On the heels of the failure of Prince Hall recognition to pass in Louisiana this year, word comes that similar legislation has been filed for the upcoming annual communication of the Grand Lodge of Florida F&AM. I have been told that the Most Worshipful Union Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, Prince Hall Affiliated, Florida; Belize, Central America; St. John United States Virgin Island, Incorporated already voted several years ago to recognize their mainstream counterpart.
The slogan of the GL of Florida F&AM's Grand Master Dale I. Goehrig this year is "Unity In Masonry."
Currently, in the U.S. and Canada, ten mainstream, predominantly white grand lodges have not recognized their predominantly black Prince Hall Affiliated (PHA) grand lodge counterpart: Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida, West Virginia, and Kentucky.
The Grand Lodge of Florida meets in May on Memorial Day weekend.
Bro. Hodapp,
ReplyDeleteDo you know if Texas is the only jurisdiction that "recognizes" but doesn't allow visitation?
Thank you for bringing this important issue to the attention of all of us. May I ask: do you have any documentation, on-line or hard copy, that gives the precise wording of this legislation, and its sponsors? I am a Mason in Florida. Be well.
ReplyDeletewell, you know how Freemasons cling to the past.
ReplyDeleteterritorial exclusivity, blah blah blah
Mark,
ReplyDeleteNot yet. Sorry you couldn't make it to Alexandria. You were not the only one.
Drapeto,
No, I don't know of any outside of Texas.
Greetings Chris, Thanks for taking the time to do your enlightening book and this blog.
ReplyDeleteNote the states that do no recognize PHA and I believe it is fair to say that these are among the most likely states to have thriving KKK communities.
I am a proud member of Pompano PHA #409 in South Florida and regret that there are still those that call themselves Masons who would stay seperate on account of race.
Obviously they do not know what a Cowan really is. This is a shame and I feel that shame everytime I visit Northern Lodges and see the integration there.
We need to do much better here.