The Grand Master of the MW Grand Lodge of AF&AM of Oklahoma , MW Dudley R. Smith, has issued an edict

dated October 31st

,

officially suspending recognition of the

. (Click the image above to enlarge it.)





It reads, in part:

"The conventions whereby one Grand Lodge recognizes another evolved from principles promulgated by the United Grand Lodge of England in 1929 to define the relationships between Masonic jurisdictions...

The Grand Lodge of Arkansas has diverged from these principles on more than one occasion, especially in the areas of the right to transfer membership and the right to due process in the administration of Masonic discipline."

The annual communication for the GL of Oklahoma will take place November 11th, at which time the voting members will decide whether to affirm the GM's edict or not.





The problem has been brewing since around 2012, when the Grand Secretary's office in the GL of Arkansas began an unofficial policy of failing to issue letters of good standing for Arkansas Masons who wished to transfer their membership out of state - reportedly to those jurisdictions that recognize their Prince Hall counterparts, but to Oklahoma especially. That said, the Grand Master's edict does not provide the details behind his reasons. He will apparently present them with more specificity at the annual communication next week.





For background on this situation:



