The Master of the 27th degree immediately demitted from the Scottish Rite before the Atlanta Session had concluded causing the degree to be canceled. He cited the refusal of the Scottish Rite to admit an African American Master Mason for the second time for his reason, saying that he is taking a stand against bigotry.
Some other demits have been reported in protest to the actions of the Atlanta Scottish Rite leadership. Response to the Beehive story is pouring in from across the country. Most responders have expressed dismay that this would occur again to brothers from Gate City Lodge No. 2. It looks to many like an ongoing war or vendetta and that doesn’t sit well with the majority of American Masons.
The Beehive also has report of some internal behind the scenes pressure being applied to Atlanta. Along with the disapproval of Brethren across the nation it just might mean that public exposure and pressure will have turned back racial persecution for the second time in Georgia Freemasonry. Many older Freemasons have not quite caught up with the Information Age and the fact that actions can be known around the world in a matter of minutes. This failure has led to those in power to think that they can sneak one by everybody but their local membership. Fortunately this is no longer possible in today’s world.
The story is not done yet. More is to come and we will be right here to let you know what is going on.
It’s a shame when the workers resign and not the “leadership”.
Some national denominational churches hold regional and national conferences, sponsored by the congregations of the local parish who send delegations to vote on and set the rules of conduct for the denomination.
Maybe this is high time to put the trowel to use and call for a national conference to establish a national grand lodge.
Greg, we tried that in Prince Hall Freemasonry. Pick up Alton Roundtrees book on the subject.
James if you don’t mind my asking what was the outcome? Its a thought Ive had for some time, but come to the conclusion that for it to happen, there would need to be a change in the way we (collectively) view the fraternity and our participation in it – to the extent that it would need to be thought of on the scale as one views their church and their churches mission.
Bro. Greg I belong to The Most Worshipful Olive Branch Grand lodge of Alabama, Free and Accepted Ancient Yorkrite Masons, Prince Hall Origin, National Compact, USA. As Bro. Morgan stated earlier, we do in fact, belong to a National Compact or National Grand Lodge as opposed to our Prince Hall Affiliate brethren who do not. Believe me, it will take more than that. Here in Alabama it has gotten so bad that PHA does not recognize, accept, or associate with PHO, International, Modern free or any other African American Masonic Order. It’s not only PHA, it’s all of us. This one doesn’t recognize that one, that one doesn’t recognize this one, and so on and so forth. It’s sad that not only do we have to fight for recognition from some of our white counterparts but we also have to fight for recognition amongst EACH OTHER. Until we put aside our egos and stop worrying about who was here first and learn to come together for one common cause we will always be divided amongst ourselves. Regardless to how many protests there are and whether or not we have a National Grand Lodge, if we can’t get along amongst ourselves and respect one another how do we expect anyone else to accept us and respect us? Just a thought….
Br. Sean, thanks for this, and I’m very glad you replied with it. My immediate thought is that this looks, feels, and feels just like the disunity between protestant churches. Very often my mind wanders to the idea that maybe we would be better off to not try to legislate unity per-se, but agree that one another exists and then do the work of Masonry.
oops…my error… that’s Grand Treasurer…talking about blue house but typing about red house…smh
I agree. It is my sincere hope that we can resolve our issues and move forward with the true work of Freemasonry.
While we endeavor to counsel our brethren in the gentlest manner, there are some behaviors that warrant a tougher stance. We are instructed thus; “You are not to palliate or aggravate the offences of your Brethren.”
Palliate: to try to mitigate or conceal the gravity of (an offense) by excuses, apologies, etc.;
The Grand Lodge of Georgia has the right to issue edicts against its Scottish Rite bodies (or any other appendant body) as well as it’s Blue Lodges. The GM issued an edict in 2009 banning this sort of nonsense in the blue Lodges. The Georgia GL should ‘recommend’ that the Scottish Rite clean up its act or face an edict declaring it irregular and banning all Georgia Masons from belonging under penalty of expulsion. If that doesn’t happen, the other States should pressure the Georgia GL to do so, by threatening to withdraw recognition. Plain and simple. Isolate them. This behavior we have seen in Georgia is entirely unmasonic and totally reprehensible. If an individual Brother behaved this way in most jurisdictions he would be brought up on charges and likely expelled.
I would also like to know why we haven’t heard anything from the Supreme Council. While it could be expected that they would approach the matter down through channels as opposed to publically, one would think that some action would have occurred by now.
I applaud the Degree Master for taking the action he did.
Shame of those who blackballed those who they call “Their brothers’!!! @ Sean Macon…
My brother, you were not truthful with your response. You forgot to tell this forum that your GL has given up her sovereignty to a higher authority……
Greg says:
October 30, 2011 at 10:07 am
“Some national denominational churches hold regional and national conferences, sponsored by the congregations of the local parish who send delegations to vote on and set the rules of conduct for the denomination.
Maybe this is high time to put the trowel to use and call for a national conference to establish a national grand lodge.”
Mainstream Freemasonry tried this several times. Collectivism is the key.
What ever happen to let brotherly love prevail. The color of a mans skin should not and in my lodge will not be reason for non admittance. It is so sad in the 21st century that this type of racism is alive in the country i love America the beautiful, not the what color are you. The leadership of the Scottish Rite should be forced to resign from masonry never to be let into any lodge. If there is a good thing it seems several brothers in Georgia are not willing to stand around and let the “good ole boys” club dictate politicts in masonry. Brothers of any race, credd or color my prayers are with you in your fight for what is right.
It,s sad that we all took the same oath to be our brothers keeper and to greet our bro,s on the 5 points of fellowship we all have the same color blood and for part of the order to still be apart is sad please someone tell me what will it take for us to be one up here in jersey we have formed a commission called inter-Fraternal Masonic Relations Commission the ORIGINAL SUPREME COUNCIL for the Southern and Western Masonic Jurisdiciton in washington, D.C must not be aware of this is a way that we can make some type petiton to them concerning this matter .
Sean you stated:
“Bro. Greg I belong to The Most Worshipful Olive Branch Grand lodge of Alabama, Free and Accepted Ancient Yorkrite Masons, Prince Hall Origin, National Compact, USA.”
The next statement you made is very misleading:
” As Bro. Morgan stated earlier, we do in fact, belong to a National Compact or National Grand Lodge as opposed to our Prince Hall Affiliate brethren who do not.”
A reader might believe that Bro. Morgan belongs to the compact along with yourself as that is not true,Bro. Morgan is a Prince Hall Mason.
This final statement is also very misleading:
” Believe me, it will take more than that. Here in Alabama it has gotten so bad that PHA does not recognize, accept, or associate with PHO, International, Modern free or any other African American Masonic Order. It’s not only PHA, it’s all of us. This one doesn’t recognize that one, that one doesn’t recognize this one, and so on and so forth. It’s sad that not only do we have to fight for recognition from some of our white counterparts but we also have to fight for recognition amongst EACH OTHER.”
The above is misleading, NO PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE or ANY other Body of REGULAR masons recognize the compact. The National Grand lodge openly admits to sitting in lodge with other known clandestine bodies and in your SOP mentions to establish recognition with those said bodies. PHA has NEVER recognized the compact.
“our own?” “white counterparts?” You see, this is the problem. As long as we keep seeing each other as different(color) we will continue to be divided. We can expect equality if we continue to see each other differently. It can’t just be our wishes. It has to be in our thought, our words, and in our writing. I’m not so naive as to think racism doesn’t exist, but there has to be a turning point in this racial divide.
FYI- your hight and body type take up more alleles(genes) than skin color. Two men of the same hight and build of different skin color have more in common genetically than two people of themes same color but of different hight and build.
Time to take this to the mass media.
Brothers, I agree wholeheartedly that this nonsense must stop and discrimination based on color has no place in the Lodge, more especially a GL. Something that we often miss in these conversations is that we should embrace and celebrate our cultural diversity and help others to understand the benefits of such work. I have better perspective on my world view from interactions with others from a different cultural background than I do only looking at my small community, be it the Lodge, village, church or home. We are more because of what we are inclusively than what we might be as individuals. Aside from that I firmly believe the GATOU enjoys all the colors of the rainbow or he would not have made us this way. Pray that light is shared with those who are narrow minded and miss the meaning of unity and brotherly love.
For the record: Randy did not Demit free Masonry or Scottish rite. He resigned as degree master. And, he’s back now.
I’m seeing the thread a little late but would like to add a few comments. Gate City mentioned here made several mistakes – for one, some of the members courted the gentleman at the center of the attention and voted him in only after many members were in disagreement and therefore not present at the vote. He was paraded around the state to say “look what we did”. As a rule, we as masons do not solicit – they did. The GL of GA ignored the violation to avoid being sued. Litigation started anyway but was later dropped. They were also in violation of advertising a brother’s business on their web site. The latter issue is not related except that they obviously don’t care much about the rules governed by the GL of GA. That being said, there were probably other violations.
I would gladly give a petition to anyone asking to be a member – black, white, male, female, Muslim, Jewish, a known atheist, whatever. We all know that the decision lies in the ballot box. While a decision may not be accepted by all, the ballot box is the accepted means of anonymously deciding membership. While I would agree that we are all human, this does not mean that we are all alike. There is a Prince Hall Lodge close to ours and we recognize each other as masons and work together in our community. This does not mean that we share the same ideals or backgrounds. Here, we are OK with that. I seriously doubt that if I had petitioned the PH Lodge (as a white guy) that I would have been voted in. Would I be able to say that it was because of racial bias? I doubt it, because the argument doesn’t work both ways. If you don’t believe or understand that fact, then you are obviously not from this planet. BTW, the Prince Hall Lodges are even more discerning about their members than we are. One way they do this by having an expensive entry fee and dues. They say this keeps the undesirables out. Seems to me that is bigotry as well.
This argument should be handled in each individual lodge. However, don’t be surprised that other lodges in your district (or state) may or may not agree with you.
There will never be a national lodge in my opinion. Ever. As someone mentioned before, even in our own districts we can’t agree, much less try to get on the same page across the country. Some lodges have women. The Rainbow lodge in California has gays and lesbians. Whatever. My suggestion is to recognize each other as masons in a friendly manor, but don’t expect all, or any, lodges to agree with each other. Not gonna happen. Each lodge should have the right to choose. As we all know, once you become a member in a lodge, you can effectively make sure that no one will ever become a member so long as you are alive and able to make the regular meeting night.
When I joined masonry a few years back and became an officer (also hold an office in all of the York Rite bodies and AMD), I thought it was the last bastion of solidarity in the world – boy was I wrong. I’m not sorry I joined, but my view of masonry has definitely changed. It still does stand for some of the greatest ideas in humanity, but we are after all, human – with all of its flaws. My mantra – worry about your own lodge and let others worry about theirs. If you don’t like the way they do things, don’t visit…
My2Cents the Brother of Gate City Lodge was not solicitated he came on his own free will and accord. He visited many lodges and sat in at Gate City for over a year. So your statement was incorrect. He also was not paraded around Georgia . That is actually the last thing that was tried. He is very quiet and the lodge tried to handle things very quietly. How do I know because I am a Brother in Georgia who watched this horse and pony show first hand. It is and was actually disgusting. Also i do know white prince hall masons…in georgia….for what thats worth..so maybe you would have got voted in
Well this author, The Beehive, is a White Prince Hall Mason who had no difficulty in transfering over. Guess that knocks that theory to hell!
Masonry is not a college fraternity, we have charges and moral principles taught that should be followed. What part of the Golden Rule did they miss. What part of “the internal and not the external” did they miss. I almost can’t believe the ignorance, and lack of discernment over what should be obvious Masonic values relating to equality and respect of all men, and acting on the level.
Just as an aside, I did have a little problem in South Carolina while traveling years ago, I was almost kicked out for asking after the meal benediction to Lord Jesus Christ, if they admitted non-Christians, as my wife and I are Members of our local Unitarian Church.
After some hard prolonged stares, the Master looked at me and said “that’s how we do things down her”, “one more word and we will ask you to leave”.
Good thing I didn’t ask if they also admitted qualified men of color.
If I had not mentioned that I was friends with our Grand Master that year, also being a PM, R.A.M.PHP and 32nd, I would probably have been treated less graciously. The only member who talked to me after that, and who was a transfered Michigan Mason, took me aside and explained he initially had some trouble with that too, as well as the racism, but he had learned to keep his opinions to himself.
A few days later I traveled to another lodge in a nearby town, where I said nothing and had a much better time…I learned a lesson to keep my mouth shut, but I still thought it was wrong..
Still, I thought it was wrong..Also are papers required to prove racial purity? Is one eighth black still too much. In my opinion, racist Masons should demit and change their white aprons for white hoods.
We even had an isolated instance recently in Michigan, which our Grand Master is dealing with based on Masonic principles. We have an excellent Grand Master this year. However we should realize that Masonry is universal. I did not join a racist or sectarian organization. I joined for many reasons, one was because I believed in the morality expoused and the hope of universal brotherhood, which evidently is not shared by all Masons, who seem to me to often be Masons in name only..
This dispute over race in Georgia besmirches the honor, glory and reputation of the Fratenity, and does not convince the world of it’s good effects. We should care how the world views us..