Georgia's Solomon Lodge No. 1 Selling Their Historic Home

Photo: Chris Hodapp

by Christopher Hodapp

It was with great sadness I read this week that the landmark Cotton Exchange in downtown Savannah, Georgia is up for sale. Since 1976, it’s been the historic home of the equally historic Solomon’s Lodge No. 1, the oldest operating lodge in the state of Georgia, founded in 1734. Or as they say in their own history, “the oldest continuously operating English constituted lodge in the Western Hemisphere.” 

Photo: Chris Hodapp

The Old Savannah Cotton Exchange was designed by the Boston architect William Gibbons Preston (1844-1910), and completed in 1886. It’s now on the market for $10 million, and it’s likely to fetch that eye-popping pile of pelf, as it sits on the waterfront in Savannah’s most historic (and tourist-packed) area of an already very historic town.

The Savannah Morning News site had an extensive series of interior photos of the building and lodge room last Sunday, taken by photographer Richard Burkhart. Most residents in the area have never been inside of the old Cotton Exchange, much less a Masonic Lodge, so it’s been drawing a big crowd of curious readers eager to have a peek. Click images below to enlarge.

Photo: ©Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News

Photo: ©Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News

Photo: ©Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News

Photo: ©Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News

Photo: ©Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News

Photo: ©Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News

Photo: ©Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News

Past Master Jeremy Norton is quoted as saying their dwindling membership, combined with several "unfortunate incidents" has made the aging landmark too much of a financial burden for the lodge to handle, a familiar story that plays out with lodges all around the world every day. (I do know that a car crashed into the facade of the building back in 2008.) Listing agent David Mopper says potential buyers have already been lining up, as a potential restaurant, wedding venue, or private club. 

Yes, I realize that a lodge is not its building. Yes, I realize that a lodge can meet in a tent and doesn’t need some lavish old temple whose leaky roof and bad plumbing bleeds the treasury dry. Yes, I very much realize that the upkeep of an aging building - especially one that’s a historic landmark - is more often than not a fatiguing financial burden.

I don’t know the particulars as to why they’re moving, but I'm sure there's a clot of brethren in the lodge and around the state who are extremely unhappy about this development. No matter where Solomon’s Lodge moves, it can never equal what they have in their current location. You can’t buy the kind of heritage they are giving up, at any price.

In 1934, the lodge celebrated its 200th anniversary. To mark that event, Bro. Lafayette McLaws, Past Master of Solomon's Lodge, spoke some incredibly profound words. He said, 

“Age itself does not call for veneration, antiquity alone does not merit adoration, the passage of time is not the test of fame; a million years does not give glory to a worthless cause, nor sanctify an unholy name. It is the use of time, the purpose of the origin, the beauty woven in the design, the service written in the plan that builds monuments and creates hallowed shrines. I revere Solomon's not for its age, but for its progress, for the service that it has rendered mankind, for its uplifting influence in the political upheavals; for two centuries of activity in the interest of free thought, free speech and free conscience; for the continuity of its opposition to mental tyranny; its championship of human liberty. I commemorate the founding of Solomon's Lodge because it gave to the new Colony of Georgia, the institution of Masonry."

There is great wisdom in those nuggets of gold spoken by Bro. McLaws. On the one hand, the importance of Solomon’s Lodge is what it has accomplished since its founding in 1734, and, after all, its current home has only been their meeting place for 50 years. On the other hand, architectural treasures like the Old Cotton Exchange have incredible beauty woven in their design. And, given its prominence in Savannah's historic boardwalk area, it has been a standing billboard for Freemasonry for half a century, a magnificent beacon for all of us that says, “the Masons are here, and we are a vital piece of the fabric that makes our community.” Hundreds - and sometimes, thousands - of people walk past its historic marker and facade every single day.

I don’t know what Solomon's Lodge's plans are, but I pray they find an equally important and visible new location, and that they not settle for an anonymous steel pole barn in a bean field. (I will go out on a limb and speculate that they might move to the Savannah Valley of the Scottish Rite's new center, three miles from downtown, in an office park. Just a guess.) While the Masons of Savannah didn't build this particular edifice themselves, the fraternity gives up our most treasured temples to our collective detriment. Every high-visibility temple that gets sold off means we slip farther and farther off of society's radar screen and disappear from the collective consciousness of the community. And we rob our members of a heritage no lodge can reclaim when it just gives up. 

Our forefathers built or bought these priceless temples with the sweat of their brow, with money most of them desperately needed for themselves, because they believed in shouting about their fraternity to the world outside. (It took Savannah's Masons more than thirty years to complete their first historic Scottish Rite Temple as they raised money and slowly erected it.) They didn't ask us to be greater than they were, or to even build bigger or better than they did. They just asked us to protect what they did for us. 

Scottish Rite Valley of Savannah's new building (Photo: Google)

Inspiration was important to Freemasons up until the late 20th century. What will Masonic architecture of today inspire the next generations to say when you and I are gone? 

"Great parking!"

And are Masons really going to continue to accept mediocrity and bland steel toolshed temples under the lazy excuse that "a lodge is not a building?"

Where be our Dreamers now?

UGLE and Female Masons Take Legal Action Against London Police

by Christopher Hodapp

The United Grand Lodge of England, Order of Women Freemasons, and Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons have collectively decided to launch legal action against the Metropolitan Police to address what they consider to be an unlawful, discriminatory, and unfair move in requiring all officers to declare their private Masonic membership, whether past or present. (These developments were reported HERE and HERE last week.) They have just filed a request for judicial review in the High Court.

The following statement from UGLE, OWF & HFAF has been shared with the media and was circulated very early this morning (Eastern Time). They have also issued a companion video explaining their objections (click above for YouTube):

FREEMASONS LAUNCH LEGAL ACTION 

AGAINST METROPOLITAN POLICE

The United Grand Lodge of England (“UGLE”), also acting on behalf of The Order of Women Freemasons and the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons (all of which together represent Freemasonry in England, Wales, The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands) announces that it has sent a letter before claim in respect of judicial review proceedings against the Metropolitan Police (the “Met”) in response to the Met’s announcement on 11 December 2025 that it has added Freemasonry to its list of declarable associations.

The result of the Met’s new decision is that police officers and police staff who are, or have been, Freemasons will be compelled to inform the Met of their membership and that this will now be a mandatory declaration in its vetting procedures.

While acknowledging recent concerns over police vetting procedures, UGLE considers this decision to be unlawful, unfair and discriminatory against Freemasons, and considers the consultation process which has been followed by the Met to be wholly inadequate, prejudicial and unjust.

UGLE has made clear its concerns to the Met regarding any intended action to introduce a reporting requirement that has the potential to undermine public credibility of male and female Freemasons, or that could impact negatively on its members, or the contribution that they make to society. It believes that mandatory declaration breaches the fundamental rights of the organisations and their members and is also in breach of the Equality Act 2010 and UK GDPR.

Accordingly, UGLE has written to the Met setting out its intention to seek a judicial review of the decision unless its implementation is suspended immediately.

Commenting on behalf of the United Grand Lodge of England, the Order of Women Freemasons and the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons, Adrian Marsh, Grand Secretary of UGLE, said:

“Freemasonry has the highest moral and ethical standards – standards that have been a cornerstone of its identity since the earliest days of organised Freemasonry over 300 years ago. Our members embody our core values of integrity, friendship, respect and service – and this can be seen across London, the rest of the country, through tireless work within our communities to help those in need. Within individual Lodges, we enjoy the timeless traditions that make our organisation unique around the globe.

The decision by the Metropolitan Police casts an aura of mistrust over the entire Freemason community. Given the obvious, detrimental impact on our members, United Grand Lodge of England, Order of Women Freemasons and Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons consider that we now have no choice but to take legal action to challenge this unlawful decision.

We do not take this decision lightly but feel that we are left with no other options, in order to defend the rights of those in our membership, both male and female, present and past, that serve the people of London loyally in any capacity under the banner of the Metropolitan Police.”

Openness of UGLE and Freemasonry

United Grand Lodge of England, Order of Women Freemasons and Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons are aware of misconceptions regarding Freemasonry stretching back over a number of decades. In response to this, over the last 30 years, UGLE has carried out significant work to address these misconceptions, bringing public perceptions up to date through increased openness and disclosure about its values and its work in society and for charity.

The success of this work has been borne out by its increased popularity in recent years, especially in attracting younger members, and the number of visitors we have each day to our building in Covent Garden.

The consultation process followed by the Met

Since the consultation was published on the Met website on 29 September 2025 under the title, “Consultation on Freemasonry becoming a declarable association”, UGLE has sought to communicate its position to the Met during two in-person meetings with Commander Simon Messinger and in correspondence with the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley. UGLE considers the level of engagement from the Met and the limited justification it has put forward for the decision to be wholly inadequate.

UGLE has made it clear throughout that it has been willing to engage with the consultation, but it was never given the information to enable it to do so meaningfully and fairly.

UGLE is, therefore, extremely disappointed that the Met has reached this decision without a fair consultation process, or any direct engagement with it, or proper notice, on the reasons for this decision. The Met’s failure properly to consult and to publish this new requirement with immediate effect is particularly troubling in circumstances where the Met had agreed to consult fully prior to making any decision and when such a decision affects the regard in which Freemasons are held. It is likewise highly unusual that the Met would not consider any alternative solutions in the knowledge that expensive legal action must follow.

Public statements from the Met since 11 December 2025

In its statement released on 11 December 2025, the Met referred to the reporting requirement being introduced for “hierarchical organisations that require members to support and protect each other” and so being added to the Met’s declarable associations policy. In that statement, the Met also stated that it had discussed the change in policy with UGLE.

UGLE considers these statements to be misleading:

•  On the Met statement that Freemasons are, “required to support and protect each other” the Met has omitted the true nature of this obligation which is importantly qualified in Freemasonry, where it is primarily a moral one, and the level of support is expected to be within one's ability and without detriment to one's own family or one's duty to the law of the land. Without this explanation, the phrase used by the Met is misleading and capable of misinterpretation. Furthermore, it disregards similar commitments made in most religions, albeit without the same additional aspect of respecting the law of the land.
• On the Met statement that “Senior officers have discussed the results of the staff consultation and our decision with the United Grand Lodge of England, which is the headquarters of Freemasonry in England and Wales, as well as the Police Federation and other representative bodies”, the Met implies that effective consultation has taken place. This is not the case.

Regarding the stated evidence base for the decision:

• The Met has provided inconsistent and insufficient data - the Met says a survey sent to all c.40.000 Metropolitan Police officers and staff, but completed by less than 5% of them, is enough to justify this move. Meanwhile, the Met subsequently claimed in a radio interview on LBC with Sir Mark Rowley that two-thirds of members supported the change. This statement was not included in the Met statement of 11 December 2025.
• The Met says that internal intelligence has made this move necessary; however, this intelligence is not public and should be to enable proper public scrutiny.
• The Met says that female police officers and staff have welcomed this announcement - although there is no evidence to support this statement and no explanation being provided for the reasoning behind the decision to the thousands of female Freemasons across the country.

UGLE also believes that the use of the description, “hierarchical associations” by the Met is intended to imply a broad constituency of potentially declarable associations, while the real focus of the new policy is on Freemasons alone, and that the description used is, therefore, disingenuous.

Further, the Met states that it is addressing longstanding concerns over secrecy of any members’ organisation. However, Freemasonry is not a secret organisation, being similar to many organisations where membership is private and regulated under the GDPR legislation. Indeed, unlike most other private organizations, UGLE publishes a list of its c.4,000 most senior members, which is available for purchase from the Shop at Freemasons’ Hall, which is open to the general public daily.

Action to be taken by UGLE

In the light of the legal position, the failure of the Met consultation process, and in order to prevent damage to members, UGLE (also acting on behalf of The Order of Women Freemasons and the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons) intends to seek a judicial review of the decision in the High Court and has sent a “letter before claim” to the Met outlining the action it intends to take.

Statement from the Metropolitan Police Federation

UGLE notes the statement made by the Metropolitan Police Federation (“MPF”) on 11 December 2025 that, “forcing police officers to declare their membership in the Freemasons could violate their human rights and is an “unnecessary and wrong” policy. The MPF also questioned the timing and enforceability of the new policy, highlighting that the issue had been debated over decades.

UGLE also notes that the intention to introduce any reporting requirement in the past had always been ruled unlawful.

Fire Destroys Greenville, Maine Masonic Temple

by Christopher Hodapp

A fire destroyed the historic Masonic Temple in Greenville, Maine on Monday. According to news accounts, firefighters were called to the scene at 149 Pritham Avenue in Greenville at 1:00AM Monday morning after the fire was raging.

Arson or other foul play is not suspected at this time. Investigators early Tuesday say the fire originated in the basement kitchen, but the damage is so severe, the precise cause of the blaze may never be determined.

The once beautiful Greenville Temple was built in 1929, financed by local merchant Arthur Crafts. It has been the home of Columbia-Doric Lodge 149 and was considered one of the town's major landmarks. There's no word yet as to where the lodge may be meeting temporarily until decisions can be made as to its future location.

According to multiple reports, fire crews from four nearby towns attempted to battle the blaze, but freezing temperatures froze up trucks and other equipment. Crews attempting to battle the blaze inside were forced out as large pieces of slate caved in the burning roof.

The interior has been gutted, but the brick exterior walls are still standing. A report from WABI-TV 5 says the building hasn't yet been declared a complete loss, but inspectors will have to determine the structural integrity of what's left outside before a decision to rebuild can even be considered.

I haven't been able to find any decent images of the lodge's interior, nor have I found their social media or web pages. If anyone can provide those, I'll be happy to update this post.

UK's Female Masons Denounce New Police Masonic Declaration Rule

by Christopher Hodapp

England's two female grand lodges ( the Order of Women Freemasons and the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons ) have released their own response to the London Metropolitan Police's new requirement forcing their officers to declare their Masonic membership - past or present. Internal polling of officers has been greatly exaggerated and they are particularly calling B.S. over the MET's allegation that female police officers "are massively relieved at this decision because they feel they are disadvantaged by, sadly, a boy’s club.”

Their statement was forwarded this morning by the UGLE on their behalf:

Yesterday (Friday 12 December), we were made aware of comments made by Sir Mark Rowley, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, on LBC Radio. The interview can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/live/DiUDn7klubc?si=U8FkSp8YY2tQTRyW&t=1659

The following statement has been distributed to the media:

The United Grand Lodge of England, the Order of Women Freemasons and the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons note the comments made by the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police on Friday’s edition of Nick Ferrari’s LBC radio show. We feel compelled to respond to, and correct, several inaccurate and misleading representations of both the recent consultation held within the Metropolitan Police and Freemasonry in general.

In the interview, the Commissioner claimed that “two thirds of our officers think it ought to be declarable.” This contradicts the Met’s own statement, which claimed that “2,000 colleagues completed the survey.” Considering that the Metropolitan Police’s website states that there are 46,000 Met Police officers and staff, this statement is evidently false. It also highlights that the survey being used as the basis of the policy change was only completed by under 5% of officers and staff.

The Commissioner goes on to say: “We’ve looked at the intelligence picture today, and a combination of factors I’m satisfied that this is absolutely necessary.” At no point has this evidence been shared with us, to allow us to address concerns and if necessary, take action. We call on the Commissioner’s Office to release this intelligence as soon as practical, to enable us and the public to evaluate its credibility as a reason for this policy to be enacted.

Towards the end of the interview, the Commissioner states: “There are many, many women officers in the organisation particularly, who are massively relieved at this decision because they feel they are disadvantaged by, sadly, a boy’s club.” As proud female Freemasons, we in the Order of Women Freemasons and the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons take particular offense to this misleading and inaccurate statement. Women have been Freemasons now for over a century, longer than they have had the right to vote. We are proud of our history and heritage, and inaccurate representations such as this are disappointing.

As per our statement released on Thursday 11th December 2025, we continue to discuss our next steps on this matter and will be making a further announcement on our intentions in due course.

According to an earlier statement, the UGLE and the female grand lodges are considering taking legal action against the MET over the new policy. Ginning up institutional distrust about Freemasonry has become a self-fulfilling prophecy in English society and in the police department, in particular, all amplified by a slathering press. 

After more than 40 years of anti-Masonic paranoia swirling around UK police, there has never been any proof of Masonic police officers acting improperly as a group. None. Zero. Nada. Zip. Rumors, claims, conspiracy theories, pissy-bitch fables from disgruntled officers, all make sensational headlines—and there have been plenty of those printed by news organizations eager to sell more papers and achieve more upvote clicks. But there's never been any proof, and it's not been for lack of looking by countless special commissions and investigative teams.

(For a recap of the historical anti-Masonic claims, conspiracies and paranoia in English police departments over the decades, see https://freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com/2025/09/london-police-league-is-hunting-masons.html )

London's Metropolitan Police Demand Masonic Membership Declarations – One More Time

by Christopher Hodapp

Here we go again. London's Metropolitan Police (MET) have officially decided to force all police officers to declare their Masonic membership – whether past or present – in spite of ongoing protests from the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE). We've seen this program before and the rerun isn't any better. This has been an on-again, off-again situation in England ever since the 1990s, in spite of the fact that there has never been a shred of evidence that police officers, lawyers or judges have given preferential treatment or done favors for Brother Masons.

From today's announcement:

Hierarchical organisations added to declarable association policy

Hierarchical organisations that require members to support and protect each other have been added to the Met’s declarable associations policy.

Freemasonry has been formally included, and other organisations will be added as and when information indicates they need to be.

The move follows a consultation of officers and staff which showed two thirds of those who responded felt membership of such organisations affects perception of police impartiality and public trust.

Commander Simon Messinger, Professionalism, said: “Successive leaders of the Met have considered for many years whether we need to amend our declarable association policy, particularly in relation to Freemasonry.

“After such conclusive results from our consultation, we have decided now is the right time to address long-standing concerns and that public and staff confidence must take precedence over the secrecy of any membership organisation.

“Our decision does not mean any member of staff cannot join the Freemasons or another similar organisation.

“But we have acted on feedback that involvement in these types of organisations could call impartiality into question or give rise to conflict of loyalties.

“Strengthening the trust both our own staff and London’s communities have in the Met is a core part of our New Met for London plan and ambitions.” 

Officers and staff already have to declare any association with an individual, group or organisation that might compromise their integrity, pose a risk to operations or intelligence or that could damage the reputation of the Met and, as a result, public confidence. Doing so allows for risks to be assessed, managed and mitigated.  

Until now there have been only a few specific examples of declarable associations set out in the policy. These include people with criminal convictions, those who have been dismissed from policing, and lawful professions such as private investigation or journalism.  

In 2021, the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel recommended that officers and staff should be required to declare membership of organisations, including the Freemasons, that could present a potential conflict of interest. Similar recommendations have been made at various points in the past.  

The Met had been of the view that the existing policy on declarable associations was sufficient. However, we continued to receive intelligence reports and general expressions of concern from officers and staff worried about the impact, whether real or perceived, membership of such an organisation could be having on investigations, promotions and misconduct. The number of such reports has been relatively low, but they must be taken seriously. 

From Thursday, 11 December, officers and staff are required to declare a membership, past or present, of any potentially influential organisation that is hierarchical, has confidential membership and requires members to support and protect each other. Freemasonry is named as one of those organisations that must be declared, and if we have intelligence about other organisations in the future they may also be specifically added.

Senior officers have discussed the results of the staff consultation and our decision with the United Grand Lodge of England which is the headquarters of Freemasonry in England and Wales, as well as the Police Federation and other representative bodies.

The complete text can be found HERE. 

Reported cases are "relatively low." No evidence, no actual cited cases, only perception. That perception in the public consciousness has been driven by negative press reporting for more than 35 years, most of which originated in paranoiac anti-Masonic works like Stephen Knight's execrable The Brotherhood in 1984. Knight put forth his addled belief in a vast, secret network of secret Freemasons secretly secreted within police forces, courtrooms, law firms, and the prison system who secretly conspire to secretly commit crimes, hide their own transgressions, pardon criminals, and promote each other by giving each other secret signs, dodgy handshakes, and hopping about with rolled up trouser legs. Ever since his completely unsupported nonsense was published, nearly every time there's a situation involving possible police misconduct in England, someone will doubtless pop off with the accusation, "The bloody Freemasons in the police are to blame!"

Knight's absurd waste of pulp set in motion conspiracy theories alleging everything from a Masonic Jack the Ripper (as dramatized in the movies Murder By Decree and From Hell), to the sinking of the Titanic (yes, really). There was an alleged police cover-up regarding a 1989 football stadium riot in Hillsborough (it took 27 years of investigating Hillsborough before several commissions finally gave up on finding ANY Masonic connection to the stampede and death of 96 people). There have also been countless unfounded claims over the decades that Masons have only promoted Brother Masons within the ranks of police departments all over the country. Time after time it's found simply that these cases are brought by disgruntled employees over being passed over for advancement. 

Most of the news stories today have been certain to mention an unsolved murder case from 40 years ago. Daniel Morgan, a private investigator who was looking into police corruption at the MET, was axe murdered in 1987, just three years after the release of Stephen Knight's fairy tale book. Rumors at the time began gaining traction that Morgan had gotten 'too close to the truth' about nefarious activities in the police and was done in by – you guessed it - Freemason cops. The case was never solved; no Masons or cops were accused; and even a new commission report in 2021 didn't say that Masons actually had anything to do with it. They did, however, come to the following meaningless conclusion: that police officers' involvement with the Freemasons had been a "source of recurring suspicion and mistrust in the investigations." They didn't obstruct, they didn't actually do anything at all. It was merely others' perceptions of what the Freemasons may have been up to. And those perceptions were shaped and percolated by Knight's sensationalistic claims, all of which were unfounded, but were breathlessly splashed across both the mainstream press and the tabloids at the time.

In fact, I'll bet a groat that this latest burst of "Bloody Masons In The Police!" mania was stirred up by J.K.Rowling's recent mystery novel, written under the pen name of 'Robert Galbraith,' entitled The Hallmarked Man. Rowling aka Galbraith wrote a tedious, plodding, dull-as-dirt,  900-page (not a misprint) doorstop novel that culminates with crooked cops who are SURPRISE! Freemasons. She managed to write a book about the Masons that's both longer and more boring than Pike's Morals & Dogma. (Don't get fooled by the appearance of London's Freemasons Hall on the cover. If I ever finally make it to the end of the damn thing, I'll review it here. But please don't waste your hard-earned cash on it just because it's "about the Masons." You'll only get mad.)

Apparently, the MET's line, "Senior officers have discussed the results of the staff consultation and our decision with the United Grand Lodge of England which is the headquarters of Freemasonry in England and Wales" is utter crap. Or if not utter crap, it's certainly news to the UGLE.

The UGLE quickly responded to today's announcement with the following statement:

The United Grand Lodge of England (“UGLE”), the home of Freemasonry in England, Wales and the Channel Islands, notes today’s announcement by the Metropolitan Police that it will now require mandatory declaration of membership of Freemasonry as a declarable association, meaning that male and female officers and staff who are Freemasons will be compelled to inform the Met of this.

Whilst aware of recent concerns over police vetting procedures, UGLE considers this policy decision to be unlawful, disproportionate, unfair and discriminatory.

UGLE has endeavoured to engage constructively and openly with the Met on this matter over recent weeks and is most disappointed that it has reached this decision without a genuine dialogue or any direct engagement with UGLE on the substantive reasons which affect the integrity and the positive regard in which our members are held.

Commenting on behalf of the United Grand Lodge of England, the Order of Women Freemasons and the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons, Adrian Marsh said:

“We are disappointed that a decision which potentially affects our members has been taken without open or effective consultation. Our values of Integrity, Friendship, Respect and Service are paramount in Freemasonry and have never been of more importance. We see this action as unwarranted, and we are carefully considering an appropriate response. We will issue a further statement in due course.”

What's truly enraging about this latest go round is that press accounts are gleefully repeating that previously, MET officers were only required to declare any association with an individual or group that might compromise their integrity or damage the reputation of the force. That included associating with people with criminal convictions, those dismissed from policing and those working in lawful professions such as private investigation or journalism. This new policy singles out the Freemasons alone as being in any way comparable to associating with those criminals or fired cops.

The problem has ALWAYS been that anti-Masonic prejudices and open hatreds are so widespread throughout the UK and Europe. Once employees of ANY profession are required to openly declare their Masonic membership, they are opening themselves up to retribution and risking their jobs. Anti-Masons will use their membership as an excuse to allege misconduct of all kinds. Criminals will accuse Masonic cops of no end of imaginary conspiracies. Non-Masonic officers will accuse Masonic supervisors of favoritism and prejudice. It's happened countless times in the past. When you see the comments following news stories about the Masons in the English papers, it's almost a given that at least one anonymous commenter will pipe up with, "My old man was passed over for a pay rise because of the bloody Masons!" Now the MET has made it even simpler to make unfounded claims against fellow officers, based solely on their Masonic membership.

When rules were passed in both the U.K. and Italy in the early 2000s requiring members of law enforcement and the judiciary to disclose their Masonic membership, they were struck down by the European Court of Human Rights as discriminatory. Apparently the MET has a short institutional memory. With all of the civil unrest going in across the U.K. these days, it's unfathomable why the MET is wasting its resources hunting Masonic boogymen under the bedclothes. It will be curious to see what the UGLE's next move will be to protect its members.

Mississippi To Vote on Prince Hall Recognition in March

by Christopher Hodapp

UPDATE: This story has been updated to correct an error concerning the history of the MW Stringer GL of Mississippi. Deepest apologies for sloppiness on my part. CH

The Grand Lodge of Mississippi F&AM has a resolution to be voted upon at their next annual communication to jointly recognize the Most Worshipful Stringer Grand Lodge of Mississippi (Prince Hall Affiliated). The resolution is being circulated on social media this week.

I believe their annual meeting is in March 2026.

Prince Hall lodges first appeared in Mississippi in 1867, and the curiously named Stringer Grand Lodge of Mississippi was formed in 1875. It is a regular Prince Hall Affiliated organization that is recognized by the Conference of Grand Masters of Prince Hall Masons. Named to honor founding Grand Master Thomas Stringer (1875-93), they haven't followed the typical naming convention of most Prince Hall Affiliated Grand Lodges in order to retrain their historic connection to him.

If joint recognition eventually occurs in Mississippi (it will also have to be adopted by the Prince Hall Masons there), that will leave just Arkansas and South Carolina as the only so-called mainstream grand lodges in the U.S. with no Prince Hall recognition at all.

(The two footnotes on the map below are for Louisiana and West Virginia. The Grand Lodge of Louisiana has joint recognition with the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Maryland, because of internal issues with the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Louisiana and its longstanding grand master Ralph Slaughter. The Grand Lodge of West Virginia has joint recognition with the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Tennessee reportedly because the Prince Hall Masons in West Virginia rejected their initial overtures.)

Holy Bones!! Batman a Bonesman?!

by Christopher Hodapp

In a previous life, Alice and I co-wrote Conspiracy Theories & Secret Societies For Dummies (which is woefully out of date by 15 years, at least, yet still a hot seller in Turkey, if you can believe it). Every once in a while it pops back up in our daily doings.

One of the banes of Saturday night ritual at Hodapphaüs is that we are forced to suffer through an episode of the old 1966 Adam West Batman TV series, obtrusively airing between the Svenghoulie presentation of a classic old horror film and Star Trek - TOS. We usually take that half hour to walk the dogs, lube the cars, or unclog a toilet - anything but suffer through that silliness. We'd both had enough of that show with its cartoon villains when we were 8 years old. But somehow we managed to have about 7 or 8 minutes of the show inflicted on us last night, when this popped up.

The scene is a fundraiser at stately Wayne Manor. The guest list is made up of millionaires, who are milling about making idle chitchat. A guest approaches Bruce Wayne's befuddled old Aunt Harriet Cooper and points to a portrait on the wall:

“And that is Bruce Wayne’s grandfather, Mrs. Cooper?”

“His GREAT-grandfather,” she says.

He's referring to a painting of a handsome young man sporting a white football jersey with a navy blue 'Y' on the front, marking the old mister Wayne as a Yale University alum.  He then cryptically says, “I understand he was tapped for Skull and Bones.”

To which Aunt Harriet swells up with indignant pride and replies, “Tapped for it? Why, he FOUNDED Skull and Bones!”

This is 1966, long before Skull and Bones was the topic of bad History Channel programs and Alex Jones paranoia podcasts. And somebody went to a lot of trouble in 1966 to execute a pretty decent painting of old mister Wayne as a young college lad for this one, single scene.

Now, none of this is to suggest that the 1966 version of Bruce Wayne aka Batman (in his silk and spandex alter ego) himself was a Bonesman, only his great-grandfather. According to aficionados of Batman canon and lore, it's the only known reference to Batman and Skull and Bones, and no serious Batman fan counts the 1966 TVG creation, with its Happy Halloween-style costumes, grade-school art direction and Catskills humor as anything but a bad-taste aberration of an otherwise dark and sinister character of deep seriousness.

No, I don't think the S&B's Tomb was the first Batcave

On the other hand, in doing a little poking around, I did come across a single comic book reference that showed Batman/Bruce Wayne's private study with a Yale Law diploma on the wall. ('Night of the Stalker,' 1974; Detective Comics #439, p.16). 

The topic is interesting enough that it warranted an article by Chip Kidd in the Yale Alumni Magazine 15 years ago, when Skull & Bones mania was all the rage in the media.

By the way, if you're REALLY obsessive, according to lore, Bruce Wayne's paternal great-grandfather was named Kenneth Wayne. Kenneth was the son of Alan Wayne and Catherine Van Derm, and the father of Patrick Wayne, who in turn was the father of Thomas Wayne, Bruce Wayne's father. You're welome.

Program at Indianapolis' Prather Lodge 717

by Christopher Hodapp

Many thanks to the brethren of Calvin W. Prather Lodge 717 in Indianapolis for their warm hospitality Thursday night. I was asked to make a presentation about the Masonic Library & Museum of Indiana and I rolled out a new PowerPoint show for the first time. My apologies for going on so long - that's the danger of a first-time audience, I'm afraid. I never would have done so had I known you had so much else to accomplish that night. 

(Hint: Never book a speaker for a December Masonic meeting in Indiana - too much potential for a very late evening.)

Next time, somebody throw a shoe at me after 20 minutes...

Washington D.C.'s Prince Hall Masonic Temple Retains Tax Status

(Google)

by Christopher Hodapp

With so many stories of Masons losing their century-old, architectural and historically significant temple buildings all over the country, it's gratifying to be able to report actually keeping one. The Prince Hall Masons of Washington D.C. have prevailed in retaining tax-exempt status for their historic building on U Street in the nation's capital. 

The Prince Hall Masonic Temple, located at 10th and U Street in D.C., is a historic spot with deep social and cultural roots in the city’s black community. Headquarters of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F&AM, Prince Hall Affiliated, District of Columbia,  this building isn’t just bricks and mortar – it’s a symbol of black business, culture, and social life, dating back to when U Street was known as the “Black Broadway.” Designed by African-American architect Albert Cassell and built between 1922 and 1930 by DC's Prince Hall Masons, the building has served as a restaurant, bowling alley, ballroom, and office space for black-owned businesses. It’s been a hub for social events and community gatherings for generations. Over the years, the area has changed a lot, with gentrification pushing out many longtime residents and businesses, replacing them with new arrivals, but the temple has remained a key landmark.

The D.C. Prince Hall Masons recently faced a huge challenge: keeping ownership of their building and maintaining its tax-exempt status after they made was a seemingly innocuous change: they changed the name of their charity arm, and that meant they had to reapply for the tax exemption. It wasn’t automatic. (The new name is a mouthful: the Prince Hall Free & Accepted Mason and the Order of the Eastern Star Charitable Educational Foundation, or PHFAMOESCEF for short. Really.)

In most states and municipalities, Masonic halls are exempt from paying property taxes because of the long history of charitable works and civic engagement Masons have been known for. Taxing authorities often treat them like churches in that respect. They believe that the Masons contribute far more to their communities than any property taxes on their aging buildings ever could. But note I said MOST states and municipalities – not all. The fortunes and misfortunes of downtown areas have waxed, waned, and waxed again over the last century or more, and many Masonic temples built during the City Beautiful Movement between the 1890s and the 1930s were often erected right downtown or in the earliest suburbs of their era. When those neighborhoods fall on hard times, property taxes go down; but when things get prosperous again, property taxes go up.

According top an article on the Black Enterprise website ("Prince Hall Freemasons Retain Historic Site") when the foundation changed its name in 2022, the tax exemption didn’t just follow it. Marquis McCants, the president and CEO, explained that they had to go through a stack of paperwork and get help from D.C. Council member Brianne Nadeau to reapply for the exemption. They put in the application in 2024 and had to reintroduce it again in 2025. Fortunately, the D.C. Council approved the legislation without controversy, and the temple got to keep its tax-exempt status. This means the foundation can continue to own and operate the building without the financial burden of property taxes. 

(Note to Masonic Temple trustees everywhere: Freemasonry and Masonic lodges are considered exempt from paying federal income tax on revenues as 501(c)10 organizations, but contributions to the lodges cannot be deducted as expenses when calculating your tax liabilities. However, you CAN create a 501(c)3 tax exempt foundation or corporation for the non-fraternal parts of your temple as long as you offer up its use to the general public. That means you can issue tax deductions to those who contribute to the upkeep or improvements of the building's interior and exterior, or infrastructure like plumbing or heating systems, as long as those donations are NOT used for the lodge room itself. Your lodge can't be a 501(c)3, but your building can. Bear in mind – I'm NOT a tax attorney. Consult your accountant before attempting to take my advice on tax issues.)

Prince Hall Freemasonry started in the 1770s when Prince Hall, a free black man in Boston, formed the first Masonic lodge for African Americans after the degrees were conferred upon him and 14 others by the Master of a British traveling military lodge. The Premiere Grand Lodge of England granted a charter to Hall's African Lodge in 1787 after white Massachusetts Masons snubbed them. From that beginning, so-called African Masonry for black men spread into the northeastern states.

In 1818, a group of free black men petitioned the African Grand Lodge of North America in Philadelphia for a warrant to organize African Masonry in the District of Columbia. Social Lodge No. 7 was chartered in the District in 1825 and was made up, at first, of black men who had joined African lodges in Pennsylvania and England. By 1848, the three black lodges in the city formed the Union Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, and Social Lodge became No. 1. As part of a national movement among Prince Hall-descended grand lodges to standardize their pedigree, they changed their name in 1948 to the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F&AM, Prince Hall Affiliated, District of Columbia.

The neo-classical temple on U Street was built thanks to the generosity of Jesse Mitchell, founder of the Industrial Bank of Washington, and Albert Cassell, a local black architect. Over the years, the temple has had some famous members, including former D.C. mayors Marion Barry, Walter E. Washington, Vincent C. Gray, and Anthony Williams. The temple is home to the offices of the grand lodge and the Eastern Star. It contains lodge rooms, and additional facilities to host Grand Lodge sessions and banquets. There are also office rental spaces, and until recently, a CVS Pharmacy was located on the ground floor. At one time there was even a bowling alley in the basement. 

Next to the temple is a plaza featuring the African American Civil War Memorial, dedicated to the 'colored' soldiers who fought to save the Union during the Civil War. A nearby museum contains exhibits about the role of black soldiers during the war.

Mississippi Blues: The Story So Far

By Christopher Hodapp

Despite what many regular readers might think, I really hate reporting on internal Grand Lodge fights. I REALLY don't like doing it. And I notoriously wind up getting the story in bits and pieces which makes if difficult to be factual and unbiased. 

With that disclaimer in mind, I need to try and address the current mess going on in the Grand Lodge of Mississippi F&AM. So, here goes... 

Over the last few weeks, a story has been bubbling out of Mississippi that’s been tough to piece together. The whole situation has become a tangled web of internal disputes, legal challenges, and procedural wrangling, with various factions all trying to assert authority and protect their interests and reputations. 

The story starts way back in 1966, when the Mississippi Demolay Foundation was set up by Master Masons to support youth activities and manage charitable funds. In 1985, the Mississippi DeMolay Foundation was renamed the Mississippi Masonic Youth Foundation, Inc. as an independent Masonic-related organization operating within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Mississippi. That word 'independent' would eventually turn out to be wide-open to interpretation. 

Things went along fine for another fifteen years or so. But then, between 2000 and 2016, not a single meeting of the foundation would take place. In 2017, the foundation was resurrected, new officers were elected, and it began functioning again. 

Fast forward to 2024, when the foundation’s president passed away, leading to new leadership. Around this time, tensions started brewing between the foundation’s board and the Grand Lodge’s strategic planning committee. That committee, led by Chairman Terry McLeod and then-Grand Master Jerry L. Lewis, wanted the foundation to shut down and hand over its funds, claiming the Grand Lodge had authority over it. The foundation’s board pushed back, arguing that the Grand Lodge didn’t actually control their funds or governance. 

(Shades of what happened in the District of Columbia MESH charities a couple of years ago. From what I can tell, there were no allegations of impropriety – it's strictly about who controls it: the Grand Lodge, or the foundation's officers.)

This disagreement spilled over into various meetings and communications. In March 2025, during a DeMolay Legion of Honor meeting, Terry McLeod successfully moved to strip former foundation board members of their honors. Then, at the Annual Grand Communication, McLeod got up and gave a lengthy report accusing the foundation’s board of withholding funds and being subversive. The report caused confusion and controversy among members, with some calling for clarification. 

Eventually, Past Grand Master Butch Britt moved to strike the report from the official proceedings, and the motion passed. But the words and accusations hung in the air like a great hanging thing. New Grand Lodge officers were elected, and the session continued. But the fallout from McLeod’s comments led Polar Star Lodge #154 to file charges of Un-Masonic Conduct against McLeod, the strategic planning committee, and other senior members for allowing the report to be presented in such a manner in the first place. These charges were sent to the new Grand Master, Billy Wayne Bunch, who recused himself from the trial and handed authority to Deputy Grand Master Melton V. Broome. 

DGM Broome announced a Grand Lodge Trial, but the process was murky since the Masonic laws didn’t spell out how such a trial should be run. He decided each subordinate lodge would get one voting representative. This decision, along with other actions, sparked further opposition: fourteen Past Grand Masters submitted a resolution criticizing Bunch’s authority, the trial procedures, and the handling of charges. They called for the rights of all members to be respected, and even suggested impeachment proceedings against GM Bunch.

Bunch responded with an official communication, defending his actions and criticizing the Past Grand Masters’ resolution. He ordered the Grand Secretary to refund costs related to the resolution’s distribution and remove it from the online system. He insisted he was acting in the best interests of the Craft, and wouldn’t be swayed by hidden agendas.

As the Grand Lodge trial date approached, a continuance was granted to allow more time for review. The Law and Jurisprudence Committee was asked to throw in their two cents on the matter, and their report outlined how a Grand Lodge Trial should be conducted, including the makeup of the trial commission, procedures, and rights of the accused. Bunch issued an edict to enforce these procedures, but the Past Grand Masters pushed back again, arguing the edict was illegal and denied members their voting rights.

Eventually, enough subordinate lodges and Past Masters supported a call for a Special Meeting of Members to address the issues, including the charges and possible impeachment. On October 10, 2025, an official notice signed by Deputy Grand Master Melton Broome was sent to all Mississippi lodges that the Trial Commission would convene on November 5, 2025, at Joppa Shrine Temple in Biloxi. On October 14, Grand Master Bunch issued his own official communication to the lodges reiterating that the Grand Lodge Trial Commission would indeed proceed on November 5th. Copies of these notices began to appear on social media platforms as Mississippi Masons attempted to make sense of the whole mess, and pro and con opinions mounted.

Suddenly, the Shriners got nervous that they were being sucked into this whole whirlwind, if only by association. The Biloxi Shrine Temple Divan made it clear they wanted no part in the controversy, and the national Shriners leadership advised them to steer clear of the whole mess. This, too, made the rounds of Facetwit and Xwitter.

Meanwhile, legal action was filed in civil court by McLeod, Lewis, Vining, Jones and McMahon, seeking a restraining order against the Grand Lodge’s actions. Dragging grand lodge disputes into civil courts is usually a horrible development, but this had an almost immediate effect: after the court filing got widely circulated on social media, the scheduled trial was abruptly canceled.

That brings us up to the present. As of right now, the Grand Lodge still embroiled in these issues, waiting for the next chapter to unfold. I'm afraid everyone involved should take a line out of the Grand Lodge of Mississippi's own social media policy to heart: "We should seek Brother to Brother intervention." Their Grand Lodge slogan is "Cemented With Love." Unfortunately, it appears they are now hip deep in a quagmire made of ever-hardening cement as the days pass.