An open letter about
Civic Shriners
Fraternally,
Fred K. Bauer
Grand Master
Subject: Imperial Shrine changes position
Dear Brethren:
It saddens and disappoints me to write and
advise:
1) The Board of Governors of Shrine of North
America has declined to join the Masonic Alliance of North America (new name)
2) The Imperial Potentate, further advised: a) the Civic Membership proposal as
originally announced will be on the "call item" at the Imperial
session in Boston.
b) further, the Imperial Council will support and recommend adoption of this new class of membership
Yesterday, I
attended what was thought to be the formation of a national Masonic Alliance
(as approved by our GL board of Directors for Massachusetts Masons to become an
active part and a member of ) in St. Louis, Missouri. Unfortunately, I could
not fly there until Tuesday morning so
I arrived late at the Marriott Hotel in St. Louis. The meeting started about 8:30 AM. As it was beginning, Ralph Semb
asked if he could
address the group.
Since I wasn't present, I can not tell you what or how he said the above, or
what the rationale (if any) was behind the above statements. The fact is
however, he and the Imperial Shrine officers are now prepared to change the
membership requirements to become a shriner. With that, he said he had to leave
and go (somewhere, I think he may have gone to Washington DC). The large gathering of national and state Masonic
leaders were quite upset with this
change of position.
However, after much "heated
discussion" I'm told, they decided to go forward with the steps to
organize a Masonic Alliance of North America (with or without the shrine). I
will discuss these positive steps at a later time.
Those attending
yesterday were:Grand Master's from: Illinois, Florida, Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Colorado, California, several Deputy Grand Master's,
Senior or Junior Grand Wardens, a representative from Maryland, GM Knights
Templar, Northern & Southern Sovereign Grand Commanders, and Ron Seale
& Bill Sizemore (Southern Jurisdiction), Ralph W. Semb. Imp. Potentate, Ken
Smith, Imp. Chief Rabban, Gary Dunswoody, 1st Ceremonial Master
& Bernard Lemieux Imp Marshal, and Bob Clarke who was the facilitator.
If the civic membership is proposed: it will now be up to the voting delegates of Shrine to send a message to their leadership:
WE (SHRINERS) WILL
NEVER SEPARATE FROM THE MASONIC FRATERNITY!
Fraternally,
Fred K. Bauer
Grand Master