We received an email last night from a brother named Robert Williams of Monroe, Louisiana. It was addressed to Bro. Alex Harris.I had to search through the archives of the Burning Taper to figure out that the writer was replying to an article posted here on March 13, 2006, which in fact was a reprint of a speech given by Bro. Harris at the 1999 Alabama Grand Lodge. Bro. Harris' speech called the Alabama Grand Lodge to task for failing to recognize Prince Hall Masonry, which is composed predominantly of black Masons.
I found the email fascinating, sad, and a bit disgusting, actually. I haven't heard the "I have friends who are black" and "there are some good black people out there" lines used to justify racial segregation since I was a child.
— Widow's Son
Here is the email, just as it was received:BRO ALEX HARRIS,
FROM READING YOUR ARTICLE, YOU MAKE OUT LIKE ALABAMA IS THE ONLY STATE THAT DON'T RECOGNIZE PRINCE HALL MASONRY. WELL, I AM HERE ARE TO INFORM YOU THAT THERE ARE OTHER STATES THAT DON'T RECOGNIZE THEM AND THERE ARE MANY LODGES UP NORTH THAT WON'T LET THEM IN OUR LODGES EITHER. THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY OF US RACISTS, WE JUST LIKE OUR LODGES THE WAY THEY ARE. IT'S ALL ABOUT PEACE AND HARMONY AMONGST BROTHERS. I HAVE MANY FRIENDS WHO ARE BLACK. YES, THERE ARE SOME GOOD BLACK MASONS OUT THERE BECAUSE I HAVE TALKED TO A FEW OF THEM IN THE PAST. IF YOU ARE SO INTERESTED IN RECOGNIZING THEM, YOU SHOULD HAVE JOINED A PRINCE HALL LODGE FROM THE START. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, I AM NOT A RACIST AND I AM NOT IN NO MEANS A MEMBER OF A HATE GROUP.
BRO WILLIAMS
Images: Theophilus Eugene "Bull" Connor, Alabama police commissioner, public service commissioner and outspoken segregationist during during the 1940s, 50s and 60s, reportedly was a Freemason and a "very active" Shriner. It was Connor who ordered the police to have the German shepherd dogs attack protesters, and the fire department to turn their firehoses against them, in Birmingham in 1963. One disgusted fireman said later, "We're supposed to fight fires, not people."Freemasonry | Masons | Alabama Grand Lodge | Racism | Bigotry | Racial Segregation | Prince Hall Masonry | Bull Connor | Civil Rights Movement
Honestly, it's comments like these that make me cringe at the past of Freemasonry.
ReplyDeleteIt just goes to show, the good ole boy club is still alive and kickin!
ReplyDeleteMasonic Groupie
It's not just the "past" of Freemasonry, Brother. It's still happening.
ReplyDeleteThe man who wrote that email to us, Robert Williams, a Mason from Louisiana, wrote again today to tell us to take down the 1999 speech given by Bro. Alex Harris to the Grand Lodge of Alabama about Prince Hall recognition, saying we weren't impressing anyone by having posted it.
— W.S.
Funny how this gentleman posted his thoughts, then all of a sudden wants his comments taken down. Sad, just sad.
ReplyDeleteRMc
No, he didn't ask that his comments be taken down, he wanted the 1999 Speech by Bro. Harris be taken down.
ReplyDeleteHere's what he said:
"do you mind removing the article you have listed of the '1999 speech on prince hall recognition' off of the website. you are not impressing anyone by having it posted online."
— W.S.