The Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons for the State of Vermont

General Order No. 1

49 East Road
Barre, VT 05641-5390
Series of 2007-2008 July 1, 2007

To all brethren of the Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons for the State of Vermont.  Pursuant to the authority in me vested by virtue of §206.1(a)(11) of bylaws of the Vermont Masonic Code, I issue this general order for the government of the Craft.

THIS SUMMARY IS TO BE READ TO THE BRETHREN OF EACH SUBORDINATE LODGE AT THE FIRST REGULAR COMMUNICATION FOLLOWING ITS RECEPIT.
(All that is necessary to be read is the following few lines)

Summary

General Order No. 1 contains a list of the Grand Lodge Officers, committee chairmen, decisions and orders of the Grand Master.  This summary is to be read to the Brethren of each Subordinate Lodge at the first regular communication following its receipt.
The entire general order shall be on file in the lodge secretary’s office and it must be made available to any brother upon request.

I
Grand Lodge Officers, District Deputy Grand Masters, Past Grand Masters
And Grand Lodge Committee Appointments

Officers of the Grand Lodge, District Deputy Grand Masters, and Committeemen are appointed as listed in the appendix to this General Order.  They are admonished to conform their conduct and performance of their duties in strict accord with the ancient customs, usages, and landmarks of the fraternity and with the Vermont Masonic Code.

II
Recognition of Freemasons In Sister Grand Jurisdictions

WHEREAS, sister Grand jurisdictions have the right, responsibility and authority to determine those persons whom they recognize as Freemasons within their territorial jurisdictions.
WHREAS, all of the persons recognized as Freemasons by sister Grand jurisdictions may or may not be recognized as Freemasons if within this Grand jurisdiction.
WHEREAS, Freemasons have always been encouraged to participate in the Masonic affairs of sister Grand jurisdictions while sojourning in their realms and to thus enhance the vitality, strength and harmony of Freemasonry wherever practiced.
WHEREAS, Vermont Freemasons should not be compelled to inquire into the regularity of Freemasons who have been determined qualified by sister Grand jurisdictions when they sojourn within their territory.

NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby ORDERED that:

• A Vermont Freemason sojourning in a sister Grand jurisdiction, which has been  recognized by this Grand jurisdiction, may participate in any Masonic communication or activity therein.
• A Vermont Freemason has no burden to inquire into the regularity of Freemasons duly recognized by such sister Grand jurisdictions in order to participate in Masonic meetings and activities.

III
Use of Alcoholic Beverages

The guiding principles of our Craft dictate that we govern our affairs with temperance, harmony and respect.  In order to abide by these principles, it is appropriate to issue guidelines on the use of alcoholic beverages.

• Each Freemason shall, at all times, be circumspect in his use of intoxicating beverages so as not to bring disrepute to himself or to the Craft.
• No Freemason shall consume any alcoholic beverages on lodge premises prior to or during any subordinate lodge communication, session or meeting, without a prior dispensation from the Grand Master.
• No Freemason shall consume any alcoholic beverages while participating in a parade as a Freemason.

IV
Smoking

Smoking is not permitted in the lodge room at any time.  Smoking is restricted to such other rooms of the lodge building as may be lawful under the law of the jurisdiction.

V
Fund Raising

A subordinate lodge may engage in charitable and fraternal fund raising activities provided that such activities are in full compliance with the law of the land.  Further:
1.  Each fund raising activity must contain factual information on its solicitation material disclosing the use of the proceeds.
2.  Every fund raising activity which is not entirely for charity shall prominently state on its solicitation material that “payments are not deductible as charitable contributions.”

VI
Ceremony of Recognition of the Flag

The Ceremony of Recognition of the Flag is a mandatory part of our ritual and floorwork and is to be observed at each regular communication of a subordinate lodge and each special communication of importance.  The ceremony, while simple, shall be impressive and reverent.

VII
Vermont Masonic Code

The Vermont Masonic Code contains provisions governing all Masons, all subordinate lodges and the Grand Lodge in this jurisdiction.  The import of its provisions cannot be overstated and are to be adhered to in all circumstances.  Specific attention should be directed to the provisions relating to the following:  Petitions for the degrees and advancement of a candidate; mentors duties; mandated committees of subordinate lodges; lodge bylaws and their amendments; official correspondence outside this jurisdiction; public processions and display of regalia.

VIII
Ritual and Floorwork

The esoteric ritualistic work of this Grand Lodge is the Webb Work as most recently revised in 1995 and reaffirmed in 2001.  The instructions, provisions and work as published in the Ritual and Floorwork are mandated in this jurisdiction unless otherwise sanctioned or authorized.

 

IX
Dress In Lodges Of Sorrow

It is vitally important to the dignity of lodges of sorrow, Masonic funerals and burial services, and the respect being accorded to the family that all officers be dressed in a manner that will not diminish or detract from the solemnity of the occasion or the memory of the deceased brother.  Therefore, all participating officers are to be dressed in suits and ties, or jackets and ties, as well as aprons and jewels appropriate for the occasion.

X
Prohibited Balloting

The Master should inform the brethren prior to balloting on a petition for the degrees or for affiliation, that they may not cast a negative ballot based upon race, color, creed or national origin, nor out of personal pique or malice.  A brother doing so is guilty of unmasonic conduct.

XI
Uncoded Ritual and Floorwork

At the 1998 annual communication of the Grand Lodge, a resolution was adopted regarding obtaining, using and securing a completely worded Ritual and Floorwork Book.  The provisions of the resolution and the rules published through the Grand Secretary’s Office relating to the same shall be rigorously observed and the security of the Ritual assured.  A copy of the resolution and rules is appended to this general order.
Any violation of that resolution and rules shall be considered unmasonic conduct and subject the offender to Masonic discipline.

XII
Programs of Grand Master Adopted at Annual Communication

I invite your attention to the remarks of your Grand Master to the Annual Communication on June 13, 2007 an excerpt of which is appended hereto.  I further invite your attention to the Masonic License Plate Program and the Scholarship Funding Program.  Information may be obtained from the Grand Secretary’s office.  I direct your effort and support of the goals outlined in these recommendations.

XIII
Reports

All Grand Lodge Officers and committees are to file their annual reports with the Grand Secretary by the tenth day of May.  This will enable the Grand Secretary to make copies thereof for the annual communication Book of Reports.  The Book of Reports is part of the registration packet provided to each member of the Grand Lodge at the time he registers for the annual communication.

Admonition

I am confident that the full import, significance and authority of this General Order will be understood by all brethren of the Craft.

Summary

General Order No. 1 contains a list of the Grand Lodge Officers, committee chairmen, decisions and orders of the Grand Master.

THIS SUMMARY IS TO BE READ TO THE BRETHREN OF EACH SUBORDINATE LODGE AT THE FIRST REGULAR COMMUNICATION FOLLOWING ITS RECEIPT.

The entire General Order shall be on file in the lodge secretary’s office and it must be made available to any brother upon request.

 

                                                                                    _______________________________
Calvin K. Keyler, M.W. Grand Master

 

                                                             ATTEST: 

        _______________________________
Cedric L. Smith, R.W. Grand Secretary

 

APPENDIX A:    Excerpts of the Remarks of the Grand Master Elect on June 13, 2007

“I make the following specific recommendations:

• Encourage Masonic Education within the lodges through the Lodge Education Officer Program.
• Assist lodges in leadership development.
• Encourage long-range planning within the lodges, emphasizing meeting scheduling and budgeting.
• Assist in the rejuvenation of struggling lodges with personal Grand Lodge assistance.
• Make new technology programs available to lodges and offer instruction in their use.
• Continue Vermont’s award winning charity programs.   CARE to assist children at risk and Scholarships for Vermont students.
• Maintain Vermont’s support of the George Washington Memorial, the Masonic Service Association and the Masonic Hospital Visitors Programs.
• Continue the Round Table Program in an effort to foster cooperation between all members of the Masonic family.
• Encourage and support Masonic youth programs such as DeMolay and Rainbow for Girls.
• Continue awards programs for young Masons, Citizen of the Year, membership programs, and lodge trestle boards.

In addition to these recommendations, I propose a new Grand Master’s Membership/ Promotion initiative called:

“The Proud To Be A Mason Program.”

Much like the new Mark Twain Awards Program sponsored by the Masonic Service Association on a national basis, the purpose of this new Vermont initiative will be to encourage more of our brothers to identify themselves as Masons within our communities.   Its objective is to encourage a renewed level of pride in the fraternity and motivate a greater number of our brothers to discover quality men as membership prospects.

It starts with the wearing of Vermont’s new “Proud to be a Mason” pin.  The pin is simple, but universal in design.  It highlights the square and compasses logo and the words “Proud to be a Mason”.  For ages, the square and compasses have been the most recognized logo in existence, but for more than two decades it diminished in recognition, only now experiencing a comeback through movies and television.  We will encourage all brothers to wear this pin, not just at lodge meetings or fraternal events, but more importantly in public places like church, work, recreational events and social gatherings.  If we are truly “Proud to be Masons”, we ought to show this pride to the public and identify ourselves as a fraternity.

Other components to the new program will include:

• A related “Pride” card, made in wallet size and laminated.  The card, which will be distributed to active Masons, will include a statement of why we are “Proud to be masons” and a list of talking points on the benefits of Masonic membership.
• A newly designed “Proud to be a Mason” polo shirt which will be made available to all lodge members.  While customized for individual members and lodges, one standard shirt worn throughout the state will create much greater visual impact to the public.  These shirts, individually embroidered with the brother’s name and lodge, will sell for $25.00 with a portion of the cost as a donation to Masonic Charities of Vermont for the CARE Program.  We encourage lodges to make the shirts available to their members.
• The program will also include a customized “Proud to be a Masonic Lady” pin and a coordinating polo shirt which will be sold by my Lady, Joanne, with proceeds also going to our CARE Charity.
• I will work personally to constitute a new Vermont Lodge called “The Vermont Young Masons Lodge”.  It will meet in host lodges around the state similar to our Lodge of Research, but regular membership will be limited to brothers under 45 years of age.  Associate membership will be available to all brothers.  It will encourage and offer opportunity to young Masons in ritual, education and social enjoyment, but would in no way compete with their involvement in home lodges.  Brother Errol Hinton, our incoming Grand Lecturer, will head the committee to make this project a reality.
• A Masons Market Place section will be added to our Vermont Freemasons website.  Open only to Vermont Freemasons business owners, it will allow Masons to offer special discounts to other Masons.  All promotional ads will be of similar size.  This section will be considered under the category of “Masons helping Masons”.    A section might also list employment availability.
• The month of November has been designated “Vermont Month” at the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia.  To commemorate this event, we will plan a Masonic Education bus trip sometime early in November to visit the Memorial and to hold an Emergent Session of Vermont Grand Lodge.  It is expected that we will visit the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania’s famous building in Philadelphia along the way and visit other historic Masonic sites in Washington, D.C.   Several brothers of Seneca Lodge No. 40 in Milton have agreed to assist in organizing this trip.

Appendix B:  Resolution and Rules pertaining to the Uncoded Ritual

At the 1998 annual communication of the Grand Lodge, the following resolution was adopted.
“RESOLVED, that each secretary of a subordinate lodge, upon written request to the Grand Secretary, and upon execution of a form consenting to the following conditions, shall receive one completely worded Ritual and Floorwork book; and further resolved that:

• It shall be and remain the property of the Grand Lodge of Vermont and shall be immediately returned to the Grand Secretary upon the order of the Grand Master as a result of its improper use or for any other reason he deems masonically proper.
• It shall remain under the exclusive control of the lodge master or secretary in a secure place in the lodge.
• In case there is no secure place in the lodge, it may be secured in the home of the lodge master or secretary,  with special dispensation by the Grand Master.
• It shall be made available to the lodge officers, for use within the lodge room, for the sole purpose of learning the ritual and practicing the floorwork.
• It shall not be available for public use or general perusal.
• It shall not be used for any other purpose without the express written consent of the Grand Master.
• It shall not be reproduced or copied, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in any manner whatsoever.
• Any violation of this resolution shall be considered unmasonic conduct and subject the offender to Masonic discipline.”

In accordance with the action of the members of the Grand Lodge in adopting the foregoing resolution, I issue these rules for the guidance of the lodges and brethren:

• The trustees of the Grand Lodge shall, from time to time, determine the reasonable cost of reproducing a copy of the uncoded Ritual and Floorwork.
• Any lodge requesting an uncoded copy shall send a written request therefore to the Grand Secretary.  The Grand Secretary shall send the form consenting to the conditions of the resolution to the lodge secretary for execution by the master and secretary and he shall inform the lodge secretary of the cost for the uncoded copy.  The lodge secretary shall return the executed consent form and payment to the Grand Secretary
• The District Deputy for the district shall personally deliver the requested uncoded copy to the lodge secretary.  The District Deputy is to satisfy himself that provisions have been made for the security of the uncoded copy and for its use strictly in accordance with the adopted resolution.  The District Deputy shall obtain, annual, the signature of the current custodians (lodge Master and Secretary) attesting their consent to the conditions of the resolution.
• No more than one uncoded copy shall be delivered to, or be in the possession of a lodge.
• The uncoded copy shall be used as a reference book only; it does not replace the coded Ritual and Floorwork book which is presented to each brother upon the completion of the third degree; it does not replace or supersede the mentor system of guidance and instruction of a candidate; it does not lessen the District Deputy’s responsibilities but is an addition to them; and it shall not be used in opening or closing a lodge or in the exemplification of a degree.
• The Grand Secretary shall maintain a record of lodges in possession of an uncoded Ritual and Floorwork book.

 

LIVING PAST GRAND MASTERS    2007-2008

<address and phone numbers redacted>

Welland S. Horn (1979-81) (25) (Esther)

Edward R. Eurich (1981-83) (77)

Richard E. Fletcher (1983-85) (100) (Judy) msana@ix.netcom.com

Cedric L. Smith (1985-87)(58,20)   glsec@vtfreemasons.org

Brian L. Carley (1991-93) (102) (Linda) blcpine@sover.net

Roderick J. Maclay (1993-95) (54) (Cindy)  Roderick.j.Maclay@valley.net

G. Harvey Blackmer (1995-97) (90)

Earl J. Washburn (1999-2001) (85) (Joyce) Jabek1@ludl.tds.net

Theodore G. Corsones (2001-03) (79) (Theane) tedc@corsones.com

Bruce E. Pomeroy (2003-2005) (18) (Beverly)  vtmasonb@verizon.net

John R. Campbell, Jr. (2005-07) (40) (Barbara)  jackpgm@comcast.net

 

Appendix C and D

See list of Grand Lodge Officers and Grand Lodge Committees

 

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