Page 36 - Montana Freemason Magazine March 2014
P. 36
Montana Freemason March 2014 Volume 90 Number 1
Conference of Grand Secretaries In North America
Elect Grand Secretary Gardiner Vice President
The Conference of Grand Secretaries in North During the 1950s and 1960s, the CMGSNA met in
America (CMGSNA) just completed its eighty-fifth Washington DC in conjunction with the Conference
meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. The Conference of Grand Masters of Masons North America
is comprised of 63 Jurisdictions throughout North (CGMNA). The Grand Masters had organized their
America, extending from Canada to Mexico. Conference in 1927 around the annual meeting of
the George Washington Masonic National Memorial
During the 2014 Conference R.W. Grand Secretary Association.
Reid Gardiner was elected as a Vice President of the
Conference. Each year the Conference publishes its proceedings
that contain statistical tables, contact information and
Its been almost 20 years ago since the last time a running index of topics discussed over the last 50
Montana had a Grand Secretary who was an officer years. A progressive line of officers was adopted in
of the Conference of Grand Secretaries. R.W. Brother 1966.
Dean Lindahl was a Conference Officer from 1995 t0
1997 and served as President in 1997.
The Conference of Masonic Grand Secretaries of Conference of Grand Secretaries
North America (CMGSNA) was founded in 1928, but President: ~ Douglas Campbell, Minnesota
traces its origins to an earlier organization. On July First Vice President ~ David Owens, Washington
22, 1891 the “Masonic Grand Secretaries Guild” was Second Vice President ~ Reid Gardiner, Montana
organized. The first attendees elected officers, drafted Executive Secretary/Trs ~ Michael DeWolf, Wisconsin
by-laws and discussed various important topics Assistant Secretary/Trs ~ Richard Elman, Indiana
facing a rapidly growing Craft. The Guild produced Chaplain ~ Terrance Shand, Canada (Ontario)
its objective: “to become personally acquainted; to
agree, if possible, upon the best forms and method,
and in general, to consult touching specific and other
interests of Grand Secretaries offices and duties.”
During the 1928 meeting a permanent association Topics addressed this year included:
was created. The Conference had expanded the agenda Tax Changes & 990 Returns
to begin discussing certificates of good standing, Membership Development & Retention
interjurisdictional affiliation requirements and Use of Permanent Membership Cards
standardized dues cards. Within ten years a majority World Conference of Grand Lodges
of US Grand Secretaries attended the Conference as Traditional Observance Lodges
membership included Canadian Grand Secretaries M(MaansRodFndiacisncDduisrTse.iOcotn.oLroiofedcsogemsmnaotniopnrwobidleem) s with the
and non-Grand Secretaries as guest speakers. Its Report of the Committee on Recognition
annual reports included tables of information on Social Media, It’s Use and Control
dues and fees, dual and plural membership and other FPrreoepmeratsyoTnasxUEnxievmerpsittiyon(asnfodroLno-ldingeesprogram)
statistics. Grand Secretaries’ contact information Open discussion on topics of concern
along with their photos and the full transcription of Masonic Service Association Report
each meeting were also printed. Masonic Model Student Assistance Program report
In 1946 the Conference changed its name from
Masonic Grand Secretaries of the United States by
adding “and Canada.”
The next year it simplified the name to “in North
America” as membership included secretaries of
Masonic appendant bodies and charities.
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