In the Jurisdiction of Washington, a Worshipful Master is only permitted to cancel a Stated Meeting for reasons of the weather making travel to the meeting impossible or dangerous.
The Grand Master, lacking the ability to give a Lodge permission to violate its own bylaws, likewise can not use his authority to allow the Worshipful Master to cancel for other reasons.
Is this good policy? Should this restriction on the power of the Worshipful Master be so tight? Or should it be liberalized?
At our upcoming Annual Communication, Washington Masons will have an opportunity to expand the power of our Worshipful Masters, just a bit, by allowing a Worshipful Master to (in addition to Weather) cancel a Stated Meeting for:
“other health and safety concerns”
What do you think? Is this a good change?
If you are a Mason outside of Washington, does your Lodge operate under similar restrictions? Are your own restrictions tighter or more liberal?
What is the correct balance for our Lodges and our Grand Lodges?
Let’s chat about it…
I think this is a great idea. Perhaps there is a major illness gripping the community. Or the building has severe damage. Or perhaps a power outage. There are plenty of good reasons to cancel a meeting beyond the scope of bad weather.
I like the idea, but if this passes this year hopefully all the lodges will do what is necessary for the bills to be paid until the next stated meeting.