Greetings from the Grand Secretary

From the Desk of Clinton M. Brown, Jr.
Grand Secretary

It has been a few years since I have written an article about some of the scam calls and phishing emails that go around.  First, let me assure you that neither the Grand Master nor I will be travelling to Central America anytime soon.  So, if you receive an email saying that we are in a Guatemalan jail and need money, please delete it, it is a scam. 

All kidding aside, we receive numerous emails and calls to the office regarding scams that are being received via text messages, telephone or email messages.  With the holiday season coming up, I thought it might be a good time for a refresher course in how to avoid being a victim of internet scams.

It seems that the scammers are getting more sophisticated.  For one, they are not asking for money when they make initial contact.  Second, they have your personal information and use real names that you can verify on the internet.  For example, they may use the name of a law firm or business that you can easily find with an internet search.  However, further investigation will show that the phone number or email address are different than the ones listed for that business.  Here are a few scams that we have heard about:

1. You receive an email from a law firm saying they represent the estate of a person who may be a long-lost relative (in all likelihood, it will be someone you have never heard of).  They do not say anything about an inheritance but say something about needing to speak to you immediately.  They don’t ask for any money or personal information in the letter.  They just ask you to contact them to help determine if you are a relative.  Have no doubt though, they will eventually ask for money or personal information to try to help them “determine if you are entitled to the inheritance”.
2. You receive an email asking you to take an online survey.  The survey question may be for a social interest or to help an organization (such as the Masons) that you are a member of.  If you don’t know who is sending you such a request, do not open the email.  It can contain malware which automatically installs itself on your computer and allow cyber criminals to see every move you make online.
3. You receive a telephone call from someone claiming to be raising money for or wanting to confirm personal information for a Masonic Lodge, a Shrine Temple or another similar organization.  These are called Charity Scams.  When in doubt, get their information and investigate their legitimacy.  
4. You receive an email or telephone call from a third party that something bad has happened to someone you know, and they need you to wire money to them immediately. Again, a scammer looking for money.
5. You receive a call from someone claiming to be with the IRS (or some other alphabet agency) and stating that you owe them money and must make a payment right away in order to avoid arrest. 

• Scammers are notorious for bad grammar and spelling.  This is also true with robo-call scams.  I received a robo-call saying that the IRS would be “filling” a lawsuit.
• Beware of links within emails. If you see a suspicious link DO NOT click on it.  You can rest your mouse (but don't click) on the link to see if the address matches the link that was typed in the message.  If it does not match, it is a dangerous link.
• Spoofing is making an email or website appear to be associated with a well know organization (such as the Masons).  If you receive an email or a link to a site but you are not familiar with the sender or they ask for personal information, do not click on it.
• If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.  Trust the little voice inside your head.  Scammers play on your sympathy, fear and trust. 

If you have questions about an email or phone call that you receive, do not hesitate to contact my office to determine if it is legitimate.  There are many people out there who are trying every way possible to take your money.  Do not allow yourself to become a victim.

 

Fraternally,
RWB Clint Brown
Grand Secretary
 

Greetings, my Brothers!
 
In my duties as your Assistant Grand Secretary, I receive many phone calls asking for solutions to problems concerning our Masonic Code and our Standard Work. Sometimes, I will field multiple phone calls on the same topic which result in the same, or similar outcomes.
 
Since it is now November, and many of our Lodges are, or will be holding their annual installations soon, I will touch on a topic pertaining to installations.
 
To review, a Lodge elects its officers before installing them, so there is a period of time in between those dates where the Lodge has officers-elect. During this time the Lodge is preparing for the Installation event, making programs, consulting with the installing officers, making dinner arrangements and the like. In the meantime, the members of the Lodge are announcing their installation at other Lodges. Over the last decade or so, a custom has crept into these announcements to where the Lodge members have been referring to their Master-elect with the title of “worthy brother.” At first, I would ask the Brother who made such a reference, after the meeting, as to where in the Code or Standard Work they found such title to be officially used. Every time, they point out the Installing Marshal’s spoken part towards the beginning of the installation Ceremony, in which he says, “ …and I now present to you our worthy Brother _____ to be installed as the Worshipful Master of…”. Over the past month, I have received phone calls at the Grand Lodge office regarding this matter, with Brothers asking if this is indeed a recognized title for a Master-elect of a Masonic Lodge.
 
My Brothers, there is no such title in our Fraternity as “worthy brother.” That title is used in other Fraternities, such as the Grange, but not in ours. As to the section of our Installation ceremony containing the Installing Marshal’s dialogue, the word “worthy” is not capitalized, but the following word “Brother” is capitalized. If the word “Worthy” were indeed to be a title, it would also be capitalized along with Brother. You will notice that in every case, the word “Worshipful” is capitalized along with “Brother” in our Standard Work, as it is a title for a Worshipful Master or a Past Master. The word “worthy” is used extensively in our ceremonies, both public and private, but it is never used in an official title in our ritual.
 
I appreciate the Brothers who called to double-check this new development, even if it seems trivial and minor on the surface. We must be careful when we make any innovations in our ritual, titles, and the like, to be certain that any new ideas do not conflict with our Masonic Code, Standard Work or the Ancient Landmarks. There is indeed a lot of latitude in our ritual, particularly with the floor work, that many Lodges utilize to make their Lodge distinctive, so we must be careful and do our homework before incorporating the distinction officially in a tyled Lodge.
 
And, of course, if you believe there should be an overall change in our Masonic Code or Standard Work, there’s always the resolution route. The deadline to submit one for this year is less than a month away.
 
So, for all of you who will be installed for the 2020 year, may you be worthy of the honor that has been bestowed upon you!



Fraternally,
VWB Clayton M. M. La Vigne
Assistant Grand Secretary

 

** Please direct any questions to the Finance Committee