Brother Charles.
Amazing. Having diner with our PH brothers is reason for even a one day suspension would be utterly ridicules. It suffocates me just to know that there are people out there that do not know or understand how many of us have shared blood on the killing fields with these brothers. Saved each others lives, shared rations and etc. Shame on those individuals. One day they will meet their maker.
Charlie, no need to answer. I'm sure anything you might say can and will be held against you.

Celtic Piper

quote:

Originally posted by cemab4y:
I have some good news. The Grand Lodge of KY decided to suspend me from KY masonry for 12 months. Since I did not attend the tyled meeting, but only had a meal prior to any masonic labor being performed, the trial committee decided that I was guilty of "unmasonic conduct".

I will just take the suspension, and drop out of Masonry for the duration. I rarely get a chance to attend any meetings anyway, so might as well make the best of it.

I am going to make myself scarce, and keep a low profile. When the time period is concluded, I am going to resign KY masonry. No point in staying where I am not wanted, and I have not resided in KY for many years anyway.

I appreciate everyone's kindness and support.

Brother Charles: Yes, you are a brother and always be a brother in my opinion even though pursuant to your alleged suspension, I cannot converse with you Masonically for twelve (12) months. Anyway, I am truly sorry that you were a victim of the Masonic system that brought you to the point of suspension for association with a group of Masons unrecognized by one jurisdiction or not.

First, alittle Masonic history is in order. On March 6, 1775, an African American named Prince Hall was made a Master Mason in Irish Constitution Military Lodge No. 441, along with fourteen other African Americans, all of whom apparently were freeborn by birth. When the Military Lodge left the area, the African Americans were given the authority to meet as a Lodge, form processions on the days of the Saints John, and conduct Masonic funerals, but not to confer degrees nor to do other Masonic work. These individuals applied for and obtained a Warrant for Charter from the Grand Lodge of England in 1784 and formed African Lodge #459. Despite being stricken from the rolls, the Lodge restyled itself as African Lodge #1, and separated itself from United Grand Lodge of England recognised Masonry. This led to a tradition of separate, predominantly African American jurisdictions in North America, which are known collectively as Prince Hall Freemasonry.

Since widespread racism and segregation in North America made it impossible for African Americans to join many mainstream lodges, and many mainstream Grand Lodges in North America refused to recognize as legitimate the Prince Hall Lodges and Prince Hall Masons in their territory. For many years Grand Lodges who claim state jurisdictions have integrated membership, though in some Southern states this has been policy but not practice and Prince Hall originated Grand Lodges are also integrated by policy and practice. Prince Hall Lodges are recognized by the Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) as well as the great majority of state Grand Lodges and international Grand Lodges. While no Grand Lodge of any kind is universally recognized, at present, Prince Hall Masonry is recognized by most UGLE-recognized Grand Lodges and not by others, but appears to be working its way toward further recognition. As of 2006, 40 out of the 51 mainstream US Grand Lodges recognize Prince Hall Grand Lodges.

One day all Prince Hall lodges will be recognized by all jurisdictions in this country. Until them, divided we remain and to remain divided we will eventually fall. A fraternity divided cannot and will not stand the test of time when the color of one's skin separate good men from one another. Some call it politics, some call it a standing law, rule and regulation in place regarding recognition. Regardless of what it is called, it is truly unfortunate. As the late Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Attached to this note are two links that is available to anyone who uses the internet and it paints a picture that should send chills up the spine of any reasonable person. Once you open the links, look at the beginning map and view each map on both websites and draw your own conclusions.

http://bessel.org/masrec/phamapshistorical.htm

http://bessel.org/masrec/phamap.htm

Fraternally and sincerely,
/s/
Terry, PM
Freemason
Hot Topics Moderator

I must admit, were I in this situation, when I went in for my Demit in 12 months and 1 day, I would have a sprig of mistletoe attached to the back of my belt

Sometimes we have to make a stand. And this judge is doing it as well as a Virginia Brother is doing it. It makes no sense for our craft to have to resort to going to court over some GM who thinks he is a king. Our tenants teach us that we are all on the same level. But apparently not to some.

This is for you Brother Charles.

The Charleston Gazette
by Andrew Clevenger
Staff writer

An administrative law judge from Brooke County has filed a lawsuit
against the West Virginia branch of the Masons, claiming they wrongly
expelled him for trying to make the organization more inclusive.

According to the lawsuit filed May 30 in Kanawha Circuit Court, Charlie
L. Montgomery and Charles F. Coleman II, both officers of the Most
Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of the State
of West Virginia Inc., summarily threw Frank Joseph Haas out of the
Masons for fabricated reasons.

Montgomery and Coleman are named as defendants in the suit, as is the
Grand Lodge and several John Does.

Haas' lawsuit offers a glimpse into the world of the Masons, a
centuries-old organization that traces its roots back to the United
Kingdom. While the society is not exactly secretive, it has often been
veiled in mystery, as some of its customs and practices are not revealed
to non-members.

Haas joined the Masonic Lodge in Wellsburg in 1986, four years after he
earned his law degree from West Virginia University. After years of
dedicated service, Haas became the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge in
October 2005, the suit maintains.

As Grand Master, Haas tried to make the organization's policies less
discriminatory and racist and more in line with the U.S. Constitution
and the state's public policy, the suit contends.

"Haas' goal was to make Masonry more tolerant, friendly, decent and
accepting of everyone regardless of nationality, race, religion or
disability," the suit states.

In October 2006, members of the Grand Lodge voted to adopt the
progressive reforms put forward by Haas, the lawsuit alleges.

"These reforms and proposals were intended to rid Masonry in West
Virginia of [its] Orwellian, repressive, regressive and unconstitutional
practices," the lawsuit states.

In response, Coleman, who succeeded Haas as Grand Master, "almost
immediately unilaterally entered various edicts rendering the
progressive proposals voted on and adopted by a majority of Defendant
Grand Lodge null and void," the suit claims.

Coleman justified his actions by claiming that the vote was invalid
because of procedural errors, the suit alleges. But no Masons were
punished for the alleged errors, and no further votes on the reforms
have been allowed since, according to Haas.

Over the next year, Haas continued to speak out about the Grand Lodge's
ethical, moral and legal obligations to reform its policies, the lawsuit
maintains.

Eventually, Haas was ambushed and given the "Masonic death sentence" at
a November 2007 meeting called by Montgomery at Haas' home lodge in
Wellsburg. Montgomery dressed him down in front of his longtime fellow
members, including his father.

"[Montgomery] took charge of the meeting and summarily, arbitrarily and
unlawfully expelled Plaintiff Haas and another individual from Masonry
after lecturing, berating and belittling them," the suit reads.
"Montgomery's ranting and outlandish attack on Plaintiff Haas were based
on trumped up allegations that were false and untrue."

Haas had no opportunity to defend himself against the spurious charges,
and the edict expelling Haas had been prepared in advance, the lawsuit
states.

In addition, Montgomery had the edict expelling Haas read in every
Masonic Lodge in West Virginia, and ordered all Masons not to
communicate with Haas about Masonic matters, the suit contends.

Haas is represented by Charleston attorney Robert Allen, who is himself
a longtime Mason.

The suit alleges that the defendants defamed Haas by insinuating that he
was not a truthful person and failed to comply with his Masonic
obligations. These false accusations have harmed his standing in the
community and hurt his reputation as a jurist, Haas claims.

The expulsion has also cost Haas the right to retire to the West
Virginia Masonic Home and the ability to have a Masonic funeral with
other Masons serving as pallbearers, according to the suit.

The Grand Lodge's principal office address is listed as the Masonic
Temple at 107 Hale St. on the Secretary of State's Web site. Coleman, of
Cross Lanes, and Montgomery, of Parkersburg, are listed as the
organization's president and vice president, respectively.

The suit has been assigned to Judge Jim Stucky.

While it is not clear whether the court has the right to tell a private
organization how to conduct its business, Haas maintains that the harm
done to him outweighs the Grand Lodge's "interest in autonomy and
freedom from judicial oversight."

Haas' suit seeks his reinstatement as a Mason and asks that any Masonic
record of his expulsion be expunged. It also seeks unspecified punitive
and compensatory damages.

To contact staff writer Andrew Clevenger, call (304)348-1723.

quote:

Originally posted by Celticpiper:
Brother Charles.
Amazing. Having diner with our PH brothers is reason for even a one day suspension would be utterly ridicules. It suffocates me just to know that there are people out there that do not know or understand how many of us have shared blood on the killing fields with these brothers. Saved each others lives, shared rations and etc. Shame on those individuals. One day they will meet their maker.
Charlie, no need to answer. I'm sure anything you might say can and will be held against you.

Celtic Piper

To make matters worse, these brothers are soldiers defending this country and our very way of life that is against segregation and inequality because of race, color, creed, gender, national origin, religious and all other forms discrimination and persecution. This is what makes this situation so ironic and hypocritical in my opinion. We have found the enemy and they are not not only the Al-Quieda and Taliban. My .02 cents.

Fraternally,
/s/
Terry, PM
Freemason
Hot Topics Moderator

I have been picked up by a new firm. I have not received my new assignment yet. I will be working in Iraq, for a year, hopefully. I may stay longer, I may stay shorter.

I like working in Iraq.

I guess it doesn't take much to make you happy brother.

I arrived back in Afghanistan in September. I am now located at Forward Operating Base Salerno. I plan to be on this contract through October 2009. The suspension runs out in April 2009, and since there is no Masonry here, this is no real sacrifice.

I intend to be reinstated, and proceed with KY Masonry, and also with NY Masonry.

There is a lot of work here in Afghanistan for electronics engineers, so I may stay for several more years.

i have the same problem with my fst.sgt excecpt it is the opposite.i to am in ga and what bothers me is he is a ph and i am not.he made the comment to me the other day "that what i was doing was cult work and he wouldnt know anything about it"it sounds like to me that he doesnt recognize "the brotherhood"that all ph talk of.if he doesnt know anything about it then he shouldnt comment much less critizise what i am doing to better myself as a man!

quote:

Originally posted by prdavis32:
I hate that all this has happened, knowing what the outcome would be. I would have to think that GLofNY will make some kind of stand for you to the GLofKY. Odd that after all these years that we cannot all get along, I mean, GL's in this country can't even see eye to eye. I hate the fact the GLofGA will have NOTHING to do with PH. A good friend of mine that is a MSgt. stopped by here the other day and I noticed his ring, and said NOTHING. I could say not a word, to a man that provides a blanket of protection to me. That is a man that deserves more than that, but that is just the ways and times that we live. I do not know if both could merge without major problems, but at least be recognized. 200+ years of freedom in this country and 300+ years we are set back. It is a shame. The Elks Club opened doors to all, and they are OK. Moose Lodge and others have done the same. Just saddens me is all.

Not to dwell on the negative, but if PH is Prince Hall, then the degreework being referenced is not that much different between the two grand lodges. To me PH means Prince Hall Mason no more, no less. I would consider this person to a brother Mason upon due examination. I find it difficult to believe that another brother Mason has anything negative to say at all about Freemsonry. I would like to know more about the situation, but it isn't worth focusing on the negative. All I can say is that the world is full of ignorant people and it is easier to associate with those who are positive incluences on others, not the opposite.

Fraternally,
/s/
Terry, PM
Hot Topics Moderator

brother terry you are absolutely correct.it is hard to surrond myself with positive influences when i work directly under him.thanks for the kind words though.