M.W. Bro. Ralph John Pollard
Honorary Past Grand Master
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Report of Correspondence 1955
To the Most Worshipful, the Grand Lodge of Maine, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons:
The Committee on Foreign Correspondence submits herewith its Annual Report.
FOREWORD.
In our last year's Foreword, we discussed the question of foreign recognitions pretty thoroughly. This year, we would call attention to certain matters of domestic interest.
First of all, we must note the almost universal interest now being shown in the subject of Masonic education. For many years, Masonic leaders have been stressing the need for more adequate educational programs, and certain Grand Lodges, such as Iowa and Massachusetts, have done outstanding pioneer work in this field. Now, however, almost all Grand Lodges are not only awake to the existence of this need, but are actually doing something about it. Old programs are being re-activated and expanded, new programs are being inaugurated, money is being spent, and results are being obtained! Particular emphasis is being placed upon the proper education of the candidate. In our opinion, this activity constitutes the most important and significant development in our present-day Masonic life. It has our enthusiastic and whole-hearted support, and we believe that it will pay rich dividends in the future. We are happy to report that our own Grand Lodge is keeping step with its sister Jurisdictions in this important activity.
We must next note a most unfortunate occurrence, which, however, has an important lesson for us all. One of our sister Grand Lodges has been made party to a $100,000 law suit brought against a lodge, a Temple association, and certain individual Masons by a candidate who claims to have been injured while receiving his Master Mason degree. The difficulty of presenting any adequate defense against such a charge is obvious. This is a striking example of what may well happen to any lodge, in any Jurisdiction, at any time, unless the greatest care is taken
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to prevent it. Needless to say, the danger of such an occurrence is immeasurably increased when levity, horseplay, and excessive roughness are tolerated. Responsible Masonic authorities have always denounced such silly and unmasonic conduct as being incompatible with the solemn and religious nature of our ritualistic work. Now the danger of a possible law suit constitutes an added argument against such practices. The attitude of Grand Lodges is stiffening. There is a growing realization that the one man who is capable of stopping such nonsense at its source is the Worshipful Master; and there is a growing tendency to hold the Worshipful Master strictly responsible for everything that takes place in his lodge. If every Master would do his duty and enforce Grand Lodge policy in his lodge, this problem would soon be solved.
For years, local units of such organizations as the Shrine and the Grotto have frequently brought the good name of the Fraternity into disrepute by indulging in conduct which is contrary alike to Masonic and to civil law. As a result, the relationship existing between these organizations and the sovereign Grand Lodges of this Country has steadily deteriorated, and the continued existence of these organizations has sometimes been placed in jeopardy. F01 a recent instance of this kind, we refer our readers to our current Texas review. The past year, however, has seen a constructive approach to this problem. Bro. Frank S. Land, the distinguished founder of the Order of DeMolay, became Imperial Potentate of the Shrine. As such, his principal endeavor was to improve the relationship existing between that organization and regular Freemasonry. To assist him, he appointed a committee which included some of the most distinguished Masons in the Country. He urged all subordinate units of his organization to observe due decorum at all times, strictly to comply with all Grand Lodge regulations, and to avoid any conduct which might possibly give offense. He also urged individual Shriners to become active n their respective Blue Lodges, and to demonstrate by their actions their interest in basic Masonry and their loyalty to the principles of the Craft. We commend Bro. Land for his efforts, and only hope that his program will be carried on under his successors.
With this report, we complete our first decade of service as writer of the Maine Correspondence Report. It has been a great privilege and pleasure to serve the Grand Lodge in this capacity, and to review the many important happenings of this busy and prosperous period in Masonic history. For us, it has been a richly rewarding experience which has both deepened and broadened our understanding and appreciation of the Fraternity and its world-wide influence for good. We cannot hope that our readers have derived as much pleasure from reading our reports as we have derived from their preparation, but we do hope that our work has proved to be of some interest and value to the brethren.
For the Committee:
RALPH J. POLLARD, P. G. M., Chairman.
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SPECIAL REPORTS.
(a) THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGLISH RECOGNITION.
The United Grand Lodge of England is universally recognized as the Mother Grand Lodge of regular Freemasonry. It is at once the oldest, the largest, and the most influential of Masonic powers, and it certainly enjoys an unquestioned primacy among the Grand Lodges of the world. Together with the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland, it constitutes the very source and fountain-head of all legitimate Freemasonry. It is, in a peculiar manner, the natural conservator of Masonic purity throughout the world, and its opinions as to what does or does not constitute Masonic regularity must, of necessity, be received with the utmost respect by its loyal and legitimate descendants.
In our opinion, recognition by the United Grand Lodge of England constitutes the strongest possible recommendation in favor of any applicant body. Such recognition automatically heals any irregularity in the origin of the body recognized, and confers upon it a Masonic status that cannot be denied. On the other hand, lack of such recognition is, in our opinion, a serious disqualification. The United Grand Lodge of England is not at all illiberal in granting recognition. It recognizes numerous bodies which are not its own legitimate descendants, and it recognizes numerous bodies whose Masonic practices are not identical with its own. When it does refuse to grant recognition, there is always a very good reason for such refusal.
We do not feel obliged to recommend the recognition of every body recognized by the United Grand Lodge of England. Like all the rest of us, it has made mistakes. Its world-wide interests and its system of local treaties and conditional recognitions have resulted in certain commitments which we are not prepared to share. However, we do feel that any body unrecognized by the Mother Grand Lodge constitutes a very poor risk for us. We do not see how any body can be regarded as regular when its regularity is not acknowledged by the very source of all Masonic regularity.
With regret, we note the willingness of certain American Grand Lodges to recognize bodies which are not recognized by the United Grand Lodge of England or by the other Grand Lodges of the Biritish Isles. This willingness we cannot share. We cannot, in conscience, recommend the recognition of any body which does not have the endorsement of that distinguished body from whom our own Masonic regularity is derived. We recognize that the Mother Grand Lodge has unequalled facilities for investigating the claims of applicant bodies, and we do not presume to question her negative decisions. To us, unity and solidarity in the ranks of Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry, which, after all, comprises more than ninety-five per cent of all the Masons in the world, is of infinitely greater importance than the recognition or non-recognition of a few bodies of doubtful regularity and questionable stability.
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The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Maine does not now recognize any body that is not also recognized by the United Grand Lodge of England, the Grand Lodge of Ireland, and the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Your present Chairman would be most unwilling to be responsible for any change in this state of affairs.
(b) THE LATIN AMERICAN PROBLEM.
We sometimes find it very difficult to understand our Latin American brethren; and, in all probability, they sometimes find it equally difficult to understand us! This difficulty in understanding does not result from a mere difference in language or racial temperament, but rather from a profound difference in Masonic background, tradition and philosophy.
Without exception, the Grand Lodges of the United States derive their origin and their philosophy from the original Grand Lodges of the British Isles. Their tradition has been one of close and friendly co-operation with the various branches of the Protestant Church, and of patriotic and loyal devotion to the Constitution and Government of the United States. Their philosophy is essentially and fundamentally religious, being based squarely upon the teachings of the Holy Bible, and involving a positive and unequivocal belief in Almighty God, a recognition of the value and importance of prayer, a belief in the immortality of the Soul, and a rigid adherence to the moral law.
Without exception, the native Grand Bodies in Latin America derive their origin and their philosophy from European Grand Orients or from Supreme Councils of the Scottish Rite, bodies whose basic concept of Masonry is, to say the least, somewhat different from that held by Anglo-American Grand Lodges. Their tradition has has been one of resistance to bitter and relentless ecclesiastical persecution and of violent agitation for social and political reforms. Their philosophy is essentially humanistic and rationalistic. All too often, this rationalistic philosophy has led to irreligious attitudes which are incompatible with the Ancient Landmarks of the Order.
These differences in basic Masonic thinking must never be lost sight of when Latin American problems are being considered. We deeply sympathize with our Latin American brethren in the many peculiar problems which confront them. We fully understand their anti-clerical attitude, and we approve their laudable desire for reform. We are more than willing to make allowances for purely technical irregularities, and to overlook many practices which differ from our own. But we can neither tolerate nor condone the slightest deviation from the immutable Landmarks of the Fraternity. Neither can we countenance any equivocation in regard to the fundamental principles of Masonry. We all know that such deviations have occurred in the past, and we must not blind ourselves to the possibility that such deviations may occur in the future.
Moreover, the revolutionary tendencies so characteristic of Latin American politics have also found their way into Latin American Freemasonry. Hardly a year goes by in which some new rebellion or schism
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in the ranks of the Fraternity is not recorded. Leaders and policies change with bewildering rapidity, and bodies which are well worthy of recognition today may be uterly unworthy of such recognition tomorrow. As a result of this instability and confusion, caution must be our watchword.
(c) THE FRENCH QUESTION.
We have received additional communications from the so-called Grand Lodge of France, a body which was briefly discussed in our 1954 report. This body is apparently very anxious to be recognized by the Grand Lodges of the United States, yet, in the same breath, it not only acknowledges but defends its close fraternal relationship with the Grand Orient of France, a body which is universally regarded by regular Masons as being utterly unmasonic and clandestine.
Masonic recognition is something very different from the diplomatic recognition extended by one national government to another. Such diplomatic recognition merely acknowledges the de facto existence of the government recognized, without in any way indicating approval on the part of the recognizing power. The United States formerly recognized the governments of Hitler and Mussolini, but it certainly did not approve the principles and practices of those governments. At the present time, the United States recognizes the government of the Soviet Union, but it certainly does not approve the political philosophy of Communism! On the other hand, Masonic recognition carries with it the unqualified endorsement of the body granting such recognition, and sets the seal of its official approval upon the principles and practices of the body recognized. It certifies to the Masonic and profane worlds alike that the Masonry taught and practiced by the body recognized is in every way as regular as its own.
This being so, what can be said of those so-called Masonic bodies which recognize the Grand Orient of France as part of the Masonic Fraternity? For nearly eighty years, the Grand Orient of France has lived in open defiance of the Ancient Landmarks. It has repudiated all belief in God and has removed the Holy Bible from its altars. It is a living scandal to the Craft, and a living justification of the charges brought by the traditional enemies of the Fraternity.
In 1878, the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Maine officially denounced the Grand Orient of France as unmasonic and clandestine, and prohibited all fraternal intercourse with that body, with its subordinate lodges, or with the members of its obedience. This is still the law of our Grand Lodge. In 1902, M. W. Josiah H. Drummond held that any body holding Masonic intercourse with the Grand Orient of France was thereby jeopardizing its own Masonic status and forfeiting its claim to recognition by the Grand Lodge of Maine.
Drummond's views are our own. Any body which recognizes the Grand Orient of France must be regarded as approving its principles. Any body approving such principles is unworthy of Masonic recognition.
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Of course, this is somewhat academic as far as France is concerned. Maine recognizes the only regular body in that Country, the National Grand Lodge, and can consider the recognition of no rival body.
(d) COSTA RICA.
With regret, we report that a rebellion has taken place in the ranks of the universally recognized and highly respected Grand Lodge of Costa Rica. On the surface, this appears to have been the result of misguided gersonal ambition, but a careful reading of material issued by the rebel droup indicates that the long-standing feud in the Scottish Rite in Central America may have been a contributing factor.
It all began in May of 1954 when the regularly elected Grand Master, Bro. Carlos Manuel Fernandez Prestinary, was taken sick, and turned over his executive functions to the Deputy Grand Master, Bro. Franciso Jiminez Rodriguez, for the period of his incapacity. When, having recovered, the Grand Master sought to resume the functions of his office, the Deputy refused to step down, claiming that the Grand Master had abdicated for the remainder of the Masonic year and not merely for the duration of his illness. With the assistance of his personal followers and with the support of three, Costa Rican lodges, he proceeded to set up a schismatic Grand Lodge, using the official designation of the regular Grand Lodge, and claiming to be the lawful continuation of that body. The rebellious group managed to secure recognition by the civil authorities and control of the Grand Lodge Post Office box. Legal action was necessary to clarify the situation.
The rebellious group reversed all outstanding expulsions and suspensions, restoring those affected to their Masonic rights and privileges. It claimed that many of these persons had been tyranically expelled for political reasons. Both parties issued exhaustive statements to the Masonic world, setting forth their respective claims.
Naturally, this unfortunate occurrence caused serious concern to all Grand Lodges in fraternal relationship with the Grand Lodge of Costa Rica. Investigations were made by two widely different groups—the Commission on Information for Recognition, set up in connection with the Grand Masters' Conference and the Inter-American Masonic Confederation, with headquarters in Santiago, Chile. Both of these groups decided in favor of the regular officers and against the rebellious faction. As the Grand Lodge of Costa Rica has never affiliated with the Inter-American Confederation, the decision of this group in its favor is highly significant, and indicates that the rebels do not have even Scottish Rite support outside their own Country.
At last accounts, it appears that the regular Grand Lodge has regained control of the situation. Late in 1954, a large number of decrees were issued, expelling many of the rebellious brethren and revoking the charters of the three rebellious lodges.
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For some years, the Grand Lodge of Maine has enjoyed happy fraternal relations with the Grand Lodge of Costa Rica. We do not approve of Masonic revolutions and we congratulate the Grand Lodge of Costa Rica on having overcome its difficulties. For the record, the Grand Lodge recognized by us is the body of which Bro. Enrique Chaves B. is Grand Secretary.
(e) VENEZUELA.
A letter from the Grand Lodge of Venezuela advises us that an irregular Grand Lodge is also operating in that Country, using the same style and title as the established body. Accordingly, the Grand Lodge not only furnishes the Masonic world with a list of its own subordinate lodges but also with a list of the irregular lodges, together with the towns in which they are located. This is just another example of the current epidemic of disunity and schism.
(f) GREECE.
During the past year, the Grand Lodge of Greece sent out a circular letter to all regular Grand Lodges, in which it urged all Masons, with the approval of their Grand Lodges, to use their influence to secure the establishment of Greek sovereignty over the Island of Cyprus.
Of course, this request was most improper. The Cyprus question is definitely political, involving a clash of interests between national governments. Any attempt to involve Masonry in such a discussion is most unfortunate, and is contrary to accepted rules of Masonic propriety.
As might have been expected, this letter met with a decidedly unfavorable reception in the British Isles. It was discussed at the annual Conference of British Grand Lodges at London, and we understand that strong representations have been made to the Grand Lodge of Greece. For instance, the Grand Committee of the Grand Lodge of Scotland has recommended that a strongly worded protest be sent to Greece. The recommended wording seems to indicate that the fraternal relationship existing between Scotland and Greece may be in some danger.
We can only express our regret that the Grand Lodge of Greece, which is perfectly regular and for which we have great respect, should have raised this unfortunate and unprofitable question.
(g) BERLIN-GERMANY
In our 1954 report, we mentioned that a schism had taken place in the ranks of the United Grand Lodge in Berlin, a loose confederation between the Grand Lodge Zu den Alten Pflichten and the Grand Lodge Royal York of Friendship. We can now report that this schism has been healed, but only after grave scandal had been occasioned and after the affair had
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found its way into the civil courts. Apparantly, this schism resulted from Masonic immaturity and misguided personal ambition. One lodge, misled by its Worshipful Master, withdrew from the Grand Lodge, divided itself into three lodges, and set up a schismatic Grand Lodge.
The trouble-making Master, named Weinmann, charged that the regularly elected Grand Master had been a Nazi party member and functionary, a charge which was proved to be untrue. He also claimed that his own lodge had been in exile in Palestine during the Hitler regime, a statement which was without basis in fact. He encouraged his supporters by assuring them that they were about to be recognized by the United Grand Lodge of England, when such recognition was, of course, not even considered by that body.
After the truth became known, and after the case had been aired in the civil courts, the offending lodge finally repudiated its Master and returned to its allegiance to, the Grand Lodge.
At second hand, we hear that the United Grand Lodge in Berlin has voted to merge with the United Grand Lodge of Germany. If geographical obstacles can be overcome, this should be a move in the right direction. However, there still remain two other Grand Lodges in the Berlin area, both long established and both adhering to the strictly Christian doctrine of the old Rite of Strict Observance.
As regards West Germany, we have nothing definite to report. In February, 1954, the Board of General Purposes of the United Grand Lodge of England held another conference with certain German Masonic leaders. To date, no details have been released. We are still awaiting with interest England's action in regard to German Masonry.
(h) ITALY.
Still another rival applicant for recognition has arisen in Italy. This body, like other Italian groups, consists of a closely related Grand Lodge and Supreme Council. One Girolamo Bellavista is listed as Grand Master, and one Antonio J. Fredirico Farina as Grand Commander. This body claims that the Grand Orient of Italy (recognized by the Northern Supreme Council U. S. A.) is irregular because of action taken by international conferences of Supreme Councils in 1912 and 1922. It also holds that the Moroli group at Piazza del Gesu (recognized by the Southern Supreme Council, U. S. A.) is irregular because of Mr. Moroli's personal irregularity and because its organization was not in accordance with the provisions prescribed by the Havana Conference in 1948. Of course, it claims that it, itself, fulfills all requirements.
All of this merely confirms our belief that the whole Italian problem is primarily a Scottish Rite affair. No applicant presents any evidence of legitimate Craft descent. Of course, irregularlity of origin can be technically healed by the action of any admittedly tegular Grand Lodge.
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Thus, both of the leading Italian rivals have been regularized by the action of American Grand Lodges. But, honestly, this does not help us a great deal. We certainly respect the judgment of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, which has recognized one group; but we also respect the judgment of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee, which has recognized the other!
Until this matter is definitely settled by the action of the United Grand Lodge of England, the Grand Lodge of Ireland, and the Grand Lodge of Scotland, we prefer to avoid any entanglements with Italian Masonry.
(i) GUATEMALA.
There has been trouble in Guatemala. Not only has there been a schism, apparently political in background, within the ranks of the Grand Lodge, but that body has also incurred the enmity of the New Government in Guatemala and has been suppressed. Neighboring Jurisdictions have protested to the President of Guatemala and to the United Nations! Until we have more information on this question, we refrain from comment.
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