Pictured, left to right, top: William E. Price, James G. Baum, William S. Dann, Stephen E. Alderete
bottom: Stephen A. Balke, William Snyder, David A. Grindle, Reginald V. Talbert, and Bernard Roberts, Jr.
Photo by Ashley Balke

Cooperative work within the Ninth Arch recently resulted in an historic moment for our Craft. Thanks to the efforts of your General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons, International and the General Conference of Grand Councils Royal & Select Masters PHA U.S.A, and Bahamas Inc., more Cryptic Masons than at any previous point in the history of our orders may now engage in the preservation traditions and enablement of Masonic unity.

With many Companions and Sir Knights, we initiated and experienced a very significant event in the life of Cryptic Masons throughout the United States and the World.

At the Southwest York Rite Conference Banquet on Friday, November 2, 2018, a mutual exchange of Recognition was put in place by our two bodies.

Most Illustrious Companion Reginald V. Talbert

Grand Conference Thrice Illustrious Grand Master

presented a mutually signed agreement which is in the process of being sealed by their organization and representing the Trustees of the General Grand Council, I presented the following to his delegation:

PROCLAMATION

RECOGNITION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF GRAND COUNCILS ROYAL & SELECT MASTERS PHA

 U.S.A. AND BAHAMAS INC.

The Most Puissant General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons, International

By action of its Board of Trustees

Hereby Recognizes

The General Conference of Grand Council Royal Select Masters

PHA, U.S.A. and Bahamas Inc.

Plaque presented to the General Conference of Grand Councils
Photo by David A. Grindle

WHEREAS, the General Conference of Grand Councils Royal & Select Masters PHA (Prince Hall Affiliated) U.S.A. and Bahamas Inc. (General Conference PHA) has Cryptic jurisdiction over PHA Grand Councils within its jurisdiction that is concurrent with the general jurisdiction of the General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons, International (General Grand Council); and,

WHEREAS, a majority of the jurisdictions recognized by, chartered by, or affiliated with the General Grand Council are within the jurisdiction of Grand Lodges that have mutual fraternal recognition protocols including visitation by written invitation with their PHA counterpart Grand Lodges; and,

WHEREAS, it is mutually advantageous for all governing bodies of the Cryptic Rite to extend mutual fraternal recognition and interaction protocols for the benefit of the Ancient Craft and the Cryptic Rite and to promote peace and harmony in all Masonic endeavors; and,

WHEREAS, this proclamation is not intended to and specifically does not authorize nor permit, (1) dual membership, (2) members of either of the named General Grand Council or General Conference to transfer membership to the other, nor (3) recognition and visitation between any appendant or concordant bodies unless so specified by those Masonic Bodies or Grand Lodges, and,

WHEREAS, all Masons of the Cryptic Rite, acting in reliance upon this Proclamation, are expected and advised to govern their actions in accordance  with the conditions set by the Grand Lodge of the jurisdiction within which they are residing or sojourning, it is hereby

Proclaimed by action of the Board of Trustees of the General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons, International, that the General Grand Council does hereby fraternally recognize the General Conference PHA for the purposes of invited attendance and fraternal interaction between the General Grand Council and the General Conference PHA at their General Sessions and sanctions the invited attendance and fraternal interaction between any Grand Councils recognized, chartered or affiliated with the General Grand Council and their Grand Council counterparts operating under the jurisdiction of the General Conference PHA.

This recognition includes the following:

1. Any Companion of the General Grand Council may have Royal & Select Masters or Cryptic communication with any person who is a member or holds allegiance to The General Conference of Grand Council Royal Select Masters PHA, which has been chartered by or holds allegiance to The General Conference of Grand Council Royal Select Masters PHA, with the herein stated exceptions:
   1. While in any state, territory or country outside the United States America, a Companion shall not have Grand Council of Royal Select Masters or Grand Council of Cryptic communication with any person who is a member of a General Conference of Grand Royal Select Council or Grand Cryptic Council which has been chartered by, or holds allegiance to, the Most Illustrious Grand Council of Cryptic Masons International, unless the Grand Cryptic Council which is  recognized with jurisdiction over that State, Territory or Country recognizes the Most Illustrious Grand Council of Cryptic Masons International or the General Conference PHA.
   2. A Companion of the General Grand Council or General Conference PHA may have Grand Council of Royal Select Masters / Grand Council of Cryptic Masons communication with any person legally present at the tiled meeting of a Grand Council of Royal Select Masters / Grand Council of Cryptic Masons within the world which has been chartered by, or holds allegiance to, the Most Illustrious Grand Council of Cryptic Masons International or the General Conference PHA. A Companion may have Grand Council of Royal Select Masters / Grand Council of Cryptic Masons International with any person legally present at the tiled meetings of the Most Illustrious Grand Council of Cryptic Masons International. During such a tiled meeting, a Companion may have Grand Council of Royal Select Masters / Grand Council of Cryptic Masons International communication with any person legally present even though such a person is not a member of a Grand Council of Royal Select Masters chartered by or holding allegiance to a Grand Council of Royal Select Masters. This exception applies only during such tiled meeting and at no other time.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED THAT it is mutually agreed that the Cryptic Rite and all of its Royal & Select Masters throughout the world will dwell together in Peace and Harmony, and the General Grand Council and the General Conference PHA hereafter extend Fraternal Recognition to the other as  duly constituted Cryptic jurisdictions, and do, in the true spirit of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth, hereby accord to the other rights of Visitation by written invitation, wheresoever assembled, subject always to the Rights, Powers and Authority of the Grand Lodges of specific jurisdictions.

James G. Baum, David A. Grindle, Reginald V. Talbert, Stephen E. Alderete
Photo by Ashley Balke

This noble occasion would not have been possible without the effort and dedication of the following California Cryptic Masons:

• Most Illustrious Companion Bernard Roberts, Jr.
• Past Most Illustrious Grand Thrice Illustrious Master
• Illustrious Prince Hall Grand Council Royal and Select Masters Jurisdiction of California
• Right Puissant Companion James G. Baum
• Southwest Regional Deputy General Grand Master
• Past Grand Master, Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of California
• Most Illustrious Companion William E. Price
• General Grand Ambassador to California North
• Past Grand Master, Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of California
• Most Illustrious Companion Brett A. McDonald
• General Grand Ambassador to California South
• Past Grand Master, Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of California
• Most Illustrious Companion William S. Dann
• Grand Master
• Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of California
• Father Stephen E. Aldrete
• Grand Treasurer
• Past Grand Commander, Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of California

This recognition was welcomed, and congratulations were extended by Sir Knight Jeffery Norman Nelson, Most Eminent Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America, and Right Excellent Companion Teko A. Foly, General Grand Scribe of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, International.

I would again like to thank all of those who assisted in this endeavor.

SO MOTE IT BE.