Should We Do Away with the Grand Lodge System All Together?

[Torence]

Masonic historians from a century ago, here in Illinois, parroted
the prevailing interpretation at that time concerning the demise of
our first Grand Lodge. They speak of the abduction of Captain Morgan
in New York and the “extinguishing of Masonic Light” both here in
Illinois and Wisconsin.
But we know now that these statements are inaccurate. I have
Thurlow Weed’s “deathbed” confession and it is plain that he
exaggerated the story in order to initiate his career; and it would be
incongruous, given the wilderness condition of Illinois at that time,
to accept that a little bad press so far away would cause a shutdown.
While technically it is true that the anti-Masonic party was the first
“third” party in American politics, the factions were simply being
reworked. Within a few days of that club's first meeting, the Maryland
Democratic Party was organized to put forward Brother Andrew Jackson.
Even public historians, spurned on by the evangelical community,
inflate the effect that the movement had on America in the record.
Funding made that particular bird fly. Our Masonic Light was not
“extinguished.” Lodges continued to meet but privately. Our
“Interregnum,” was just that, a time when Masonic life continued but
without a Grand Master or King.
I believe that I have identified the correct motivation for the shut
down of the first Grand Lodge. But, I cannot help but notice that
around the country and around the world, the Grand Lodge System was
being set aside. The Grand Lodge in Hamburg and the one in Frankfort,
for example, also ceased to meet as did the Prince Hall organization.
At about the same moment that Illinois was meeting for the last time,
1827, a new Prince Hall club was being formed, finally surrendering
its disloyal American ways and becoming an independent organization
fit to serve us in its own right.
History has shown that we can do away with our Grand Lodges from
time to time as it suits us and yet Masonry will continue to work and
even to flourish. Without our large Charities, which here in America
is a twentieth century innovation, logistically the current Grand
Lodge System cannot operate. Our large Charities are undoubtedly
evaporating. I wonder if it would be expedient to throw this
particular baby out with the bath water and begin again, or if the
rework is more worthwhile?

Fraternally,
Torence Evans Ake
Secretary – Auburn Park Lodge No. 789 – Crete, Illinois
PM – Arcadia Lodge No. 1138 – Lansing, Illinois

[Stuart H.]

Post by Torence
Masonic historians from a century ago, here in Illinois, parroted
the prevailing interpretation at that time concerning the demise of
our first Grand Lodge. They speak of the abduction of Captain Morgan
in New York and the “extinguishing of Masonic Light” both here in
Illinois and Wisconsin.
But we know now that these statements are inaccurate. I have
Thurlow Weed’s “deathbed” confession and it is plain that he
exaggerated the story in order to initiate his career; and it would be
incongruous, given the wilderness condition of Illinois at that time,
to accept that a little bad press so far away would cause a shutdown.
While technically it is true that the anti-Masonic party was the first
“third” party in American politics, the factions were simply being
reworked. Within a few days of that club's first meeting, the Maryland
Democratic Party was organized to put forward Brother Andrew Jackson.
Even public historians, spurned on by the evangelical community,
inflate the effect that the movement had on America in the record.
Funding made that particular bird fly. Our Masonic Light was not
“extinguished.” Lodges continued to meet but privately. Our
“Interregnum,” was just that, a time when Masonic life continued but
without a Grand Master or King.
I believe that I have identified the correct motivation for the shut
down of the first Grand Lodge. But, I cannot help but notice that
around the country and around the world, the Grand Lodge System was
being set aside. The Grand Lodge in Hamburg and the one in Frankfort,
for example, also ceased to meet as did the Prince Hall organization.
At about the same moment that Illinois was meeting for the last time,
1827, a new Prince Hall club was being formed, finally surrendering
its disloyal American ways and becoming an independent organization
fit to serve us in its own right.
History has shown that we can do away with our Grand Lodges from
time to time as it suits us and yet Masonry will continue to work and
even to flourish. Without our large Charities, which here in America
is a twentieth century innovation, logistically the current Grand
Lodge System cannot operate. Our large Charities are undoubtedly
evaporating. I wonder if it would be expedient to throw this
particular baby out with the bath water and begin again, or if the
rework is more worthwhile?
Fraternally,
Torence Evans Ake
Secretary – Auburn Park Lodge No. 789 – Crete, Illinois
PM – Arcadia Lodge No. 1138 – Lansing, Illinois

NO! Ours works well, thank you.

Stuart H.
Alberta Canada

[Doug Freyburger]

Post by Torence
History has shown that we can do away with our Grand Lodges from
time to time as it suits us and yet Masonry will continue to work and
even to flourish.

The grand lodge system has one feature that has resulted in Freemasonry
being the world's oldest and largest fraternity - Through the grand
lodge system of charters and recognition any brother can tell if any one
lodge anywhere in the world is "valid", whatever "valid" means in that
context. I can go anywhere in the world, look up the recognition of the
grand lodge(s) in that geography, look up the chartered lodges in that
geography, contact them to arrange a visit, and I'm with brothers. I
have visited in several regions in North America as I travelled for work
and as I have relocated my family to follow the work. My lodges have
greeted visitors not just form other parts of the country but form other
continents of the world.

For that matter I can even find grand lodges that aren't recognized but
that are well known and attend their non-tiled social events as a
brother.

Without the grand lodge system Freemasonry becomes a local club that
might or might not be useful to travelling men, the literal not symbolic
meaning. Without a common system lodges drift in their activities.

Some amount of change is beneficial - All that fails to change
eventually dies. Some amount of shared principles and traditions is
also beneficial - United we stand divided we fall. The grand lodge
system of local regional souvernty has for centuries supplied a working
compromise between these two opposing forces.

Post by Torence
Without our large Charities, which here in America
is a twentieth century innovation, logistically the current Grand
Lodge System cannot operate. Our large Charities are undoubtedly
evaporating. I wonder if it would be expedient to throw this
particular baby out with the bath water and begin again, or if the
rework is more worthwhile?

The large charities continue. The homes for orphans, windows and the
elderly have been gradually rendered obsolete as those functions have
been taken up by government. Other charities remain.

I suggest that what should be thrown out is the view that 21st century
Masonry will be as 20th century Masonry. The grand lodge system has
been held in common among 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st century Masonry.
Each century did have its own focus and the focus is described
differently by different historians.

Speculative Masonry started as a social group with philospophical
discussion. It evolved through resembling insurance to focusing on
charity. The common element is the bond among brothers and filling the
needs of the next phase of culture.

So what do you see as the next great need in society? I think we should
pick a lot of answers, have a few lodges taken action on one such
answer, and see which lodges thrive.