163rd Grand Lodge of California communications

All Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts please make it a point to join us at the monthly Stated Meeting.  You are now invited and encouraged to attend on the First Tuesday of every month with dinner at 6:30 pm and the Stated Meeting starting about 7:30 pm.


Why?

At the recent Grand Lodge Communication, two important resolutions were passed.  First, Resolution 11-06 which "Restores the historic roll of Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts in Masonry".  This means that the Stated of California now joins the nine other western States in opening the Stated Meetings for the transaction of business on the 1st degree of Masonry.  Up until now, all Stated Meeting business was conducted on the 3rd degree.  This may be an important step to include our Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts in the business of the Lodge.

The Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts are “Masons” but not “Members” of the Lodge until they are raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason.  According to resolution 11-06, and in a clarification letter from the Most Worshipful John Lowe Grand Master of Masons in California,  the Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts will have a voice, but not a vote.

The second Resolution, 11-07, also passed which now requires Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts to pay Lodge dues and therefore, Grand Lodge per capita.

Whether you are for or against these new resolutions, it will be interesting to see what effect this may have on the membership and the progression of our Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts through the degrees.