dfreybur
Premium Member
Brethren,
In Nov 2012 the GM of Florida issued Decision #3 which was a declaration of religious bigotry. Brothers who were members of a list of named religions were declared not Masons and required to resign or be expelled. The edict cited a part of a landmark carefully leaving out other parts of the same landmark. The edict also made bigoted false accusations about the followers of these religions. Needless to say the result was an uproar. I started circulating petitions in both of my jurisdictions to pull recognition if the edict was not withdrawn at the annual GL meeting. Unfortunately my relocation to Texas came shortly after I started and that disrupted my efforts. I've been too busy at work and visiting new lodges and starting to learn new ritual to work on petitions to committees on recognition.
The GL of Florida is in session right now. Today they are voting on legislation to repeal the edict.
Please join me in praying for the wisdom to know that religious bigotry is not a Masonic value that religious tolerance is, for the strength to vote from our values not from their own religious membership, for the beauty of being able to visit lodges in their jurisdiction after they vote.
Indiana has already announced they will pull recognition if the bigotry stands. I pray it will not come to that.
In Nov 2012 the GM of Florida issued Decision #3 which was a declaration of religious bigotry. Brothers who were members of a list of named religions were declared not Masons and required to resign or be expelled. The edict cited a part of a landmark carefully leaving out other parts of the same landmark. The edict also made bigoted false accusations about the followers of these religions. Needless to say the result was an uproar. I started circulating petitions in both of my jurisdictions to pull recognition if the edict was not withdrawn at the annual GL meeting. Unfortunately my relocation to Texas came shortly after I started and that disrupted my efforts. I've been too busy at work and visiting new lodges and starting to learn new ritual to work on petitions to committees on recognition.
The GL of Florida is in session right now. Today they are voting on legislation to repeal the edict.
Please join me in praying for the wisdom to know that religious bigotry is not a Masonic value that religious tolerance is, for the strength to vote from our values not from their own religious membership, for the beauty of being able to visit lodges in their jurisdiction after they vote.
Indiana has already announced they will pull recognition if the bigotry stands. I pray it will not come to that.