The Blue Lodge - View Single Post - Black, White Masons In South Struggle With Racial Separation

ccortezjr · 03-07-2007, 03:17 PM

Hello all.

I can't claim to be a brother but I do have some experience with a group of gentlemen who I believe were trying to be part of a small masonic organization. 911 events and military duty kept me from pursuing much of anything from them but in hindsight and after some research I found that no local or international GL reconginzed them and I'm not sure if any would.

My interest in them came from the father of a good friend who I know for sure was at one time a Prince Hall brother (on the word of another PH brother I met). Part of the draw in that direction of that group came from the whole idea that it didn't matter about RACE or COLOR and since I knew the man for many years I went with that option. I did however, through questions and an honest persuit of more light, found that the group itself had no place doing any work at all and I doubt that any true masonic organization would say the work they were doing was any good at all. I swore to keep their secrets so I shall keep them nameless and such in any posts. No matter what I know I have to start over.

It brings me to this point though.

Through my brief experience it seems very important to be accepted within the organization at large but more important to be doing right work. If you are duely prepared, accepted and properly raised then what difference does it make? Sign, grip and pass is what I have always heard is all you need.

While I speak as one with fringe masonic experience I can say that I have seen enough to say that some brothers are in fact motivated by race.
A brother once told me thus, "believe me, you belong to Prince Hall". We had a chat or 2 before my experience with the lodge mentioned above. He never did say exactly what he meant but maybe someone can elaborate.

I am a man of mixed ethnic and racial backround while born and raised in the USA, I am all American. I know what it is like to be called n*****, sp***, and wh*** boy. Fill in the blanks. I didn't know I was all that but it has been part my experience to hear such. I survived allof that. Maybe I'm an idealist but my hope is to find a place that really does accept a man for who he is and not his skin tone. There's way too much to assume based on that alone. I just know that I would hate to feel like anyone even thought about race in lodge except to work on showing how unimportant it is.

During some research on the subject I found a lodge with a very interesting history. Alpha #116 in East Orange, NJ has a history that may be of interest for those looking for change in the fraternity at large with regard to race and such.

http://www.nj8thdistrict.org/Lodges/.../mainpage.html

Link: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=002...3E2.0.CO%3B2-3

I'm curious as to how do other GL's see New Jersey under these circumstances, how PH lodges in general relate to Alhpa's experience and existence, and what brothers in mixed lodges feel are some of the best reasons FOR mixed lodges.

I have a brother available for questions as I restart the search for more light but I hope to hear from the brothers on this sight.

Thanks in advance!

03-07-2007, 03:17 PM	#14
ccortezjr Junior Member ccortezjr is Offline Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3 Rep: Rep Power: 0	Re: Black, White Masons In South Struggle With Racial Separation Hello all. I can't claim to be a brother but I do have some experience with a group of gentlemen who I believe were trying to be part of a small masonic organization. 911 events and military duty kept me from pursuing much of anything from them but in hindsight and after some research I found that no local or international GL reconginzed them and I'm not sure if any would. My interest in them came from the father of a good friend who I know for sure was at one time a Prince Hall brother (on the word of another PH brother I met). Part of the draw in that direction of that group came from the whole idea that it didn't matter about RACE or COLOR and since I knew the man for many years I went with that option. I did however, through questions and an honest persuit of more light, found that the group itself had no place doing any work at all and I doubt that any true masonic organization would say the work they were doing was any good at all. I swore to keep their secrets so I shall keep them nameless and such in any posts. No matter what I know I have to start over. It brings me to this point though. Through my brief experience it seems very important to be accepted within the organization at large but more important to be doing right work. If you are duely prepared, accepted and properly raised then what difference does it make? Sign, grip and pass is what I have always heard is all you need. While I speak as one with fringe masonic experience I can say that I have seen enough to say that some brothers are in fact motivated by race. A brother once told me thus, "believe me, you belong to Prince Hall". We had a chat or 2 before my experience with the lodge mentioned above. He never did say exactly what he meant but maybe someone can elaborate. I am a man of mixed ethnic and racial backround while born and raised in the USA, I am all American. I know what it is like to be called n***, sp, and wh** boy. Fill in the blanks. I didn't know I was all that but it has been part my experience to hear such. I survived allof that. Maybe I'm an idealist but my hope is to find a place that really does accept a man for who he is and not his skin tone. There's way too much to assume based on that alone. I just know that I would hate to feel like anyone even thought about race in lodge except to work on showing how unimportant it is. During some research on the subject I found a lodge with a very interesting history. Alpha #116 in East Orange, NJ has a history that may be of interest for those looking for change in the fraternity at large with regard to race and such. http://www.nj8thdistrict.org/Lodges/.../mainpage.html Link: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=002...3E2.0.CO%3B2-3 I'm curious as to how do other GL's see New Jersey under these circumstances, how PH lodges in general relate to Alhpa's experience and existence, and what brothers in mixed lodges feel are some of the best reasons FOR mixed lodges. I have a brother available for questions as I restart the search for more light but I hope to hear from the brothers on this sight. Thanks in advance!