THE WIDOWS SONS, THE WORLDS LARGEST MASONIC MOTORCYCLE ORGANIZATION  WERE
FOUNDED ON FEBRUARY 18TH, 1998 AT THE MIRAGE  RESTAURANT, 10255 W IRVING PARK ROAD,
SHILLER PARK, ILLINOIS 60176 TO AID AND ASSIST WIDOWS OF MASTER MASONS

WHAT EXACTLY DOES AUTONOMOUS MEAN?

Autonomous means each Grand Chapter of Widows Sons is the sole body that governs its jurisdiction according to the bylaws it has adopted. The authority of the Grand Chapter can only be over ruled by its Grand Lodge. This means anyone who does not reside in the Grand Chapters jurisdiction has no authority to have any influence or make any decisions for that Grand Chapter. Autonomy gives the Grand Chapter ALL authority in its jurisdiction and rules out any kind of regional, national or international government or spokesmanship from within the Widows Sons.

Autonomy gives each Grand Chapter a level playing field. It guarantees that the Grand Chapter will govern its jurisdiction without interference from any person, groups, or other Grand Chapters.  The Grand Lodges of Freemasonry have been autonomous of one another since the day they were chartered. The Widows Sons were founded on the very same principle of autonomy to prevent anyone or any group, other than the Grand Chapter, from having power over any Grand Chapter outside the jurisdiction they reside in. By each Grand Chapter being autonomous of one another, there will never be any national, regional, or international officers or spokesmen with authority in a Grand Chapters jurisdiction, other than the Grand Chapter of that jurisdiction itself. That was by design.

Because you are autonomous, that does NOT mean you can do anything you desire, because you are autonomous, and it doesn't mean you don't have to listen to any rules. You are autonomous because your bylaws have given you the sole authority over your jurisdiction, and only your jurisdiction. It keeps everyone else out of your business. A Grand Chapter should always adhere to its bylaws when governing its jurisdiction.

A Grand Chapter should never give up its autonomy. Giving up its autonomy would be giving its authority to govern its jurisdiction to someone from outside its jurisdiction. That violates what we were founded upon. Autonomy is what makes the Widows Sons the unique organization we are. Autonomy is what makes our Grand Lodges what they are.

BACK TO ARTICLES

JANUARY 2012  THE FIRST ISSUE OF THE WIDOWS SONS MAGAZINE
THE WIDOWS SONS WEBSITE                                              THE WIDOWS SONS FORUM