How GOUSA got its patent from and amity with GOdF

In March, 2008, several members of the Grand Orient of the United States of America traveled to Washington, D.C., for a historic meeting with officials of the Grand Orient de France and other Masonic bodies.

GOUSA's Grand Master Bro. Aaron Peavy, Grand Treasurer Bro. Brian Roper, Grand Orator Bro. Chris Michalek, and Grand Junior Warden Bro. Jeff Peace had several meetings in Washington, DC, with GOdF Grand Secretary of External Affairs Bro. Avelino Valle and Assistant Grand Secretary of External Affairs Bro. Patrice Billaud, along with George Washington Union's Grand Master Bro. Jean-Louis Petit and GOdF's Guarantor of Amity and Worshipful Master of GOdF Lafayette Lodge No. 89 Bro. Jean-Francois Mefort. The officers from the Grand Orient de France presented the GOUSA with a medallion and letter congratulating GOUSA on its formation on behalf of the Grand Master of GOdF, Bro. Jean-Michel Quillardet.

The visiting French and American brethren then sat in a tyled lodge meeting at Lafayette Lodge with members, visitors and visiting officers from the Grand Lodge of Luxembourg, the Feminine Grand Lodge of Belgium, and Le Droit Humain. Afterwards, a pleasant festive board was enjoyed. Later that month the GOUSA's petition to the GOdF was received and accepted unanimously by its Council of the Order.

On June 27, Bro. John Slifko, the new Grand Master of GOUSA, Grand Orator Bro. Chris Michalek, and Bro. Joel Michalek, past master of Halycon Lodge in Ohio, traveled to Paris, France, to meet with GOdF officials. There they were presented with a patent from the Grand Orient de France granting GOUSA permission for use of the Scottish Rite and Modern Rite degrees, along with other lesser known degrees.

While in France, GOUSA representatives also met with officers of the Feminine Grand Lodge of France, the Grand Lodge of France (not to be confused with the Grand Orient of France), the Grand Orient of Spain, and French members of the George Washington Union. Another very festive festive board followed the meeting.

At the meeting, GOdF previewed an article slated for publication in their upcoming official magazine, not only about the new bonds between GOdF and GOUSA, but about how France and the United States have traditionally helped each, such as during world wars as well as during the American Revolution.

On July 4, 2008, the Grand Orient of the United States of America officially announced their new patent and treaty of amity with the Grand Orient de France.

GOUSA has or will soon have lodges in New York City; Washington, DC; Savannah, Georgia; Cleveland, Ohio; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Los Angeles; Phoenix; Atlanta; Mobile, Alabama; Patras, Greece; and Paris, France. Treaties of amity with several grand orients across the globe are pending, and will be announced on the GOUSA website as they are finalized.

GOUSA sees Freemasonry as a secular fraternity dedicated to the brotherhood/sisterhood of all humanity. By secular they do not mean non-spiritual, but rather non-religious, as opposed to "mainstream" American Freemasonry, which has over the years taken on a distinctly sectarian religious character in many parts of the United States.

GOUSA and its constituent lodges have chosen to support through financial donations and personal involvement organizations that are involved in human rights and the pursuit of science and knowledge. These groups include Amnesty International, NOVA, the Nature Conservancy, Free Speech TV, and BOINC, a computer time-sharing system used in many scientific endeavors.

The Grand Lodge of the United States of America's website is at http://grandorientusa.org. The English version of the Grand Orient de France's website is at http://www.godf.org/foreign/uk/index_uk.html.

— By The Widow's Son based on information provided by Bro. Jeff Peace, August 13, 2008

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The Grand Orient of the United States: Facts & Fictions

The Grand Orient of the United States: Facts & Fictions by Bro. Jeff Peace

There are many facts and fictions floating around the Internet regarding the new Grand Orient of the United States. Unfortunately, some brothers are simply striking out in fear against the new Masonic body because of what they read somewhere on the Internet. Others are simply speculating and drawing wild conclusions based on bits and pieces of information. I thought it would be helpful to provide some factual answers to the many questions being asked.

The Grand Orient of the United States is a part of the Traditional Cosmopolitan Masonic movement that began in Europe in the eighteenth century. It shares many things in common with Anglo-American Freemasonry but there are also significant differences between the two. Both forms of Freemasonry evolved out of the speculative Masonic movement that began in London, England in 1717.

Many Masons want to argue over which system mostly closely represents the original Freemasonry established in 1717. The answer to this question has eluded historians for almost two centuries because there is so little evidence available. Good arguments can be made for both sides but neither possesses enough evidence to convince modern university historians.

Others want to argue about whose Masonry is best. I think a better question to ask might be “which Masonry is best for whom?” It’s a similar case with Democrats and Republicans; people tend to side with the party that bests reflects their own ideas of what’s best. Unfortunately, American Masons haven’t had an alternative masculine Masonic obedience up until now.

The primary differences between Traditional Cosmopolitan and Anglo-American Freemasonry can best be summed-up in their perspective of the institution of Freemasonry itself. The Anglo-American Masons view Freemasonry as a religiously oriented fraternity dedicated to brotherly love, relief and truth. The Anglo-American Mason Albert Pike once stated that it was “the handmaid of religion.” The Traditional Cosmopolitan Masons perceive Freemasonry as a secular but spiritual fraternity dedicated to the Enlightenment principles of human liberty and equality resulting in the universal brotherhood of all mankind. This is expressed in their motto: “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.”

The oaths and obligation of the two groups are quite different as well. The Anglo-American tradition is to swear allegiance to the Grand Lodge and agree to its various rules. The Traditional Cosmopolitans are obligated to preserve human liberty and equality while striving for the universal brotherhood of mankind.

There are organizational differences between the two groups as well. The Anglo-American system is based on the election of a benevolent dictator (the Grand Master) who oversees the Craft for a specific term. The Lodges are represented at the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge and pass laws for the benefit of the Craft.

The Traditional Cosmopolitan system is governed by an Executive Board consisting of the Grand Officers. The Grand Master is the Chairman of the Board but cannot act without consensus of the Board. The Executive Board is elected by the Lodges to serve for specific terms (usually 1 or 2 years). The Lodges convene once a year to pass laws for the benefit of the Craft. There is also a “Supreme Court” in the Traditional Cosmopolitan system that has the power to pass judgments on Constitutional issues and to hear appeals related to Masonic trials.

Ritual-wise the Anglo-American system in America primarily utilizes various forms of the Preston-Webb ritual with a small number of lodges (less than 20) that utilize various forms of the Scottish Rite. The Traditional Cosmopolitan system practices a wide variety of rituals including the Modern Rite, Scottish Rite, and Emulation, just to name a few. All are held to together by an agreed upon universal recognition system.

The Anglo-American Masonic system is engaged in various charities and community projects. The Traditional Cosmopolitan system is engaged in human rights, environmental sustainability, scientific advancement, and issues that relate to freedom of speech and the press.

In regards to Masonic education the Anglo-American system utilizes a system of Research Lodges and their publications. In the Traditional Cosmopolitan system each lodge is a “research lodge” and all members are required to write both proficiency and research papers as a condition of membership.

The Anglo-American system does not recognize women as legitimate Freemasons. The Traditional Cosmopolitan system recognizes women as legitimate Freemasons and is divided into three distinct groupings: Masculine, Mixed-Gender, and Feminine. Each group is represented by its own Grand body and all are recognized and in amity with one another.

Thus far I have tried to cover the differences between the two systems to foster a better understanding of the differences between the two systems. Now, I would like to focus specifically on the Grand Orient of the United States.

The Grand Orient of the United States was started by progressive Anglo-American Masons that had many ideological and moral objections to the Anglo-American Masonic institution. They found themselves more ideologically and philosophically aligned with the Traditional Cosmopolitan system of the Grand Orient of France. After forming a new Grand Orient they approached the Grand Orient of France for recognition and a treaty of amity. This was granted on June 27, 2008, and the Grand Orient of France gave them Patents for the various Rites and degrees of Traditional Cosmopolitan Freemasonry.

The Grand Orients of France and the United States are masculine Masonic obediences that initiate men into Freemasonry, but their lodges are open to both men and women from both mixed-gender and feminine lodges. This is a reflection not only of their progressive nature, but of their commitment to equality among all human beings. It also recognizes the need for people to be able to form groups (lodges) based on their own social needs.

The Grand Orient of the United States is still in its infancy and is a small organization when compared with its Anglo-American counterparts, but it is becoming actively engaged in the community and the world. Its members are discovering ways by which they can contribute to the betterment of humanity around the globe. Some examples of this include participating in the BOINC computer sharing project sponsored by the university at Berkeley and the National Science Foundation, along with support for NOVA, Amnesty International, the Nature Conservancy, and LinkTV. These organizations reflect the ideology and philosophy of the Grand Orient, and were selected by its lodges.

Obviously the new organization won’t be contributing a million dollars to any of these organizations this year, but these organizations need the help and support of people who believe in what they are trying to accomplish. By helping them the Grand Orient furthers the cause of Universal Masonry.

Some have accused the Grand Orient of being overly secular or atheistic. This simply isn’t true. While every member is afforded absolute freedom of conscience as it relates to religious and spiritual matters, this is not indicative of the promotion of atheism. The Grand Orient is open to men regardless of their beliefs about god and religion so long as they are good moral men. It focuses on the character of the man, not his personal beliefs. The vast majority of Grand Orient Masons are religious men but they exercise tolerance in not judging the beliefs of others.

In conclusion, American Masons now have the ability to choose a form of Freemasonry that most closely indentifies with their own personal values. Both systems were born out of the same speculative Freemasonry than began in 1717, and both seek to better the individual as well as society. Neither system is perfect nor will it ever be, but both strive for perfection. The future of American Masonry will be built through diversity, tolerance and understanding. It is much like America itself with a growing diversity of cultures and people all working together to form one great union.

— Jeff Peace

Masons | Masonic Trial | Grand Orient of the United States of America | Freemasonry | Jeff Peace | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

For what it's worth

There's battle lines being drawn,
And nobody's right if everybody's wrong.
Young people speaking their minds,
And getting so much resistance from behind.

It's time we stop, hey what's that sound,
Everybody look what's going down.

What a field day for the heat,
A thousand people in the street.
Singing songs and a carrying signs,
Mostly saying hooray for our side.

— excerpted from Stephen Stills' For What It's Worth


I'm frankly disgusted, but not surprised, at the free-for-all that has developed between so-called "brothers" in the comments sections of at least three recent articles on The Burning Taper.

A small army of mainstream grand-lodge-right-or-wrong supporters have descended on this blog like a horde of the Wicked Witch's flying monkeys. The breakaway brothers, in some cases, have responded to the attacks upon themselves and their recent actions with equally caustic comments. No one, including the inaptly named "Objective," has really been objective. Everyone's been pushing their own "party line."

I'm hard-pressed to find even one comment out of some 300 or more so far that is becoming of a Mason. Even in my own most critical of articles over the past two years, I don't think I've come close to the negative, ad hominem diatribes, rants and pontifications many of you have been writing. You've degenerated into chimpanzees, chattering inanely while trying to mark your territories by throwing pieces of shit at each other.

Bro. Arthur Peterson of North Carolina has just drawn a line in the sand against Bro. Brad Cofield of California. If they didn't live on opposite coasts, 2,900 miles apart, they'd probably be duking it out at a local lodge hall.

Bro. Peterson:

"You asked if I would chose Br. Peterson as a mason given the choice, and of course the answer is yes."

Hhhhmmm, Gotta problem with me Brad Cofield?

If you care to address your concerns about me with me personally, like a man would do, I am here.

I stopped posting to blogs, but for you I will make an exception.

So tell me Brad, what is the problem with me?

Fair warning though, I will not handle you with kid gloves. Others have been very patient with you. Some see you as a misguided child. I do not, and won't treat you as such. So, if you care to discuss personality traits, lets do it.

Br. Arthur Peterson

The levels of anger and self-righteousness coming from the entrenched majority old-school blue lodgers is amazing. I haven't seen anything like it before, not even the evening my own lodge went bananas back in early 2005 when I, as Director of Masonic Education, gave a lecture that mentioned our Grand Lodge's rules that sectarian religion shouldn't be discussed in a tyled lodge.

Then, I had gently reminded my brothers that we weren't supposed to be talking about or praying to Jesus in lodge meetings — according to Masonic law and tradition — and a bucket of rattlesnakes was turned over.

Here and now, brothers are up in arms over the fact that other Masons have made unilateral decisions — to start new lodges or grand lodges, or to break away from the established grand lodge system to practice what they see as Freemasonry. A dozen or so of mainstream Masonry's Online Spin Doctors have put themselves on the front lines, 24/7, it seems, to fight for their Lofty Ideals against the Masonic Malcontents.

And the Masonic Malcontents, pressed to the wall by the Spinners' shouts of "unmasonic!," "oath-breaker!," "Goofus!" "thieves!", and "you're no longer my brother!", have fought back, and not necessarily as gentlemen, either.

Even as I write this, another dozen or so comments have appeared on those three articles — none of them especially germane to the original points of the articles. Just more "my Masonry is better than your Masonry" stuff.

Ordinarily, I'd enjoy the attention the Taper is getting. Readership and comments are what makes a blog interesting. The stats programs show readership has nearly doubled in the past few weeks. I assume many brethren have been coming here to learn the latest news about Halcyon and Euclid Lodges and about the new Grand Orient of the United States of America.

It's a shame that now all these new visitors are seeing is the ongoing, same-ol' same ol' bickering of a dozen or so so-called practitioners of Brotherly Love — from both sides.

Disagreement is healthy, and I've encouraged it here since Day One. Masons disagree all the time, about life, the universe, and even Masonry. But we're to do it civilly.

During the Civil War, Masons from both sides of the fight put down their weapons and conversed with each other in brotherly fashion, even if just for a while. I'm sure they acted a damn sight more civil to each other than Masons have here (and on many other forums and blogs) lately.

The Masonic world is watching.

Take a break. Go file charges against yourself for being unmasonic. Or at least spend a few hours in your chamber of reflection. Imagine yourself in your "enemy's" apron. Can you at all understand his point of view? Can you at all understand why he believes the way he does?

Two months ago I wrote that I had become Master of my own lodge. Today I'm promoting myself, to Grand Master of this blog.

EDICT #1
December 4, 2007

• You will at all times while on this site behave as ladies and gentlemen. If you have a difference of opinion with someone, please express it, but express it with style, substance and grace, not ad hominem attacks or "fighting words." And once you've made your point, move on. Constantly repeating yourselves reminds me of a bunch of clucking old hens.


• Any use of the word "unmasonic" in any of its forms, or similar word(s), or the accusation against a brother Mason of having broken his oath, shall be accompanied by a copy of charges of said unmasonic conduct you have filed with the Secretary or Junior Warden of the accused brother's lodge. Accusation without formal charges is a Masonic offense.


• Lighten up.

The comments section of The Burning Taper will be closed for approximately 24 hours (until around 6 pm ET, Wednesday, Dec. 5). Please use this time to go stand in the corner and think about what you've done.


WE ARE NOT HELPLESS

We are not helpless, we are men
What lies between us
It can be set aside and ended
Ev'ryday we learn more how to hate
Shut the door
And then we tell ourselves we can relate
Only to the ones who are the same
Yet even they are diff'rent
And ever so they shall remain

All are strangers, all are friends
All are brothers, brothers
Open up, my friend, and learn to hear
For even lying
When it has nothing you should fear
If you cannot let yourself be known
By anyone
Then you are hiding and not whole

All are strangers, all are friends
All are brothers, brothers
We, your children, we would ask you all
Please do not hide your eyes
And listen when we call
We will whisper, shout or make a scene
We are the answer
For we can live the peace we dream

All are strangers, all are friends
All are brothers, oh yeah, oh yeah
Yes, America's children
Are askin' ev'rybody some questions about how it is
Yes, America's children
Are makin' it hard to look them in the eyes
America's children
Are makin' it hard to live lies, you know, whoa, it is
And America's children

Are diggin' that ev'rywhere children
Are diggin' we live on the earth
We live on the earth, we live on the earth right now
Yes, and it's right on, children of the earth, and it's right on
Children of the earth, and it's right on
Children of the earth and it's right on, right on, yeah

This is what has made our nation free
For life is change
And only blind men cannot see
The new order is upon us now
It is the children
They have the wisdom to be free
All are strangers, all are friends
All are brothers

— by Stephen Stills

Image: Carp food

Masons | Masonic Infighting | Internet Freemasonry | Freemasonry | Grand Lodge Edicts | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

Grand Orient of the United States of America announced

On Sunday evening the website of the United Grand Lodge of America was updated to reflect a new status, a new focus, and a new order of amity with worldwide Freemasonry.

The UGLA is now officially the Grand Orient of the United States of America. After months of discussion, the organization is now in amity with the Grand Orient de France and through them, with George Washington Union and Freemasons across the world.

The Grand Orient de France is the largest Masonic organization in France, and was formed in 1733. It was the only Masonic Order in France until the end of the 19th century. Its members outnumber all other French grand lodges combined.

The new Grand Orient of the United States of America's website says:

LIBERTY — FRATERNITY — EQUALITY

The Grand Orient of the United States of America is a continuation of the Masonic traditions began by brothers such as Benjamin Franklin and the Marquis De Lafayette. Our lineage can be traced back through the Grand Orient of France to the original speculative Grand Lodge of London that was established in 1717. These traditions and ideas are at the very core of Enlightenment thinking that eventually resulted in the freedoms enjoyed by every American today.

We hold true to these beliefs:

• That every man is endowed with certain inalienable rights
• That peace and harmony among human beings is only possible where there exists a separation between church and state
• That absolute freedom of conscience is an essential element in the pursuit of happiness among all peoples
• That all human beings are created equal and that equality is fundamental to democracy and freedom

What is today the Grand Orient of the United States of America began on December 27th, 2005; several lodges declared their independence from the 'Antient' Masonic system and formed a confederation of sovereign lodges under the banner of United Grand Lodge of America. In so doing, they sought to restore Modern Free-Masonry to the American continent and return to the traditional Enlightenment and cosmopolitan ideals expressed in the original Craft. This event allowed the original streams of Masonic thought still existing in Europe to once again flow freely into lodges in America.

In November of 2007, several more lodges declared their independence from the 'Antient' Masonic system and the Council of the Order was convened to formalize our relationship with our brethren in France and throughout Europe. The Council voted unanimously to change the name of the United Grand Lodge of America to the Grand Orient of the United States of America to better and more precisely identify it with the existing currents of Modern Free-Masonry throughout the world.

The Grand Orient of the United States of America is a masculine Masonic obedience that works together with the mixed-gender obedience lodges operating under George Washington Union throughout the United States. Together, these two systems represent the most liberal and progressive form of Freemasonry in America, which is open to all people regardless of race, creed, or sex.

Our aim is the brotherhood of all humanity through a universal chain of union extending around the globe. If you are already with us in spirit then you are welcome to join with us in Masonic lodges throughout the world.

Masons | United Grand Lodge of America | Grand Orient of the United States of America | Grand Orient de France | Freemasonry | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com