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*** The views presented in the following section are not endorsed by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Arizona or the Grand Master of Free and Accepted Masons of Arizona but are solely the opinions of its author ***
To many of you reading this, the subject of irregular or unrecognized Freemasonry may seem odd and unfamiliar. After all, it is curious that there should be an irregular version of a fraternal organization, but there is and with the communicative resources available in our time these organizations try their hardest to gain a footing.
There are many reasons why these organizations are considered irregular to mainstream Freemasonry. Some of these organizations violate our ancient landmarks, constitutions, codes of conduct and other elements that make up the foundation of Freemasonry. Some do it strictly for profit and through deception to generate income from unsuspecting people and yet some seem to do it simply out of spite.
Some people may ask "Well, what's the big deal, who cares if there are irregular Masonic groups out there?" Because by their claimed allegiance to the Masonic fraternity anything they do reflects on us, unknowingly to the public who aren't aware of jurisdictional recognition.
The next question about this that deserves attention is "Who are these people?". This depends on the organization. Excluding those who have joined a regular, but unrecognized jurisdiction or have knowingly joined an irregular/regular, unrecognized jurisdiction from my experiences they are either; expelled Masons from a regular jurisdiction, disgruntled former Masons from a regular jurisdiction, scam artists, or thoroughly misguided men who thought they were joining the Freemasonry of reality.
Some of these organizations have developed Grand Bodies and hence issued/received Charters from these groups. Some may have a piece of paper saying that they are a legitimate fraternity, but in the eyes of the world they are not. Instead of forming another separate or different organization with similar tenets and imagery (as have other fraternal organizations) they have chose to use the name of Freemasonry and produce a counterfeit jurisdiction.
Any regular Freemasons and men looking to join the fraternity of Freemasons must be cognizant of the existence of these groups and be vigilant of local encroachment to preserve the integrity of recognized Freemasonry.
Below are some fraudulent, irregular, or unrecognized Masonic organizations:
Grand Orient of the United States of America
**Commentary on The Grand Orient USA***
Grand Lodge of All England
**Commentary on The Grand Lodge of All England**
The Grand Lodge of
Ancient, Accepted and Esoteric Freemasons
**Commentary on The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Accepted Esoteric Masons**
George Washington Union of Freemasons
United Grand Lodge of America
**Commentary on the United Grand Lodge of America**
Alharam Lodge
**Commentary on Alharam Lodge**
The Most Worshipful United Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free & Accepted Masons of Democratic Republics
**Commentary on The MWUGLAFAMDR**
The Regular Grand Lodge of England
**Commentary on The Regular Grand Lodge of England**
Grand Orient de France in North America
M.W. St. John Grand Lodge of Arizona
Ezra Grand Lodge of Arizona AF & AM
Golden Eagle Grand Lodge
*Many of these organizations have names that sound very familiar with their regular counterpart, very much like knockoff products with similar names as the originals. For information on recognized and regular Freemasonry please visit our links page.*
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