COGMNA 2025
South Carolina, here I come...
This week I’ll be preparing for, and traveling to, the annual Conference of Grand Masters of North America. Last year it was easier, we were in Seattle, this year finds us in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
I’m attending because I’m the Chairman of the Commission On Information For Recognition. Now that’s a mighty odd name for a group of Grand Masters and Past Grand Masters, but we do what I believe to be important work. Providing our North American Grand Lodges with information about Grand Lodges throughout the world so that they can make decisions regarding Masonic Recognition.
If you are interested in our work, we’ve got a website you can find by hitting the button below. It includes our upcoming agenda, and past reports. If you ever have questions about Freemasonry around the world, it is a great resource.
This year is going to be a little bit different.
Normally we simply give our report to the assembled Grand Masters of North America on the final day of the conference.
This year, in addition to our report, I’ve been asked to give the North American Grand Masters, their junior officers, and guests in attendance a presentation on “The Recognition Process.”
The audience for this presentation is a group of people who are extremely well versed in the mechanics of Grand Lodge operations, so the presentation will focus on the intricate details of this work, the meat and potatoes, without any fluff.
I’m letting you know this because after next week I will have this presentation in hand, and if you are a member of a Lodge or other Masonic group that would like to receive it, I’m sure that we could arrange some way for that to happen either in person or virtually. Just let me know.
I’m also filling you in on all of this because Emeth, and indeed all of my work here on Substack is going to be a little hit or miss for the next ten days or so. Traveling unfortunately always interferes with my writing, and my reading here.
MW Brother, have you considered recording this presentation to help those less informed better understand the inner workings of these processes for maximum reach? If this is something you're open to and does not violate Masonic code, I would be willing to assist with recording and posting this to a platform of your choosing.
I mention this committee in my book, actually. Our own MW Williamson was on it last time I believe and has spoken on it at our local Lodge of Research.