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Historic announcement
At first sight, a brief comment about other
Orders outside the Craft and the Royal
Arch by the Grand Master, HRH The
Duke of Kent, at the annual investiture
in April (see p6), may not have seemed
all that significant.
But it was, in fact, a comment of major
importance. As the Duke made clear:
“I am pleased to acknowledge formally their
existence and regularity, and in particular
their sovereignty and independence.”
It was the first time that the United
Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) had
officially made such a pronouncement,
and was a most welcome initiative by the
Grand Master.
As the Grand Master pointed out, the
Preliminary Declaration of the Act of Union
of the two Grand Lodges in December 1813,
stated that it was ‘declared and announced
that pure Antient Masonry consists of three
degrees and no more’, that is to say ‘Entered
Apprentice, the Fellow Craft and the Master
Mason, including the Supreme Order of the
Holy Royal Arch’.
The Duke remarked that this had been
the position for nearly 200 years and would
remain unchanged. Nevertheless, he added,
since many members of the Craft were also
members of these other Orders, there was
a need to say something about their status.
Promoting the Royal Arch
Lord Northampton, addressing Supreme
Grand Chapter in April as First Pro Grand
Principal (p21), announced that he had
received an interim report from the
working party set up to look at recruitment
and retention in the Royal Arch.
This interim report has suggested that
there should be a representative in each
Lodge to promote the Royal Arch to Master
Masons. A final report will be available at the
next convocation in November and will go
to Grand Superintendents for their views
and then be widely distributed thereafter.
The indissoluble link between the Craft
and the Royal Arch would benefit from
such a link, with a designated Lodge officer
explaining to Master Masons the benefits
of joining this excellent Order, giving the
Royal Arch a much higher profile among
recently recruited brethren.
Court ruling
Brethren in the Grand Orient of Italy
are to be congratulated on their victory
against job discrimination against
Freemasons following a decision handed
down by the European Court of Human
Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg (P35).
The case is being carefully considered
by the United Grand Lodge of England
(UGLE), which has kept a vigilant watch
on such attempts at discrimination in
England and Wales.
It is not without significance that, where
a public authority – national or local – in this
country has attempted to discriminate on job
applications solely against Freemasons, such
authorities have never attempted to test their
action in the UK courts.
When challenged by the UGLE, they
have, on legal advice, backed away, as
was one notable challenge, for instance,
made successfully against the Ministry of
Defence. However, it is to be hoped that
the ECHR decision will clarify the situation
beyond doubt.
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Copyright 2002-2007
MQ Magazine
Web site created by Mark Griffin
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