‘Masonic Unity Day in January’

    

Masonic Hall will be the venue next January when Grand Lodge will host brethren from the grand lodges of Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey for a daylong exemplification of the Craft degrees. From the publicity:

Masonic Unity Day

Saturday, January 27

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Masonic Hall

71 W. 23rd Street

Manhattan

$50 per person

The Grand Lodge of New York will host a Grand Jurisdiction Unity Day, where the Grand Lodges of Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania will come together to exemplify their versions of the Craft degrees in an event open to all Master Masons.

While in general terms, the Craft rituals practiced by the various grand lodges in the United States stem from the same roots, these rituals can be significantly different, yet successfully maintain the same lessons practiced by regular and recognized grand lodges around the world. This very unique event will allow Master Masons from all jurisdictions who, for many reasons, might never travel outside their jurisdictions, and be able to come together to witness a variety of Craft degrees.

The participating grand masters will make history, and such an event will be remembered forever. It is a perfect example to prove that Freemasonry, while independently governed, is a one big family of Brothers.

Opening: Grand Lodge of New York

EA°: Grand Lodge of New Jersey

FC°: Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania

MM°: Grand Lodge of Delaware

Hiramic Drama: Team from the Grand Lodge of New York in full costume.

Open to all Master Masons. Hot breakfast buffet at 8 a.m. and gourmet catered lunch at noon will be provided. Cost is $50 per person. Tickets are available here.

This is not a one-day class. The purpose is to exemplify the degrees. If, however, a grand jurisdiction decides to confer the degree it is exemplifying on its candidates, the Grand Lodge of New York will welcome them to do so. All lectures pertaining to the actual degrees (if any) will be omitted on this day due to time restrictions.

For all other information, please contact RW Stewart C. McCloud II here.

Being a New York Mason, who used to be a “New Jersey Mason,” and who recently saw a Third Degree in Delaware, I know the three systems are very similar, but not identical. It has been eight years since I’ve witnessed any Pennsylvania work, but I know theirs is the noticeably different method. Actually is said to be anomalous in the country. I’ve been told it is like the Bristol ritual (Rite of Baldwin in UGLE), but I have no idea. (Don’t listen to anyone who says it’s based on Scottish Rite. It has nothing to do with Scottish Rite. AASR Craft degrees are similar to what Garibaldi Lodge works. See post below.)

Definitely will see you there.