Tread Carefully

by Midnight Freemasons Contributor
Sir Knight Robert Johnson

Obligations, we all took them. Do you remember them? I do. Sometimes it is a struggle. Recently I found I have some fans of the show from England. This is great, however, she is a member of OWF—that’s right, I said she. So what is OWF? It is the Order of Women's Freemasonry. I took an obligation to never discuss Freemasonry with anyone in a clandestine lodge and under the bylaws, this is a clandestine organization. You all remember that part about not being present in a clandestine lodge, or assisting in the initiating, passing, or raising Masons in such a lodge? So it presents an interesting problem.

I am of course grateful for having any fans at all, so I am always cordial. But unfortunately we have to mind our obligations when these sorts of instances happen. Likewise we have to be mindful of "fake lodges". Recently a listener asked me to do a piece on the "International Free and Accepted Modern Masons" because he was considering joining. I had to inform him that this organization is a for-profit organization, and is in fact clandestine. Apparently they approached him about joining.

More and more these clandestine organizations are popping up and it's up to us to recognize them and report them. They are doing nothing for our brotherhood except making money off of the allurement of our excellent institution.  Tread carefully my Brothers.

All the best,
~SKRJ

Sir Knight Robert Johnson is a Freemason out of the First North-East District of Illinois. He belongs to Waukegan Lodge No. 78. He is also a member of the York Rite bodies Royal Arch, Cryptic Council and Knights Templar. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts a weekly Podcast (internet radio program) Whence Came You? which focuses on topics relating to Freemasonry. In addition, he produces video shorts focusing on driving interest in the Fraternity and writes original Masonic papers from time to time. He is a husband and father of three. He works full time in the safety industry and is also a photographer on the side as well as an avid home brewer. He is also working on two books, one is of a Masonic nature.

1 comment:

  1. Great article,

    Something I hadn't really put much thought into were clandestine lodges. I am however vaguely familiar with the OWF, though I can't recollect the OWF, and thank you for solidifying ULGE constitutions on the whole thing. I have been meaning to ask a Lodge Brother about the protocol for such encounters and now I do not have to. Cheers!

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