TravelingBrother
Registered User
My Brothers,
I come to you in the most humble manner. I feel as though I should get advice on a troubling issue I have experienced for quite some time.
Some background.
My mother lodge, which I am currently a JD in, is predominately hispanic. I have grown to love many of my brothers very much, and I have truly done my very best to try and see through some of the other brothers' faults. However, more frequently than not, I hear very hateful, racist and homophobic remarks from a few of the “regulars” that come to lodge. These comments are made openly and are incredibly nonchalant in front of the senior members of the lodge – some of which have made these unacceptable comments themselves. I have spoken to a Past Master regarding this issue, but his best advice was to stay focused on my work and remember my Obligations where others don't.
Our lodge is considered “family friendly”. In a typical setting, this would be wonderful. However, many of my family members are mixed-race. My wife and I have an interracial marriage. My father-in-law is black. My adopted son is black. In the grand scheme of things, this should not matter whatsoever. As much as I love many of my brothers, I do not feel comfortable in bringing my family to the lodge. This saddens me incredibly much. Lodge installation last year was bittersweet for me as I opted for my family not to attend. My own father-in-law has expressed interest in becoming a Mason. I have since brought him over to another lodge that I belong to.
There are so many great Brothers in my mother lodge, and the hundreds I have met across my travels. They truly live their Masonic obligations, and remember these key principles throughout their daily lives.
As the Masonic year soon comes to an end, the process of elections has begun – even in the midst of this pandemic. During this time, I have taken advantage of the time given and truly studied my work and what it is I want from our Craft. A large part of me wants to “...be the change I want to see in the the lodge" (sounds cliché). There is a large part of me that wants to drop out of the line completely.
I am just so torn about whether to demit from my mother lodge altogether. If so, I will truly miss some of my Brothers. At the same time, if this level of behavior, which is truly unbecoming of a Mason, has been accepted for a number of years within this lodge, I don't know if anything will change going forward.
I humbly request your insight or words of wisdom.
I come to you in the most humble manner. I feel as though I should get advice on a troubling issue I have experienced for quite some time.
Some background.
My mother lodge, which I am currently a JD in, is predominately hispanic. I have grown to love many of my brothers very much, and I have truly done my very best to try and see through some of the other brothers' faults. However, more frequently than not, I hear very hateful, racist and homophobic remarks from a few of the “regulars” that come to lodge. These comments are made openly and are incredibly nonchalant in front of the senior members of the lodge – some of which have made these unacceptable comments themselves. I have spoken to a Past Master regarding this issue, but his best advice was to stay focused on my work and remember my Obligations where others don't.
Our lodge is considered “family friendly”. In a typical setting, this would be wonderful. However, many of my family members are mixed-race. My wife and I have an interracial marriage. My father-in-law is black. My adopted son is black. In the grand scheme of things, this should not matter whatsoever. As much as I love many of my brothers, I do not feel comfortable in bringing my family to the lodge. This saddens me incredibly much. Lodge installation last year was bittersweet for me as I opted for my family not to attend. My own father-in-law has expressed interest in becoming a Mason. I have since brought him over to another lodge that I belong to.
There are so many great Brothers in my mother lodge, and the hundreds I have met across my travels. They truly live their Masonic obligations, and remember these key principles throughout their daily lives.
As the Masonic year soon comes to an end, the process of elections has begun – even in the midst of this pandemic. During this time, I have taken advantage of the time given and truly studied my work and what it is I want from our Craft. A large part of me wants to “...be the change I want to see in the the lodge" (sounds cliché). There is a large part of me that wants to drop out of the line completely.
I am just so torn about whether to demit from my mother lodge altogether. If so, I will truly miss some of my Brothers. At the same time, if this level of behavior, which is truly unbecoming of a Mason, has been accepted for a number of years within this lodge, I don't know if anything will change going forward.
I humbly request your insight or words of wisdom.
