Two million lights go out all over North America !!!
The annual meeting of the Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in North America is the largest gathering of Grand Masters in the world. Currently the membership is the Grand Lodges of the Provinces of Canada, the States of the United States of America, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, the States of Mexico, and the American-Canadian Grand Lodge of Germany. These Grand Masters represent some 2 million Freemasons in North America. Grand Masters from countries throughout the world also attend to join in fellowship, with the notable exception of the GLNF delegation which returned to Paris tail and blue aprons between their legs.
The 2012 Conference is winding up its 3 day programme in Atlanta, Georgia
A couple of hours ago (9.45 a.m. American Eastern Time) the Commission on Information for Recognition Report, chaired by Past Grand Master, William Holsinger, of the Grand Lodge of California, heard a submission on behalf of the GLNF, put by the Grand Chancellor, Philippe Tardivel and the Patrick MacCann, Grand Inspector in charge of the Continental District (which includes many of the so-called NATO Lodges). They were severely criticised by the immediate Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Belgium, the Grand Chancellor of the UGLE and a representative of the Grand Lodge of Washington, DC (which suspended relations with the GLNF on February 16th).
The vote was put and the information we have obtained is that the result was unanimous. The same information has been reported by L’Express journalist, François Koch. link
The Grand Masters of the Grand Lodges of North America, in their annual Conference, in a vote giving a directive opinion (which may or may not be adopted by individual Grand Lodges), have voted “en bloc” to suspend relations with the GLNF.
LML in English is trying to obtain written confirmation of this important news.
Brother Chris HODAPP, author of "Freemasonry for Dummies" and respected authority on American Freemasonry has informed me :
"It is VERY important to understand that this does NOT mean that the North American Grand Lodges have yanked recognition of the GLNF. The Commission on Recognition cannot do that, and neither can the Conference of Grand Masters. Only individual GLs can pull their recognition (as the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia did last week). The Commission only reports on the regularity of other GLs and issues an opinion that North American GLs are free to follow or ignore. Nevertheless, if the rumor is true, this is very bad news for Stifani and the GLNF."
http://freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com/ article reporting on the Conference
This is the largest setback on an international basis that François Stifani has suffered in more than two years of conflict and crisis. And this has come despite desperate last minute negotiations by Ephesse, Philippe Tardivel and Sébastien Dulac (Paris PGM) in a meeting on February 16th, less than 24 hours before Miss Monique declared that François Stifani ceased to be GM as of February 4th.
A number of blogs have mentioned a figure of 51 Grand Lodges. The figure is probably much higher. Including Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico there are more then 50 Grand Lodges in the USA. To that figure you have to add all the Grand Lodges of Canada, Mexico and the American-Canadian Grand Lodge of Germany. The final figure is probably closer to 100 than 51.
Don't tell my mother I'm a member of the GLNF. She thinks I'm a Freemason !!!