I currently live in South Carolina and I am somewhat confused with the Prince Hall issue at hand. I know this is a touchy subject but I am curious to why they would be considered clandestine in some states and not another. Is it per Jim Crow laws? Is it by the way Prince Hall's operate? I have several friends who are Prince Hall masons and even though I abide by my Ahman Rizon constitution of the Grand Lodge I find it confusing on the do's and don'ts and whys? I was told that a PH mason from a state that is recognized can attend our lodges as long as it was in a state where PH masonry is not considered clandestine. However, if risen in the State of South Carolina they are not allowed. This is not a attempt to stir a pot of emotions and controversy as it is to understand the meaning behind it. If anyone has insight please inform me of history and future of this masonic dispute.
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Prince Hall Vs Clandestine
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Binary: drop me a line at palmettobugblog@yahoo.com. I can talk about this subject better that way.
Shane, does your Constitution state there can only be one Grand Lodge in your geographic area? Then that would be the legal reason why the local PH GL can't be recognised.
Of course, the Constitution can always be changed. It was here in BC which enabled us to recognise the small PH Lodge which meets in Vancouver BC.
I can't speak about any policy your GL regarding visitors. Here, unless our GL recognises someone's GL, they can't visit. That goes for Prince Hall or anyone else. However, there was a GM's ruling here some years ago which allowed our members to visit a Lodge in a GL we recognised.. even if Masons we didn't recognise were also there.
Justa Mason
Don't be fooled my Brother. You are going to hear a lot of different excuses as to why Prince Hall is not recognized in the Southern states, but it boils down to one ugly word: racism. That being said, it will take Brethren like yourself who question this nonsense to effect the change that is long overdue. It may be an uphill battle, but it is the right and Masonic thing to do.
Basically to give a fairer answer to your question the situation as you describe exists because One Mainstream Grand Lodge will sanction and support whatever another Grand Lodge does - WHATEVER! So if another Grand Lodge is racist and yours is not, yours will suppoet the other GL's racism because it will support anything that Grand Lodge does - or let's put it this way, it will never critisize another GL. It's a good old boys network.
It is not up to you to ask. The decision is not yours alone. If your Grand Lodge deems Prince Hall clandestine, then so should you.
Remember your obligation. It is what makes you a Mason.
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