NOTE: This story has been updated.
Like so many other groups all over the world, the annual Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in North America has been forced to drop its in-person meeting this year because of the COVID pandemic. I'm sure the brethren in Seattle, Washington who had been preparing to host this event for several years are greatly disappointed. But the event will go on.
This year's COGMMNA will be an online event. So is the concurrent Conference of Grand Secretaries.
A video conference.
Live streamed.
Over the Internet.
None other than South Carolina Grand Master Walter C. Disher II.
Would it be unnecessarily churlish to ask if he's not going to participate in the conference, since it violates his own edict against electronic Masonic gatherings for which a PGM was just expelled? Or might he consider expelling himself?
It's a conundrum.
UPDATE February 11, 2021 6:35PM
Sometime in the last few days since I posted this story, the web page for the Conference of Grand Masters was updated. It seems that South Carolina Grand Master Walter Discher II won't need to expel himself after all. He has been replaced as Vice Chairman (Pro Tem) of the Conference by Ken Gorgen, Grand Master of Wisconsin. According to multiple sources, neither Discher nor South Carolina Grand Secretary Gerald L.Carver will be participating in the online virtual COGMMNA of Conference of Grand Secretaries.
DANG GOOD QUESTION !
ReplyDeleteSurely this is a point in the defence of the PGM if needed. #hypocrisy
ReplyDeleteHe should tuck his hand inside his coat to complete the full Napoleon look.
ReplyDeleteIs that what "hoist on his own petard" means?
ReplyDeleteDoug Price
PM Virginia #315 (KS)
PM Scurry 706 (TX)
The greatest test of virtue is to ensure that no Mason, regardless of rank, should ever hold themselves above the very laws to which they themselves has laid out for others. Interesting twist.
ReplyDeletePlease continue reporting on this... I want to know what he does!! I do feel sorry for the brethren of South Carolina.
ReplyDeleteRules for thee, but not for me.
ReplyDeleteMy father always said the Masons worst enemy are themselves. Sadly, he was not mistaken.
ReplyDeleteFreemasons were instrumental in transitioning thirteen colonies into "one nation indivisible." Curiously they neglected to do the same for themselves.
ReplyDeleteIn the United States the Brotherhood exists as a confederacy of 52 sovereign jurisdictions. A house devided.
Red Kittell, Reno, NV
He has been removed from the committee for dereliction of his responsibilities to the COGMMNA. South Carolina will not be represented at the conference this session. You may verify this with the COGMMNA itself.
ReplyDeleteWondering if this is true.
DeleteIt is. The list of officers has been updated.
DeleteNo problem it's obvious this person is a politician first and a Freemason second. Like all megalomaniacs it is do as I say not as I do.
ReplyDeleteWhat are the dates of this year's conference?
ReplyDeleteDitto. Dang good question.
ReplyDeleteSweet baby Jesus, please give those of us in South Carolina another reason to be ashamed of our Grand Master. (I'm anonymous so I don't get kicked out by these clowns)
ReplyDeleteForm south carolina also
DeleteThere are more than one brother in Seattle who were not in favor of a Seattle meeting and won't miss the expenses involved. Money better spent on needy brothers.
ReplyDeleteI just heard from a great friend, brother and Past Master that there Lodge, one of the oldest lodges in the nation, Union Kilwinning #4, in Charleston, SC, had an altercation with Cal Disher, and the next in line be Grand Master O B Smith. I also heard they brought criminal charges against the Lodge, for sealing their own property, but the Sheriff's office threw out the charges. They are abusing their offices and are killing Masonry in our state, all under the name of Covid. It is so sad, they truly have become tyrannical!! There is no brotherly Love from the Grand Lodge Office, they truly have gotten too big for themselves.
ReplyDeleteI knew Cal Disher in high school at Holly Hill Roberts, I could have told y'all about this idiot. Nobody at the DOT liked this guy, he's a little man who craves power, over the years he changed into nothing but an angry old prick even though he's not old.
DeleteHello Brothers, I am a South Carolina Brother, and the current Worshipful Master of Union Kilwinning Lodge #4 of Charleston, SC, Chartered 1755. Everything I have read about questioning this man's actions rings absolutely true to me: Masonry in South Carolina is in the process of being snuffed out. It seems to me by the whim of one man wielding the Ring of Power.
ReplyDeleteWalter "Cal" Disher, due COVID completely called off our annual Grand Lodge meeting in 2020, without contacting the Lodges, or getting their consent. He then deemed himself to be the Grand Master again for another year, without having been re-elected. He, like ALL officers in SC, take an oath of office "for the space of one year". In my personal opinion, when the date of Grand Lodge was missed, his claim to office was lost, and he vacated the Chair.
This man has been forcefully making small Lodges merge, even before COVID, and apparently kicking 40-year member PGMs out for not bowing to his whim.
The Reopening Plan that he dictated into effect Law (without proper Legislative action: aka 'a vote'), violates many provisions of the Constitution of GL of SC, and even violates the 25 Landmarks. If y'all are interested, I can pass his (completely public) Reopening Plan on for your understanding.
Truly dark days for masonry in South Carolina. I have a feeling some large events are going to shake the very earth of masonry in South Carolina before this is all done. Hopefully for the better.
I’m interested in seeing his plan. It’s a sad day for Freemasonry in South Carolina.
DeleteI’m interested.
DeleteI've know Cal Disher all his life and he's a big POS, he has anger management issues, I know a lot of people that would like t smash his face in including me. He is clearly not the same person I knew growing up, personally I think he has an undiagnosed mental illness.
DeleteWell...had you not reported on the situation, he might have tried it, but, under the circumstances!
ReplyDeleteAs a South Carolina Mason for 10 years, I can testify that if new, young, eager members were blood, our grand jurisdiction would have bled out many years ago. The bloom comes off the rose almost the first minute a new member comes in, and they're in the wind. It is nothing like what our obligations and lectures speak of. Absolutely nothing. Makes me sick to my stomach.
ReplyDeleteDisher has now been replaced on the COGMNA website list of officers.
ReplyDeleteAnd as bad is Jay Adam Pearson (full name if you please says he) wants to be Grand Secretary I am told. The two years he was in his high office; believe 2011 to 2013, ran amok looking for enemies and issues near and far. Revoking charters, removing Lodge officers and getting involved after a lawfully conducted Lodge vote about a fire escape are some of his "achievements". On the surface "reasonable" while underneath is an ulterior motive of personal gain. Megalomania at its worst for Masonry. And his lackey was Darryl (SIC?) Elder in the Charleston, SC area. And he was given the Albert Mackey Award by Pearson for being Pearson's eyes and ears looking for a supposed issue to flame into something to attack. Never mind it was nothing to be concerned with nor talk to the Brothers. Oh no! Let's act like a bull in a china shop. Yes, COVID is an issue today; but a good issue to exploit. PGM Smith should have never been charged. And Pearson was there with Cal Disher. No doubt in their minds another issue. Zoom was only a reason to rid themselves of someone who looked out for the Craft and not himself. No wonder the rolls of the Craft are declining.
ReplyDeleteThe 2021 Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina, in North Charleston that was “tentatively” set for April 22nd and 23rd is no longer on the Grand Lodge calendar and the Grand Lodge email that was sent out to the Lodges on December 16, 2020 with that information has mysteriously disappeared from the Grand Secretary of South Carolina listing of email messages. Curious at best as have not seen an email or other “communique” from the junta in Lexington, SC that it was no longer being held. Looks like another in the continuing string of devious actions by Cal Disher and Jay Adam Pearson (says he) to remove MWB Smith and appoint Jay Adam Pearson (says he) as Grand Secretary. And without a Communication of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina; Jay Adam Pearson (says he) settles in until an Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina is actually held. In addition, no action can be taken by the Craft to vacate the disgraceful expulsion of MWB Smith. Questions remain . . . where do the other Past Grand Masters of South Carolina stand? Are they shoulder to shoulder with “Cal” Disher and Jay Adam Pearson (says he)? Or are they standing for the Ahiman Rezon and Masonry? If so; where are their voices? Not a public peep to my knowledge.
ReplyDeleteYou should make the following a new post asap:
ReplyDeleteDisher and his cronies have ordered this to be suppressed.
https://imgur.com/a/63H9deO
Holy Moses!
ReplyDeleteThe Dishwasher has been having sleepovers with JP racist because he needs help with his homework before GL. Looks like they have their work cut out for them before we cut them out completely. We won't be grading on a curve no matter how many apologies the policeman makes to try and save his own hide.