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Date of Promulgation: 7 May 2025
Upon the occurrences of recent declarations for various elective offices for the 2026-2029 triennium term and in anticipation of further declarations in the near future, it is necessary to set forth certain agreed-upon Rules to be followed at Regional York Rite Conferences by the Regional Deputy General Grand Masters for the fair and open recognition of declared or declaring candidates.
Additional Rules are necessary for fair and equitable access for all declared candidates to the communications systems of the General Grand Council, including but not limited to the DeCryption newsletter, General Grand Council website, and the General Grand Council Facebook page or other social media under the auspices of the General Grand Council.
Access to Regional Conferences
Background: Regional York Rite Conferences (“Regional Conferences”) are primarily intended to convey Masonic, Cryptic and York Rite education and philosophies and objectives and programs of the General Grand Council to any Cryptic Companion more especially for elective office holders and past Grand Masters from the Grand Councils in a Region. Regional Conferences are also being redirected to a past practice of providing similar information to the voting membership and members of the Grand Councils. The Regional Conferences also serve an important role in promoting camaraderie and Masonic friendship within the Fraternity and the appendant bodies.
Open or comparative campaigning has not been a regular part of Regional Conferences during the educational sessions or social events. The practice of campaigning at Department Conferences conducted by the GEKT-USA appears to be the source of the current trends. In order to preserve and continue the Regional Conferences for their primary purposes, there will have to be some limitations to prevent disruption of the purposes of the Regional Conferences by intervening campaign practices.
Rules:
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Any declarant shall become a declared candidate by filing a written declaration statement with the General Grand Recorder by email or letter with their contact information, Masonic biography, photo and intended office for election.
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It is therefore set forth that the Regional Deputy General Grand Masters may facilitate the brief introduction of any declared candidates for General Grand Council elective offices for 2026-2029 triennium term. It is recommended that the introductions should be conducted at a social event or at a set time during the educational session. Declared candidates will not be permitted any time for campaign statements or announcement of candidacies.
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All Declared candidates may offer campaign paraphernalia for the use of attendees on a table provided by the Regional Conferences for that purpose, if such a table does not incur any additional costs for the Regional Conferences. Campaign paraphernalia will not be distributed during the educational sessions. There will be NO scheduled or impromptu debates or comparative campaigning at the Regional Conferences.
Access to the Communications of the General Grand Council
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Declared candidates may submit campaign declaration statements, candidate photos, candidate Masonic biographies in proper form for publication in the DeCryption newsletter on or after an initial date for submission is announced by the General Grand Council through the Office of the General Grand Recorder. The General Grand Council website will be amended to include a listing of all declared candidates and posting of Masonic biographies and candidate contact information for the use and benefit of the voting membership of the General Grand Council. A date will be announced by the Office of the General Grand Recorder for an initial submission of the proposed posting. The General Grand Council Facebook page and other relevant social media will be available in a similar fashion.
Conclusion: The objective of these rules is to limit any deleterious effect upon the primary purposes of the Regional Conferences and to promote and protect equality of treatment of all declared candidates and limit any inherent advantage to those who declare early or those who declare later as well as limiting any inherent advantage for incumbent officeholders seeking higher office.