I have heard more information as to why, but it being a matter specifically of lodge business, I hesitate to post it. However, as one observer quipped to me, it's "like sucker punching a FBI agent. The whole bureau will come after you hard." This seems to be more of a private squabble between the Grand Lodge of Virginia and the lodge, like an administrative punch in the nose for a what looked to outsiders like a deliberate slight.
More if anything escalates. In the meantime, if you're planning on visiting the lodge for a meeting in an upcoming trip to the DC area, you might check with them before getting all dressed up...
UPDATE 1:35 PM:
I was misinformed and have edited the above story to clarify that WB Andrew Hammer did NOT have any charges preferred against him. The lodge charter has been arrested, period. I sincerely apologize for the error to all parties involved.
BTW, all Virginia members are duly admonished to be aware of, and fully comply with, the Grand Lodge of Virginia's extraordinarily restrictive rules regarding online communications. Obviously some committee there had way too much time on their hands, and this tome was the result. Take notice and govern yourselves accordingly.
UPDATE 1:35 PM:
I was misinformed and have edited the above story to clarify that WB Andrew Hammer did NOT have any charges preferred against him. The lodge charter has been arrested, period. I sincerely apologize for the error to all parties involved.
BTW, all Virginia members are duly admonished to be aware of, and fully comply with, the Grand Lodge of Virginia's extraordinarily restrictive rules regarding online communications. Obviously some committee there had way too much time on their hands, and this tome was the result. Take notice and govern yourselves accordingly.
Sorry to hear this, I sat in lodge there in 1983
ReplyDeleteMy, how sad. I'm a RWM and I would hate to have that happen.
ReplyDeleteMy, how sad. I will pray for that historical lodge and govern myself accordingly.
ReplyDeleteI assure you, it's a temporary situation that will be resolved. I suspect this was administered as something of a spanking as only GMs can do.
DeleteDear “Brother” Hodapp:
ReplyDeleteI don’t know you as a brother; I don’t know who you are; I don’t know where you are. What I do know is that you tend deal in innuendo and gossip while hiding behind the veil of Masonic secrecy. That is neither enlightening nor becoming, especially from a Mason. You did the same thing towards PGM Bidnick of New York. Unless you can give some fact and at least present the situation in its most favorable light you should not have posted anything at all. Stay true to the name of your blog; stick to the esoteric of Masonry; you will be better served. But now that you have; at least inform your readers of a minimal understanding of the facts of the situation. A-W 22 doesn’t need your kind of help. Lastly, having a lodge charter taken by the GM is far more than a “spanking.” It doesn’t happen with any kind of frequency, in any Grand Jurisdiction. Just so you know, I am a former member of A-W 22 and PDDGM of that Masonic District. WB Andrew Hammer and the brethren of A-W 22 are good Masons and whatever their faults were, should never have been made public on your web page to begin with!
Interesting comment, "Liberty Secretary."
DeleteYou claim you don't know who I am or where I am? How odd, because all information regarding my Masonic background, memberships, and my whereabouts is easily seen in the top right of this blog's main page. I do not "deal in innuendo and gossip while hiding behind the veil of Masonic secrecy." I never post anything that hasn't been verified by at least two sources, except in the most extreme cases. Again, I don't "hide" anything in a veil of secrecy - indeed, it it YOU who seem to be hiding.
This story is not mere gossip mongering. My posting makes no claims as to whether anyone present - in the lodge or the Grand Lodge delegation Thursday night, for that matter - are "good" or "bad" Masons. While the details are private and whether you like it or not, such an event is newsworthy.
AW22 is an important lodge on a national level, via its historic connections, and especially as a prominent lodge in the Traditional Observance née "Observant" Lodge movement. It is also the home to WB Andrew Hammer, who is a noteworthy author and speaker, and a very visible proponent of TO-styled lodges and practices. He is also a personal friend. Additionally, Masons from all over the world regularly attend the lodge as visitors in part because of its location, as well as for the other reasons cited. Therefore, the story is significant, and I make no apologies for reporting it, nor how I worded it.
"Liberty Secretary" appears to be of the old school where masonic activities were to be closely regarded secrets. He seems to take a simple news item about a lodge which is familiar to many masons and use it as a springboard to launch himself into rather general rant.
DeleteI have had the pleasure of visiting this lodge and understand that the GM's action may be a required action for a minor infraction.
Best wishes to the Brothers of Alexandria-Washington #22. May the solution to this problem be simple and quick.
I probably know you, "Liberty Secretary," and you probably know me. But since I'm also running a pseudonym, neither can be sure. I am sure I know Chris, though.
DeleteWhat else I am sure of is attitudes like those displayed in your comment is why I demitted AW22 long ago.
Freemasons for dummies is unquestionably the best source we have for unbiased objective Masonic reporting. As for the lodge in question, it artifacts and meeting room are a high point of the tours of the Alexandria museum and it is of far, far. more importance than a neighborhood lodge. Unfortunately many times the deplorable situations in jurisdictions such as Arkansas, West Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, et al, don't appear in the general Masonic press except in this log.
Deleteiron wolf, i'm curious to know what attitudes you are talking about and also how long ago you demitted? Perhaps attitudes have changed since?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI believe that if one is a an advancing GL officer, one has no business petitioning a lodge in his jurisdiction for affiliation until such time as he resigns from the Grand Line or becomes a PGM. "Free Will and Accord" works both ways. Just my personal 2¢...
ReplyDeleteThat wouldn't work in DC, as we are too small to have districts, and many Brothers are already dual members...
DeleteThank you Eric D for shedding light on this situation. While this is all very sad, a Lodge should be able to determine who are there members.
ReplyDeleteIron Wolf, I'd like to know why you demited? Your comment doesn't make sense to me.
ReplyDeleteConflict arises from attachment to one's subjective perspective. Truth, Fact, Basis is the dot in the circle, with with seven billion perspectives creating stories, Superstructures, about it from their point on the circle. The delusion of the Superstructures of thought create the Illusion of meanings. The ONLY TRUTH is The Existential Geometric Truth. There's no meaning (East/West, good/bad, right/wrong) to Truth, just Isness. I pray our Brethren drop emotional perspectives and seek, a concordance on Truth. Before the end of May please, my Lodge is planning a visit and the Lodge room would be wonderful to see.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteImagine for a moment that you did not know anything else about this case, and were solely concerned with the heavy public symbolic importance of this particular Lodge to Freemasonry in the United States. Would that symbolic importance alone make this whole thing seem the most imprudent and jejune act for the reputation of the Craft?! It is unfathomable.
ReplyDeleteWell said.
DeleteLodges are increasingly under pressure from "top-down" management by Grand Lodges. Like the "state v. federal" paradigm, it's a question of viewpoint of a given state's GL by the constituent lodges that initially created it.
ReplyDeleteHi Bro. Chris,
ReplyDeleteHas there been any updates on this situation? I have not seen anything since you posted it a couple of months ago.
Fraternally,
Frank J. Kautz, II
Past Master, Mt Hermon Lodge, AF&AM, Woburn, MA
Past Master, Samuel Crocker Lawrence Lodge, AF&AM, Medford, MA
I just posted an update this evening.
DeleteHello Brothers. I am a MM in good standing at AW22, and have been since 8/27/2005.I just became aware of this unfortunate situation in our lodge just last week. I received a letter from the lodge, but there is really no explanation as to why this action was taken. If anyone has some information to shed some light for this Brother in the dark, it would be greatly appreciated.
ReplyDeleteRobert Leyshion, Jr. AW22/Mt Carmel #133
Brethren
ReplyDeleteAs an English Mason working in the British Embassy I was enormously fortunate to be passed and Raised in AW 22, in 1999. I am hoping to visit when in the USA in August for the total eclipse. can I request details on the current status? WBro Jonty Powis (shipm4te@aol.com)