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Grand Lodge of Alabama and PH Grand Lodge of Alabama

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
You'd have to live here to fully understand why it was approached this way.
Not necessarily- a number of GLoS-PHA recognitions began the same way. Once the sky didn't fall, enlightened Brethren worked toward, and gained, the privileges of intervisitation. Much work remains to be done, however.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Exactly. I can just imagine day one, a man shows up and says "Hi, I'd like to visit your lodge, I'm from such and such a lodge with the Prince Hall Grand Lodge, here's my dues card". Great. What do you check that against? Would you even know the difference between a valid dues card and monopoly money? I know I wouldn't.
You would (and should be able to) handle it the exact same way you would handle ANY visitor from a different Grand Lodge- look up his Lodge in the List of Lodges Masonic. If listed therein, then examine him to ascertain that he is a Mason of the appropriate degree, and admit him.
 

Dontrell Stroman

Premium Member
You would (and should be able to) handle it the exact same way you would handle ANY visitor from a different Grand Lodge- look up his Lodge in the List of Lodges Masonic. If listed therein, then examine him to ascertain that he is a Mason of the appropriate degree, and admit him.
Excatly. Brothers are making this more complicated than it needs to be. It would be no different if a brother from the GL of Russia came to visit. Same procedure.

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Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
You would (and should be able to) handle it the exact same way you would handle ANY visitor from a different Grand Lodge- look up his Lodge in the List of Lodges Masonic. If listed therein, then examine him to ascertain that he is a Mason of the appropriate degree, and admit him.
Excatly. Brothers are making this more complicated than it needs to be. It would be no different if a brother from the GL of Russia came to visit. Same procedure.
Good info! Thanks Brothers.
 

goomba

Neo-Antient
Site Benefactor
I see it exactly the opposite. The PHA Grand Master wanted to play a hand he knew he'd win. So while it may be complicated it's just the right amount to accomplish the end goal.

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goomba

Neo-Antient
Site Benefactor
What did it accomplish ? Did it determine anything new that we didnt already know. "Your regular and were regular". Why not completely be in full recognition ?

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It accomplished recognition. As our brother said earlier you'd have to live there too understand how big of a deal this is. Why not full visitation? Because that would have been probably voted down. This is a win.

Not all places can take great leaps at a time. They have to get there in small steps. Why bash them for improvement?

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Dontrell Stroman

Premium Member
Im not bashing. I live and im from the deep South brother. Im 20 minutes from Alabama. I have family in fort payne, huntsville, Courtland Alabama. It accomplished recognition ? Meaning to say we are Freemasons and you are Freemasons that's it. They can't even hold Masonic communication. I understand this is a small step but if they voted for recognition why couldn't they go ahead and vote on visitation what would be the issue on visitation. And its my understanding this was the issue on thr PH side.

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goomba

Neo-Antient
Site Benefactor
A morbidly obese person loses five pounds and is on track to lose all their weight and be healthy years down the road.

Would we ask them "why don't you lose all 300 pounds today?" No we wouldn't ask them that. We would understand it took a long time to get to 500 pounds and it will take a long time to get to a healthy weight.

This is the journey in Alabama. It has been the journey in other states. The honest answer is none of our Masonic father's should have let this racial split happen. But they were human and not perfect. So hundreds of years later the fix will not be quick but perfect. But hopefully the teachings of our Craft will prevail.

It wasn't until 2015 that a black man was raised in the Grand Lodge of Alabama. Now in 2017 they and the PHA Grand Lodge recognize each other. This is huge and wonderful. To treat it otherwise is to dismiss history and human nature.

Would I rather have an instant fix? No I'd rather Most Worshipful Prince Hall have been accepted into a lodge as any other man of good character. But alas that I can't have. So I'll take any progress that's possible to make the craft as a whole better.

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Dontrell Stroman

Premium Member
Im not debating the fact it's progress. Thats common sense. What was voted on to me is some what small. They voted to say we recognize you as Freemasons, but we cant treat you like our fellow Freemasons are treated. Im a realist not a pacifist

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Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
It accomplished recognition. As our brother said earlier you'd have to live there too understand how big of a deal this is. Why not full visitation? Because that would have been probably voted down. This is a win.
I have to agree that this is a positive step forward. Kentucky did the same thing. First each of the GLs voted for mutual recognition. A couple of years later PHGL voted to extend visitation rights. The following year the GL of Kentucky did the same. Now the two are in complete amity.
 

Dontrell Stroman

Premium Member
I have to agree that this is a positive step forward. Kentucky did the same thing. First each of the GLs voted for mutual recognition. A couple of years later PHGL voted to extend visitation rights. The following year the GL of Kentucky did the same. Now the two are in complete amity.
I just cant fathom why not do the whole thing. Why wait ?

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Dontrell Stroman

Premium Member
If both are regular and recognized why would it get voted down? Is there documentation of GL of state lodges taking gradual steps back in the day to recognize each other and have full recognition with other GL of state lodges ?

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Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
I just cant fathom it man. Honestly it causes bitterness to me
I totally understand Brother. It causes sadness in me that we have to go through this rigamaroll simply to bring about the right and just results. But the good thing is that positive things are happening....slowly, but they ARE happening.
 
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