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| December 28, 2012 | | |
| | From: John F. Lowe, Grand Master
To: All Grand Officers
All Past Grand Masters
All Past Grand Officers
All District Inspectors
All Lodge Masters
All California Masons
RE: Revocation of Any and All Recognition of, or Permission for Membership in, the Grand and Glorious Order of Knights of the Creeping Serpent (aka "Snakes") by California Masons.
During 2005, the existence of The Grand and Glorious Order of Knights of the Creeping Serpent (GGOKCS) became known to Most Worshipful David R. Doan. He reported at the 2005 Annual Communication of this Grand Lodge that "... it is clear that the Snakes are operating in California in violation of our law and members who participate are in violation of their Masonic obligations."
At the 2006 Annual Communication of this Grand Lodge, Most Worshipful Frederick L. Sorsabal reported, "If the prerequisite is to be a Mason to join this group, you must cease participation until the organization is properly recognized or my Brothers, suffer the consequences of violating our California Masonic Code."
At the 2007 Annual Communication of this Grand Lodge, Most Worshipful Melvyn B. Stein's Decision No. 1 stated "All members of the Grand and Glorious Order of Knights of the Creeping Serpents, aka "The Snakes" and aka "The Tribu," within this jurisdiction (pursuant to Section 1200.010 of the California Masonic Code) and all Master Masons of this Jurisdiction (pursuant to Section 1200.015 of the Code) who violate the provisions of the California Masonic Code by being members of the aforesaid Organization shall have committed acts constituting unmasonic conduct sufficient to support the filing of a charge against a Mason pursuant to Section 1401.010.D of the Code after receipt of proper notice."
At the 2008 Annual Communication of this Grand Lodge, Most Worshipful Richard W. Hopper reported that, "their [GGOKCS] Constitution and Bylaws were submitted to Grand Lodge before the opening of this Annual Communication." Most Worshipful Hopper then offered his Grand Master's Recommendation No. 5, stating, "If you adopt this recommendation, the Constitution and Bylaws of the Grand and Glorious Order of the Knights of the Creeping Serpent, also known as the Snakes, will be approved under Section 1200.015B of the California Masonic Code, thereby permitting any Mason in this Jurisdiction to be a member of such organization." The recommendation was defeated, with 90.5% of the delegates voting negative.
Following that negative referendum, Most Worshipful Larry L. Adamson sent an official directive to all identified members in GGOKCS to renounce their membership. At the 2009 Annual Communication of this Grand Lodge, MW Adamson reported, "... a new leadership has come forward and met with me and has developed a new set of Bylaws and a new structure that prohibits degree conferring privileges. This new structured entity is a social club. This new social club is allowed under our Code and they understand their need to focus on supporting our constitution and not circumventing it."
Over the past several months, I have received corroborated evidence that the same group, operating since 2009 as a social club, has in fact conferred a ritual ceremony upon candidates, which under their bylaws is prohibited. On or about September 8, 2012, an initiatory ritual was performed on some sixty candidates at a private residence, known to be the residence of the current president of the Social Club. This ritual activity included required actions and activity by the candidates that is not permissible under our California Masonic Code and Ritual.
The candidates were required to partially or fully disrobe, crawl upon the ground, and perform several physical actions that are, at a minimum, degrading. These actions required of the candidates, as well as the behavior of those members in attendance, can only be described as hazing; again, not permissible under California Masonic Code or Ritual. Holding this ceremony at a private residence instead of a Lodge hall further indicates that those in charge preferred keeping the ceremony clandestine.
Clearly the actions of those in charge of this "ritual initiation," including the aforesaid president, show that their word and bond as promised to Most Worshipful Adamson have no significance. The Bylaws provided in 2009 are now but meaningless, having been broken in both spirit as well as the letter. As before, the desire for some to be known as a member of the "Snakes" outweighs the oath that we take as a California Mason to uphold our Code, and be a good man, and true.
Those who acted in charge of this occasion are now liable for charges of unmasonic conduct, having broken from a social club to a degree-conferring club or order without permission of the Grand Lodge. Those who were candidates at this event are also subject to charges; for as in civil jurisprudence, ignorance is no excuse for breaking laws. We all should ever be wary of any degree being held in a clandestine manner, particularly at a residence.
In consequence of the above, effective January 1, 2013, the Grand and Glorious Order of Knights of the Creeping Serpent (also known as Snakes, or Tribu) as a social club of any definition, or as an order or rite, whose prerequisite for membership is that of Master Mason, is no longer recognized or authorized by the Grand Lodge of California.
Any California Mason that is also a member of the GGOKCS, the GGOKCS Social Club of Southern California, or any other club, rite, organization or successor thereof associated with the GGOKCS must immediately terminate his membership in these organizations. This edict applies to all California Masons, whether residing in our jurisdiction or any foreign jurisdiction, as well as any Mason residing in California whose membership lies with another jurisdiction.
Any California Mason or Mason residing in California holding membership after January 1, 2013 is subject to charges of unmasonic conduct.
Be it known to all that this revocation is required given the decision to breach the agreement in place with the Grand Lodge, made by all who were a party to, a participant in, or a witness of, the "ritual initiation" above delineated. That material breach of a good faith agreement renders the whole matter void, and therefore returns all to the status prior to 2009.
Copy: Jeffrey S. Calton, Grand Master, Grand Lodge F&AM of Arizona
Richard M. Hoaglin, Grand Master, Grand Lodge F&AM of Nevada
Hunt Compton, Grand Master, Grand Lodge F&AM of Oregon
Santiago T. Gabionza, Jr., Grand Master, Grand Lodge F&AM of the Philippines
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