Most Worshipful Grand Lodge - Alaska-mason

recommend that I appoint a committee to investigate the relationship of all concordantand appendant bodies to the Grand Lodge. This proved to be an impossible task asvirtually everyone I approached about serving on the committee bore some ill feelingstowards the SGIG. As a result, the Deputy Grand Master volunteered to approach theproblem in a different way and prepare a report with the results. He will present his reportlater in this session.I will not review the various misdeeds attributed to the SGIG over the years, but willconfine my remarks to the ongoing situation in Juneau. Because of his actions theMasonic family in Juneau has experienced over 3 years of unrest and mistrust. Despitemeetings between Sovereign Grand Commander Ron Seals, Miller, and myself thesituation remained unresolved until the end of October.On October 22, 2008, SGIG Bob Hannon (AZ) and SGIG John Moyers (KY) traveled toJuneau on a fact-finding mission. I requested this fact-finding mission as a way to bringthe focus of the Scottish Rite to what I believed was a very serious problem within thejurisdiction of Alaska. I am happy to say that their mission appears to have been asuccess in that the Juneau Masonic family made some agreements within the Valley ofJuneau and it appears the healing process is progressing.The next stop for our two distinguished visitors was Anchorage for a meeting with theDeputy Grand Master, the Senior Grand Warden and I. During this meeting, the twoSGIGs wanted to know what it would take to settle the issue of my intentions to declarethe Scottish Rite in Alaska as not in amity with the Grand Lodge of Alaska. We discussedSGIG Miller’s role in the problems experienced in Juneau and past wrongs committed byhim. I informed them that I felt that the SGIG viewed himself as being above the GrandMaster. He had shown no respect for the Grand Master or the Office of Grand Master. Ialso told them that I could not allow the SGIG to continue to disrupt the fraternity as hehad done in Anchorage and Juneau. They agreed with me and said that they were meetingwith SGIG Miller that afternoon.Later in the day, I received a call from SGIG Hannon. MWB Hannon informed me thathe and MWB Moyers spoke with SGIG Miller and that Miller would call SGC Seale onthe following Monday and tender his resignation. On Tuesday, I received a letter fromSGIG Seal informing me that Miller had contacted him and tendered his resignationeffective December 15, 2008. Commander Seale said that he had accepted Miller’sresignation. I later found out that Miller had sent Commander Seale an e-mail rather thancalling him as promised. This did happen as scheduled.I take no joy in having solved a problem that has lingered for over three years. It is a sadday when a Grand Master has to use the power of his office to force a brother to resignfrom such a high and honorable office. I hope that this issue is dead and buried.In the case of the Order of the Eastern Star, we again have a situation where theappendant body considers its self above the Grand Lodge of Alaska. About mid-way inmy term as Grand Master, I received word that the Deputy of the Most Worthy Grand5

Matron for Alaska Claudia Ann Jones was going to Kodiak to close the local chapter ofthe OES for failing to hold regular meetings. When asked if she would reconsider thedecision to close the chapter until after this annual communication of the Grand Lodge asa favor to the Grand Master, the Deputy replied “what do I care, the Grand Master did notappoint me.” Afterwards, I contacted the Worthy Grand Matron Barbra Benton with thesame request. The Worthy Grand Matron replied that she must follow Eastern StarRegulations and the decision was final. The Kodiak Chapter of the Eastern Star no longerexists.The state of the craft in the individual lodges is a mixed bag. Lodges in the majorpopulation areas of Anchorage and Fairbanks have been busy throughout the year. Iparticularly single out Tanana # 3, Aurora Lodge #15 and Fairbanks #12 who in the lastyear had a combined total of over 50 degrees conferred with Fairbanks #12 leading thepack as of this writing. I also recognize the efforts of Anchorage Lodge #17, Glacier #10,and Eagle River #13 who put on a total of over 25 degrees between them. Unfortunately,the success stories are not there for our more remote lodges. Seven of these lodges failedto do any degree work at all.I would personally like to thank MWB Henry Dunbar, VWB Jerry Pinion, andWorshipful Brother John Bishop who traveled at their own expense to help the membersof your Grand Line put on a weekend class in Kodiak. As a result, Kodiak now has threenew Master Masons.Ritual work in our lodges is likewise a mixed bag. I have seen some excellent work puton by several lodges with new brothers sitting in the chairs. It is obvious who the lodgesare that hold regular practice sessions and who take great pride in their performances. Tothese lodges (and you know who you are) I say well done and keep up the good work.Good ritual work begets good ritual work.Unfortunately, we did not get to see some lodges do any ritual work. In a couple of casesthere were not enough brothers present to open the lodge. In these cases, my visitconsisted a meeting with the available brothers over dinner.We have dealt with some issues this year that are affecting our peace and harmony. Thelawsuit filed against this Grand Lodge in 2001 continues. It is now in the hands of theAlaska Supreme court and it appears that the opposing counsel may have exhausted hisrelentless requests for production of documents? However, the fact remains that thespecial assessment passed at the last Grand Communication is exhausted and legal feescontinue to add up. Therefore, I once again, assess each lodge ten dollars ( 10.00) foreach Master Mason on their rolls as of January 1, 2009. As in the past, I direct the GrandTreasurer and the Grand Secretary to maintain separate accounting of this money and useonly for legal fees. The financial report is on the schedule for later in this session. I willonly comment that what you will hear in that report is gloomy. The financial fiascoes ofthis last year are affecting our existence as a viable entity. The cost of operations hasincreased dramatically and the revenue has gone down in a same dramatic fashion. You,the individual brother have felt these financial uncertainties in your own life. These same6

uncertainties are amplified in an organization whose income depends on dues,investments, and donations. In order to replace falling revenues I recommend animmediate increase of 5.00 in the Grand Lodge per capita dues.This year I did not put a lot of emphasis on the youth groups or other Masonic bodies. Itis not that I do not believe in them or that I do not support them. I do! However, I felt thatit was better to spend my time and energy on Blue Lodge issues and problems. I did notfeel that I could justify supporting the efforts of concordant or appendant bodies whenthere are lodges in this jurisdiction that are on the verge of failure. One positive note isthat Worshipful Brother Gillilan is now The Executive Officer and the PersonalRepresentative of the Grand Master of the DeMolay.One of my first official acts as Grand Master was to send a letter to the Prince Hall GrandLodge of Alaska and its Jurisdiction, Incorporated, asking to maintain our treaty to sharejurisdiction of the territory and discontinue the limited recognition in favor of fullMasonic recognition. As of this writing, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge has not replied tomy request.One of the major accomplishments this year is the redesigned Grand Lodge Web Page. Ibelieve that those of you who have visited it find it more user friendly. The page containsmore information in addition to calendar and pictures. I would like to thank the DeputyGrand Master Bo Cline who headed up the development project and Worshipful BrotherTad Dean who did the actual development of the page. I say well done to both of them.In addition to my official visits to the lodges of this jurisdiction and the various otherGrand Lodges, I also attended three other conferences and meetings this year. In May, Iattended the Scottish Rite Leadership conference in Seattle, Washington. I wouldstrongly urge any brother who has to opportunity to attend this well planned event to doso.Also in May, I attended the World Conference of Grand Lodges in Washington, DC. Therepresentatives of over 120 Grand Lodges from around the world attended the event.Registration for the event exceeded 400 individuals. While at the conference, the GrandMasters of the Grand Lodges of the United States participated in a wreath layingceremony at the World War II memorial. I had the privilege of laying a wreath at thecolumn honoring Alaska Veterans.In July, I attended the Imperial Shrine in Saint Louis, Missouri. A highlight of this eventwas a Grand Master’s tour of the local Shrine Hospital. An interesting observation aboutthe hospital was the lack of in house patients. When asked about it, the tour guideexplained that hospital policy was to let the patients go as soon as possible. This results inspeedier recoveries and happier patients.7

GRAND MASTER'S EDICTS, ASSESSMENTS, & RECOMMENDATIONSGrand Master's Assessment: I assess each lodge ten dollars ( 10.00) for each MasterMason on their rolls. I direct the Grand Treasurer and the Grand Secretary to maintainseparate accounting of this money and permit it to be used only for legal fees in defenseof civil suit 3SW-04-85 CIV.Recommendation one: I recommend that the per capita authorized by Section 9.04(3)Bylaw of the Alaska Masonic Code be increased by five dollars ( 5.00). The dues paidby the lodges to Grand Lodge for 2008 will be twenty-seven dollars and fifty cents( 27.50) for each Master Mason on its rolls.Grand Master’s 2008 JournalDateFeb 8Feb 9Feb 10Feb 11Feb 12Feb 13Feb 14Feb 15Feb 16Feb 18EventInstalled as Grand Master by MW Brother Joe Dees.Met with all elected and appointed officers. Laid out my agenda for thecoming year and impressed upon all the importance of keeping contactinformation current. Masonic Public Relations Committee Chairmanpresented a brief outline of considerations for conducting a public relationscampaign at the local lodge level.Travelled to Las Vegas, Nevada – Personal time. Drove 105 miles, Flew 2399miles.Granted permission for Alaska Prince Hall Masons to join the AlaskaNational Sojourners.Granted permission for Fairbanks 12 to hold a special election to elect andinstall a JW on the same night.Granted permission for Alaska Masons to wear their regalia in theRendezvous parade.Traveled to Louisville, KY to attend the Western Conference of GrandMasters and the Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in North America.Drove 75 miles Flew 2010 miles.Attended the Western Conference of Grand Masters where I presented a paperon Masonic Ritual.Met with elected Grand Line to discuss the following items.1. Scottish Rite situation in Juneau and the fact that the Valley of Juneauvoted unanimously to support the Double Eagle Corporation (one dissentingvote).2. Changing the SE visit-to-visit Skagway via road and ferry to Juneau.3. Including a recommendation in the Grand Master’s Message aboutrecognizing all Prince Hall Grand Lodges that are recognized by the localPrince Hall Grand Lodge.4. Suspending Cordova’s Charter per Masonic Code Section 15.09.5. Establishing a ritual competition.I met with Sovereign Grand Commander Ron Seals over the schism in Juneauabout the Double Eagle Corporation and the investment of Scottish Rite8

Money therein. Commander Seals has no objection to the building orpurchase of an existing building. His only concern is that the Scottish Rite’sinvestment therein be protected in case the Double Eagle Corporation ends upfailing. He also felt that the Scottish

The formal opening of the Twenty-Eighth Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Alaska was opened by Most Worshipful Jared S. Decker, Grand Master of Masons in Alaska in Ample form. The first through fourth sessions of Grand Lodge were called to order by the following brethren respectively: