Who gives GL charters

[Glen Cook]

I'm pretty sure that GLoTX got chartered by the GL of Louisiana. Think that you'll probably see most of the US GLs outside of the East coast being chartered by another GL in the US.

The individual TX lodges were chartered out of LA. The lodges then formed their own GL.

My impression is that most GLs off the East Coast were not formed by another GL, though I admit I have not counted either. See the links at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Masonic_Grand_Lodges_in_North_America

 

[dfreybur]

The individual TX lodges were chartered out of LA. The lodges then formed their own GL.

My impression is that most GLs off the East Coast were not formed by another GL, though I admit I have not counted either. See the links at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Masonic_Grand_Lodges_in_North_America

Here's the link on the GLofTX web site - http://grandlodgeoftexas.org/content/masonic-oak

"Here on a day in March 1835 Brothers Anson Jones, John A. Wharton, Asa Brigham, J.A.E. Phelps, Alex Russell and J. P. Caldwell met and resolved to petition the Grand Lodge of Louisiana for a dispensation to form a Lodge of Freemasons. Their prayer was granted and Holland Lodge began work. Lodges were later formed at Nacogdoches and San Augustine, and on December 20th, 1837, these three Lodges created the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas with M.W. Anson Jones as the first Grand Master of Masons in Texas."

So Texas followed the usual pattern of being organized by 3+ regular lodges declaring their sovereignty. In the case of Texas all of the founding lodges were from the same jurisdiction so Louisiana is very much our parent jurisdiction.

When I read about Illinois both GLs seem to come from Pennsylvania only - http://go.masonicconnections.com/Site/GrandLodgeIllinois/Information/IllinoisMasonry.aspx

GL of California's 3 founding lodges apparently held charters from DC, MO and CT - http://beaconofmasoniclight.blogspot.com/2007/12/masonic-history-of-grand-lodge-of.html

 

[Bloke]

Someone should have talked to you about using the symbols of the craft until after you were raised. An avatar counts.

Interesting.... i didnt see the avatar, but there are no rules here about that stuff. Obviously you should not hold yourself out as what you are not though. I was going to take this to a new thread but you might not see it... I'd be interested in understanding what this bro did that was "wrong". Obviously about a local law or convention ?

 

[Bloke]

While those lodges are considered irregular today, at the time they were regular.

You know, that's a key concept in this discussion - the concept of 'regularity' evolved, especially the 1700's and i guess especially after UGLE was formed in 1813.

 

[MRichard]

Interesting.... i didnt see the avatar, but there are no rules here about that stuff. Obviously you should not hold yourself out as what you are not though. I was going to take this to a new thread but you might not see it... I'd be interested in understanding what this bro did that was "wrong". Obviously about a local law or convention ?

It is accepted custom here that only master masons use the symbols of craft. I believe he was an EA at the time. He changed it so it was not an issue.

 

[Bloke]

It is accepted custom here that only master masons use the symbols of craft. I believe he was an EA at the time. He changed it so it was not an issue.

"Here" as in the forum or 'here' as in your jurisdiction ?

 

[MRichard]

"Here" as in the forum or 'here' as in your jurisdiction ?

Jurisdiction

 

[Bloke]

Thank you for the clarification. Here EAs are presented with a S&C pin and other goodies on the night of initiation. They put the pin on immediately and are encourgaged to wear it in public.

 

[chrmc]

The individual TX lodges were chartered out of LA. The lodges then formed their own GL.

You are correct. A small, but important difference.

 

[MarkR]

You are correct. A small, but important difference.

Yep. GL of Minnesota was formed by three lodges that had originally been chartered by Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin. So the original three weren't even chartered by the same GL.

 

[Glen Cook]

Yep. GL of Minnesota was formed by three lodges that had originally been chartered by Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin. So the original three weren't even chartered by the same GL.

Nor were they in Utah