board of trustees or board of directors, together with
any of the qualified priors, grand priors, baillis or grand baillis.
-continued
7
In
the absence of any qualified priors, grand priors, baillis or grand baillis,
the board of trustees or board of directors, may function alone, with all
the force and effect of a sovereign assembly, supreme council or chapter
general.
The
board of trustees or board of directors are the executive officers and they
may appoint or elect from time to time, such persons as they may designate.
Such trustees or directors shall be entitled to cast one vote each upon all
matters placed before any meetings of the corporation.
IX
Qualifications and Rank of Members
Membership
in the corporation is governed by the established rules of the Order as
follows:-
(a)
Inactive membership is discouraged. Only those who are in complete sympathy
with the aims, plans and program of the Order and are willing to contribute
toward that objective will be considered.
(b)
All prospective members must submit to the grand chancellor, certified copies
of documents showing personal, genealogical, heraldic and/or nobiliary
qualifications.
(c)
All lineal descendants or designees of hereditary knights or commanders appointed
before, during or after the regime of Emperor Paul 1., the 70th grand-master
of the Order, if otherwise qualified, may be accepted into the American Grand
Priory.
(d)
At any regular meeting of the Order and upon a motion duly seconded, any
lineal descendant of a knight of Malta, properly qualified, may be nominated
and elected as a member of the Order in absentia. Any person elected in this
manner should be notified if possible giving him the privilege of accepting
or rejecting the honor.
(e)
All lineal descendants or designees of knights, commanders, honorary commanders
or honorary knights appointed before, during or after the regimes of Emperor
Paul I. or Alexander I., may be considered for the acceptance into the
Order.
(f)
Only such prospective members as profess and practice a recognized Christian
religion may be considered for acceptance into the Order.
(g)
Persons accepted as noblemen may be designated as Knights of Justice. They
wear the crown with trophy and plague on the left side.
-continued
8
(h)
Persons of distinction or others not fully qualified as noblemen may be accepted
into the Order as Knights of Grace, wearing the cross on right side without
the trophy, crown or plague.
(i)
Knights may be promoted to Knight Commanders after five years of faithful
service and devotion to the Order.
(j)
Knight Commanders may be promoted to Knight Grand Cross after ten years of
faithful service and devotion to the Order and wear the large insignia of
the Order suspended from the neck and a plaque on the left side.
(k)
Promotions may be made in less than the specified time by the grand-master,
for just cause.
(l)
The grand-master, in deserving cases, may grant hereditary knighthood.
(m)
Any knight or member may be expelled from the Order for conduct unbecoming
a knight, by a majority vote of the trustees or directors.
(n)
Donats: Ladies and Gentlemen not qualified for the above listed ranks may
be granted "Donat Crosses of the Order." These crosses, are enamelled on
three of the four arms of the cross, the fourth or upright arm may be gold
or other metal.
(o)
Ecclesiastics, instead of receiving knightly military rank, are admitted
into the Order and designated as prelates, vicars and chaplains.
(p)
Ranks of military knighthood conferred are: knight, knight commander, honorary
knight commander, knight grand cross and knight grand cross Bailli. All in
the degree of either knight of grace or knight of justice. (KG) or (KJ).
(q)
Under the direction of the grand chancellor, all membership applications
and sponsorships are brought to the attention of any meeting and then referred
to a membership or credentials committee for consideration and recommendations
which are then reported to the grand chancellor for action at the next
meeting.
(r)
Qualified male and female aides or assistants to the knights who perform
special services for the Order may be designated as lay members (Brothers
and Sisters) and will wear the cloth cross upon a surcoat or cloak.
(s)
Female patronesses: Emperor Paul I. the 70th Grand-Master, established a
Maltese honor and insignia to be awarded to ladies of distinction who served
the Order. This honor is divided into two classes:
(t)
Ladies of the first class are qualified as Ladies of Honor and Devotion,
to the Order, are of the nobility, and wear the cross attached to a black
ribbon across the shoulder.
-continued
9
(u)
Ladies of the second class not fully qualified as noblewomen may be designated
as Ladies of Grace, and wear the cross attached to a black ribbon
bow-knot.
(v)
Children: The 70th grand-master was the first to openly declare the admittance
of children to the Order, while previously it was a unwritten rule with the
grand-masters to provisionally admit children of knights to the Order, at
any age, but withholding the rank of knighthood until qualified at the age
of maturity. In other words, knighthood in the Order was always considered
hereditary in a sense.
(w)
Nobility: Any diploma of the Order using the words "of justice," recognizes,
qualifies and confers the status of nobility upon the holder thereof, with
the same force and effect as a patent of nobility.
X
Meetings
Meetings
of the trustees or directors and members of the corporation shall be held
at such places and at such times as the grand-master and grand chancellor
may determine.
While
the board of trustees or directors may call a meeting to transact a particular
business for the trustees or the directors only, all meetings of members
shall include the presents and official function of at least three (3) members
of the board of trustees or directors, or by an appeal of the grand-
chancellor.
Meetings
shall be held at any time or location which is most convenient for the majority
of those anticipated to attend.
Notices
of meetings of members and/or trustees or directors (as the case may be)
specifying the place, day and hour of the meeting and stating the general
particulars of the business to be considered at such meetings shall be served
by any literate person upon members and/or trustees or directors of the
corporation personally, or such notices may be delivered via post by post-paid
postcard or circular letter enclosed in a sealed envelope, addressed to the
last known address of the members of the corporation.
Notices
of meetings of members and/or trustees or directors must be served or mailed
at a time well calculated to reach each destination at least five (5) days
before the date fixed for the meetings. Overseas members must be notified
at least twenty (20) clear days before the date fixed for
meetings.
The
non-receipt or non-acknowledgement of any notice of meeting by any member,
trustee or director, shall not invalidate
10
the proceedings of any meeting of the corporation.
Waiver
of notice: Any officer, trustee or director may waive, in writing, any notice
required to be given under these By-laws, whether before or after the times
stated therein.
President
Pro Tem: In the absence or disability of both the president and the
vice-president, the board may appoint a president pro tem.
Duties
of Officers may be Delegated: In case of the absence or disability of any
officer of the corporation or for any other reason deemed sufficient by a
majority of the board of trustees or directors, the board may delegate
his powers to any other officer or to any director for the time
being.
All
the meetings will be conducted under the Roberts Rules of Order.
XI
Proxies
For
in the convenience, and in fairness to, members far removed or overseas,
votes may be given and counted at any meeting either personally or by prearranged
proxy, but a proxy may not vote thereunder on a show of hands.
As
the Order is international in scope and with members separated from the American
headquarters by great distances, it becomes impossible for all members to
attend meetings. Since the Order deplores the loss of this concerted wisdom,
worldly and spiritual experience at its meeting, all voting members
are permitted to make proxy motions and seconds through the office of the
grand chancellor and to cast their proxy votes on any motion brought before
meetings of the Order.
XII
Powers of the Trustees or Directors
The
board of trustees or board of directors of the corporation by whom the business
and affairs of the corporation shall be managed shall consist of not more
than six (6) members and not less than three (3) members, who shall hold
office for at least three years or until their successors are elected, and
its members shall be selected from the vote qualifying members of the corporation
at any meeting of the corporation. Any such meeting shall include the grand
master, and grand chancellor, or their lieutenants.
Any
vacancy occuring on the board may be filled for the remainder of the expired
term by any of the remaining members of the board.
Any
member of the board may withdraw or resign by a notice in writing delivered
to any of the remaining board members.
-continued
11
Regular,
annual or special meetings of the board may be held at such time and at such
place as may be determined of the board.
The
trustees or directors of the corporation may administer the affairs of the
corporation in all things and make or cause to be made for the corporation
any description of contract which the corporation may by law enter into and
generally exercise all and any rights or powers which the corporation itself
may exercise under its charter and the laws governing it. The board may also
select and appoint branches of the corporation or order to function
in other parts of the United States, its territories and possessions, and
foreign countries, and to issue appropriate charters for same.
In
addition to all powers hereby expressly conferred upon the trustees or directors
and without limiting the generality of their powers under the by-laws of
the corporation, the board shall have the following powers, in order to properly
manage, conduct or dispose of any business, industry, land, estate,
properties, stocks or bonds that may be bequesthed to the Order, namely
:-
(a)
To acquire in the name of the corporation or in the name of the board, any
land, and build upon, pull down, rebuild, add to, alter, repair, improve,
sell or dispose of, or otherwise deal in and with land, buildings, premises,
properties, and assets for the use and welfare of the corporation.
(b)
To make, and from time to time repeal, or alter regulations, by-laws, etc.,
as to form and management of the corporation and the affairs thereof, and
as to the duties of any officers or servants of the corporation, provided
that the same shall not be inconsistent with the historical charter or by-laws
of the corporation.
(c)
To acquire, take, own, held, deal in, mortgage or otherwise lien, and
to lease, sell, exchange, transfer, or in any manner whatever dispose of
real property, wherever situated.
(d)
To manufacture, purchase or acquire in any lawful manner and to hold, own,
mortgage, pledge, sell, transfer, or in any manner dispose of, and to
deal and trade in goods, wares, merchandise, and property of any and every
class and description, and in any part of the world, the profits, if any,
to be devoted to religious and charitable purposes.
(e)
To acquire the good will, rights and property, and to undertake the whole
or any part of the assets or liabilities of any person, firm, association
or corporation ; to pay for the same in cash, or any part of the property
so purchased or acquired by bequest; to conduct in any lawful manner
the whole or any part of any business so acquired, and to exercise all the
powers necessary or convenient in and about the conduct and management of
such business. The profits, if any, to be devoted to religious and charitable
pursuits.
(f)
To apply for, or acquire by bequest, purchase or in any manner dispose of,
and to grant license or other rights in respect of, and in any manner deal
with, any and all rights, inventions, improvements
12
and processes used in connection with or secured under letters patent
or copyrights of the United States or other countries, or otherwise, and
to work, operate or develop the same and carry on any business,
manufacturing or otherwise, which may directly or indirectly effectuate these
objects or any of them. The profits, if any, to be devoted to religious and
charitable purposes.
(g)
To guarantee, purchase, hold, sell, assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge, or
otherwise dispose of the shares of the capital stock of , or any bonds,
securities or evidences of indebtedness created by any other corporation
or corporations of this or any other state, country, nation or government,
and while owner of said stock may exercise all the rights, powers and privileges
of ownership, including the right to vote thereon, to the same extent as
natural persons might or could do. And in so doing, all profits are to be
devoted to religious and charitable pursuits.
(h)
To enter into, make and perform contracts of every kind with any person,
firm, association or corporation, municipality, body politic, county,
territory, state, government or colony or dependency thereof, and without
limit as to amount to draw, make, accept, endorse, discount, execute and
issue promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange, warrants, bonds, debentures
and other negotiable or transferable instruments and evidences of indebtedness
whether secured by mortgage or otherwise, as well as to secure the same
by mortgage or otherwise, so far as may be permitted by the laws of the states
where this Order is chartered. any profits, to be devoted to religious and
charitable purposes.
(i)
To have officers, conduct its business and promote its objects within or
without the states where charters are held, in other states, the District
of Columbia, the territories and colonies of the United States, and in foreign
countries, without restriction as to place or amount.
(j)
To do any or all of the things herein set forth to the same extent as natural
persons might or could do and in any part of the world, as principals, agents,
contractors, trustees, directors, or otherwise, and either alone or in company
with others.
(k)
In general to carry on any other pursuit in connection therewith, whether
manufacturing or otherwise, not forbidden by the laws of the states where
this Order is chartered, and with all the powers conferred upon corporations
by the laws of the said states. The profits if any, to be devoted to religious
and charitable purposes.
(l)
The trustees and/or directors of the corporation are bound to maintain the
Order as a non-profit corporation without authority to issue capital stock
and all funds and profits shall be used to acquire suitable lands, to erect
and maintain suitable buildings and the expenses and welfare of the Order,
for religious and charitable purposes only without profit to any officer
or member thereof.
-continued
13
(m)
The private property of the members of the corporation shall not be subject
to the payment of corporate debts to any extent whatever.
(n)
The trustees or directors shall have the power to fix the amount to be reserved
as working capital for religious and charitable purposes, and to authorize
and cause to be executed, mortgages and liens without limit as to the amount,
upon the property and franchise of this corporation.
(o)
With the consent in writing, and pursuant to a vote of a majority of the
voting members, the trustees or directors shall have authority to dispose,
in any manor, of the whole property of this corporation, provided, in such
an event, the entire property and assets are transferred to selected religious
and charitable pursuits.
(p)
The trustees or directors shall determine whether and to what extent the
accounts and books of this corporation, or any of them, shall be open to
the inspection of the members and no member as conferred by the law, or by
resolution of the members.
(q)
To appoint agents, clerks, assistants, factors, servants, laborers and trustees,
and to dismiss them from time to time and to require security as it may deem
proper.
(r)
To confer on any officer of the corporation the power of selecting, discharging
or suspending such employees.
(s)
To determine by whom and in what manner the corporation's bills, notes, receipts,
acceptances, endorsements, checks, releases, contracts or other documents
shall be signed.
(t)
To provide that one person may hold the offices of secretary and
treasurer.
(u)
That the fiscal year of the corporation shall begin on the first day of January
in each year.
(v)
That the books, records and accounts of the corporation may be kept within
or without the state in which the Order is incorporated, and at such place
or places as may from time to time be designated by the trustees or
directors.
XIII
Documentations
Complete
documentation of the records of each member shall be maintained by the grand
chancellor and given a separate number for each member.
Appropriate
diplomas of knighthood will be issued to each member setting forth the authority
of the order and a notation "Documentation symbol" indicating if the diploma
has been an original or a re-issue (R-I) of a previous diploma. Also the
letters (KG) indicating the qualifications of a knight of grace, or the letters
(KJ)
14
indicating the qualifications of a knight of justice.
Promotions
in the rank of knights is also indicated on the diploma by the letters (R-I).
If the letters R-I do not appear on a diploma, it is to be considered
the first or original diploma.
All
diplomas remain the property of the order and are to carry the signatures
of the grand-master or lieutenant grand master, and the grand
chancellor.
XIV
Officers of the Corporation
The officers of the corporation shall be:-
1st trustee or director: Grand-Master, President, Chairman.
2nd trustee or director: Lieutenant Grand-Master, Vice-President.
3rd trustee or director: Grand Chancellor, Secretary/Treasurer.
4th trustee or director: Attorney-General.
5th trustee or director: Chancellor, Chief Security Officer.
6th trustee or director: optional.
Lack
of occupancy of any of the above offices shall not invalidate the acts
of the others, and any trustee or director may hold two offices in order
to fill a vacancy pro tem.
XV Grand-Master
The
grand-master shall act as the sovereign of the Order or corporation and as
such he shall officially represent the Order on all formal or state occasions.
He may be designated as "Prince Grand-Master," and sovereign prince of his
domain.
As
grand-master, he is required to wear the insignia, cloak, crown, sword, and
an extra large cross of the order upon all formal occasions and at all meetings
of the Order. He will be selected by a special committee, proposed and elected
by a majority vote of all voting members, and he shall be assisted and guided
in his duties by the recommendations of the grand chancellor.
When
elected, the grand-master shall be a member of the
15
board of trustees or board of directors and preside over same. Upon
occasion he may exercise his historical prerogative of casting two (2) votes
upon any motion, question or election, and he shall also act as the president
judge of all courts of justice of the Order.
The
grand-master may at his pleasure or discretion, suspend, omit or remit any
or all financial obligations of any kind for any Knight or prospective knight
of the Order.
The
grand-master may cancel the election and registration of any member upon
evidence that such election and registration was secured by misrepresentation
and/or, in the event that a member is expelled for cause by the board of
trustees or board of directors. In the event of such cancellation or expulsion,
the member or knight whose election and registration has been cancelled shall
forfeit to the corporation all fees he has paid and return to the Order all
diplomas, credentials and insignia.
The
grand-master may also exercise his historical prerogative of appointing
hereditary knights of the order in his capacity as Administrator of the
corporation.
All
commanderies designated as hereditary commanderies of the corporation shall
not cease to exist upon the death of the holder or holders, if the deceased
had previously designated as his successor any properly qualified next of
kin or other person to the grand-master as administrator. In the event no
successor has been designated by the deceased hereditary commander, the
grand-master acting as administrator shall have the power and authority to
designate a qualified successor from the members of the corporation to succeed
to the vacant office. All other members of the corporation shall ipso facto
cease to be members thereof upon their death, resignation, incapacity to
act, etc. Persons ceasing to be members, or their heirs or agents, shall
forfeit and surrender all rights, privileges, fees, diplomas and insignia
to the Order.
The
grand-master may exercise the power and authority to promote and appoint
to the rank of knight of justice, one worthy member of the Order from the
category of " knight of grace, " every five (5) years.
The
grand-master may select, appoint and send diplomatic representatives of the
Order to foreign nations and courts.
The
grand-master proprio motu or upon suitable recommendation may confer upon
worthy civilians or military, such badges, parchments, or diplomas of
honor and distinction as may be held to be commensurate with the deeds,
qualifications or merit appropriate for such distinctions.
XVI
Lieutenant Grand-Master
In
the event of an absence or the inability of the grand-master to officiate
and serve the Order, a lieutenant grand-master
16
(also a trustee or director) will assume the duties thereof. This officer
may be elected by a majority vote of the hereditary knight commanders of
the Order. The lieutenant grand-master may also serve as president of the
corporation when required to do so.
During
the absence of the grand-master, the lieutenant grand-master shall enjoy
all the rights and privileges of the grand-master. He may also act as a grand
prior or grand bailli.
In
the event of the absence of both the grand-master and lieutenant grand-master,
the grand chancellor shall fill the office pro tem.
XVII
Grand Chancellor
The
grand chancellor shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation,
a member of the board of trustees or board of directors, and secretary-treasurer
of the Order or corporation. He shall receive and disburse all funds, submit
for approval or disapproval all applications for knighthood, promotions in
the knightly ranks, honors,etc. He is the custodian of the great seal, corporate
seal, books, reports, and archives of the Order.
The
grand chancellor shall provide active officers of the Order with suitable
means of transportation, expenses and a modest monthly salary commensurate
with their actual duties and service to the Order. No such salary shall
exceed two hundred and fifty dollars per month.
The
grand chancellor may appoint a committee on finance and/or an accountant
to keep records of the finances of the Order and provide suitable compensation
for such accountant service. In his office as grand chancellor, which in
modern is the equal of secretary-treasurer, he shall not be required to furnish
bond to insure his faithful performance of the office.
The
grand chancellor may propose for membership and registration, prospective
knights, who in the opinion of the grand chancellor are desired and qualified
for such election and registration, without the payment of the customary
fees.
The
grand chancellor may appoint chancellors and vice-chancellors and assign
special duties for such officers, and under his supervision.
The
grand chancellor is selected and elected by a majority vote of the
board of trustees or board of directors.
XVIII
Attorney-General
-continued
17
XVIII
Attorney-General
The
board of trustees or board of directors may select and elect any member of
the Order, learned in the law, to the office of attorney-general. This officer
shall be a member of the board and at all times prepared to defend the rights
and privileges of the Order before all the courts of the nation and any foreign
country. He will be paid suitable and modest fees for any case as well as
actual expenses involved.
When
in the opinion of the grand-master, the lieutenant grand master or the grand
chancellor, it appears necessary, the attorney-general may secure the aid
of competent associates, who will be granted a modest fee and expenses,
commensurate with the gravity of the case.
XIX
Passports
The
Order may issue passports of the standard style to its members for identification
and for use in visiting those countries in which the Order has obtained
diplomatic recognition.
XX
Voting Rights
Voting
rights at all meetings are restricted to members holding the rank of knights
grand cross of justice, hereditary knight commanders of justice, knight
commanders of justice, and all professed knights of the Order.
XXI
Laws and Amendments
As
a sovereign body deriving its power and authority from the ancient Order
of the same name, and laws, rules and regulations as may be promulgated,
must be consistent with the historical record and tradition of the Order
and not otherwise.
Any
part of the constitution or by-laws of the corporation may be repealed, amended
or annulled at any meeting of the corporation by a majority of votes cast,
provided that written notice as heretofore defined has been sent to each
qualified voter stating specifically the nature of the proposed repeal, amendment
or nullification.
-continued
18
XXXX
Seals
The
coat-of-arms or great seal of the Order or corporation shall be the historically
correct reproduction of the Imperial Russian coat-of-arms as depicted by
the 70th Grand-master of the Order, Emperor Paul I, as showing the crown
of the Grand-master and Maltese Cross. This assembly of arms should resemble
the combined designs of the Sovereign Order of saint john of Jerusalem with
those of the 70th Grand-Master.
In
addition, there shall also be an appropriate corporate seal for use on all
legal documents. Both seals shall remain in the custody of the grand
chancellor.
The
great seal shall be displayed on all diplomas, passports and diplomatic
credentials of the Order.
------------------------------------
This is to certify that the foregoing
is a true copy of the Constitution
and By-laws of the Order,
submitted to the membership for
acceptance and officially adopted
at a regular meeting of the Order,
May 17, 1912.
(signed) Wm. Sohier Bryant.
Chairman.
(signed) Wm. B. Stites,
Secretary.
Amended 8th April 1998.
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Order of St John, Knights Hospitaller.