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Masks

JVan357

Registered User
Honest question, what is going on with all the photographs on social media of Texas Masonic functions with no masks? Did the Grand Master put this out? Why do we have Grand Lodge leadership at large gatherings with no masks? I am honestly asking... my assumption is that either there is no such mandate or that these functions are considered "open" and therefore no masks are required. Any explanation would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

For the record, the lack of PPE is keeping me from attending some functions due to underlying health conditions. (This includes functions other than my local lodges who are all complying with the mask & distancing guidelines)
 
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jermy Bell

Registered User
Good question. Here in Illinois, i and a few other masons a facing the same thing. Masks are required, distancing , and safety precautions are put into place. Yet there are several local lodges who think these rules dont apply to them. Yet 2 brother's i have sat in lodge with have died of covid, 3 lodge officers ( that we know of) from my home lodge has had it , yet they will still not make members or visitors wear masks. I haven't been to a lodge since suffering a brain stem stroke in may. But i have asked the same question to others, if i am my brother's keeper. Then why isnt he mine ?
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
Good question. Here in Illinois, i and a few other masons a facing the same thing. Masks are required, distancing , and safety precautions are put into place. Yet there are several local lodges who think these rules dont apply to them. Yet 2 brother's i have sat in lodge with have died of covid, 3 lodge officers ( that we know of) from my home lodge has had it , yet they will still not make members or visitors wear masks. I haven't been to a lodge since suffering a brain stem stroke in may. But i have asked the same question to others, if i am my brother's keeper. Then why isnt he mine ?
If this came to my knowledge as GM, I would be pulling jewels and charters.
 

Winter

Premium Member
I think it depends on where you live and what the prevailing attitude in that area is towards the pandemic. Here in Florida everything is mostly open and people are getting on with their lives and not stressing over a virus with a 98.5% recovery rate. Especially with a vaccine being rolled out. If people want to take extra precautions to protect themselves, then by all means. But I definitely see different states approaching the situation from very different angles.
 

jermy Bell

Registered User
Please correct me if im wrong.
Freemasonry is a private fraternity. And you pay dues to enjoy the rights and benefits of freemasonry. If it were public, then you wouldn't have to pay dues and petition a lodge, you could go right on in and sit in on degrees and meetings. Like all clubs, organizations, etc. They have rules, in most clubs, etc. If you dont like the ground rules you can leave at anytime. What i am seeing is that Bob over at the VFW isnt wearing a mask and doesnt plan to. So if Bob isnt going to, then i am not going to. Well, if that is not part of the rules at the VFW, that doesnt mean that it applies to you sitting in a lodge where you are a member, and have to abide by the rules set forth by your grandmaster and of your lodge. Its pretty simple.
 

Winter

Premium Member
Please correct me if im wrong.
Freemasonry is a private fraternity. And you pay dues to enjoy the rights and benefits of freemasonry. If it were public, then you wouldn't have to pay dues and petition a lodge, you could go right on in and sit in on degrees and meetings. Like all clubs, organizations, etc. They have rules, in most clubs, etc. If you dont like the ground rules you can leave at anytime. What i am seeing is that Bob over at the VFW isnt wearing a mask and doesnt plan to. So if Bob isnt going to, then i am not going to. Well, if that is not part of the rules at the VFW, that doesnt mean that it applies to you sitting in a lodge where you are a member, and have to abide by the rules set forth by your grandmaster and of your lodge. Its pretty simple.

I think your analogy is suspect since the VFW requires a membership as well and as far as know most of those posts have implemented a mask mandate. But I get your point, if the GM says to wear a mask, then we as Masons are obligated (literally) to follow his instructions and wear a mask. But I also see some businesses/organizations implementing rules like masks as precautions (we do live in an overly litigious country after all) with no intention or ability to enforce those rules all the time in all places. If the GL members themselves aren't being overly strict in their adherence as you have stated then that is their business. You really don't have much recourse since you can't report them to anyone. Did they actually publish a mask mandate with rules and criteria?

And I applaud you for taking the responsibility for protecting yourself to stay healthy. I see too many demanding others wear masks all the time as they themselves continue to shove garbage into their gullet and lead the most unhealthy lifestyle imaginable.
 

Number4

Registered User
Those things, inconvenient, ineffective and unconstitutional as they be, are mandated by the Grand Lodge of VA, so we suffer them in silence for our stated meetings. But when photographs are taken, we will remove them for the few seconds it takes to make the shot. So far, mass casualties have not ensued because of this! The latest edict though, restricts all meetings to a maximum of ten persons, effectively shutting us down until some kind of sanity returns.
 
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