Comments on: Georgia: Not Such A Peachy Masonic State

By: "Canadian Brother"

"Canadian Brother" — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 23:12:26 +0000

Racisam is not just between colors white and black, it is also between nations or white oposite white.
I’m white, born in Eastern Europe and Mason for so many years. Past Matser in many Masonic Bodies. I became W.M. through hard work and because of many circumstances in lodges. Mainly people dropping out from the chairs from internal fights, politics…
Most members in Canadian lodges background is British (Scottish and Irish). When time came to be chosen for any hire office or to be propose for anything it is “normal” that they The Chosen One is eather Scotish or Irish. Depend who had majority in the lodge. It is not judge on Masonic activity,strenght,ability and community work…
Usually, once The Chosen One Masonic term is over, you seldom see him agen in the lodge.
I’m not alone, in many Masonic lodges in Canada I see the same discriminations and the same complaints from Brothern who are not of Anglo-Saxon decent.
So, discriminations in Masonic Lodges are not only toward color members, it is also toward white who came from differant country!

By: MP

MP — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:11:53 +0000

The state’s Grand Master, the highest official in Masonry in Georgia, taking note of the controversy, issued a statement declaring that the new Mason “is a regular Mason and should be received as such,” according to the suit.

So much for the arguments that it is a GL conspiracy to bring charges against Gate City.

By: Raum Sariel

Raum Sariel — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:42:15 +0000

Want to see the latest orthodox theory?

WARNING: Don’t be drinking or eating when you open this link. It may lead to chocking.

http://goofuswatch.wordpress.com/

By: Aaron

Aaron — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:21:08 +0000

Well here you go…it will only be a matter of time before AP and networks like Fox (which have run spots on southern Masonic racism) pick up the ball and run with this:

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2009/06/29/georgia_masons_sue_grand_lodge.html

By: David Ontiveros

David Ontiveros — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:47:29 +0000

Is this whole hullabaloo based on the pdf included in this blog? Has the authenticity of that document been confirmed? Where did it come from? I am no spelling expert, but it looks like there may be some(at least one) spelling errors in this document. In the last subsection of specification 2 the word “persuit” is used when I believe they mean “pursuant”. And I could be wrong, because in addition to not being a spelling expert I am also no Masonic legal jargon expert. However, I have never heard of or seen the word “persuit”. This is why my first thought was to question the authenticity of this document. Perhaps there are some agitators from within or possibly without the masonic community.

By: C.W. "SKREEECH" Streeper

C.W. "SKREEECH" Streeper — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:13:02 +0000

Freemasonry at it’s core is a pure and noble organization comprised of men from all different back rounds. One of the things that makes the fraternity of Freemasons so great is it’s ability for it’s members to all meet together “on the level” free from the normal influences and constraints of society in general. Congressmen and enlisted men, musicians and movie stars, teachers and garbage men, postal workers and even members of the clergy all meet together with the single idea of becoming better men.

The idea that all men were created equal was not just a notion thought up by the founders of the United States, but it was the core principal which made the Craft such a success in it’s modern form. Free from the bonds of religion, politics, and social status Masons were able to concentrate on becoming better men, better husbands, better fathers, and better citizens. That core ideal was the building block and foundation which our great fraternity has been built and is what aided in it’s spread though out the world making Freemasonry the largest fraternal organization in the world.

This is a noble principal indeed but unfortunately it has been corrupted by individuals who seem to have forgotten that first lesson which was taught to us in Freemasonry as an Entered Apprentice. The creation and continued sustainment of the Prince Hall lodges is the prime example to which I allude. Prince Hall was essentially forced into creating his own lodge because of racist beliefs held by Freemasons in his area. In this I will be abundantly clear and let no mistake be made on my position, racism is a complete contradiction of Masonic principals and it has no place in the Craft.

Dr. Martin Luther King in his “I Have a Dream” speech gave perhaps one of the most meaningful and pertinent statements ever made and it pertains directly to the first lesson taught to the new initiates into the lodge. He said “that a man should be judged by the content of his character and not by the color of his skin.” The word “skin” can be taken out of that statement and replaced by a variety of different terms and still be applied into the same contextual meaning.

Men of character can come from all different places. You may find them covered in tattoos and riding motorcycles, you may find them working as a dishwasher or chef in a local restaurant, they might be a politician, or a teacher, or a carpenter. They are black, white, Asian, Indian, or Hispanic. They are Christian, they are Catholic, they are Muslim, they are Jewish, maybe even Buddhist or Wiccan.

Some Grand Lodge jurisdictions are working to resolve some of these issues while some still are holding firm in their position of a segregated Masonry. Some Grand Lodges pretend to acknowledge the problem while individual lodges precipitate the same acts of discrimination harbored by the older generation.

As 21st century Masons we must work to not only solve this problem but eliminate it entirely. We must lead by example and make our voices heard in our lodges and in our communities that if you are a man of character that you are welcome to petition any lodge you want. We not only dishonor our selves by inaction, but we do the Craft a dis-service by perpetuating the cycle of discrimination that can deprive the Fraternity of worthy and well qualified men.

By: Michael R. Poll

Michael R. Poll — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:35:15 +0000

So, we are in the internet age. Anyone with a computer can be a “respected scholar” or “fighter for justice” (because they tell you so) and anyone with a website can be a grand body. We see those who do not have the stomach or smarts for the “long fight” drop by the way side to only throw indiscriminate rocks with no aim at all doing far more damage to the “side” they profess to champion than anything actually useful. The reporting of “facts” is defined by “something someone told in confidence.”

You don’t change the mind of a bigot by telling him he is a bigot. You don’t change the policy of a GL by telling them that they are a bunch of bigots. Freemasonry is not a single GM or a single GL. It is a moral philosophy to which a GM or a GL can ascribe .. or they can ignore. This moral philosophy also does not give anyone magical powers where they can see into the hearts and thoughts of others. What in the world am I saying? I’m saying, enough with the second guessing, moral judgments (which could be way off) and passing of of rumor as facts. This is so, so sad.

By: Frederic L. Milliken

Frederic L. Milliken — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:06:31 +0000

For the record I don’t condemn all Georgia Masons, never said I did. I am speaking about those who administer Georgia Mainstream Masonry.

During the Cold War I always thought the Russian people were pretty nice human beings. But I was very critical of their government. Iran seems to have some pretty brave and outstanding citizens but I don’t think much of their leaders.

By: H1ram

H1ram — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:12:43 +0000

BeeHive,
While I feel your outrage is well founded, I must say that not all masons in Georgia are of the same opinion of the WM who prefered the charges against the WM of Gate City #2. I too am outraged.
I have traveled for work for the last 20 years. I have visited many lodges in many states. I can tell you that on the surface they all appear to be the same and “brotherly love” prevails above all. I can also tell you that my own lodge openly appears the same as any other. Now, that said, I know for a fact that racism is a fact of life everywhere in this country. Not all masons in Georgia are racist. In fact I would bet that it is a very small minority, no more per capita than any other segment of our population. This doesn’t make it right by any means, but helps to put things into perspective.
To accuse an entire state of masons of being racist is using the same prejudice against them that these narrow minded bigots have used in prefering charges against the WM of Gate City #2.
I am hopeful that this issue will be resolved correctly, if not, many, many good men will leave the fraternity. I refuse to be associated with Freemasonry in Georgia if the Grand Lodge openly supports racism. I have proposed a resolution from my lodge in support of Gate City #2. If that resolution fails to be approved by my lodge, my departure from Freemasonry may be sooner than later.

By: Drapetomaniac

Drapetomaniac — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:44:07 +0000

Georgia Traveler,
Will you be bringing Masonic Charges against the racist masons in your midst?

“The good brothers of Georgia are no different from the good brothers from any other jurisdiction”

I am Black and so far without controversy. Can good brothers say so in your jurisdiction without controversy and are all brothers in Georgia rising up on their behalf?