When the
Widows Sons were founded, on February 18, 1998, my intention was
to be autonomous. Autonomy was described as each Grand Chapter
operating its chapter under the rules and regulation of the
Grand Lodge of its state, without any outside voice or vote in its state.
Autonomy was purposely included into the founding bylaws to
prevent those who would want to rule regionally, nationally, or
internationally, over the Widows Sons from ruling over anything
outside their state, whether they call themselves by regional,
national or international titles.
Autonomy was also intentionally included into the founding
bylaws to prevent any kind of regional, national or
international officers in the Widows Sons, whether they were
elected by a small percentage to cover a small region, or
self-appointing by themselves, or hand picked by someone
attempting to act as a spokesman for the Widows Sons. There are
no spokesmen for the entity of the Widows Sons. Anything more
than state by state governing only creates politics, competition
and division amongst the craft. These problems are caused by
those who feel the need to be “in charge,” and will “do what it
takes” to be in charge rather than creating harmony.
Autonomy was purposely included into the founding bylaws so that
each Grand Chapter would have ultimate authority over its
operations. Autonomy was fully intended to prevent any Grand
Chapter from having to follow any type of chain of command,
voices, forces, influences or demands from anyone outside its
jurisdiction. Nobody from outside the state was intended to
have any voice in their affairs. I call this “Locking yourself
up inside your state and not allowing anyone from outside your
state to have any voice in your operations.” The only voice in
your
state belongs to you.
PERVERTED AUTONOMY
Autonomy is not a license to do what ever a Grand Chapter wants
just because they are autonomous and nobody can tell them what
to do. Autonomy was defined in the 6th Founding
Landmark as:
ruling
and governing their own state business and activities in
accordance with the due boundaries of Freemasonry of their
state, first, then within the due boundaries of these Widows
Sons founding by-laws and founding landmarks of the Widows Sons.
Although the
Grand Chapter is the ultimate authority in its state, autonomy
does not give a Grand Chapter the authority to abuse the power
given it by autonomy. The Grand Chapter is autonomous only when
it governs itself according to the governing structure of its
Grand Lodge.
The simple fact that a Grand Chapter is autonomous does not give
it the authority to remove an affiliate chapter without sound
reason, investigation, and proof of improper conduct. Autonomy
should never be used as a weapon or added to a witch hunt.
Disagreements are not improper conduct and provide no sound
reason to remove an affiliate chapter. Negotiation, as masons,
is the correct tool to solve disagreements within a state.
Autonomy protects a Grand Chapter when it is operating under the
rules and guides of its Grand Lodge. If a Grand Chapter does not
follow its Grand Lodges’ laws, the authority of its autonomy is
lost.
When a Grand Chapter is in line with its Grand Lodge, and an
affiliate chapter is rebelling, the Grand Chapter should
investigate and find proof of the cause of the rebellion, and
remove the cause, but the Grand Chapter should not govern itself
on assumptions.
Autonomy was never intended to give a Grand Chapter the
authority to set up bylaws that create “Officers for life.” The
Widows Sons were set up as the Grand Lodges are. There are no
“Officers for Life” in Freemasonry, so there should be none in
the Widows Sons.
Autonomy was never intended to give a Grand Chapter the
authority to make women or non masons a member of the WIdows Sons.
If a Grand Chapter is governing itself in a manner that does not
coincide with its Grand Lodge governing, The Grand Chapter
becomes a rogue chapter.
Recognition of other Grand Chapters comes through autonomy. A
Grand Chapter should only decide recognition of another Grand
Chapter. A Grand Chapter who makes statements to recognize or
derecognize an affiliate chapter from another state is an
attempt to have a voice in the workings of another state.
Autonomy only provides within your state when you are conforming
to your Grand Lodge Law.
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