Freemasonry: The Right Course for Life’s Journey February was a very active month for Utah Freemasonry. Of special note was the 100th birthday celebration of Canyon Lodge No. 13 on February 6th. This event was very well attended, complete with a complementary dinner and a slide show documenting the history of Bingham Canyon. Congratulations to the members of Canyon Lodge. Our Lodges were very busy with degree conferrals last month. I am aware of at least three EA degrees, seven FC degrees and two Master Mason degrees. Congratulations to all of our new Masons and to the Brethren who have progressed in their Masonic journey. When Lodges have any degrees scheduled, I recommend that announcements be posted on UMENews@yahoogroups.com and other means of electronic communication to strengthen attendance and support. I had the pleasure of attending the Conference of Grand Masters of North America in Portland, Oregon in February with your Deputy Grand Master Glen Cook, your Senior Grand Warden Loyd Davis and your Grand Secretary Bob McKenzie, PGM. All of us found the experience most rewarding and we have returned with valuable information that will benefit Utah Freemasonry.

Your Grand Lodge team is looking forward to the upcoming Grand Lodge visitations, which will begin later this month. There are several purposes for these visitations, not the least of which is an opportunity for Blue Lodge officers and members to get to know their Grand Lodge officers and vice versa. The success of Utah Freemasonry depends on a cohesive relationship between our Lodges, the Grand Lodge and our appendant and concordant organizations. Grand Lodge visitations are an integral part of sharing ideas, goals and concerns, and I hope you will become acquainted with your Grand Lodge officers during these visitations and at other times throughout the year.

As a reminder, the official Utah Masonic Family Calendar is available for $5.00 from the Grand Lodge office. The proceeds benefit our youth groups. Below is the Grand Lodge visitation schedule for March and April:

• March 30th Uintah #7 & Bonneville #31 (Bountiful Masonic Temple)
• April 14th Unity #18 & Golden Spike #6 joint with Grand Chapter OES (Ogden Masonic Temple)
• April 27th Christopher Diehl #19, Rocky Mountain #11 & St. Andrews #34 (Magna Masonic Temple)

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&AM of Utah.

Decision No. 2 Stations and Places of Constituent Lodge Officers
It is my decision that the stations and places of constituent Lodge officers when in Lodge convened shall emulate the arrangement of the stations and places of their corresponding Grand Lodge counterparts, as during a Grand Lodge Annual Communication or an official Grand Master’s visitation, as illustrated on page 104 in Ceremonies for Use in Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons in Utah, 2002 Revised Edition.

Sincerely & Fraternally,
Dean D. Rein
Grand Master, F&AM of Utah