The XIV World Conference of Regular Masonic Grand Lodges nov 2015
Pictures one drive from the whole trip to California. https://1drv.ms/u/s!AuwEJ-_opc9zgrZ0uAOIJb9oZWqb2g?e=zRsixh
-This conference is a rare opportunity for Masonic leaders, brothers from all parts of the globe to exchange ideas, build relationships with fraternal families, and unite the fraternity. For California Masons it offers the privilege of representing Golden State Masonry as we welcome brothers from other jurisdictions.
-The Grand Lodge of California, with its headquarters in San Francisco sponsor the conference together with the Grande Lodge of Prince Hall of California and The Grand Lodge of Iran in Exile. They share the territory.
-The California Masonic Memorial Temple , 1111 California Street , is situated at the top of San Francisco’s famous Nob Hill. The building is a highlight Masonry in the state and is home to the Grand Lodge of California administrative offices, the Henry Wilson Coil Library and Museum of Freemasonry, as well as the Masonic Auditorium, an important community resource. Built in the 1950s, the white marble building is heralded as an icon of mid-century, modernist architecture. The auditorium is used for concerts, shows and is well know to community.
-The seven topics complement our conference theme:
-Tools and Implements of the Information Age – Technology and the fraternity
-Quality Versus Quantity – Membership standards in the 21st century
-On the Level? Tolerance in contemporary Masonry
-Legacy of Liberty – Masons and the path to freedom
-Universal Benevolence – The charity of modern Masons
-Family Ties – The relationship with concordant and appendant bodies
-A World-Wide Connection – The role of the World Conference.
– There were 1040 registrations, with 118 delegates, 684 observers, 288 guest,105 Grand Lodges from 58 countries.
– The next world conference will be held in Madagascar in May 2017. tHe Grand Lodge of Madagascar has 12 Lodges and 400 members. A new Grand Lodge that already is calling it self to organize a world conference.
– The conference is for regular Grand Lodges, how ever as observers the Grand Orient independent from Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná e São Paulo were invited. A Grand Lodge from Bulgaria, after paid for over a year the registration fees, and warn three days before do not come, came because it was all set. The GM was not allow to continue to participate and send home. A Grand Lodge from Macedonia also present and registered to present a paper, but cut off minutes before the the event and also send home, because the organization find out they were irregular.
– Almost in every country there more than on group , or more than one Grand Lodge, someone of them share territory , as a unique example the Prince Hall in the USA were they share territory in more than 35 states from the 51. In FRANCE , there 105 GLs, it means all together 105 Grand Master, ( this would be a huge gathering of GM only in France ). They do not visit each other and so they work
– In Brazil, with a huge potential to grow on membership. The De Molay group in Brazil is bigger than the one in USA soil. And the membership is growing steadily.The three main Branches, although there are more than 30 others groups, as Grand Orient of Brasil, State Grand Lodges and Grand Orient Independent. They do not share territory with the prime Group, Grand Orient of Brazil, (except on SP, RJ, MT and ES) but use to have agreements to visit each other, having functions together. And even with written agreements between the grand Orient and state grand Lodges, which are not respected , they do not share officially the territory and therefore can not receive the recognition from the mother Lodge of the World, the United Grand Lodge of England.
-They participate on international events, as this Conference, CMI, Conferencia Maconica Interamericana, but on Brazilian territory they are some how separated. The CMSB, state Grand Lodges, do not invite the Grand Orient , from where they split way (1927)to their annual meetings. Nor the COMAB, (1973)the independent confederation and nor the Grand Orient of Brazil invite them, on the contrary, has recently forbidden and visitation, picture taking, meetings with any of the Independent Orients. On the other hand the State Grand Lodges who support the independent, did not share officially any territory. I call this a paradox. I want, I give support but I do not sign any paper.
– I read and call this also as hypocrisy. One behavior abroad, another at home. It is strange that in our teachings, thr core of our organization, tolerance, truth, relief is not practice between the leaders , which should set an example to the craft. As an example is the lack, a total absence of any meeting trying even to initiate a conversation, instead only rumors and gossips on how each other should behave or even attacks on the personality of officials. And when someone speak out the matter, the advice is that this should be keep hidden. Truth liberate the soul, the organization.
– This world conference was about unity. I hope the result that will come out is more unity between regular grand lodges in the countries where they dwell together, otherwise the so called clandestine groups will flourish faster.
– Even though all this , minor or major issues mostly between leaders, the craft , the members, the brother do not give much attention to this. They mostly are working on their character to become better man and I personally hope that in a near future, new leaders, open minded,will show and follow a new path and leaving behind all the old quarrels.
– And it is also my wish and hope that those new leaders also will be able to lead nations to a path of freedom, peace, harmony, truth, tolerance , not only in words, but in actions.
– I am a happy student of the Masonic principles and still have to learn and that is the reason I participate when ever it is possible on Masonic events.
Why? Because everything is a matter of attitude.
Marcos Hans
Writer, Speaker, Administrator, Personal and Executive Coach ICI Integrated Coaching Institute.
Commercial real estate developer and a Happy professional tourist.
Past Grand Secretary of Foreign Affairs- Grand Lodge of Rio Grande do Sul – Brazil
Grand Representative near Grand Lodge of India.
Past Master,33,MRA,SEM,Kt.Pr., FRC,Shriner, SRCF VII, TOM.
See curriculum. https://www.sejalider.com.br/?p=4243