Utah Past Grand Master Gerald Everett Expelled

by Christopher Hodapp

The assembled members of the Grand Lodge F&AM of Utah have voted to expel Gerald J. Everett, Past Grand Master, from Freemasonry. 

In a letter dated Monday, it was reported that Everett appealed a conviction by his lodge to the Grand Master, and Utah's Grievances & Appeals Committee reviewed his case. At the 153rd Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Utah, the Chairman of the Grievance and Appeals Committee presented the charges, the verdict, and the results of their own investigation. The Grand Lodge subsequently voted overwhelmingly to uphold the decision of the Lodge Trial Commission. Effective immediately, he is expelled from the fraternity and is no longer entitled to the rights and privileges of the fraternity. (CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

Gerald Everett served as Grand Master of Utah in 2015. No details of the case were made available, which is not uncommon in Masonic trial proceedings.

Grand Master Cuts Off DeMolay From Arizona Freemasons

by Christopher Hodapp

In an edict issued on Monday, MW Michael Dale, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Arizona, cut off the Masonic-related youth group DeMolay International from Arizona Freemasonry. (Click the image above to enlarge)

In his edict, GM Dale (photo at left) - a 27-year veteran of the Marine Corps -  gives no explanation apart from it being due to "the Grand Master's and the Arizona DeMolay State Association's loss of faith and trust in DeMolay International and the Arizona DeMolay Foundation."

The edict reads as follows:

Due to the Grand Master's and the Arizona DeMolay State Association's loss of faith and trust in DeMolay International and the Arizona DeMolay Foundation, effective as of this date, no Mason under the jurisdiction of The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Arizona will be a part of, participate in or sponsor any part of DeMolay International, the Arizona DeMolay Foundation or the Arizona DeMolay State Association or any other DeMolay associated organization.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Masonic Week 2025: Ric Berman Named As Newest Blue Friar, and Philalethes Names Four New Fellows

Friar No. 113 Ric Berman

by Christopher Hodapp

At quite literally the very last minute on Thursday, I flew to Washington D.C. to catch a couple of events at Masonic Week: the Consistory of the Society of Blue Friars, and the Friday night banquet for the Philalethes Society.

The Society of Blue Friars was founded in 1932 for the express purpose of recognizing outstanding Masonic authors throughout the world. Traditionally, the Society convenes each year during Masonic Week in the Washington, D.C. vicinity to induct a new Friar, and its gatherings are open to the public, unless the presenter specifies otherwise. 

Authors like Arthur E. Waite, Harold V.B. Voorhis, Dwight L. Smith, Brent Morris, Allen Roberts, Thomas Jackson, Yasha Beresiner, Alain Bernheim, Robert G. Davis, Alton Roundtree, Mark Tabbert, Shawn Eyer, Michael R. Poll, Robert D. B. Cooper, Josef Wäges, Piers Vaughan and Adam Kendall are just a few prior Blue Friar honorees. In a rare moment of weakness, they even let a Dummy in. (After all - their prior Abbott is an Idiot, so I was in good company.) I was very sorry to have missed last year's Masonic Week festivities, when my friend John Bizzack was named as Friar No. 112.

This year's newest Blue Friar is the extremely prolific Richard ('Ric') Berman, author of numerous historical works about both English and American Freemasonry. Ric concentrates his studies and writings on 18th and 19th century Freemasonry in both the British Isles and America, and if you've never read any of his books, he always brings unique insights as to the social forces going on around the changes in the fraternity at key moments in history.

Some of Friar Berman's books include Schism - the Battle That Forged Freemasonry; Inventing the Future - the 1723 Constitutions; Loyalists & Malcontents - Freemasonry & Revolution in South Carolina and Georgia; and The Grand Lodge of England & Colonial America - America’s Grand Masters, to name just a few.

Ric Berman addresses the Society of Blue Friars 

(Photo: Billy Hamilton)

When a Friar is named each year, he is expected to present a paper at the Consistory, and Ric spoke on the political and religious background in England in the years leading up to the formation of the Premiere Grand Lodge of England. There had been a great influx of Huguenots (French Anglicans) fleeing severe persecution from France into London just prior to the founding of grand lodge Freemasonry in 1717, and they had been welcomed into the English lodges with open arms. If things had gone just slightly differently, we Masons would have had to learn how to spell John Theophilus Desaguliers instead of James Anderson when referring to the Constitutions. Thank your stars our rituals aren't in French.

Ric holds a Masters in Economics from the University of Cambridge and a Doctorate in History from the University of Exeter. His post-doctoral research was carried out at the University of Oxford's Modern European History Research Centre and as a Visiting Research Fellow at Oxford Brookes. A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, he is the author of numerous journal articles and books, and has presented keynote papers globally. A Freemason for more than forty years and twice a Prestonian Lecturer, Ric holds Grand Rank in the United Grand Lodge of England and is a Past Master of three English Lodges, including Quatuor Coronati Lodge # 2076, the premier lodge of Masonic research. He is also an American Freemason, a member and honorary member of lodges in California, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and Washington D.C., and a Fellow of the Philalethes Society.

Masonic and Odd Fellows Folk Art at Cincinnati's Taft Museum

by Christopher Hodapp

From now until May 11th, 2025, downtown Cincinnati's Taft Museum of Art is displaying an exhibit of fraternal folk art featuring some 80 pieces from the Freemasons and the Odd Fellows.

From the museum's website description:

Mystery & Benevolence: Masonic and Odd Fellows Folk Art

Through compelling and cryptic works of art, Mystery & Benevolence brings to light the histories, symbolism, and beliefs of the Freemasons and the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows (IOOF)—two fraternal organizations with deep roots in American history.

 

For decades, members across the country have come together to socialize, help others, and improve themselves and their communities. The exhibition features more than eighty works of art, including items once owned by the Daughters of Rebekah—the first lodge to include women—and the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, founded as the African American counterpart to the IOOF. Sculptures, textiles, regalia, prints, and works of decorative art explore the main principles of the organizations: fellowship, charity, labor, passage, and wisdom. Elaborately stitched costumes, gilded regalia and jewelry, and richly embellished ceremonial objects provide a glimpse into the enigmatic world of these secret societies.

 

Mystery and Benevolence is organized by the American Folk Art Museum, New York, NY, from the Kendra and Allan Daniel Collection and toured by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC.

The Taft Museum is open Wednesdays through Mondays from 10AM to 5PM. Admission is free for Taft members, guests of members with guest pass, military, and youth (17 and under); $15 for adults; $12 for seniors. Includes admission to special exhibitions and the museum’s collection galleries. Sundays and Mondays are free of charge.

The Taft Museum of Art is located at 316 Pike Street, at the east end of Fourth Street, across from historic Lytle Park in downtown Cincinnati.

Paris Trial Begins For 8 Accused of Plotting Masonic Lodge Attack

by Christopher Hodapp

A trial opened this week in France against 8 defendants accused of a neo-Nazi terrorist plot to attack a Masonic lodge back in 2020-21.

Translated from the French website Notretemps.com:

The trial of eight people, suspected of a violent action project against a Masonic lodge between 2020 and 2021 and some of whom were linked to the conspiracy theorist Rémy Daillet, opened on Tuesday before the Paris Criminal Court.

Seven men and one woman, aged 28 to 69, are on trial for terrorist criminal association. One of them is in the United States, and is represented by his lawyer and will therefore not appear in court.

All appear free.

They are suspected of having wanted to commit a violent action against a Masonic lodge. While investigators have updated virtual discussions, meetings, or weapons searches as part of what has been called the "Alsace project", no specific scenario has been established.

The investigations began in February 2021, around the neo-Nazi group Honneur and Nation, whose members were linked to Rémy Daillet, a conspiracy figure, a one-time expatriate in Malaysia.

At the end of the investigation, the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office put him ouey had planned a t of the question, considering that his "role" in this project seemed "indirect and residual". On the other hand, he is indicted in two other parts of this file still under investigation, that of the "Azur project", presented as a project to "overthrow the government" in the fall of 2020...

First to be questioned, Sébastien Dudognon, former head of the National Youth Front in Corrèze who had founded the Revolutionary Nationalist Division (DNR), a neo-Nazi group that then gave way to the Honor and Nation group.

Details of the alleged plot are not revealed in the article, but a story on the Marianne website from 2021 concerning the arrest of co-defendant Thibaut Rufra revealed that the lodge was located in the town of Moselle, and they had planned an attack on France's health minister, as well (this was during the Covid year). 

According to a source close to the investigation, quoted by Agence France Presse back in 2021, they also cited other non-specific targets such as vaccination centers, high-profile celebrities, and journalists. Several in the group were allegedly attempting to manufacture explosives for their planned attacks. The arrests occurred before any of the attacks could be carried out.

London's Freemasons Hall Forms Promotional Organization to Market Its Unique Venue

by Christopher Hodapp

If you've watched British television shows over the last 40 years or so that are set anywhere from the 1930s to modern day, I'll guarantee you've seen scenes shot in and around the United Grand Lodge of England's London headquarters, Freemasons Hall, at 60 Great Queen Street, just up the street from Covent Garden. This magnificent art deco masterpiece was completed in 1933 and has a seemingly endless number of interior rooms for the grand lodge, individual Masonic lodges, private meetings and other gathering places like their museum and the Lechworth's Masonic supply shop. Every room has its own distinct style, and it's been used in hundreds of TV episodes and feature films, to say nothing of weddings, fashion, industrial, and art shows, concerts, and all kinds of other specialty events.

The building's trustees have now gone into partnership with a local promotions company and formed a special organization specifically to market the building's unique features for more of these kinds of uses. From the Travel and Tour World website:

London’s historic Freemasons’ Hall has unveiled 60 Great Queen Street as the vibrant new identity for its commercial event offerings. This transformation coincides with Smart Group, the parent company of Moving Venue, expanding its role at the venue. Having secured exclusive catering rights in July 2024, Smart Group now assumes full responsibility for event sales and marketing at this prestigious Covent Garden landmark.

With the launch of 60 Great Queen Street, Smart Group is introducing an array of newly available spaces within the Grade II listed* building, offering an exclusive opportunity for corporate and private events in an iconic setting.

 

Designed to accommodate a diverse range of gatherings, from corporate conferences and product launches to high-end weddings and fashion showcases, 60 Great Queen Street blends architectural grandeur with cutting-edge event design. Collaborating with top-tier industry suppliers, the venue delivers bespoke, immersive experiences tailored to the needs of meetings, weddings, and private celebrations.

Greg Lawson, CEO of Smart Group, said: “Having delivered Christmas parties at Freemasons’ Hall since 2017 and holding the exclusive catering contract since July 2024, we are delighted to embark on the latest phase of our partnership with the United Grand Lodge of England. This is an exciting time of commercial growth for us, as we work with Freemasons’ Hall to enhance the market position for 60 Great Queen Street with our experience of leading sales and marketing activity across our various brands...

Admittedly, London's Freemasons Hall is one of the top 10 greatest Masonic buildings in the world, and they've got plenty to promote. But nearly every grand lodge in the U.S. has one or more incredible buildings with unique spaces that should be promoted to the general public for events. We have lodge rooms, theaters, dining halls, libraries, and other spaces not found anywhere else. Our forebears who built these incredible temples were proud of them and intended them to be part of our communities from the very start. For the most part, Masons aren't very good at building management or promoting our temples as venues. Partnerships with a local promotions company can be a winning strategy for us.

Prince Hall Grand Master of South Carolina Makes Joe Biden Freemason "At Sight"

Photo: MWPHGL of South Carolina

by Christopher Hodapp

UPDATED MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2025, 4:15PM: A previous version of this story erroneously stated this ceremony took place in Washington D.C. It was, in fact, in South Carolina.

UPDATED FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2025, 6:00AM: Added information regarding conflict over Biden’s Catholicism and Masonic membership; and information regarding a vacation property in South Carolina used by Biden.

On Sunday, January 19, 2025, MW Victor C. Major, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of South Carolina, made then-President Joe Biden a Master Mason in a private ceremony "in recognition of his outstanding service to the United States of America."

It would seem that this extraordinary action makes Joe Biden officially the 15th American President who has received the degrees of Freemasonry, as well as the first Prince Hall Affiliated U.S. President.

Photo: MWPHGL of South Carolina

Photo: MWPHGL of South Carolina

According to subsequent reporting, this private meeting took place backstage at the Royal Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston, South Carolina while Mr. Biden was visiting on his last full day in office. He spoke for about 13 minutes at the church on the day before the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Online discussions among Masons have been heated all week over this story, and unfortunately, most have improperly revolved around diametrically opposed political opinions concerning Mr. Biden himself, rather than any possible Masonic jurisprudence discussions. 

Making a Mason "at sight" (or "on sight" as it is sometimes expressed) is a right of grand masters dating to at least as early as the 1730s and was defended by Laurence Dermott when the so-called 'Antients' grand lodge was formed in England in the 1770s. The details even then were undefined, but it is generally interpreted as a method of conferring the degrees of Freemasonry in an accelerated manner. In most cases, that means the candidate witnesses each of the three degrees, performed in full in a temporary or 'occasional' lodge, without having to demonstrate his proficiency before continuing on to the next. 

However, none of the information released by the MWPHGL of South Carolina indicates that this particular incident was conducted in this manner.

According to Chris Ruli, author of The White House and the Freemasons, "This 'private meeting' to confer honors occurred during a 3-4 minute public photo opportunity. No resolutions of membership were exchanged, no formal acknowledgement received." It would seem that Grand Master Major did little more than shake hands with Mr. Biden and inform him that he was now a Master Mason. There simply wasn't more time. 

Some have speculated that this event may have been arranged by U.S. Representative James E. Clyburn, who is a Prince Hall Freemason in South Carolina, but there is no evidence of that at this time. He and Biden have known each other for many years. But because there have been no details given, the question lingers: did Biden actually express a desire to be a Mason, or even formally give his consent? Or did he merely regard it as just one more honorary award given to Presidents in the course of their time in office, like a key to the city or an honorary Boy Scout, after which he shook hands, said thank you, and moved on to the next dignitary that day? Was this just sprung on him that day, or did he know in advance? So far, neither Biden himself nor Grand Master Major have provided any further information.

Interestingly, when Albert Mackey first baked up his list of so-called 'landmarks' that were never widely adopted in or outside of the U.S., he made 'making a Mason at sight' his 8th landmark. But because the actual practice itself has never been widely accepted, nor uniformly defined, there is obviously great leeway in what a grand master can and cannot do, based on the limitations of the laws within his own jurisdiction. The practice has been hotly debated in Masonic jurisprudence for almost three centuries, and is, at the very least, controversial.

Another question that arises is whether Joe Biden could even remotely be considered under the jurisdiction of South Carolina - mainstream, Prince Hall, or otherwise. He's never lived there in his life, and certainly isn't currently a resident. During his presidency he has sometimes stayed at a $20+ million vacation home on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, but neither he nor anyone in his family actually own that property. It belongs to Maria Allwin, widow of the late Aetos real estate hedge fund founder, James Allwin.

And finally, of course, is a topic I hesitate to mention because of the highly charged partisan fights going on in the country right now. But as more and more episodes occur that seem to show Mr. Biden to be having periods of serious lapses of memory and physical infirmity, and given his advanced age in the first place, it must be asked: is he "an old man in dotage" (the dictionary definition being "the period of life in which a person is old and weak; synonymous with elderliness, senescence, and senility")? If this is, in fact, the case, the vast majority of obligations taken by Freemasons the world over forbid us from taking part in conferring Masonry on such persons. So did Grand Master Major violate his own obligation by doing this?

(Getty/Realtor.com)

With all of those qualifiers out of the way (and disregarding any possible partisan political objections to Mr. Biden by Masons among the rank and file members of the MWPHGL of South Carolina), this development presents a curious problem for Masonic chroniclers. Namely, the MWPHGL of South Carolina is not recognized by any so-called mainstream U.S. grand lodge, the United Grand Lodge of England, or any other major regular, recognized Masonic jurisdiction. So, the semantic (and arguably technical) question is, does this really count as legitimate? (See the national joint recognition map below.) It's been several years since I've heard any South Carolina mainstream Masons weigh in on the possibility of Prince Hall recognition in the near future, and I've never heard any PHA Masons in that state raise the possibility (not that either side has any reason to alert me for any reason). Could happen, but let's just say it doesn't seem imminent.

The Conference of Grand Masters Prince Hall Masons (which does count the MWPHGL of South Carolina as a recognized member of their conference) posted this story and photos on their website shortly after the event. So as far as the Prince Hall Affiliated world is concerned, Mr. Biden is legitimately a Prince Hall Mason. But outside of their Conference, it's doubtful any regular Masons would accept this action and confidently list him as the 15th Masonic President of the United States. At the very least, it will likely require an explanatory footnote.

There is also a religious issue that exists. Biden has long been known to be a practicing Roman Catholic, and the Church has forbidden its global flock to join the Freemasons, a prohibition that has been in place since 1738. Despite removal of the word ‘Freemason’ from Canon Law under the Vatican II revisions, subsequent rulings have reaffirmed the prohibition, stating that Catholics who DO become Masons are in a ‘state of grave sin.’ Catholic Masons are to be denied sacraments such as holy communion. (The most detailed exploration of this issue with Biden I’ve seen is on The Pillar website: see ‘Did Joe Biden join the Freemasons? by Ed. Condon). 

It should be noted that, despite the Church’s longstanding position on Masonic membership, it is estimated that almost 25% of all American Freemasons today are Roman Catholics, based on several non-scientific polls taken in the last decade. So, if Biden voluntarily sought Masonic membership in spite of the Church’s prohibition (which is not clear at this time), he’d certainly be in good company. But his archbishop may be less than happy about it. 

If the PHA Grand Master or any other Mason connected with this event didn’t mention this well-known religious conflict to Biden ahead of time, they did a serious disservice to him that would be extremely irresponsible.

All of this notwithstanding, below is the official wording of the Resolution of Membership issued by MW Victor C. Major, Grand Master of the MWPHGL of South Carolina:

It is with great pleasure that I, Victor C. Major, 27th The Most Worshipful Grand Master, welcome our newest member to the Prince Hall Family. On Sunday, January 19, 2025 at a private event, Master Mason membership with full honors were conferred upon President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. in recognition of his outstanding service to the United States of America.

RESOLUTION OF MEMBERSHIP

To be a Freemason is to be part of a brotherhood dedicated to personal growth, service to others, and the pursuit of knowledge and truth. It is an honor to belong to an organization that promotes these timeless values:

WHEREAS, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. has demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to the United States of America.

WHEREAS, his service reflects the core values of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of South Carolina, including brotherly love, relief, and truth.

WHEREAS, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. contributions have significantly benefited the citizens of the United States of America;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, 27th Most Worshipful Grand Master, Victor C. Major, on behalf of the members of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of South Carolina, hereby confer membership upon President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. in recognition of his outstanding service to the United States of America.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution of Membership be recorded in the archives of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of South Carolina.

GIVEN THIS 19th DAY OF January A.D. 2025

Victor C. Major
27th Most Worshipful Grand Master
Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the State of South Carolina

One final note. At the beginning of February, the story and photographs disappeared from the Conference of Prince Hall Grand Masters website and were moved to the website of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of South Carolina HERE.

California Masonic Homes Offers Aid and Assistance to Masons Affected By SoCal Wildfires

(Reuters)

by Christopher Hodapp

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED TO INCLUDE AN OFFICIAL MSA DISASTER APPEAL

In the wake of the massive devastation from the Southern California wildfires over the last few weeks, the Grand Lodge of California's Masonic Homes website has posted the following message offering assistance to Freemasons and their loved ones:

The wildfires that have spread throughout Northern and Southern California this year have been the most destructive in our state's history. They have caused billions of dollars in damage and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

If you or a brother or sweetheart you know has been affected, the Masonic Homes can help. Please call Masonic Assistance at (888) 466-3642 for help accessing relief resources. If you call on behalf of another brother or widow, it is recommended that they are present for the call to expedite relief.

Available resources include:

Direct relief: Housing, food, clothing, and transportation
Counseling for grief and emotional distress
Relocation assistance
Referrals to organizations providing financial guidance, including assistance with mortgage payments and insurance matters
Information about and referrals to agencies providing local support

Even if your need is not included in the list above, assistance may be available. Please call Masonic Assistance to learn more about how our compassionate staff can support you and your loved ones.

Relief provided through the Masonic Homes of California is made possible by the generosity of brothers and friends statewide. CLICK HERE to make a gift to support the Masonic Homes’ mission of relief.

Note: If you are donating from out of state, ignore the drop-down menus asking for your lodge name, etc.  When asked where to direct your donation, choose the 'Distressed Worthy Brother Relief Fund.'

UPDATE FEBRUARY 8. 2024: 

Since this story was first posted, California Grand Master Arthur Salazar Jr. has also requested the Masonic Service Association of North America to issue an official Disaster Appeal over the California fires. 

From the MSANA website:

California Wildfires Relief Appeal

Grand Master Arthur L. Salazar Jr of California has requested the Masonic Service Association of North America (MSA) to issue this Disaster Relief Appeal.

Earlier this month, large parts of Los Angeles County were ravaged by several horrific fires which took several lives, destroyed entire communities, and flattened thousands of structures. While we are not aware of any of member lives that were lost, we have received daily requests from members who have lost their homes, their livelihoods, their worldly possessions. Now they need your assistance.

Sincerely and Fraternally,
Craig L. Davis, PGM
Administrator, MSANA

To Donate by Mail:

Please make checks payable to MSA Disaster Relief Appeal.
Please clearly mark the appeal that you wish the funds to go to and send to:

Masonic Service Association, 813 1st Ave SE, Suite 357, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402

To Donate by credit card online, CLICK HERE  Be sure to use the drop-down box to direct it to the California Wild Fires

MSA is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and donations made through them are tax deductible.

The Late President Jimmy Carter & Masonic Membership

President Carter with Imperial Sir Gary Bergenske and Anne Bergenske,
was an honorary ambassador of Hasan Shriners. (Photo: Shriners)

by Christopher Hodapp

UPDATED Tuesday, 12/31/2024, 3:30PM - This story has been updated to include more information concerning the Carter's involvement with Shriners Hospitals)

(Thanks to Chris Ruli, author of The White House and the Freemasons for originally posting a story about this on Facebook.)

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter passed away over the weekend at the amazing age of 100. Almost immediately upon the announcement early Sunday morning of Carter’s death, several social media posts made the erroneous claim that he had been both a Freemason and a member of the Shriners.  

Whatever your political opinions or historical estimations may have been of President Carter, there can be no denying his dedication to service and philanthropy, and his lifetime of living by the tenets of his faith. His single term of office in the White House between 1977-81 was merely the beginning of another four and a half decades of serving countless causes and missions, all over the world.

He took on one such cause in 2016. That year, Shriners Hospitals named Jimmy Carter as an honorary Shriner and an Ambassador for their program that operates 22 hospitals in North America for treating disabled children. In the photograph above, you can see Carter wearing the signature headgear of the Shriners, the red fez. But you can also see that the normally black tassel dangling from the fez of the Shriner on his right differs from Carter’s yellow/gold tassel, signifying his Honorary Ambassador position.

That same year, he appeared in a TV commercial for Shriners Hospitals, and continued to be an enthusiastic supporter for the rest of his lifetime (the press release can be seen below). 

But Carter's association with the Shriners did not involve him being initiated, passed and raised as a Mason, nor was he ever made a Noble in the Shrine. Somewhere, someone made the claim online that he had been a member of our fraternity. And then A.I. algorithms immediately grabbed it and went to work. 

Several A.I.-generated posts circulated the misinformation, and even went so far as to embellish the story. 'Poe,' the A.I. assistant on the Quora site, stated that Carter had become a member of “Tatum Lodge 333 in Plains, Georgia" in 1946; that Freemasonry had been "part of his public persona throughout his presidency"; and that “Carter is one of the few U.S. presidents known to have been a Freemason.” (See image below.)

There's a reason the Poe app is free. ALL of these statements are false. 

Jimmy Carter was neither a Freemason nor a Shriner; there is no “Tatum Lodge 333” in the state of Georgia, or anywhere else, for that matter*; and he is not among the 14 U.S. Presidents known to have been a member of the Masonic fraternity. His father, James Earl Carter Sr., was a Georgia Mason, but not his son Jimmy.

(For the non-Masons in the crowd, a man must first be elected into a local Masonic lodge and complete the three degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason before he can proceed to join the Shriners. There is no known record that Carter did any of this.)

By Sunday afternoon, numerous Masons were forwarding this incorrect story around social media, and A.I. – being a sophisticated, computerized plagiarist – went right on repeating it, “verifying” the story with its very own A.I.-generated story as its source.

To clarify, Jimmy Carter did meet with groups of state grand lodges and Prince Hall Masons during his presidency, just as all presidents meet officially or unofficially with hundreds of groups throughout out their terms in the Oval Office. But none of those groups of Masons ever claimed him as a member, nor did any grand lodge make him a Mason "at sight" (a controversial shortcut used by some jurisdictions to confer the lodge degrees on candidates – frequently celebrities).

None of this detracts from Jimmy Carter's lifetime of accomplishments, and as Masons we should both respect his devotion to his fellow men, and honor his memory. But it's important to keep the record straight when it comes to the true history of our fraternity. Gerald R. Ford, Carter's predecessor, is the last U.S. president at this time to have been a Freemason (and also a Shriner). Please don't rely on Artificial Intelligence to research factual information.

 

*Just to be as thorough as possible, there is a Tatum Lodge 1386 in the town of Tatum, Texas, not Georgia, and Jimmy Carter never joined it. Georgia has a lodge numbered 333 — Winder Lodge 333, located in the town of the same name. There’s no record of Carter joining it, either.

UPDATE

Despite many Masons attempting to correct Quora's Poe AI assistant, it continues to stubbornly allege that Carter was a Mason as of today, December 31 at 5:00PM EST, though it grudgingly admits the facts are disputed. Nobody seems to dispute it besides the AI bots.

Below are excerpts from a pair of long posts on the Shriners website that appeared yesterday. President Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, were both enthusiastic supporters of Shriners Hospitals and its mission of providing life-changing medical care for disabled children. The original posts can be seen HERE:

In 2016 the Carters appeared in a Valentine’s-themed public service announcement for the healthcare system, saying our greatest legacy is “what we can do to help the next generation” and encouraging viewers to refer children who could benefit from Shriners Children’s care. President Carter said then, “We have been following the philanthropic efforts of Shriners Hospitals for many years, and we look forward to helping people understand they are a resource available when seeking medical care for their children."

Gary Bergenske, former head of the fraternity and former CEO of Shriners Children’s, recalled that President Carter made the PSA because of his passionate belief in the mission. “He donated his time and image to do this for Shriners Children’s out of the goodness of his heart,” Bergenske said. “He did that because he wanted to help the children we take care of.”

Later the same year, members of the Carter Center traveled with a Shriners Children’s medical team for an outreach clinic at St. Boniface hospital in Haiti. The Carter Center helped organize the medical mission, working directly with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Disabilities of the Government of Haiti for approval.

President Carter began working with Shriners Children’s to expand access to medical care for children around the world, and he was named Honorary Ambassador of Hasan Shriners at a ceremony in Albany, Georgia, in 2014. The honor was particularly meaningful, President Carter said, because his father (James Earl Carter, Sr.) was a Mason and a Shriner.

In 2018, President Carter and the Carter Center assisted Shriners Children’s in transporting children who were critically injured in a volcanic eruption in Guatemala, helping to arrange military transport – the U.S. Air Force’s C-17 Globemaster III aircraft – and military medical teams to help transfer the children to our Galveston hospital.

Both the healthcare system and the fraternity honored President Carter in 2018. Shriners Children’s bestowed the Humanitarian Award in recognition of his service on behalf of our mission and patients. The award was presented by that year’s Imperial Potentate, Imperial Sir Bergenske, who also presented President Carter with one of the fraternity’s most special honors, the Imperial Potentate’s Medallion.

President Carter once said, “I have one life and one chance to make it count for something... My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.”

Shriners Children’s and Shriners International are proud to have been singled out and supported by President Carter, and deeply appreciate his efforts to help the world’s children have access to the life-changing care that Shriners Children’s provides.

Former Imperial Potentate Shares Fond Memories of the Carters

Imperial Sir Gary Bergenske, who served as Imperial Potentate 2017-2018, was privileged to meet and work with President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, an association that he treasures.

Bergenske said he first met the Carters in 2014, when the former president supported the philanthropy by making a Valentine’s-themed public service announcement. Bergenske said he was struck by President Carter’s commitment to Shriners Children’s. “He did that out of the kindness of his heart, and he said we could use it anytime we wanted,” Bergenske recalled.

President Carter asked what he could do for Shriners Children’s, “and I gave him a whole wish list,” Bergenske said. The commercial was just the start of the association between the former president and the Shriners organizations. President Carter went on to fulfill nearly every item on Bergenske’s list, supporting an outreach clinic in Haiti, helping arrange military transport for volcano victims in Guatemala and more.

The only thing he was never able to do was accept an invitation to attend Imperial Session. So in 2018, Imperial Sir Bergenske went to the Carter home in Plains, Georgia, to present him with the Imperial Potentate’s Medallion and the Humanitarian Award from the philanthropy.

Bergenske and his wife, Lady Anne, visited with the Carters several times. “What an experience, to just sit and have dinner with them as friends,” Bergenske said. “It was our joint love of helping others that drew us together.”

Bergenske said that although the two men were very different, they had an important thing in common. “He wanted to help Shriners Children’s, and we wanted to help him and the Carter Center too. We were both working together to help kids. It was a really great relationship.”

Bergenske said he looked to President Carter as a mentor and an example. “He set the bar high, but he was very humble in what he did.”

Former Grand Rapids Shrine Secretary Accused In $1.39 Million Embezzlement

by Christopher Hodapp

A former secretary of the Saladin Shriners in Grand Rapids, Michigan has just been charged with embezzling $1.39 million from the Saladin Temple's Children's Trust Fund. According to police reports, it seems Richard Ivan Williams has been siphoning off money from the Saladin Shriners ever since 2019 to buy real estate, line his own pockets, and (somewhat incredibly) to donate $275,000 to two of his college fraternities. 

Because that was apparently so much more important than supporting the Shriners Children's' Hospitals or the transportation of disabled kids to facilities where they can be treated. He may be a crook, but at least he looked generous to his frat bros, I guess.

Oh. And he was an attorney at one time, so maybe he just wasn't aware of the laws. Or the definition of "trust."

According to a video report on the WOOD-TV 8 website, Williams' bail was set at a mere $10,000, which means he would only have to personally post $1,000, despite the obvious evidence that he's a potential flight risk with access to enough cash to skip town. If convicted of all six counts, he faces perhaps 20 years behind bars.

As for making restitution? As Emily Dickinson wrote, "Hope is a thing with feathers."

No, Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral Was NOT Restored With Masonic Symbols

PHOTO: SARAH MEYSSONNIER / REUTERS

by Christopher Hodapp

The near-miraculous rebuilding of Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral after the horrific fire of 2019 culminated in its internationally celebrated reopening over the weekend, with great fanfare and well-deserved accolades from all corners of the globe. 

English language readers, have a look at the Friends of Notre Dame de Paris website for lots of photos and details of the rebuilding and restoration work. And you might consider a donation to the efforts, if you haven't already done so.

NBC News cut together a video sampler from the ceremony itself HERE.

And here a couple of stunning restoration shots from the NPR website  courtesy of AFP last week.

But I suppose it wouldn't be France, Paris, or a massive, high-visibility construction project if some puerile, bored, knuckle-dragging keyboard troll didn't hurl a couple of pinheaded attempts at alleging a 'Masonic conspiracy' that is clearly HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT!™ regarding the cathedral's reconstruction. The top guffaw-inducing ones I saw over the weekend run the complete comedy spectrum from hee to haw. 

viz: 

• French President Macron DELIBERATELY made an inverted Masonic pyramid symbol with his fingertips, ALERTING THE ILLUMINATI MASONS!!
• The black and white checkered mosaic floor was ADDED BY FREEMASONS during the reconstruction to deliberately resemble A MASONIC LODGE!!
• A medallion mounted at the apex of the pointed arch near the entrance shows some unidentified figure surrounded by MASONIC STARS!!

(You'll note the double exclamation points to emphasize the Earth-shattering nature of these breathless revelations. Doubtless the Earth shattered at least a smidgin while you were reading them. I plumb reckon.)

When it gets to the point of the France24 English-language news service feeling the need to explain and debunk such idiocy (video below), surely you must realize you've hit the bottom of the barrel with these kinds of absurdities.  Interestingly, they are alleging the source to be a well-known Russia-based peddler of online propaganda, mischief and other assorted hogwash in the conspiracy-monger realm.

Of course, the great cathedral has been around since the 15th century and has had quite literally thousands of operative stone masons working on it over the centuries. Their handiwork and craftsmanship can be seen in every square inch of this incredible temple of faith. It was the art, the beauty, the architecture, the engineering, and the symbolism of this and so many other medieval churches that inspired 17th and 18th century Enlightenment thinkers to adapt the tools, terminology and symbolism of those ancient stone masons and the temples they created into a new kind of fraternal organization in the first place. A fraternity that seeks to create temples in the hearts of men, exhorting them to make their own bodies, hearts and minds into more perfect edifices that are suitable for the proper worship and presence of God. And in turn, making the world a better place to live in, however momentarily that might be for all of us.

If you want to believe that's conspiratorial, that's your choice. 

We rather like it as a philosophy.

Grand Lodge of the State of Israel Tel-Aviv HQ Damaged By Missile Attack

by Christopher Hodapp

From the always informative Hiram.be Blog Maçonique French language website comes a report that the Grand Lodge of the State of Israel's headquarters in Tel-Aviv were damaged last month when a Hezbollah missile fired from Lebanon struck the building next door. 

Following the link in the story to the Le Myosotis du Dauphiné Savoie blogsite from November 24th:

[In mid-November], an Iranian Fajr-5 type missile sent by the terrorist organization "Hezbollah" from Lebanon, hit an apartment building, located in the nearby suburbs of Tel Aviv, just opposite the building where the headquarters of the Grand Lodge of the State of Israel is located.

[snip]

During this attack, the building opposite the headquarters of the Grand Lodge of the State of Israel (GLSI), all of which with glass walls, was blown, they were shattered. At the time of the impact, a Lodge had its Works in the Temple going on in the premises. There are no wounded among the Brothers, which is miraculous, given that, in addition to the explosive charge of the missile, it also contained metal parts (schrapnels) intended to make even more human losses.

 

On the other hand, the material damage is significant and the floor where the GLSI premises are located had to be neutralized. 

For these reasons, the Works are suspended, as the Israeli Grand Master announced:

(NOTE: My English translation from his French translation of the Hebrew letter, so apologies for errors - CH):

 "My dear brothers,

Following the impact of a ballistic missile on a building in front of the Grand Lodge, heavy damage was caused to our building: the windows were blown and ceilings collapsed.

Due to this significant damage, it is impossible to continue the activities of the lodges, and the [meetings] are postponed. In addition, it will not be possible to work in [the Temple's lodge rooms] until further notice.

Fortunately, none of the brothers present during the work in Vita were injured.

We will soon communicate a new date for the resumption of work

In the hope of calmer days. "

Ilan Segev, Grand Master

The GL of Israel has about 1,000 members. Owing to the vast international origins of that tiny country's citizens, they have lodges that work in Hebrew, Arabic, French, English, Turkish, Romanian, Russian and Spanish. In keeping with the sacred, combined heritage of the Holy Land for members of the Abrahamic religions, their lodges frequently open a Hebrew Tanakh, a Christian Bible and a Muslim Quran on their altars, and it's common for the office of Grand Master to be held in rotation by a Jew, a Christian and a Muslim. Note that the seal of the Grand Lodge displays the Star of David, the Muslim crescent and the Christian cross.

Carlos Diez Jr.: A Masonic Message Through The Noise

Credit: Rick McKee, Counterpoint / CTNewsJunkie via Cagle Cartoons

by Christopher Hodapp

Hopefully, all of my readers had a happy – and mostly harmless – post-election Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends, with as few fights on the lawn as possible. WB Carlos Diez Jr., Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of California, recently posted a message to the Brethren of that jurisdiction, called A Masonic Message Through The Noise. It's a timely subject all of us need to bear in mind as Freemasons in a world of tumult and chaos. Especially before somebody gets stabbed in the hand by a pickle fork or whacked in the noggin with a gravy boat.

Brethren,

Each week, we gather in fellowship. This practice should prepare us for the divisions that strain our society. Our world is filled with external noise (TV, social media, etc.), even in our everyday conversations. This can shape our thoughts and emotion and, if unchecked, can unsettle the inner peace and harmony we strive to maintain.

As Masons, we take a profound obligation: To be beacons of civility within our communities. This obligation goes beyond words. It guides our actions and conduct in the light of understanding and mutual respect. When the world around us is filled with discord, our role is to stand as examples of brotherhood, composure, and harmony—all rooted in the peace we nurture within.

Our Masonic teachings constantly remind us that we aren't just recipients of the world's energy but active stewards of our own consciousness. By recognizing what we allow to influence our minds and hearts, we guard against the intrusion of negativity. We cultivate a peace that is uninterrupted by disturbances.

Our degrees teach us who can "best work and best agree." This wisdom extends to all aspects of life, not just Masonry. They remind us that harmony begins within and prevails beyond the lodge's four walls. When public debates and disagreements overshadow one’s spiritual essence, they risk disturbing the delicate balance that makes you you. By choosing actions rooted in virtue and love, we maintain that sacred harmony the craft seeks to instill.

Therefore, hold fast your commitments. Remind yourself you are the guarantor of your obligation because only you are with yourself 24 hours a day. Conduct yourself as the light and by doing so, you will embody the principles of our fraternity, promote peace, and will inspire those around you.

Carlos Diez Jr.,
Grand Orator of California