Thank you for speaking on this subject. It was on that was on my list to ask. My former state recognized our PH brothers, but didn't take the needed step of removing it from those grand lodges who don't. I think that same masonic peer pressure used in the late 1800s can be leveraged against those who are still blind by racist and bigoted lenses of the past.
If our principles as Masons mean anything, the “separate, but equal” nonsense must end. In today’s world, racism is rampant whether you are African American, Latino, Asian or any one of myriads of ethnicities. As Masons, we should be better. As Masons, we know better.
We should be proud as well as ashamed of how our Grand Lodge conducted itself in the course of history. We should be proud we took the stand we did in 1897 but ashamed that we succumbed to pressure to back down until 1990. Much as the Juneteenth history, it took years for the notion to catch up to reality.
Shame on those southern lodges for not recognizing Prince Hall. Racism has no place in our physical structures as well as in our hearts. We have much to learn from one another without having these despicable barriers.
The late, great Ill. Bro. John Lewis, 33° said, “Ours is not the struggle of one day, one week, or one year. Ours is not the struggle of one judicial appointment or presidential term. Ours is the struggle of a lifetime, or maybe even many lifetimes, and each one of us in every generation must do our part.”
Thank you, MW, for your thoughts on this matter. If we are to all ourselves Masons, then we must recognize our Prince Hall Brothers, men who have knelt at the altar of Freemasonry and taken the obligation just as you and I. In times such as we are currently in, when people are divided by what seems to be the minutest of issues, are we not called, as Masons, to do what we can to remove those things that separate us and bring peace and harmony to our lives, communities and country. I support your position and believe that we, the MWGL of Washington, should separate ourselves from any Brother, Lodge or Grand Lodge that maintain a position of separation from our Prince Hall Brothers. To remain silent, and not speak out on this matter, keeps us rooted in a past that
I agree 100%, we should leverage amity to push non compliant states to finally recognize PH. Not being familiar with the jurisdictions in question, does the issue run both ways? Someone told me that, but I have no knowledge either way. That might be an issue.
WELL SAID! This continued embarassment should not, and can not stand. PERIOD!!
I don't give rip if a Prince Hall Lodge accepts me for my skin color, or if it doesn't. That's not the point. I learned many years ago that the only person I can control to do the right thing, is me.
This is personal to me. I was made a Mason at Home #100 in Georgetown, Wa. in February of 1970. I was raised in April of that year. Not long after I asked by father about a school mate with whom I had been a DeMolay. Alan Hashimoto was one of only two or three Asian Ameiricans in my school. He was also the most popular young man there. Honor roll, you name it!
I was on the other side of the tracks. I had a biological father who did not live with my mother and me, and that's about all you could say of it.
Not long after being raised, I asked my father why Alan wasn't a member of Home #100. He told me something along the lines of "He isn't our kind".
I remember looking at my father and saying 'If Alan isn't welcome here, then I'm not either. He's a better man than I am!" And I walked out, and never went back to Home or any other lodge for over 25 years. My father pretty much never spoke to me again. It was only when I head that things had changed that I again came back to Masonry.
A PS; A while back someone said that I should get in touch with my friend Alan. But there's just one thing; Alan wasn't my friend. We saw each other in school, but I don't remember ever speaking to him, or he to me. There was no reason for him to remember me. I was the poorest kid in school. I never ate in the cafeteria because I didnt have the money. My cloths, and my shoes had holes in them. Let's face it, school is a popularity contest, and I wasn't in on that contest.
Great topic! Unfortunately, the concept of recognition isn’t something that is discussed very often and therefore the understanding of it can be a little scattered.
The GLofWA. It is its own jurisdiction with its own code. There is no governing body above us that dictates what we do or don’t do. So we chart are own destiny - just like every other jurisdiction in each state. We are not able to ‘force’ another jurisdiction to adopt a decision. And we wouldn’t like another jurisdiction telling us what to do anymore than we should go out and tell other jurisdictions what to do. All we can do is either recognize or revoke our recognition - the equivalent of applying pressure.
We as a jurisdiction recognize our brethren at PH Grand Lodge of Washington. Not only is that fantastic, but our jurisdictions engage, visit and converse Masonically with each other. We are leading by a good example.
If there is a PH lodge near your lodge, ask how often does your lodge reach out and do something with them? Do you visit each other?
Are you taking advantage of the mutual recognition? If yes, then you are locally leading by a good example. Great job! If the answer is no, well that’s an opportunity there. Maybe, just maybe we should first focus on our local opportunities and lead by example rather than thinking it’s a good idea to force other jurisdictions to act a certain way.
To me, this is consistent with Masonic teachings. To take what we learn in the lodge and apply it to our lives and community. I’m doing so we make our little corner of the world a better place. Let’s start with what we can do today.
Thank you MW Cameron for writing this. Mere recognition isn't enough, though. Sadly, in the few years I have been a Mason, I have heard words of bigotry uttered by Washington Masons, and as far as I am concerned it simply isn't acceptable. We ought to be reaching out actively and inviting our Brethren to Lodge, visiting PHA Lodges, and building relationships and friendships. Opportunities abound to go far beyond a one time a year recognition of the wrong that was corrected not that many years ago. Each of us individually have both the opportunity and responsibility to reach out one Mason at a time. There rarely anything as pleasurable as enjoying a cigar with a Brother PHA Mason who I also call a friend on my front porch, talking about our shared Masonic values and experiences. In those conversations, everything melts away.
We talk about family, share pictures, celebrate important occasions, complain about things in the world that annoy us, and laugh at dumb jokes. We are Brothers. Period.
Well said. I am a black man who is the WM of a Lodge consisting mostly of white Brothers. My Grand Lodge has recognized PHA since 1997. My Lodge had Black members as far back as the 1970s. As Masons, we are viewed as Enlightened individuals, yet some Masons don't quite live up to that title. I've had the honor of sitting in Lodge with Black Masons, White Masons, Asian Masons, Hispanic Masons, Christian Masons, Muslim Masons, Jewish Masons, heterosexual Masons, and homosexual Masons. It's sad that every Mason across the globe hasn't been so lucky. There should be no discrimination in Masonry, and any Grand Lodge that practices discrimination should not be recognized as Masons.
In a sense it seems a historical wrong that there are even two separate systems to begin with. Reading the history of Africa Lodge #1 quite some adversity was dealt with just to establish the Prince Hall system. In an alternate history that would've righted many early American wrongs, we shouldn't be separate to begin with.
It's wrong not to recognize GLs who otherwise meet standards. And it's deeply embarrassing and inappropriate for masons to profess the lessons of the level and be so unable of applying them in our own backyard. Masonic leadership being loud about this is much appreciated.
One of the best experiences I have had as a Brother Mason in Washington State was the 2019 installation of Lodge Officers at the Lewis County fair grounds, when Prince Hall attended and there was Masonic fellowship that knew no racial boundaries+++ "that which was written was upright, even Words of Truth"+++++ Ecclesiastes 12:10
I'm resurrecting this topic because if there is nothing else that should be done it is to officially recognize Prince Hall as a full masonic organization if not by everyone than at least by WA state grand lodge. What is stopping this?
I agree the separation is pointless and bigoted.. I have a question. Do Prince Hall Lodges in WA accept pale candidates?
Thank you for speaking on this subject. It was on that was on my list to ask. My former state recognized our PH brothers, but didn't take the needed step of removing it from those grand lodges who don't. I think that same masonic peer pressure used in the late 1800s can be leveraged against those who are still blind by racist and bigoted lenses of the past.
If our principles as Masons mean anything, the “separate, but equal” nonsense must end. In today’s world, racism is rampant whether you are African American, Latino, Asian or any one of myriads of ethnicities. As Masons, we should be better. As Masons, we know better.
We should be proud as well as ashamed of how our Grand Lodge conducted itself in the course of history. We should be proud we took the stand we did in 1897 but ashamed that we succumbed to pressure to back down until 1990. Much as the Juneteenth history, it took years for the notion to catch up to reality.
Shame on those southern lodges for not recognizing Prince Hall. Racism has no place in our physical structures as well as in our hearts. We have much to learn from one another without having these despicable barriers.
The late, great Ill. Bro. John Lewis, 33° said, “Ours is not the struggle of one day, one week, or one year. Ours is not the struggle of one judicial appointment or presidential term. Ours is the struggle of a lifetime, or maybe even many lifetimes, and each one of us in every generation must do our part.”
It is time we adhered to this challenge.
Thank you, MW, for your thoughts on this matter. If we are to all ourselves Masons, then we must recognize our Prince Hall Brothers, men who have knelt at the altar of Freemasonry and taken the obligation just as you and I. In times such as we are currently in, when people are divided by what seems to be the minutest of issues, are we not called, as Masons, to do what we can to remove those things that separate us and bring peace and harmony to our lives, communities and country. I support your position and believe that we, the MWGL of Washington, should separate ourselves from any Brother, Lodge or Grand Lodge that maintain a position of separation from our Prince Hall Brothers. To remain silent, and not speak out on this matter, keeps us rooted in a past that
I agree 100%, we should leverage amity to push non compliant states to finally recognize PH. Not being familiar with the jurisdictions in question, does the issue run both ways? Someone told me that, but I have no knowledge either way. That might be an issue.
I agree that this should be done. Is there an action that can be taken before we meet at the next Annual Communication?
I agree that this should be done. Is there an action that can be taken before we meet at the next Annual Communication?
WELL SAID! This continued embarassment should not, and can not stand. PERIOD!!
I don't give rip if a Prince Hall Lodge accepts me for my skin color, or if it doesn't. That's not the point. I learned many years ago that the only person I can control to do the right thing, is me.
This is personal to me. I was made a Mason at Home #100 in Georgetown, Wa. in February of 1970. I was raised in April of that year. Not long after I asked by father about a school mate with whom I had been a DeMolay. Alan Hashimoto was one of only two or three Asian Ameiricans in my school. He was also the most popular young man there. Honor roll, you name it!
I was on the other side of the tracks. I had a biological father who did not live with my mother and me, and that's about all you could say of it.
Not long after being raised, I asked my father why Alan wasn't a member of Home #100. He told me something along the lines of "He isn't our kind".
I remember looking at my father and saying 'If Alan isn't welcome here, then I'm not either. He's a better man than I am!" And I walked out, and never went back to Home or any other lodge for over 25 years. My father pretty much never spoke to me again. It was only when I head that things had changed that I again came back to Masonry.
A PS; A while back someone said that I should get in touch with my friend Alan. But there's just one thing; Alan wasn't my friend. We saw each other in school, but I don't remember ever speaking to him, or he to me. There was no reason for him to remember me. I was the poorest kid in school. I never ate in the cafeteria because I didnt have the money. My cloths, and my shoes had holes in them. Let's face it, school is a popularity contest, and I wasn't in on that contest.
Great topic! Unfortunately, the concept of recognition isn’t something that is discussed very often and therefore the understanding of it can be a little scattered.
The GLofWA. It is its own jurisdiction with its own code. There is no governing body above us that dictates what we do or don’t do. So we chart are own destiny - just like every other jurisdiction in each state. We are not able to ‘force’ another jurisdiction to adopt a decision. And we wouldn’t like another jurisdiction telling us what to do anymore than we should go out and tell other jurisdictions what to do. All we can do is either recognize or revoke our recognition - the equivalent of applying pressure.
We as a jurisdiction recognize our brethren at PH Grand Lodge of Washington. Not only is that fantastic, but our jurisdictions engage, visit and converse Masonically with each other. We are leading by a good example.
If there is a PH lodge near your lodge, ask how often does your lodge reach out and do something with them? Do you visit each other?
Are you taking advantage of the mutual recognition? If yes, then you are locally leading by a good example. Great job! If the answer is no, well that’s an opportunity there. Maybe, just maybe we should first focus on our local opportunities and lead by example rather than thinking it’s a good idea to force other jurisdictions to act a certain way.
To me, this is consistent with Masonic teachings. To take what we learn in the lodge and apply it to our lives and community. I’m doing so we make our little corner of the world a better place. Let’s start with what we can do today.
As a Prince Hall Freemason myself, I couldn't agree more.
Thank you MW Cameron for writing this. Mere recognition isn't enough, though. Sadly, in the few years I have been a Mason, I have heard words of bigotry uttered by Washington Masons, and as far as I am concerned it simply isn't acceptable. We ought to be reaching out actively and inviting our Brethren to Lodge, visiting PHA Lodges, and building relationships and friendships. Opportunities abound to go far beyond a one time a year recognition of the wrong that was corrected not that many years ago. Each of us individually have both the opportunity and responsibility to reach out one Mason at a time. There rarely anything as pleasurable as enjoying a cigar with a Brother PHA Mason who I also call a friend on my front porch, talking about our shared Masonic values and experiences. In those conversations, everything melts away.
We talk about family, share pictures, celebrate important occasions, complain about things in the world that annoy us, and laugh at dumb jokes. We are Brothers. Period.
Well said. I am a black man who is the WM of a Lodge consisting mostly of white Brothers. My Grand Lodge has recognized PHA since 1997. My Lodge had Black members as far back as the 1970s. As Masons, we are viewed as Enlightened individuals, yet some Masons don't quite live up to that title. I've had the honor of sitting in Lodge with Black Masons, White Masons, Asian Masons, Hispanic Masons, Christian Masons, Muslim Masons, Jewish Masons, heterosexual Masons, and homosexual Masons. It's sad that every Mason across the globe hasn't been so lucky. There should be no discrimination in Masonry, and any Grand Lodge that practices discrimination should not be recognized as Masons.
In a sense it seems a historical wrong that there are even two separate systems to begin with. Reading the history of Africa Lodge #1 quite some adversity was dealt with just to establish the Prince Hall system. In an alternate history that would've righted many early American wrongs, we shouldn't be separate to begin with.
It's wrong not to recognize GLs who otherwise meet standards. And it's deeply embarrassing and inappropriate for masons to profess the lessons of the level and be so unable of applying them in our own backyard. Masonic leadership being loud about this is much appreciated.
One of the best experiences I have had as a Brother Mason in Washington State was the 2019 installation of Lodge Officers at the Lewis County fair grounds, when Prince Hall attended and there was Masonic fellowship that knew no racial boundaries+++ "that which was written was upright, even Words of Truth"+++++ Ecclesiastes 12:10
What options do we have to unrecognize the Grand Lodge of Georgia and other racist lodges?
I'm resurrecting this topic because if there is nothing else that should be done it is to officially recognize Prince Hall as a full masonic organization if not by everyone than at least by WA state grand lodge. What is stopping this?