Renounce the Rose Cross of Gold or face banishment, says the Grand Lodge of Georgia

On October 26, 2005 certified letters demanding renunciation of association with the Rite of the Rose Cross of Gold went out from the Grand Lodge of Georgia to Georgia Masons who were known members of the RRCG. [Click on the image to the left to enlarge, then click on the enlargement to make it big enough to read]. The membership list of the RRCG had been given to the Grand Lodge of Georgia in good faith, and with the assurance that the list would never be used as a means of enabling a pogrom or witchhunt against the members. Two members of the RRCG renounced their affiliation and maintained their status in their Blue Lodges; the rest of the RRCG brothers refused to sign, and by the first of the year, their names were simply stricken from the rolls of their regular Blue Lodges at the order of the Grand Lodge, with no opportunity for them to speak in their own defense. These men treated with such disrespect were not non-attending Masons; most of the RRCG men were also active members or even officers of their lodges.

The right to a Masonic trial was not allowed these good Brothers. Their names and their Masonic histories simply went down an Orwellian memory hole.

A second round of letters began arriving in mailboxes of Georgia Masons who are suspected members or associated with the RRCG on March 1, 2006.

The text of the Grand Master's Edict 2005-1 is as follows:

Edict 2005-1

Any organization(s) within the State of Georgia (to include any Internet organization(s)), or individual members or affiliates of said organization(s), purporting to be Masonic or purporting to confer or exemplify any type or resemblance to a present or ancient Masonic degree or degrees, that is (are) not recognized or accepted by this Grand Lodge is (are) hereby declared clandestine.

So ordered this 30th day of July, 2005.

s/ Albert F. Garner, Grand Master

Please note that in Freemasonry, as in most disciplines, certain words have specific meanings. In Freemasonry, traditionally a "clandestine" organization means a group of people who aren't, but claim to be, Free-Masons, that meets in secret for some nefarious purpose such as political or religious subversion. These groups are not Masonic and have the potential to be dangerous.

The Rite of the Rose Cross of Gold is a voluntary organization composed of regular Masons who seek further Masonic education than is offered through Georgia's Blue Lodges, or in the York or Scottish Rite.

Declaring something "clandestine" is simply playing games with words. Calling a group of regular Masons "clandestine" doesn't make them clandestine any more than calling an apple an orange makes it an orange. But apparently in the 21st century, the word clandestine is being used as a synonym for "heretic."

Freemasonry | Rite of the Rose Cross of Gold
United Grand Lodge of America | Grand Lodge of Georgia