New York Mayor Eric Adams Made a Prince Hall Mason

[My Freemasonry]

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by Christopher Hodapp

On Tuesday last week, the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F&AM of New York conferred the Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason degrees upon New York City Mayor Eric Adams in a special ceremony. Also raised at this event was the city's Police Commissioner, Edward Caban, and Chief of Police, Jeffrey Maddrey.

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(LtoR)Grand Master Gregory Roberson Smith, Jr, Mayor Eric Adams, Commissioner Edward Caban, Chief Jeffery Maddrey.​

The historic event was held at Gracie Mansion, the city's official mayoral residence, and MW Grand Master Gregory Roberson Smith, Jr. presided. He was accompanied by the Grand Lodge officers, including RW Kevin Wardally, Grand Senior Deacon (who is a Board Member of The Masonic Society).

This type of special ceremony that confers the degrees in a single day is sometimes known as making a Mason "at sight" and is a prerogative of grand masters in many jurisdictions (dating back to a privilege granted to GMs in Rev. James Anderson's Constitutions in 1723). It usually permits GMs to waive any waiting and proficiency period between degrees so that they can all be conferred in a single day. In the majority of grand lodges where this is permitted, it does NOT accelerate or alter the actual degree rituals themselves, nor is it some kind of separate truncated ceremony.

In addition to the Craft lodge degrees for the Mayor and the Commissioner, Sovereign Grand Inspector General Deputy (SGIG), Illus. Rev. Hermon J. Simpson, 33° of the Prince Hall Scottish Rite NMJ, took the opportunity to elevate three esteemed brethren – New York Police Department Borough Commander Ruel Stephenson, New York and Yonkers Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow (D-Mount Vernon), and Citywide Public Housing Liaison to the Mayor Tony Hebert – to the 32° degree of the Scottish Rite, Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret.

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The event was made public in a press release issued by the Grand Lodge. (Click image to enlarge.) Photos were shared by Grand Master Smith on his Facebook page.

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[Brother JStoffo]

Congratulations Honorable Mayor, Commissioner and Chief. I hope that this helps bring some sanity back to NYC!

 

[Abdurrahim muhammad]

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by Christopher Hodapp

On Tuesday last week, the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F&AM of New Yorkconferred the Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason degrees upon New York City Mayor Eric Adams in a special ceremony. Also raised at this event was the city's Police Commissioner, Edward Caban, and Chief of Police, Jeffrey Maddrey.

​

​

​ (LtoR)Grand Master Gregory Roberson Smith, Jr, Mayor Eric Adams, Commissioner Edward Caban, Chief Jeffery Maddrey.​

The historic event was held at Gracie Mansion, the city's official mayoral residence, and MW Grand Master Gregory Roberson Smith, Jr. presided. He was accompanied by the Grand Lodge officers, including RW Kevin Wardally, Grand Senior Deacon (who is a Board Member of The Masonic Society).

This type of special ceremony that confers the degrees in a single day is sometimes known as making a Mason "at sight" and is a prerogative of grand masters in many jurisdictions (dating back to a privilege granted to GMs in Rev. James Anderson's Constitutions in 1723). It usually permits GMs to waive any waiting and proficiency period between degrees so that they can all be conferred in a single day. In the majority of grand lodges where this is permitted, it does NOT accelerate or alter the actual degree rituals themselves, nor is it some kind of separate truncated ceremony.

In addition to the Craft lodge degrees for the Mayor and the Commissioner, Sovereign Grand Inspector General Deputy (SGIG), Illus. Rev. Hermon J. Simpson, 33° of the Prince Hall Scottish Rite NMJ, took the opportunity to elevate three esteemed brethren – New York Police Department Borough Commander Ruel Stephenson, New York and Yonkers Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow (D-Mount Vernon), and Citywide Public Housing Liaison to the Mayor Tony Hebert – to the 32° degree of the Scottish Rite, Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret.

​

The event was made public in a press release issued by the Grand Lodge. (Click image to enlarge.) Photos were shared by Grand Master Smith on his Facebook page.

​

Continue reading...

Congradulations

 

[usar123]

Interesting!

 

[Keith C]

Recent events make the optics of this much less auspicious.

 

[Glen Cook]

Recent events make the optics of this much less auspicious.

I had a similar thought.

 

[Winter]

Recent events make the optics of this much less auspicious.

Who doesn't like seeing words like corruption investigation associated with a new Brother?

 

[K4DL]

So, they do not have to learn the lesson and show proficiency before moving on? Also, do they not have an investigation into a petitioner's character and background?

 

[Winter]

So, they do not have to learn the lesson and show proficiency before moving on? Also, do they not have an investigation into a petitioner's character and background?

Catechism is often waived for a Mason at Sight. But I think the specific procedures can vary by jurisdiction. Though I confess I have never met one.

What is a Mason “at sight”?

This article explains what it means to be a made a Mason “at sight” and the history of this practice.

scottishritenmj.org

 

[Glen Cook]

So, they do not have to learn the lesson and show proficiency before moving on? Also, do they not have an investigation into a petitioner's character and background?

It's useful to remember that in early Scottish freemasonry the two degrees were conferred in the same meeting.

In UGLE, the usual questions number about 11, and only for the first two degrees.

If the GM is willing to make one a mason at sight, that would be a sufficient investigation. Neither Utah nor UGLE require a background check.

Now, in most jurisdictions, he still has to petition a lodge.