As some of you may have noticed, there have been a few announcements concerning candidacies for elected offices in the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America (GEKT-USA), the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International (GGCRAMI), and the General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons International (GGCCMI).  Several of you have expressed confusion over these early declarations.

 

The GEKT-USA elections would occur at the 2027 Triennial under Grand Master David J. Kussman.  The latest report is that there are at least three (3) that have announced availability for the office of Grand Captain-General 2027-2030. 

 

The GGCRAMI and GGCCMI elections will be conducted at the 2026 Triennial at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C. on Monday, August 31st under the supervision of my very close friend,Teko A. Foly, General Grand High Priest, and on September 1 under the supervision of the General Grand Master, namely, me.  Those elected in GGCRAMI and GGCCMI would likely serve from 2026 to 2029.  

 

A Masonic friend in Missouri said, “You are not even cold in the ground yet, Bill.  These must be mighty important offices at stake”.  I noted to my friend that I doubted anyone intended any disrespect to me by declaring this early for any office in GGCCMI.  

 

There is nothing wrong with declaring early.  It may be logical to think that attending Regional Conferences or many Grand York Rite sessions will yield support.  I suggest to incumbents, challengers, or first-time seekers of office, there is only so much you can tell the masses at Regional Conferences or Grand York Rite Sessions before you either sound like a choir singer for the status quo or a negative critic of the status quo.  Either way, you will find that the voters do not want to hear about what is being done wrong or right by anyone.  The question is just exactly what are you wanting to do either differently or to continue with improvements? Have you spent time listening to the Companions the General Grand Council serves?

 

Before the 2017 Triennial, I was given the opportunity to address a Grand York Rite Session.  I stated: “In order to have a great International organization, you must first establish a great national organization.”  I have dedicated my efforts to that point. 

 

For example, the York Rite Masons, both inside and outside the United States, do not ask us to tell them what to do; rather, they seek to understand “how” we do what we do and what practices or traditions they may learn to use in their lodges, chapters, councils and commanderies.  Although, there are those who want to “give orders” as a form of leadership,  an aspiring leader will find that teaching and encouraging by example and providing honest answers is far superior to pushing or ordering our international companions. In like manner, it is time to find coordinated paths with our Scottish Rite Jurisdictions and other Masonic bodies. 

 

There is only ONE Rite that should prevail or rule, and that is the Rite of Freemasonry. 

 

However, I note for all that I did not declare for General Grand Principal Conductor of the Work until June 2017 when I announced I was considering that office.  Officially, I did not declare until I had conferred with a number of Masonic leaders at the 2017 Great Smokies Summer Assembly of York Rite Masons in Maggie Valley, North Carolina.  Several of you may recall receiving an email with my picture and request for you to consider voting for me in July and August 2017. 

 

There are some complexities and complications when our members wish to create a non-traditional path to higher office as well as when our constituents adopt the conventional wisdom that any challenger to an advancing line officer is proof of contention or bad feelings between those candidates. I would note that this perceived contention is not generally the case in Masonic politics.  

 

In real world politics, such is the case. Nevertheless, some Masonic incumbents in a traditional advancing line do resent or dislike any challenger and those Masonic challengers may have a few complaints about the personality or actions of the incumbent seeking the next office.  You may recall instances in real world politics when one candidate says the other lacks “vision”.  That means one is calling the other stupid, reactionary, and evil. Well, only in the real world, of course. 

 

As a tradition of the GGCCMI, the incumbent General Grand Master does NOT endorse or openly favor or support any candidate for the Office of General Grand Master.  The tradition is the same for the Offices of Deputy General Grand Master or General Grand Principal Conductor of the Work.  Usually, the incumbent General Grand Master actually finds something likeable about all of the candidates and is just anticipating the commencement of the next term with the reins of the organization in the hands of a qualified successor.  

 

In adherence to those GGCCMI traditions, it is my intention at this time that I will not endorse or specifically support any Cryptic Mason who has announced availability for any GGCCMI elected office in 2026.  I am available to encourage those who wish to run for GGCCMI office in 2029.  

 

As the best interests of GGCCMI should be foremost for any General Grand Master in the last 17 months of his three-year term, I do reserve the right to break with that tradition and my present intention IF there is any chance that an unqualified person who is a proven traitor, backstabber, liar or huckster might prevail in the election, I may take action to call attention to these truths, such as my Constitutional responsibility dictates as steward of this Office.

 

I am directing and requesting that the current elected officers in GGCCMI avoid any endorsement or specific support for any candidate for GGCCMI elected offices.  While we have a traditional advancing line, we have never legislated it as required to be followed.  Generally, I recommend that experienced officers should be advanced, if worthy.  On the other hand, as GEKT-USA proved in a Hilton hotel in Ft. Wayne a few short years ago, the voting members have the final say on any election and any officeholder. 

 

This does not mean to restrict any GGCCMI Officer, elected or otherwise, from privately encouraging a potential candidate or providing germane Cryptic information or history to any potential candidate, so long as they stay within the bounds of their Masonic obligations. Of course, as is tradition, we will make an earnest effort to publish in this DeCryption Newsletter, the declarations of availability of all candidates and their Masonic biographies on a recurring basis.

 

In the present circumstances, I can foresee some of our appointed officeholders desiring to act as campaigners for candidates and this is appropriate provided it is never suggested or represented that their support may be interpreted as GGCCMI endorsement or support or as the proxy act of any incumbent elected officer of GGCCMI.  

 

I also note that Past General Grand Masters are not bound by the tradition but have generally followed neutrality in GGCCMI elections.  I recall being told that I needed to speak with Most Puissant “Bud” Hymes from Alabama.  I spoke with Bud at the 2017 Triennial. Bud was most gracious in encouraging me to persevere in my quest but that traditionally, Past GGMs did not endorse.  I recall I decided I needed to talk with other influential Cryptic Masons and the rest is history. 

 

Usually, the General Grand Master is not a candidate for reelection to the Office of General Grand Master or seeking election to some other GGCCMI or GGCRAMI office.  However, in our history, it has happened.  I have not yet fully considered the possibility of being available for reelection to the Office of General Grand Master.  I have not foreclosed that possibility. Some of you may be thinking, “well, he just wants more glory. He must have a greatly inflated ego.” 

 

I can assure you and will be glad to spend a few hours relating to you how there is no glory to be gained, very little glamour, and there is no room for an inflated ego in the Office of General Grand Master of GGCCMI. 

 

I may well have such a view of myself at times, but my blessed late Mother would tell you that is not true.  President Franklin D. Roosevelt felt it was necessary to go forward to be elected four (4) times because he had not found a worthy successor.  However, he died with a worthy successor, Harry S Truman.  

 

As we move forward to the 2026 Triennial, please be safe, take care and plan to cast an educated and considered vote for a worthy successor for the office of General Grand Master.  I look forward to visiting with many of you in the last months of my term of office.  I look forward to continuing our Masonic Friendships well beyond those days. Rest assured, we still have much to accomplish to provide ever increasing value for Cryptic Masons across the world. The General Grand Council will continue to work toward those lofty aims and bring to fruition our expansive vision until my final gavel rap as General Grand Master.