There is much about Freemasonry that remains shrouded in mystery to the outside world. But a group of members in the US state of Georgia appear to have clarified one thing - the supreme being in which all Masons are required to believe is not likely to be black. Freemasonry lodges in Georgia are at loggerheads over the admission of a "non-white" member to an organisation that was founded on the principles of the Enlightenment but which is apparently still struggling to catch up with the latter part of the 20th century. Now the issue is headed for a Masonic trial and the state courts after some lodges in Georgia sought to revoke the charter of one in Atlanta for admitting Victor Marshall, a 26-year-old African-American army reservist, last autumn. The Atlanta lodge has fought back in the state courts by seeking to block the move on the grounds that is based on "racial animosity and hatred".
Freemasonry lodges in Georgia are at loggerheads over the admission of a "non-white" member to an organisation that was founded on the principles of the Enlightenment but which is apparently still struggling to catch up with the latter part of the 20th century.
Now the issue is headed for a Masonic trial and the state courts after some lodges in Georgia sought to revoke the charter of one in Atlanta for admitting Victor Marshall, a 26-year-old African-American army reservist, last autumn.
The Atlanta lodge has fought back in the state courts by seeking to block the move on the grounds that is based on "racial animosity and hatred".
But no one is born into slavery anymore so it's a little ridiculous. And considering our dwindling numbers, you would think the Grand Lodges would realize that this is the 21st Century and not the 18th Century.
If Masonry continues with this idiocy, we deserve to die out like the dinosaurs. "Schiller sprach zu Goethe, Steck in dem Arsch die Flöte! Goethe sagte zu Schiller, Mein Arsch ist kein Triller!"
is anyone else curious, or is this inappropriate? ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
does it have a global goal?
does it dabble in occult stuff?
why is it different from rotary, elks, etc?
is it just a scratch my back club?
does it have concrete benefits to you in life?
why is secrecy so important? what's to hide? ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
Yes, but I understand there are minor differences between North America and Europe. I haven't been able to afford to be current on my dues for awhile so I haven't been able to attend a Continental Blue Lodge, which is a shame since I live so near Goethe's Weimar.
Yes, Fraternity in philanthropy, Morality and Brotherly Love examples include: Shriners Hospitals Dentistry for the Handicapped Scottish Rite Learning Centers Scottish Rite Children's Medical Center
No, what is propagated by conspiracy loons has, as all propaganda, a kernal of truth. What they call the "occult" is actually the allegory and metaphor of Freemasonry and its Enlightenment principles taught through acting out, like a play. A lot of the allegory centers around the stone masons who built the Temple in Jerusalem. The other aspect is that it is open to all who believe in a Supreme being, so it accepts adherents to all major religions as equals. This tended to piss of the Jesuits and still pisses off the Christian fundies.
In many ways it is not, just that it is older, the first lodge opened in 1717, and more mystical in its allegorical rites.
Very likely that was an element at one time. It was also a communication venue during the US Revolution. The Green Dragon Tavern in Boston was also a Masonic Lodge and Paul Revere, Benjamin Rush and others had a lot to do with the Boston Tea Party using their Masonic connections. But not so much anymore, or at least I didn't get the memo...
Only fraternity and brotherhood and a study of Enlightenment principles upon which to build personal character. There is no material benefits to becoming a Freemason
why is secrecy so important? what's to hide?
Benjamin Franklin once said, "The great secret of Freemasonry is that there is no secret at all." Others often say that it is a society with secrets not a secret society. Truthfully, there is nothing to hide and those secrets have been in the public domain for quite sometime, the Library of Congress, books on the matter, the internet. It's just tradition and an oath not to reveal them although they are already out there. "Schiller sprach zu Goethe, Steck in dem Arsch die Flöte! Goethe sagte zu Schiller, Mein Arsch ist kein Triller!"
Well, first of all, since the Civil Rights Act of 1964, discrimination by private actors is illegal in the US. Private clubs are excepted but they're not really well defined.
Secondly, do you really find it strange that a dispute between private actors can end up in court? I realize that the US and Swedish legal cultures are different, but still...
If it's a commercial facility (like a store or reastaurant) the situation is obviously different.
Then we have the social dimension. Why does this army reservist want to be in a club that doesn't want him because they're a bunch of racists? Does he think it'll be fun to be in that club, especially after he's taken them to court?
I mean, taking someone to court is just another way of saying "I hate you and you are a criminal". It's hard to imagine a more efficient way to insult someone than taking him to court. Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.
Why does this army reservist want to be in a club that doesn't want him because they're a bunch of racists? Does he think it'll be fun to be in that club, especially after he's taken them to court?
some lodges in Georgia [seeking] to revoke the charter of one in Atlanta for admitting ... a[n] African-American
But uh, why do they need to go to court to revoke their "charter"? Isn't that an internal issue either for every specific lodge to decide upon, or for the central/national lodge, if there is such a thing? Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.
I wonder whether taking internal differences to the outside courts wouldn't be a violation of Masonic rules... Maybe JD can comment? A man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds; a man of deeds and not of words is like a garden full of turds — Anonymous
I mean, taking someone to court is just another way of saying "I hate you and you are a criminal". It's hard to imagine a more efficient way to insult someone than taking him to court.
Are you seriously saying that contract disputes in Sweden don't end up in court when negotiations break down? Here you have one organization exercising its perogative to choose its members, and its parent organisation saying, no, you can't admit this specific person because he's black, and we're going to punish you. Talks went nowhere, so it's in court.
If I start a private club, I have the right to deny admittance to anyone I feel like, no matter their race, colour or creed. Just because it's my club.
The question is, if you say that anybody meeting a certain set of criteria can apply to join, can those criteria include things like race, gender, creed, or orientation? In America, as I said things seem to be a bit muddied on this issue. Personally I think that other than political or religious groups, the answer should be no.
I take it you're a member of the traditionally dominant racial/gender group in your country? Pace JD, such 'private' clubs have always been a nexus for networking and dealmaking. This is true whether we're talking golf, Masons, or cigars. (If you think all those junior white collar types at the corporate country club outing are there for the pleasure of golf, then I have a very pretty bridge with great brand value to sell you.) Allowing them to remain exclusively white male serves to perpetuate the existing racial and gender hierarchy in society by making it harder for others to get jobs and business.
The state organisation to which it belongs then tried to effectively shut them down, and the lodge, (not the AA member) sued.
The grand master, or leader of the Masons in Georgia, J Edward Jennings Jr, sent an email to members saying that Marshall was a legitimate member and should be treated as such. But that did not quell the row. Under pressure, Jennings agreed to convene a Masons court to hear a complaint against the head of the Atlanta lodge, Michael Bjelajac, who is accused of violating "moral law", the "ancient landmarks" and "immemorial usages" of Freemasonry by admitting Marshall. But the complaint has met with ridicule in part because there are largely black Masonic lodges in the US as well as in African countries such as Ghana.
Under pressure, Jennings agreed to convene a Masons court to hear a complaint against the head of the Atlanta lodge, Michael Bjelajac, who is accused of violating "moral law", the "ancient landmarks" and "immemorial usages" of Freemasonry by admitting Marshall.
But the complaint has met with ridicule in part because there are largely black Masonic lodges in the US as well as in African countries such as Ghana.
