malevolent5000

Good Morning,
I am a Fellow Craft Prince Hall Mason, and should be raised early next month. I reside in San Antonio, TX. I have a few questions and would like to thank you guys in advance for taking the time to look over my questions. I recently learned that Prince Hall Masons, here in Texas, are not recognized by the Grand Lodge Of Texas. (Most northern Grand Lodges recognize Prince Hall Masons in their states)

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.

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.

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?

Those questions being asked, I would like to point out, that as it stands I have no complaints about the the lodge that I am currently a part of. My main interest in becoming a part of a non PHM lodge is that once I am a Master Mason, I would like to be a part of and participate in degree work. I am not sure if it is a lack of interest or lack of commitment but my lodge admittedly does not do degree work very often.

Again, thank you guys, and please, I will be very appreciative of any answers that can be given. I am very interested in Masonry and have put 110% into my degree work so far and lately I have found myself worried that it may all be for nothing if I cannot fraternize with other Mason’s and explore Masonry to its fullest extent.

Jayman

as far as question 1, you were told wrong. Just because you are not 100% 'white", does not mean you can't petition to join a "white" lodge. It's really about whether the members will accept you with your skin color. Of course, if they don't on that reason then its a lodge you wouldnt want to belong to anyway.

D. W. Brown

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.



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.


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.

__________________
Dale Brown, 3° (apostatised my 32°)
TBL Staff

Grand Orient de France | Grand Orient of the United States of America
The Burning Taper | Halcyon Lodge | The Philalethes Society
Regulus Lodge | Sirius Lodge | Emeth Lodge | Euclid Lodge

Jayman

well said Bro. Dale.

So many of us feel this way and do want to see change.

chgregory

My Brothers,

Here in VA we have complete recognition between GLof VA and PH. We often work together, although some brothers from both groups refuse to attent those joint meetings. Nearly everyone I know feels the interaction is a great thing and only the first step toward complete "integration" of the two groups. In Virginia we are often confused by the fact that some folks still believe the "War of Norhtern Agression" (not my term) was never ended. Those are the roots of the issue here in VA, but most good men and good masons are accepting of all good men who seek to better themselves.

In VA you can join any lodge you wish, and if you choose a lodge where they have not heard the news about the end of the civil war, you could withdraw your petition and submit it in a less exclusive one pretty easilly.

I for a have a great deal of respect for the Prince Hall Lodges, and know their MWGM. We met because his license plate says MWGM with a square and compasses...I had to ask him.

I have visited the Grand Lodge at his invitation and he has attended a picknic at ours. He has so far not made a formal visitation, mostly due to his schedule, but he will be welcome when he does.

I just called a friend of mine who was once GM of the SGL of Texas. Here is the story from his mouth to my ear. The Sovern Grand Lodge of Texas (as sovern it is the only in their thinking) has tried to find a means to recognize Prince Hall Masons in Texas, but can't because:

1. There are 3 distinct and unrelated PH Grand Lodges
2. As the only possible Grand Jurisdiction, the PH Grand Lodge would have to subordinate, and so far none is willing.
3. (His words not mine" Ain't nuthin easy in Texas.

While that all sounds like it could be worked out by reasonable men, I can see where it is near impossible for a committee.

He does give a glimmer of hope. (read below)

Any man (regardless of race or mixture of race) can petition and if otherwise qualified can't be excluded (at least in Texas and Virginia) on the basis of race.

In El Paso a pettioner of African decent applied, was worthy and well qualified and strongly recommended. He was rejected, but the Grand Master of Texas demanded that he be reconsidered.

In the end he was and was approved and the Grand master then put into the record of the Texas GL that the Texas GL and the subordinate lodges will not discrimanate on the basis of race, religion or national origin. That was a few years ago, when my friend was GM, but since I got the story from him, I think it is true.

There is little chance of recognition of PH lodges in Texas because of the things I listed above, but you are free to petition any Blue Lodge and I would talk to them before I petitioned to be sure it was the lodge for me and you are the candidate for them.

If you proceed with the Prince Hall petition, you may find it is impossible to join a SGL of Texas lodge as they do not treat PH lodges as regular lodges.

I hope this is helpful. I still believe strongly in the masonic system and in the ability of us as the membership to change things for the better.

Good luck on your journey toward enlightenment.

S&F,

__________________
Cliff Gregory, 32