Rise In Anti-Semitism May Bring More Anti-Masonic Attacks With It

by Christopher Hodapp

Weekend vandalism at the Oleeta-West Dade Masonic Center in Miami Springs, Florida, is a stark reminder that Masonic buildings—and the Brothers who gather in them—are increasingly becoming targets in today's volatile climate.

Late last week (Friday night into early Saturday morning), surveillance video captured a young man climbing onto a low roof ledge to reach and badly damage two exterior signs at the Masonic center. The footage, shared by WSVN-TV7, shows the suspect pulling himself up to get at the sign and twist one expensive sign off the wall. Damage has been estimated at around $3,000. 

Thankfully, Miami Springs police acted quickly: 20-year-old Brian Guanche was charged with one count of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and one count of criminal mischief. He's since bonded out, but the incident is under investigation.

This wasn't some random act of mischief—it's part of a troubling pattern. Over the last few years, there has been a noticeable uptick in violent attacks, arsons, and vandalism against Masonic buildings around the world, with more than a few tied directly to antisemitic motives. We've seen lodges targeted in places like Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and even Vancouver (where one arsonist hit three buildings in a single morning, causing millions in damage). Overseas, halls in Ireland and Greece have faced similar assaults, and doubtless there have been many more that simply have not hit the news services. Some perpetrators have acted out of bizarre delusions—like believing Masons placed curses on them or controlled minds—while others have been fueled by outright hatered.

That hate often bleeds over from the dramatic and alarming rise in anti-Semitism across the United States (and beyond) in recent months, especially since the outbreak of the war involving Iran. Unfortunately, Freemasonry is getting swept up in the crossfire. Our symbolism—drawing from ancient Jerusalem, King Solomon's Temple, and Old Testament imagery—has been twisted into anti-Jewish conspiracy theories since the 19th century. It doesn't help when historical figures like Pope Leo XIII, influenced by the admitted hoaxes of anti-Catholic prankster Léo Taxil in the 1880s-90s, lumped Masons in with phrases like "Synagogue of Satan" (originally from the New Testament letters, referring to persecutors of early Christians who falsely claimed Jewish identity). Leo clearly bought into the nonsense that a bunch of middle-aged Protestant gentlemen cosplaying as Old Testament figures in ritual were somehow undermining the Church. That old canard still echoes today.

And right now, it's getting amplified by noisy voices with big platforms. Candace Owens, who has somehow amassed nearly three million YouTube subscribers by peddling increasingly outrageous claims, has ramped up her attacks on Freemasonry. Owens (a recent convert to Catholicism) is a certifiable attention-seeker at this point, jumping on every fringe theory that drives clicks and eyeballs—whether it's moon landings, celebrity deaths tied to "sacrifices," or wild Masonic plots. 

Similarly, Shawn Ryan has leaned into kookball anti-Masonic conspiracy content on his show, hosting guests who push debunked nonsense about "Masonic Bibles" and secret influences. Countless lesser imitators follow suit online.

I don't care where you fall on the political spectrum—left, right, or somewhere in the never-never land in between. Spreading this stuff is dangerous. My wife and I wrote a book on conspiracy theories years ago, and Owens is a textbook example of madness given a megaphone and free rein on the internet. There's no filter of responsibility anymore: anybody can launch a podcast, build a persona, and attract an audience of the credulous or the angry by using sensationalistic 'made you look' tactics. There are no qualifications required. People who swallow her brand of "research" don't just nod along—they act. We've already seen real-world consequences, including threats, violence, attacks on our buildings, and worse. 

Texas Freemason Robert Wise was murdered outside of his lodge in 2023 precisely because of this delusional thinking. His killer told police that he shot Wise because Masons were "devil worshiping Illuminatists."

With geopolitical tensions boiling over and antisemitism surging, we have to be vigilant. Masonic temples aren't fortresses, but Brothers and lodge officers need to take practical steps: review security cameras, lighting, and alarms; coordinate with local law enforcement; avoid leaving valuables or regalia visible; and report suspicious activity immediately. Most of these incidents happen at night when buildings are empty, so proactive measures can make a real difference.

Freemasonry has endured worse for centuries, and we'll keep doing what we do—meeting in peace, practicing brotherly love and relief, and building better men. But ignoring the threats won't make them disappear. Stay aware, stay safe, and let's look out for one another.

If you're a Mason reading this, talk to your lodge about security. If you're not, but you value fair-minded institutions that promote charity and moral improvement, know that the same bigots targeting synagogues and Jewish communities are increasingly turning their gaze toward Masonic halls too.

Atlanta's Historic Prince Hall Temple Reopens After $14 Million Renovation

Photo: W.C. Thomas Lodge 112 Facebook Page

by Christopher Hodapp

The Atlanta Prince Hall Masonic Temple, a center of African American Freemasonry and civil rights history, just reopened on February 11th after a whopping $14 million renovation.

The Atlanta temple was built between 1937 and 1941 under the guidance of John Wesley Dobbs, a powerhouse civic leader who was basically the unofficial mayor of Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn neighborhood. Dobbs was elected Grand Master of the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia in 1932, and re-elected annually until his death in 1961. This place wasn't just a lodge hall; it was a buzzing hub for black enterprise and activism.

In its heyday, the building housed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) starting in 1957—their very first headquarters. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had his only known office there, a windowless little spot where he plotted strategy and dreamed big. The National Parks Service has made the Temple part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, and, using photos of King's office as a guide, will eventually restore the room to appear as it did in the 1960s.

Upstairs, you'd find WERD-AM 860, the nation's first black-owned radio station, where DJs like "Jockey Jack" Gibson spun records and dropped civil rights updates. And there was Madam C.J. Walker's Beauty Shoppe—an enterprise of America's first self-made female millionaire (whose company was based in my own hometown of Indianapolis). During the 1960s, when segregation battles made safe gathering spots scarce, this temple was where black leaders could meet without looking over their shoulders. Legends say King even did radio interviews by dangling a phone out the window to the station below. 

The restored ballroom

But like so many historic gems, the temple fell on hard times as Sweet Auburn faced disinvestment and urban decay. It landed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's "11 Most Endangered Places" list back in the '90s, and by the 2010s, it needed serious attention. Enter a powerhouse partnership: The Trust for Public Land teamed up with the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia, Invest Atlanta, the National Park Service, and generous donors like the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and the Georgia Pacific Foundation. Starting in 2022, they poured in the cash—$10 million for the core reno, plus a fresh $1.4 million grant from billionaire philanthropist Robert Smith to jazz it up with immersive exhibits.

A newly renovated social room for the lodges.
Photo: W.C. Thomas Lodge 112 Facebook Page 

The result is a 16,000-square-foot space that's been lovingly restored to blend old-school charm with modern flair. They matched paint colors to vintage photos, reinstalled the iconic WERD sign, replaced its deteriorated green window frames, and restored the neon Prince Hall Masons sign out front to beckon visitors. The Masons get to keep the top floor for their meetings and events. The rest is now primed for public tours, education, and interpretation as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, which it officially joined in 2018. With over a million visitors flocking to the park each year, this addition is set to shine a light on the intertwined stories of Freemasonry, civil rights, and black community resilience.

Photo: W.C. Thomas Lodge 112 Facebook Page 

At the ribbon-cutting, heavy hitters like Prince Hall Grand Master Primus James, Invest Atlanta CEO Dr. Eloisa Klementich. Atlanta historian Reverend Dr. Herman “Skip” Mason, Dr. Kevin James, President of Morris Brown College and Arthur Clement, who is one of PGM John Wesley Dobbs’ grandsons, were there. And Martin Luther King III and Park Superintendent Reggie Chapple both weighed in on why this matters. King III put it best: Preserving places like this helps "institutionalize the dream" of his parents and avoid repeating history's mistakes.

Speaking of history’s mistakes, in a world where historic Masonic buildings all too often get sold off, bulldozed for parking lots, or just ignored to death and left to crumble (I'm looking at you, way too many jurisdictions), it's refreshing to see one get the royal treatment it deserves occasionally.

If you're in Atlanta or planning a Masonic road trip, add this to your list. It's not just a building—it's a testament to how Freemasonry has been a quiet force for progress, especially in communities that needed it most.

Maybe it'll inspire a few more lodges to dust off their own histories before we let them fade away.

(Thanks to Br. Dave Gillarm at the Prince Hall Think Tank podcast for alerting me on this story.)

Australian Masonic Temple Destroyed in Arson Attack

by Christopher Hodapp

Two suspected arsonists were arrested after an historic Australian Masonic temple was severely damaged by fire early Wednesday in New South Wales. The temple was home to Northern Rivers Lodge 77. According to several reports, the 1920's-era brick lodge building itself was severely damaged after the roof caught fire and collapsed. The interior is likely gutted, but the facade is still standing.

The two suspects appeared in court on Thursday. Christopher Andrew Mayne (age 32, from Nimbin) and Cameron Robert Surtees (age 36, from Lismore) were released on bail.

From ABCNews Australia:

Richmond Police District crime manager, Detective Inspector Grant Erickson, said the fire was being treated as arson.

"We have a 36-year-old male from Nimbin and a 32-year-old male from Nimbin ... [who] were arrested at the Lismore Central shopping centre at 11am," he said.

"At this stage it's too early for me to say what the cause and origin of that fire is, but we are definitely treating it as suspicious."

Detective Inspector Erickson said the damage done to the building was "catastrophic".

"It's a beautiful building. It's a landmark in Lismore," he said.

The blaze broke out around 4am in the Magellan Street building, which sits across the road from Lismore's library.

It has been the home of Freemasons in the region for almost 100 years.

The Worshipful Master of Northern Rivers Lodge No. 77, Allan Ridgewell, said Freemasons had been gathering in Lismore since the mid-1800s and had built the lodge in the 1920s to 1930s.

"We've done so much for Lismore over the years; it's just so sad to see it happen," he said.

A wooden building that housed as dance studio and a theatre group behind the temple was completely destroyed by the fire, according to NSW Fire and Rescue acting duty commander Fraser Hindry. 

Photo: Nathan Kelly

The Lismore Masonic Temple before the fire

"[The fire spread] to the roof of the main building, which is a masonry building, and unfortunately the roof collapsed," [Hindry] said.

"The contents of the lodge are pretty well damaged."

Mr Hindry said there was no-one in the building at the time of the fire and there had been no reports of injuries.

While the ornate facade of the building is still standing, the back of the building and another structure behind the main hall have been destroyed.

From a 2011 photo of the lodge room. The lodge was largely submerged
under the flooding in 2022.

The lodge had already suffered a terrible loss just a few years ago. The town of Lismore was devastated in 2022 by a major flood that destroyed most of the lodges's original furniture, records, and more. Four days of torrential rains caused the Northern Rivers to rise almost 40 feet, flooding the town and displacing 31,000 residents. 

The town of Lismore was submerged under almost 40 feet of water in 2022.

Local donations from other lodges and the community were instrumental in restoring the building enough for the Masons to move back in recently. The future of the lodge is now unclear.

Suspects Surtees and Mayne have been charged with 'aggravated break and enter' and 'committing a serious indictable offense.' They have not yet pleaded, and both were granted bail with 'certain conditions.' They are due to reappear in Lismore Local Court on November 26th. According to the Daily Telegraph, Surtees is reportedly under a Community Treatment Order (CTO), indicating he is considered mentally ill under law. He is said to be overdue for a required medication and in urgent need of treatment.

When Magistrate Janet Wahlquist released Surtees and Mayne on bail Thursday, she did so, in spite of saying she was "concerned" about Surtees' mental health. But she DID stipulate as part of his bail restrictions that he must stay away from lighters and matches, and stay away from the Masonic lodge - that he had already burned down.

Really. I couldn't possibly make that up.

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] 

 

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.

The Memphis Masonic Hall is located at 110 S Market Street in Memphis, MO. 

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.

Vancouver Masonic Hall Arsonist Paroled Again

Ben Kohlman, self-portrait/Facebook

by Christopher Hodapp

The convicted arsonist who set fire to three Masonic halls in Vancouver, Canada back in 2021 is in trouble with the law again, and he still blaming "The Illuminati" for his troubles.

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. 

Now he's been sentenced to 18 months’ probation after being arrested over a year ago for dangerous driving, fleeing from police, and subsequently attempting to take the gun of the arresting police officer. He was jailed for almost a year and a half for that crime. Now, amazingly, despite his prior issues with drug-induced psychosis, paranoia and history as a firebug, the court has granted him probation in this case.

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.

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.

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."

Four years later, it's clear Kohlman's stint in prison had little positive effect on his emotional and mental well-being, and his drug use continued on the outside. Now he's out again. Regardless of his "progress in recovery," Vancouver Masons should remain vigilant. The voices in his head may just be napping.

TempleLive Abruptly Closes; Operated Former Masonic Temples in Four Cities

by Christopher Hodapp

A bold vision to try and save historic Masonic temples has tragically failed, apparently. Or at least struck a sizeable reef. News sources in Cleveland, Ohio reported last week that TempleLive, the company operating the Cleveland Masonic Temple and several other landmark Masonic theater venues, seems to have folded. Shows have been canceled, performers have been unable to get responses, and the company isn't answering phone calls. The company website is also down. 

If they really have folded, it's a sad setback for the historic Masonic temples in Cleveland, and Columbus, Ohio, along with Wichita in Kansas, and Ft. Smith in Arkansas, all recently renovated by TempleLive to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. But TempleLive wasn't owned or affiliated with the two or three mega-promotion companies that monopolize the concert business in the U.S. Squeezed out of the most lucrative acts in show business, they have fallen into the economic reality of trying to do things independently.

Cleveland Masonic Temple

The company was started several years ago by Lance Beaty's Beaty Capital Group and Rob Thomas, who had two goals for their venture. One was to preserve, renovate and operate theaters, specifically in endangered Masonic halls. Like so many of us, they realized these incredible, one of a kind temples built by our brethren a century or more ago needed to find new life in order to be saved from the wrecking ball. Their secondary notion was to serve smaller towns outside of the usual lineup of big cities for touring music, theater, comedy and other entertainment acts. Their first purchase was the 1928 Fort Smith Masonic Temple, and all of the venues they took over had large stages and auditoriums built originally for fraternal productions. Our forefathers also intended for these beautiful theaters to be used by their communities, not just a couple of annual events for Masons only.

Fort Smith Masonic Temple

An extended story in Crain's Cleveland Business on Monday quoted an Arkansas interview with the company's founder, Lance Beaty, who placed a lot of blame on being in independent concert promotor in a world dominated by a few massive, monopolistic corporations who control the business:

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.”

The Columbus Athenaeum was built in 1899 as a Masonic temple. 

After an expansion in 1913, it was claimed to be the largest specifically-Masonic building in America (a mantle that was soon surpassed in the fraternal building craze of the 1920s).

Wichita Scottish Rite

The article continued:

According to the 2025 State of Live report from the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), 64% of indie venues did not turn a profit in 2024.
“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.”

A debt collection complaint has been filed against BCG by Arkansas’ Partners Bank for an alleged default on a $1.5 million line of credit, according to Phillips County Circuit Court records. That related promissory note was signed in October 2023 and matured on May 2, 2025.

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.

Upstate New York Masonic Temple For Sale

by Christopher Hodapp

If you ever wanted to own your own impressive Masonic hall, head for upstate New York. It’s not every day a nearly-110-year-old, castle-like Masonic Temple with bowling lanes, a ballroom, an organ, and movie-ready tech hits the market for under half-a-million smackers.

The massive former Masonic Temple in Little Falls, NY has just gone on the market for just $499,900. (If it looks familiar, I also wrote about it in 2017, the last time it went on the market: 'When The Profane World Protects Treasures We Toss') It’s not just one lot, either—it comes with four parcels bundled together. That definitely seems like a steal for what you’re getting, as long as you're ready to relocate to Little Falls, which definitely has its charm. After all, it's the home of the Yogi Berra Museum.

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).

The current owners have clearly treated this gem like their playground. On the main level, they installed a slick bar just begging for soirees. They plopped a $150K full-motion projection system (yes, movie nights in the castle!), draped it with custom ballroom curtains from France, and added a partial but gorgeous custom kitchen. There’s even living quarters with soaring ceilings, two bedrooms, and killer views. Bonus: they’re leaving behind stacks of building materials for whoever's next to bring the vision home. 

Even the former Commandery's glass-front uniform lockers are still there in the Armory. All still preserved, but now with a new living space, bedroom, and modern kitchen on one floor. It is artistically beautiful, and architecturally unique. 

And it all used to belong to us. 

It doesn't anymore.

The New York Masons were building for the Ages. William Moore thought this Temple noteworthy enough to mention it in his book, Masonic Temples: Freemasonry, Ritual Architecture, and Masculine Archetypes. Out here in the Midwest where we make our human sacrifices to the Corn Gods, the modern-day choice of Masonic hall construction is pre-fab steel pole barns that might as well be a swine barn, soybean warehouse or veterinarian's office. 

In 1995 as the lodge suffered from declining membership, they sold the building to a prominent local couple who turned it into their own private home and pottery business. They allowed the Masons to continue meeting in their original lodge room for several years. The local Little Falls lodge moved out in 2004 when they consolidated with a lodge in Dolesville. At its height, this was home to 350 Masons and 173 Order of Eastern Star members. Over the years it’s been a nursery school, pottery and art studio, a dance and music venue.

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.

Masonic Quest: Escape from the Masonic Temple!

by Christopher Hodapp

No, I don't mean ducking out to avoid cooking the monthly breakfast. Not that kind of escape. 

I'm always looking for unique ways to bring the community into our Masonic halls and get the public interested in just who and what our fraternity is all about. Sometimes you have to think outside of the usual pattern of pancake breakfasts, chili cook-offs, and other typical events that lodges have been doing for the last 100 years and get more creative. So, here are a couple of ideas:

The Grand Orient de Belgium's Belgium Museum of Freemasonry in Brussels regularly hosts “Escape From The Masonic Temple” in its magnificent, historic temple. 

"A mysterious backpack has been found in the Museum…"The Belgian Museum of Freemasonry invites you to embark on a truly immersive experience: Masonic Quest, a thrilling escape game that takes place throughout the entire museum. Each puzzle you solve will bring you one step closer to uncovering the hidden treasure.

Succeed in your mission, and you’ll be rewarded with a photo alongside the treasure, an exclusive badge, and a certificate of investigation to commemorate your adventure.

Step into Masonic Quest, the captivating escape game at the Belgian Museum of Freemasonry! Dive into a world of intrigue, where mystery, symbols, and riddles intertwine. Follow in the footsteps of a historian who once hid a treasure deep within the museum’s walls.

Work as a team, explore every corner, crack codes, and solve puzzles to discover what’s been concealed.

This is a great idea. It's a fun way to get people into your Masonic building and interest younger people who haven't the first clue about who and what we really are. We have unique spaces that most people never give a second thought to. And everybody everywhere wants to know what's behind closed doors. So, let them in, guide them around, make them feel like explorers, let them see some unique artifacts.

The event also gives them the opportunity to hold guided tours and to open up their beautiful museum.

*  *  *

Lots of lodges also do haunted tours of their buildings, like this one in San Antonio, Texas.

They managed to get a few minutes on a local TV station to promote the event.

*  *  *

Then there' a children's  'treasure hunt' this coming weekend at Mount Zion Lodge 135 in Metuchen, New Jersey:

The Freemasons of Metuchen (Mt. Zion Lodge #135),
in conjunction with Wolfe Ossa Law and What's the Scoop are sponsoring a ​Children's Treasure Hunt following the style of "National Treasure", "Indiana Jones", and "Tomb Raider".

This is a chaperoned Treasure Hunt that will challenge children to solve puzzles leading from one location in Metuchen to another. Each clue will bring the children progressively closer to the final treasure!

The Treasure Hunt will start at the Mt. Zion Lodge on Saturday, June 14th, 2025 9:30 am sharp.
** You MUST pre-register ** (we will fill up, do it now)
​Address: 483 Middlesex Ave. Metuchen, NJ 08840

Grand Lodge of Ireland Mortified Over Use of Dublin's Freemason Hall

by Christopher Hodapp

WARNING: This is NOT a family-friendly story, I'm afraid. Nor is it pleasant to even describe. But it's been in the internet headlines all week, so I need to.

A tempest has been brewing in the international press this week over a story involving the historic Dublin Freemason Hall of the Grand Lodge of Ireland. The initial reports were that former Fox News host Tucker Carlson had interviewed one-time Irish UFC Mixed Martial Arts fighter Conor McGregor for his online streaming program and that the Grand Lodge was furious over their lodge room being used as a backdrop for the political-themed interview. The Grand Lodge's reaction seemed oddly hyperbolic in these early reports, and now I know why. The real reason is NOT being widely reported.

I am NOT going to venture into Irish politics here, for therein lies the path to madness. But to explain this story takes some background, I'm afraid. And the Carlson interview doesn't really have anything to do with it. 

Conor McGregor is a highly tendentious figure in Ireland (recently convicted in a high-profile rape case, and currently hoping to run for their president on what is characterized as a far-right anti-immigrant platform). After the interview aired, there was great huffing and puffing out of the Grand Lodge about how "controversial" McGregor is (he is, without doubt) and how equally "controversial" Carlson is. Like so many large Masonic buildings around the world, the Grand Lodge of Ireland makes their building available for rentals to the general public, and this event was booked by an outside organization. Early statements out of the Grand Lodge claimed ignorance and denounced the entire episode as a horrible mistake on their part, saying they would have denied the use of their building had they known McGregor and Carlson were involved. They immediately offered to donate the €2500 booking fee to charity.

Here's an excerpt from the BBC:

The Freemasons' grand master elect told members in an email that the interview had caused "incalculable" damage and that the venue had been used for "grossly inappropriate purposes".

"The Grand Lodge of Ireland does not comment on any political matter and so regrets letting our premises facilitate any political discussion," Richard S G Ensor wrote.

"I look for your support to get us over this unpleasant time and steer us back on the right path.

"I am personally abhorred at what has taken place and extend my personal apology to our members, family and friends."

Earlier this week, the grand secretary of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Ireland, Philip Daley, told Irish broadcaster RTÉ that they regularly take bookings from media organisations but "insist" on knowing the interviewer, guests and topics of discussion to ensure this aligns with the organisation's "morals and principles".

However, he said in the case of McGregor and Carlson, the information was only received an hour before the interview.

But something seemed strange about their reaction to a simple two-shot of two men talking to each other for 55 minutes. That's NOT what the Grand Lodge is "abhorred" about.

I am no one's apologist for this story, but Tucker Carlson airs interviews with all kinds of people on all sides of the political and cultural spectrum, and they are often personalities that few members of the public know anything about apart from headlines. I don't care what anyone may think about him, pro or con, but Carlson wants to know why someone stirs controversy and lets his subjects praise or damn themselves out of their own mouths. While McGregor is doubtless one of the very last guys you'd want associated with the fraternity, nothing in the interview itself even remotely implied any connection to the Freemasons, unless you instantly recognized the large organ that dominates the back of the room they were in. McGregor's opinions may or may not be offensive to a majority of Irish people, but that's a whole different discussion to be had over the precarious position free speech rights currently hold in the Western world. But as it turns out, the Tucker Carlson angle has been played up in the media when the real problem has nothing to do with him. (Several articles made sure to stress the line, "Carlson was himself booted off Fox News in mysterious and acrimonious circumstances" in an effort to make him the villain of the piece, or at least a co-henchman with unspecified dark motives.)

The real truth is that McGregor was already in the Grand Lodge building because his recording production company was there shooting a political "music" video (and I use quotations deliberately, because music is nothing like what you'd call it). The publishable title of this pro-Irish Republican Army, anti-monarchial rap piece is "Spit In It" by an entity calling itself Eskimo Supreme (Irish rapper Alex Sheeran). But the actual lyric itself is the far more repulsive "Spit in my c--t".

No, I won't link to it here, but it's on YouTube if you really feel compelled to see it. It's is pure I.R.A. anti-U.K. agitprop packaged like a music video. And no matter what your views on Irish politics may be, it's noxious no matter how you slice it.

The story line, as it were, is that the British royal family has discovered that a female royal can morph into a reptilian dragon if imprisoned Irish Republican Army members can be compelled to (I'm not making this up) spit saliva onto her genitals. The video depicts an unnamed woman ("your royal highness") sitting on her throne, dropping her panties to the floor, who is then treated to this disgusting activity, while some sort of doctor supervises. After completing the deed, each prisoner is then taken out back and shot. Eventually, an escaped IRA prisoner dressed as an English palace guard bursts into the room, spraying machine gun fire, releasing the prisoners, and then apparently mounting the kneeling royal lady from behind, who then transforms into a flying dragon and spits fire at famed Tower Bridge. 

The.  End.

Not exactly Handel's Messiah.

The Grand Lodge of Ireland's lodge room was used for the throne room scenes, edited to appear as though it is located in the U.K. Parliament building in Westminster. In an early wide shot, the squares and compasses can be clearly seen in the upper cornices of the room. I guess to imply the royal reptilians are all Masons...

According to an article on BrteakingNewsIE by Olivia Kellaher:

Alex Sheeran, the artist behind Eskimo Supreme, is signed to Greenback Records, which is credited at the end of the video. [Conor] McGregor launched the label last summer with music industry business partners. He said it was set to be a “a multi-genre record label supporting artists at all stages of their career.”

Now, none of this has been explained in the vast majority of stories making the rounds. Only that McGregor is disgusting, that Carlson is disgusting-er, and that the Grand Lodge is VERY, VERY sorry that this interview was ever shot in their building. Which begs the obvious question: when all of this genital-spitting, knicker-dropping, prisoner screaming and machine gun firing was going on in the very same Grand Lodge room, was there NO ONE from the Masons to shout, "Not in OUR building, you don't!" Honestly. Did they just hand the keys over to the crew and go home? Even if an "outside booking company" handled the transaction?Didn't one single trustee, grand officer, janitor or Blue Lodge Mason happen to spot any of this and demand a halt be called long before McGregor and Carlson shot their interview? Or did the €2500 seem enough lucre at the time to assuage everyone's Masonic consciences?

I advocate all the time for opening the doors to our facilities to the general public in order to remind our communities that we remain an important part of the civic and moral fabric. But this is beyond the pale.  If ANY Freemason was present for any of this display of grotesqueries at the time, they need to be expelled from the fraternity.

Meanwhile, the bulk of the press wants to keep leaning into the "FAR RIGHT! FAR RIGHT!" screaming mania, without any revelation as to what was really going on.

UPDATE: Late this week, the Grand Lodge of Ireland got around to addressing the "Spit In It" video with a second apology and vows to investigate just who was responsible for approving the use of the hall. I don't really care who approved the rental. Why didn't anyone step in during the shoot itself and halt it?

(NOTE: Comments are turned off because I don't feel up to non-stop policing them for the next 72 hours.)