September 2025:
Annual Communication Voters’ Guide
Each year at Annual Communication, the Grand Lodge (comprised of masters, wardens, and past masters of every constituent lodge, as well as the past grand masters, Grand Lodge officers, and past grand officers) come together to debate and vote on legislation for the coming fraternal year. That’s comprised of Grand Master’s recommendations, carryover legislation from the previous year, and newly proposed legislation. Here is a link to the full-text explanation of this year’s ballot.
In an effort to help clarify what you’ll be voting on this year, we spoke with Assistant Grand Secretary Jordan Yelinek for some background. Also, you can rewatch the August Secretary’s Retreat video on demand to hear Grand Secretary Allan Casalou’s explanation of various legislation here.
Grand Master’s Decisions and Recommendations
Grand Master’s Decision No. 1: Clarifies the esoteric or secret portion of the Ritual
What it means: Masons often wonder which parts of their ritual are considered secret and which are not. According to the California Masonic Code, there wasn't really an answer to that question. Grand Master Salazar provided one with this decision (Grand Master’s decisions are already in effect; voting to pass it codifies this interpretation of the rules in the code and requires a simple majority vote). Per GM Decision 1, the “secret” portion of the ritual would include the signs, words, and other “modes of recognition” (handshakes, knocks, etc.) that Masons use are considered to be the “esoteric or secret portion” of the Ritual, and not to be shared with nonmembers.
Grand Master’s Decision No. 2: Installation of Lodge Officers Not Included in the Ritual
What it means: Many lodges appoint officers beyond those mandated by the California Masonic Code—which is already permissible by law. However, the California Grand Lodge’s installation ceremony does not currently provide for the installation of those non-required officers’ positions. This decision to formally install those officers within the Installation Ceremony, and that the installing officer “satisfy himself that the installation follows as closely as reasonably practicable the spirit, principles, and ceremony of the Installation Ceremony.”
Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 1: Updates Grand Lodge Committee Membership, Duties, and Tenure
What it means: This recommendation (which is subject to a 5/6 vote, like other legislation) would clarify the rules around membership on certain Grand Lodge committees, including the California Freemason Magazine Committee, the Investment Committee, and the Finance Committee. In the first case, that would remove the term limits from committee membership; on the Investment Committee, it would remove the requirement that members belong to the Grand Lodge (meaning they are a master, warden, or past master of their lodge). And on the Finance Committee, it would update rules to remove the administration of the Grand Lodge retirement plan from the committee’s remit. (That retirement plan is no longer active.) In each case, the aim is to loosen restrictions on certain committees that require specialized skillsets.
Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 2: Eliminates Code Provisions Relating to Officers Associations
What it means: Officers associations were common in the 1950s and 1960s but are fairly rare today. This recommendation would remove the organization of these groups from the duties of district inspectors, as is currently the case in the California Masonic Code. It would not stop or prevent the formation of a new officers association.
Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 3: Centralized Notifications for Suspensions of Non-payment of Dues
What it means: Currently, lodge secretaries are obligated to send certified letters to members before they can be suspended for non-payment of dues. This recommendation would replace that system with a new one in which lodges would use iMember to alert the Grand Lodge of their intent to suspend, and then the Grand Secretary would have 60 days to contact that member by any means, including phone, email, text, or other. At the end of that period, the lodge could still be able to suspend the member themselves. The recommendation would also allow for lodges to adopt a revocable standing resolution to have the Grand Secretary’s office handles dues-remission on their behalf.
Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 4: Updates the Duties of the Lodge Secretary
What it means: Similar to Recommendation No. 2, this would update the language of the CMC to better reflect current technology and processes—and to “remove obsolete requirements and allow for current and future technologies.” That includes things like removing the rules around keeping a physical meeting minute book and a roll book, for instance.
Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 5: Permits Charges to Be Withdrawn During Pre-trial Phase
What it means: Once a Mason has leveled charges against another Mason, there is no way to withdraw those charges before it goes to trial. And trials tend to be long, tiring, and often messy. (On average, Masonic trials take about 18 months.) According to Yelinek, around 90 percent end in a simple letter of reprimand. (And only 1 percent end in expulsion.) This recommendation, if passed, would provide for an offramp in the case of a trial that the parties decide they don’t ultimately want.
2024 Carryover Legislation
2024 Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 4: Updates required applicant contributions and contribution amounts
What it means: When applicants submit their requests for membership, the Code dictates that they must include a contribution of $25 to the Masonic Homes of California; $9 to the California Masonic Memorial Temple fund; and $15 to the George Washington Masonic Memorial. In some cases, those figures were established decades ago—the donation to MHC was established in 1925 and hasn’t changed since, while the CMMT fund was established as part of the “day’s wages” campaign launched in 1954. This decision would instead make applicant contributions set by the Grand Lodge budget that’s adopted each year and add a required gift to the California Masonic Foundation.
2024 Result: 74.53 percent
2024 Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 6: Modifies lodge vote required to restore a Mason suspended for non-payment of dues
What it means: If a member is suspended for longer than three years, their restoration is subject to a vote of their lodge. This recommendation would change the vote threshold from 2/3 to a simple majority, as other financial matters are.
2024 Result: 83.15 percent
2024 Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 8: Clarifies procedures to approve alternate rituals
What it means: A growing number of California lodges have expressed an interest in practicing alternate versions of the Masonic ritual, typically the craft degrees of the Scottish Rite (as are commonly practiced in Europe and Latin America). At present, that is only allowed in cases in which lodges have a historic connection to a ritual other than the Preston-Webb, or California, ritual, and with the approval of the Grand Master and Grand Lecturer (as in the cases of La France No. 880 and La Parfaite Union No. 17). If passed, this recommendation would establish standards under which any lodge could have that option without requiring an individual piece of legislation.
2024 Result: 77.84 percent
2024 Grand Master’s Recommendation No. 11: Permits a secretary to serve as master, warden, or secretary of another lodge
What it means: This decision permits a member to serve as a secretary in two lodges, or as an officer in a second lodge. The context here is that many of the most time-intensive duties of the secretary, such as dues collection, have been centralized by Grand Lodge systems, meaning it’s more feasible than ever before to serve two lodges simultaneously.
Result: 74.14 percent
2024 Resolution No. 24-01: Makes third degree proficiency a prerequisite for nomination to the officer of master, senior warden, or junior warden
What it means: Currently, members are allowed to be elected to a pedestal office before they’ve fulfilled the Master Mason proficiency. (They have to pass in order to be installed.) If passed, this resolution would require those nominees to pass the proficiency in advance of standing for election.
2024 Result: 78.73 percent
New Legislation for 2025
Resolution 25-02: Allows Cicero Research lodge to Hold a Single Stated Meeting Annually
What it means: Cicero Research Lodge UD is a newly formed group comprised of all current and former grand orators. The group aims to help organize speakers that lodges throughout the state can utilize. (Read more here.) If passed, this resolution would allow that lodge to meet once annually, during the Annual Communication, rather than the typical monthly or quarterly schedule.
Resolution 25-04: Changes the Offices of Grand Organist, Assistant Grand Organist, and Organist to Grand Musician, Assistant Grand Musician, and Musician
What it means: It’s about what it sounds. If passed, this would change the name of these positions from “organist” to “musician,” to better reflect the realities of the instruments these figures typically play today. Learn more about Masonic organists here.
“Birds of a feather flock together” is how the old saying goes, but what exactly are the “feathers” that define the men of our fraternity? As Masonry unites men of every country, sect, and opinion, there may not be a single answer to this question. Yet, some insight may be found by understanding certain needs that are fulfilled by Freemasonry.
First, men need social time with one another and moments to seek advice from other men. But there are increasingly fewer opportunities to do so. Male social time is now often limited to playing sports or video games or by attending or watching events; and so, those end up being the few moments men have to gain counsel. I’ve had many hard discussions about life over beer and a hot dog at Dodgers Stadium. Masonry affords men another avenue to socialize with each other and have the type of friends they feel comfortable sharing their frustrations (let alone their other feelings) about their lives.
Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, Masonry gives men a definition of manliness, an ideal to strive for, that is not based on the accumulation of wealth or materialism. Masons believe it is the internal qualities (not the external) that distinguishes a man among us. Irrespective of his occupation, social status, or wealth, a man who best conducts himself in accordance with the virtues and principles of Masonry is accorded respect, and Masons know full well that ultimately, all men are “on the level” as they travel to “that undiscovered country.”
I believe the men of our fraternity “flock together” because they understand “what makes a man” is his upright conduct and his practice of virtue, and because they want strong friendships with other men based on their internal qualities rather than their worldly interests or pursuits.
—David Ferreira, Grand Chaplain
Use this content to spread the word about resources provided by the California Masonic Foundation, the Masonic Homes of California, and more.
Masonic Health Services:
Services at MCYAF Across the Lifespan
The Pavilion at the Masonic Homes
Masonic Homes of California Resources
Masonic Philanthropy:
Stay on track of lodge business and prepare for important deadlines. Here’s your September checklist.
Executive Committee
- Make plans for your lodge master, wardens, or other representatives to attend Annual Communication this October 24–26. Your vote is important to the future of Freemasonry in California. Tickets are going fast for the Grand Master’s Gala and Partners and Families Lunch, as are hotel rooms. If you haven’t yet, be sure to register now.
Senior Warden, along with Executive Committee
- Identify and approach members for 2025 open elected and appointed officer positions.
- Urge presumptive master, wardens, and senior deacon to perform their Master Mason’s proficiency soon, if not already completed.
- Urge respective officers to answer the master, senior warden, and junior warden questions early.
- Identify and approach members for the 2025 Audit, Membership Retention, and any other committees.
- Set calendar for 2025 and identify event leaders.
- Continue preparing 2025 budget.
- Set installation date and approach installing officer, master of ceremonies, and chaplain.
- Review all candidates’ progress toward advancement.
- Introduce and vote on the Membership Restoration Campaign at a stated meeting to invite suspended members back into the fold.
Junior Warden
- Continue tracking 100 percent officer giving to the Annual Fund, with officers setting an example through gifts that represent their capability as well as their commitment to our charitable programs.
Secretary
- If lodge per capita has not yet been paid, submit payment ASAP.
- Prepare to send out dues notices and begin collecting member dues, starting Oct. 31.
Treasurer
- If lodge per capita has not yet been paid, submit payment ASAP.
Questions? Contact Member Services at memberservices@freemason.org or (415) 776-7000.
Last month, we asked how many volunteer hours did your lodge commit to community service in the past year (approximately)?
See the results.
- Over 100 - 1
- 40 -60 - 3
- 20-40 - 4
- 10-20 - 4
- 1-10 - 2
- None - 2