It seems that in most every online discussion about Masonry, a supporter of the Masonic status quo brings up the "fact" that Freemasonry is a "democracy," and says those who disagree with this or that can, by working within the system, effect positive change.Apparently the brothers who met at the recent annual communication of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia did just that. In true "democratic spirit," they discussed several measures, and then voted on them.
It seems the new Grand Master, R. W. Bro. Charles Montgomery, didn't like the way the votes came out.
"I.M. Hiram" wrote in an email sent to at least a hundred West Virginia Masons back in September (reprinted on the blog Freemasons for Dummies):
...the current "old guard" Grand Lodge officers, and faction of like-minded Past Grand Masters and Jurisprudence committee whom they control said, in no uncertain terms that you, the men who overwhelmingly voted to approve these proposals "did not understand what they were voting for." Furthermore, they accused the two Masons charged with the counting of the ballots on the proposals, as having "miscounted" the ballots, and having left ballots in the ballot box, effectively speaking evil of their good name.I.M. Hiram and his email recipients were threatened with expulsion. Apparently, the author of the blog Masonic Crusade has been, too.
The blogs Masonic Crusade and Freemasons for Dummies have now reported that Grand Master M. W. Bro. Charles Montgomery has expelled the Past Grand Master (2005-2006) of West Virginia R. W. Bro. Frank Haas along with the Deputy Grand Lecturer R. W. Bro. Richard K. Bosley. Haas was expelled during a meeting at Wellsburg Lodge No. 2. The lodge's charter was put on probation, it is reported, for failing to have brought charges against Bro. Haas.
Bro. Bosley had spoken on behalf of Bro. Haas during the meeting, and against some of the grand master's actions. He was later expelled in the parking lot after the meeting.
Democracy? What kind of democracy gives one man (who, if West Virginia's grand lodge is like Georgia's, wasn't truly "elected" but was simply "moved up the line") dictatorial powers to summarily throw out votes that represented the "will of the people" and to expel members — even former leaders — who disagree with him?
This is the kind of system we swore allegiance to? This is the type of Masonic leadership we pledged to obey?
God help us.
You can email the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia. I'm sure your message will get through to the Grand Master.
Masons | Charles Montgomery | Frank Haas | Freemasonry | Grand Lodge of West Virginia | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com
OBLIGATION MY BEAR BROTHER, OBLIGATION!
ReplyDeleteTHOSE MASONS TOOK OBLIGATIONS TO THEIR GRAND LODGE, THEY HAVE TO SHUT UP AND TAKE WHATEVER EDICT THE NEWLY APPOINTED mwgm HAS SPEWED FORTH.
HOW DARE A PAST GRANDMASTER STAND UP FOR THE BRETHREN!
THE NEW gm WIELDS THE GAVEL, MOVE ASIDE HAS BEEN GM, MAKE WAY FOR THE NEW GUY AND HIS HEAVY HANDED GAVEL.
TYRANNY IS ALIVE AND WELL IN AMERICA.
I'M GLAD THESE GL'S ARE PROVING THAT "ALL MASONS DESERVE A MASONIC TRIAL" IS A FLAT OUT LIE.
BECAREFUL MY BROTHERS, ANY RESISTANCE AND YOUR LITTLE PIECE OF CARDBOARD IS IN JEOPARDY WITH ANY RECOURSE TO DEFEND ONESELF.
LET FREEDOM RING!
"Preserving the Southern Jurisdiction is important to preserving the entire Masonic experiment that is America."
ReplyDeleteI agree with that, but what can be done in the case of new bloodshed?
The Bobbleheads are handing us tha reigns. This is almost too easy.
ReplyDeleteBC 2006
SSDD.
ReplyDeletePeople getting kicked out because a GM got his feelings hurt is hardly a new phenomenon.
They even eat there own.
ReplyDeleteTruely amazing.
Nothing shocks me anymore.
B.G.
What shocks me is how quickly the 'alternative' is shaping up to be the exact same egotistical group that they rail against. With beginnings like these, hope is lost for the 'alternative'. It's too bad what is going on in WV and it is wrong. To imitate them will serve no purpose.
ReplyDelete"What shocks me is how quickly the 'alternative' is shaping up to be the exact same egotistical group that they rail against. With beginnings like these, hope is lost for the 'alternative'. It's too bad what is going on in WV and it is wrong. To imitate them will serve no purpose."
ReplyDeleteI don't see this happening, but then again maybe I'm missing something. Please enlighten me Brother, how is this happening?
"I don't see this happening, but then again maybe I'm missing something. Please enlighten me Brother, how is this happening?"
ReplyDeletePleased to give you further light, brother. Subjectively, I see a lot of egotism going on with the 'alternative' side. Let me offer some examples, purportedly 'alternative' Masons:
"I guess they were tired of being a part of an organization of losers."
"Why do so many Masons blindly follow corrupt Grand Lodges, real Masons stand-up for what is right."
This assumes that:
ALL GLs are corrupt, and those who fail to see it as such are not 'real' Masons. I agree that real Masons stand-up for what is right, I do not see how those who may be in error are not 'real'. Mistaken is not such a deep sin as presented here.
"I bet an atheist is more educated and literate than 90% of most masons today!"
I'd take that bet, as an atheist can be just as uneducated as anyone. Atheism does not necessarily indicate intelligence. Let me pick the atheist, and we'll see who wins.
"The Bobbleheads are handing us tha reigns."
This just does not seem to express the 'brotherhood of all' being claimed here by some. It would be better to see in practice, rather than these tiny attacks on those people simply because they belong to an organization they neither agree with nor seem to understand.
Why this appellation? We've heard the explanation, but it is clearly meant to insult. The egotism presented in some cases here is that 'we the alternative are right, and everyone else is wrong'. It's not an alternative, it's the same thing as the GLs being criticized are doing. A difference in semantics doesn't make it different. Tolerance is no feat when you are tolerant only with those who agree with you. Tolerance is most difficult and most rewarding at the same time when practiced on the intolerant, not just the new flavor of boy's club.
Brother, you are absolutely 100% correct. We should behave far better than we have with each other. I for one will not accept anything less. If I have failed in that regard myself I am truly sorry and beg your forgiveness. I am better than that and my behavior should show it. There Brothers are also better than that and they should show it as well.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the recent expulsions in West Virginia. I am just sick about it.
Fraternally,
Brandt
Perhaps it is time that we just start over. No offense, but probably 90% of today's mainstream Masons do not understand the philosophical underpinnings of Freemasonry. Does a system that in 2007 still tolerates the failure of Southern grand lodges to continue to not recognize their brethren of African descent even deserve to be saved from itself? I think not! The debacle in West Virginia just proves the point. Time to throw out the baby AND the bath water and start fresh!
ReplyDeleteLodges Sirius and Regulus have no interest in this matter, and have offered no commentary.
ReplyDeleteWe removed ourselves from your system so that we could practice the Craft with discretion and solemnity.
Your (Antients) battle with the RRCG was of your own devising. Whatever troubles you have with them you should resolve as Masons and bring an end to this unMasonic behavior on both sides.
Those who seek to work in peace and harmony, and remove themselves from these troubles are welcome among us.
Sol
Brother, while names are unimportant, I think that it is a privelege to have ones opinion noted on a responsible ethereal space. Therefore I suggest you proceed with a barring of anonymous comments. A person should take a stand and stand by it.
ReplyDeleteIn the fraternal brotherhood of Freemasonry, it is not the anti-Masons that can be the true enemy, it is he who wears a Masonic apron and has the Gavel and not knows of his powers. As the saying goes, absolute power corrupts absolutely. So Mote It Be.
ReplyDeleteGlory to Eve who disobeyed the rules and ate the fruit of knowledge
ReplyDeleteand also to her grand-grand-grandson... Tubalcain.
the initiatic path is always, or often, about disobedience.
Brother Tom Coste
halcyon
(thanks bro fred for the kind words)
John Galt wrote:
ReplyDelete"Brother, you are absolutely 100% correct. We should behave far better than we have with each other. I for one will not accept anything less. If I have failed in that regard myself I am truly sorry and beg your forgiveness. I am better than that and my behavior should show it. There Brothers are also better than that and they should show it as well."
Well said, John. Freedom is the freedom to be in error, and those Southern Jurisdictions are free to remain in error, as all Americans are, as long as they 'no moleste' anyone else. I don't celebrate their error, but celebrate the inroads to eliminating the prejudice that runs so deeply on both sides I doubt many on either side understands it altogether.
anagram anonymous
Dear Grand Secretary of WV Masons,
ReplyDeleteIs the following article I've just read online true?
Monday, November 19, 2007
West Virginia Past Grand Master Expelled
Effective Monday, November 19th, Charles L. Montgomery, Grand Master of Masons in West Virginia, has expelled Most Worshipful Brother Frank Haas, Past Grand Master 2005-6, from Freemasonry, by edict, at a meeting of Wellsburg Lodge No. 2. Wellsburg Lodge’s charter was placed on probation for failing to hold a trial of MWBro. Haas for his "activities" of the last 14 months.
Wbro. Richard Bosely, Deputy Grand Lecturer, was also expelled. Two weeks ago in a stated meeting, Wbro. Bosley brought up questions about votes taken in Grand Lodge's session in October, and was subsequently stripped of his grand officer status in the parking lot by Grand Master Montgomery after the meeting.
I met PGM Haas in Pennsylvania at the first speech I gave after Freemasons For Dummies was released, and I have admired him ever since. He has always seemed to me boundlessly cheerful, with a bright vision for the future of Freemasonry. He has especially been dedicated to assisting Demolay, which the Grand Lodge of West Virginia does not support. He had as his goal during his tenure as Grand Master the hope of bringing West Virginia's Masons forward in time. Apparently, there are those who disagreed with that vision, and have taken issue with him now that he is not Grand Master.
And now he has been silenced.
I certainly hope that the above is hearsay, if it is not, how sad indeed for the future of our Great Fraternity if we've got GM's expelling PGMs. What are we new Master Masons to think of all this upheaval and expellings that are going around by our leadership? I'm in shock and surprised indeed of this latest news! I pray it isn't true. Only you can confirm that, if you so desire and are permitted to do so.
I've also sent a similiar email to my own Grand Secetary here in Virginia informing him of this sad news.
Fraternally yours,
Bro. Eric J. Martin
Webmaster
Lynnhaven Lodge No. 220
http://www.vamason.org/no220
and
Member
Freedom Military Lodge No. 1775
http://www.freedomlodge.org
Quote: Be Free, Make a Difference, Become a Freemason.
I'll post a reply if I ever get one from the Grand Secretary of West Virginia.
I'm glad we're not having these types of problems in Virginia, the democratic nature of our Gentle Craft continues to work as it has for the past 222 years here in Virginia. Thankfully so!
Scotland is worse - we do not elect a GM. He just appears out the blue and serves 5 years. However, for someone to be expelled it would need to be done in open lodge and not a car park! Perhaps that is the new way.
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe that the brethren did not try to sit round a table and talk through the problems, unles of course, the new GM was aware of the fixing. This is not Freemasonry and the new GM should be called to account in open lodge.
If the brethren in GL are not happy with his explanations then the PGM should be reinstated. The bottom line is - discussion is essential.
Neither Brother Haas nor Brother Boseley has been expelled from Freemasonry. No Grand Master holds that power.
ReplyDeleteA Grand Master can only expel a Freemason from his own Masonic jurisdiction and then only after after the correct judicial procedures have been followed, to the letter.
I make this comment because it is not an internal matter for the Grand Lodge of West Virginia. It is a question of essential Masonic principle.
A law suit has been filed against Charlie Montgomery GM and Chuck Colman PGM, The Grand Lodge of West Virginia and Joe Doe, for unspecified damages by Frank Haas.
ReplyDeleteI WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, THE PRSENT GM HAS A LOT OF BALLS TO EXPELL THE PAST MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND MASTER. THE MOST WORSHIPFUL PAST GRAND MASTER HAS MORE RIGHT IN THE GRAND LODGE THAN THE NEW GRAND MASTER HAS. I THINK THAT HE HAS STEPPED ON HIS DICK WHEN HE EXPELLED THE MOST WORSHIPFUL PAST GRAND MASTER, SO MOTE IT BE.
ReplyDeleteAnother reason for this significant growth is the booming number of residents that are in need of special medical attention. The job openings available in WV today are noted to be 2 percent higher than the job openings in the United States.
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ReplyDeleteIt is October 2014 and PGM Frank Haas remains expelled without a proper Masonic trial... SMDH at such hypocrisy #learntherules or #jointhewaterbuffalos
ReplyDelete