Background

On Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, the Grand Encampment adopted Proposed Resolution 2021-23 to repeal 2012 Resolution No. 1 (as amended by Duane Vaught Decision No. 5, Mar. 15, 2016) by a 77% vote of members voting at the Triennial Conclave.

2012 Resolution No. 1 (as amended by Duane Vaught Decision No. 5, Mar. 15, 2016) pronounced membership in the Great Priory of America of the Chevalier Bienfaisant de la Cité Sainte as irregular and contrary to the knightly vows of the Grand Encampment.

Passage of Resolution 2021-23 by a super-majority repealed this legislation, voiding it ab initio (i.e. as if it had never occurred). The GPA and the GE were in amity again, as they had been for almost 90 years.

The Great Priory of America was formed in 1934 by lawful warrant issued from the Great Priory of Switzerland. The Great Priory of America operates the Rectified Scottish Rite, and is not taken by any other jurisdiction to be irregular.

Despite the vote of more than three-quarters of the members voting at the Triennial Session to end this issue once and for all, citing an unusual reading of the Constitution, the elected Grand Master acted unilaterally to overturn the vote. See his Decisions here.

Then, on Sept. 7, 2021, the Grand Master acted unilaterally, and without cause, to remove S.K. David Kussman, unanimously elected Deputy Grand Master, from office. No case was cited, no hearing was held. S.K. David Kussman supported Resolution 2021-23 that rescinded the 2012 resolution.