Freemason Information > Articles by: Fred Milliken

Mike McCabe Versus The Grand Lodge Of New Jersey – Part 2

Posted on September 14, 2010September 14, 2019 by Fred Milliken | 31 Comments

One might be inclined to ask why Mike McCabe is being so persistent in trying to get an appeal for his case, an appeal the Grand Lodge of New Jersey is trying to stonewall? Why doesn’t he just let it go?

Read Part 1, and Part 3.

McCabe tells us:

“I once sat in a Camden County courtroom and heard the attorney representing the Grand Lodge successfully argue that neither a Masonic Lodge nor the members of a New Jersey Masonic Lodge were entitled to be treated fundamentally fair by the Grand Lodge. I sat there and wondered what type of organization had I devoted 20 plus years of my life to, to find out that is how they view me? No Brother I know ever knocked on the inner door, expecting to be treated as a second class citizen.”

Another good reason would be the actions of his Grand Master in regards to his Lodge, Trimble Lodge. That Grand Master forced the three Lodges which met in the same building (worth several million dollars and co-equally owned) to merge. Trimble Lodge was one of the three and was very well endowed thanks to the generosity of several of its deceased members.

Each of the Lodges held meetings and votes were taken. The members of Trimble Lodge and one of the other Lodges voted overwhelmingly against the forced consolidation. After the results of Trimble’s vote was announced, 49-2 against the proposal, the District Deputy acting under the instructions of the then Grand Master, walked up to the East, picked up the Lodge’s Charter and stated that Trimble Lodge was closed.

He left with the charter while the meeting was still in progress.

McCabe then provides us with an explanation of why he thinks that the Grand Lodge of New Jersey is out of control.

On December 1, 2004, Trimble Lodge went to court to obtain an injunction against the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge to prevent this forced merger. This legal action was only taken as an act of last resort, so as to permit the affected lodges the time needed to attempt an amicable resolution of the underlying issues with some members of Ionic Lodge (and Grand Lodge). It would have also afford those lodges the time needed to present the another side to these issues at the appropriate Grand Lodge forum, where actual facts could be presented and hearsay, distortions and misrepresentations could be refuted.
During the course of the court hearing, the presiding judge asked the attorney representing Grand Lodge a question something along the lines of Is a Masonic lodge entitled to be treated fundamentally fair (by either the Grand Lodge or Grand Master)? The Grand Lodge attorney’s reply was NO. The judged then asked If the members of a Masonic lodge were entitled to be treated fundamentally fair? The Grand Lodge’s attorney responded that the members of a Masonic Lodge “Are not entitled to be treated fundamentally fair”.

As to the motivation of New Jersey Grand Lodge in acting this way it could be pointed out that the Grand Lodge had committed itself to donating a significant amount of money towards the upkeep of the Battleship USS New Jersey of which Grand Master Ryan is a Trustee) Also it appears that the Grand Lodge was taking heavy losses in its various financial investments. It could be speculated that Trimble Lodge’s money was Grand Lodge’s financial bailout.

One thing was for sure, the fact that the Grand Master over ruled the votes taken by the Lodges and mandated a merger by edict requiring all Lodges to turn in their Charters with one new Charter granted for the creation of a new Lodge also contributed to McCabe’s persistence in battling Grand Lodge. Once again he tells us:

“An American’s most precious Civil Right is the right to vote and the right to have the results of that vote recognized, regardless of the final outcome.”

Keeping all this in mind, McCabe started to do some deep digging which has continued after his expulsion. And what he found explains how the Grand Lodge of New Jersey can get away with acting as it does.

He found that in 1902 the Grand Lodge of New Jersey’s committee on Masonic Jurisprudence (the Wallis Committee) was charged with identifying “the ancient landmarks of Masonry” and reporting “what those landmarks are, as applicable to the Masonic law of New Jersey”. The Wallis Committee submitted a report that borrowed from MacKey’s 25 landmarks, ignoring some and combining others. It submitted 10 Landmarks for consideration by the Grand Lodge, one of which was entirely new and not found elsewhere in Masonic tradition. Landmark No. 3 stated:

“The Grand Master…may suspend, at his pleasure, the operation of any rule or regulation of Masonry not a ‘landmark’…suspend the installed officers of any Lodge, and reinstate them at his pleasure, and is not answerable for his acts as Grand Master.”

In one stroke of the pen the Wallis Report vastly expanded the scope of a Grand Master’s authority while at the same time making much of the Grand Constitution worthless, null and void. Nowhere in the entire text of Mackey’s seminal work, “The Landmarks, Or The Unwritten Law,” or in his complete 25 Landmarks, is any language found that remotely suggests that a Grand Master has that type of unrestricted authority granted by the “Landmarks.” Nor can one find this Landmark in any other Grand Lodge in the United States.

The acceptance of a Landmark should not be taken lightly. For something to be a Landmark it must me universal and have existed since time immemorial. Something dreamed up in 1903 to increase the power of Grand Masters does not meet the criterion of being a Landmark.

Sometime after 1903 these 10 Landmarks were inserted into the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey and for any number of years Grand Masters have used Landmark No. 3 to do whatever they wanted and to rule and govern in whatever manner they so desired.

Application of Landmark No. 3 over rules provisions in the Grand Constitution that were there long before it was.

“The Grand Lodge shall have power…to make all by-laws, rules and regulations not inconsistent with this Constitution.’ (Section 2-18).
“A Lodge cannot deprive a Brother of his Civil rights.” (Section 29-27).

But Landmark No. 3 is inconsistent with the Constitution and does deprive Brethren of their Civil Rights.

How is this Landmark reconciled with the General Regulation?: “You admit that it is not in the power of any Man or Body of any Men to make innovations in the body of Masonry.”

It can’t and it has increasingly been used to deny due process, suspend or expel members at will, and overturn the results of votes taken by the Brethren.

McCabe remarks, “That one important issue that has been completely ignored is the primary purpose for any Constitution. That is to limit or restrain arbitrary authority. Landmark No. 3 eliminates that restraint.”

In 1983 Past Grand Master Rutledge, an attorney, was brought up on charges of theft, tried and found guilty at his local Lodge. However, the Grand Lodge stepped in and said that a local Lodge cannot decide the punishment process in the case of a Past Grand Master, and moved the penalty sentencing phase to the Grand Lodge level. Rutledge objected and took his case to the civil courts, all the way to the New Jersey Supreme Court. On May 10, 1983 the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in Rutledge v. Gulian that “Landmark 3 explicitly authorizes the Grand Master to intermit any rule or regulation other than a Landmark.”

The court’s precedent setting ruling, upheld both the primacy of New Jersey’s 10 Landmarks, and the Grand Master’s authority in dealing with the organization’s internal controversies.

If that was the end of the story it would be bad enough and perhaps prompt us to suggest that the Brethren of New Jersey meeting in Grand Session should change their Constitution. That’s not an easy thing to accomplish with a Grand Master who rules with an iron fist and who has the power to overrule and negate any votes taken by the Brethren.

But that is not the end of the story. McCabe dug deeper and he found New Jersey Grand Lodge’s dirty little secret.

In July of 1983, only two months after this Supreme Court case had been decided, the Masonic Service Association of North America (MSANA) published its revised Sixth Edition of Ancient Landmarks of Freemasonry – As Adopted, Followed or Undecided by the Fifty-One Grand Lodges of the United States.

New Jersey’s then Grand Secretary supplied the information to MSANA and McCabe checked with Richard Fletcher, director of MSANA, to ascertain that no additional information had been added since 1983 nor any revisions made. After listing New Jersey’s 10 Landmarks the Grand Secretary of New Jersey added this note:

“Our records from 1903 show that the report of the Committee was received and adopted, but nothing in the report recommends that adoption of the ten Landmarks reported. We have adhered to them even though there was no official acceptance by the Grand Lodge.”

So New Jersey’s 10 Landmarks including Landmark No. 3 were never voted on and thus were never legally accepted by a majority vote of the members of the Grand Lodge meeting in Grand Session as required by its Constitution. They were just inserted into the Constitution without approval.

Section 2-23 of the Grand Lodge’s Constitution stipulates that “no alteration or addition shall be made to this Constitution unless proposed in writing, and supported by representatives of five Lodges: and a fair copy thereof, certified by the Grand Secretary, shall be forwarded to all the Lodges under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge for their consideration, until its next annual communication, and such proposed alteration or addition shall not take effect unless there shall be thereof the votes of two-thirds of the members present.”

Considering that the MSANA probably took a number of months to compile the data for its publication it is fair to say that the Grand Lodge of New Jersey knew that its 10 Landmarks were not legally adopted while the New Jersey Supreme Court was hearing Rutledge v. Gulian and which was decided favorably for the Grand Lodge of New Jersey based on the validity of Landmark No.3.

McCabe put it this way, “The funny thing is that the Rutledge decision was handed down only a couple of months before the MSANA pamphlet was published (The Grand Secretary along with the elected Grand Line were defendants). I believe that this information would have (could have) changed the entire outcome of the decision had the court known the information divulged in the MSANA Publication 2 or 3 months later.

And now you know the rest of the story.

Mike McCabe Versus The Grand Lodge of New Jersey: Part 1

Posted on September 7, 2010January 4, 2019 by Fred Milliken | 15 Comments

The ugly hand of unbridled power has once again been unleashed by another dictatorial, tyrannical, oligarchic Grand Lodge. This time it is New Jersey. And the recipient, six time Past Master Mike McCabe, is not taking it lying down.

Read part 2 and part 3.

McCabe found that an unauthorized member of his Lodge was writing checks to the tune of $10,000 and not turning over $7,000 in receivables to the Lodge Secretary, but instead was depositing those funds into a Lodge checking account neither the Lodge Secretary or Treasurer knew existed. When he called this to the attention of his District Deputy he was told that if he had proof that this had taken place he needed to file formal charges against the Brother(s) involved at a Communication of his Lodge.

McCabe thought this peculiar because while he, like many other Brothers in this situation, might have a snippet of information only the Grand Lodge could investigate books and records fully to make a complete case and that needed to be done first before any charges were filed. McCabe’s District Deputy told him not to bring up the subject again unless he was willing to file charges.

Both before and since this particular episode occurred, Lodge Secretaries and Treasurers have been suspended by Grand Lodge, for allegedly failing to provide their installed successors with a Lodge’s books and records.

McCabe persisted because Grand Lodge’s in-actions in this instance was even more puzzling since Lodge funds had been expended without the knowledge or consent of the Lodge’s elected fiduciary officers. The existence of this Lodge checking account had been withheld from them.

And because he persisted and wanted the matter thoroughly reviewed it appears that for no legitimate reason, Masonic charges were filed against him, a Masonic trial conducted and he was eventually expelled. The Charges were threefold:

He had disobeyed the orders of his Worshipful Master to produce documents backing up his allegations.
He disobeyed the direct order of his District Deputy not to bring the subject up anymore but to file charges himself.
Possession and control of stolen property – stolen aprons.

Charge #3 was a made up bunch of malarkey thrown in to make the situation look worse than it was. This charge was based on hearsay because the individuals who made the accusations concerning the theft of Lodge property were not the individuals who preferred and signed the charges against him. Grand Lodge rules require the person making the allegation must sign the charges. The individuals that signed this charge refused to testify, admitting that they had not been present when the alleged offense supposedly occurred. Instead two other Lodge members testified in support of the allegation, one of these being the Deputy Grand Master. McCabe was found not guilty and exonerated on this charge but he was found guilty on the other two charges and expelled.

McCabe claims that 20 or more violations of Section 13, Charges and Codes for Trial, occurred at his trial as well as numerous other violations of the New Jersey Constitution.

In regards to charge #1 – “A Lodge cannot…..compel him to first submit his complaints to the Lodge” (Section 29-27)

In regards to charge #2 – “District Deputy Grand Masters have no authority to ……decide questions of Masonic Law” (Section 16-02). The power to decide all questions related to Masonic Law (or serious Masonic issues), rests solely within a Grand Master’s purview.

McCabe could not find another Mason to represent him so he represented himself and as the saying goes had a fool for a client. It seems hypocritical that McCabe’s Grand Lodge was persecuting him for allegedly ignoring two bogus charges made against him, but turned a blind eye to the numerous violations of the Constitution permitted during his trial process.

Moreover a Mason brought up on charges to a Masonic trial is supposed to be tried on unmasonic conduct or a Masonic offense. According the Grand Lodge Constitution expulsion is reserved for individuals who have been found guilty in a civil court of law for committing 1^st or 2^nd degree criminal activities, or at a Lodge’s discretion, 3^rd or 4^th degree criminal offenses.

What McCabe was charged with was trivial and does not meet this criterion. Since when is notifying the New Jersey Grand Lodge of potential violations of its rules and regulations a criminal offense? Expulsion is not a punishment that fit the crime in this case.

Lastly McCabe alleges that the charges are unconstitutional and that a Grand Master willfully and knowingly violated his own Grand Constitution.

The accuser that alleged that McCabe was in the possession of stolen property did not sign the charges as required.
The penalty phase of the process was held at an emergent Communication, in violation of Section 13-83
The Constitution requires that the members of a Lodge shall be summoned to meet at a regular Communication, for determining the degree of punishment to be afflicted on the accused. That summons was required to be signed by both the Worshipful Master and Secretary of the Lodge, and embossed with the Lodge’s seal. None of this was done.
The Grand Master ordered every Lodge Trestle board in New Jersey to publish McCabe’s expulsion and this continued for many months. This violates the Constitution where it says, “It is improper to print the names of suspended or expelled Masons in circulars issued by Lodges.”

These and many other irregularities too numerous to mention constitute what McCabe alleges as a violation of his civil rights.

A legal opinion regarding civil rights violations from private and semi-public organizations has been offered by the US Supreme Court and was used in a decision between New Jersey homeowners and their Homeowner’s Association board.

“New Jersey is among the few states to require private entities to provide some Constitutional protections. Most states have concluded that only governmental actors can interfere with an individual’s Constitutional rights. The U.S. supreme Court has agreed, but has held that states may provide broader protection if they choose, and the New Jersey courts have gone further in that direction than any others.”

The article on this court case also highlighted some important practical applications of the rights of those involved.

“In balancing the interests of the parties, [we conclude that the homeowners’] rights to engage in expressive exercises, including those relating to public issues in their own community …must take precedence over the [association’s] private property rights.”
“Your regulations must be fair and reasonable, they must not violate public policy, and they must be authorized by the community’s covenants or bylaws. That’s not new legal ground; just good governance and common sense.”

It must be remembered that Grand Lodges who have incorporated and become a nonprofit corporation are no longer an “untouchable”, solely private entity. They must abide by the rules of incorporation of that state and obey all civil law regarding the regulation of said corporations. Such civil regulation of Grand Lodge takes precedence over and supersedes Masonic tradition and the by-laws, rules and regulations that Grand Lodges have written in their own private Constitutions.

Grand Lodges are not exempt from Civil rights law that has been codified by civil governments. Because they are now a semi-private, semi-public corporation, Grand Lodges have brought themselves into the civil sphere and must adhere to civil constitutional guarantees that are required of corporations.

As such, when a Grand Lodge violates the rights of an individual member and does not follow its own published rules in its Constitution and refuses to follow civil rights as has been specified by civil law in regards to corporations, then an aggrieved member such as Mike McCabe has a legal case with Constitutional issues that buttress his claim that his civil rights were violated.

And right now all Mike McCabe is asking for is an appeal so that he can be heard again, with competent counsel to put forth his arguments based on the additional research he has accomplished. As of this moment McCabe has shown no inclination to take his case into the civil courts. The Grand Lodge of New jersey would be wise to grant Mike McCabe an appeal and another hearing.

The First Joint Ceremony of Black & White Masons In America

Posted on September 2, 2010December 15, 2013 by Fred Milliken | 6 Comments

The article is unsigned but very likely written by the author who was a Prince Hall Mason as was his grandfather, John Hale (1846-1921), who is the subject of the book.

(Transcribed by D. DeCoster, August 31, 2010 from a copy borrowed from The Seattle Public Library. Spelling is in the original.)

THIS IS TRUE

It happened in the City of Destiny, Tacoma, Washington, on Saturday afternoon October 2, 1982, at 1:30 p.m., on the sight of the $44 million Sports-Convention Center, known as the TACOMA MINI-DOME. Right before the eyes of those in attendance, under a partly clouded sky, through which the sun sprinkled its rays of sunlight, enabling those of us who did not wear our long-john’s to withstand the antagonizing winds that swept from Mt. Rainier. For over two hours, we stood eight abreast, with a depth of some two blocks, clothed with dark suits, white shirts, shod with shoes of black and proudly wrapped with lamb’s skin aprons. Not one of us dared break rank, for this was truly not only an auspicious, but an historical occasion. An occasion where upon, the most worshipful Grand Master, George Brodewick of the Grand Lodge, Free and accepted Masons of Washington (White Masons) had invited their Black brothers, the most Worshipful Grand Master, Johnny Allen, of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington and jurisdiction to participate with laying the Dome’s cornerstone.

Never before in the history of Prince Hall Masonry in America has there been such recognition and fraternization accorded us. Having received orders from our Grand Marshal, Berry Carter, to proceed toward the speakers platform, and as we approached we were greeted along the way with spontaneous applause that caused many of our elder Brothers to “straighten up and fly right.” You should have been there to have seen our Brothers “strut their stuff”. They really put on the dog, and rightly so, for to them this was the dawning of a new day in Masonry. A day where in all men of our order shall here after not by their race, or color, but by their deeds, predicated upon truth and justice, for all men are but God’s divinity, wrapped in human flesh, and we are our brothers keepers. Having arrived just in front of the speakers platform, we could clearly observe the platform’s dignitaries. The Mayor of Tacoma, Doug Southerland, Master of Ceremonies, who had requested the Grand Loge, Free and Accepted Masons of Washington, to lay the cornerstone. Sharing the platform with him were the most Worshipful Grand Master George Bordewick and his officialdom. The most Worshipful Grant Master Johnny Allen, of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Loge of Washington and Jurisdiction, with his guest, The Most Worshipful Grand Master Thomas Brown of the Oregon Jurisdiction, and the Honorable Russell S. Gideon, Sovern Grand Commander of the United Supreme Council of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rites of freemasonry P.H.A. Northern Jurisdiction U.S.A. Inc. In introducing his guest Grand Master Johnny Allen was most eloquent, affective, and at his best. Grand M<aster Bordewick said, “this was the largest public gathering of Masons in Washington since the dedication of the Seattle Masonic Temple in 1916, “ and that constitutional problems have long prevented Black and White Masons from joining in a single order. “Someday, maybe we can solve these problems.” Grand Master Allen said, to his knowledge, the Tacoma ceremony was the first time Black and White Masons have gathered together for a joint ceremony anywhere in America. When presented the working tools of a Master Mason, the plumb, the level, and the square, Grand Master Bordewick layed the cornerstone with its cavity bearing the various memorials of our time, current newspapers, names of city council and other civic bodies including documents of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington and Jurisdiction. The crowning words of the day were those spoken by the Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Washington (White). Brother Warren Murphy said, “Our membership can boast of great statesmen, societies, explorers, and men distinguished in every walk of life. However, it is not limited to the great or wealthy, but rather to all men, because every man of good reputation and character is eligible to petition for membership. In fact Masonry regards no man on account of this worldly wealth or honor, but because of his personal integrity as a matured man.” Mayor Southerland of Tacoma, and Grand Master Brodewick, stretched their necks to the end of their cable towes. The Prince Hall Masons with the aid and assistance of the Grand Architect of the Universe will vouch safely their voyage through this stormy sea of life. The historical event was brought to close by prayer from Bishop Tolbert, of the Methodist Episcopal Churches Dist. No. 1.”

Why? C.A.U.S.E. That’s Why

Posted on August 30, 2010October 19, 2021 by Fred Milliken | 13 Comments

Awhile back the Mainstream Grand Master of Arkansas visited the Grand Session of Arizona. However, he refused to attend any of the ceremonies or meetings of the Grand Session because there were Black PHA Masons present in a tyled Lodge. He only attended the Grand Session dinner because it was not a tyled session.

Arkansas is Imploding

I passed on this story when it came out because I had just released the Derek Gordon story not long before and I didn’t want to just sit back and constantly nitpick by taking pot shots at Arkansas every other week. However further developments in the whole Arkansas approach to Freemasonry compels me to once again comment on the situation in that state. At the same time nobody seems to care or think it applicable to their Freemasonry. Consequently Arkansas Mainstream keeps on imploding while the rest of us in Freemasonry have no comment nor take any action. So once again The Beehive will report what is happening in hopes that someday, someone will think it important enough to do something.

The Arizona story was published by that fine Masonic blogger “The Burning Taper” in his piece “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?” and here is what he had to say on the subject.

It seems many rank-and-file Masons, in many locales, are becoming more and more fed up with the actions of Grand Lodge leaders.
This short article was sent to The Burning Taper recently. The author wishes to remain anonymous, for fear of retribution for reporting events and expressing his opinion.
Arizona Grand Lodge Annual Communication began with the Royal Banquet on Wednesday evening, June 2, 2010 prior to the official opening of proceedings on Thursday morning.
The Head Table consisted of Arizona Grand Lodge officers and their wives. Seated near them were the visiting dignitaries representing various Masonic grand lodge jurisdictions. There were 13 listed on the list handed out to all attending members. Most were “line” officers representing their State or jurisdiction with two currently sitting grand masters.
The two grand masters attending the Banquet were Most Worshipful Martin E. Warren, Grand Master of Masons from the Grand Lodge, F&AM of Arkansas, and Most Worshipful Lewis R. Brent, Grand Master of Masons from the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Arizona. They were not seated at the same table.
When the Grand Lodge opened in Due Form in the 3rd Degree on Thursday morning the MW Lewis R. Brent from Prince Hall was present, but the MW Martin E. Warren was conspicuously absent. He was not seen in any of the subsequent tiled lodge meetings all day Friday or on Saturday.
It is the custom of the Grand Lodge that, when a pedestal officer (Grand Master, Senior Warden and Junior Warden) leave their stations during the proceedings that they place the Jewel of their office on one of the brothers in the room.
Several times during the proceedings on both days, the Senior Grand Warden Brook Cunningbrook chose a highly decorated Phoenix policeman, who is a member of one of the Arizona F&AM lodges and had been shot in the line of duty, to sit high on the chair located on a pedestal in the West to replace him temporarily. He is black.
There were two other black members of Arizona F&AM lodges present and the Senior Grand Warden had them also replace him in the West. It is quite an honor to do this.
In this case, in my opinion anyway, it was kind of an “in your face” type of gesture to some of the members of the Arizona jurisdiction who have moved to Arizona from one of the 10 states that do not recognize Prince Hall and have complained about having to sit in a lodge with a black man. Whether it was directed towards the Grand Master of Arkansas, I can only speculate.
What’s interesting about this is that the Grand Master of Arkansas spent the money to fly to Arizona only to have dinner. Since it is customary for Grand Lodges to pay for the travel expenses of their grand masters, I wonder if the brethren of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas got their monies worth. Since he did not attend any of the business meetings by sitting in a tiled lodge with a black man but only attended the social functions, it seems to me that he spent a lot of money just for a free dinner and drinks, even if the cost came out of his own pocket.
This obviously was an example of the kind of “Imperial Leadership” prevalent in many jurisdictions and is not restricted to Arkansas alone.

More recently another source, who will remain nameless to protect him from expulsion, alleges that Van Buren Lodge of Mainstream Arkansas planned a visit to view The Oklahoma Native American Indian Degree Team perform in Heavener, Oklahoma. When the Worshipful Master of Van Buren Lodge found out that Black Masons would be present he canceled the trip. Furthermore it is alleged that Arkansas Mainstream Masons present at this decision repeated an Arkansas Grand Lodge directive that prohibits any Masons from the Grand Lodge of Arkansas attending any Masonic functions where Black Masons are present.

This source also contends that the Mainstream Grand Lodge of Arkansas is lying to its membership. He points out that the Grand Lodge Grand Session Minutes of 2010 show lawsuits being won by the GL when if you look for those lawsuits using legal aides, you can see that ARGL lost. Its reminiscent to me of of Orwell’s 1984.

This continuous bloodletting by Mainstream Arkansas has led to the spawning of a support group for suspended and expelled Arkansas Masons. Its name is C.A.U.S.E.

Concerned
About
Unlawful
Suspensions
Expulsions

This group meets in secret as any current members of the Grand Lodge would be expelled. It also is a service only available to unjustly suspended and expelled Arkansas Masons and specifically excludes any so dropped for moral turpitude.

Its purposes and objectives are:

Support group
Networking
Legal Aid
Education
Repatriation
To get men out of Masonry thinking about Masonry again

C.A.U.S.E. is open to suspended & expelled Arkansas Masons as well as current members who wish to aid such men. While its membership and place and time of meetings cannot be shared with non members, the group will soon have a website.

This group has a start up membership of about 50 men. Currently C.A.U.S.E. leaders are helping the membership with trying to become members in other jurisdictions, lawsuits against Grand Lodge and esoteric discussions and speakers. It must be remembered in the case of civil action it has been alleged that the Grand Lodge of Arkansas has pulled the charter from some wealthy Lodges and closed them down in order to add that wealth to the Grand Lodge coffers.

Remember that when a Mason is unjustly expelled in one jurisdiction the wrong cannot be corrected in another jurisdiction (although C.A.U.S.E. is trying). All Masonic jurisdictions will mutually support one another in their suspensions or expulsions – no matter the reason. Frank Haas has been the only Mason in modern times to crash this barrier and that was just recently.

If you look at how many men are in C.A.U.S.E., which is only weeks old, and then add in former Masons in the same position from other states, you have a rather large group of disaffected Masons nationwide. These are for the most part good, honest men who have been wronged, and who sometimes seem overly angry and bitter. They are ripe for being picked up by another Obedience, many who are classified as irregular and clandestine by Mainstream Masonry.

These are men who certain Masonic societies and forums will drop from their membership rolls once they have been suspended or expelled. To be wronged and then to be shunted, ostracized and damned is something that only fuels the fire of bitterness and hatred.

Yet those in power who do wrong are never chastised by their peers. They are never held accountable for their actions. There is no recourse to correct a run away, rogue Grand Lodge.

The righteous minded, ass kissing, bean counters left in Mainstream Masonry will pontificate that if there are problems in a Grand Lodge then it is only the business of that Grand Lodge and nobody else’s and all that is needed to correct matters is for the Brethren as a whole to vote to change things.

They haven’t met the Arkansas Grand Master who is alleged to have forcibly removed and expelled an 80 year old member from Grand Lodge Session who made a motion that displeased him who is the same Grand Master who is accused of having committing an immoral act that sacks every brother who attempts to bring him up on charges by expelling them without trial.

Where were all these holier than thou Masons when the Grand Master of Arkansas banned Masonic E-Mail? Where were they when Past Grand Master Frank Haas was snookered into coming to a meeting so that the Grand Master could embarrass him by expelling him in front of his father and friends without prior notice?

The other mantra used by those on the inside is, wait awhile, when all the old guys die off, things will change. In the meantime – don’t rock the boat. Very bad advice, indeed. There is no reforming Grand Lodges which function as bastions of the KKK who remake themselves anew with each new generation. When any thought, word or deed, and attempt at making things right is met with instant expulsion without a trial then you have a rogue Grand Lodge out of control that is governing its membership as the North Korean government governs its citizens. The only thing that is going to stop a Grand Lodge like this is action from the outside.

C.A.U.S.E. is not standing around and waiting for somebody else to do something. It is going ahead to first take care of the hearts and souls of those men who have been so unjustly wronged, and then to mitigate some of the damage being done by a Grand Lodge who only thinks of itself and amassing more and more power.

Perhaps this movement will catch on in West Virginia and elsewhere.

PHA Conference Of Grandmasters Website

Posted on August 27, 2010December 15, 2013 by Fred Milliken | 1 Comment

One of the interesting items that Grand Master Wilbert M. Curtis introduced us to at our summer Grand Session of PHA Texas was the new Conference of Grand Masters PHA website. It is really quite well done.

There are two interactive maps where you can slide your cursor over a state and it will show you the Grand Master of that state or territory with his picture, website and E-Mail address. Another map will do the same thing for Grand Matrons and Grand Patrons . Both maps are also broken down into Regions and each Region is also part of the information included in a visit to each state.

When the Grand Masters meet, the Grand Matrons and Grand Patrons also meet at the same time and place. Including the women with the men in joint but separate gatherings is a constant theme in Prince Hall Masonry. Not so on the Mainstream side.

The website has a center picture which changes, a touch of Masonic art and symbolism and good color. It also has a fair amount of information. You can learn about the origin of Prince Hall Masonry and the origin of the Adoptive Rite among Black women. Another click will show you all the Grand Lodge websites list alphabetically. Other tabs will bring you to PHA charities and to other Masonic links.

But what I enjoy seeing on the site most of all is the spelling out of the Purpose of the Grand Masters conference along with pictures of the officers and a breakdown of regional heads. Along with the Purpose are listed also the Objectives for the Grand Masters and Grand Matrons and Grand Patrons.

To view the website go here: http://www.conferenceofgrandmasterspha.org/home.asp

The Prince Hall Site gives you the feeling of some tight bonding among the different jurisdictions. It also sets a definite agenda while at the same time allowing some time for position papers.

Taking a look at the Mainstream Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in North America, Inc. I see a site that doesn’t seem to want to show off Masonry, doesn’t emphasize togetherness, is less informational and not quite so elegant.

To view that website go here: http://www.cgmna.org/index.htm

Contrast the two for yourself and see if you come to the same conclusions.

Furnishing A New Masonic Home

Posted on August 23, 2010December 15, 2013 by Fred Milliken | 4 Comments

It’s amazing the myriad details that have to be attended to in building a new Lodge building. There are committees galore dealing with permits, foundation, framing, supplies, contractor, sub contractors such as a plumber and electrician, code inspections and probably a lot more I have left out.

We have a nice double lot that extends way in from the road as you can see from the picture. The Lodge is all a buzz like little beavers with meetings, phone calls, follow-up meetings on the meetings. The Master is well organized and the Lodge now has in place the necessary ingredients to get the building raised. A lot of the inside work will be done by Lodge members. I can just see myself helping to hang drywall, if that’s how you say it. A tradesman I ain’t.

All the bases seem to be covered except……………………well when I brought up the subject of furniture. I can’t blame anybody for that because it really is not part of building the edifice. It’s what comes after. But after a few merges and renting for a number of years using somebody else’s furniture, my Lodge’s furniture seems to be no more. Maybe there are a few pieces saved, scattered here and there at members houses for safekeeping, but that remains to be seen.

Since I am going to be little help in the construction of the building, I turned my thoughts to what I could do about getting us some furniture. We need an altar, East, West and South stations encompassing chairs therein, the three lesser lights, chairs and/or benches for the rest of the officers and the sidelines members and even rods for the Deacons & Stewards.

My thoughts turned to an article I wrote not too long ago where Paul Dean Lodge AF & AM of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts merged with Paul Revere Lodge, sold its building and donated all its furniture to the Lodges of Bangor, Maine who were rebuilding after a fire completely destroyed all that they had. A delegation from Paul Dean participated in the rededication ceremony of Bangor’s new quarters and was lauded before the entire group. What a great story!

https://freemasoninformation.com/2010/05/masonic-organ-donor-2/

Could there be another Lodge somewhere in the U.S.A. who is also turning in its charter or merging and has furniture that they no longer have a use for? Or as a Brother and friend of mine suggested:

What about commissioning some of it from currently skilled people, some might even be retired and do it as a labor of love for cost. What an opportunity ! ” This Worhipful Master’s Chair designed, carved and assembled by ________________ for the benefit of the lodge and the good of the Craft. AL 6010 “

So if you are reading this and can be of help please get in contact. It looks like the Lodge building will be raised at the beginning of the New Year and by spring we should have the inside completed. The Master says we are probably going to be able to beat that schedule and have it completed earlier.

Pride of Mt. Pisgah Lodge #135 would enjoy the opportunity to fete and regale all, who would join us in our celebration and aid us in the completion of a Masonic home, with some of that famous Southern Masonic hospitality.

Prince Hall Freemasonry In The Lone Star State

Posted on August 18, 2010April 20, 2012 by Fred Milliken | 3 Comments

Prince Hall Freemasonry In The Lone Star State From Cuney to Curtis, 1875-2003

Prince Hall Freemasonry In The Lone Star State
From Cuney to Curtis, 1875-2003

Rev. Bro. Dr. Robert L. Uzzel has penned a very comprehensive look into Texas Prince Hall Masonry from its inception into the 21^st century as well as a look into society, politics, and some of the events that shaped the history of the Lone Star State.

After a minimal setting of the stage he tells the story of Texas Prince Hall Masonry through the eyes of each Grand Master and those who surrounded them. We get a look at what each Grand Master said at Grand Sessions, the programs they originated and implemented, the successes they had and the failures that also dogged their tenure.

Uzzel pulls no punches. He tells all about both the good stuff and the bad stuff. We learn about the Grand Master who was an influential politician, the Grand Master who started as a contractor and bridge builder but later became a Sate Rep., the three Grand Masters who were also church Bishops, the Grand Master who served 20 years in the Grand East, the Grand Master whose house burned down, the Grand Master who spoke of Masons as pathfinders and who banned Duncan’s ritual, the Grand Master whose wife was as prominent in Masonic circles as he was, the Grand Master who was a public school principal and who erected a monument at Brenham, Texas commemorating the formation of the Grand Lodge, the Grand Master who’s tenure saw the failure of the Grand Lodge’s Bank & Trust Company, the Grand Master who was also Sovereign Grand Commander, Scottish Rite, South Jurisdiction and who visited Liberia, the Grand Master who was tried for un-Masonic conduct, the Grand Master who was a District Court judge and the Grand Master who had a protracted legal battle with the Order of Eastern Star.

The first Grand Master of Prince Hall Texas was The Honorable Norris Wright Cuney who was installed as such in Brenham, Texas on August 19, 1875 by Capt. William D. Matthews, Grand Master of the National Grand Lodge. The Beehive honors that date by posting this article on August 19, 2010. Twenty more Grand Masters followed to this date. The present Grand Master, The Honorable Wilbert M. Curtis was installed in 2003 and is enjoying his seventh year in the Grand East.

Along the way many a Grand Master has made many an inspiring address to his Grand Lodge, all readable in Uzzel’s masterpiece. One of the best was this portion of the fourth Grand Master’s address, by the Honorable Abram Grant, to the Seventh Annual Communication on June 7, 1882.

“Assembled in these consecrated walls for the discharge of the important duties entrusted to our supervision, in the full enjoyment of peace, there is every reason for the expression of profound gratitude to the Almighty God, that, despite our frailties and shortcomings, His tender care has been ever manifest, and for humble aspiration that the present session and proceedings may be so conducted that not only shall they profit our venerable craft but also redound to the greater glory of our Heavenly Father, to whose name we ascribe all honor and praise. You have come here to declare your appreciation of the character and the objects of Freemasonry; to record your homage for its founders, and admiration of its splendid charities, and dedicate yourselves to the permanence and perpetuation of its principles. And we would leave here also for the generations which are soon to fill our places some proof that we endeavored to transmit the great inheritance unimpaired; that in our estimate of its principles, in our veneration of its charities, in our devotion to its morality, in our regard for whatever improves human happiness, we are not altogether unworthy of the high trust confided in us. Other places and other occasions you reserve for strife and disputation, and struggle for mastery and the sharp competitions of life. But here shall be peace and reconciliation. Within these walls, the knowledge and the morality, which are of no creed and no party, which are graceful and profitable for all alike, which are true and real to every mind and to every conscience, and in every brain and heart – these itself – these alone are inculcated here. Happy, especially, if we shall rouse ourselves to their utmost capacity – if we shall feel that we are summoned by a new notice and by an obligation unfelt before, to an unaccustomed effort to appropriate to our hearts and reason all the countless good which is hidden in the principles and teachings of Freemasonry.”

Uzzel tells us in the concluding epilogue that, “The lives of the twenty-one Grand Masters who have presided over the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas in the past 125 years have influenced and been influenced by many important historical events. Thus it is impossible to totally separate Masonic history from other aspects of history. Much interesting information can be gleaned by examining the lives of these twenty-one men.”

And if you pick up and read “Prince Hall Freemasonry In The Lone Star State” you shall have a very unique and well assembled insight into the times, the lives and the history of the late nineteenth and all of the twentieth century written from the point of view of the struggle of Black Masonry to surmount and survive all the obstacles put in its path.

I recommend this book most highly.

I Have Decided I Don’t Want To Do Bare Bones Masonry Anymore

Posted on August 14, 2010February 17, 2020 by Fred Milliken | 12 Comments

A typical Masonic Lodge will meet in a small sparse building which I call a shack. It will be a two room affair – a Lodge room and a dining hall both sporting the barest of essentials. Practicality will over rule lavish luxury. Of course there are exceptions.

Some stately and roomy Lodge buildings can be found in cities where multiple Lodges meet and Concordant Bodies also are tenants. But the number of these more luxurious cousins is a drop in the bucket compared to the large number of suburban and small town Lodges that dot the American countryside.

Rural Lodges don’t have much choice but to be this way. But city and suburban Lodges could afford much better digs if all the Lodges in a 20 mile radius were to meet in one building. Our European Masonic cousins have long found this to be the answer to meeting in surroundings of comfort. You can find many English Masonic buildings where up to twenty Lodges meet.

American Masons are wedded to having their own Lodge building which they share with no one just as the American public is wedded to the automobile which they share with no one. Mass transit may be available but Americans with cars seldom use it. And HOV lanes in Dallas have reduced requirements to just two in a vehicle yet 98% do not take advantage of them. We all have to have our own thing. But in doing so “our thing” becomes too expensive for us to maintain all by ourselves. The result is that many Lodges meet in buildings of somewhat disrepair.

Of course better surroundings could be provided if Lodges were allowed to rent out their building to a wider clientele. But Grand Lodges in their ultimate, know it all wisdom impose so many restrictions on who local Lodges can rent to that no takers can be found. You can’t rent the Masonic Hall to any affair that will serve liquor. That kills most of your wedding reception business. You can’t rent out to women’s Masonry, Co-Masonry or in some cases in Mainstream to Prince Hall Masonry. You can’t rent to any of the so called clandestine Lodges. It is doubtful you would be allowed to rent out your building to the Knights of Columbus, AA or the NRA.

Then there is the issue of participation. Each new Grand Master tries to outdo the other. Each new District Deputy tries to make a name for himself by beating the performance of his predecessor. Each new Master tries to out shine the previous Master. Consequently there are always a host of programs and duties that need to be staffed. Mainstream Masonry also has a plethora of Masonic Awareness/Charitable events which require a boatload of manpower. Masonic Communications become meetings of recruitment. Soon what is expected of a Mason is eating away at all of his free time.

I have decided that I don’t want to do bare bones Masonry anymore. Masonry on the cheap is not for me.

The organization I belong to will have a beautiful, large building with many rooms. The floors will be plush carpet or hardwood. Wall paper and paintings of renowned artists will adorn the walls. I will sit in a large leather chair with a foot rest and a side table beside me. A waiter will bring me a cocktail and my choice of an hors d’oeuvre and an expensive cigar. If I prefer I can sit on the veranda in a rocking chair gazing out at the beautiful view. One room will have a grand piano for those members who know how to play. Another room will have a pool table and game tables. Seven course dinners will be served once per week.

I have no desire to be drafted into manning somebody else’s pet project. Instead of doing all the time I would much rather just be. After all I am a human being not a human doing. I will sit and learn about my organization in its giant library. I will learn the knowledge I want to gain, if not by reading, by viewing presentations in the media room of my organization.

I will attend on the days or nights I have free time and an inclination to do so. My organization will be open for business six days a week but it will make no requirements of me or my attendance other than the dues I pay to belong.

My organization will be there for my edification and pleasure not to work me to death or enlist me in its army.

My organization could be Freemasonry. Then again it could be not.

The Texas Two Step

Posted on August 10, 2010September 14, 2019 by Fred Milliken | 1 Comment

Two significant happenings in the life of Texas Prince Hall Masonry bring news that should be shared with all.

First, the Grand Lodge has reactivated its Newsletter/Magazine. It used to have one of those glossy printed magazines that became a hassle to publish and a burdensome cost. Slowly over time the Texas Prince Hall Newsletter just faded away and was no more.

This year it has been reactivated in a new format under the superb leadership of Brother Burrell D. Parmer with yours truly as one of his assistants.

Brother Parmer has put together a publications committee team with members from various parts of the state.

The Newsletter called The Texas Prince Hall Freemason is in PDF format and published on the Grand Lodge website. No longer will this be a printed handout with cumbersome, costly mailing processes. It will be viewable by anybody who would like to visit the Grand Lodge website and any individual could print out their own hard copy if they so desired.

This format makes more sense and costs less cents and is easier to put together. Brother Parmer believes in the liberal use of pictures in all the stories printed in The Texas Prince Hall Freemason.

Although the first edition will not be out until November, a sample of this quarterly publication, a story on the June 2010 Grand Session, can be viewed by going to the Texas Prince Hall website – and then selecting Texas Prince Hall Freemason Publication.

The second Texas two step or happening is the progress made in the construction of a new Masonic building for my Lodge, Pride of Mt. Pisgah #135, Dallas, Texas. The land is now in our hands, materials purchased and the contractors have been lined up. Right now we are waiting for city approval and permits. We hope to break ground next month.

Our new building will be a steel framed structure with most of the inside work being done by Lodge members. The grounds, pictured here, stretch far back from the road, so we have plenty of room to accomplish our objectives.

Saturday 8/7/10 Pride of Mt. Pisgah #135 held a BBQ get together on the property. This was our first event held on the property and a good time was had by all. Junior Warden and chef extraordinaire Thomas Crump, pictured here, cooked up a meal fit for Kings and Queens. Eastern Star and Heroines of Jericho members joined our celebration as well as members from other Lodges.

As a small, struggling Lodge in not the best of economic times, this undertaking is not taken without some sacrifice.

If anyone would like to contribute to the raising of Mt. Pisgah’s new building, contributions would be thankfully received at:
Pride of Mt. Pisgah #135, F & AM
P.O. Box 226111
Dallas, TX 75226

For Whom The Bell Tolls

Posted on August 9, 2010December 15, 2013 by Fred Milliken | 1 Comment

Samantha Molny and James Aaron Steel got married in June in Fort Worth Texas.

As my Grandfather was oft to say, “What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?” Steel, you see, is the great-great-great-great grandson of Lawrence Steel one of the founding fathers of Fort Worth and one of a group of ten men who organized Fort Worth’s first Masonic Lodge, #148 chartered in 1855.

Lawrence Steel owned Steel’s tavern, an Inn and stagecoach stop in the old center of Fort Worth. In the belfry of that Tavern hung “Mason” a 16” bell that the family claims was cast in London in 1782.

How and when Steel received the bell is a family mystery but it is a fact that “Mason” was the warning and celebration system of the early settlers who resided along the Trinity River in Fort Worth in the 1840s and 50s.

“Mason” rang to alert residents of danger, bad weather, mealtime, school sessions, fires, deaths, funerals, the New Year and most pertinent to our case weddings.

Lodge #148 purchased “Mason” from the Steel family in 1871 and has been the caretaker of the bell ever since. “Mason” is not rung often anymore it being a relic of a day gone by. But in June it rang at a Steel family wedding for the first time in 130 years. “Mason” and the Steel family were reunited in a ceremony of union and it can now be said that for that family it was “for whom the bell tolls”.