W. Bro. Elliot Burns, who runs the American Mason website, recently posted this letter from a new Mason, along with his response to the letter.I just received this email from a masonic brother who had, in my opinion, a very compelling question for American Mason. But I will not print his name or email address. After all, I am a "beacon" of discretion, right? Other than deleting the sender's personal info, I have reprinted his email verbatim as I have received it:
Q. I was raised and made an obligated Master Mason on xx/xx in 2005 in XXXX Lodge. I have but one question.
Being from the South, in every essence, we are behind the times. I have been informed that the Free & Accepted (masonic) Lodges in the north USA are integrated. Is this true? And if so, why not in the south?
Several brothers who have been Master Masons for more than 40 years have informed me that the day they sit in lodge with someone who is not white is the last day they will be a mason. Please help me out with this question. Thank you.
A. Sad to say, old habits die hard, no?
To answer your question, most lodges in the north (USA) are, in fact, fully integrated. My masonic lodge in New York is fully integrated in terms of both race & religion and the sublime spirit of friendship and brotherly love is everything that a mason could possibly hope for. But enough of my boasting.
It's hard for me to point an accusing finger at another masonic lodge. But I gotta' tell ya, in this case I certainly don't hesitate!
I don't get how a mason could seriously take his "Solemn Obligation" to love and honor all mankind and, at the same time, harbor racism and predjudice in his heart. This truly baffles me. If someone is a racist, why bother to become a freemason? It's a perfect contradiction in philosophy and mindset.
My only guess is that the members of your southern lodge use masonry as a social club to benefit each other rather than use masonry to broaden their outlook and better themselves through the masonic principles. But it's not just the south that has this problem.
I am sorry to say that I have personally heard the same remarks (privately whispered) in a another lodge in New York! It's real rare, but apparently it still exsists. I find all of this racism abhorrant and loathesome and I never want to associate with these morons on ANY level... let alone the Masonic level. They are not "brothers" to me!
Good luck to you and I believe that since you do have a problem with your lodge's racism, you should seriously look into affiliating with another lodge that is closer to your heart and mind and ideals of our honorable craft
Best Fraternal Regards, Elliot
Thanks to TubalCain420 for the heads up on this site.
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