Hi Owls.
On August 11, 2011 I sent this letter to the GLoTX, AF&AM informing them I was withdrawing my membership ...
Your letter was perhaps a little less moderate in tone and a little more specific in detail than actually necessary. Surely "I hereby resign" would have sufficed? Vigourous denunciation is gratifying when angry, but isn't the way to exit peacefully.
Nevertheless, from this and what you've explained previously in this forum, I understand why you found it necessary to resign from GLoTX. A sad situation, but you must do what is right for you.
The charges that are named are by a what was a good friend of mine whom I met on this forum.
One of life's sad lessons: he who is your friend today may not be your friend tomorrow. Obviously this reality is contrary to the masonic aspiration to lifelong brotherhood, but in a human world we do not always succeed in our worthy aspirations.
Keep in mind the MAFIA they speak of is a reference to a what started out as a Degree team and was given to us when we showed up to a degree dressed in all BLACK and was told by a Past Master "You guys look like the MAFIA". It became a Lodge officer group and so forth but is blow WAY out of proportion.
This is not the first time I've seen an instance of a harmless joke later being distorted after a falling-out, and being held against someone to their severe detriment. It's a nasty tactic, but regrettably common by those who seek to blacken another's character ... and surely it's unmasonic conduct?
As you can see, this was in a "secret" forum that was by invite only, not to mention communicated as such ... took it upon himself to print EVERY post on the secret forum, turn them over ...
I understand that your MM Ob is approximately similar to my own. Does it not contain a passage promising to keep a Brother's lawful secrets? Even if the specific conduct of which Bro. Lawson complained might be considered to be (masonically) unlawful, all the rest of the contents are still some Brother's lawful secret. Surely disclosing this (even to your own GL) is breach of Ob?
Perhaps you should bring counter-charges for this breach. If GLoTX considers you still within their disciplinary jurisdiction even though you've resigned (which might still be technically true, if you haven't yet affiliated elsewhere), then surely you also still have standing to bring charges within that jurisdiction? Of course I'm no expert on the rules in your State, but it'd seem to me wholly unreasonable otherwise.
So why can't NO HOLDS BARRED discussion happen on forums? Because people like this "BROTHER" can't help but run and taddle ...
Of course that's "not meant to happen" ... but it's a fine illustration that such things nevertheless do happen.
Otherwise why else would the GLoTX allow charges to be filed on non members?
I believe the general masonic jurisprudence is that if a Brother is currently unattached, i.e. not a current member anywhere, then he remains under the jurisdiction of the last GL in which he was a member.
In the case of a Brother now affiliated to a new jurisdiction, then I understand that the general protocol is that a former jurisdiction with a complaint ought to refer the case to the new jurisdiction for action, although I think there are some complex exceptions to that and I'd have to go look it up. But anyway, that's only a general presumption and may not be your local rule, about which you surely know much more than I do. I know your plan is to join PHAoTX. Have you already done so? If so, what does the Compact between GLoTX and PHAoTX say about inter-jurisdictional disciplinary referral?
Where an unattached Brother is under disciplinary process in his former jurisdiction, I believe the general protocol is that another jurisdiction should refuse to accept his affiliation until the disciplinary process is completed (and therefore that laying charges is a known method for delaying someone from joining elsewhere). I think there have been past cases where accepting members still under unresolved disciplinary process from a former jurisdiction has been cited as justification for withdrawing recognition. This may well, therefore, affect your situation.
If a Brother is expelled by a disciplinary process, then it is general protocol that no new jurisdiction can accept his affiliation without first obtaining specific permission from his former jurisdiction (which is rarely granted). Breaches of that protocol have definitely been the cause of withdrawals of recognition - for example, the ongoing dispute between GLoWV and GLoOH over MWBro. Frank Haas.
I was told that just because you send a letter it does not remove your membership, kinda makes the FREE WILL part go out the window.
Obviously that depends on the local rules, which I don't know.
Here, for example, if I wanted to do a similar thing, I'd be expected to resign from each of my Lodges separately rather than write to my GL, but of course your rules may differ. Here, I'd only be expected to write directly to the GL if I wished to cease to be considered a Mason altogether ... which would probably mean I'd have to take the Degrees all over again if I later wished to affiliate elsewhere.
In any case, it's clear that you're in an awkward situation, Bro. I hope it works out okay in due course.
T & F,
Huw
