Ordinances and Regulations

This society is an invitational Masonic organization.

Section 1 - TITLE AND JURISDICTION. This College, acting under a Charter by The High Council, dated February 18, 1999, shall be known as New Mexico College, Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis. Its jurisdiction shall cover the State of New Mexico. New Mexico College cannot lawfully receive a proposal for membership for a Candidate resid ing outside of the State of New Mexico without consent of the College which has jurisdiction over the State of his residence.

Section 2 OFFICERS. The officers of this College shall be styled and take rank as follows:

• 1 - Chief Adept
• 2 - Celebrant
• 3 - Suffragan
• 4 - Secretary/Treasurer
• 5 - First Ancient
• 6 - Second Ancient
• 7 - Third Ancient
• 8 - Fourth Ancient
• 9 - Conductor of Novices
• 10 - Organist
• 11 - First Herald
• 12 - Second Herald
• 13 - Torch Bearer
• 14 - Guardian of the Caverns
• 15 - Medallist
• 16 - Acolyte
• 17 - Librarian

The Chief Adept is appointed by the Supreme Magus, for a three year term. A Chief Adept can serve a maximum of three terms of office. He is subject to removal by the same power or by The High Council. The Celebrant, Suffragan , Secretary/Treasurer and four Ancients shall be elected each year at the Annual Convocation by ballot, and a majority of votes cast shall constitute election. The officers shall be inducted into office at the annual meeting. To be eligible for office a Fratre must have attained the Fourth Grade. All officers shall hold their respective offices until their successors are elected and installed. The remaining officers are appointed by the Chief Adept. There is no line or order of progression among either the elected or appointed officers. The Chief Adept may appoint Fratres to a High Council of the College. Members of the College High Council will serve at his pleasure. Expenses for the Web are to be paid from the Treasury upon order of the Chief Adept.

Section 3 - MEMBERSHIP LIMIT. In conformity with ancient usage, there may not be more than seventy -two (72) members in this college. Each shall have voice and vote in the matters pertaining to the College, so far as such matters pertain to the rank of the Fratre.

Section 4 CANDIDATES. No Aspirant shall be admitted to membership in this College unless he be a Master Mason of good moral character, intelligent and possessing a mind free from prejudice and anxious for instruction. He must be a resident of the State of New Mexico. Aspirants must state that they are not a member of a non-Masonic Rosicrucian organization as a matter of ethics. No one is to know that he is being considered as a member of the College until the letter of invitation is sent. No one who asks to join the College will be considered for membership. Once an invitation has been tendered it must be accepted within one year or it is withdrawn. If not accepted another invitation may not be issued for a period of three years.

The name of the aspirant shall be submitted to the Chief Adept for scrutiny by the College High Council not less than thirty (30) days prior to the College Convocation. Unanimous consent of the High Council of the College shall be necessary in each Order for admission thereto. It shall be further requir ed that all aspirants shall be of the Christian faith.

A Candidate rejected by a College having jurisdiction over him may not be received in New Mexico College without the consent of the one by which he was rejected.

This College and its members shall not recognize as a Rosicrucian any person whose residence is within the jurisdiction of The High Council for the United States of America, who shall, while residing in the USA, receive the grades in some other jurisdiction, without having first obtained the consent of the College having jurisdiction over him, or of one of the three Ruling Magi of The High Council for the United States of America.

Section 5 - THE THREE ORDERS. This College has control over, and power to confer: (A) the four Grades of the FIRST ORDER, which are:

• (a) First Grade Io - Zelator
• (b) Second Grade II o - Theoricus
• (c) Third Grade III o - Practicus
• (d) Fourth Grade IV o - Philosophus
• (B) the three Grades of the SECOND ORDER, which are:
• (a) Fifth Grade V o - Adeptus Minor
• (b) Sixth Grade VI o - Adeptus Major
• (c) Seventh Grade VII o - Adeptus Exemptus

The two Grades of the THIRD ORDER, which are VIII° Magister Templi and IX° Magus are official grades and are conferred only by The High Council. The Fratres of the THIRD ORDER are all members of The High Council.

The following appellations to be used by the Fratres are:

• (a) Most Worthy, to be used regarding the Supreme Magus only
• (b) Right Worthy, to be used regarding Fratres holding the VIII and IX grades only
• (c) Very Worthy, to be used regarding the Celebrant and Suffragan
• (d) Worthy, to be used regarding Fratres holding the VII grade
• (e) Fratre , to be used by all other members of the Society

Membership in any Grade shall be designated by Roman numerals following the name thus: Doe, John IV°

Honorary Membership in any Grade shall be designated by Arabic numerals following the name thus: Doe, John 4°

Section 6 QUORUM. Not less than FIVE shall constitute a quorum in the FIRST ORDER and not less than THREE shall constitute a Quorum in the SECOND ORDER.

Section 7 CONVOCATIONS. New Mexico College shall hold an Annual Convocation in the Spring of each year. The Annual Convocation will be held in the city of Albuquerque , New Mexico. A collation at the Annual Convocation is obligatory. Three Additional Convocations shall be held, and may be at various locations around the State. The Chief Adept may direct the holding of a Convocation in a specific location or a different time when, in his sole opinion, it is most advisable to do so. Membership is conversant upon attendance at meetings. If a Fratre is unable to attend a meeting he must contact the Secretary/Treasurer in writing. Nonattendance without excused absence for one year will make the member subject to suspension.

Section 8 MOTTO. Every Fratre shall, on admission into this College, choose a Latin motto which will be registered with the Secretary -General by the Secretary of the College with the Annual return. Should it appear that the motto is already chosen by a living Fratre in this College, another must be selected. After the motto is once registered by the Secretary -General it may not afterwards be changed under any pretext.

Section 9 FEES. The fee for admission, and for the conferring of the Grades of the first two Orders shall be one hundred twenty dollars ($120.) Annual dues, in the amount of $25.00, are due and payable on or before the first day of June of each year. Fratres delinquent in their dues for more than six months shall be dropped from membership in the College.

Section 10 - RIGHTS OF ADVANCEMENT. Candidates elected to the First or the Second Order shall be entitled to all the Grades of such Order.

Section 11 - CHIEF ADEPT. He shall have the general superintendence of all affairs pertaining to the College; he shall preside at all convocations thereof, at his sole will and pleasure. He shall appoint all committees, and be ex-officio, chairman of same. He shall discharge all the duties prescribed for him by the Constitution, Ordinances, Regulations, Rituals and usages of the Order. In his absence, the Celebrant shall preside, and thereupon have equal authority as if he were Chief Adept, subject to appeal to the Chief Adept and The High Council. The presiding officer may convoke the College at any time he may deem necessary.

Section 12 - CELEBRANT AND SUFFRAGAN. They shall respectively discharge the several duties prescribed for them in the rituals of the Order. In the absence of the Chief Adept and Celebrant, the Suffragan, for the time being, shall succeed to the Presidency.

Section 13 - SECRETARY/TREASURER. He shall convene the College by written notification to all the Fratres at least ten days prior to the Convocation date. He shall keep the minutes of the College, register all of the members, their mottoes, and dates of admission to each grade, and receive all fees, dues and subscriptions which shall be deposited in an account in the name of New Mexico College, SRICF maintained in a federally or state chartered financial institution having FDIC/FSLIC/SIPC insurance on deposits. He shall pay out College funds upon a warrant signed by the Chief Adept. His accounts shall be audited at the Annual Convocation by the Ancients. He shall, within ten days after the Annual Convocation, transmit a certificate of the election of the Officers of the College to the Secretary -General of The High Council, with the post office address of the Presiding Officer and Secretary. He shall prepare an annual return to The High Council, in duplicate, embracing the transactions for the fiscal year ending the 30th of June, and shall state the Latin motto for each new Fratre. One copy shall be forwarded to the Secretary -General on or before the first day of August in each year and the other shall be filed in the records of the College. He shall act under the direction of the Chief Adept.

Section 14 - FOUR ANCIENTS. They shall assist their superiors in all matters of ritual and ceremony, and instruct their Fratres in the science and philosophy of Rosicrucianism.

Section 15 - CONDUCTOR OF NOVICES. He shall examine and prepare all Aspirants and conduct them in accordance with the forms of the ritual.

Section 16 - FIRST AND SECOND HERALDS. They shall have charge of the ballot, and otherwise generally assist the Conductor of Novices, as provided in the ritual and ceremonies; and see that proper silence and order are observed, and the caverns protected from the unworthy.

Section 17 - GUARDIA N OF THE CAVERNS. He shall have charge of the entrances of the caverns, and a general supervision of the Acolyte in his relation thereto. The duty of tiling the several Orders must be strictly enforced.

Section 18 ACOLYTE. He shall act as outer guard, under the immediate direction of the Celebrant, through the Guardian of the Caverns. He shall likewise have the care of all properties, paraphernalia and furniture of the College, and shall set them forth and remove the same as occasion may require and as directed by the Celebrant.

Section 19 LIBRARIAN. He shall build and maintain a Web Site for the College which will include a section where papers presented to the College will be published. Also he shall make a separate private section where the minut es will be published. He shall receive his dues as compensation for performing this service. The Office of Librarian does not preclude the Fratre from holding another office in the College.

Section 20 DISCIPLINE. All Fratres of New Mexico College shall be amenable to the College. Any member disciplined may appeal to The High Council within six months, where the sentence may be revised; pending such final action, the penalty awarded by the College shall be effective. New Mexico College shall have jurisdiction over a non-affiliate residing in New Mexico.

Section 21 - COLLEGE DISSOLUTION. If this College be temporarily interdicted or permanently dissolved, the officers thereof shall forthwith deposit their Dispensation or Charter, Ordinances , Regulations and all manuscripts and printed papers, moneys and properties appertaining to the College, with the Secretary -General, that the same may be deposited in the archives of The High Council for safe-keeping, the monies deposited in the Society's treasury.