Re: Georgia Black Mainstream Mason Is Black Balled Again For The Second Time In His M
I don't know why this is so shocking. I have seen this behavior in blue lodges in Texas. Just keeps happening and swept under the rug.
Brethren, owls84 is correct with his statement that GLoTx isn't always addressing issues as they arise;
while I was a member of Valley Hi Lodge #1407 AF&AM in San Antonio, TX, my job (Union Pacific Railroad) had me assigned to and working in Marshall, Texas. My lodge arranged for courtesy work (through appropriate channels) to be done by Marshall Lodge #22, which can be a normal request by any lodge to another in the jurisdiction.
When I showed up for my first instructional session as an EA, I was refused entry into the building and left standing on the street, looking foolish (in my opinion). No answer, no explanation, nothing at all.
I notified my lodge secretary that evening, and though my WM filed a complaint with our DDGM and eventually the Grand Lodge, nothing was ever done, nor did I even get so much as an apology from anyone at Marshall #22 or the Grand Lodge of Texas AF&AM. So much for a member of a subordinate lodge being treated as such. SMH
The incident I refer to happened in 2002. I had been accepted as a member at Valley Hi 1407 the previous October and my job had me all over Texas at the time, so it was becoming difficult to return proficiency as an EA, and to have another lodge slam the door in my face was almost disheartening.
I did not let it detour me, but it quickly helped me to realize that though the members of Valley Hi Lodge 1407 AF&AM accepted me as a brother mason, other folks in the GLoTx didn't always see me as such, they just saw another Black man who wasn't worthy, though they never could justify that opinion of me or any other Black man.
In my opinion, a person calling himself a Master Mason that still harbors such prejudices is, in fact, still an Entered Apprentice.
I have never been able to stress enough that brothers should exercise care when selecting leadership for their subordinate lodges and their Grand Lodges.