I just sent this email to numerous Freemasons, including sitting Grand Lodge Officers.
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Brethren,
I would like to share a little history about the website that I, along with Past Master Joey Moss, founded years ago. A couple of months after I was initiated back in 2008, I thought it would be wonderful to have a discussion forum for the numerous Lodges in our District, but unfortunately participation was virtually non-existent nor was I fully aware of the politics involved within Freemasonry. Mind you the Craft isn't flawed, we Masons are. That being said, I finally found a handful of Brethren who supported me in my endeavors and many of them have put their dues cards on the line and have lost them.
I've witnessed first hand Brethren host BBQ's and other discussion forums, only to have their very comments printed out and submitted to Grand Lodge for the purpose of disciplinary action, even though they were made under the pretense that all comments made to remain between Brethren. So much for "being on the Square".
Yet we push on.
When it comes to recognizing our Prince Hall Brethren, I've received emails stating that if "you like ni**ers so much, join them". The last time I attended a "District 35 Breakfast Club" I heard "I wouldn't vote for a ni**er". That's not Masonry, which is why I haven't attended a breakfast since. If you hate "ni**ers", join the KKK and leave my beloved Craft. As I've said many times, we love to teach the work, but we're poor at implementing those important lessons that all Masons should follow.
I've invited every Grand Master (past and present) to participate on this site, yet none have accepted, at least publicly. Ironically, when I was Master of my Lodge, my Past Grand Master was more than willing to shake my hand and be there for photo-ops. Yet we push on.
I was asked by my current Grand Master to serve as DDGM. I received the papers, submitted them and weeks later I received a phone call stating that "a mistake was made, someone else had already been chosen". Yet we push on.
Right Worshipful Secretary Tommy Guest once labeled us "Anti-Grand Lodge", but after he received my response to his comment, I was quickly issued an apology.
Can we make a difference? Absolutely. If there's one issue that's dear to my heart, it would be extending visitation rights with my Prince Hall Brethren. I will not back down on this issue. It has occurred in many Jurisdictions with great success, although it's rare in the South. Let us, as Texas Masons, set an example. To those Grand Lodge Officers in line for the Grand East, do you want a year that actually means something? Do you want to break down a barrier that has lasted for hundreds of years or are you content on recommending resolutions that will leave little to no impact? Are you going to be a risk taker or one that is complacent with business as usual?
To my Brethren who are members of the Prince Hall Grand Line, are you content with the business as usual mentality? Should we allow hundreds of years of mis-trust to interfere with recognition? There WILL be racists on both sides and we will endure times of trial, yet so have other Jurisdictions. If racism rears it's ugly head, that will give us ammo to address it. Would Brethren from both sides support a merger? Of course not as each of our respective Grand Lodges have a lineage dating back centuries.
That being said, I want Freemasonry in Texas to fundamentally change as it would send a ripple effect throughout the South. I'm not just talking about our Jurisdiction, but numerous ones. If Texas made the change, I guarantee you that other Jurisdictions would follow. Here are some statistics from the little website P.M. Joey Moss and I founded back in 2008:
www.masonsoftexas.com
72,593 Posts
5,873 Members
The Official Masons of Texas Facebook:
9,829 Likes
Why would Brethren voluntarily fund a website, described by their Grand Secretary as "Anti-Grand Lodge" without hesitation, not to mention members of Prince Hall? I would presume that having their voices heard by thousands of fellow Brethren would give them the incentive to. As far as I am concerned, I don't need an official title or a Grand Lodge approval to get the message out. I hope that our respective Grand Lodge Officers will step up and make a difference.
Blake L. Bowden
- Past Master of Gonzales Masonic Lodge No. 30 A.F. & A.M.
- Administrator of Gonzales Masonic Lodge No. 30 A.F. & A.M. Facebook Page
- Administrator of Masons of Texas
- Administrator of Masons of Texas Facebook Page
- Administrator of Freemason Connect Facebook Page
- Administrator of the Freemason Connect Android/Kindle/iOS Mobile Application
- Co-Administrator of The Sanctum Sanctorum
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Brethren,
I would like to share a little history about the website that I, along with Past Master Joey Moss, founded years ago. A couple of months after I was initiated back in 2008, I thought it would be wonderful to have a discussion forum for the numerous Lodges in our District, but unfortunately participation was virtually non-existent nor was I fully aware of the politics involved within Freemasonry. Mind you the Craft isn't flawed, we Masons are. That being said, I finally found a handful of Brethren who supported me in my endeavors and many of them have put their dues cards on the line and have lost them.
I've witnessed first hand Brethren host BBQ's and other discussion forums, only to have their very comments printed out and submitted to Grand Lodge for the purpose of disciplinary action, even though they were made under the pretense that all comments made to remain between Brethren. So much for "being on the Square".
Yet we push on.
When it comes to recognizing our Prince Hall Brethren, I've received emails stating that if "you like ni**ers so much, join them". The last time I attended a "District 35 Breakfast Club" I heard "I wouldn't vote for a ni**er". That's not Masonry, which is why I haven't attended a breakfast since. If you hate "ni**ers", join the KKK and leave my beloved Craft. As I've said many times, we love to teach the work, but we're poor at implementing those important lessons that all Masons should follow.
I've invited every Grand Master (past and present) to participate on this site, yet none have accepted, at least publicly. Ironically, when I was Master of my Lodge, my Past Grand Master was more than willing to shake my hand and be there for photo-ops. Yet we push on.
I was asked by my current Grand Master to serve as DDGM. I received the papers, submitted them and weeks later I received a phone call stating that "a mistake was made, someone else had already been chosen". Yet we push on.
Right Worshipful Secretary Tommy Guest once labeled us "Anti-Grand Lodge", but after he received my response to his comment, I was quickly issued an apology.
Can we make a difference? Absolutely. If there's one issue that's dear to my heart, it would be extending visitation rights with my Prince Hall Brethren. I will not back down on this issue. It has occurred in many Jurisdictions with great success, although it's rare in the South. Let us, as Texas Masons, set an example. To those Grand Lodge Officers in line for the Grand East, do you want a year that actually means something? Do you want to break down a barrier that has lasted for hundreds of years or are you content on recommending resolutions that will leave little to no impact? Are you going to be a risk taker or one that is complacent with business as usual?
To my Brethren who are members of the Prince Hall Grand Line, are you content with the business as usual mentality? Should we allow hundreds of years of mis-trust to interfere with recognition? There WILL be racists on both sides and we will endure times of trial, yet so have other Jurisdictions. If racism rears it's ugly head, that will give us ammo to address it. Would Brethren from both sides support a merger? Of course not as each of our respective Grand Lodges have a lineage dating back centuries.
That being said, I want Freemasonry in Texas to fundamentally change as it would send a ripple effect throughout the South. I'm not just talking about our Jurisdiction, but numerous ones. If Texas made the change, I guarantee you that other Jurisdictions would follow. Here are some statistics from the little website P.M. Joey Moss and I founded back in 2008:
www.masonsoftexas.com
72,593 Posts
5,873 Members
The Official Masons of Texas Facebook:
9,829 Likes
Why would Brethren voluntarily fund a website, described by their Grand Secretary as "Anti-Grand Lodge" without hesitation, not to mention members of Prince Hall? I would presume that having their voices heard by thousands of fellow Brethren would give them the incentive to. As far as I am concerned, I don't need an official title or a Grand Lodge approval to get the message out. I hope that our respective Grand Lodge Officers will step up and make a difference.
Blake L. Bowden
- Past Master of Gonzales Masonic Lodge No. 30 A.F. & A.M.
- Administrator of Gonzales Masonic Lodge No. 30 A.F. & A.M. Facebook Page
- Administrator of Masons of Texas
- Administrator of Masons of Texas Facebook Page
- Administrator of Freemason Connect Facebook Page
- Administrator of the Freemason Connect Android/Kindle/iOS Mobile Application
- Co-Administrator of The Sanctum Sanctorum