Re: Business on Any Degree
- From: Larry The Mason from Holbrook <larry.the.mason.from.holbrook@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2008 16:48:34 CST
On Sep 1, 4:09 pm, Torence <torence...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Up again for consideration this year at the Illinois Grand Lodge
Session is legislation to permit Local Lodges to conduct their
business meetings on any degree. The idea has been put before the
delegates every other year since I started attending Grand Lodge back
in 1985. What is different this time around is that our Grand
Secretary, Benny Grisham, has authored the two variations on the
theme. In the first change to Code 215, the decision is left to the
Master of the Lodge as to what degree to conduct his stated meeting,
while the second version leaves the decision to be a vote of the
lodge. I favor the second version as I prefer that in all things, any
rights belong to the Local Lodge, while individual Master Masons,
regardless of rank, obtain nothing more than temporal, administrative
privileges.
FYI: The Committee on legislation again speaks against the change.
In their own words they have, ??been presented with prior suggestions
which expand the role of non-Master Masons in Stated Meetings. In some
lodges with larger attendance the difficulty of determining who can
properly vote on an issue may add needless delay to the proceedings.
Further, the concept that an Entered Apprentice may participate in a
discussion but not vote on that issue will inevitably lead again to
attempt to allow non-Master Masons to vote, a proposal previously
rejected. The Committee does not believe that non-Master Masons should
be invited to participate in a discussion, then told they cannot vote.
The Committee believes the right to fully participate in the decision
process of a Lodge rests with its Master Masons. Candidates should be
encouraged to complete their degrees to attain that goal.?
Thoughts?
The second version, to me, seems wasteful and destined to fail.
Unless you rewrite other relevant code regarding voting while the
Lodge is not open. In Oregon, the decision is left to the Master; it /
is/ his Lodge, after all.
Oregon EAs are invited to attend Lodge and are reminded that they will
not be able to vote or ballot on any matter, including those that may
affect them directly, or hold any office because they are not members
of the Lodge; they have not signed the By-Laws nor paid dues. I am
not so naive to assume that none of our FCs or EAs have an issue with
this, but I have not so far heard of any. They are permitted and
encouraged to speak their opinion, however.
The alternative to this legislation change, which occurred several
years ago, is that EAs and FCs do not attend Lodge and their only
exposure to Masonry is assisting the Stewards or attending a public
event. Doesn't seem much of an incentive to me, but I could be wrong.
There are certain times when we must open on the MM for business, such
as when receiving the GM, and so we make our EAs and FCs aware.
Oregon's code doesn't allow us to change degrees, unlike some other
jurisdictions, but we can open a second Lodge while the first is at
refreshment. We'll open on the MM solely to receive the GM and then
close that Lodge and return to labor on the other degree so that EAs
and FCs can benefit from the GM's address.
I hope it's obvious how I would vote on such a matter.
Frats, etc.
Larry
.
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