The following is by Bro. Derek Gordon.
Remember the beginning! Prince Hall plates!
by Bro. Derek Gordon
Someone asked how this whole mess began. So, I thought it would be best to remind people. The issue began with the ARGL barring Masons from purchasing Arkansas license plates because of Prince Hall being involved in their creation. I posted a note on Sebastian Lodge’s website to spread the word as the Letter required; I added a note that we did not condone the Letter because it stunk with racial undertones.
Many writers and bloggers saw this and copied our text in their articles. This sent the ARGL into a major defensive posture, something the ARGL can never be forced to take because it is too righteous. In retaliation, the whole issue with me started. Their latest and greatest charge is that I posted secret Masonic ciphers on the Sebastian Lodge website. In fact, should that have occurred, all data on the website came from the ARGL website and websites it linked to. By the way, they removed their website because so many bloggers mentioned this obvious connection.
But one thing is for certain: ARGL and Grand Master Warren will continue to deny that race has any part in their actions. BUT, this problem came from a racial letter sent out by ARGL. If it was not for that, there would be no action against me.
The website was known to ARGL prior to the RACIAL incident. I spoke with Grand Secretary James Weatherall requesting a link to be made to the site. I wanted him to let me know if content wasn’t acceptable. This of course was in the summer of 2009. Other comments were made throughout the rest of that calendar year. No problems, no complaints. But, amazingly enough the ARGL now has a cause of action against me AFTER the RACIAL incident.
I wonder, did they want to hold onto a cause of action in case it was ever needed? Is this how a Grand Lodge operates to make sure it can remove its dissidents? The ARGL has had its opportunity to make peace with the matter, but there is no desire on their part to resolve this matter in an ethical and moral fashion.
Want to really see how this unraveled? Take an open-minded approach by viewing some of the most prominent articles and blogs that kicked off the ARGL’s attack against me:
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/02/arkansas-masons-forbidden-from-buying.html
http://freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com/2010/02/masonic-license-plates-in-arkansas.html
http://www.speculativemason.com/node/370
http://www.masonsoftexas.com/showthread.php/10670-Arkansas-masonic-liscense-plates?language=tl
http://www.freemasoninformation.com/2010/03/grand-masters-ruling-hurtful/
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/03/grand-lodge-of-arkansas-pulls-charter.html
http://www.freemasoninformation.com/2010/03/collateral-damage-the-aftermath-of-the-arkansas-license-plate-scandal/
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/03/gl-of-ars-letter-to-bro-derek-gordon.html
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/04/tell-grand-lodge-of-arkansas-what-you.html
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/04/text-of-letter-from-gm-of-arkansas.html
http://www.freemasoninformation.com/2010/04/the-handshake-of-expulsion/
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/04/handshake-of-expulsion.html
http://www.freemasoninformation.com/2010/04/mainstream-masonry-shooting-itself-in-the-foot/
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/04/searching-for-light-in-arkansas-night.html
Masons | Masonic Trial | Small Town Freemasonry | Freemasonry | Grand Lodge of Arkansas | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com
This is what is called the "Streisand Effect": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
ReplyDeleteBarbra Streisand found out that a photographic survey of the California coastline posted online included a picture of her house, and sued the photographer for $50 Million, citing privacy concerns. As the case went public, the website that showed the picture got half a million hits. The picture of her house became one of the most famous pictures on the internet. When you try to shut people up on the internet, you make them a LOT louder.
It takes calmness, humility, rational behavior, and patience to handle the situation when an uncomfortable truth is told about you on the internet. Otherwise, you look like an idiot, and the truth gets repeated ad infinitum.
Nobody ever accused Freemasons of having Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence or Justice. Oh, wait, yes they did....
nor Tolerance
ReplyDeleteWell Brother Derek it seems that you have some decisions to make. Time to become an independent, or call in the mainstream media and blow it up as much as you can.
ReplyDeleteIs the AKGL incorporated?
ReplyDeleteHave you thought about showing humility?
ReplyDeleteI'm not necessarily saying your "wrong," but this war will only drag out longer and both parties will lose in the end. The GL will have a bad rap, as well as lose a good brother. Sometimes opposition only breeds more opposition. Ideally, this shouldn't happen, but perhaps you can set the example and be the peacemaker in this.
Closing Charge
"Remember also, that you have promised to remind him, in the most tender manner, of his failings, and aid his reformation"
The Masters Charge:
"To your inferiors in rank or office you are to recommend obedience and submission; to your equals, courtesy and affability; to your superiors, kindness and condescension. Universal benevolence you are zealously to inculcate; and by the regularity of your own conduct, endeavor to remove every aspersion against this venerable institution."
Just a thought.
Ephraim, that is fine in a vacuum, but we talking about GL's.
ReplyDeleteIt is a 2 way street, when your "opposition/attackers" are not on the Level, and do not uphold their end of bargains, why show them condiseration they refuse consideration?
do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Even an Atheist can follow that Law.
"Unarmed hand-to-hand fighting does not change through the ages; only the name changes, and it has only one rule: do it first, do it fast, do it dirtiest."
~Robert A. Heinlein
GL's do not hesitate to chew up opposition within their ranks, give em an inch they will take the whole football field.