Ala. governor defends white Masonic unit

[deadparrot]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Gov. Bob Riley is defending his membership in a Masonic organization that critics say excludes blacks.

Riley, a Republican running for re-election against Democratic Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley, is a member of a Masonic lodge in his east Alabama hometown of Ashland. It is affiliated with the Grand Lodge of Alabama, a statewide group.

Speaking in an interview with The Associated Press, Riley said he did not know whether his lodge had any black members. But Riley denied that the Masonic group is racist.

Riley's membership in the Masons has been mentioned on Internet blogs and was a hot topic on a Birmingham-based radio talk show hosted by Russ and Dee Fine, Baxley supporters who claim they were fired earlier this week in part because they pointed it out.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060929/ap_on_el_gu/riley_masons

[grytpype]

1. Freemasonry is not racist, but sadly, some Masons are.

Hate to say it but it's true.

[Ravy]

9. That can be said about pretty much any large organization.

And I agree, it is sad. But it is the truth.

[nealmhughes]

2. If I am not mistaken, there are "Prince Hall" masonic lodges and

then Scottish and York Rite. The Prince Hall lodges are historically black, the Scottish and York, white. There are also unisexual lodges and very, very political ones in Europe outside the US/UK models.

I am sure there are black Scottish and York Rite masons, as well as white Prince Hall masons. The entire movement is one that came out of the Enlightenment and only mandates that members support a single God (Great Architect of the Universe) and be of good moral character.

[Az_lefty]

3. You're not mistaken...

I'm a mason and can tell you there has been a movement underway for some time now to reconcile with the Prince Hall lodge. Alabama's Grand Lodge has opposed this movement for some time now so the story above isn't too surprising.

[htuttle]

6. I looked into that earlier today

And most of the material I found said that about 3/4 of the lodges in the US have recognized the Prince Hall lodges, with about 1/4 remaining in their ignorance.

The whole issue comes from a drastic misuse of Masonic codes. The general code says that someone needs to be 'freeborn' to be a Mason. This originally referred to the issue of apprenticeship, etc, not slaves (apparently), but it was bent here in the US to rationalize keeping segregated lodges (and to avoid recognizing the Prince Hall lodges).

[bluestateguy]

4. I bet a black Mason once

He was a postal worker. I walked up to the counter at the post office to send a package, then I saw his Mason ring, and I said "You a Mason?"

"Yes sir" he said.

"Oh" I said, and that was that.

[colonel odis]

5. russ and dee fine claim they were fired because they pointed out

that riley was in a lily white lodge?

imagine. i would have thought they were fired because they're a couple of fucking nitwit hacks who overstayed their welcome about 5 years ago.

[Alacrat]

8. AMEN BROTHER!

Russ and Dee, don't let the door knob hit you in the ass on the way out!

[RBInMaine]

7. Masonry is open to ALL men regardless of race and faith.

I am an active Freemason, Past Master of my lodge, current line officer, member of the Scottish Rite, and also a very active member of the Shrine. Men of ALL races and religions are welcome, and, even being from a very "white" state, we have African Americans in local Blue Lodges, BOTH York and Scottish Rite, the Shrine, and other concordant Masonic bodies. Yes, there may be some members with some unfortunate personal views on race or whatever else, but those people, sadly, are everywhere. I can tell you that in my experience this organization is one of the most open, unifying, caring, and giving organizations there is. In lodge, discussion of religion, politics, or any other divisive matter is prohibited. Yes, there are also Prince Hall Lodges whose members are all African American (as I understand it, they have voted to maintain that tradition in their lodges), and I have been warmly welcomed as a visiting Mason in our local Prince Hall Lodge. Many Prince Hall Grand Lodges and traditional state Grand Lodges have signed agreements such that members of each can visit one another's lodge freely. I believe that our Grand Lodge allows Prince Hall members to also join our lodges if they wish and hold dual membership.
Some African Americans join Prince Hall only, some our lodges only. In some cases, maybe both. In lodge, we are all on the same level, and it is wonderful.

[Chovexani]

10. The man who was almost my stepfather was a Prince Hall Mason

Real salt of the earth, may he rest in peace. He and most of the guys in his lodge were vets and they all did tremendous work helping fellow vets in the larger community, black and white.

I miss him terribly. :(