Racial Rucus in Atlanta Lodge

I received the following news from one of our districts.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution has picked up the story, and it is now spreading through the Associated Press.

In short, Gates City Lodge in Atlanta raised a military veteran earlier this year, who was black. Two other lodges filed masonic charges against Gates Lodge, accusing them of un-masonic conduct and violating the landmarks of freemasonry for raising a non-white man. The Grand Lodge apparently allowed the charges to stand and scheduled a trial.

Gates Lodge filed suit on June 19, in the Superior Court of DeKalb County, asking for an injunction to stop the trial, among other matters. The case is pending.

There is plenty of additional information on the internet, available by a Google search.

According to most bylaws there is nothing to stop a black man from joining a regular non Prince Hall lodge except the disrupting harmony clause that would be applied to anyone thought to cause a disruption. I will look forward to see how government will intervene on this one

http://gatecity2.blogspot.com/ Link to the Lodge

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/National/US_Freemason_Fight.html

Prince Hall Vs Clandestine

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.