OK, so we know each state in the US has it's own grand lodge. Each grand lodge can give and revoke charters for it's respective state. Each Grand lodge is chartered by the UGLE.

Now for the big question, What role, if any does the UGLE have in regards to US masonry? I am under the impression that aside from the initial charters given to each state, their role is non existent.
Is that correct?

And a second question for the brothers on the other side of the pond. What role does the UGLE hold outside of England?

Thanks in advance for your time.

Originally posted by network dude
Each Grand lodge is chartered by the UGLE.

Now for the big question, What role, if any does the UGLE have in regards to US masonry? I am under the impression that aside from the initial charters given to each state, their role is non existent.
Is that correct?

None of the US Grand Lodges are chartered by the UGLE.

The London Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons originally chartered Provincial Grand Lodges in the colonies, that were under the government of London. The same happened with the York Grand Lodge who chartered Provincial Grand Lodges of Antient York Masons in the colonies. When the revolution occured, the US Provincial Grand Lodges, both Antient and Modern, flushed their English charters down the toilet, and declared themselves sovereign and independent. This happened before the UGLE existed.

Years later, the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England merged with the Grand Lodge of Antient York Masons of England, and gave birth to the current United Grand Lodge of England. Similar mergers happened here in the states. Over time, the Americans and English simply agreed to recognize each other.

Originally posted by network dude
So the UGLE has nothing at all to do with US freemasonry even in reference to charters?

Correct. The UGLE did not even exist at the time (although its two forerunners did).

An important fact: All Grand Jurisdictions are sovereign. To say that US Grand Lodges hold charters from the UGLE would be like saying that the United States got its Constitution from the UK.

Grand Jurisdictions grant one another recognition and intervisitation basically by treaty. Because the UGLE is the oldest Grand Jurisdiction its views on recognition are given a great deal of respect and consideration by other jurisdictions. If you get de-recognized by the UGLE, you can expect that many other jurisdictions will be likely to follow suit. However, that is an entirely voluntary process.

Henry Price, the founder of duly constituted Freemasonry in North America (take that, PA), originally received his warrant from the premier Grand Lodge of England. But, of course, following the revolution, it seemed right for the new nation to have its own Grand Lodge -- and given the size of the country and the communication systems of the day, a Grand Lodge for each new state seemed best.

I have heard it said that after George Washington served as President, he was approached by a group of Masons and asked to serve as the first General Grand Master for a national, General Grand Lodge. The story goes that he thought this a spectacularly bad idea and declined. And that, allegedly, is why there is no national structure in Craft Masonry in the United States. True or not, it is a good tale.