Unlike most civic and fraternal organizations, Freemasonry in North America has no elected head or supreme ruler over all regular Freemasons in the United States or Canada. Each State or Provincial jurisdiction has sovereign authority over the regular Freemasons within its geographic boundary, regulates its own affairs and relationships, and elects its own head or Grand Master. Each votes to recognize and maintain fraternal relations with the other at their will and pleasure.

In 1922 the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association was created to erect a monument and museum, which named the sitting Grand Masters or heads of the various jurisdictions, as the Association voting members, and asking each jurisdiction to support the building and maintenance of the Memorial in Arlington Virginia. A Conference of the Grand Masters spawned from the annual meeting of this Association and is planned each year in February, to facilitate discussion and cement fraternal relations. This Conference has established several standing committees and other organizations to promote Freemasonry in North America who offer reports and presentations each year at the Conference. These committees provide services and operate programs during the year for interested jurisdictions. Examples include the Conference Committee, Time and Place Committee, Nominating Committee, Masonic Renewal Committee, Commission for Information and Recognition, the Masonic Services Association, and the National Masonic Foundation for Children. The MASONIC CHIP SUPPORT COMMITTEE was newly created and established by vote of the conference in February 2004.

Visit the CGMNA Web Site: www.cgmna.org