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Clandestinely made Masons
- Thread starter K4DL
- Start date
I suggest the term “clandestine” is less than helpful. Yes, it is a legitimate term of art in US Freemasonry and has been for some 170 years (see Mackey, Lexicon). It is used in the majority of US rituals.
But it is used inconsistently and has no agreed upon definition. In some grand lodges (e.g., Oklahoma) clandestine is any grand lodge not recognized. In some GLs (Utah) irregular and clandestine are synonyms. Not all GLs (UGLE), even use the term. The Recognition Commission now tends to avoid it, instead using the phrase, “does not appear to meet the standards of recognition.” https://masonicrecognition.org
Certainly, there are groups which are clandestine no matter how one uses the term. See https://thephylaxis.org/bogus/bogus-organizations.html.
As to your particular question, scroll down to Lebanon for one view of the issue: https://masonicrecognition.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2022-commission-report.pdf
But it is used inconsistently and has no agreed upon definition. In some grand lodges (e.g., Oklahoma) clandestine is any grand lodge not recognized. In some GLs (Utah) irregular and clandestine are synonyms. Not all GLs (UGLE), even use the term. The Recognition Commission now tends to avoid it, instead using the phrase, “does not appear to meet the standards of recognition.” https://masonicrecognition.org
Certainly, there are groups which are clandestine no matter how one uses the term. See https://thephylaxis.org/bogus/bogus-organizations.html.
As to your particular question, scroll down to Lebanon for one view of the issue: https://masonicrecognition.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2022-commission-report.pdf