Want to Buy a Rolex?

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB. Gregory J. Knott

I was visiting the famed Silk Market in Bejing, China a few years ago and ran across a booth that was full of watches.   Being a watch collector, I took an interest in what was being sold. I was amazed to see so many Rolex, Omega, Breitling, etc.   All of these were very high quality brand names that sell for several thousand dollars in American jewelry stores.   But it was my lucky day; the vendor told me I could have a brand new Rolex for only $50.   Wow, I must have won the lottery to have been so fortunate to find someone to sell me such a fine quality time piece.

In examining the watch, it said Rolex, was gold in color and had a box with papers that all said Rolex.  It must be real deal correct?   So being the concerned consumer, I asked how the vendor came across such a “fine” time piece and was able to offer it for only $50.  “It’s made right here in China”, he told me.  

Of course as you guessed, the watch was a Chinese made knockoff.  It looked like a Rolex, kept time and had a box that said Rolex, but it was a complete fake.

In the world of Freemasonry, there are many groups where you can find people wearing Masonic regalia, quoting ritual and for a “slight” fee, will initiate you into their group.   But these groups are just like the Rolex I was being sold in China, they are bogus and fake.    Freemasons refer to these groups as clandestine and irregular and are run by people who are forming lodges and grand lodges that are not recognized by main-stream Freemasonry.

Brother Charles Harper Sr. has written extensively on this topic with his book Freemasonry in Black and White and his new book A Spurious State of Confusion.   Brother Harper once himself unknowingly joined one of these lodges, until he was educated by others. He later petitioned and joined a mainstream lodge.  He is now a member of Pleiades Lodge No. 478 and Illumination Lodge No. 5 both of the Grand Lodge of Illinois.

But who decides what lodge/grand lodge is “regular” and what difference does it really make anyway?

Recognition and regularity are a big deal in Masonry, especially when you want to visit other lodges.   The Conference of Grand Masters of Masons of North America is a group that tracks fraternal recognition of legitimate Grand Lodges around the world.   Their Commission on Information for Recognition is charged with recommending which Grand Lodges meet the standards of Recognition.  These standards are:  

1. Legitimacy of Origin
2. Exclusive Territorial Jurisdiction, except by mutual consent and/or treaty.
3. Adherence to the Ancient Landmarks – specifically, a Belief in God, the Volume of Sacred Law as an indispensable part of the Furniture of the Lodge, and the prohibition of the discussion of politics and religion

Ultimately each Grand Lodge decides for themselves who they recognize in regards to having formal fraternal relations.

Yes – it’s complicated.   Your Grand Lodge Secretary will maintain a listing of all Grand Lodges for which their particular jurisdiction recognizes.   Each year, Pantagraph Printing out of Bloomington, Illinois publishes a book that contains a listing of all recognized Grand Lodges.

But why does it matter?  Because as a Mason you are charged with having only Masonic relations with those fellow Masons who are members of a recognized lodge and grand lodge.   Sitting in a lodge of clandestine Masons, may result in your dismissal from Masonry.  It’s a serious matter.

It’s not an easy task to track all of these knockoffs, but each Mason has the obligation to educate themselves on the matter.  One of the better sights on the web to check is ran by The Phylaxis Society.  They maintain a current list, although the site is far from complete, as these bogus lodges and grand lodges can appear rapidly.

Do your homework if you are going to plan on visiting a lodge.  Is it a recognized lodge by your grand lodge?  Likewise if you have a visitor to your home lodge, does the Master appoint a committee to examine the brother to ensure he is legitimate?

Just like the Chinese knockoff cheapens the image of a Rolex; clandestine/bogus masonry cheapens regular Freemasonry.  Take due notice thereof and govern yourself accordingly.

WB Gregory J. Knott is the Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 in St. Joseph (IL) and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL) and Naval Lodge No. 4 in Washington, DC. He’s a member of the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, Eastern Star and is the Charter Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club No. 768 in Champaign-Urbana. He is also a member of ANSAR Shrine (IL) and the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. Greg serves on the Board of Directors of The Masonic Society and is a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society and The Philathes Society. Greg is very involved in Boy Scouts—an Eagle Scout himself, he is a member of the National Association of Masonic Scouters.

Clandestine Reprisal

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB. Robert H. Johnson

Clandestine "Masonic" orgs in IL.  

I had plans. Plans of grandeur when I was elected to the East. I thought I would have speakers every week and pull tons of men back to lodge. I wanted to engage the membership and have many education nights. Alas, I was  given a different opportunity. A better opportunity. I was given a ton of degree work. A week after being installed, I was conferring my first degree ever, a 2nd, as a matter of fact.

Week after week, I was conferring degrees. It was awesome. Recently I did four 1st degrees over four weeks. I thought about doing them as a class, but we felt as a lodge it was more important for the candidate to have that special experience of an individual night, just for them. Two of my candidates, now Entered Apprentices were best friends.

These gents had known each other since their childhood years, joined the military reserves together and now, became Masons together. Now that we had four new Entered Apprentices and no immediate degree work pending, it was time to do that other thing I wanted to do: engage the new members and help them understand the degrees they had just received.

We organized an EA education night, The Entered Apprentice Academy is what we called it. We walked them through the degree, explained to them aspects of the symbology and gave them personal stories of our lives in relation to how Masonry has changed us for the better. We laughed, we had fun and we learned.

At one point the subject of Clandestine Masonry came up, and two of my EAs looked at each other and then back at me and said at the same time and laughing, "Oh we found out about that..." I looked at them puzzled. In my experience, waiting to talk to the candidates until the 3rd degree about Clandestine and Irregularity is just too late. I feel you need to tell them [the candidate] about these organizations well before they go out into the world as EAs, otherwise they risk being tainted by potential bad information or in the case I was about to hear, outright slander, hazing and vindictive social media harassment.

I have made it known that personally, I hold no ill feelings toward Clandestine or Irregular Masons, as long as it isn't the kind that gathers just to make money and has an "LLC" or an "Inc." after its name. I digress.

My EAs proceeded to tell me that one of their co-workers found out that one of them had just received his EA degree, an auspicious occasion, no question. However instead of the typical congratulatory words, this co-worker first, claimed to be a brother as well and then proceeded to interrogate my EA in a completely condescending manner. And if this wasn't enough, he did it in public, around other people, citing ritual and all the rest.

My Brother EA sat there and took it all in, the odd exchange had him on edge but he kept it together. Finally this co-worker called my Brother EA a "Clandestine" Mason. As if this wasn't enough he ridiculed the Brother on social media after finding his picture with me on our social media page the night after receiving his EA degree. He made derogatory comments and lambasted him. Again, repeatedly calling him "Clandestine" and "not a real Mason."

Through all of this, all my Brother EA asked him was, "Let me see YOUR dues card." This co-worker refused and just kept pushing the hot buttons. I give credit to my EA for subduing his passions and an urge to put this co-worker in his place. The co-worker, after being asked to show his dues card repeatedly, finally did show my EA a card. And guess what? THE CO-WORKER WAS THE CLANDESTINE MASON!

Apparently when my EA told him the lodge he was from (our lodge Waukegan 78 AF&AM Grand Lodge of Illinois), the co-worker knew of the lodge and of me. Well, I guess if a clandestine lodge and its members know who you are, maybe you're doing something right. I'm not one to get easily upset but this, Brothers, got me a little mad.

So, guess what? I have blurred the names, but here you go, the business card of the lodge which decided to be decidedly unMasonic, and egregiously improper. And if this "lodge" or its members has an issue with this, I suggest you go through the proper channels (contact my Grand Lodge),  or take the time and become a legit lodge under the Grand Lodge of Illinois or the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois.

We all know what having "Inc." after your lodge name really means. And for those of you who don't it means, "We take your money and fool you into thinking we're legit."

In conclusion, let it be known that "The Most Worshipful New Jerusalem Grand Lodge AF&AM. S.R. Inc." is CLANDESTINE and NOT RECOGNIZED.

If you would like to read further about the issue of clandestine lodges, I suggest reading "Freemasonry In Black and White" or "ASpurious State of Confusion" by Bro. Charles Harper.

Enjoy the parody video below about Clandestine Masons. It isn't far from the truth. 

~RHJ 

Bro. Robert Johnson, 32° is the Managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the First North-East District of Illinois. He is the Master of Waukegan Lodge No. 78 and Education officer for the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. He is also a member of the York Rite bodies Royal Arch, Cryptic Council, Knights Templar, AMD, The Illinois Lodge of Research and a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago as well as a charter member of the Society of King Solomon, a charity organization run by the Grand Lodge of Illinois. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts weekly Podcasts (internet radio programs) Whence Came You? & Masonic Radio Theatre which focus 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 also a cohost of The Masonic Roundtable, a Masonic talk show. 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 currently working on a book of Masonic essays.