lance marlow

Bro.Sephen, The designations f&am, af&am, fa&am is nothing more than masonic lineage which is traced back to which of the early grand lodges of england issued the charter and the date it was issued. At one point in early masonic history there were accients and modern masons prior to the formation of the united grand lodge of england in 1717.

lance

Brandon

As a Kentucky freemason, this is a topic of great interest to me, and something which was very surprising when I first joined the lodge. I for one cannot understand why our lodges remain segregated, and the only excuse that has ever been given to me is "tradition". It makes me sad for my fellow brothers, and is hard to explain to others when asked.

polijunkie2006

In my lodge we still use the "free by birth" as a requirement however, this is explained as must be free of debts or not beholden to others for benefit in the works of masonary. Im disappointed that this issue still haunts us. Are not masons to set the example.

Robert

ccortezjr

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!

ccortezjr

Better link on Alpha 116 as follows:

http://bessel.org/images/ads2-06.pdf

ashlar

The quicker this is sorted out the better it will be for the human race.
Good always over powers bad (evil) eventually.
All in time.

BrAPeterson

Brethren,

I have been giving this subject alot of thought over the past year. It has been debated in lodges, grand lodges, public forums, and even made headline news. I personally feel it is an issue that is best left in the lodges and grand lodges and out of the public view. Hopefully, if you make to the end of this post, you will understand why I feel that way even if you disagree.

First, lets look at one of Masonry's teaching that we can all agree on. Freemasonry teaches that all men are equal without regard to race, creed, or religion.

With that said, ALL men are equal, yet not ALL men can join any Mason lodge.

Masonic lodges are set up as a democracy. Every member casts a vote for a candidate to receive the degrees. It takes only one brother to cast a negative vote and the candidate can not become a member of the lodge. One vote folks that is it.

It is hoped that every member votes their conscience. Now not everyone has the same conscience. I know some brothers who will vote negatively for blacks, some for non-christians, some for homosexuals, etc. Each one sincerely voting their conscience. Are they wrong?

No... IMHO

The purpose of only a single negative vote being the deciding one is to maintain HARMONY. Suppose the ordinary white heterosexual christian man petitions the lodge. On voting a Brother recognises the mans name and knows that he can not sit in lodge peacefully with this man for what ever reason. Should this Brother be expected to leave because of this?
Absolutely not! he has every right to cast a negative vote to maintain the harmony, without discussion, without justification, and without condemnation.

He is expected to vote his conscience... thats it.

Conscience-the complex of ethical and moral principles that controls or inhibits the actions or thoughts of an individual.

Now the Grand Lodges are just an extension of the same democratic platform that our local lodges are composed of. Grand Lodges do not arbitrarily make decisions (at least not in North Carolina), issues are put to a vote. The voting members are the Masters and Wardens of the local lodges. They are expected to vote the same as in their local lodges, by their consciences.

Everyones conscience varies based on their upbringing, education, and the teachings of their faith. To go against our conscience is heretical to most, particularly when their beliefs are reinforced in their social interactions as an adult. Such is the case in many small towns all over the south.

I do not think there is a Mason among us who can not think of someone he would vote negatively for the degrees regardless of how open minded or morally superior we may think ourselves. I often wonder, what would happen if a Transexual showed up at the door knocking?

Another teaching of Freemasonry is Tolerance. More especially the toleration of others thoughts and beliefs. It is this teaching that instructs me that although my racist brethren and I may disagree, he is perfectly justified to feel, think, and vote the way he wants to. I have not had his upbringing, have not walked in his shoes, and do not live the life he has lived. And, I am just as justified in disagreeing with him.

Once the south becomes more urbanised, the races start interacting more, and the education system is brought up to pace with the rest of the country, then racism will start to fade away. Until then we will still see it in our society and in our lodges.

A change like this is not going to happen quickly, nor should it. Evolution is a slow process and evolution, not revolution, is what is needed. For all the taking of the moral high ground by folks up north and around the world lets remeber the truth of the matter. In the history of Freemasonry, blacks have only been admitted for a short period of time. Prince Hall formed his lodge because up North he was not permitted in lodge. Britains relationship with Prince Hall Lodges has until recently been atrocious "you have a charter, sorry you no longer have a charter, o.k. you can have a charter again since some of your country men recognise you."


Folks in the United States the South moves slower than the north in regards to social change. It is moving, it will get there, and there are those of us who measure a man by the plumb, not the palette.

Keep the faith...

Fraternally,

Bro. Arthur Peterson

HARVEY COLA

Once again, ignorance rears it's ugly head. How can there be unity amongst us? How can any man call himself a mason, who harbors racism in his heart? Any mm out there reading this and uses his T#$^@L, What ties could there possibly be? HE IS A HIPPOCRATE.

D. W. Brown

Interesting Bro. Peterson this is different in my lodge. In my lodge it takes two votes to not accept a petition, as I found out personally. I saw a petition come in and found out when I asked in open lodge, that the 3 masons on the investigating committee consisted of his father and two uncles. I felt this was not fair and given other circumstances, needed to end. I cast a no vote and when the ballots were tabulated and my vote was seen the voting had to go again. I was told in the second round that if there was only 1 vote against him he would pass but if there were two then his petition would be rejected. The second round there was two and his petition was not accepted. The following week a new committee, which did not consist of family members, was formed and his petition resubmitted in a couple of weeks, this time we passed him.

__________________
Dale Brown, 32°
TBL Staff
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Must Reads for Every Mason:

A Peculiar System of Morality | Laudable Pursuit | The Ancient Landmarks
The Truth About the Antients and the Moderns | It's About Time
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Must Visit Links for Masons:

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

BrAPeterson

Bro. Brown,

Please allow me to correct myself. Last year we changed to a two negative vote rule as well. I appologise for the misinformation.

It is interesting to note that if a petitioner is rejected, he must wait 6 months before petitioning another lodge in our jurisdiction. Unless of course that has changed also. I will consult our code and report back when I am more confident in the process.

Fraternally,

Bro. Arthur Peterson