(Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department photo)
As of this writing, Lynn Andrew Jackson, 29, was in police custody, charged with misdemeanor vandalism, but authorities are inexplicably resisting charging him with a hate crime.
A little after 10:00AM, Jackson began spray-painting bizarre messages and an unusual, unidentified symbol on limestone walls and heavy wooden doors on the west, north and east sides of the landmark Scottish Rite Cathedral. At the Meridian Street main entry, he oainted messages and took a hammer to one of the Cathedral's many magnificent stained glass windows.
At one point, he attempted to enter the building and asked to take a tour inside, but was turned away by the security guard, because the Cathedral doesn't offer Monday tours. He headed south, pausing to hurl his hammer through a second stained glass window that depicts the 16th degree.
Cathedral superintendent Tom Fallis told the press that the window damage alone could cost $50,000 apiece to repair.
Crossing North Street, he continued his nonsensical graffiti spree on the cornerstone of the 1909 Indianapolis Masonic Temple and Freemasons Hall, and all along the east wall facing the Pierson Street alley.
By an unfortunate set of circumstances, the south door of the Temple had been momentarily propped open for a package delivery, and Jackson was able to enter the south entry hall, where he continued spray-painting antique photos, marble wall panels and more. In the lobby he sprayed a statue and the front of the welcome desk before being confronted by the security officer.
He had expressed his intent to get to the 5th floor Masonic Library & Museum.
When the guard asked what his reason was for vandalizing the building, he yelled, 'All Masons must die and be thrown into a grave!' while adding that his damage didn't matter, because the 'Masons have millions to fix it with.'
Bizarrely enough, he voluntarily exited the building, sat down on the south steps, and calmly waited for police to arrive, saying he had accomplished what he set out to do. He was taken into custody and booked for 'misdemeanor vandalism under $50,000' and 'intimidation.'
Despite his 'Masons must die!' threat, there is no hate crime charge as of yet, and it doesn't sound like police have any inclination to investigate it as such, despite the increase in anti-Masonic attacks all around the world over the last few years. I've reported on these attacks many times now, but apparently we don't fall into a neat little protected class authorities commonly cite. The English press keep alleging that police departments are filled with secret Freemasons. If that were really true, these criminals would be charged with hate crimes without question.
Meanwhile, it seems the anti-Masonic conspiracy theories are exponentially increasing in number, intensity, and looniness. As I said in one interview with a TV station today, the Internet is a megaphone for bad ideas. Before we spoke to the press today, our Temple board had a brief meeting to discuss whether we should go public with the story or not. By going on TV, we risk inspiring copycats. But remaining silent can be even more dangerous because the public and our own members need to be aware that Freemasons are under increasing threats of vandalism, and much worse. None of us want to scare the public or our own members away from attending lodge functions. But we have got to raise awareness so that both our members and our neighbors can remain vigilant. And we need to remind our communities that we are alive and well and we remain committed to them. Our goal is to improve society by improving one man at a time through brotherhood, mentoring and enduring friendships. And we are one of the very few sanctuaries where men of every race, religion, political persuasion, economic, and educational level can sit down together in harmony and share what we have in common. In a world that seems hell bent on keeping us all divided and at each other‘s throats, we still believe in the mission of making good men into better ones.
Cost of the damage to our two buildings is not yet known. Unfortunately, stronger security measures will have to be enforced, which absolutely flies in the face of our desire to welcome the public in and tell the story of Freemasonry to as many people as we can. Our magnificent buildings were designed from the very start to be standing beacons of our fraternity to our communities, and none of us want to be forced to lock them down and make them into fortresses. Sadly, there is no easy answer.
Many people have asked how to help financially. By permission of Grand Master John Bridegroom, the Masonic Library & Museum of Indiana has set up a donation link to a special fund that will be evenly shared between the Scottish Rite Cathedral Foundation and the Indianapolis Masonic Temple, specifically for the restoration of the damage caused by this unfortunate incident. Use the QR code below to donate:
Meanwhile, our local news coverage was widespread this evening. The Indianapolis Star sent a reporter, as did every TV station and news radio WIBC-FM93. Just because I want to log them all in one place for my own future reference, I'll link to them all below.
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| Local press interviews Eric Vermeulen, Director of the Masonic Home Foundation |
WIBC-FM 93
An Indianapolis Masonic site was vandalized Monday morning. A hammer was thrown through stained glass at the Scottish Rite before the same man spray-painted the Masonic Museum & Library and yelled, “All Freemasons should die.”
— 93 WIBC Indianapolis (@93wibc) August 31, 2026
IMPD arrested the man on vandalism and intimidation… pic.twitter.com/XzXKRD7CWt
WXIN Fox59
WTHR-13
WISH-TV8
INDIANAPOLIS STAR
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