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.

Cuban Government Places Disgraced Past Grand Master Back In Charge. . . Again

by Christopher Hodapp

(For MUCH more background on this continuing story, see Cuban Freemasons Oust Grand Master in Called Session on May 29th.)

The government of Cuba has forced the Grand Lodge of Cuba to violate its own internal rules in order to re-install their former Grand Master, Mario Alberto Urquía Carreño (photo above). He had been forced to resign a year ago, put back into the job by order of the government's Ministry of Justice, and was removed yet again as the head of the order by the members off Grand Lodge in May, but the government has taken the unprecedented step of interfering with the fraternity yet again, putting their handpicked administrator back in the Grand East. 

Carreño was accused last year of embezzling almost US$19,000 from the Grand Lodge, and stealing another US$20,000 in cash from an office safe. When he resigned, he named his own successor, Mayker Filema Duarte, who was seen by the rank and file Cuban Masons as just another government informer. Duarte was supposed to hold elections on May 25th, but canceled their grand session, suspended elections until further notice, and locked the brethren out of their downtown Havana headquarters.

In protest, 120 Cuban Masons held an impromptu Grand Lodge session on the sidewalk outside, ousting Duarte and naming the then-current Deputy Grand Master Juan Alberto Kessel Linares as the new sitting Grand Master until a called meeting for general elections can be held in September. 

The massive Grand Lodge of Cuba building in Havana is a
prominent city landmark (although it's filled with government
offices that far outnumber Masonic lodge rooms and offices).

Now the government's Ministry of Justice has stepped in once more and demanded Mario Alberto Urquía Carreño be put back in as Grand Master again.

From the English language Cuba Headlines website on June 18th:

The Cuban government's reinstatement of Mario Alberto Urquía Carreño as Grand Master of the Supreme Council and the Grand Lodge has ignited a wave of discontent among Cuban Freemasons. Urquía Carreño was reinstated by the Ministry of Justice's Directorate of Associations (MINJUS), bypassing the majority's decision to reject him following accusations of embezzling $19,000 from his office earlier this year and other actions deemed "high treason" by the Masonic community.

"The Freemasons do not accept Urquía; many lodges will decide not to recognize him and will notify the MINJUS Register of Associations," a Masonic source who wished to remain anonymous told the independent outlet Cubanet. The same source added that there is "a lot of confusion but unanimous feeling of rejection."

The Freemasons appear determined to step down from their positions if the Grand Master does not resign. Others plan to gather in large numbers at the Grand Lodge building to protest and demand Urquía's removal, according to Cubanet.

One such individual is Master Karel Miralles Sánchez, who staged a sit-in at the Grand Lodge of Cuba as a form of protest, asking for Urquía to submit a formal signed resignation. "I am not calling for anything or anyone; I am driven by a personal situation, exercising my right to protest, one of the first rights conferred upon me when I joined this august institution," he stated in a video.

Another source interviewed by Cubanet argued that "if the majority of Freemasons decide we do not want him, he should step down. If MINJUS thinks this is not the correct way to expel him, we will repeat the process immediately." They added that "an overwhelming majority does not wish for him to continue leading our fraternity, as he is materially and morally responsible for the loss of funds donated to aid brethren in distress. Nothing imposed works in a democratic system like ours."

Echoing this sentiment, another Freemason accused the State Security of being behind the situation, suggesting that "they are playing with fire. This might be the push we Freemasons need to finally take the lead in the changes Cuba requires."

Several employees of the Grand Lodge of Cuba have resigned in protest, according to Cubanet. In March, Urquía Carreño was expelled from the semiannual session of the High Chamber.

 

That the Cubans' Marxist dictatorship even permits Freemasonry to openly operate, hold its own elections, and function as a charitable fraternal organization is remarkable among Communist regimes throughout the world. Such governments overwhelmingly distrust Freemasonry because of its reputation for secrecy. After all, you can't prevent an uprising by the Bougies and the Proles if they're going to be members of secret societies, exchanging secret handshakes, baking up black market meat loaf dinners, and telling private dictator jokes in lodge.

"Knock knock!" 

"Who's there?" 

"WE ASK THE QUESTIONS!"

So how did Cuban Freemasons avoid the firing squads under Castro and his successors? The story goes that Marxist revolutionary Fidel Castro and his brother Raoul were hidden and given aid and support by Freemasons during their revolution in 1959 against the Batista government. When Castro seized power, he praised the Masons and gave them the rare consent to keep their lodges and organization intact. 

It's hard to say where all this is headed, but it's been more than half a century since a grateful Fidel Castro clutched the Cuban Freemasons to his heaving bosom and gave them his blessing. The island's present regime may not be so loving anymore.

Cuban Freemasons Oust Grand Master in Called Session

Grand Lodge of Cuba in Havana

by Christopher Hodapp

The Grand Lodge of Cuba is in what the English used to call a right old bloody mess. First, their former Grand Master, Mario Alberto Urquía Carreño, was arrested last September under accusations of fraud, in collaboration with the former Grand Treasurer, Airam Cervera Reigosa. After an extensive audit of the Grand Lodge finances, Carreño and Reigosa may have ultimately embezzled more than US$20,000 using forged documents, along with making off with another US$19,000 in cash from an office safe. The thefts were discovered in January 2024, he was soon expelled by the Supreme Council (the Scottish Rite) in Cuba, but he refused to step down from his Grand Master position amid shouts of "Traitor! Usurper! Out thief!" at the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge in March 2024. After he finally left the meeting hall, he was unanimously replaced by Mayker Filema Duarte as the new Grand Master until proper elections could be held in March of this year. 

Former Grand Master Mario Alberto Urquía Carreño (Photo: Cubanet)

At that time, Carreño was seen by most Masons in Cuba as being a hand-picked puppet, illegally imposed on them by the state's security forces. Despite the charges of conspiracy and embezzlement against him last year, the Communist government's Ministry of Justice (MINJUS) ordered him reinstated and restored as Grand Master in June. But by August, the criminal charges against him could no longer be dodged, and he resigned as Grand Master, handing the purple apron over to Mayker Filema Duarte. 

Cuban Masons didn't like that choice, either, as Duarte was seen as a buddy of Carreño and just one more narc for the state security service. Duarte was supposed to hold general elections in March of this year, but postponed them until May 25th. That date came, but Duarte decided to cancel the elections altogether and remain in the Grand East until further notice. Making the situation even dicier, Duarte's actions were supported by the Communist Party of Cuba and the MINJUS, despite the fact that he was in violation of the Grand Lodge's internal rules. And that's when the rank and file Masons collectively yelled, "Hold my Cuba Libra," and the gathering turned into an ugly hockey game brawl.

Last Sunday it was reported that Grand Master Duarte has now been removed from his position after refusing to hold the grand lodge elections. Duarte was booted after 121 members of the Grand Lodge and 117 representatives of lodges around the country held a special called session in Havana. According to at least one source, Duarte had ordered the closure of all the Grand Lodge's facilities, prompting the Freemasons to gather outside the theater while government security officers observed and recorded their activities.

Cuban Masons held an impromptu called meeting outside of the
Grand Lodge after Grand Master Duarte closed the building down. Photo: Cubanet

The current Deputy Grand Master Juan Alberto Kessel Linares was named as the new sitting Grand Master by the assembled brethren until a called meeting for general elections can be held in September. 

Duarte and his grand officers did not attend the sidewalk session.

A Mason interviewed by Cubanet considered the event historic and said that they made the decision to oust Duarte after exhausting all legal avenues.

"We tried, through all legal means, even unconventional ones, to assert our will and respect our legislation, but Filema refused to do so. Their lack of respect became evident and, worse still, MINJUS, far from ensuring proper conduct, actually supported it and fostered an unnecessary confrontation. We, the Cuban Freemasons, are the rightful owners of this Institution and we must, above all else, adhere to our oaths and the current legislation. If the government wants to dominate us, we will not allow it,"

From the article on Cibercuba.com:

[Duarte] had suspended the session of the High Masonic Chamber (the legislative body of the institution) in which elections for the senior positions of the Lodge were to take place in previous weeks.

With that precedent, which, according to a report from Cubanet, extended its "dictatorship" and "the illegality within the Institution", the Freemasons decided to enforce justice.

A decree obtained by that media outlet revealed that Filema Duarte claimed that the "conditions to resume the suspended session on March 23 were not guaranteed."

In the text, he justified suspending the meeting to prevent alleged "scandals that transcend public life" and "further damage the already tarnished image of our Institution."

Previously, he warned about "personal threats" against him and announcements of "vandalistic behaviors with publicity from independent media." He believed that such acts were "inappropriate" for Freemasons and aimed to discredit the institution.

Filema Duarte was elected as Grand Master following the resignation of Mario Urquía Carreño, amid a corruption case involving the misappropriation of thousands of dollars and over 4 million pesos from the Lodge.

However, although the High Chamber established a six-month term for the position, until the holding of general elections, the Grand Master suspended the agreed-upon session.

Cubanet revealed that the Freemasons handed over documents and evidence to the Ministry of Justice to demonstrate the illegality committed by Filema Duarte in refusing to hold elections. However, Miriam García, director of Associations at MINJUS, did not address the complaint and supported the [actions of Duarte].

Making matters worse (if that's possible), while the large Grand Lodge headquarters building in Havana looks impressive, as though it's packed with Masonic occupants, it is, in reality, packed with government offices and officials who rent space in the building. Government officials frequently sit quite openly in Masonic meetings to observe their activities. It will be curious to see whether the Masons will prevail at electing and disciplining their own governing officers, or if the government forces them to knuckle under and keep Duarte on the throne of Solomon.

Freemasonry in Cuba has a peculiar relationship with their Communist Party that's quite unlike anywhere else in the Communist world. Most Communist regimes have banned Masonic organizations completely, dating back to the Russian Revolution in the early 20th century. But when Cuba's revolutionary leader Fidel Castro was fighting anti-Communist forces on the island in the 1950s, he was given aid and comfort by several groups of Masons there. Some have claimed that he was allowed to hide out in Masonic halls. 

After the Batista government was toppled and Castro came to power in 1959, Masonry was one of very few private organizations permitted to operate behind closed doors, and he never forgot the assistance they gave him during those early days. Which is partially why their Havana office tower got so many government tenants over the subsequent decades. But it also makes it quite easy for the government to keep a careful watch over their internal affairs.

According to fairly recent figures, there are currently 327 lodges in the country and a total of 48,000 Cuban Freemasons. Of these, only about 20,000 remain within the island, representing an exodus of more than 50% of registered Masons.

It should be said that, while the Grand Lodge of Cuba is perfectly legitimate in origin and satisfies most of the most common requirements of recognition with the regular Masonic world, it was kicked out of the Conference of Grand Masters of North America (COGMNA) in 1962 because it was openly being used as a tool of the Cuban government. 

More than 60 years later, it would appear that little has changed in that regard.

OES National Grand Chapter Issues Explanation of Rule Change

by Christopher Hodapp

The national Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star has released an explanatory letter regarding the recent change to the OES constitution which removed the former Masonic family connection for female petitioners.  

As reported HERE, MW David Ray Pyle, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of West Virginia issued a directive earlier this month evicting OES chapters from all Masonic lodge halls and buildings in his jurisdiction. 

In their letter, OES Grand Worthy Matron Billie Bradford and Grand Worthy Patron Michael E. Berry, Past Grand Master of Arizona, stress that the change was ONLY for women, that the Masonic membership requirement for men remains unchanged. It reads, in part:

"Prior to the adoption of this legislation in October 2024, those eligible to membership in the Order of the Eastern Star included:

• Affiliated Master Masons in good standing and any female relatives who are related by birth, marriage, or adoption to Affiliated Master Masons in good standing, or if deceased were in good standing at thetime of their death; as well as:

• Members – either active for three (3) years or majority – in the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls or in the Job’s Daughters International, each of whom having attained the age of eighteen (18) years.

Resolution 42 added the following:

• Women sponsored by a sister and brother who are members of the Order

"Please be aware that one important qualification did not change—any man wishing to join the Order of the Eastern Star must be a Master Mason in good standing. If a male petitioner is not a Master Mason, he cannot join Eastern Star. And if a male member of Eastern Star is suspended from his Lodge (whether for non-payment of dues or otherwise), then he is also automatically suspended from Eastern Star. In other words, membership in Freemasonry is a prerequisite for any man wishing to join Eastern Star.

"The change that was made to the membership qualifications applies strictly to female petitioners for the degrees in Eastern Star and adds only a category for sponsored membership. The gist of sponsored membership is that any woman who wants to join the Order of the Eastern Star and who does not meet the standard requirements for membership can nevertheless petition for membership if she presents with her petition two letters of recommendation, one of which is signed by a female member of the Order in good standing, and the other is signed by a male member of the Order in good standing. In other words, if a woman wants to join Eastern Star as a sponsored petitioner, she must first be vouched for by a Master Mason who is in good standing.

"We understand the concern over the foregoing change, especially that it has eliminated the prerequisite Masonic connection for female petitioners. We ask those espousing this belief to remember that before sponsored membership was enacted, the connections between some of our petitioners and their Masonic relations were spotty at best. For example, a young woman who never or barely knew her grandfather but could prove that he was a Master Mason in good standing when he died was eligible to join Eastern Star—but the woman who has been a constant companion to her Master Mason boyfriend for decades could not.

"In fact, we see sponsored membership as requiring a much stronger Masonic connection than Eastern Star previously required. While the young woman who never or barely knew her Master Mason grandfather, uncle or stepbrother is still eligible to join, a woman who wants to join but who is not related to a Master Mason must present a letter, signed by a living Master Mason in good standing, in which that Brother vouches for the woman’s character. In our opinion, this demonstrates that not only does the Order of the Eastern Star remain deeply connected to Freemasonry, but no sponsored member may join without the express approval of a Mason. In other words, unlike a woman who can prove a direct relationship in her past, Master Masons in the present essentially have direct authority over which women are eligible to join."

It goes on to state that the vote to make this change was overwhelmingly passed by their members last year, who all DID have the Masonic family relationship. Moreover, the state Grand Chapters do not possess the ability to ignore, set aside, or modify the national rules, nor do the national grand officers have the ability to do so, while most Masonic Grand Masters DO possess that power within their jurisdictions. Meaning, the GM of West Virginia didn't have to evict them. He certainly could have remained silent on the subject, waited until his annual meeting, and asked for a vote of the subordinate lodge representatives.

Another point made by the letter is a matter of basic Masonic charity and brotherly love. 

"The directives and edicts issued or being contemplated in the various Masonic jurisdictions have had a major impact, as we have been inundated with calls, emails, and letters of concern from Eastern Star members both in North America and all around the world. Our hearts break for these Sisters and Brothers whose membership may be impacted because for many of our members, particularly those who are in the golden years of their lives, Eastern Star is one of their few opportunities for social interaction and camaraderie."

This is the real heart of the matter. How does the action of the Grand Master of West Virginia help Freemasonry in any way, shape or form? How does evicting the Eastern Star Chapters his serve his members?

CLICK THE IMAGES BELOW TO ENLARGE

Utah Past Grand Master Gerald Everett Expelled

by Christopher Hodapp

The assembled members of the Grand Lodge F&AM of Utah have voted to expel Gerald J. Everett, Past Grand Master, from Freemasonry. 

In a letter dated Monday, it was reported that Everett appealed a conviction by his lodge to the Grand Master, and Utah's Grievances & Appeals Committee reviewed his case. At the 153rd Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Utah, the Chairman of the Grievance and Appeals Committee presented the charges, the verdict, and the results of their own investigation. The Grand Lodge subsequently voted overwhelmingly to uphold the decision of the Lodge Trial Commission. Effective immediately, he is expelled from the fraternity and is no longer entitled to the rights and privileges of the fraternity. (CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

Gerald Everett served as Grand Master of Utah in 2015. No details of the case were made available, which is not uncommon in Masonic trial proceedings.

Prince Hall Grand Master of South Carolina Makes Joe Biden Freemason "At Sight"

Photo: MWPHGL of South Carolina

by Christopher Hodapp

UPDATED MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2025, 4:15PM: A previous version of this story erroneously stated this ceremony took place in Washington D.C. It was, in fact, in South Carolina.

UPDATED FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2025, 6:00AM: Added information regarding conflict over Biden’s Catholicism and Masonic membership; and information regarding a vacation property in South Carolina used by Biden.

On Sunday, January 19, 2025, MW Victor C. Major, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of South Carolina, made then-President Joe Biden a Master Mason in a private ceremony "in recognition of his outstanding service to the United States of America."

It would seem that this extraordinary action makes Joe Biden officially the 15th American President who has received the degrees of Freemasonry, as well as the first Prince Hall Affiliated U.S. President.

Photo: MWPHGL of South Carolina

Photo: MWPHGL of South Carolina

This private meeting took place backstage at the opening of the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina while Mr. Biden was visiting on his last full day in office, the day before the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Online discussions among Masons have been heated all week over this story, and unfortunately, most have improperly revolved around diametrically opposed political opinions concerning Mr. Biden himself, rather than any possible Masonic jurisprudence discussions. 

Making a Mason "at sight" (or "on sight" as it is sometimes expressed) is a right of grand masters dating to at least as early as the 1730s and was defended by Laurence Dermott when the so-called 'Antients' grand lodge was formed in England in the 1770s. The details even then were undefined, but it is generally interpreted as a method of conferring the degrees of Freemasonry in an accelerated manner. In most cases, that means the candidate witnesses each of the three degrees, performed in full in a temporary or 'occasional' lodge, without having to demonstrate his proficiency before continuing on to the next. 

However, none of the information released by the MWPHGL of South Carolina indicates that this particular incident was conducted in this manner.

According to Chris Ruli, author of The White House and the Freemasons, "This 'private meeting' to confer honors occurred during a 3-4 minute public photo opportunity. No resolutions of membership were exchanged, no formal acknowledgement received." It would seem that Grand Master Major did little more than shake hands with Mr. Biden and inform him that he was now a Master Mason. There simply wasn't more time. 

Some have speculated that this event may have been arranged by U.S. Representative James E. Clyburn, who is a Prince Hall Freemason in South Carolina, but there is no evidence of that at this time. He and Biden have known each other for many years. But because there have been no details given, the question lingers: did Biden actually express a desire to be a Mason, or even formally give his consent? Or did he merely regard it as just one more honorary award given to Presidents in the course of their time in office, like a key to the city or an honorary Boy Scout, after which he shook hands, said thank you, and moved on to the next dignitary that day? Was this just sprung on him that day, or did he know in advance? So far, neither Biden himself nor Grand Master Major have provided any further information.

Interestingly, when Albert Mackey first baked up his list of so-called 'landmarks' that were never widely adopted in or outside of the U.S., he made 'making a Mason at sight' his 8th landmark. But because the actual practice itself has never been widely accepted, nor uniformly defined, there is obviously great leeway in what a grand master can and cannot do, based on the limitations of the laws within his own jurisdiction. The practice has been hotly debated in Masonic jurisprudence for almost three centuries, and is, at the very least, controversial.

Another question that arises is whether Joe Biden could even remotely be considered under the jurisdiction of South Carolina - mainstream, Prince Hall, or otherwise. He's never lived there in his life, and certainly isn't currently a resident. During his presidency he has sometimes stayed at a $20+ million vacation home on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, but neither he nor anyone in his family actually own that property. It belongs to Maria Allwin, widow of the late Aetos real estate hedge fund founder, James Allwin.

And finally, of course, is a topic I hesitate to mention because of the highly charged partisan fights going on in the country right now. But as more and more episodes occur that seem to show Mr. Biden to be having periods of serious lapses of memory and physical infirmity, and given his advanced age in the first place, it must be asked: is he "an old man in dotage" (the dictionary definition being "the period of life in which a person is old and weak; synonymous with elderliness, senescence, and senility")? If this is, in fact, the case, the vast majority of obligations taken by Freemasons the world over forbid us from taking part in conferring Masonry on such persons. So did Grand Master Major violate his own obligation by doing this?

(Getty/Realtor.com)

With all of those qualifiers out of the way (and disregarding any possible partisan political objections to Mr. Biden by Masons among the rank and file members of the MWPHGL of South Carolina), this development presents a curious problem for Masonic chroniclers. Namely, the MWPHGL of South Carolina is not recognized by any so-called mainstream U.S. grand lodge, the United Grand Lodge of England, or any other major regular, recognized Masonic jurisdiction. So, the semantic (and arguably technical) question is, does this really count as legitimate? (See the national joint recognition map below.) It's been several years since I've heard any South Carolina mainstream Masons weigh in on the possibility of Prince Hall recognition in the near future, and I've never heard any PHA Masons in that state raise the possibility (not that either side has any reason to alert me for any reason). Could happen, but let's just say it doesn't seem imminent.

The Conference of Grand Masters Prince Hall Masons (which does count the MWPHGL of South Carolina as a recognized member of their conference) posted this story and photos on their website shortly after the event. So as far as the Prince Hall Affiliated world is concerned, Mr. Biden is legitimately a Prince Hall Mason. But outside of their Conference, it's doubtful any regular Masons would accept this action and confidently list him as the 15th Masonic President of the United States. At the very least, it will likely require an explanatory footnote.

There is also a religious issue that exists. Biden has long been known to be a practicing Roman Catholic, and the Church has forbidden its global flock to join the Freemasons, a prohibition that has been in place since 1738. Despite removal of the word ‘Freemason’ from Canon Law under the Vatican II revisions, subsequent rulings have reaffirmed the prohibition, stating that Catholics who DO become Masons are in a ‘state of grave sin.’ Catholic Masons are to be denied sacraments such as holy communion. (The most detailed exploration of this issue with Biden I’ve seen is on The Pillar website: see ‘Did Joe Biden join the Freemasons? by Ed. Condon). 

It should be noted that, despite the Church’s longstanding position on Masonic membership, it is estimated that almost 25% of all American Freemasons today are Roman Catholics, based on several non-scientific polls taken in the last decade. So, if Biden voluntarily sought Masonic membership in spite of the Church’s prohibition (which is not clear at this time), he’d certainly be in good company. But his archbishop may be less than happy about it. 

If the PHA Grand Master or any other Mason connected with this event didn’t mention this well-known religious conflict to Biden ahead of time, they did a serious disservice to him that would be extremely irresponsible.

All of this notwithstanding, below is the official wording of the Resolution of Membership issued by MW Victor C. Major, Grand Master of the MWPHGL of South Carolina:

It is with great pleasure that I, Victor C. Major, 27th The Most Worshipful Grand Master, welcome our newest member to the Prince Hall Family. On Sunday, January 19, 2025 at a private event, Master Mason membership with full honors were conferred upon President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. in recognition of his outstanding service to the United States of America.

RESOLUTION OF MEMBERSHIP

To be a Freemason is to be part of a brotherhood dedicated to personal growth, service to others, and the pursuit of knowledge and truth. It is an honor to belong to an organization that promotes these timeless values:

WHEREAS, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. has demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to the United States of America.

WHEREAS, his service reflects the core values of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of South Carolina, including brotherly love, relief, and truth.

WHEREAS, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. contributions have significantly benefited the citizens of the United States of America;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, 27th Most Worshipful Grand Master, Victor C. Major, on behalf of the members of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of South Carolina, hereby confer membership upon President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. in recognition of his outstanding service to the United States of America.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution of Membership be recorded in the archives of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of South Carolina.

GIVEN THIS 19th DAY OF January A.D. 2025

Victor C. Major
27th Most Worshipful Grand Master
Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the State of South Carolina

One final note. At the beginning of February, the story and photographs disappeared from the Conference of Prince Hall Grand Masters website and were moved to the website of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of South Carolina HERE.

(NOTE: As of April 17, 2025, the story has also disappeared from the MWPHGL of South Carolina website, with no explanation.)

GM of Florida Renders Decision Over Social Media Sharing of Controversial Communications - Whatever They Are

by Christopher Hodapp

THIS ought to play out predictably. With lots of noise and gnashing of teeth.

MW Donald W. Cowart (photo), Grand Master of the Grand Lodge F&AM of Florida has just issued an official decree on October 17th forbidding all Masons in his jurisdiction from sharing "any critical or controversial communications between or concerning Masons or any other derogatory Masonic information" on "any online platform, including but not limited to social media, blogs, websites, forums, podcasts, and video sharing..."

Don't know the specific background or events that led to this decision, but I can attest that this kind of struggle between GMs and online Masons has been going on for at least a quarter century now. On the one hand, there are brethren who believe it's their emphatic, GAOTU-given right to unfettered free-speech, no matter what. On the other hand, when do the privacy rights prevail for our fellow Freemasons – to whom we are obligated to "whisper good counsel in his ear, and in the most tender manner possible, remind him of his faults, aid in his reformation, and ward off all approaching danger" – if we as individuals think their privacy violates our own free speech?

As Masons, like it or not, grand masters do get to swing their weight around and make those decisions for us at times. But then the question arises: is a grand master – acting from a position of responsibility and authority on behalf of his members – entitled to those self-same privacy rights? After all, we are all ultimately taught to respect the men we elevate to officer positions and to abide by their decisions, until such time as the next grand lodge meeting in which his actions, rulings, decisions, and edicts are reviewed and approved by us. And a GM is generally the ultimate authority in all matters of Masonic jurisprudence until such a review occurs.

Then comes the third question: can a GM's decision or action be hidden from the membership by a misguided or improperly abused demand for 'secrecy'? We've all seen damage done to individual Masons or lodges when a GM yanks dues cards or charters, destroying decades of Masonic careers or years of lodge rebuilding. Reviewing his actions 11 months later doesn't undo the damage.

I'm sure this seems comically ironic on this website that has at times shared not exactly flattering Masonic stories online. Or possibly just plain hypocritical. In my own case, I hold myself solely responsible for selectively deciding stories to report or withhold here. It's my own little fiefdom here, and if I wind up suffering another suspension penalty at some point in my future, I'll lick my wounds and take a bit of time on a beach to contemplate my virtues, my sins, and my place in the Cosmos. All I can say in defense of my own mercurial role as occasional public tattler of injustices is that I follow the Justice Potter theory of decision justification: "I know it when I see it."

The Mess Over MESH: Grand Lodge of District of Columbia and the MESH Charity Finally Settle Their Long-Running Dispute

Seems like East Coast Masons have been infected off and on by various and sundry ill winds off the Atlantic ever since 2020 when COVID whacked us all. Grand Lodges in New Jersey, DC and South Carolina, along with the Prince Hall GL in Massachusetts all had long, tough, knock-down, drag-out fights internally that started during that irksome annus horribilis. So have the Grand Encampment of the Templars in the USA and the Scottish Rite NMJ. At the very least, it seems that the COVID lockdowns and meeting cancellations were leading to serious mental problems in the fraternity, like one big nervous breakdown…

I've posted here about Texas and South Carolina over the years, but the mud wrestling matches in Grand Lodges of Washington DC, New Jersey, and the Prince Hall brethren in Massachusetts all seemed especially sticky to pick apart, decipher, and most important, fairly and even-handedly explain them. Well, at least for right now anyway, crank up your old Cat Stevens album: the The Peace Train in DC has finally been put back on the track, and there can at last be some rejoicing.

So what the hell happened in DC over the last three years? Grab a pot of coffee or a big bottle of Mountain Dew. I'll try to be brief, but regular readers here know that's impossible.

What Was the Mess with MESH?

The Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia has been going through major turmoil for almost three years over a combined charitable foundation known as Masonic and Eastern Star Home of the District of Columbia Charities, Inc. (known by it’s vaguely Man-From-U.N.C.L.E.-esque acronym, M.E.S.H.), operated, maintained, and administered as a combined fundraising effort between the Grand Lodge of DC and the Eastern Star Home. Its principal mission is to support the Masonic and Eastern Star retirement community in Silver Spring, Maryland.

The fight seems to have erupted after the sitting Grand Master back in 2022, MW Daniel Huertas, apparently referred to the MESH charity as being a "Grand Lodge charity fund." Essentially, the entire mess blew apart after the charity's trustees responded, "Oh, no it isn't!" followed by the Grand Master's retort that, since it was a Masonic-related entity, the Grand Lodge (and, by extension, the Grand Master) had the final say in the Foundation's money, employees, beneficiaries, and operation. 

He subsequently said, "Hold my cocktail for a second, Brother," and promptly ordered an audit of the Fund. And suddenly there were false teeth, tattered cumberbunds, and shreds of ripped toupées flinging everywhere.

In response, the MESH trustees filed a 162-paragraph, 42 page complaint in April 2022, suing the Grand Lodge of D.C. for alleged actions taken by the Grand Lodge and various individuals, disputing the accounting for COVID relief funds collected by MESH in between 2020-21. I know this because someone anonymously sent me a whopping FedEx package containing a copy of the entire file. I accidentally dropped it and almost broke my foot.

NOTE! Let me state right at the outset: my understanding is that there was never any allegation of wrongdoing with the MESH funds. Simply, there was an inordinate butting of the heads over who is in charge of the MESH finances, and who has the right to exercise legal and fiduciary authority over the Foundation.

The Lawsuit

Among the allegations made by MESH in its court filing:

• Because the Grand Lodge had improperly labeled the MESH accounts as its own, it had allegedly “weaponized” the fund.
• That the GM improperly demanded documents related to COVID relief funds, while the MESH trustees asserted that Grand Lodge had no authority to audit MESH.
• That the GM improperly called for a special meeting; that he openly called a Past Grand Master a liar; and that he made improper demands for witnesses to recant their statements and testimony.
• That the GM humiliated the Junior Grand Warden and refused to let him serve in his official capacity. (Allegedly telling him, despite his election, that his services would not be required.)
• That the GL “improperly pursued“ several MESH employees (can they properly pursue one?)
• That an elected MESH representative was improperly removed by the Grand Master, in an abuse of his Masonic suspension super-powers.

There were a handful of others, but these were the highlights. MESH sought an injunction, declaratory relief, and a whole pile of compensatory cash. But, oddly, there were no individual plaintiffs mentioned in the suit, nor were there any actual allegations of improper masonic discipline, humiliation and discriminatory conduct.

By May of 2022, a Past Grand Master, the sitting Junior Grand Warden, and the chairman of the DC MESH Foundation had all been suspended by the GM. Lodges became frightened of reprisals.

Time passed; 2023 came and went; MW Annas F. Kamera became Grand Master, and he couldn't make much headway at de-escalating the whole thing, either. 

Last Year's Christmas Gift

Events continued to escalate. But four days before Christmas last December, an olive branch appeared in members' email inboxes from the new Grand Master for 2024, MW Jacob Bressman. In it, he asked MESH to withdraw its lawsuit, in return for which he would reinstate all of the Masons involved in the whole mess and attempt to bury the hatchet in no one in particular.

By New Year's Day 2024, there were no announcements of any kind to show anyone had taken the GM up on his offer. MW Bressman was now the third Grand Master in a row to attempt dealing with this train wreck.

Calm Returns To DC, At Least Among Masons

Finally, after three years of yanking dues cards, removing officers from elected positions, the filing of at least one lawsuit, and the expenditure of what must have been an eye-popping amount of cash needlessly spent by both sides on legal fees instead of charity, the warring parties retreated to the back room earlier this month, kissed, and finally made up. 

Not on the lips, mind you, but still quite a fulsome buss on the cheeks, anyway.

The statement from October 17th:

Embattled Grand Master Mario Urquía Carreño of the GL of Cuba Is Forced To Resign

Mario Urquía (left) and the Grand Masonic Temple of Cuba (right)

Image © Collage Facebook/Mario Urquía - CiberCuba

by Christopher Hodapp

Mario Alberto Urquía Carreño, the embattled Grand Master of the Gran Logio de Cuba (Grand Lodge of Cuba), has resigned following months of controversy and scandal. His resignation was officially tendered Sunday, August 18th after a contentious confrontation with representatives from more than 100 lodges on the island.

Carreño had already been removed from his office and expelled by the fraternity earlier this year in the wake of the disappearance of US$19,000 from the National Masonic Asylum's accounts, one of the principal charities of this grand lodge. He subsequently took his case before the Cuban Ministry of Justice, which decided to overrule the constitution and organizational authority of the grand lodge itself and ordered him reinstated. This unprecedented interference by the Cuban regime's judiciary also nullified the appointment of Juan Alberto Kessel Linares as Grand Master, as the Freemasons had overwhelmingly voted to do several months ago.

The resulting uproar by hundreds of Cuban Masons intensified and the story began to appear in the media over the summer. Carreño reacted against the protesters by arresting the charters of at least four Cuban lodges for failing to acknowledge his reinstatement, which only served to throw oil on the fire. When the story began to get independent media attention, the State Security officials of the Cuban Communist Party found it couldn't control the message any longer, and Carreño was compelled to call a special meeting last Sunday. 

From Mario Urquía Steps Down as Cuba's Grand Master After Months of Controversy by Emma Garcia:

The Masons gathered in the theater of the Grand Lodge building, where an anonymous source consulted by the cited media described that Urquía intended to manipulate the attendees. However, the Masons present did not allow it, and the unanimous phrase heard was “hand it over and leave.”

One of the meeting's witnesses recounted that tensions escalated to the point where Urquía left the theater but was followed by the Masons to the eleventh floor, where his office is located.

Under the pressure of those present, the Grand Master agreed to meet with a representation of them. During two hours, the terms of his departure were negotiated, although the details of those conversations remain secret.

Finally, Mario Urquía agreed to resign, and Deputy Grand Master Maykel Filema was appointed in his place. Filema will have the task of calling for elections in the next High Chamber session, scheduled for September.

Urquía's resignation is seen as a victory by the Masons. The problems began with the mysterious theft of $19,000 from the Grand Master's office, an event that culminated in his expulsion from the Order.

Despite this, the Cuban Ministry of Justice, in an act of interference permitted by the country's laws, did not recognize the expulsion and reinstated Urquía in his position in less than three months. This led to a massive protest by Masons outside the Grand Master's office on July 23 and caused dozens of lodges to rebel.

In recent days, Mario Urquía spoke in a video explaining that the stolen money belonged to the National Masonic Asylum and addressed the accusations against him, including those of treason and theft. Urquía Carreño categorically denied being responsible for the theft and clarified that the police document he signed, committing to return the money, did not imply an admission of guilt.

He explained that the delay in returning the sum was due to the need to comply with Cuban laws, which require the reimbursement to be made in Cuban pesos (CUP), resulting in a considerable loss due to the disparity with the dollar's value in the informal market.

The Grand Master also questioned the initial communiqué issued by the National Masonic Asylum's Board, calling it “incriminatory.” He emphasized that he had already made a deposit of 270,000 CUP, equivalent to $1,000, as a sign of his commitment to return the funds. Despite his intention to remain in the position, Mario Urquía ultimately had to yield to the pressure to resign.

“Before allowing the existing division to further harm the Institution and increase the attacks through social media, which would further denigrate the Grand Lodge of Cuba by its enemies, this Grand Master resigns for the good of the Institution,” Urquía Carreño stated in an official communiqué, as reported by the independent media outlet Cubanet.

[snip]

Regarding the reasons for his resignation, Urquía Carreño indicated that there is “an incompatibility in criteria for the correct application and interpretation of our laws” within the Masonic institution, leading to “divided opinions in our Lodges regarding the correct procedures.”

He further lamented that “hatred and insults have erupted among brothers, forgetting that we swore to defend each other, present or absent. The institutional situation today shows a dire division. Some Masons' actions indicate a growing danger of confrontations, and we will not allow this to happen; misunderstanding has subjected our brothers.”

Prior press accounts of this story can be seen at the following links:

Freemasons Protest at Cuba's Grand Lodge, Demand Assembly to Elect New Grand Master
Tuesday, July 23, 2024 by Madison Pena
https://www.cubaheadlines.com/articles/285593

Four Masonic Lodges Suspended for Rejecting Grand Master Mario Urquía
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 by Alex Smith
https://www.cubaheadlines.com/articles/286112

Detained Masonic Leader Ángel Santiesteban-Prats Prior to Official Meeting in Havana
Thursday, August 1, 2024 by Emma Garcia
https://www.cubaheadlines.com/articles/286170

Mario Urquía Steps Down as Cuba's Grand Master After Months of Controversy
Monday, August 19, 2024 by Emma Garcia

https://www.cubaheadlines.com/articles/287095