BROTHERS, I have stated this in a previous post-----the responsibility for progress and change shouldn't fall on the Grand Lines of the two Grand Bodies-----It should fall on the VOTES of the Brethren of the individual Lodges that are members of the two Grand Bodies. A competent check on behavior of elected officials is THE VOTE.........Bro Bowden has definitely earned his Kudos for bringing this issue to the forefront, but it will be up to the individual members of the Lodges to put pressure on their Pillars in each Lodge to create progress.........
My mindset is simple-----I would like and enjoy the opportunity to visit and fellowship with my mainstream Brethren WHERE I WOULD BE WELCOMED. If there is a Man who does not want me in Lodge simply because my GOD ISSUED tan is a shade darker than his, then I wouldn't consider HIM to be a BROTHER MASON anyway. One Brotherhood, One Planet, One GAOTU........Prejudice has NO MORE place in Lodge than Religious or Political Discussion. One who considers this Craft HIS, and not "worthy of sharing", hasn't really gotten any TRUE LIGHT out of the teachings anyway.......Masons should be Men who are FREETHINKERS, who are always a cut above the average Man in society because of the PRIVILEGE EXTENDED TO HIM BY HIS MEMBERSHIP. We should be helping to redefine folkways and mores in society by our EXAMPLE, not reinforcing the negative conduct adhered to by a narrow minded few................
JUST MY 2 CENTS....................I fully support Blake, and will do what I can to make my own voice heard..............this Forum is groundbreaking, in the sense that it has fostered fellowship in a "Virtual Lodge" of sorts, where conversation and familiarity didn't ever occur a few years ago in this manner among Brethren of the two Grand Bodies. It will be up to the progressive thinkers on this site, to foster a new way of thinking, so that we can actually catch up to the 21st Century, instead of continuing to reside in a region where "separate but equal" as far as Masonry is concerned is STILL the "order of the day". The two Grand Bodies can still coexist, but intervisitation will strengthen the level of learning and fellowship among the Brethren WHO WISH TO DO SO..........This is MASONRY, Brothers, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FRATERNAL ORDER MAN HAS EVER KNOWN, and we can no longer adhere to "the order of the day", if that order is encompassed by CHAOS.................
FAITHFUL FOR ETERNITY,
BRO. VINCENT C. JONES, SR., LODGE CHAPLAIN, BAYOU CITY LODGE #228
PRINCE HALL AFFILIATION, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONRY, HOUSTON, TEXAS
MOST WORSHIPFUL PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE OF TEXAS