RTidwell
Registered User
I received this disturbing email from my home lodge. For those in or near Austin you may want to keep an eye out for this at your lodge.
"Brethren, I have the following disturbing report, withheld until talking with Austin Fire Department’s Arson Investigation Division today.
Last Tuesday or Wednesday, OCL suffered the 4th vandalism incident in the past 12-18 months. The list follows:
(1) Sometime last year, the lodge sign on North Bluff Drive was destroyed by being cut completely through the sign and two Plexiglas covers.
Thanks to Bro Troy Shugart, that sign has been completely replaced with a new one.
(2) Several months ago, there was an unsuccessful attempt to break in through the rear door of the dining room.
(3) About two weeks ago, someone took down our American flag, turned it upside-down, and re-hoisted it. That same day, the outside screen was torn open and several panes of the men’s room window were broken.
(4) Last week, the northeast window in the dining-room was broken and a burning “Molotov-cocktail” was thrown into the dining room. Fortunately, the bottle did not break and the fire did not spread much beyond the flaming stopper. Other than the window damage, fire damage was limited to melting some of the plastic vertical blinds on the window and burning the piano cover and damaging the piano. The piano was badly burned but not destroyed; it will be examined tomorrow to determine the extent of the damage.
AFD’s Arson Division mounted game cameras outside the lodge and many images were captured. These pictures are being examined to determine the identities of the people and vehicles. That examination should be finished by Friday, and AFD will be notified of any unrecognized people or vehicles. The arson attempt raises the vandalism to a 2nd class felony, and any charges brought will be prosecuted as such.
Discussions are ongoing to provide the best possible security for the lodge. A new rear steel dining-room door has been ordered and will be installed soon. Motion-activated outside lights and noise- and motion-activated inside sensors are being evaluated; options for alarm monitoring services are also being investigated. If any brother is in the alarm business, we would appreciate your input to possible solutions.
Tomorrow, a similar message will go out to other lodges in the area to be alert for vandalism. There have been reports of some anti-Masonic leaflets being posted on some other lodges, but we believe the OCL vandalism is the most serious so far. Further info will be provided as it develops. Any practical suggestions and your prayers will be sincerely appreciated."
For those of you who may not know OCL is the 2nd oldest lodge building in the state still in use today. It is also one of the oldest public school houses in Texas.
"Brethren, I have the following disturbing report, withheld until talking with Austin Fire Department’s Arson Investigation Division today.
Last Tuesday or Wednesday, OCL suffered the 4th vandalism incident in the past 12-18 months. The list follows:
(1) Sometime last year, the lodge sign on North Bluff Drive was destroyed by being cut completely through the sign and two Plexiglas covers.
Thanks to Bro Troy Shugart, that sign has been completely replaced with a new one.
(2) Several months ago, there was an unsuccessful attempt to break in through the rear door of the dining room.
(3) About two weeks ago, someone took down our American flag, turned it upside-down, and re-hoisted it. That same day, the outside screen was torn open and several panes of the men’s room window were broken.
(4) Last week, the northeast window in the dining-room was broken and a burning “Molotov-cocktail” was thrown into the dining room. Fortunately, the bottle did not break and the fire did not spread much beyond the flaming stopper. Other than the window damage, fire damage was limited to melting some of the plastic vertical blinds on the window and burning the piano cover and damaging the piano. The piano was badly burned but not destroyed; it will be examined tomorrow to determine the extent of the damage.
AFD’s Arson Division mounted game cameras outside the lodge and many images were captured. These pictures are being examined to determine the identities of the people and vehicles. That examination should be finished by Friday, and AFD will be notified of any unrecognized people or vehicles. The arson attempt raises the vandalism to a 2nd class felony, and any charges brought will be prosecuted as such.
Discussions are ongoing to provide the best possible security for the lodge. A new rear steel dining-room door has been ordered and will be installed soon. Motion-activated outside lights and noise- and motion-activated inside sensors are being evaluated; options for alarm monitoring services are also being investigated. If any brother is in the alarm business, we would appreciate your input to possible solutions.
Tomorrow, a similar message will go out to other lodges in the area to be alert for vandalism. There have been reports of some anti-Masonic leaflets being posted on some other lodges, but we believe the OCL vandalism is the most serious so far. Further info will be provided as it develops. Any practical suggestions and your prayers will be sincerely appreciated."
For those of you who may not know OCL is the 2nd oldest lodge building in the state still in use today. It is also one of the oldest public school houses in Texas.
