Quote:
| Originally Posted by malevolent5000
1. Since I am of mixed race, I was led to believe that I was required to petition a Prince Hall Lodge. Was this information correct? I have been unable to find any guidance or answers regarding this.
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As far as
Antient Freemasonry goes, Jayman is correct you are not required to petition a Prince Hall lodge. That being said the lodges in Texas do not allow inter visitation with Prince Hall lodges and do not allow blacks to join their lodges, even if they don't admit it to the public. If someone tells you it is up to the local lodge then they are misleading the truth because if a black man joined a lodge that lodge would wind up either kicked from the GL or ostracized by their fellow lodges.
Now the Grand Orient lodges, which are quite a bit fewer in numbers at this time, do not exclude anyone based on race, period.
Prince Hall lodges, from my understanding by speaking with PH Brothers can tend to be just as racist in their recruiting as "white"
Antient lodges. I speculate this is probably more of a "you don't want us, then we don't want you" type of issue though. Which doesn't make it right either by the way.
Quote:
| Originally Posted by malevolent5000
2. Can I visit another lodge? The lodge that I am a part of is regular, and is chartered. That being said, am I missing anything in regard to the rituals, lessons and information I am receiving.
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I cannot speak personally about the similarities between the ritual work in PH and
Antient lodges. I know if you are in an
Antient lodge (white Texas lodge) and you visit a Prince Hall lodge you would be suspended or expelled from Freemasonry, just ask Brother Charles Martin of West Virginia. (See the threads on here about his problems). I'm not sure if the Prince Hall lodges would do the same but wouldn't matter because the
Antient lodges would not allow you to sit in their lodge because you are a Prince Hall member. Now if you are a Prince Hall member in Texas and you visit an
Antient lodge in a state that does recognize each other that would not be a problem at all. Hope that made sense.
Quote:
| Originally Posted by malevolent5000
3. Once I am a Master Mason, and I do decide that I would like to be part of a non Prince Hall Lodge, would I have to petition them, or being a Master Mason, can I become a member of a non Prince Hall Lodge and not just a “visitor”? Also, would I have to enter as an Entered Apprentice and start all over?
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Basically the same goes here as I answered to the last question.
Not all Masons, myself included, believe this separation is right and we are fighting tooth and nail, even at our own risk to see this Bigotry come to an end once and for all. Many also are flocking to the new Grand Orient system of Free-masonry which is known also by "Modern" or "Cosmopolitan" Free-masonry. This group of Brothers resurrected the
Modern (older than
Antient) form of Free-masonry in the U.S. a few years ago. Their flavor of Free-masonry is very closely aligned with the French style which strongly believes in the complete freedom of choice. You'd have to read more about them at
www.grandorientusa.org
Hope this helped answer some of your questions.