On December 9, 2002, officials from the Republic of Georgia visited the Guthrie, Oklahoma, Scottish Rite Temple to discuss Freemasonry, particularly as it relates to American diversity and religious freedom. The group started in California and concluded its survey in New York on December 18. Among the delegation's members were the Secretary to the Parliament of the Republic of Georgia, a Representative to that Parliament, an Orthodox theologian, the Director of the Security Council Department of Human Relations, an Appellate Court Judge, a journalist, and a translator.

Responding to a request from a Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma, Ill. Jim Tresner, 33°, G.C., a well-known Masonic scholar and frequent contributor to the Scottish Rite Journal, met representatives of the group at the Scottish Rite Temple in Guthrie, gave them a tour of the facility, and discussed, among other subjects, the basic teachings of Freemasonry and its lessons regarding religious toleration, inclusiveness, and the principle of the Mason as a peaceable citizen of his nation. On the same day, the group had met with the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, visited with Orthodox and Reform Rabbis, and toured a Mosque, Armenian Church, and Buddhist Temple. Aside from answering all their questions, Ill. Tresner gave members of the group several Oklahoma Grand Lodge, Scottish Rite, and Masonic Information Center/Masonic Service Association printed materials explaining Freemasonry.