The Commission on Information for Recognition for the Conference of Grand Masters of Masons of North America has issued its 2011 report.
See the complete report here.
It covers recognition information about grand lodges in Baja California, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Monaco, Romania and Spain.
In addition, the Commission issued statements about the MasonicLeaks.com website, The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry website, and the Grand Priory of the Reformed and Rectified Rite of the United States of America. Concerning the latter, the Commission provides the opinion that the Grand Priory's charter is irregular. It goes on to say,
From the Commission's website comes this explanation of its role:
My reading of that is that the Commission's very narrowly defined purpose is simply to provide regularity and recognition information on symbolic craft grand lodges only, and has historically steered clear of questions concerning appendant bodies. I would think that the only body that could effectively make definitive recommendations concerning a Rectified Rite grand priory would be the Independent Great Priory of Helvetia, which was established in 1779, and from which all Rectified Rite charters have since descended. But perhaps I am mistaken.
See the complete report here.
It covers recognition information about grand lodges in Baja California, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Monaco, Romania and Spain.
In addition, the Commission issued statements about the MasonicLeaks.com website, The Foundation of Universal Freemasonry website, and the Grand Priory of the Reformed and Rectified Rite of the United States of America. Concerning the latter, the Commission provides the opinion that the Grand Priory's charter is irregular. It goes on to say,
This Commission does not normally concern itself with the affairs of appendant bodies; however, it is concerned about the negative impact on the established system of regularity in North American Freemasonry that may be caused by members of our Grand Lodges setting a precedent by becoming affiliated with organizations that receive their charter from an irregular source.
From the Commission's website comes this explanation of its role:
The Commission on Information for Recognition was organized in 1951 as a facility to gather, collate, and from time to time, revise information on Grand Lodges in other lands, as a service to the Grand Lodges of this Conference.
The Commission neither advises nor recommends that recognition be given to any Grand Lodges, but merely indicates whether or not it considers that a Grand Lodge in question satisfies the conditions of regularity.
My reading of that is that the Commission's very narrowly defined purpose is simply to provide regularity and recognition information on symbolic craft grand lodges only, and has historically steered clear of questions concerning appendant bodies. I would think that the only body that could effectively make definitive recommendations concerning a Rectified Rite grand priory would be the Independent Great Priory of Helvetia, which was established in 1779, and from which all Rectified Rite charters have since descended. But perhaps I am mistaken.