freemasonic ugliness

Music: Judge Judy My peep Talia alerted me to a story in The New York Times about a wronged Mason that has riled me up. Brother Frank J. Haas, a Mason for over twenty years, was humiliated in front of his father and home lodge brethren by the acting Grand Master of the State of West Virginia. Although Haas served as the Worshipful Master of his lodge (basically, CEO for a year) as well as his Grand Lodge (CEO for his state!), his succeeding Grand Master apparently disagrees with Haas' political views and kicked him out of the fraternity. What is repulsive about this (Masonically) unlawful expulsion is that it seems to concern old and intolerant segregationist views.

The acting Grand Master cited Haas involvement with this blog, the ill-named "Masonic Crusade," which was created in support of a series of reforms or "edicts" issued by Haas while he was a Grand Master. In the United States, Masons answer to no higher power other than the state Grand Lodge. In Europe, for example, many lodges answer to the Grand Lodge of Britain, but owing to things like, oh, the revolutionary war here in the states, Masonic leadership is pretty much delegated to each state. Hence, the laws of Louisiana are different than those of Texas (as is the ritual and liturgy). Hence, some states recognize Prince Hall masonry (Texas does) while some do not (Louisiana doesn't). Haas has been punished for trying to change the laws in West Virginia.

So, what's the problem? The problem is one of promise-making and tradition versus that of contemporary values and change. When one becomes a Mason, he swears to uphold the constitution and laws of his home jurisdiction. Some of those laws may be unsavory, but the point of the obligation is that, well, you are obliged. Fortunately, there are meetings once a year in which state constitutions are amended and changed, much like Congress does. These meetings are often contentious, as one would expect, especially in the last decade over the issue of race. Masonry since its inception in the United States was a white fraternity. Today, of course, that is not the case: some states are racially diverse (e.g., California), while others maintain a fairly white party-line (e.g., West Virginia). Haas' edicts were in pursuit of diversity in the fraternity and overturning centuries-old laws that prevented the fraternity from giving to charities that were not Masonic.

Reading the newspaper story, there's no way to tell what, exactly, the current Grand Master and former Grand Master disagree about. I have a strong suspicion, however, it has to do with tolerance: Haas wants racial diversity and equality, while the standing GM doesn't. The GM can say it was about procedure, but you don't have to be an savant to read between the lines here: this is truly embarrassing for Masonry. Racism is part of this country's historical past, and so too is it a part of the history of Masonry. But today, in 2008, racism has no place in the fraternity. NONE.

I just want all my friends and colleagues who know that I am a Mason that I would never join a jurisdiction that I perceived to be racist or intolerant. What has happened to Bro. Haas in West Virginia is truly unfortunate, but that is in West Virginia. I answer to the Grand Lodge of Texas, and even as yee-haw rope-'em our constitution can read, to my knowledge nothing like what happened to Bro. Haas would happen here.

Moreover, I think Haas mistreatment is thoroughly unmasonic. Masonry in its inception was a lodge created for speaking freely without fear of persecution. All this "secrecy" was in part to make sure someone could chat about astronomy without fear of the pope coming to get him. That a state Grand Master can be silenced for speaking his opinion is an insult to the Craft. Ugh.