The Grand Lodge of Freemasons

The Grand Lodge of Freemasons (GLOF) is a unique but proud Orange alliance. Created on November 11th, 2007, Genghis officially opened it on December 8th, 2007. Hailing its inspiration from the tenets of Freemasonry, the Lodge espouses true and sincere comraderey amongst its peers and seeks to make better people better whilst becoming the best alliance in the game.

The Masonic Code
Version 4 Ratified - 01 Jul 2008
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 * '''I violate no secret when I say that one of the greatest values in Masonry is that it affords an opportunity for men of all walks of life to meet on common ground where all men are equal and have one common interest.
 * Theodore Roosevelt, Freemason.'''

Preamble

On this day, the twenty-third of June in the Year of Our Lord two-thousand and eight,

We, as free individuals, have convened in mutual harmony to secure the material and immaterial wealth of our borders. With the signing of this document, the Grand Lodge of Freemasons is born; a community by which each of us shall stand as a Sacred Order of Brothers and Sisters. We shall become a Beacon of Truth in a desert of barren intentions and hollow words; forging an alliance within which no contention shall ever exist but the sincere emulation of Liberty, Equality, and Solidarity. Together, we have established this Masonic Code to reflect our principles and become our Square and Compass; so say we all.

Article I. The Overview

 * '''Freemasonry must stand upon the religious, political, social, and economic Rock of Truth. Nothing is so worthy of its care as freedom in all its aspects. "Free" is the most vital part of Freemasonry. It means freedom of thought and expression, freedom of spiritual and religious ideals, freedom from oppression, freedom from ignorance, superstition, vice and bigotry, freedom to acquire and possess property, to go and come at pleasure, and to rise or fall according to will of ability.
 * H.W.Coil, Freemason.'''

Section 1. The Introduction:
Although this alliance has been founded upon the ancient tradition of Freemasonry, we recognize that Cyber Nations is a role-playing experience and that we reserve the right to enjoy the many economic, militaristic, and diplomatic aspects of it. In no matter, shape or form, should our actions be interpreted as the factual application of the Grand Secret.

The Grand Lodge of Freemasons is not officially affiliated with any specific denomination of Freemasonry.

Section 2. The Association:
For definitive purposes, every individual that is affiliated with our alliance shall be considered to be a Freemason; our membership has been divided into three degrees of escalating responsibility: the Degree of Entered Apprentice, the Degree of Fellow Craft, and the Degree of Master Mason.

Section 3. The Code of Conduct:
The Grand Lodge of Freemasons expects reasonably civilized behavior from every individual who seeks to obtain or retain membership in this alliance; respectful discussion and behavior toward our kin, proponents, and opponents is encouraged. As rational human beings, we understand that our actions have consequences; any Freemason guilty of conduct unbecoming of a Lodge member may face disciplinary action and/or dismissal at the discretion of The Council.

Article II. The Membership

 * '''Freemasonry is an ancient and respectable institution, embracing individuals of every nation, of every religion, and of every condition in life. Wealth, power and talents are not necessary to the person of a Freemason. An unblemished character and a virtuous conduct are the only qualifications for admission into the Order.
 * Laurie, Freemason.'''

Section 1. The Admission to the Grand Lodge of Freemasons is subject to the following conditions:</U>
2.1.1. Any free individual who is seeking to become a Freemason must visit our Grand Lodge at Square-n-Compass and submit a request to receive the Degree of Entered Apprentice.

2.1.2. Every aforementioned individual must apply his or her mark to the letter of this Masonic Oath:


 * ''I, _________, of my own free will and accord, do hereby and hereon most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, that I will hail, ever conceal, and never reveal any of the secrets, arts, parts, point or points of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons to any party or person; with the legitimate exception that it be to a true and lawful brother or sister of our degree. I shall acknowledge and obey all due signs and summons sent to me from The Council; in service to my brethren I shall bring service to myself.


 * ''I shall hold the Grand Secret inviolable; never illicitly committing an action that risks material or conscientious harm to my Grand Lodge. I shall communicate the Grand Masonic Word only in the specific manner or form in that which I shall receive it. I shall protect the parts of the Grand Masonic Word if ever they are directed to and received by me as such; with the exception of murder and treason.


 * ''I shall never recognize the authority of a foreign power other than my Creator over myself or my Lodge no matter which form that it may be disguised in. I shall never sit in a Lodge of Clandestine-made Masonry or converse on the subject of Masonry with a Clandestine-made Mason. I shall forever protect the Grand Hailing Sign of Distress even amidst the dying moments of my final hour of existence.


 * Under never less of a penalty than the sacrifice of my conscience, having my body severed in two, and watching my bowels taken from thence and burned until ashes; I shall never violate this obligation and will henceforth honor the Masonic Code.

Section 2. The Degree of Entered Apprentice is subject to the following conditions:</U>
2.2.1. The phrase Entered Apprentice is a reference to any individual who has submitted an application for membership to the Grand Lodge of Freemasons and has been accepted; he or she shall experience a probationary period, the purpose for which is training and to give the Lodge the opportunity to assess his or her conduct. Every individual who graduates from the Degree of Entered Apprentice will be given the opportunity to receive the Degree of Fellow Craft.

Section 3. The Degree of Fellow Craft is subject to the following conditions:</U>
2.3.1. The phrase Fellow Craft is a reference to any individual who has graduated from the Degree of Entered Apprentice and has accepted the Degree of Fellow Craft; he or she shall receive Convention privileges, opportunities for appointment or nomination, the capability to participate in the Grand Treasury, shall remain consistently active, and shall be obligated to recognize the Grand Hailing Sign of Distress.

Section 4. The Degree of Master Mason is subject to the following conditions:</U>
2.4.1. The phrase Master Mason is a reference to any individual who has graduated from the Degree of Fellow Craft and has accepted the Degree of Master Mason; he or she has either served or is currently serving on The Council. While subject to the privileges assigned to a Fellow Craft, a Master Mason shall remain a ceremonial example of our manifested principles.

Section 5. The Resignation:</U>
2.5.1. Every Freemason shall submit his or her resignation to, and gain acceptance from, The Council, prior to seeking alternative membership in an alliance or ending affiliation with the Grand Lodge of Freemasons.

Section 6. The Dismissal, Disciplinary Action, and Appeal:</U>
2.6.1. Any individual who willfully violates this Masonic Code or becomes unreasonably inactive may be subject to dismissal and/or disciplinary action at the discretion of The Council.

2.6.2. The term dismissal is a reference to the action of forcefully removing an individual from his or her affiliation with the Grand Lodge of Freemasons.

2.6.3. The phrase disciplinary action is a reference to the placement of economic penalties and/or sustained military action upon an individual by the Grand Lodge of Freemasons.

2.6.4. Any Freemason who experiences dismissal and/or disciplinary action may appeal either decision to The Judiciary and seek reinstatement and/or compensation.

Article III. The Political Structure</U>

 * '''It is noble in its administration: to think and let think, beyond the narrow contracted prejudices of bitter sectarians in these modern times. It is general or universal language, fitted to benefit the poor stranger, which no other institution is calculated to reach, by extending the beneficent hand.
 * Lorenzo Dow, Freemason.'''

Section 1. The Council:</U>
3.1.1. The Office of the Grand Master has executive authority over all domestic, economic, military, and foreign affairs that affect the Grand Lodge of Freemasons; the founder of this alliance shall initially assume responsibility for this position. He or she shall appoint or delegate appointments to The Council at his or her discretion; whilst acting accordingly with administrative privileges on our forum. The Grand Master shall objectively arbitrate and examine any Vote of No Confidence that is requested against the Judiciary. With the exception of circumstances provided for by this Masonic Code, he or she shall convene every Convention. All powers that have not been provided for by this Masonic Code shall be considered to be subject to the authority of the Grand Master.

3.1.2. The Office of the Grand Steward shall assume some or all of the executive responsibilities of the Grand Master at the discretion of the latter or through the provisions of this Masonic Code.

3.1.3. The Office of the Grand Superintendent shall administrate domestic policy.

3.1.4. The Office of the Grand Treasurer shall administrate economic policy.

3.1.5. The Office of the Grand Knight shall administrate military policy.

3.1.6. The Office of the Grand Chancellor shall administrate foreign policy.

Section 2. The Judiciary:</U>
3.2.1. The Judiciary consists of a panel of three individuals who have been popularly elected to the position of Registrar; each Registrar has the authority to objectively arbitrate and examine appeals and any Vote of No Confidence that is requested against The Council or a Lodge Officer. The Judiciary shall be consulted by The Council a priori regarding the banning of any Freemason from our forums; the former may investigate the matter through in-game communication. Every verdict of the Judiciary is subject to a two-third majority vote by the Registrars. Quarterly, beginning on the first weekend of every third month, a Convention shall be held to determine the popular election of the Registrars. No individual may serve simultaneously on the Judiciary and The Council. Prior to his or her nomination for the position of Registrar, a candidate must have spent a minimum of three months in service to the Grand Lodge of Freemasons.

Section 3. The Lodge Offices:</U>
3.3.1. The Council shall authorize the creation of Lodge Offices and appoint Fellow Craft to the position of such offices so that they may aid the Grand Superintendent, Grand Treasurer, Grand Knight, and/or the Grand Chancellor with their specific duties.

3.3.2. A Lodge Officer shall only reiterate policy, not create it; the latter is the role of The Council.

Article IV. The Procedure</U>

 * '''Its laws are reason and equity; its principles benevolence and love; and its religion purity and truth; its intention is peace on earth; and its disposition good-will toward men.
 * Bro. Rev. T.M. Harris, Freemason.'''

Section 1. The Convention:</U>
4.1.1. The term Convention is a reference to a popular election, a popular decision to accept or reject a successor to the position of Grand Master, or a popular decision to accept or deny a Vote of No Confidence.

4.1.2. Every Convention shall consist of a Nomination and/or Discussion Period which will last forty-eight hours and precede every Polling Period.

4.1.4. Every Convention shall consist of a Polling Period which will last forty-eight hours following the conclusion of a Nomination and/or Discussion Period.

4.1.5. Every Convention is decided at the conclusion of a Polling Period; the leading decision wins.

4.1.6. In the event of a non-decision, a Convention will continue with a new Polling Period featuring the two previously leading options until a winner and/or verdict is decided.

Section 2. The Vote of No Confidence:</U>
4.2.1. The phrase Vote of No Confidence is a reference to the forced removal of an individual from his or her responsibilities by the popular decision of a Convention.

4.2.2. If a Freemason suspects that a member of The Council or a Lodge Office is incapable of fulfilling his or her obligations, a request may be submitted to the Judiciary to approve or deny the initiation of a Vote of No Confidence; if a Freemason suspects that a member of the Judiciary is incapable of fulfilling his or her obligations, a request may be submitted to The Grand Master to approve or deny the initiation of a Vote of No Confidence.

4.2.3. If a request to initiate a Vote of No Confidence is successful, a Convention shall be held to determine the verdict; if passed, the accused individual shall be immediately removed from his or her responsibilities, if denied, the accused individual may retain his or her responsibilities.

4.2.5. If a Vote of No Confidence against the Grand Master is passed, the Grand Steward shall immediately convene a Convention to determine the popular election of a new Grand Master.

4.2.6. If a Vote of No Confidence against a Registrar is passed, the Grand Master shall immediately convene a Convention to determine the popularly elected replacement for the impeached individual.

Section 3. The Succession:</U>
4.3.1. The Grand Master may nominate one or more individuals to be popularly accepted as his or her individual replacement; a Convention shall be held to determine the acceptance of such a nomination. If accepted, the nominated individual shall replace the Grand Master. If the Grand Master decides not to nominate a replacement, a Convention shall be held to determine the popular election of his or her successor. Prior to his or her nomination for the position of Grand Master, a candidate must have spent a minimum of three months in service to the Grand Lodge of Freemasons.

4.3.2. In the event of an unexplained period of absence by the Grand Master which specifically lasts longer than fourteen days, the Grand Steward shall assume the position of Grand Master and the former shall be dismissed from his or her position.

4.3.3. In the event of an unexplained period of absence by a Registrar which specifically lasts longer than fourteen days, the Grand Master shall convene a Convention to determine a replacement.

4.3.4. In the event of a congruent unexplained period of absence by the Grand Master and the Grand Steward which specifically lasts longer than fourteen days, the following order of succession to the position of Grand Master shall be followed by The Council:


 * 1) Grand Chancellor
 * 2) Grand Superintendent
 * 3) Grand Knight
 * 4) Grand Treasurer

4.3.5. In the event of a congruent unexplained period of absence by the entirety of The Council which specifically lasts longer than seven days, the Judiciary shall convene a Convention to determine a new Grand Master.

4.3.6. In the event of a congruent unexplained period of absence by the entirety of The Council and the Judiciary which specifically lasts longer than seven days, the most-tenured Freemason shall convene a Convention to determine a new Grand Master.

Section 4. The Declaration of War:</U>
4.4.1. The Grand Master has the authority to issue a Declaration of War against a foreign alliance; he or she must obtain the consent of at least two members of The Council prior to issuing such a declaration. In his or her absence or at his or her discretion, the Grand Master may authorize the Grand Steward to issue a Declaration of War against a foreign alliance; he or she must also obtain the consent of at least two members of The Council prior to issuing such a declaration.

Section 5. The Affiliation:</U>
4.5.1. Every Freemason shall adjust the components of his or her nation affiliation to meet the requirements of The Council; such attributes include, but are not limited to, Alliance Affiliation, National Flag, Nation Bio, and/or Team Color.

Article V. The Ratification</U>
'''Being persuaded that a just application of the principles, on which the Masonic Fraternity is founded, must be promote of private virtue and public prosperity, I shall always be happy to advance the interests of the Society, and to be considered by them as a deserving brother. -George Washington, Freemason.'''

Section 1. The Caveat:</U>
5.1.1. No individual in the Grand Lodge of Freemasons shall circumvent the authority of this Masonic Code.

<U>Section 2. The Implementation:</U>
5.2.1. This Masonic Code shall only be ratified with the expressed consent of a two-third majority vote by a Convention.

<U>Section 3. The Amendment:</U>
5.3.1. The Council may issue amendments to this Masonic Code with the expressed consent of a two-third majority vote by a Convention.


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The Councils
Council terms generally last 3 months.

<U>Anthem</U>
On January 7th, 2008, Our Lodge adopted the "Song of Welcome" as our community's official international anthem:

Brethren from the East and West.

Who have stood in the Tyler's Test,

You will find a welcome here,

Bright, Fraternal, and Sincere.

CHORUS:

Warm Masonic hearts to meet you,

Hands of fellowship to greet you, May our welcome here today

Cheer each Brother on his way.

We salute the man of worth.

Whether high or low his birth,

Whatsoever be his lot

Rich or poor it matters not.

CHORUS:

Warm Masonic hearts to meet you,

Hands of fellowship to greet you, May our welcome here today

Cheer each Brother on his way.

And when we have said adieu,

May our love remain with you,

And may we renew that love,

In a Grander Lodge Above.

CHORUS:

Warm Masonic hearts to meet you,

Hands of fellowship to greet you, May our welcome here today

Cheer each Brother on his way.

<U>The Foundation</U>
The Grand Lodge of Freemasons was founded as a legitimate response to a cycle of betrayal, mean-spirited politics, and a disingenuous philosophy of entitlement that flooded the Cybernations community and led to conflict in and between many alliances; during the Legion Disbandment Crisis, Genghis, a Legion member, noticed an infamous disbandment announcement and began establishing the original Lodge forum on November 11th, 2007. Operating under house arrest by the New Pacific Order during its occupation of The Legion, Genghis developed this message board for nearly a month before resigning from The Legion and sacrificially deleted his nation to avoid retribution; a day later, on December 8th, he created the nation of New Tauron and became the first individual to make the Grand Lodge of Freemasons his alliance affiliation.

Laying the First Bricks
That day, Genghis also began actively recruiting and opened the alliance to the general public. Two days later, the alliances of Nueva Vida, the Knights of the Iron Cross (KIX), and the Goodjer Alliance began diplomatic relations with the Lodge and established embassies with us. KIX, specifically, offered the Freemasons a verbal protectorate agreement which successfully ended a vicious serious of tech raiding attacks that were inflicted on the initial membership.

On December 21st, the interim charter was rewritten by ModusOperandi and became the first Masonic Code; which although plagued with problems, gave GLOF a sufficiently unique document to enhance the abilities of the earlier Councils.

On January 21st, 2008, the Grand Lodge of Freemasons ironically became stronger than its protectorates, effectively ending the verbal protectorate arrangement. Following this success, a series of diplomatic maneuvers enabled the establishment of new agreements with other friends; including the creation of an unofficial embassy at the Lodge by a diplomat from the NPO. Such occurrences, along with efficient and professional tech transactions, quickly cemented the reputation of GLOF as being an up-and-coming alliance with potential.

During these few initial months, a recurring theme began resonating from the backgrounds of the new membership; whereas some had successfully escaped from The Legion by starting anew, others had arrived from the North Atlantic Defense Coalition and New Pacific Order. Collectively, these Freemasons derided the traditions of domestic corruption and international betrayal and arrived with a desire to forge a community that could withstand these immoral aims. Efforts were made to get to know our friends better, especially those in Nueva Vida, and actions were taken to save innocent nations who fell victim to swarms of dishonorable tech raiders. From these noble roots, the tradition of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons began to take shape.

Recognition and Achievement
On January 20th, 2008, GLOF obtained its twentieth member and achieved the ability to be recognized as an official alliance by the Cybernations community; following the successful establishment of Masonic Creeds (diplomatic agreements) with KIX and the Goodjer Alliance, the interim Council issued the Grand Installation which publicly announced the existence of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons to the world.

This success was followed by the announcement of a new bloc; coined AZTEC on March 2nd, which economically and militarily partnered GLOF with its close friends in Nueva Vida for prosperity and defense.

Shortly thereafter, the Lodge held its First and Second Conventions which enabled its near sixty and then ninety members to democratically elect its Second and Third Councils; Genghis overwhelmingly retained his position as Grand Master in both occurrences whilst he was supported by near-unanimous majorities of the popular vote.

After expanding AZTEC to include their friends in the Patriotic Union of Kalashnikov Enthusiasts (PUKE), surpassing the difficult milestone of acheiving 500,000 NS, and then quickly reaching the even-more unheard of mark of 1,000,000 NS with 100 members on July 9th, the Freemasons were poised to enjoy their prosperity but had to first address problems and concerns that had arisen due to the charter being unable to meet the challenges caused by such tremendous growth.

From Elective Democracy to Responsible Government
Following exhaustive research, intense debate and an emergency Convention, the Freemasons successfully adopted a new charter on July 1st, 2008. Burdened by a lack of cohesion that necessitated repeated amendments and legislative declarations that stalled policy, the original Masonic Code was ill-suited to provide The Council with enough authority to govern effectively since every minor change had to be voted upon. A collaborative effort, the revised Masonic Code was once-again penned by ModusOperandi and illustrated a dramatic shift from traditional elective democracy toward a representative meritocracy; clearly defining the authority of The Council and the Judiciary. Encouraging the active participation of the membership by permitting select Lodge Offices to employ anyone willing to contribute, the revised Masonic Code also ended politics of confrontation between the Executive and the Judiciary; replacing the former with The Council, limitations on the latter, and enabling a check-and-balance system by holding the government accountable to the people through Votes of No Confidence rather than questionable elections.

The evolution of the Masonic Code from its conception to its present is located here.

The War of the First Coalition
Amidst the BLEU-Continuum Conflict, the War of the First Coalition was initiated on August 14th, 2008 when MCXA, TOP, Grämlins, Umbrella, FOK!, RnR, and FARK declared war on NpO. Citing Article V of The AZTEC Treaty, the Grand Lodge of Freemasons issued a formal Declaration of War against TORN and Poison Clan in defense of its allies in NV and PUKE; whom both TORN and Poison Clan had attacked in various capacities. Sufficiently honoring those commitments, the Freemasons also met the terms of The Penguin Lodge MDP which they had signed with the NpO previously on June 13th.

Contextually entering the war on the behalf of BLEU, the Grand Lodge of Freemasons received many accolades from its allies and much criticism from its opponents. The commencement of hostilities against TORN, an Orange alliance, by GLOF, a predominantly Orange alliance, drew the most attention from observers due to its consequence being a rare inter-Orange sphere war. However, GLOF had never formally announced an intention of being an Orange alliance and its members had merely utilized that sphere for its trade convenience and economic incentives. Although GLOF had made numerous attempts to become involved in the Orange community, repeated but unintentional rebukes of its diplomatic efforts had led to a predominant feeling of being excluded by Orange alliances. With the bountiful recognition of GLOF by many other prominent alliances (especially those that resided in the Blue sphere), the Grand Lodge of Freemasons believed that its war was justified due to the actions of TORN against PUKE and the failure of Orange-GLOF relations.

The advent of war with GLOF initiated a sharp and quick response from TORN's friends in the Orange Unity Treaty; a powerful and close-knit bloc which had successfully and dominantly ensured the unmatched stability of the Orange sphere. In addition to calling into effect a variety of other MDPs, TORN and Poison Clan single-handily defeated GLOF; 77 of 90 Freemason nations were in anarchy, bill-lock and/or suffering repeated attacks from nuclear weapons. Soundly defeated and facing obliteration against 11-1 odds, the Grand Lodge of Freemason reached lenient peace terms and formally surrendered to its opponents on August 19th.

During this war it was noted that the mutual respect, professionalism, and maturity that was exhibited between the Freemasons and their adversaries had created a new desire to enhance and fix relations between GLOF and the rest of Orange. As a result, the Grand Lodge of Freemasons was invited to become actively involved in the Orange community and was released from the articles of surrender after fulfilling them on September 26th. Internally, the Freemasons were proud of the courage and resilience that they had shown by defending their friends by entering the conflict; having stayed true to their word. However, the sense of admiration that they also had for their former adversaries in TORN (who had generously and unilaterally decided to protect the Lodge while it was rebuilt) was sincerely unabated.