THE WIDOWS SONS WERE FOUNDED ON FEBRUARY
18TH, 1998 AT THE MIRAGE RESTAURANT, 10255 W
IRVING PARK ROAD, SHILLER PARK, ILLINOIS 60176
PURPOSE OF THE WIDOWS SONS
The sole founding
goal and purposes of the Widows Sons is to aid and assist widows and
orphans of Master Masons.
This should be done autonomously in each
state by the founding of a Widows Fund from within the Grand Chapter
of the state or by raising funds and donating them to the Grand
Master's fund for wisdows and orphans. Aiding and assisting widow's and orphans is the first and foremost purpose
of granting a charter for any Grand Chapter. Always remember:
The Widows Sons were founded to aid and assist widows and orphans of
Master Masons. No other charity or any other object of monetary
support, from any Widows Sons Grand Chapter, or any affiliated
chapter, or any member should take precedence over the Widows and
orphans of master Masons in its Masonic Jurisdiction.
The second purpose of founding the Widows Sons was to promote
fellowship and unity among brother Masons who ride motorcycles.
The third purpose of the founding of the Widows Sons was to
introduce Freemasonry to the world of motorcycling and to introduce
the world of motorcycling to freemasonry.
No chapter or any member of any chapter should ever recruit non masons
motorcycle riders for the purpose of increasing the Widows Sons
numbers in membership. The Widows Sons shall not allow any member of
any outlawed organization(s) or any other motorcycle club(s) to become a member of any
chapter of Widows Sons, nor will any member of the Widows Sons
associate with any member(s) of any outlawed organization(s) or any
motorcycle club(s)
while wearing Widows Sons or masonic regalia.
No Widows Sons Grand Chapter shall have any voice, or any rule or
authority over, nor any vote in the business of another Grand
Chapter. Each Masonic Jurisdictional Grand Chapter is autonomous of one another.
Autonomous, being defined as; ruling and governing their own state
business and activities in accordance with the due boundaries of
Freemasonry of their state, first, then within the due boundaries of
their Widows Sons by-laws and landmarks of the
Widows Sons.
There shall be no governing or ruling committee or consulting body,
or person in a position with any authority to make decisions for,
council, or to rule over the entire national entity of the Widows
Sons. Each state rules all Widows Sons business in its own state
within the due boundaries and governing of the their Grand Lodge and
the the boundaries set forth by the Widows Sons Masonic Riders
Association bylaws.
An Widows Sons Grand Chapter, who has been deemed in good standing
by the Widows Sons Masonic Riders Association for 365
consecutive days may charter a new Grand
Chapter in another state into existence upon the promise given by
the chapter that it will adhere to its Grand Lodge governing and the Landmarks of the Widows Sons, ,adapting the
Founding by-laws only necessary
to resolve any conflicts in these by-laws and landmarks with their
Grand Lodge by-laws, rules or edicts. No other changes to the
founding by-laws or founding landmarks should be made to appease any
personal or Grand Chapter preferences. No single person shall issue
charters to new Grand Chapters. They must be chartered by a Grand
Chapter or the Executive Council Executive Director.
At the time there are fifty
(50) Grand Bodies of Widows Sons in the United States, and bodies
outside the U.S. Changes, alterations or amendments or additions to
the Widows Sons Founding By-laws or the Founding Landmarks shall be
made with a ratification vote of a ninety (90) percent majority of
the fifty (50) widows Sons United States chapters and all chapters
outside the U.S. by a ballot voting in favor of the purposed
changes, or by a Grand Lodge proclamation.
Adopted:
2001:When a logo, patch or insignia of the Widows Sons is adopted,
only men who are Masons
shall wear it. No wives, girlfriends, sisters, daughters, moms or
grandmothers shall display a a Widows Sonpatch on their back. There will be
no
ladies’ or support or associate patches. No member or affiliate
chapter shall create a patch, button, decal pin or any other item
that advertises, names or promotes the Widows Sons without the
permission of their Grand Chapter. The use of our trademarked logos
are reserved
for Grand Chapters who have entered into an agreement with the
Masonic Riders Association through a fair use contract describing
the uses of the logos and name.
