The Commission on Information for Recognition: 2009 Report
29.05.2009
CONFERENCE OF GRAND MASTERS OF MASONS IN NORTH AMERICA
The Commission on Information for Recognition
2009 Report
AZERBAIJAN
The National Grand Lodge of Azerbaijan was chartered and
constituted on December 8, 2008, by the Grand Lodges of the District of Columbia
and the Grand Lodge of Russia in the City of Baku, Azerbaijan. This Grand Lodge
was formed from a Lodge chartered by the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia
in 2002, a Lodge chartered by the Grand Lodge of Turkey in 2003, and a Lodge
chartered by the Grand Lodge of Russia in 2003. A fourth Lodge was chartered in
2007. The constitution and bylaws are patterned after those of the Grande Loge
Nationale Francaise and of the United Grand Lodge of England. It is the opinion
of the Commission that the National Grand Lodge of Azerbaijan meets the
standards for recognition.
BAJA CALIFORNIA
It was reported last year that a serious split existed in the
Grand Lodge of Baja California. Two sets of Grand Lodge officers were claiming
to be the legitimate officials of this Grand Lodge, and it was clear that more
work had to be done to resolve this problem. At this time, it appeared the
situation had not materially changed. One group of Lodges using the name of Gran
Logia de Estado Baja California has as its Grand Master, Hector Pablo Meixueiro
Corral; and another group using the same name has as its Grand Master, Franco
Magdaleno-Sato. At the request of the Commission, both Grand Masters agreed to
come together with several brethren appointed to act as mediators at the close
of the meeting. Brothers Thomas Jackson of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Jean
Claude Tardivat of the Grande Loge National Francaise (GLNF), and Alan
Englefield of the United Grand Lodge of England agreed to serve in that role. We
are pleased to report that within a matter of hours, an agreement on terms for
unification had been reached and signed by the two Grand Masters. This agreement
reached is patterned after the one established for Paraguay, and is subject to
ratification by their respective Grand Lodges. We commend these brethren for
their willingness to resolve their differences and work for Masonic unity in
Baja California.
BULGARIA
Little progress has been made in unifying Freemasonry in
Bulgaria, as it continues to function under two Grand Lodge structures, namely
the United Grand Lodge of Bulgaria (UGLB) and the Grand Lodge AF&AM of
Bulgaria (GLAFAMB). Last year, the Commission again strongly encouraged the two
Grand Lodges to actively meet and work toward the resolution of their
differences. The services of several impartial mediators were offered to
facilitate the process. These attempts have not been. The UGLB offered to relax
the requirements of the “regularization procedure”, but later rescinded the
offer. Most members of the GLAFAMB are unwilling to be subjected to the
requirements of the procedure as defined. Several options have been offered by
the GLAFAMB, but none are seriously being considered. The UGLB states they
believe the GLAFAMB is irregular and they therefore cannot communicate with
them. After five years of unsuccessfully urging the two organizations to
actively pursue avenues of unification, the Commission will not receive any
additional presentations from either Grand Lodge until there is substantive
evidence of progress in resolving their differences.
MOLDOVA
The Grand Lodge of Moldova submitted a request to the
Commission for formal recognition of their Grand Lodge. The Commission does not
and cannot grant formal recognition to any Grand Lodge; it only makes a
determination as to whether a Grand Lodge meets the standards for recognition,
as established by this Conference. In 2003, the Commission determined that the
Grand Lodge of Moldova did not meet the standards for recognition because they
were not constituted by a Grand Lodge that met the standards. The Regular Grand
Lodge of Italy constituted the Grand Lodge of Moldova in 1999, and the
Commission had previously determined that the Regular Grand Lodge of Italy did
not have legitimacy of origin as defined by our standards. In addition, there is
no evidence that the constituent Lodges from which formed the Grand Lodge of
Moldova was formed had legitimate origins. Even though this Grand Lodge may now
practice regular Masonry, and is recognized by a number regular Grand Lodges in
the world, the Commission has no authority to deviate from the standards
established by this Conference. It is therefore the opinion of the Commission
that the Grand Lodge of Moldova does not meet the standards for recognition.
PARAGUAY
It was reported last year that a split had developed in the
Grand Lodge of Paraguay, in which two Grand Masters, Nemecio Lichi and Ignacio
Mendosa claimed to be the legal authority for the Grand Lodge. Attempts by
various parties during the year to resolve the problem had proved futile. At a
meeting at this Conference, prior to the Commission meeting, representatives
from a number of jurisdictions met with these Grand Masters and members of their
delegations. Among those attending this meeting were Tom Jackson, Executive
Secretary of the World Conference of Masonic Grand Lodges; Jean Claude Tardivat
of the GLNF; Alan Englefield of the United Grand Lodge of England; Diego Delora
of the Grand Lodge of Spain, and Tullion Colacioppio of the Grand Orient of
Brazil. At the conclusion of the meeting, an agreement titled, California
Agreement on the Future of Paraguayan Freemasonry, was signed by those present.
The document contains five points on which they were in full agreement, in order
to bring unity to Freemasonry in Paraguay.
OTHER INFORMATION
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The Commission expresses it sincere gratitude to those
brethren who facilitated the process of reaching agreements in the disputes
presented in the discussions of the Grand Lodges of Baja California and of
Paraguay. Their willingness to work for the best interests for Freemasonry and
for these Grand Lodges is to be commended.
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The United Grand Lodge of England has reported that the
Grand Lodge of Ireland and the Grand Lodge of Scotland have joined together to
consecrate the Grand Lodge of Ghana on December 7 and 8, 2008. This Grand
Lodge was formed from twenty Lodges operating under the Irish Provincial Grand
Lodge in Ghana, and from twenty eight Lodges meeting under the Scottish
District in Ghana.
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It has been reported that two obediences still operate in
Russia. The Grand Lodge of Russia, whose Grand Master is Andrey Bogdanov, has
been determined to meet the standards of recognition. The other organization
is composed of those members and lodges that broke away from the Grand Lodge
of Russia, and after several confusing years, now call themselves the United
Grand Lodge of Russia, and have affiliated themselves with the Grand Lodge of
France. The Grand Lodge of Russia has 251 Master Masons in good standing at
work in eighteen Lodges.
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In the nation of Cyprus, there are now operating lodges
under three Masonic obediences: the United Grand Lodge of England; the Grand
Lodge of Cyprus, which was constituted by the Grand Lodge Greece; and most
recently, another Lodge under the Grand Lodge of Greece. In addition, the
Grand Lodge of Greece has announced intentions to constitute additional Lodges
there. If this occurs, the Grand Lodge of Cyprus has declared it will sever
relations with the Grand Lodge of Greece, its mother Grand Lodge.NOTE:
After this report was distributed, a letter was received from the Deputy Grand
Master of the Grand Lodge of Greece stating that the information given us that
the Grand Lodge of Greece announced intentions to constitute another Lodge in
Cyprus is untrue. It has never announced or had any intentions to constitute
additional Lodges in the republic of Cyprus. The Grand Lodge of Greece
maintains a relationship with the Grand Lodge of Cyprus that is harmonious and
amicable.
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A number of Lodges have been chartered in this country from
foreign Grand Lodges not recognized by our Grand Lodges. The Regular Grand
Lodge of California was chartered in June 2008 by the Regular Grand Lodge of
Nevada, and according to their website, are linked to the Regular Grand Lodge
of England. There are now a number of Co-Masonic and Feminine Grand Lodges
operating in this country. We need to be very diligent in examining dues cards
when accepting visitors to your Lodge, and in determining the legitimacy of a
Lodge you may wish to visit.
The Commission on Information for Recognition
The Conference of Grand Masters of Masons of North America
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