Brethren:

Your Grand Lodge officer team has been busy. As of last weekend we have visited 11 lodges and have been very warmly received. Thanks to all the officers and members who helped make the evenings fun. There are several purposes for a Grand Lodge visitation, not the least of which is a chance for Blue Lodge officers and members to get to know Grand Lodge officers and vice versa. The future of our Masonic jurisdiction here in Utah depends on the relationship between our lodges, between our appendant and concordant bodies and between Grand Lodge and all bodies. Grand Lodge visitations are an integral part of sharing ideas, goals and problems, and I hope you will all get to know your Grand Lodge officers, either during the visit of the Grand Master or during the district officer’s visits to your lodges.

GRAND MASTER’S PULPIT

Brethren, I’m taking the liberty of using this newsletter to bring up matters that I think should be brought to your attention. This newsletter – required reading in your lodges – is an effective method of communication and I approach it as such. Thanks in advance for your indulgence.

The candidate investigation process is one of the most important duties incumbent upon a Blue Lodge because through it, we control the quality of our Fraternity. Quite frankly, some of our lodges are not taking this responsibility seriously. Indeed, because the cry for membership has been so loud in recent years, some lodges have transformed the investigating committee into a welcoming committee – and Brethren, this must stop.

We might all wish we could bring in everyone into our lodges so we can share this positive influence on them. Doing so would ruin our Fraternity because, as you and I both know, not everyone has the high moral character required of a Mason. If our Fraternity is simply a mirror image of society around us, I ask why anyone would feel the need to join. Remember that this Fraternity can benefit all members of society even if some are denied membership. Our charity and community involvement is extensive and its influences are felt far outside of the confines of the Fraternity. Accordingly, I ask that each lodge:

• Assign a three man investigating committee early.
• Assign good men to committee – ones that will take the job seriously.
• Read and follow the suggestions written on the Investigating Committee form.
• Committee members should use all legal means to gain information on the candidate.
• Committee members should interview the first and second line signers of the petition, and make sure they truly have known the individual for the proper amount of time or at least have made an effort to get to know him. (The situation where a Mason meets a potential candidate for the first time and tells him to come back in six months and he’ll sign the petition must stop, if no contact is made in between the six month period).
• Committee members should interview the references listed in the petition.
• No petition should be accepted if the candidate does not answer all the questions, or if the petition is illegible, or if the references and petition signer’s signatures are illegible.
• No petition can be accepted if it doesn’t include the minimum application fee.

Brethren, a negative vote on a candidate for invalid reasons is a serious Masonic offense and we would hope is not done often in our jurisdiction. However, not putting in a negative vote on a candidate when you truly do not think him eligible is also a serious matter. Look well to your ballot and vote for the good of Masonry.

NEWS

I am sad to report that our Grand Historian Jeff (Bubba) Brooks has resigned his GL officer position but I’m happy to note he does so because he was offered a better job in another state. Jeff has been a hard working officer and we’ll miss him and his wife Karen. I am pleased to report that he will be replaced by William Hall, Past Master of Argenta Lodge No. 3 and current Worshipful Master of Uintah Lodge No. 7.

TRESTLEBOARD

April 1, 2, 15, 16, 17: Job’s Daughters Rally (council installation April 16)
April 9: Grand Lodge Workshop in St. George, (also GL Visitation joint with OES)
April 9: LOS Installation, 1 PM, SLMT
April 21-23: Scottish Rite Reunion
April 30: GL Workshop in Ogden – (GL Visitation with Golden Spike and Unity Lodges)
May 6: Grand Lodge Visitation in Provo (Story, Tintic and Damascus Lodges)

DECISIONS

I have reviewed several decisions that have been regularly reiterated by Grand Masters for the past several years. It is my opinion that the same clarifications need to be made on two such matters currently not addressed by our code. I therefore, make the following two decisions:

Decision No. 1: Visiting Grand Jurisdictions recognized by the Grand Lodge of Utah

It is my decision that so long as the Grand Lodge of Utah continues to recognize a particular Grand Lodge, members of Utah Lodges residing in, visiting or affiliating with Lodges under the jurisdiction of that Grand Lodge may sit in those Lodges with persons recognized as Masons by those Jurisdictions although they are not recognized by the Grand Lodge F.&A.M. of Utah.

Decision No. 2: Public Grand Honors to be given when open on the Entered Apprentice or Fellowcraft Degree

It is my decision that if the Grand Master or a Past Grand Master is attending a meeting that is open on the Entered Apprentice Degree or Fellow Craft Degree, Public Grand Honors are to be accorded in lieu of Private Grand Honors. Private Grand Honors are only to be given when the Lodge is open on the Master Mason Degree.

All should take due notice and govern yourselves accordingly.

Sorry for the long newsletter. Hopefully the Worshipful Master of your lodge assigned Laurence Olivier or Richard Burton to read it.

Ridge Gilmour,
Grand Master