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10 Propositions for Texas Freemasonry

JJones

Moderator
If we could (honestly) elect the most fitting man to be GM then I think multiple year service would be great. As of right now, it seems like it's just the luck of the draw and we don't really know what we'll be getting until the District Deputy brings us his message (which usually sounds a lot like the last GM's).

What our fraternity could really use right now is strong and consistent leadership over a period of time. The idea of sending away the GM each year in bringing in a new guy regardless of his talent or ability really doesn't make sense, could you imagine how that would affect a large company if it got a new president and VP every year? Or how it would affect any country if the leadership did the same thing?
 

Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
Thats the diffrence, our GL is self-sufficant and does the job on its own.
And who decides who goes into the GL? If the GL appoints its own members with out the say if the craft(in most US jurisdictions thats the WM, S&JWs of each lodge are voting GL members) then that, in my opinion, is just asking for a serious Good Ol' Boy problem, even bigger then we alread have

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Bloke

Premium Member
And who decides who goes into the GL? If the GL appoints its own members with out the say if the craft(in most US jurisdictions thats the WM, S&JWs of each lodge are voting GL members) then that, in my opinion, is just asking for a serious Good Ol' Boy problem, even bigger then we alread have

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Traditionally (here), members of GL vote and that included a sizable body of Brothers with GL Rank, PMs, WMs, SW & JWs but we made a huge change the other year - MMs, FC's and EA's are now full voting members of GL. MMs is one thing, but making FCs and EAs full members .. well, I'm not sure about it, how someone who's potentially been in the Craft for 1 meeting knows the players and what makes a good GL, or if a change is good or bad based on experience in Freemasonry beats me.. but the horse has bolted. I was only one of a few people who stood against it and those I spoke to many who voted likewise and they did if for the just stated reason, but for another very important one, voting at GL was once done basically with reference to warrants; WMs became PMs and each lodge theoretically gained votes of GL members plus WM SW and JW. This mean country lodges and smaller lodges has a similar vote. Now, its more on size of a lodge, one big lodge of 101 members voting the same way can outvote 5 lodges of only 20 members.

(above edited for an important correction; "not" changed to "now". Thanks Rip)
 
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Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
Traditionally (here), members of GL vote and that included a sizable body of Brothers with GL Rank, PMs, WMs, SW & JWs but we made a huge change the other year - MMs, FC's and EA's are not full voting members of GL. MMs is one thing, but making FCs and EAs full members .. well, I'm not sure about it, how someone who's potentially been in the Craft for 1 meeting knows the players and what makes a good GL, or if a change is good or bad based on experience in Freemasonry beats me.. but the horse has bolted. I was only one of a few people who stood against it and those I spoke to many who voted likewise and they did if for the just stated reason, but for another very important one, voting at GL was once done basically with reference to warrants; WMs became PMs and each lodge theoretically gained votes of GL members plus WM SW and JW. This mean country lodges and smaller lodges has a similar vote. Now, its more on size of a lodge, one big lodge of 101 members voting the same way can outvote 5 lodges of only 20 members.
Wait....you said "MMs, FC's and EA's are NOT full voting members of GL" did you mean "ARE full voting members?" Thats crazy. Like i said WM, S/JW are the voting members of the lodges @
GL...then obviously current GL officers and then all PGMs. @the last stated meeting before GL session lodges usually speak about the things being brought to the GL floor for a vote and how the lodge wants their WM and wardens to vote. Usually for the majority of issues that lodge decides to let them vote their conscience.

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Bloke

Premium Member
Wait....you said "MMs, FC's and EA's are NOT full voting members of GL" did you mean "ARE full voting members?" Thats crazy. Like i said WM, S/JW are the voting members of the lodges @
GL...then obviously current GL officers and then all PGMs. @the last stated meeting before GL session lodges usually speak about the things being brought to the GL floor for a vote and how the lodge wants their WM and wardens to vote. Usually for the majority of issues that lodge decides to let them vote their conscience.

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Thanks RIP - yes ARE members as of a few years ago. Thanks.

Yep, members do vote as individuals, but often the discussions in lodges shape their views.
 

Elexir

Registered User
And who decides who goes into the GL? If the GL appoints its own members with out the say if the craft(in most US jurisdictions thats the WM, S&JWs of each lodge are voting GL members) then that, in my opinion, is just asking for a serious Good Ol' Boy problem, even bigger then we alread have

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Actully it dont end up real bad as it can seem. That the GL governs is just one of those things that work for us. Might be becuse we have had the fortune of having the right people at the right times and in general trying to focus on the ritual and teachings rather then the mundane workings of the lodges.
 
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