The affairs of the Incorporation shall be managed by the Master Court, consisting of the Deacon, Collector, Late Deacon, and Late Collector, Ten Trade’s Masters and Two Key Keepers, of whom seven shall be a quorum. The Master Court shall have the assistance of a Clerk, and also an Officer, if need be.
The Court may also have the assistance of Honorary Members, who shall be proposed and seconded at one Meeting of the Craft, duly called, and voted upon at the Annual Meeting of the Craft next ensuing. Such Honorary Members shall not have a deliberative vote in the Court.
Election Thereof
The Deacon, Collector, Five of the Trade’s Masters and One of the Key Keepers, shall be elected annually at a General Meeting of the Qualified Members, specially convened for that purpose. The Trade’s Masters shall be elected for a period of two years and five of them shall retire annually. The Deacon shall have the privilege of appointing one Key Keeper. Masters retiring by rotation may be re-elected Members of the Court. Nominations for the vacant offices, except those of the Trade’s Key and Deacon’s Key shall be made only at the Lammas Court Meeting. The nominations for each office of Deacon, Collector, or Master shall be made separately, and each nomination must be made by one qualified Member and seconded by another in writing. Should a Member nominated for any office die or withdraw before the day of election and the remaining nominations be insufficient to fill the vacancies, additional nominations without any limit may be made at the General Meeting for the election of Office-Bearers.
Qualification Of Collector And Deacon
No one shall be eligible for the office of Collector who has not been a Member of the Master Court for at least one year immediately preceding his election, and no one shall be eligible for the office of Deacon until he has held that of Collector and had his accounts honourably discharged. Any person may be re-elected to the office of Deacon.
Trades’ House Representative
On the day of the General Election of Office-Bearers, and immediately after the Court has been filled up, the Trade shall elect four Members of the Incorporation to represent it in the Trades’ House.
Collector’s Duties
The Collector shall receive all moneys due to the Incorporation and make all the necessary disbursements sanctioned by the Deacon and Master Court or the Trade. He shall find two securities to the satisfaction of the Court, to the amount of Two Hundred Pounds Sterling; he shall not retain more of the funds of the Incorporation in his hands than shall from time to time be fixed by the Deacon and Masters; and all sums beyond that amount shall be deposited in such Chartered or Joint-Stock Bank as the Court shall direct.
Collector’s Accounts
The Collector shall, as at the 30th June in each year, make up an account of his intromissions, containing a Stock Account, an abstract showing the revenue and expenditure during the year, and a balance exhibiting the whole funds belonging to and debts due by the Incorporation. The Master Court shall appoint a Committee, to which the said account shall be submitted not later than the 1st September, who shall examine and docquet the same if found correct. An abstract thereof shall immediately thereafter be made available to each qualified Member along with the notice convening the Annual General Meeting. The Account of Intromissions, along with any balance in the Collector’s hands, shall be laid on the table at that Meeting.
Clerk And Officer
The Clerk must be a member of the Legal Profession; he shall attend all Meetings, prepare the minutes, draw the Collector’s Bond of Caution, and advise on all questions of law. The Clerk and Officer shall be elected by the Members of the Trade at a General Meeting, and shall be elected annually at the Ordinary General Meeting for electing Office-Bearers. They shall, respectively, be paid such salary and dues as the Incorporation shall determine.
Vacancies In Court
Should any vacancy in the Court occur by death or resignation, excepting in the case of the Deacon or Collector, the Court shall fill it up pro tempore, until the first General Election of Office-Bearers. The Deacon and the Collector must always be elected at a General Meeting of the Trade. Any person who is appointed to act as the Collector in terms of this By-Law shall thereafter be eligible to be elected as Deacon, even although such Collector shall not have served a full year in office.
Application Of Funds
The Funds of the Incorporation shall be exclusively appropriated to charitable and benevolent purposes, and principally giving pecuniary aid to indigent Members, and the widows, widowers, sons, daughters, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law of Members; and it shall not be lawful to break up or dissolve the Incorporation, or to divert its funds from these objects.
Powers Of Investment
The Master Court, in the investment of the funds, shall have all the powers and privileges which, by the Law of Scotland, are or shall be conferred upon gratuitous trustees; and particularly the Master Court shall have the power to invest as specified, subject to the limits described (including the one-half capital account cap for discretionary investments).
Subscriptions
No sum exceeding Five Thousand Pounds shall be granted to any Benevolent Institution unless proposed and confirmed at separate meetings as stipulated.
The Freedom Fines or Entry Moneys to the Incorporation shall be the following:
Band | Age Range | Near Hand Fee | Far Hand Fee |
---|---|---|---|
A | Under 25 | £25 | £50 |
B | 25–49 | £50 | £100 |
C | 50–64 | £75 | £150 |
D | Over 64 | £60 | £120 |
The Master Court in their sole discretion may, without reason assigned, refuse admission to any applicant whether at the Far Hand or Near Hand. Applicants in any of the above classes making a satisfactory Trade Essay shall receive a deduction of £5.00 from their Entry Money, as at the date of making an Essay.
Reckoning Age
The age of an Entrant shall be reckoned as at the birthday immediately ensuing the date of his application.
Qualification Of Office
No member shall be entitled to hold office in the Trade unless he has been entered a Burgess of the Trade’s rank, made an Essay, or paid Five Pounds in place of making one; with provision for Merchant Burgess members as stated.
Essay
The Essay requirements, appointment of Essay Masters, verification, timelines, and alternatives by fine are as specified (including two-panel bound shutter and mortised/tenoned footstool specifications).
Declaration On Admission
No member shall be fully qualified until signing the Long Roll and making the stated declaration; with special provisions if a member dies or is incapacitated before signing.
The Deacon shall call General Meetings as scheduled for Lammas Court and Elections, and upon requisition by twelve Qualified Members; and convene the Master Court quarterly and as required.
All Members of the Trade (except pensioners) shall be warned to all General Meetings by e-mail sent at least forty-eight hours before the meeting.
Voting
Voting methods and eligibility are set out, including viva voce, roll call, show of hands, division, ballot, or voting papers.
Chairman
The Deacon presides; failing which the Late Deacon, or a chairman pro tempore. The chair has both a deliberative and casting vote.
The Qualified Roll shall be made up at the Lammas Court and criteria for inclusion are specified; members may be added at any General Meeting on paying their arrears.
Applications For Pensions
Applications must be by petition per the Clerk’s form; initial inquiry and temporary assistance procedure detailed.
How Payable
Pensions are payable quarterly in advance.
Visiting
Pensioners shall be visited by members of the Court; visitation period defined.
Visitation Reports
Meeting to receive visitors’ reports shall be summoned within fourteen days after the Deacon’s Choosing.
Inquiry Into Circumstances
The Court shall carefully inquire and award as thought fit.
Pensions At Will Of Court — No person shall be entitled to demand enrolment or pecuniary aid; pensions are payable during the will and pleasure of the Master Court only.
Trades House Pensions — Applications to participate in Trades’ House benefits shall be lodged with the Deacon, with recommendations vested in the Court.
Pensioners Excluded From Qualified Roll — Members receiving pensions or pecuniary aid are excluded from the Qualified Roll until sums are refunded.
Funeral Expenses
The Master Court may allow a suitable sum towards funeral expenses of Pensioners.
Court May Increase Or Diminish Pension
The Court may at any time vary pension rates and grant occasional extra allowances.
Widows Etc.
Widows, widowers, sons, daughters, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law of deceased Members who are Pensioners shall forfeit their pension by marrying.
Country Pensioners
Pensioners at a distance must provide a certificate with each application; advances before due are at the Collector’s risk in case of death or marriage.
Proposals to alter Rules must follow the written submission and multi-meeting process described and require a two-thirds majority; dissolution or diversion of funds is incompetent.
The Common Seal shall be in the custody of the Clerk and affixed only with proper authority and signatures as specified.
All references to the masculine include the feminine and vice versa.