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My Brothers, in, take control of that fund and redirect it to a similar charitable
I know many of you look forward to propose. While the Office of the Attorney General has that power, it
our Annual Communication and prefers to work with the holder of that charitable fund and
opportunity meet with Brothers we ―repurpose‖ the fund. No exceptions to this general rule apply here.
may only see once a year. Out of
an abundance of caution and That is what happened once the Masonic Retirement Center was
concern for the health and well- sold. The Masonic Home Fund and the Masonic Home Endowment
being of our Brothers, our Grand Fund could no longer fulfill their stated purposes of supporting the
Master, with the concurrence of the building and residents. So even prior to the sale, the Grand Lodge
entire Executive Committee, has attorneys approached the Office of the Attorney General to work out
decided to cancel the public events an agreement to repurpose those funds. An agreement was reached
of our Annual Communication
originally scheduled for Great Wolf and has been filed with the King County Superior Court, as is
Lodge. This was not a decision that required by civil law. The agreement provides that instead of
the Executive Committee wanted to supporting the Masonic Retirement Center and its residents, the
make, but it is the right thing to do funds will be used to support the Grand Lodge’s charitable arm,
RWB Chris Coffman for the Fraternity. Washington Masonic Charities. The Grand Lodge will continue to
Deputy Grand Our Grand Lodge faced a similar hold the funds which will be subject to the Washington Masonic
situation in 1945. Then, as part of
Code
Master the war effort, meetings of more To implement the final step in the agreement with the Attorney
than 50 people that required travel General, the Grand Lodge must amend the Washington Masonic
were prohibited. At that time, our Grand Master met with several Code. Resolution 2020-15 will complete that step. Some Brothers
Past Grand Masters and others and developed a plan on how to have asked what happens if we do not pass this resolution. The
proceed. Your Executive Committee has worked with Jurisprudence, worst thing that could happen is the Office of the Attorney General
using the 1945 solution as a model and incorporating modern determines that the agreement has been breached and demands
technology, has developed a plan to hold a one-day Annual Com- that we turn over the two funds for distribution to another unrelated
munication allowing participation via Zoom (keeping all esoteric work charity. Simply put, if we do not pass this Resolution, the Attorney
private). Because there will be restrictions on how we can operate, General could sue the Grand Lodge of Washington and take the
the only voting that will be conducted is such that is necessary for money that is in the Home Fund and the Home Endowment Fund
the business of Grand Lodge such as election of officers and (approximately $27,660,000 as of the end of March) and give it to
trustees, approval of the Grand Master’s message, the budget and a someone else.
few other items. One of those items is the consideration of Resolu-
tion 2020-15, no other legislation will be considered. However, if the resolution passes, then our agreement with the
Attorney General’s Office will be satisfied and we will continue to be
So why do we need to vote on Resolution 2020-15? Generally, if able to support Washington Masonic Charities and Grand Lodge.
funds are considered charitable, they must remain charitable. This is The choice is obvious; please pass Resolution 2020-15.
a long-standing legal principle. When a charitable fund can no RWB Chris Coffman, Deputy Grand Master
longer fulfill its purpose, the Office of The Attorney General can step

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