A collaborative dialogue by Grand Lodge Members (and others) about Grand Lodge Governance.

GL consists of GL members. Perhaps 1 in 3 Masons is a GL member. Perhaps 1 in 70 GL members is a GL officer.

But some GL officers imply that GL is (only) the GL officers.

GL has the sole power to make & change rules for governing the Craft.

But in some Grand Lodges perhaps only 2% of the GL attend (and almost none speak at) the GL deliberations, which may be limited to those matters that have been preselected, preedited, and preapproved, by privileged, aloof, unaccountable officials; and the GL Minutes (only 10 minutes/year) may be inaccurate and incomplete.


Grand Lodge Members may Ask Themselves:

0. Does GL governance manifest the principles of Freemasonry? Is it meretricious?
1. Are the Minutes of the GL deliberations accurate, complete, and timely?
2. Are proposals from GL members to the GL membership altered by the officials?
3. Do they give fact-based reasons for their determinations and dismissals of proposals?
4. How many GL Members are there in my GL? How many lodge members?
5. How many GL members attend the GL deliberations? How many non-officials speak?
6. Do the officials help or impede the efforts of GL members to participate in governance?
7. Are the officials perceived as trustworthy, helpful, competent, and reasonable?
8. Are the structures, rules, policies, and practices perceived as principled and coherent?
9. Do the system, the culture, and the practices strengthen or disenfranchise the GL?


"we have nothing to hide. The GL publishes its Proceedings every year, disclosing all business transactions." -- R.S.J. Daniels, 2009-10, 2011-02-11

“the government of every GL is completely despotic.” -- History of GL of BC, 1871-1970, p.512

"Our systemic failure to operationalize our rhetoric runs contrary to our values and interests" -- Richard Colvin 2007-10-27, published 2009-12-02


Forum applicants: Please read and respond in detail.