Brethren attending Grand Lodge today have received on entrance a copy of the Supplemental Report of the Board of General Purposes dated 10 June 2003 relating to a body emanating from the United States of America known as the York Rite College which has set up a new subsidiary in London.
The Board takes a very serious view of any body, stating itself to be Masonic and which seeks to advance or further Masonic activity amongst Members of the English Craft, setting itself up without our consent in any area where this Grand Lodge has exclusive jurisdiction.
No attempt was made to seek approval from this Grand Lodge or the governing bodies in England and Wales of the other Orders membership of which is a pre-condition for the York Rite College. The Board considers that there is no place within Masonry in England and Wales for any body which stands outside the traditional organisations and that the new body calling itself the York Rite College is irregular. It understands that the governing bodies of the other Orders of which membership is a pre-condition take a similar view.
I ask that Grand Lodge today adopts this Supplemental Report of the Board. If accepted its provisions will become a binding edict of Grand Lodge and any Members of the Craft who are members of a York Rite College working in England and Wales, or any District or place over which we have exclusive jurisdiction (or share it only with Ireland and/or Scotland), will be required to disclaim and to sever such connection. If they fail to do so they will be liable to suspension or expulsion from the English Craft under the provisions of Rule 176 of our Book of Constitutions.
Brethren, this unfortunate event serves to remind all Members of the Craft that they should take great care before joining any organisation which purports to be Masonic. If in doubt a written enquiry should be made of the Grand Secretary's Office here at Freemasons' Hall.
MW Pro Grand Master and Brethren, I now propose that the Report of the Board of General Purposes which appears in the Paper of Business and the Supplemental Report of the Board which was made available to you today on entering Grand Lodge be adopted and entered in the Minutes.