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Separate But Equal?

MRichard

Mark A. Ri'chard
Premium Member
So what you should do is give the potential candidate a list of nearby lodges, both PHA and GLS, and help him understand the style and intrest of the different lodges (observant, etc)?

Judgment call. If you already know that the person is interested in one particular regular grand lodge, you might just mention the other grand lodge and proceed accordingly.
 

BullDozer Harrell

Registered User
Interestingly enough, I've recently spoke with a gentlemen in the world who was not only interested in becoming a Mason. Strangely he was very specific about a certain lodge, Oriental. In Illinois, both GLs have subordinate lodges. There's an Oriental#33 and Oriental#68.
Instead of complicating the situation, i simply gave him this information and suggested that he contact both jurisdictions to discover which one he meant.
The way I saw it, it wasn't my burden to involve myself too much beyond his doing his own legwork.

A message to Brothers is to supply the information you carry, and leave the rest to the inquirer.

Android OS Nougat 7.0
 

BullDozer Harrell

Registered User
For ritual the differences are about the same as between any two. Open book or not. Cipher or written mostly out or not. A sentence added here or subtracted there. Scenes added or subtracted from the third degree. The usual wildly different rod work. Lodges being fussy about good ritual versus lodges just getting it done to get candidates through.

For other rules and traditions, similar. Single membership versus allowing as many memberships as you can afford. Limited number of visits before requiring a petition versus forever visiting. Gift honorary memberships or not under assorted names. Grand line advancing every year, every 2 years, not advancing. Wide variety in recognition lists.

That's in the 3 pairs I have attended. As more get visited I figure the list would get longer but stabilize.
Respectfully those are small differences for lack of a better word.

Honestly these are variations on a theme to me more than real differences.

However, i will point out something very contrast between both jurisdictions that i've noticed. It's centering around the OES and prayer.

In my PH jurisdiction, it's like members of the OES are given a Masonic like status and prayer tends to be overemphasized. Across jurisdictional lines, GL of IL customs tend not to be as reverential of the Adoptive Rite and of prayer.

Oh, and i shouldn't leave out stiff protocol when addressing GLO's.

99.9% of the time in my jurisdiction, a MW is always a MW and a RW is always a RW. Never just say Brother so& so. Lol





Android OS Nougat 7.0
 

goomba

Neo-Antient
Site Benefactor
99.9% of the time in my jurisdiction, a MW is always a MW and a RW is always a RW. Never just say Brother so& so. Lol
Android OS Nougat 7.0

A number of years ago we were having a weekend practice and masons from the surrounding area were there. One of them was a PGM who is probably the most humble PGM I've ever seen. The senior warden was serving lunch to everyone and said "what would you like brother". The PGM stopped him and thanked him for calling him that. He said he gets so tired of always being PGM to everyone and always being MW that they forget he is still just their brother.
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Nice Im out of Clovis Lodge #40 I was Newly raised last Tuesday, before that I was PHA.
Welcome to NM, Brother. I used to know Clovis fairly well; I grew up in Roswell and we would drive (very fast) to Clovis to cause trouble.
My interaction with #40 is limited to spirited debates with a certain Brother there.
Oh, and thank you for your service.
 

the_widows_son

Site Benefactor
I really appreciate that, When I was PHA we use to go to the Roswell lodge, mainly to do the staircase lecture. I like Roswell I also went out there to get certified on the intoxicalyzer for my job. Let me know if you are ever through these woods, or should I say desert. Would love to fellowship

Sent from my SM-G930P using My Freemasonry mobile app
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
Interestingly enough, I've recently spoke with a gentlemen in the world who was not only interested in becoming a Mason. Strangely he was very specific about a certain lodge, Oriental. In Illinois, both GLs have subordinate lodges. There's an Oriental#33 and Oriental#68.
Instead of complicating the situation, i simply gave him this information and suggested that he contact both jurisdictions to discover which one he meant.
The way I saw it, it wasn't my burden to involve myself too much beyond his doing his own legwork.

A message to Brothers is to supply the information you carry, and leave the rest to the inquirer.

Android OS Nougat 7.0
Off topic: I've attended Oriental 33
 

Doubleagle357

Registered User
In Texas, we recognize the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas and the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas as equals.

That being said, every day we receive dozens of messages from those seeking membership. Where do we lead them? Prince Hall is predominately African-American and if you know PHA history, you'll understand why. Mainstream (I hate that term) Freemasonry, had a history of bigotry and racism but is slowly becoming more diverse.

Is profiling okay in Freemasonry? If an individual is African American, should we automatically point him towards PHA simply because of his skin color? Would he feel more at home? If a white guy asked for guidance should we automatically send him to a "mainstream" Lodge?

For me, the existence of two Grand Lodges under one jurisdiction is a contradiction. I understand why they both exist, but it sucks. Your thoughts?
I understand completely, However, although you may invite me to your home and tell me to make myself at home, this brotherly invite does not mean I should burn my house down.
 
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