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Post by Torence on Dec 30, 2012 10:09:20 GMT 10
Perhaps if the Grand Master had employed a few Gnostic Masons to advise him, he would not be attempting to apply a Religious Test to Masonry that is simply not allowed.
FYI: Just by Happenstance, I will be at a Local Lodge here on January 7th which is obligating a Florida Prince Hall Mason as an Entered Apprentice here in Illinois. He is already proficient in all three degrees. He had been black balled in one Lodge here and we found him another Lodge in which he could be accepted. We should be able to raise him before March 1st as he already knows the Florida work and Illinois work is not that far from it.
The M.W. G.L. of Florida, in its Wisdom, does not choose to recognize their Prince Hall Lodges. We'll have a few Grand Line types out for the degree that night. If I get the chance then I think it will be a good opportunity to discuss the Florida situation with them as this decision may or may not appertain to Illinois. I for one would think Declination of Fraternal Relations until such time as Florida removes or disavows the Decision would be an appropriate response. The place to start by our rules would be our Grand Master's Appeals and Grievance Committee.
What process does your jurisdiction employ that would allow you to make a complaint?
Torence Evans Ake Secretary - Auburn Park Lodge No. 789 - Crete, Illinois Chaplain - Triluminar Lodge No. 767 - Lansing, Illinois MIGS - Illinois Lodge of Research PM - Arcadia Lodge No. 1138 - Lansing, Illinois City and Country Steward torenceake@aol.com
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Post by Smithee on Dec 30, 2012 13:44:09 GMT 10
Yeah right. Like this gem. So what part of the comment you don't understand? Its meaning.
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Post by Smithee on Dec 30, 2012 13:56:28 GMT 10
The M.W. G.L. of Florida, in its Wisdom, does not choose to recognize their Prince Hall Lodges. We'll have a few Grand Line types out for the degree that night. If I get the chance then I think it will be a good opportunity to discuss the Florida situation with them as this decision may or may not appertain to Illinois. I for one would think Declination of Fraternal Relations until such time as Florida removes or disavows the Decision would be an appropriate response. The place to start by our rules would be our Grand Master's Appeals and Grievance Committee. Good luck.
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Post by Torence on Dec 31, 2012 13:17:21 GMT 10
FYI: Florida's Grand Communication is in May. Their deadline to submit legislation for the session is this month. I have it on good authority that at least one Florida Mason will be submitted legislation this month in order for their Congress to consider the question.
Torence Evans Ake Secretary - Auburn Park Lodge No. 789 - Crete, Illinois Chaplain - Triluminar Lodge No. 767 - Lansing, Illinois MIGS - Illinois Lodge of Research PM - Arcadia Lodge No. 1138 - Lansing, Illinois City and Country Steward torenceake@aol.com
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Post by Smithee on Dec 31, 2012 15:13:42 GMT 10
Good luck.
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Post by Torence on Jan 7, 2013 22:57:17 GMT 10
FYI: Tonight's the night. We are initiating a candidate who is a Florida Prince Hall Mason into one of our Main Stream Lodges here in Illinois. We expect to have our Senior Grand Warden and Area Deputy Grand Master at work tonight during the degree. The Master of the Lodge of which I am Secretary is doing the obligating while I will be working tonight as Secretary and doing the Interrogatories for the Candidate in this Neighboring Lodge of ours. The Area Deputy Grand Master is the Lodge's Secretary and the a District Deputy is a Past Master of it and of course the two of them will be there as well.
Florida does not recognize its Prince Hall Lodges. Here in Illinois, we recognize our Prince Hall Lodges since 1995 but for Visitation purposes only. Dual or Plural Memberships between the two groups is not allowed though plural memberships are allowed here between Lodges int he same system.
I have always held that Illinois should take the lead and do away with the Dual Grand Lodge System all together. Perhaps if we have more events like the one that we are having this evening such rational good times will work to make any distinctions between Masons here that much more moot.
In the meantime I think that the decision to go forward with this degree should work to communicate something to the Grand Master of Florida something of the regard that Illinois holds for the opinions of that distant jurisdiction.
Torence Evans Ake Secretary - Auburn Park Lodge No. 789 - Crete, Illinois Chaplain - Triluminar Lodge No. 767 - Lansing, Illinois MIGS - Illinois Lodge of Research PM - Arcadia Lodge No. 1138 - Lansing, Illinois City and Country Steward torenceake@aol.com
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Post by Tamrin on Jan 8, 2013 5:55:01 GMT 10
I hope all goes well.
I am curious about the link you see between the Florida GM's decision re acceptable religions and Florida's approach to Prince Hall regularity.
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Post by Torence on Jan 9, 2013 12:00:35 GMT 10
Thanks. The degree went swimmingly and the candidate was suitably impressed. We like to ask our candidates to say a few words when the degree is done; and Kamal went on for some time about the genuine welcome that he received into the fraternity from our group. We did not see our Senior Grand Warden out with us last night; but, we did have a few Right Worshipful types on hand including our Area Deputy Grand Master.
Regarding the comments about Religion and Florida's position on Prince Hall Masonry, I think it plain that both approaches being taken by that jurisdiction in these and other matters belongs to the Retrograded and Eroded Masonry of the previous century. These are not suitable policies for a FreeMasonry suitable for Masons who belong to the 21st.
Torence Evans Ake Secretary - Auburn Park Lodge No. 789 - Crete, Illinois Chaplain - Triluminar Lodge No. 767 - Lansing, Illinois MIGS - Illinois Lodge of Research PM - Arcadia Lodge No. 1138 - Lansing, Illinois City and Country Steward torenceake@aol.com
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Post by Tamrin on Jan 9, 2013 14:27:54 GMT 10
I'm glad the evening went smoothly. Well done. Regarding the comments about Religion and Florida's position on Prince Hall Masonry, I think it plain that both approaches being taken by that jurisdiction in these and other matters belongs to the Retrograded and Eroded Masonry of the previous century. These are not suitable policies for a FreeMasonry suitable for Masons who belong to the 21st. Agreed. Thank you for speaking out.
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Post by Torence on Apr 8, 2013 7:21:10 GMT 10
I'm glad the evening went smoothly. Well done. Here is an update. On Saturday March 16th, 2013, along with 44 other Entered Apprentices, the Florida candidate named in this thread was passed and then raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in an Illinois-style "Grand Master's Class" in Joliet. I was fortunate enough to be permitted to take different parts in each of the various sections of the degree work. The highest ranking representative from our Active Operative Executives in attendance for the event was our Area Deputy Grand Master, and for our Esoteric Administrators, we had a member of the Board of Grand Examiners overseeing and participating in the work. A local District Deputy from a neighboring district did the lion's share of the planning and preparation work for the event which proved to be a good time for all. For the Second Section of the third degree we had a Past Grand Master serve as Solomon and I was fortunate enough to play Grand Secretary. This arrangement should make the event extra special in the remembrance of the candidates after all... For the Second Section of the third degree work, they therefore had both a Past and Future Grand Master sitting in the East. Speaking of Grand Masters... Ours, MW Bro. Terry Seward, is conducting a Town Hall Meeting at the same location in Joliet IL on Monday Night. Other than the Florida Decision No. 3 and Prince Hall Recognition issues, are there any other current question of policy or position which the group might like a measure as to the opinion of the Grand Line Officers in Illinois? What would you ask your Grand Master about? Here's a timely question which may lead to a good discussion here first: Is it a violation of our True Landmarks for a Grand Master to appoint Commissioners and then Empower them to Act as his Agents? Torence Evans Ake Secretary - Auburn Park Lodge No. 789 - Crete, IL Chaplain - Triluminar Lodge No. 767 - Lansing, Illinois MIGS - Illinois Lodge of Research PM - Arcadia Lodge No. 1138 - Lansing, IL
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