Reopening Directive II

Addressing June 15th Removal of State-Imposed Restrictions on Meetings and Events


June 2, 2021

Dear Brethren,

I issued a Reopening Directive on April 14, 2021, which allowed Masonic lodges to resume holding in-person meetings and events, as long as those meetings and events met the requirements imposed by the California Department of Public Health and local health departments.

It is my pleasure to report that the California Department of Public Health intends on June 15, 2021 to lift all of its restrictions imposed upon meetings an events, except for events that exceed 5,000 people.

Accordingly, effective June 15, 2021:

• Masonic Lodges, Masonic Organizations, and Youth Orders may conduct in-person meetings and events in compliance with county and city restrictions, if any. (After June 15, individual counties and cities could choose to continue their own meeting limitations, in which case those limitations would continue in force.)
• Attendees at Masonic meetings and events must comply with any state or county guidance relating to face coverings in effect at the time of the meeting/event.
• Lodges no longer need to provide a Site Prevention Plan, unless required by the county. 
• Members are not required to show proof of a negative COVID test or vaccination card to attend in-person meetings, unless required by the county.
• Until further direction from me, lodges may continue, at their discretion, to hold virtual stated meetings consistent with my October 2020 Directive on Virtual Stated Meetings.
• Today’s Directive supersedes my October 2020 Directive on Masonic-Sponsored Meetings and Events During COVID-19 and my April 14th Directive.

It is now time to take advantage of our new opportunities. I look forward to the unfettered return to in-person meetings and the renewed and vigorous practice of Masonry in California.

My directive has no force or effect after my term as grand master ends.

Sincerely and fraternally,

Arthur Weiss
Grand Master
Masons of California