Central America Regional Recorder\’s Meeting – February 25, 2021
Submitted by Stephen Balke, General Grand Recorder, Cryptic Masons International

Cryptic Masons International Collar
Photo Credit; MIC John Bridegroom

 

On February 25, a conference call was held with the Central America Regional Recorders. A summary of the call is below.

Central America

• No restrictions (PCR testing required)
  • Costa Rica
  • El Salvador –
    • Grand Lodge is open for activities.
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
• Grand Sessions – 
  • In person planned for September.
• Degree work is postponed.

Ecuador

• Having a hard time with pandemic – resurgences, etc. Restricted.
  • Vaccines 20K doses are all that arrived.
  • All in-person postponed.
  • People are not practicing social distancing.
• To enter the country PCR testing is required. Will also require follow-ups.
• Grand Lodge – Equinoxion Grand Lodge – investigated opening up
  • Large and medium temples allow 40 member maximum attendance.
  • November – started attending – some Lodges with Brethren who are susceptible to COVID are staying home.
  • Two week hiatus.
  • Installed all of the 43 Lodges in the Jurisdiction.
• York Rite has been meeting on Wednesdays in person. Having virtual meetings continue into the future – useful for business and inclusion of those unable or unwilling to attend in person.
• No issues with contagiousness of virus in York Rite.
• Planning to have an Assembly between October and December.

Panama

• No restrictions on travel except to get tested, getting better right now. Statistics are improving – coming month expecting better.
  • In process of getting vaccinations. 
• Grand Lodge 
  • Most meetings are virtual
  • Degree work is done in the temple.
• Grand Lodge temple.
  • Limited to 25 people present on the property.
• York Rite meeting using Virtual meetings
  • Changing meetings from Panama Shrine to Grand Lodge temple.
  • No date so far for in-person, but planning on happening soon.
  • May start doing degree work with the change in venue to Grand Lodge temple.
• Grand Sessions
  • Meeting in January – will hold again in 2022.

Paraguay

• Paraguay has restrictions 
  • 50 people limit for meetings permission granted.
• York Rite
  • Own facilities where York Rite meets
  • When could not meet, met virtually.
• Grand Sessions
  • March 6, 2021
  • Chapter and Council
  • Stringent fiscal system where taxes and reporting are due.
• Degree work – working and have several future Brothers to receive degree work.

Peru

• Pandemic is closing down – also bought some Chinese vaccines – political backlash from mishandling of the actual vaccines received.
  • 6PM – 4AM curfew. 
  • To enter the country – same regulations as Ecuador and Central America.
• All meetings of the Grand Lodge are virtual – no meetings in person.
• Lima – Meetings on third Mondays – virtually, all other councils are working as well.
  • Lima provides a subject for discussions – all Councils should be present and working – they all show up and discuss the subject.
• Degree work is not being done – 27 new Companions took the oath and promised to take the full degrees when the restrictions are lifted.
• Grand Assembly
  • Arequipa, Peru
  • October – last week – already being planned using virtual meetings..
  • Grand Chapter and Grand Council

Venezuela

• Internal restrictions for travel. 
  • Confused situation – government is not forthcoming
  • Need Security Ministry pass to travel anywhere.
• Very complicated to connect via internet.
  • Maintenance is not being done.
• Masonry is affected severely by the circumstances.
• Grand Lodge / Supreme Council
  • Does not permit in person meetings. (Last Year)
  • Special meetings will be able to take place at the Grand Lodge temple.
• York Rite
  • Doing work in the Chapters as there are not Council rooms.
  • Special meetings will be held this year as available.
• Maintaining administrative communication between the Grand Council and Councils.
• Grand Sessions – Likely be virtual due to circumstances and restrictions.

General Grand Council

• International issues have been taking time.
• We are working on starting meetings with all regions and catching up on “office work”.
• Our priorities right now in Latin America:
  • Monthly Meetings
  • Subordinate Annual Returns and per capita. (because of the Feb. 28 deadline)
  • Charters 
    • Subordinate Councils – First Virtual then Paper (by Post)
    • Grand Councils
      • Virtual ASAP – March
      • Actual Charters require a ceremony, so operate on the electronic version until we can travel to Constitute the Grand Council.
• Reviewed Website
  • Awards section
  • Decryption
• Introduced the Fireside Chat
• Introduced YouTube Channel.