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Bogus, Clandestine, Unrecognized, and In All Ways Irregular

The recent story about the bogus, clandestine, unrecognized, and completely irregular "Masonic Police Department" that played itself out yesterday brings up a related point. I think there's something useful in putting an explanatory page on our grand lodge websites about what regularity and recognition mean Masonically. Those who join lodges under the jurisdictions that are considered irregular and unrecognized by the principal grand lodge in a state (or country) will not be allowed to visit and interact with the overwhelming majority of the Masonic world, outside of their own isolated group. That's just truth in advertising, and people should understand what they are joining, and what they are not.

It doesn't do any of us any good to pretend other grand lodges aren't at work in our states. Anyone seeking membership in our jurisdictions by looking online is bound to run into other lodges or grand lodges that don't fit the mold of what we teach. (When I tell most American Masons that almost 20% of the Freemasons in France are women, they look at me like the dog talked.) We might as well acknowledge their existence and explain the difference.


This is a particularly vexing problem in the black community in the US. There are hundreds of small grand lodges or independent lodges at work, and many of them are listed by the Phylaxis Society's Commission on Bogus Masonic Practices. New ones pop up every day. As is stated on the Phylaxis site, "There are more African American Bogus Grand Lodges in the United States than there are Legitimate Grand Lodge around the World." (I recently saw a new one in Atlanta, with a well designed website, looking very official.)


These "bogus" lodges and grand lodges are often spawned by arguments and ego clashes, or exist as money-making schemes for their organizers. They sometimes make wild claims about their pedigree, and often their members think they can intervisit in the greater Masonic world. Many also engage in wholly irregular practices, such as hazing violence. (Have a closer look above at the release form that petitioners must sign, from the "International Free & Accepted masons Inc," indemnifying them from legal action resulting from injuries suffered during degrees. Yeah.)

Unfortunately, people tend to join organizations that their friends, family or co-workers do, and bogus groups are somewhat self-perpetuating. They are fueled by new public awareness of Freemasonry from media sources, and the interest is growing. Opportunists see a chance to cash in on an ancient fraternity's history and reputation, and thus the problem continues. Regularity and recognition are issues that make outsiders' eyes glaze over, but I think ALL regular and overwhelmingly recognized grand lodges need to address the issue on their public material. It would help to put a stop to - or at least slow down - the practice, and guide potential new members to the more widely welcoming world of Masonry.


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Dontrell Stroman

Premium Member
Good read. Very good point made : I've ran into Modern Free & Accepted Masons that were under the impression that they could visit any PHA or GL subordinate lodges.

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Bloke

Premium Member
Did you seen the disclaimer in the application letter ? Never seen anything like that...
 

Winter

Premium Member
Wow. You have to wonder what kind of things are going on that a waiver like that is necessary.



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Mel Knight

Registered User
I can't they need only do a little research I did my research on both GL of state and PH before making the decision to join I wanted to be sure I was joining a legitimate branch of freemasonry

I agree with brothers doing some research in this day in age it's much easier to find information online.

However what if a brother did not want to join PH and wanted to join a GL of State? There are a few southern states that still to this day has never raised an African American person.

As a matter of fact this Friday, without reveling the state or lodge I'm attending the raising of the first American American of the GL of State.
 
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Plustax

Registered User
Sadly a few years ago while sitting in a Lodge in Tx and witnessing a degree, a Modern Day Mason sat in that lodge as well. I also saw when he was taken by lodge members to be examined before hand, but I still felt "uneasy" so I did some research later that day and discovered he belonged to a Free and Accepted Modern Day Mason lodge outside of Texas. I brought it to the attention of the WM and his response was a little "defensive" in stating that he attended the exam on the person and saw nothing wrong after seeing his DL and Membership Card was up to date so he let him in. That's the problem with many lodges during these times.... persons don't know how to examine properly. You would think that surely the WM would have known the process of using the Secretary's books of Lodges in Texas and the world. I believe it happens more often than we think, see and hear.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
Sadly a few years ago while sitting in a Lodge in Tx and witnessing a degree, a Modern Day Mason sat in that lodge as well. I also saw when he was taken by lodge members to be examined before hand, but I still felt "uneasy" so I did some research later that day and discovered he belonged to a Free and Accepted Modern Day Mason lodge outside of Texas. I brought it to the attention of the WM and his response was a little "defensive" in stating that he attended the exam on the person and saw nothing wrong after seeing his DL and Membership Card was up to date so he let him in. That's the problem with many lodges during these times.... persons don't know how to examine properly. You would think that surely the WM would have known the process of using the Secretary's books of Lodges in Texas and the world. I believe it happens more often than we think, see and hear.

The time to speak up was before... speaking up after put the WM in a very tricky position - thankfully not one I've been in. ... some of the key jobs of a WM are to comply with the const, preserve the landmark and preserve the warrant.. and the above event compromised all three. My advice - never reveal the lodge that happen in.... i am sure they would not have admitted him in subsequent meetings..
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
Sadly a few years ago while sitting in a Lodge in Tx and witnessing a degree, a Modern Day Mason sat in that lodge as well. I also saw when he was taken by lodge members to be examined before hand, but I still felt "uneasy" so I did some research later that day and discovered he belonged to a Free and Accepted Modern Day Mason lodge outside of Texas. I brought it to the attention of the WM and his response was a little "defensive" in stating that he attended the exam on the person and saw nothing wrong after seeing his DL and Membership Card was up to date so he let him in. That's the problem with many lodges during these times.... persons don't know how to examine properly. You would think that surely the WM would have known the process of using the Secretary's books of Lodges in Texas and the world. I believe it happens more often than we think, see and hear.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
Sadly a few years ago while sitting in a Lodge in Tx and witnessing a degree, a Modern Day Mason sat in that lodge as well. I also saw when he was taken by lodge members to be examined before hand, but I still felt "uneasy" so I did some research later that day and discovered he belonged to a Free and Accepted Modern Day Mason lodge outside of Texas.
A very similar thing happened at a lodge that I visited.
The time to speak up was before... speaking up after put the WM in a very tricky position - thankfully not one I've been in. ... some of the key jobs of a WM are to comply with the const, preserve the landmark and preserve the warrant.. and the above event compromised all three. My advice - never reveal the lodge that happen in.... i am sure they would not have admitted him in subsequent meetings..
Agreed.
 
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