Mason-2014-Winter-Rnd1

RW John E. deMeurers, Sr,
Chairman
P.O. Box 902
Redwood, NY 13679-0902
(315) 783-9832
johndemeurers@gmail.com
The Grand Lodge Committee on Charters is a Standing
Committee of nine members appointed by, and serving at the
pleasure of, the Most Worshipful Grand Master. This Grand
Lodge Committee considers its responsibility as a trust and
all actions are taken with the long-term benefit to Masonry in
mind. All applications for dispensations to form new Lodges
are referred to the Charters Committee, as are all applications
for Charters and all cases of forfeited Charters.
Lodge consolidations are the concern of the Committee on
Charters. Any Lodge considering consolidation must complete
the well-defined course of action, which has been laid down by
successive Grand Masters and by the Constitutions. It is always
advisable before any steps are begun to consult with the District
Deputy Grand Master and obtain his recommendation.
The process of consolidation has been broken into three
distinct phases: Phase I, wherein a Lodge officially announces
that it wishes to consider consolidation, using standard forms
supplied by Grand Lodge.
Phase II, wherein a Lodge completes a Grand Lodgesupplied
standard questionnaire, which together with the
Phase I documentation and the formal recommendation of
the Lodge’s District Deputy Grand Master, is placed before the
Charters committeemen. They have full power of investigation
Committee on Charters
and will determine if consolidation is the best course of action
for the concerned Lodge, the District and for Freemasonry.
If the committee consensus is that the Lodges should
consolidate the process enters Phase III, wherein Grand Lodge
will supply three standard forms, which must be completed
and returned to Grand Lodge with a copy of the proposed By-
Laws of the proposed Lodge, a copy of all Summonses sent and
a current financial statement from each of the consolidating
Lodges. All these documents will then be forwarded to the
Judge Advocate, who will examine them to determine legality
and continuity, and upon his certification that all is in order,
the matter will then be placed before the membership of
the Committee on Charters. They will be polled and if their
consensus is for consolidation, that recommendation will be
made to the Grand Master for his final decision.
It should be emphasized that all required information must
be furnished on Grand Lodge-supplied forms, and that each
step in the process of consolidation must be followed in the
numerical order as outlined above. Further, if there are any
questions about consolidation the Lodges should always
consult with the Grand Secretary’s office or the Charters
Committee before, not after, each step.
All correspondence with the committee should be addressed
to the chairman in care of the Grand Secretary, 71 West 23 rd
Street, New York, NY 10010-4149. The Phase II questionnaire
should be sent directly to the chairman at his published
address. s
During the week of April 26 to
May 3, 2014 Brother Eric Morabito
undertook a walk to benefit children.
Eric started his journey from his home
Lodge, Adonai 718 in Highland,
and proceeded to the Cyprus Shrine
Center in Glenmont, and then on to
the Oriental Shrine Center in Troy, and
finally on to the Shriners Hospital for
Children in Springfield, MA. This was
a trip of 184 miles that took a total of
eight days to complete.
Eric decided to make this journey in
order to bring awareness to the good
work and services that the Shriners
provide. He also managed to raise a little
over $2,500, which was donated to the
Cyprus Shriners Transportation Fund,
the Childrens Hospital in Springfield
and Boy Scout Troop 172 of New Paltz
(Eric is an Assistant Scoutmaster for this
troop).
Along the way he met some very
special people and had a few adventures
Walk benefits children
that he will remember always. Upon
arrival at the hospital in Springfield,
Eric was met by members of the Melha
Shrine’s Directors Staff, who proceeded
to treat him like royalty. He and his wife
were given a private tour of the hospital
and were the guests of honor at the
Shriners Circus, which happened to be
performing in Springfield on the day he
arrived.
Eric is planning to repeat his walk in
May 2015 and will again do it to support
the transportation fund, the hospitals in
both Springfield and Boston and his
Boy Scout Troop. He has set a goal of
$12,500 and is currently looking for
sponsors.
For a more detailed account of his trip,
there is a video on YouTube (just go to
YouTube and search “Eric Morabito”)
that the members of the Melha Shrine
posted. Eric can also be reached at
walkingforchildren@gmail.com if you
should have any questions. s
THE EMPIRE STATE MASON MAGAZINE WINTER 2014 31