GOVERNMENT OF THE CRAFT

Serving the Craft, Humanity, and God

The Government of the Craft represents that bureaucracy which Freemasonry needs to ensure the continued functionality and expansion of the Order. At the top of the hierarchy, rests the Grand Constitution; the document from which the Order receives her principles and authority. Alongside the Constitution, rests the Landmarks of Freemasonry: a series of "unwritten" laws which ensure that the most important tenets of Freemasonry are preserved. Both are essential to maintain the values of Freemasonry, and both are obeyed and considered binding by the Members - from the newest to the most senior in our organization.

The governing body of the Order is the Supreme Council of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the 33rd Degree. Presided over by the Most Sovereign Grand Commander, the Council is entrusted with the expansion and growth of Co-Masonry, while maintaining and preserving the tenants of the Grand Constitution. The following chart shows the hierarchy of Order, after which a brief description of each section will be given:

Supreme Council of Universal Co-Masonry
The Supreme Council is the ultimate Masonic authority of the Order. Faithful allegiance and implicit obedience is due to it from all bodies, committees, and members within its jurisdiction from the 1st to the 33rd and last degree of Freemasonry. Its functions and prerogatives are therefore of the most extensive and important nature.

Members of the Supreme Council are those few that have provided exceptional service to the Order. By merit and ability, they have earned the right to govern the Order.

Grand Council of Administration
Below the Supreme Council is the Grand Council of Administration. In essence, the steward of the Supreme Council, the duties of the Grand Council of Administration are to maintain, preserve, and expand the temporal realm of the Order. This includes all assets, properties, buildings, and other items necessary to ensure the Work of Universal Co-masonry. The members of the Grand Council are elected by the general membership.

Lodges
In each Lodge, universal suffrage is sovereign, but the sovereignty of the members of a Lodge must never be derogatory to the sovereignty of the members of another Lodge. The Honorable Order of Universal Co-masonry operates Lodges across North and South America.

Members
All members must abide by the Grand Constitution, the Rules & Regulations of the Order, the decrees of the Supreme Council, and the Bylaws of their particular lodge. By virtue of the principle of fraternity which constitutes the foundation of Freemasonry, The Honorable Order of Universal Co-Masonry fraternally welcomes Masons of other Obedience's which, like itself, labor for the progress of humanity along the road of material, moral, and spiritual betterment.