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Originally posted by network dude
reply to post by plnelson
But if you look a bit further, you will find a few states who still refuse to recognize Prince Hall masonry. My state (being incredibly progressive) voted to recognize Prince Hall masonry almost three years ago. A few still are holding out. You will never guess where those states are.
Even though my state recognizes Prince Hall masons now, you will find some areas that would find any way possible not to admit a black man into their lodge. The rules say there should be no problem, but the reality is rules can be bent. This will change in the not so distant future. The old timers will die out and the last bit of folks who may have used white sheets for more than sleeping on, will eventually go by the way side. But in my quest to find a solution to this problem, I have found that in this area, I wouldn't be very welcome if even allowed into a Prince Hall lodge. Same deal. I can't say I blame them, but this insanity has to stop somewhere. I only hope I am alive to see it. (IMHO)
Originally posted by masterghost
reply to post by ohsnaptruth
Masons are a "Fraternity". If you notice there are Frats & Ser in college as well as the collegate levels. Once a man becomes a mason then his wife if she so desires can belong to an organization such as, The Eastern Star. Research before continuing in your education.
Bro. masterghost.
What is the Freemasons' reason for rejecting women from their ranks?
Well, in Masonry, there IS no national organization. There's no over-arching body that governs all of Masonry. The biggest thing you have is State Grand Lodges, and, of course, you'll see that the handful of holdouts on the race issue in Masonry tend to go hand in hand with the states that were in the South in the Civil War.
Originally posted by plnelson
Some combination of peer pressure or a ruling by the national organization would put a quick end to it.
Originally posted by network dude
reply to post by plnelson
As far as the racial divide, as I said, there is nothing in the books about race. Any white man can join prince hall and any black man can join an AF&AM lodge. In any state in the US. If they get voted in, is entirely up to the lodge in question. masonry is not a racist organization any more than the Kiwanas are.
Originally posted by getreadyalready
On another note, I do belong to a Lodge that will probably be one of the very last to vote in a black member, but during my year as Master, I had some black friends of mine visit from other Lodges several times to start acclimating the Lodge to the idea. I had a couple of old men walk out, but since I was Master, the Lodge kept operating as normal and no permanent damage was done. Still, that was my choice, and I can still respect the opinion of those men that were opposed to it, and I don't consider them racist, just stubborn.
Originally posted by getreadyalready
reply to post by plnelson
Why is it "racist" to make this type of choice?
Originally posted by getreadyalready
reply to post by Masonic Light
. . .
A lot of the 70 and 80 year old men in my Lodge are very uncomfortable around black folks
. . .
Originally posted by network dude
reply to post by Masonic Light
I thought you of all people would know about that special place reserved for the few. you know, The real world.
Some small town lodges are filled with men who spent their entire lives thinking the way the do about black people. While it's un-masonic and incredibly hypocritical, it is what it is. I would like to change the way it is, and I have plans on trying to enact small change. But this isn't an overnight process.
Originally posted by network dude
reply to post by plnelson
But what your beef is has to do with the individual, and not the organization. If it was a racist group inherently, do you think that the Prince hall masons would have adopted the very same rules we have?
When you are forced to change, you do it under duress and any implied niceties, are fake at best. When people truly change the way they think, then there will be genuine change.