Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Belgian Masonic Lodge Responds To Vandalism By Opening Its Doors To The Public
Monday, October 13, 2025
Local Lodge Hosts Smithsonian Pop-Up Exhibit
Masonic halls contain unique spaces, and we all have countless opportunities to host community activities and be welcoming to our neighbors. In many cases, lodges in smaller towns may have better opportunities to be seen by their surrounding communities than their big city counterparts by virtue of their locations in town squares. And smaller towns are arguably simpler to promote special events in because of local papers and word of mouth.
But no matter where your lodge is located, we can welcome the public in by providing unique and interesting programming that isn't necessarily Masonic-related.
For instance, a small local lodge in Missouri has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution to host a traveling exhibit, through October 26th. From the KTVO-TV website:
The Memphis Masonic Lodge is hosting the Smithsonian pop-up exhibit "Voices and Votes: Democracy in America" until October 26th. The free exhibit explores the founding of America, the Revolutionary War, and the evolution of citizens' rights and responsibilities. It also features local history, including the Honey War, the 1980 farm protest, and the petition to create the Scotland County Hospital.
[snip]
The Memphis Masonic Hall is located at 110 S Market Street in Memphis, MO.In addition to the exhibit, the library is hosting a scavenger hunt featuring historical sites across the county. The Historical Society and Community Players will also host an "Evening at the Museum," where characters come to life to discuss local history.
Memphis is one of six locations in the state to host the exhibit.
Try thinking outside of the list of usual suspects when it comes to inspiration, and this Smithsonian program is a great example. For information about the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), visit their website at https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/factsheets/smithsonian-institution-traveling-exhibition-service . Another possibility is the National Archives.
Contact your state library or museum, or local or county historical societies. In almost every state across America, Freemasonry pre-dated statehood. They may jump at the chance to work with your lodge or grand lodge in developing a permanent exhibit about the role of early Masons in your state's history. Or they may offer traveling exhibits your lodge can display. The next year will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to celebrate a historic national milestone: the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States with the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Lodge rooms, social halls, dining rooms and, in larger temples, auditoriums can be utilized for gallery spaces, health fairs, job fairs, swap meets, family fun fairs, plays, political debates, polling places, and more. Halloween is this month, and several lodges are hosting family-oriented 'haunted lodge' events. Our parking lots can host barbecue cookouts and other food festivals, antique car shows, garage sales, regular bloodmobile drives, or charity road rallies. Most lodge halls have big kitchens, and many are commercial grade: perfect for organizing Thanksgiving dinner delivery services for seniors and shut-ins.
All lodges should strive to be hotbeds of activities – a lodge that looks abandoned hasn't got a chance of attracting new members, and certainly not new members who are local business and community leaders.
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Reward Offered in Failed Arson Attempt at Ohio Lodge
Shortly after lodge members left Mason Lodge 678 in Mason, Ohio on the night of September 25th, an unknown person was recorded on surveillance cameras approaching the single-story building. The person smashed open the lodge's kitchen window and hurled a glass bottle filled with flammable liquid through the broken glass. The improvised firebomb had a wad of matches attached to the top that failed to ignite the fluid, landing harmlessly on the floor, where it was found the next day.
"Because it was an considered to be an incendiary device, that was considered a weapon of mass destruction, and because we are a Masonic Lodge, it was declared a hate crime," Rob Fite with Mason Temple Lodge 678 said.The bureau says that it is a federal crime to maliciously damage or destroy, or attempt to damage or destroy, with a fire or explosive, carrying a minimum sentence of 5 to 20 years in prison.
Fite says the Masonic Temple is a fraternal organization that is built on service and community. He said he hopes investigators can find whoever is responsible for the attack.
Anyone with information about the possible suspect is asked to contact the ATF at 1-888-283-8477 or by using their website. Those with information can also contact the Mason, Ohio Police Department at 513-229-8560.
Wednesday, October 01, 2025
Grand Lodge of Texas 1945 Mural Created...At Last
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Image: Sean Starr |
by Christopher L. Hodapp
According to PGM and Grand Secretary Brad Billings, it was included in the building committee meeting talks up until 1945. An architectural model was created when the building was proposed by architect Raoul Jossett, and it was built almost exactly as the model specified. But the mural itself was never installed. A look at the immense size of the auditorium stage gives you some idea of just how huge this would have been.
"Speculation is cost or they likely couldn't find a local artist to make that size painting," says Brad.
Fast forward to this past year.
An artistic Texas Brother named Sean Starr got hold of the original proposed artwork and has painted a scaled-down version for the Grand Secretary's office in three 5-foot by 5-foot panels. (Composite image above provided by the artist.)
It appears to depict Hiram Abiff (or perhaps King Solomon?) flanked by art deco depictions of the Holy Sts John, combined with the circle and parallel lines of our symbolism.
GS Billings says the mural will be projected behind the Grand East at the next annual communication of Grand Lodge. He adds, "We plan to make prints to help offset the cost of the artist to make it! I’m happy to answer any questions or give a quote. Such a cool thing to be a part of!"
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Britain's Council For Freemasonry Responds To Yesterday's Spectator Editorial
As Freemasons, we have become accustomed to inaccurate and unfair representations of our organisation and members – but this article, sadly, reaches a new and deliberate low.
Particularly surprising was the distasteful focus on Freemasons’ Hall, a war memorial built in 1933 to remember the thousands of Freemasons that so valiantly made the Ultimate Sacrifice for this country in the First World War. This memorial, funded by Freemasons themselves, stands as a reminder of those brave men – with the Art Deco splendour a fitting tribute to their memory. In her article, Ms McDonagh chooses to describe these trappings as “vulgar”. It should be clear, that we will never apologise for the reverence with which we remember them, or for the unique and historic relationship that we enjoy with the Armed Forces.
Sadly, the article also lists several further inaccuracies. According to Ms McDonagh, Catholics aren’t allowed to be Freemasons. This is, of course, a complete falsehood. We are proud to be an organisation with people from all faiths, including Catholics. In fact, Freemasonry remains one of the very few institutions that celebrates this diversity so fervently, as a cornerstone of who we are. It is common to find Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, and all faiths, sat together in a Freemasons’ Lodge – enjoying each other’s company. This is something that should be celebrated and inaccurate representations such as the one featured in this article, do nothing but encourage unnecessary disharmony and upset.
The rules of Freemasonry are perfectly clear – it is strictly forbidden for any Freemason to have any kind of financial or professional gain from their membership. Such an occurrence would likely see that individual face disciplinary proceedings and expulsion.
The charitable work to which Ms McDonagh alludes, for the awareness of the readers of The Spectator, is indeed tireless, and equated to £26.3 million in 2023/24. Our engagement in our communities is not just restricted to financial support. We have calculated that Freemasons conduct over 18 million hours of volunteering a year. This was particularly prevalent during the pandemic, where Freemasons were key to the national effort by acting as marshals at vaccination centres, as well as in assisting the elderly through the delivery of key provisions.
Our members are actively encouraged to talk openly about their membership of Freemasonry and to talk with pride about it, whilst raising awareness of what we do. To be clear, we are not supportive of mandatory disclosure of membership of ourselves or any other unjustifiable restrictions on our members' right to privacy and to freedom of association.
Despite the misrepresentations of our organisation and members, Freemasonry, as it has done for the last 300 years, will continue to provide a space for men and women to enjoy the camaraderie, tradition, and togetherness that it offers. Freemasonry continues to evolve, but its guiding principles of integrity, friendship, and service remain unchanged.
Even in 2024 Freemasonry continues to face various unfounded criticisms and inaccurate misconceptions, often stemming from deep-rooted prejudices, or preconceived falsehoods. Contrary to the erroneous claim that Freemasonry is exclusively male, women’s Freemasonry has been an integral part of Freemasonry in the UK for over a century. While Freemasonry is practised in single-sex Lodges, this is no different from many other activities, including most sports as well as many other community groups.Since then, the Grand Lodge of Scotland has also joined the Council.
The establishment of the Council for Freemasonry will formally establish an overarching forum for collaboration. In addition, the Council will bring together the community service ambitions of all three bodies, coordinate communication and engagement with other organisations, drive the membership growth ambitions, particularly for women Freemasons, and allocate resources and facilities for the general benefit of both male and female Freemasonry.
The Council will include the heads of each Grand Lodge, and each Grand Lodge will provide the President for a twelve-month period, chairing Council meetings in strict rotation. The President for the first two years will come from the OWF and HFAF, with UGLE covering the third year.
The formation of the Council for Freemasonry in England and Wales marks a pivotal step towards enhancing cooperation, addressing misconceptions, and promoting the values of Freemasonry. This historic initiative reaffirms Freemasonry’s commitment to integrity, friendship, respect and service, while keeping community service and charitable giving at the absolute forefront of this historic organisation.
Monday, September 29, 2025
Scotland Yard Is Hunting Masons Under The Bed... Again
by Christopher L. Hodapp
THIS STORY HAS BEEN REVISED TO SHOW THAT THE METROPOLITAN POLICE, AND NOT THE POLICE FEDERATION, IS RECOMMENDING THE MASONIC MEMBERSHIP DISCLOSURE POLICY. MY APOLOGIES FOR THE MIXUP.London's Metropolitan Police (MET) have once again resurrected the snaggletoothed notion that all law enforcement officers be forced to officially declare their membership in the Freemasons. The hazy allegation is that Masonic police officers in the Metropolitan Police (MET) might possibly be engaging in favoritism, underhanded conduct, or downright criminal acts that all get swept under the carpet by fellow Brethren who hold their Masonic obligations higher than proper police conduct. Their reasoning is that, even though there's no proof of any such thing, some people and some officers MIGHT THINK there's something dodgy going on.
The Met does not currently record how many officers are Masons, and has never banned them from joining, but said concerns had been raised by officers and staff about the impact that membership of such a group could be having on "investigations, promotions and misconduct".Right. An investigation of an event from 39 years ago, from which an unknown number of those involved have died of old age.
Existing examples of declarable associations include people with criminal convictions, those dismissed from policing, and lawful professions such as private investigation or journalism.
Officers and staff already have to declare any association with an individual or group that might compromise their integrity or damage the reputation of the force.
The move was recommended by the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel report, which looked at the force's handling of the unsolved murder of private detective Daniel Morgan.
The 37-year-old father of two was killed with an axe in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London, in 1987.
A string of inquiries over the decades unearthed allegations of corruption.
The 2021 report said police officers' membership of the Freemasons had been "a source of recurring suspicion and mistrust in the investigations".
Again in 2016, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, reluctantly squashed a requirement that the city's Met officers had to publicly declare their Masonic membership, pointing out that such a register would be illegal. But I suppose since the Brexit vote occurred, the government has now decided they no longer have to follow the European Court of Human Rights rulings.
See, if only England could ditch those pesky protections of privacy and pass laws to specifically persecute people like Masonic police officers, lawyers, and judges over their private associations, everything would be just fine. Then once the Masons are purged, perhaps they could move on to getting rid of cops who are Manchester United fans, Fabians, bowling league members, cricketeers, and then get to the members of tea cozy collectors' clubs.
Today, to accompany this story, The Spectator editorialist Melanie McDonagh posted a piece of offal, There's Something Vulgar About the Freemasons, that's so loaded with falsehoods and her own personal prejudices that a responsible editor should have handed it back to her to try again. It seems Ms. McDonagh just doesn't like the IDEA of the Masons, as a Catholic and a woman (who doesn't even know that there are thousands of female Masons in England). She doesn't like the Masons; she doesn't like the decor of UGLE's Great Queen Street headquarters, Freemasons Hall (!); she thinks it's a given that "half the coppers in London are Freemasons"; and she admits she doesn't even know if her own beliefs are true or not.
So which is it—stupid dinosaurs on our collective death bed, or all-powerful manipulators who surreptitiously pick the winners and losers? The anti-Masons can't have it both ways, but they sure do huff and puff and keep trying to do just that.
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Today Only! Sale on 'Freemasons For Dummies' Kindle Just $2.99
Friday, September 12, 2025
Vancouver Masonic Hall Arsonist Paroled Again
On March 8, 2021, Benjamin Orion Carlson Kohlman went on an arson spree across northern Vancouver, setting fires that completely destroyed or severely damaged three different Masonic halls. At that time, he claimed to hear voices in his head telling him to burn down the Masonic halls because the Masons and the Illuminati were engaging in mind control of other people. Kohlman was subsequently sentenced to federal prison and eventually released.
From an article on the North Shore News website dated September 8 by Nick Laba:
Kohlman spent 168 days in custody after being arrested last August and released in February on bail. In addition to probation, he was also sentenced to a one-year driving prohibition and a 10-year weapons ban.
On the evening of Aug. 23, 2024, police responded to several calls about a red Dodge Caravan driving very erratically on Highway 1 westbound near Mountain Highway in North Vancouver.
[snip]
During the arrest, Kohlman struck an officer in the face and cut his lip. Kohlman also reached for that officer’s firearm but wasn’t successful in grabbing it, Brown said. He also punched another officer in the chest, before being handcuffed.Back when he was destroying Masonic lodges, Kohlman believed the buildings were used by “dark souls and evil.” Social media posts that appeared during his escapades described the lodge halls as "satanic club houses."
Police reported that Kohlman was ranting about the Illuminati, a common subject of conspiracy theories.
[snip]
Noting his record, Brown said that Kohlman had been convicted of driving while prohibited in 2008, and served time in federal prison for a string of Masonic Hall arsons in 2021. Two of the three buildings set on fire were on the North Shore – the Freemasons’ Lynn Valley Lodge and the Capilano Lodge on Lonsdale Avenue – while the third, Park Lodge Hall, was located on Rupert Street in East Vancouver.
While in custody, Kohlman was assessed by a psychiatrist, who diagnosed him with drug-induced psychosis associated with the use of MDMA. Kohlman’s defence lawyer Andrew Nelson explained that his client has vivid psychotic delusions while on that drug.
“At times, maybe when he’s depressed, he deliberately does this because he hears the voice of what he thinks of as his guardian angel, and then as he gets deeper into his psychosis he tends to have these very bizarre behaviours,” Nelson said.
Originally, the Crown had sought three years of probation, but downgraded the term to one year based on Kohlman’s progress in recovery since being released from custody earlier this year.
Indiana Grand Master: 9/11 Message To Masons
September 11, 2025
My Brothers,
Freemasonry is an organization of men of every background, sect, religion, and political thought. We join together in the union of Brotherly Love despite those differences of faith, thought, and conviction. We build brotherly relationships based on the acceptance of each other and our shared desire to put our ntual into action by supporting each in the journey of taking good men and making them better. We do this through our tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.
Recently, a high-profile political figure was murdered at a public event sparking not only shock and sorrow but controversy and political hate speech from both sides of the aisle. As Freemasons we are charged to rise above the fray. Abhorrent speech, vulgar language, and hateful conduct is foreign to us, yet at times our emotions, thoughts, and actions override our Masonic values. When this happens, it is incumbent upon every brother Mason to reflect on their actions, arm themselves with their working tools and break off the corners of their rough ashlars to prepare their living stone for that sacred building, that house not made with hands eternal in the heavens.
As I often am, I am reminded of the valuable, in disposable lessons we learn as Masons. Silence and circumspection are truly masonic virtues. We are all children of the same parent. Masonry joins men of every sect and creed who might well have maintained at a perpetual distance.
My Brothers, as we reflect today on the thousands of lives lost 24 years ago during the 9/11 attacks, let us remember those tragic events brought to us by hate-filled extremists whose cause was not strengthened by those attacks. Rather, they were weakened as our great country rose together to support each other, renewing our pride in our country, and reenergizing our patriotism and unity. Let us then use the tragic events of yesterday to grow in understanding and compassion, to reclaim the charge of Brotherly Love and understanding and to stand firm on the moral dictates of our great Fraternity. Let us build and grow, and
love, and pray together, and show that Masons can, do, and will make the world a better place.
Fraternally,
Randolph L. Seipel
Grand Master
Tuesday, September 09, 2025
TempleLive Abruptly Closes; Operated Former Masonic Temples in Four Cities
BCG CEO Lance Beaty told Arkansas news outlet Talk Business & Politics (TB&P) over the weekend that TempleLive operations are being shuttered in short order. This follows Beaty previously indicating just a few days prior that owners were looking at ways to keep the concert promoter going.
“We determined it was best to be definitive so the decision was made to pull down the remaining shows,” Beaty told the outlet.
Beaty cast blame on a mix of factors for TempleLive’s apparent struggles, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and a ticketing system that can put independent promoters at a disadvantage.
“We are simply an outsider in an insider’s business,” Beaty told TB&P. “No matter how much money you throw at it or how creative you think you are, if you’re not on the inside, you’re not in.”
“Their survival is threatened by inflation, monopolistic pressures, and predatory ticket resale practices,” NIVA writes. “Yet their economic footprint is vast, their community impact is undeniable, and their importance to the national economy is backed by hard data.”
BCG established its TempleLive subsidiary upon acquiring and renovating a Masonic temple in Fort Smith, Arkansas, in 2017. This set a blueprint for TempleLive for purchasing similar Masonic auditoriums in other markets, improving them and opening them as concert and event venues.
As it expanded, TempleLive’s footprint grew to include additional venues in Cleveland and Columbus as well as Peoria, Illinois and Wichita, Kansas.
The Masonic Auditorium at 3669 Euclid Ave. in Cleveland was purchased by TempleLive in March 2017 for $725,000, according to county property records. In the years since, upwards of $14 million has been pumped into renovating the space over at least a couple of phases of redevelopment. Plans at the site also at one time included a vision for a massive adjacent hotel, the project for which was estimated to be around at least $60 million.
Monday, September 08, 2025
Conference in Lexington, KY Sep. 19-20: "Exploring the Role of Masonic Research Lodges in the 21st Century"
Friday's Festive Board will kick off the night before the Conference at Lexington's beautiful Spindletop Hall, with a Reception from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Call to Tables at 7:00 p.m., Introductions then dinner at 7:15 p.m. The evening will include the seven traditional toasts with songs throughout. The Keynote Speaker will be PGM John L. Cooper III (California) on the topic of Delivering the Message of Freemasonry. Following discussion, the evening will conclude with a Chain of Union and Closing Charge.
The Conference proper will open Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. at Spindletop Hall in the renowned Oak Room, with a welcome and introductions by W.B. John W. Bizzack, who will frame the program for the day and the issues faced by Research Lodges and Societies.
For more details, read on:
Saturday, September 06, 2025
Upstate New York Masonic Temple For Sale

Built in 1914, this imposing building perches majestically at the corner of Prospect and School Streets, offering killer views of the Mohawk River and valley hills. Designed by architect William Neil Smith in the French-Medieval style, the building is brick, stone, half-timber, and cement stucco, all rolled into one. The lodge room is intact along with a Templar Commandery drill hall/banquet room (we served "banquets" then, not cold spaghetti on paper plates with plastic sporks).
It doesn't anymore.
This place is enormous—16,960 square feet (about 12,000+ square feet inside). Think cathedral ceilings, epic entertaining spaces, and enough room to get wildly creative. The lower level once had its own bowling alley with two huge lanes—accessed from School Street. The first floor social and club rooms are accessed through the main entrance through a charming tower at the street corner. The second floor features a kitchen, a ballroom complete with a bar and stage, plus a foyer leading to mezzanine dressing rooms, coat rooms, and lockers.
For this much updated epicness, the price is pretty amazing at $499,900, which breaks down to roughly $29 per square foot, and I'll make a bet you couldn't build a new steel pole barn architectural eyesore in a corn field for that today.