Ex Tenebris Lux

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Psalm 133:1

I was honored to be a guest at the raising of five brothers by Invincible Lodge No. 251 PHA at the Greensboro Masonic Temple. To my knowledge, this is the first time that a degree has been conferred by a Prince Hall Affiliated lodge in an A. F. & A. M. Lodge in North Carolina. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the day’s work, but was especially impressed with the precision with which the new brothers demonstrated their proficiency in the preceding degree. It was truly a sight to behold.  There were slight variances in the Prince Hall work compared with the work in my lodge, but both obviously descended from the same origins. I’d encourage all of my A. F. & A. M. brothers to exercise their traveling privileges to expand their masonic education and experiences with our Prince Hall brethren.  It was a pleasure and a true privilege to be a part of this historic occasion for NC Masons.

District Deputy Grand Master Jeffrey Crisp

For my mason friends who are curious about the present state of mutual recognition, I’ve compiled some more info and links:

Here’s a list of North American Grand Lodges recognized by the United Grand Lodge of England

A good collection of resources regarding Prince Hall Recognition compiled by Paul Bessel on his website

Brief history of Prince Hall Freemasonry

There has been mutual recognition between the NC Grand Lodges since 2008.  Here is the resolution of mutual recognition taken from the 2008 Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina

A Resolution of Mutual Recognition of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and Its Jurisdictions, Inc. by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free And Accepted Masons of North Carolina

The following resolution, sponsored by the undersigned lodges,
was presented for vote.

WHEREAS, The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted
Masons of North Carolina (hereinafter the Grand Lodge) desires to insure a continuing
harmonious relationship between it and the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge
of Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and its Jurisdictions, Inc. (hereinafter
the Prince Hall Grand Lodge); to provide for the successful coexistence of both grand
lodges and to promote Masonry in general among all peoples; AND

WHEREAS, the Grand Lodge, for all the reasons set out in Brother James G.
Martin’s statement to the Grand Lodge dated September 29, 2001, believes that
it is altogether right and proper and in the best interests of Masonry everywhere
and particularly in North Carolina that these two grand lodges exercising Masonic
jurisdiction in this state mutually recognize each other while each retains its own
autonomy and jurisdiction hereafter as heretofore; AND

WHEREAS, the Grand Lodge is satisfied that the Prince Hall Grand Lodge meets
all Masonic requirements for recognition; AND

WHEREAS, the Grand Lodge desires to remain autonomous within its jurisdiction
and to operate hereafter as heretofore with its own grand master and other Grand Lodge
officers, Constitution, bylaws, ritual, rules and regulations, and to retain its absolute
and supreme sovereignty over its own subordinate lodges and membership; AND
WHEREAS, the Grand Lodge is advised that the Prince Hall Grand Lodge entertains
the same desires and possesses the same satisfaction with regard to recognition by it of
the Grand Lodge and desires that both grand lodges mutually recognize each other as
duly constituted Masonic grand lodges; AND

WHEREAS, the Grand Lodge is advised that the Prince Hall Grand Lodge at
its Annual Communication in 2004 passed this same resolution extending fraternal
recognition to the Grand Lodge in the same manner and on the same terms as the
present resolution,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND
LODGE OF ANCIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF NORTH CAROLINA
THAT:

1. It hereby extends fraternal recognition to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free
and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and Its Jurisdictions, Inc., as a duly
constituted Masonic grand lodge;

2. It will remain autonomous within its jurisdiction and will operate hereafter
as heretofore with its own grand master and other Grand Lodge officers,
Constitution, bylaws, ritual, rules and regulations and will retain its absolute
and supreme sovereignty over its own subordinate lodges and membership;

Submitted by
St. John’s 1, St. John’s 3, Unanimity 7, Eagle 19, Statesville 27, Hiram Lodge 40, Kilwinning 64, Zion 81, Lafayette 83, Western Star 91, Jerusalem 95, Orr 104, Franklin 109, Holly Springs 115, Mt. Hermon 118, Blackmer 127, Hanks 128, King Solomon 138, Junaluskee 145, Sanford 151, Scotch Ireland 154, Winston 167, Granite 191, Cary 198, Thomasville 214, Catawba Valley 217, William G. Hill 218, Corinthian 230, Mystic Tie 237, Catawba 248, Excelsior 261, Ashlar 373, Wake Forest 282, Eureka 283, Greenville 284, Harmony 299, Clay 301, Selma 320, Snow 363, Ashler 373, Campbell 374, Granville 380, Forest City 381, Jefferson Penn 384, Pigeon River 386, Kedron 387, Harmony 299, Joppa 401, North Wilkesboro 407, University 408, Bula 409, Pendleton 418, Biltmore 446, Cliffside 460, Grassy Knob 471, Sonoma 472, Saluda 482, Southern Pines 484, Hominy 491, Pilot 493, Raleigh 500, Manteo 521, Andrews 529, Corinthian 542,. Spencer 543, Roman Eagle 550, Doric 568, Snow Creek 571, Apex 584, Bethel 589, Cranberry 598, Queen City 602, Riverside 606, Zebulon 609, Cannon Memorial 626, Walnut Cove 629. Nichols-W Asheville 650, Guilford 656, Black Mountain 663, Washington 675, Semper Fidelis 680, Piedmont-Pioneer 685, East Gate 692,. Charles M. Setzer 693, Allen Graham 695, Albemarle 703, King Solomon 704, Forsyth 707, Crown Point 708, Conover 709, Wilson 712, Liberty 714, Troy 718, Cabarrus 720, Grantham 725, James B. Green 735, New River 736, J. J. Crowder 743, Truth 749, Clemmons 755, Denver 757, James K. Polk 759, Wilkerson College 760, Orphans 761, Mosaic 762

A written ballot of the delegates was taken and resulted in adopting
the Resolution, 642 in favor, 328 opposed.

I’m disappointed that more lodges were not listed among those submitting the resolution, but I am glad that the resolution was passed.  This all occurred prior to my admission to the fraternity, so I have never known a time in my masonic experience in which Prince Hall masons have not shared full recognition in my jurisdiction.  Unfortunately, mutual recognition has yet to be realized in 9 states:  Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.  A glance at the map doesn’t speak well for our southern states…

Compare that map with the following one representing Confederate States and Territories represented in red.  The historical connections are glaringly obvious.

I believe that many young masons are ready to leave behind the racism of our fathers and grandfathers.  Kudos to the brethren in Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas who have moved beyond those barriers. It’s time for some of our other southern brethren to do the same for the good of masonry.  Let’s just hope progress occurs through a deeper understanding of masonic principles rather than following a number of masonic funerals.

Fundamentalism and Freemasonry from WEOFM on Vimeo.

Dr. Gary Leazer presents a video lecture on the topic of Fundamentalism & Freemasonry.  He provides an overview of the history and development of fundamentalism, particularly within the Southern Baptist Convention, and how those developments have influenced Southern Baptist views regarding Freemasonry.

Gary H. Leazer, Ph.D. is the author of Fundamentalism & Freemasonry: Investigation of the Fraternal Order in which he details his experiences trying to compile a fair and balanced report on freemasonry as the former director of the Interfaith Witness Department of the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board.

While revisiting some of my favorite blogs, I came across a post on Freemasons for Dummies about Richard Dreyfuss and Shaquille O’Neal being made Masons at sight.  I’m a bit behind on the news since both occurred in June of this year…but it’s news to me and it’s interesting, so I’m posting it.  In some of my previous reading, I’ve come across brief mention about the prerogative of a Grand Master to make a Mason at sight, but the stories on O’Neal and Dreyfuss are the first I’ve read about it in being done.  I was surprised at some of the negative reactions in the blog comments about the practice.  It seems to me that, if it’s allowable under a jurisdiction’s rules, then one who is made a Master Mason at Sight by a Grand Master is no less a Mason than any other.  Our fraternity doesn’t have half-Masons…you’re either a Mason or you’re not.  If you’re a bit curious about the practice, Chris Hodapp has already done some reference work as to it’s legitimacy, so there’s no need to replicate his work here…I’ll just provide the link:  Making Masons “At Sight“.  If you’re not in the mood to follow the link, the summary is…in many jurisdictions the practice is considered one of the ancient landmarks of masonry…Albert Mackey and Henry Wilson Coil both agreed in their masonic encyclopedias.  It’s my understanding that someone made a Mason “at sight” isn’t just declared a Master Mason, but that they also go through an abbreviated form of the degrees in sequence usually through a lodge convened under special dispensation by a Grand Master.  It seems to me that this is hardly different than the practice of some jurisdictions that confer all three degrees in one day.  Curious what some of my fellow Freemasons think…I welcome Bro. Dreyfuss and Bro. O’Neal to the fraternity and hope that they continue on their journey.

It’s been over a month since my last post.  Not by choice, but necessity.  I’ve been enrolled in a clinical pastoral education program at our local hospital and it’s taking up a tremendous amount of my time outside work.  Between work, the CPE program and on-call shifts, I’ve been putting in around 90 hours a week.  I’ve almost forgotten it means to have any free time.  Maybe when I’m done with the program and have some time to reflect, I’ll sit down and write about the experience.  Right now, I’m in the middle of a 19 day string of work days without a break.  The only reason I even have a chance to get on here and make an entry is because I’m sitting at a hotel in Louisville, KY on a business trip and there’s just nothing to do at midnight on a Monday.   I should be in bed, but that’s just not gonna work out until the Red Bull I had a half hour ago works it’s way out of my system.  Until then, maybe I’ll do some surfing for something of interest to post…

BTW, it sucks that Herman Cain is out…Initially thought I’d like to see a Gingrich/Cain ticket when I heard Cain suspend his campaign.  Now hoping for a Gingrich/Huckabee ticket…I could get behind that.