Rebecca Chapter No. 1, Order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliation, State of New Jersey By-Laws
2 Preamble We, the Worthy Matron, Worthy Patron, Officers and Members of Rebecca Chapter No. 1, Order of the Eastern Star, working under, and by virtue of Eminent Warrant from Oziel Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern star, P.H.A. of the State and Jurisdiction of New Jersey, granted and dated the 13th day of June 1914, do hereby ordain and establish the following By-Laws for the government of our Successors. It is held under the authority of the Warrant granted to it by Oziel Grand Chapter of the Jurisdiction of New Jersey at its regular open Grand Chapter Session to whose Constitution, By-Laws, Rules, and Edicts, the most implicit respect and obedience shall be paid.
3 Rebecca Chapter No. 1, Order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliation, State of New Jersey By-Laws ARTICLE I Chapter Name and Meetings This Chapter shall be known and distinguished by the name of Rebecca Chapter No. 1, holding a Charter, dated June 13, 1914, from Oziel Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliation, Jurisdiction of New Jersey and located at 722 St. Mary’s Avenue, Plainfield, New Jersey, 07062. The meetings of this Chapter shall be held on the third (3rd) Friday of each month, beginning at 8:00 PM except July and August. ARTICLE II Fee for Conferring Degrees Section 1 – Initiation fee will be no less than one hundred seventy-five ($175.00). Payment shall be made by check or money order only, made payable to the Chapter. Section 2 – This fee includes: A Five Color Sash or Badge, all required Rituals, By-Laws of Rebecca Chapter
4 No. 1, Constitution and By-Laws of Oziel Grand Chapter and the Chapter Roster book. Section 3 – The fee for affiliation will be no less than fifty dollars ($50.00). ARTICLE III Dues & Assessments Section 1 – Dues will be no less than seventy dollars ($70.00) per year per member. Section 2 – Must be paid in full by March 31st of each calendar year. Section 3 – Dues include the Samuel A. Llewellyn Burial Fund (SAL–BFC) Section 4 – Dues include ten dollars ($10.00) for annual Chapter Charity. ARTICLE IV Eligibility to Hold Office Section 1- Refer to Oziel Grand Chapter’s Constitution and By-Laws Part II, Article VI, Sections 1 and 2. Section 2 - To be eligible for an elected office in Rebecca Chapter No. 1, a member must have attended no less than five (5) regular Chapter meetings during the current administrative year. (a) Members initiated or affiliated during the current administrative year are exempt from this provision.
5 (b) Brothers are exempt from the five (5) meeting requirement for eligibility for an elected office if there are no Brothers eligible. ARTICLE V Fund Raising Rebecca Chapter shall host an Annual Banquet and other activities to be determined annually. (a) All funds earmarked for projects must be distributed by the end of the following administrative year for which they were earmarked unless special permission is granted by the Chapter. ARTICLE VI Charity The Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron shall identify all Charitable activity with the concurrence of the Chapter. ARTICLE VII Sick and Distress Section 1 – Sick members will receive fifteen dollars ($15.00) once per administrative year, following a period of hospitalization of no less than two (2) consecutive nights. This is applicable to members in good financial standing.
6 Section 2 – The Associate Matron shall send cards to the sick and distressed members. Reimbursement for expenses shall be paid from the Chapter Charity fund. ARTICLE VIII Death of a Chapter Member or Relative Section 1 – A member will receive twenty-five dollars ($25.00) upon the death of an immediate family member (i.e., mother, father, husband, wife or child). ARTICLE IX Exempt Members Section 1 – Upon written request to the Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron, a member whose circumstances are beyond their control may necessitate their need to be exempt from dues due to hardship. The Worthy Matron, Worthy Patron with the assistance of a Past Matron or Past Patron shall investigate this request and they shall, at the next regular Chapter meeting, submit the name(s) of said member(s) for considerations. If approved by the Chapter, the exemption shall only be applicable for the administrative year in which it was requested. Section 2 – A member of Rebecca Chapter may be recommended and voted on for a life membership who has actively served the Chapter for a minimum of twenty-five
7 (25) years. The Chapter shall assume all financial obligations unto itself, with the exception of Chapter charity, Oziel Grand Chapter dues and assessments and the Samuel A. Llewellyn Burial Fund fee. Section 3 – (a) The Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron shall be exempt from all dues, assessments and Samuel A. Llewellyn Burial Fund fees during their administrative year. (b) Refer to Oziel Grand Chapter’s Constitution and By-Laws, Article XXXII, Section 1 pertaining to Most Worshipful Grand Masters, past and present. (c) Refer to Oziel Grand Chapter’s Constitution and By-Laws, Article XXXIII, pertaining to Past Grand Worthy Matrons and Past Grand Worthy Patrons. ARTICLE X Administration and/or Administrative Section 1 – The Worthy Matron shall: (a) Refer to Oziel Grand Chapter’s Constitution and By-Laws, Part II, Article VII, Sections 1, letters A – Q. (b) Prepare the Chapter Roster annually. The Chapter shall be responsible for the cost of printing one (1) copy per member, total cost not to exceed four hundred dollars ($400.00). A quote should be presented to the Chapter prior to commencement of the typesetting and printing.
8 (c) Annually appoint a standing Budget Committee. The Committee shall present an operating budget for the administrative year at the Chapter’s regular September meeting. Section 2 – The Worthy Patron shall: (a) Refer to Oziel Grand Chapter’s Constitution and By-Laws, Part II, Article VII, Sections 2, letters A – G. Section 3 – The Associate Matron shall: (a) Refer to Oziel Grand Chapter’s Constitution and By-Laws, Part II, Article VII, Sections 3, letters A – C. Section 4 – The Associate Patron shall: (a) Refer to Oziel Grand Chapter’s Constitution and By-Laws, Part II, Article VII, Sections 4, letters A – B. Section 5 – The Treasurer shall: (a) Refer to Oziel Grand Chapter’s Constitution and By-Laws, Part II, Article VII, Sections 5 and Section 7. (b) Be required to submit an oral and written annual report to all members during the April meeting. (c) Deposit Chapter funds in the bank within 72 banking hours. If unable to deposit Chapter funds within this time frame, the Treasurer must notify the Worthy Matron. (d) Be responsible for notifying the Worthy Matron and Secretary when a check has been returned for insufficient funds, stating the total amount of the check, bank fee and any handling fee assessed by the Chapter. These fees are due within thirty (30) days of notification to the member.
9 Section 6 – The Secretary shall: (a) Refer to Oziel Grand Chapter’s Constitution and By-Laws, Part II, Article VII, Sections 6, A - E and Section 7. (b) Send notification to all members prior to the April meeting, on nomination and election of officers. (c) Be required to submit an oral and written annual report to all members during the April meeting. (d) Responsible for all mailings of the Chapter, to include the Chapter Roster, special meeting postcards, dues cards and any other mailings as directed by the Worthy Matron. (e) Mail letters to all delinquent members and make a report to the Chapter as required in Section 13. Section 7 – The Assistant Secretary shall: (a) Be appointed by the Worthy Matron to assist the Secretary with the proper execution of her duties. Section 8 – The Musician shall: (a) Provide music for the enjoyment of the Chapter. Section 9 – The Trustees shall: (a) Refer to Oziel Grand Chapter’s Constitution and By-Laws, Part II, Article VII, Section 8. (b) See that the Chapter is set-up and broken down for all meetings and that the paraphernalia is properly stored at the end of meetings. A new Trustee shall be elected each year for a term of three (3) years. The three-year Trustee shall be the Chairperson and in charge of all paraphernalia, file cabinet and inventory of all Chapter property. Section 10 – Rebecca Chapter’s service fee for insufficient funds shall be no less than ten dollars ($10.00) per item. The Secretary shall not accept a check from a member who has had two prior instances of insufficient
10 funds checks. Payments thereafter shall be by money order or cash. Section 11 - Earmarked funds will not be transferrable unless voted upon in an open Chapter meeting with a twothirds vote, within that current administrative year. Section 12 – The District Deputy Grand Matron and Grand District Lecturer, at the time of their official visitation to the Chapter, will receive a sum of no less than fifteen dollars ($15.00). If more, it will be voted on by the Chapter. Section 13 – If a member is delinquent in the payment of dues as of March 31st of each calendar year, the Secretary shall, upon the authorization of the Worthy Matron, send a letter to the last known address of said member by U.S. mail, within five (5) calendar days requesting payment by the April stated meeting. Should the member fail to make payment by the April stated meeting, a report shall be given at the April meeting and a show cause letter shall be sent certified mail, return receipt requesting payment by the May stated meeting. Should the member fail to appear at the next regularly stated meeting and a member in good standing is not willing to vouch for them, the member shall be suspended for non-payment of dues at the time of arrearage. Oziel Grand Chapter must be notified of the same by the Secretary. Section 14 – A member desiring to be reinstated into the Chapter must submit in writing a request to the Chapter and remit the sum of eighty-five dollars ($85.00) plus one (1) year’s dues. The member may not attend Chapter meetings until written notice of reinstatement is received from the Chapter.
11 ARTICLE XI Donations to Members Section 1 – The Secretary shall receive a sum of no less than three hundred dollars ($300.00); the Treasurer, no less than two hundred dollars ($200.00); the Assistant Secretary no less than one hundred dollars ($100.00); and the Organist no less than fifty dollars ($50.00). Section 2 – The Worthy Matron shall receive a sum of no less than three hundred and fifty dollars ($350.00) toward expenses to be incurred as one of the Chapter’s delegates at Oziel Grand Chapter’s Annual Grand Session. Section 3 – The Worthy Patron shall receive a sum of no less than three hundred and fifty dollars ($350.00) toward expenses to be incurred as one of the Chapter’s delegates at Oziel Grand Chapter’s Annual Grand Session. Section 4 – The Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron shall be presented with a plaque at the Chapter’s Annual Affair or the end of the administrative year, whichever is sooner, thanking them for their service for their administrative year. Section 5 –The Worthy Matron and the Worthy Patron are entitled to two (2) complimentary tickets each for the Chapter’s Annual affair.
12 ARTICLE XII Miscellaneous Section 1 – For the good of the Chapter, a husband and wife or family member shall not be elected to serve in the East as Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron at the same time. Section 2 – When Stone Square Lodge No. 38 has their annual affair, Rebecca Chapter No. 1 will take a full-page ad in the Craftsman Club souvenir journal. Section 3 – The Shining Star Club Chairperson, or other designated members shall, at each Chapter meeting, furnish a report on the meeting and activities of the Club. Section 4 – Collations: a sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) per collation shall be disbursed to the Hospitality Committee Chairperson for the purchase of provisions. Receipts and refunds are to be turned in to the Secretary following the purchases. Section 5 – The Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron shall provide a report of Oziel Grand Chapter’s Annual Grand Session proceedings at the September meeting. Section 6 – Chapter Composition – refer to Oziel Grand Chapter’s Constitution and By-Laws, Part II, Article I, Section 1. (a) Additional officers are the Assistant Secretary and Musician. Section 7 – Petitions for Degrees: (a) All petitions must be requested in a stated meeting of the Chapter, remain in the possession of the requester, and returned within thirty (30) calendar days or the next regularly stated meeting.
13 (b) Refer to Oziel Grand Chapter’s Constitution and By-Laws, Part II, Article XI, Sections 1, 3, 5 and 7. (c) No members of the investigating committee will take part in the investigation of a candidate whose petition they have requested or signed with the exception of the Worthy Patron. Refer to Oziel Grand Chapter’s Constitution and By-Laws, Article XI, Section 3. (d) All petitions for affiliation shall be voted on within thirty (30) days of receipt.
14 Chapter By-Laws Committee: Sister Nicole E. Mingo-Horton, PDDGM – Chairperson Sister Shirley Grubbs, PM – Co-Chairperson Sister Stephanie Elder-Law, WM Brother Jason Graves, WP Sister Demita J. Jones, AM Brother Bruce Glass, AP Brother Derrick Wallace, PP Initial Reading Date: April 16, 2021 Final Reading & Date Approved by Chapter: May 21, 2021 Date approved by the Grand Chapter Jurisprudence Committee of Oziel Grand Chapter: April 24, 2023