Grand Lodge of the United States

Rifleman1776 said:

Arkansas does have a full time secretary. Annual GL meetings are held in a hotel that charges. The building where the GL rents space does have ample space for the annual meeting, but for whatever reason they prefer fancier. BTW, the building they are in is called the Scottish Rite temple. It is a huge magnificent building, albiet not maintained, that should be preserved for history. But, I'm no longer part of the group and can only vent here.

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That's my point. You hypothesize that they will fail because they can't afford a full time secretary. Wrong. Don't need a full time secretary. You hypothesize they can't afford a communication. Wrong. Don't need to meet in the hotel (none of my GLs do).
I get less of venting, and more of gloating in the comments. It is my clear impression you are mad (which I find justifiable) and so engaging in gossip about your former GL in a public forum. Disappointing.

Glen Cook said:

That's my point. You hypothesize that they will fail because they can't afford a full time secretary. Wrong. Don't need a full time secretary. You hypothesize they can't afford a communication. Wrong. Don't need to meet in the hotel (none of my GLs do).
I get less of venting, and more of gloating in the comments. It is my clear impression you are mad (which I find justifiable) and so engaging in gossip about your former GL in a public forum. Disappointing.

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You read me wrong, Brother. My comments are of concern and trying to grasp the seriousness of the situation. There is no gloating. The GL officers are the ones who need to be told, and understand, where savings can be made. And, BTW, Arkansas does not have a communication vehicle (newsletter, magazine, etc.). That may be part of the problem that has allowed the power clique to continue unchallenged.

Rifleman1776 said:

You read me wrong, Brother. My comments are of concern and trying to grasp the seriousness of the situation. There is no gloating. The GL officers are the ones who need to be told, and understand, where savings can be made. And, BTW, Arkansas does not have a communication vehicle (newsletter, magazine, etc.). That may be part of the problem that has allowed the power clique to continue unchallenged.

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Do you really think the GM reads this list? As your rumors are clearly alarmist in nature and as you are no longer an Arkansas Mason, I suggest they will give less credence to your claims than I do. I have heard two Shrine appeals by Arkansas Masons, finding in favor of the Shrine and against the Grand Lodge both times. If I don't accept your complaints, I don't know why they would. Further, if they are as insensitive as you indicate, why do they care what you think? You've given up your vote. You no longer have a place at the table. You are no longer an Arkansas Mason. You ain't got no dog in the hunt.

Glen Cook said:

You've given up your vote.

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There are different types of votes.

1) There are the votes of the representatives on the floor at GL. These are the pedestal officers at least, plus depending on the jurisdiction some fraction of the PMs, plus depending on the jurisdiction some number of GL granted votes for past whatever and appointed whatever. There's a historical trend in my jurisdictions for the grand line to ask GL to vote in more and more votes for past whatever and appointed whatever folks.

Not all brothers go through the line to have a chance to participate in that type of vote. Not all that many brothers once they are on the floor understand that they can vote against the current grand line. One or more brothers who do have this type of votes would need to step forward - And there tend to be rules against campaigning which is exactly what is needed to step up a vote-out reform of that sort.

I suggest that some brothers get together and propose themselves in opposition to the current line, but I will note that I have never do this, I am not in Arkansas and I could not afford the monetary cost of being a GM. As such my suggestion is from the peanut gallery.

2) If legislation is submitted on the type of topic that would resolve this issue AND if a local lodge even has a meeting to discuss GL legislation AND if the lodge is willing to instruct their representatives to vote a specific way AND if the delegates don't simply vote as they choose, then brothers not a part of the line system can participate in a vote at the local lodge level.

There are more hurdles than that list in this case. Consider the PHA recognition situation. Many brothers aren't even aware that they can submit through the legislation process to force an issue (This year I wrote to the California Gr Sec about missing recognitions instead of submitting legislation) and someone has to submit legislation for a vote to happen at all. Or a group has to come forward to replace the grand line, that has to be known for it to even come up at lodge discussions.

3) Voting with your feet and wallet by demit really does count as voting. If and only if you made it clear in your demit why you did so and what changes would need to happen before you'd come back. A lot of Arkansas Masons have submitted their demits, but how many of them said why and what changes?

People know why the demits have been happening, but denial is rampant inside my mind. It's got to be just as rampant in the entrenched grand line.

That third type of vote is the type that could eventually lead to the GLofAR folding. France cleaned up its own grand line problems by doing the equivalent of term limit up and out on their former GM. How many years of up and out would be needed before natural attrition resolves the issue in AR?

I don't believe there is a line or question on the demit asking why it is being requested. The Arkansas GM is a one year term. The problem lies in a mindset with the controlling clique. I am dropping out of this thread. It is creating more negativism than good. I thank you for your response. But since all states are different I doubt a solution for Arkansas will be found. I will say this, some good Masons and Shriners have chosen to drop their Shrine affiliation and stay with the Arkansas GL in an attempt to go up the line and affect some positive change. Many are friends of mine. Even though I miss them at Shrine activities, I respect their decision and wish them well.

Does this kind of politically at odds situation happen frequently in the U.S.? I'm new to the craft and just would like to know.

Given the number of Grand Lodges and appendant bodies, I would say no. They are also usually resolved. The current Arkansad [sic] issue is an anomaly in that sense.

Glen Cook said:

Given the number of Grand Lodges and appendant bodies, I would say no. They are also usually resolved. The current Arkansad [sic] issue is an anomaly in that sense.

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Thank you for replying brother and for the information.

Glen Cook said:

It doesn't cost that much to hold a meeting. If the GL owns a hall, it can be done for the cost of lights.

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Other than the full time maintenance of the building. I'll withhold what I think should be done with the GLoTX building.

relapse98 said:

Other than the full time maintenance of the building. I'll withhold what I think should be done with the GLoTX building.

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The issue was the added cost of a communication.

So I thought I read it in this throws but can't find the reference but I thought someone stated the grand lodges have a yearly? conference. What is the scope for that kind of gathering? Is that where things like 2N1ASK1 start up? Do they propose like 5, 10 year vision statements or is it more of meet and greet type of meet?

Or did I dream this whole conference thing up?

Thread not throws. Still hunting for that edit button

I can only speak for the GLoTX, but at our annual communication we discuss & vote upon resolutions to add, remove, and amend provisions of our Laws, procedures, and other measures of interest to the Craft, in addition to making and renewing friendships with other Brethren from around our state.

Bill_Lins77488 said:

I can only speak for the GLoTX, but at our annual communication we discuss & vote upon resolutions to add, remove, and amend provisions of our Laws, procedures, and other measures of interest to the Craft, in addition to making and renewing friendships with other Brethren from around our state.

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Got you, I mistook an earlier post thinking all US grand lodges met every so often. I thought it was nation wide but it's state wide. Thanks for the clarification.

There is a meeting of all the GMs every year, as well. Brother Glen Cook is probably the best resource on the subject here.

To my knowledge, all regular grand lodges hold at least annual meetings. Some, like UGLE, hold quarterly communications.

The conference of North American Grand Masters meets each year in February. Prince Hall Grand Masters have a separate conference.

These conferences (and their European counterparts) are informational in the main for the sovereign grand lodges.

Topics like 2B1SK1, Friend to Friend and Child Identification program tend to start in a specific state and when they work they get presented at the Conference of Grand Masters North America. This is one of the main ways that US jurisdictions exchange what works.

Whether any one program of that sort needs a vote at GL depends on the jurisdiction. Many GLs have an executive committee that's much of the grand line. The committee meets and determines plans and policies for the jurisdiction that don't require a vote of the delegates.

If a program needs to be included in the bylaws of the jurisdiction then it needs to be voted at GL. Basically, once in the bylaws it's permanent. Many/most states fund homes for the elderly and/or orphans that appear in the bylaws. Many states have a Child Identification program that is pushed by the grand line but that could disappear if some Grand Master decides to drop if in his year.

This works rather like the form of the US. There's a legislative branch that determines permanent laws and that approves funding. There's an executive brand that as per its name executes on those laws but that also has programs of its own that it executes on. The system of checks and balances has the representatives able to pull funding on a program, the executive branch able to introduce a new program out of general funds.