EDICT ISSUED BY GRAND MASTER of KENTUCKY

Peter Taylor · Mon 27th Jul 2009, 09:27

EDICT ISSUED BY GRAND MASTER
The following Edict has been issued by Grand Master, Herman M. Forrester;
23rd June 2009

That no negative reference is to bemade by any officer or member of any lodge chartered under the constitution of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, F.&A.M. in reference to a petitioner’s faith, creed or race at any time in the conferral of the Degrees—i.e. lectures, obligation, by proficiency lecturers, etc.—or during any lodge Communication.

Further, it is the responsibility of the Master of each lodge constituted under the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, F.&A.M. to insure strict compliance with this edict, and, further, have it read by the lodge Secretary at the following three Stated Communication of the lodge following its reception.

http://www.grandlodgeofkentucky.org/...AUG2009WEB.pdf

Althaeus · Mon 27th Jul 2009, 09:39

This is a very encouraging thing to see. I'm only sorry that it was necessary for the Grandmaster to have to make such an edict. If you click on the link Brother Taylor has provided, and read the whole thing (it's on the third page,) you'll get to see just how beautifully worded it is! Excellently done, Most Worshipful Brother Forrester!

Fire Mist · Tue 28th Jul 2009, 00:03

I shudder to think of what happened to make such a statement necessary.

LetterandHalveIt · Tue 28th Jul 2009, 04:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire Mist

I shudder to think of what happened to make such a statement necessary.

Thats really what i was thinking as well. What words could have been uttered or actions taken by a Brother or Brethren under the jurisdiction of of the GL of Kentucky that made it necessary for the GM to issue such a strong statement? A very elegant and eloquent and forcefully written statement, but clearly Kentucky's GM was, as we say in my family, so mad he was spitting nails. This reminded me of junior high school when a couple of kids would do something and there would be a half hour address over the PA from the principal during homeroom

Peter Taylor · Tue 28th Jul 2009, 09:42

A Lodge in Kentucky Initiated the first two African American F&AM Master Masons in the history of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky in 2007. For the next year or so there was a lot of noise about it all over Kentucky, some good and some terrible. At that time some felt there was little support from the GM.

This year another KY Lodge admitted another African American.

As soon as someone said something derogatory about it, this years GM went to their Lodge and set them straight. Apparently, he has actually taken action against members who were making these remarks. He has been in 'FULL SUPPORT' of this situation and in full support of Kentucky Masonry all year.

This EDICT is the culmination of his efforts on the subject....and hopefully the end of any controversy in Kentucky concerning this matter.

Althaeus · Tue 28th Jul 2009, 22:44

Well, I'll be raising a

to MWB Forrester then! Hopefully this will be the beginnings of a change. Perhaps we'll get lucky and it'll have something of a fall out effect on the blashphemous situation in Georgia, but one can only hope so much. This is absolutely excellent news, and I'm over the moon with it. Maybe this'll be the start to PHA recognition down there.

LetterandHalveIt · Wed 29th Jul 2009, 04:27

I have to agree with the gentle Brother from Illinois. Some change is so strong, so ground shaking that it fails at the bottom and has to come tumbling down from the top of the mountain.

Althaeus · Wed 29th Jul 2009, 17:41

You are a man of very wise words, my Land of Lincoln brother. We'll get them one day.

Check your PM's!

Loewenstein · Wed 27th Jan 2010, 17:40

Being a German brother, it is really strange to learn that such an edict was necessary. We have a passage in our ritual (!) that says that it is strictly forbidden to ask for the candidate's faith, creed, or political party or opinion.
Ideed there are brethren of my lodge of whom I do not know their religion - if any …

dgmac · Tue 9th Feb 2010, 00:57

I am indeed sorry that the Grand Master of KY felt it necessary to issue such an edict. As Freemasons we sould never let our Interests , Passions or Prejudices go beyound the boundary circumscribed by the Compasses intrusted to us.

Mon 27th Jul 2009, 09:27	#1
Peter Taylor Admistrator Over-the-Edge NOS-er Join Date: 22nd Jan 2007 Location: Dundee, Scotland Age: 54 Posts: 5,433 Rep Power: 20	EDICT ISSUED BY GRAND MASTER of KENTUCKY EDICT ISSUED BY GRAND MASTER The following Edict has been issued by Grand Master, Herman M. Forrester; 23rd June 2009 That no negative reference is to bemade by any officer or member of any lodge chartered under the constitution of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, F.&A.M. in reference to a petitioner’s faith, creed or race at any time in the conferral of the Degrees—i.e. lectures, obligation, by proficiency lecturers, etc.—or during any lodge Communication. Further, it is the responsibility of the Master of each lodge constituted under the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, F.&A.M. to insure strict compliance with this edict, and, further, have it read by the lodge Secretary at the following three Stated Communication of the lodge following its reception. http://www.grandlodgeofkentucky.org/...AUG2009WEB.pdf __________________ Regards, Peter My Memberships

Mon 27th Jul 2009, 09:39	#2
Althaeus NOS Member Novice NOS-er Join Date: 19th Dec 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 97 Rep Power: 25	Re: EDICT ISSUED BY GRAND MASTER of KENTUCKY This is a very encouraging thing to see. I'm only sorry that it was necessary for the Grandmaster to have to make such an edict. If you click on the link Brother Taylor has provided, and read the whole thing (it's on the third page,) you'll get to see just how beautifully worded it is! Excellently done, Most Worshipful Brother Forrester! __________________ "So when you need me there just call When your back's against the wall I'll never let you fall And I'll believe in you." - Cock Sparrer

Tue 28th Jul 2009, 00:03	#3
Fire Mist Moderator Super NOS-er Join Date: 6th Apr 2008 Location: Columbus, OH Age: 47 Posts: 701 Rep Power: 50	Re: EDICT ISSUED BY GRAND MASTER of KENTUCKY I shudder to think of what happened to make such a statement necessary. __________________ --Bro. Darylee, 3°; a woman in Ohio,USA. "The key to wisdom is this -- constant and frequent questioning ...for by doubting we are led to question and by questioning we arrive at the truth." Peter Abelard My posts are my personal opinions. The Opinons expressed herein don't represent the opinions of my Lodge, Grandlodge or any other masonic jurisdiction. http://www.co-masonry.org/

Tue 28th Jul 2009, 09:42	#5
Peter Taylor Admistrator Over-the-Edge NOS-er Join Date: 22nd Jan 2007 Location: Dundee, Scotland Age: 54 Posts: 5,433 Rep Power: 20	Re: EDICT ISSUED BY GRAND MASTER of KENTUCKY A Lodge in Kentucky Initiated the first two African American F&AM Master Masons in the history of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky in 2007. For the next year or so there was a lot of noise about it all over Kentucky, some good and some terrible. At that time some felt there was little support from the GM. This year another KY Lodge admitted another African American. As soon as someone said something derogatory about it, this years GM went to their Lodge and set them straight. Apparently, he has actually taken action against members who were making these remarks. He has been in 'FULL SUPPORT' of this situation and in full support of Kentucky Masonry all year. This EDICT is the culmination of his efforts on the subject....and hopefully the end of any controversy in Kentucky concerning this matter. __________________ Regards, Peter My Memberships

Tue 28th Jul 2009, 22:44	#6
Althaeus NOS Member Novice NOS-er Join Date: 19th Dec 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 97 Rep Power: 25	Re: EDICT ISSUED BY GRAND MASTER of KENTUCKY Well, I'll be raising a to MWB Forrester then! Hopefully this will be the beginnings of a change. Perhaps we'll get lucky and it'll have something of a fall out effect on the blashphemous situation in Georgia, but one can only hope so much. This is absolutely excellent news, and I'm over the moon with it. Maybe this'll be the start to PHA recognition down there. __________________ "So when you need me there just call When your back's against the wall I'll never let you fall And I'll believe in you." - Cock Sparrer

Wed 29th Jul 2009, 04:27	#7
LetterandHalveIt NOS Member Super NOS-er Join Date: 18th Dec 2008 Location: USA Posts: 604 Rep Power: 47	Re: EDICT ISSUED BY GRAND MASTER of KENTUCKY I have to agree with the gentle Brother from Illinois. Some change is so strong, so ground shaking that it fails at the bottom and has to come tumbling down from the top of the mountain. __________________ ---------------- "The world as it is, Brethren, is as it were but one great lodge of initiation, of which our Masonic Lodges are little mirrors. Mother Earth is the Mother-Lodge of us all. As its vast work goes on, souls are ever descending into it and souls are being called out of it at the knocks of some great unseen Warden of life and death, who calls them here for labor and summons them hence for refreshment."

Wed 29th Jul 2009, 17:41	#8
Althaeus NOS Member Novice NOS-er Join Date: 19th Dec 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 97 Rep Power: 25	Re: EDICT ISSUED BY GRAND MASTER of KENTUCKY You are a man of very wise words, my Land of Lincoln brother. We'll get them one day. Check your PM's! __________________ "So when you need me there just call When your back's against the wall I'll never let you fall And I'll believe in you." - Cock Sparrer

Wed 27th Jan 2010, 17:40	#9
Loewenstein Master Mason Engaged NOS-er! Join Date: 31st Jan 2008 Location: Germany Age: 55 Posts: 185 Rep Power: 38	Re: EDICT ISSUED BY GRAND MASTER of KENTUCKY Being a German brother, it is really strange to learn that such an edict was necessary. We have a passage in our ritual (!) that says that it is strictly forbidden to ask for the candidate's faith, creed, or political party or opinion. Ideed there are brethren of my lodge of whom I do not know their religion - if any … __________________ my personal disclaimer: if you don't understand anything or think that I write nonsense, first consider whether it might be because I am someone trying to say something serious in a language which is not his mother tongue. Please feel free to correct my English whenever it is necessary!

Tue 9th Feb 2010, 00:57	#10
dgmac Master Mason and NOS' Beloved Curmudgeon Emeritus Super NOS-er Join Date: 6th Jul 2008 Location: Gilbert, Arizona Posts: 620 Rep Power: 57	Re: EDICT ISSUED BY GRAND MASTER of KENTUCKY I am indeed sorry that the Grand Master of KY felt it necessary to issue such an edict. As Freemasons we sould never let our Interests , Passions or Prejudices go beyound the boundary circumscribed by the Compasses intrusted to us. __________________ Brother Mac KTCH Companion Knight of York "The York Rite - Making Good Masons Better Masons"

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