All novices and their spouses/dates should sit together at the Banquet.  It would NOT be a bad idea if the Potentate and his divan was seated/spread out amongst the new shriners and make them feel welcomed.

 

I sent a message to the GLOT asking if they would please consider having a personalized Texas license plate made up for our fraternity, similar to the one shown below and like so many others available to us here in Texas. The reply I received was less than enthusiastic and took the wind out of my sail. I know several other states’ Grand Lodges have sponsored and supported similar options, wish we could here as well. I think it would be a nice positive way to display our Masonic pride to everyone, and if some of the many charities could benefit from some of the collected fees, so much the better.

 

I am glad to see not all is amiss in the shrine.  However, I do believe that it would be beneficial to pass resolutions as follows:

Not one cent of money raised or shrine dues money will be spent to buy alcoholic beverages for anyone. Not one cent of money raised or shrine dues money will be spent to buy food for anyone.

There may be other resolutions needed as well but this would leave individuals free to pay for their own liquor or food and would not be a burden on the shrine dues which continues to rise.  This is extremely important because of appearances, if not facts.

Fraternally,
Don Ho
 

Hiya topper,

      It seems to me that the best way to turn things around would be to stage a "palace coup"  Someone needs to look to their Masonic circle of friends, pick very carefully those that have attitudes in keeping with the premise that freemasonry is broken and assemble a slate of officers that will be able to win election as a block! Once elected the new slate then becomes responsible for implementing those ideas and plans that will make freemasonry desirable to the 20 30 and 40 year old Mason or potential mason. For starters I think any new slate should be strong Christians, dedicated to the ideals of the Christian church. Some Lodges may prefer to install an all Jewish line of officers... the point is it is the lack of religious values that is at the genesis of our downfall..... One thing  that the younger mason and potential mason have repeated said is that they want business and social contacts and a vehicle to promote good living and a chance to not only volunteer but to hold a leadership position in such an effort..... poker games, business contacts mentoring  all have a place in the "new" freemasonry. Potluck dinners, over priced and under quality Eastern Star dinners  are not popular with today's overworked and often underpaid young Males. In the Shrine.... I believe the same overthrowing of the established ruling class is imperative. Total abstinence from alcohol is step 1 What the Shrine considers a "fun" initiation is nothing but assault..... hazing taken to extremes. It should have no place in a modern social organization of men. The Shrine needs to re-invent itself and start over with a clean page. To purge the old guard and bring in the new younger man we seek requires the purging to be complete and yes, ruthless. All present Divan and appointees should be considered as unfit for office... at least for the first class of new officers. Yeah that means some of the old guard will not live long enough to be able to requalify for Shrine office but I think the system so corrupt nothing less dramatic would have a chance of success.

There ARE good decent men presently holding Shrine office... but there are not enough to take the chance that the old guard will not re emerge and regain control.

I think the Shrine and to a smaller degree the lodges need to be 1. More visible in the community !!  Parades in a City should be curb to curb with Craft participation

2. Should be seen as an organization that represents good, and is known not for bad language and out of control drinking but for the charities and civic good works they perform. Every city has functions during the year where donated services would be welcome... cleaning up and maintaining a stretch of roadway. Clowns to march in a parade or paint faces and/or twist balloons for a turn off the violence event....

 

1. Greet everyone at every function. When you say How are you , mean it and stay to hear the reply .

2.Hold the Officers , Divan , Clubs, Units, Shrine Clubs accountable  Fine tooth comb the treasury reports , budgets etc

3.Remember you were elected to serve the people ,by the people .Serve them well , no matter what position you hold , hold on to the people. Heed your obligations

Jerry C Parrish PP Arabia 2003
PM -Goose Creek 1192 Baytown Tex.1991/92

 

From: David Meek
To: carl@carlejones.com

Also, I have a little comment about the points made about people not being part of the group when they went to their ceremonial parties for the Shrine.  I put that COMPLETELY on their top line signers shoulders.  It is that Shriner's responsibility to make sure the new noble is comfortable and is properly introduced to the general nobility.  I know the "job" of being a top line signer for both the Shrine and the Blue Lodge has been reduced to any card carrying member close by with a pen in recent years, but SOMEONE brought that man into the fraternity.  They should make sure he's happy where he is!  As with any group, if you walk into a large group of people that already knows everybody its going to be hard emotionally to connect unless you have that "inside connection" that the Top Line Signer should fulfill.

I do feel similar concerns with the Shrine as others have.  I know my wife and I felt somewhat out of place being around an organization whose average age was 30 years older than us!  (I do have very close friends within the Shrine so it wasn't a complete feeling.)  I grew tired of the cowtowing to the Divan that the Temples and the nobility do.  Yes they have stepped up and taken on responsibilities, but they wear their aprons in the same way that I do.  (THAT point is part of our obligation!)

Thanks Carl.  Your email gets some interesting discussion going within our great fraternity.

David Meek
 

Bro. Carl,

It has been educational to read the discussions about the problems as well as the successes in our beloved fraternity. Too, it was good see M.W. Bro. Jim Durham's name in the contributions (I was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Gulf Breeze Lodge # 347 in Gulf Breeze, FL on January 30, 1993,  joined Hadji Temple and have since moved on to Jerusalem Temple. I now visit regularly in Houston). How I wish that all of the issues mentioned were from an exhaustive list. Unfortunately, the issues discussed here are more symptoms than they are root problems. Here are some questions that we must address in order to move on and grow again:

1. Race -  I cannot tell you how uncomfortable it is to have to explain to a potential candidate that most lodges are indeed segregated. I do my best to offer reasons for it, but the bottom line is that I have no excuse to offer. Inevitably, those same candidates start asking if we are like the Klan. No mention is made of race in our pre-requisites (being a man, freeborn, of lawful age, etc.). This makes public identity and attention worse than difficult. We must do as the Southern Baptist Convention has done, that is openly confess our inexcusable sins and open the door to all WORTHY MEN who seek membership in our ranks. Notice that I emphasized worthy.... see item # 4.

2. Politics  - Support whichever candidate you choose based upon your belief and value system, particularly in Masonry. In Florida and Louisiana, there is a strict prohibition on politics (and religion). When we publicly promote politicians, we open ourselves to vicious scrutiny of our own structure and practices; therefore, our support of a particular candidate should remain private. Masonry teaches that politics and religion are personal issues where two men of opposite beliefs can still be right. Support the best candidate for the job...... if they happen to be a Mason, good for all!

3. Religion - I still hear way too much slander against Catholics, Jews, and other non-protestant religions amongst the brethren. The Catholic brethren that I know are good Masons with a real talent for ritual (perhaps because of their liturgical worship method). Let us be true Masons with malice toward none and brotherly love toward all (let's practice what we preach!).

4. Respect the Ballot Box - If we observe and discharge our petitionary duties fully and sincerely, we should be rejecting 20% of the petitions we receive. I know this sounds almost hypocritical, but one out of every five men in our society has had either run-ins with the law, trouble with drugs, womanizing trouble, family conflicts, religious conflicts, etc. Not everyone who petitions our lodge is well-suited to be a Mason. Remember where we were first prepared to be made a Mason. Let our investigation committees do a thorough job! Where else in the world do you get to choose your family member (brother Mason)? In the Louisiana Monitor, we have a mantra that says better that 100 good men be turned away than for one miscreant to cross the threshold of Masonry.

5. Bring Back the Neighborhood Lodge - With apologies to the "mega-church" fans, we do not need "mega-lodges." It matters not whether a lodge has membership of 100 or 1000, you will always see the same 15-20 brethren at the meetings and doing the work of the lodge. In a smaller lodge, there is a greater probability that the brethren will know each other, their families, and their friends. My lodge in New Orleans has probably 35 members or so on the rolls and 20 or so at the meetings.... that's roughly a 60% participation rate and, you guessed it, we're growing at a rapid rate. To steal a line from the environmentalists, think globally, act locally !

6. Focus on the Blue Lodge ! - With all due respect to our honored appendant bodies, first and foremost we are Blue Lodge Masons! The work and philanthropy of our appendant bodies is indeed impressive and honorable, but without the Blue Lodge, there is no foundation for our work. We simply must stop the notion that the Master Mason degree is the graduation ceremony necessary to enter the appendant bodies (yes, the Shrine is the biggest culprit). Our central work, our central purpose for fraternal existence is the Blue Lodge.
Hope this helps the discussions and leads to something positive. God bless us as we go out to do His work.

Fraternally,
Steve Kujawa, Past Master                                                                                                    
18th Masonic District, Grand Lodge of Louisiana
Arthur M. Retif Lodge # 473, Jefferson, LA (P.M., Choirmaster)                                     
Park Place Lodge # 1172, Houston, TX (Organist)

 

SEEMS TO ME THAT AS BROTHERS WE HAVE MOVED FURTHER AWAY FROM THE LESSONS WE HAVE PRESENTED IN ALL THE MASONIC BODIES. WE ARE GREAT ORATORS ON ARE LETTER PERFECT IN THE MEMORY WORK, BUT HAVE WE UNDERSTOOD THE LESSONS? REMEMBER THE PILLAR OF TOLERANCE, REMEMBER THE PART IN OATH, MURDER AND TREASON ALONE AND THAT AT MY DISCRETION

TOMMY ROMERO
NEDEDLAND 1368

 

Fraternal Greetings Brother Carl,

First I like to thank you for all you do for Masonry, and to thank you for
sending out Brother Sean Eubanks e-mail, his Shrine experience is the way it
should be for all Master Masons who seek to be apart of the "Ancient Arabic
Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine". It is a shame though, that good Master
Masons who make the first effort to join a Temple and be an active Noble
would be made to feel he did not belong in a room of Master Masons, "FIRST
IMPRESSIONS" are everything !!!

A just Raised Brother Master Mason who has never had the benefit of close
family members, or friends, to expose him to all the great things to be
apart of in Masonry and the Appendant bodies that are associated with our
Fraternity should never just get "lost in a crowd".

I will get of my soap box and offer a couple of solutions for my Brother
Master Masons who are Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in good standings. First I
must say that I am no longer a Nobel in good standings, but still believe
the "Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine" is an Appendant body of
Masonry worth trying to help as all Masons should, if within their cable tow
to do so.
================
1) An effort has to be made to reach out to all the in-active members, it
should come from the Divan as well as whatever committee that would be in
place to carry out such an effort.

2) The Greeters do a great job out the entrance of the Temple to make you
feel welcomed, the Outer Guard does a great job to see only members in good
standings and in possession of the word get into the Temple itself; it would
be a very noble jester if the Captains or their second in command of the
units as well as members of the Divan would take the time to great all the Nobles
as they enter the main Temple and make introductions to those new Nobles, so
they feel as much a part of the Temple as those who have been a member for many
years.

3) As for those Tables that seem to always be reserved at every stated
meeting and social function there is for one of the units or clubs, maybe it would
be a good thing, to have a couple of tables reserved with a sign for those new
Nobles and Nobles who do not belong to a unit or club, an a effort be made
by all the units and clubs to go by and set and visit with them.

4) Nobles who elect not to join a unit or club are to often made to feel
they do not belong, this just never happen again.

5) Ceremonials are what they are, two things I noticed that should be
addressed, whoever the Nobel was that was responsible for the New Noble
being there should act as a personal sponsor and guide during all of the days
activities and see that any family members are taken care of as well.

6) As for the leadership of the Temple, if your going to take the time to be
in the line as a member of the Divan then be on the level, stand erect,
square your actions at all times and lead by example; a Noble should not have to
ask to read the fine print of a document to see if the leadership is on the
level.

One might say I have no right to voice an opinion or offer any solutions to an organization I am no longer an active member of and I am ok with those who would so. I offer my opinion as a Master Mason in good standing, to other Master Masons who have asked for possible solutions for a difficult and most noble cause; to see the good work continue that Master Masons do for the children in need, so they never suffer of do without. Brother Carl, you feel free to re-send my e-mail to any others who you feel might want to read what I have to say with my name and e-mail address attached. I can most certainly handle any and all criticisms that come my way...Fraternal regards, Steve McCarley Past Master, Hutchins Lodge No. 1154


 

Dear Bro. Jones:

I think what the problem with a lot of these Brethren, who petition the Masonic Lodge, get accepted, have the Degrees conferred upon them, learn their work, pass it, take the next Degree until they are raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason, pass that work, petition the Scottish Rite and the Shrine. There is something that some of the Brethren did not tell them. They have not received the True Word of a Master Mason. These Brethren get real active in the Shrine and forget all about their Ancient Craft Masonry. Not one Master Mason has told them that the Shrine is not the most important body in Freemasonry.

When I was a Vice President of the Baytown Shrine Club, I used to sell between 100 and 200 oyster dinners and deliver them to the local DuPont plant. after delivering them, I would work the rest of the day at the Oyster Fry at the Shrine Club. I would always take days of vacation from the DuPont plant. I did this for several years until a Past President of that Shrine Club made a negative remark about the Order of DeMolay. He was one of the "big wheels" of that club. That same night, I went home, got my two Baytown Shrine Club baseball caps, jacket and coveralls, took these items to the meeting, laid them on the Presidents desk and told them to remove my name from the Member List. I used to go and eat oysters but I quit that when his wife made a smart remark to me, when I bought my ticket from another lady. Since then, I have never been back to the Baytown Shrine Club. This Past President does not attend his Lodge, only if they are to honor them. Also, he has made other members mad and they have also left.

I think the Grand Lodge should explain to the Brethren that Ancient Craft Masonry is a lot more important than the Shrine. Some Masons have joined the Shrine and went suspended in their Masonic Lodge and are still members of the Shrine. Something should be worked out between the Grand Lodge and the Shrine Temples on this matter. I think a lot of the members of the Shrine have forgotten what the Shrine was basically set up for. I think everyone has forgotten about a Grand Master who shut the Shrine Clubs in 1954.

Now, let me tell you about myself. I am now serving as Worshipful Master of my fourth Lodge. I have gone thru the chairs of a DeMolay Chapter, Royal Arch Chapter, Council of R.& S.M., Commander of K.T., Knight Masons, Allied Masonic Degrees, York Rite College, Priory of K.Y.C.H., Amaranth. I am now serving as Eminent Prior of a Chapel of St. Thomas of Acon. I have Endowed Memberships in six Lodges, two R.A. Chapters, two R.& S.M. Councils, two K.T. Commanderys, one Scottish Rite Valley, one Grotto. I have my picture on the wall of the Grand Lodge Library, where I am a member of the Sam Houston Hall of Fame. Also, I am a member of the Grand Master's Club of the Knights Templar Eye Foundation. I think I have said enough.


Sincerely and Fraternally
Ronnie Sharp
Worshipful Master
Baytown Lodge No.1357, A.F.& A.M.
 

To those of you who give of your time, talents, and financial resources to the Shrine please continue to do so.  You can't make all the people happy all the time.  I'm sure that we have no idea what you do to keep the organization running.  Shriner's help KIDS. 

Fraternally,
Robert F. Haver


 

Brother Carl,

Let me first thank you for your work and effort in sending out the e-mails about Masonry.
I read them and a lot of them do not pertain to me or our Lodge. But there have been a lot that have been very helpful

Please allow me to get on my soap box for a while. I am a Past Master of Solomon Lodge #484 where I have a dual membership. My home lodge is Suburban #740, Louisville, Ky.

My concern is about the changing of the guard every year in Grand Lodge. I have had two occasions were there was program in place and all of the sudden it is no longer available and to my knowledge there was no communication as to it going away.

The first one was about putting your resume on the web. It was documented in the Masonic news that we could do this for free. Several years later one of our Brothers asked me to place his resume on the web for him. I tried and found that there  was now a charge for this.

The second one has to do with the Lodge web sites. Several years a go there was a link on the GL web page about the lodges setting up their own web pages. They also had rules that you were to follow. Then the District Deputy came to the Lodge for his formal inspection and this was one of the questions that he asked. We were able answer that we had established web pages. They were maintained for several years. Our district #47 had a web page were would could have the dates and activities placed on it. Well the first indication that something had changed was GL had placed a picture of our Lodge on its web page  with a link to our web pages. The next indication was that the link had been removed and we could no longer access the server where our web pages resided.

It is my impression that this was a private server that was being used and was not part of the GL network system. Not only did we lose our web pages for our Lodge but also for the district. This caused a large problem for our district because our lodge and another scheduled a golf tournament on the same day not knowing the other was also having a tournament on the same day. This is our biggest fund raiser and both lodges lost money because of the conflict.

I had tried to find an address for the Webmaster for GL and was unable to until you sent a e-mail about opening up a ticket to them. I did this and after several e-mails they finely said we had to get our own server.

The problem I have is two fold:

GL implements a program and when the new group comes into office things drop off the table and no one lets the lodges know about it.  I realize that all Masons/Lodges do not have access to the internet. But now the Lodges that do have to pay to have a server to place their information on. Not all Lodges do not have the money for this nor the people to make it happen.

Thanks in advance for you time and effort. Maybe this will get to someone that can realize that some of the programs that put in place are useful.

Frank R Hadden, PM
Solomon Lodge #494
Taylor, TX
Suburban Lodge #740
Louisville, KY
fhadden@austin.rr.com
512-255-1656
 

Hello Carl,

I understand that so many people are upset about the Shrine.  I have no comment because I don't plan on joining any time soon. I am currently very involved in Blue Lodge at the moment. However, I do feel that the main cause is a good one.  I really enjoyed the circus this year, and some of the best darn Masons that I know are Shriners.  The reason that makes these men that I'm talking about so darn great and admirable is the simple fact that they have not forsaken their Blue Lodges.  These men are very involved in the Shrine as officers, but they never miss a Blue Lodge stated meeting.  In fact, the Brothers that I'm talking about are usually at  Blue Lodge every time the door is opened.  For those of you who are shuffling new Masons through the 3 Degrees to go strait into the Shrine; SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!  You know who you are... And for those Lodges that are passing our Candidates through without learning what it means to be a Mason (learning the memory work); SHAME ON YOU!!!!! Not only are you cheating the young generation of Masonry, but you are cheating the entire Craft.  If this practice continues in thirty years there will be no Masons who know what Masonry is. You think the Shrine is dropping in membership? Go to a stated meeting some time.  There are many Lodges within this state who have a hard time getting three brothers together to open a Master Mason's Lodge for the dispatch of business.  We need to focus our attention on Blue Lodge, and you guys are worried about scandalous Potentates.  I hope that I haven't offended anyone, but I love Texas Blue Lodge Masonry, and I do not want to see it fade away.  I will also say that I love what the Shriner's Hospitals do for the children.  Every Master Mason should remember that there is no greater honor than that of being raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason, so spend a little more spare time in the Blue Lodge.  Don't lose hold of your Masonic Roots.
                                                                                               Fraternally,
                                                                                              Josh M. Whitmire

Carl, thanks for all of your of your emails. You are doing Masonry a great service by discussing these problems. You asked for suggested improvements. I have two, I had discussed one before but I will repeat.

1. Increase interest among all Masons for participation in the political process, local, county, state and national. We of course will not advocate any particular party, but only lessons that are taught in Masonry. First hold voter registration in the lodges when the time comes.  Encourage members to take an active part, especially for Masonic Brothers running for office, (they have been pre-qualified in many respects, by their Masonic beliefs). Have courses, training, etc., to information about the inside of the political process. For example how does one go from just voting to, act as precinct chairman, poll watcher, etc.  Actually have courses and speakers to come into an open meeting and educate the brothers. For example most folks do NOT know how one goes from being just a voter, to attending the precinct meeting after the polls close, how to get elected to go to the next level, the county or district level and then on to the state level and then on to the National Level. We don't teach government and civics as they did when I was in school. For example most people do NOT know why it is most important to vote in the governors race the two years before the next presidential election. It is because the number of votes cast for the governor determines the number of delegates that state will have going to that convention. The other is why the vote for president is so important, one of the MOST important things a president does, is appoint the Supreme Court Justices and the lower court justices. The president is only in office for four years or eight at the most. The Supreme Court Justices are often on the bench for twenty or more years. Their influence goes much father than even the president.

2. Every Masonic Lodge should appoint  or elect a committee to oversee and evaluate the public school district, or districts in their area. The public schools need our support now more than ever. After all didn't we start the public schools in Texas? One of the MOST important elective office we have is the School Board  Members in our public schools. It is non -paid, very time consuming, little recognized and few of the folks in that district know what is really Going on at the upper levels of the Administration. We should continue and emphasize the Texas Public School Week We have sponsored so long, but how many of our brothers even go during that period of time?  Ask any teacher or principal, and you will find out, not too many. We should encourage each member of our state delegations, house and senate members, to find some teacher, at the lowest level, elementary school to serve as their "pipeline" of information about that school and school district. They need information from the "front line", those educators serving in the "trenches" Where it is really happening. Our legislators are really out of touch in this area. Witness what is happening RIGHT NOW in Texas. The elected officials, either cannot or will not solve the most important problem in our state. If we don't lead, who will? If not now, when? For a real eye opener please read the Comptroller of Texas, Education Report on their web site on the Internet. Read the Texas School Performance Reviews, Conducted by the state and see what is really happening.

I think when we as Masons start doing something that people on the outside can see and witness, our membership WILL increase. Things that make a difference in our society today, we will attract young men and women into Masonic organizations. Young people today want to see action, help make it happen and feel like our Masonic Lodges CAN have a major influence in the future of this state.

Look to Our Founding Fathers, like Brother Benjamin Franklin among them that were Masons, for inspiration.

Carl, I am sorry to be so long winded, but I have had this on my heart for a while and you gave me the opportunity to express it. God Bless.

Fraternally yours,
Harry Eddie Benson
Charter and 50 Year Member
Oak Forest Lodge # 1398
BenF10356@aol.com
 

Hello Carl,

Enjoy receiving your E-Mails concerning political and personal thoughts
covering Hella and other actions by new and older Shrine Nobles.

Have never given thought to leaving Shrine due to being shunned by any
individual or club. In being a member, you are subjected to all sorts of
actions and it behooves you to take the bad with the good. If you joined
Kiwanis Club there is a chance you will be ignored if you do not take
part in their desired goals.

I for one would not allow any individual cause me leave Hella. We must
continue to function as a group ... so Shrine Children's Hospitals will
be available for needy children of this world.

May I suggest individuals feeling they have been slighted in any way
come back to their Shrine roots and participate in making it into an
viable organization of their desires.

As a past club president, who visits Hella as often as possible with
club members ... I found members of P. divan most courteous and
outgoing. Approach any divan member with your thoughts and rest assured
they will listen.

Your visit to our Shrine Club was enjoyed by all in attendance. Your
show was funny and interesting.

It is true, most Shrine members are members of one group or another and
welcome new members if you show interest. My first thought was they
didn't care. This is not the truth. While attending our monthly meeting
... circulate from table to table and get acquainted. When club members
understand you are interested you will be invited to participate.

I ask all individuals who feel they have been mistreated or embarrassed
to return and become a part of this wonderful group. Don't stand back and
be critical without trying to make a difference.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY ATTENDING MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH YOUR WIFE!

Carl, we haven't seen your smiling face in some time ... come be a
part!!

Glenn Luster, P. C. S. C.
 

OK Carl,

Time for me to weigh in (we both know I've got a lot of weight to weigh!)

The Shrine needs to be FAMILY FRIENDLY!!!  Could not Job's Daughters or Rainbows provide babysitting/activities during events?  How about the Shrine Centers offering a place to host training classes for the sitters (FREE???).  OMG there's a thought - community service........

There needs to be a STRICT code of conduct ENFORCED.  Hugs and kisses when you meet an old friend are one thing -- gropes, grabs, pokes, prods and tonsil hockey are another.  The old "Oh that's just so-and-so being so-and-so shouldn't be allowed" along with the "Oh, you're just overreacting!"  A harassment complaint to the Pote should be taken seriously and dealt with seriously.  The image of a Shriner being a drunken dirty old man still lingers on....  sad.

Centers need to be family friendly too.  If a noble can't make an event because of family needs - it's because his family needs him more than the Shrine at that time.  I can remember Marty being told that if he didn't show up at a Divan function he would be kicked off -- Elizabeth wasn't a week old and I had a C-Section.  Still he went -- in the words of the Pote at that time "He knew better" than to miss the event.  This makes my hair stand on end!!!!  It's an attitude thing.

Outside auditors for all sets of books.  Outside as in NO SHRINE AFFILIATION AT ALL.  Publish the results in the local newspaper.  Put the complete Shrine Center budget in the local newspaper too.  Nothing like a newspaper article to put a light on the subject.

Start publishing the good stuff the hospitals do in local newspapers.  You are your own worst enemy when the only articles published are in Shrine publications.  You need positive PR all over.  Toot your own horn for goodness sakes!

OK I'll get off my horse now.  Have a great day.

chrissy

 

Carl,

I was forwarded your email titled "99% certain...", by a Noble who is on your list..  I am a  PP.  My friend and I agree with your comments about the guys in the beanies.  Please don't reveal either of these statements as several PPs in our Temple are on your list and I know that I am on one of their "special lists" as well.  I appreciate your commitment to Masonry and all of its appendant bodies, including the Shrine.  I am proud to have served as Potentate, I tried to enlighten the nobility to stand up and ask questions, just as you continue to do.  Our Temple is trying to change from the old way of thinking and be more fiscally responsible in its operations.  The questions you have suggested are a good start, but it doesn't stop there.  Yes, the Divan has a high degree of responsibility, but each Noble who values their Temple has that same responsibility.  You remarked that there are many past and present Divan members that are and weren't qualified to serve in that capacity.  One of the main problems isn't the lack of qualified Nobles, it is the lack of qualified Nobles willing to subject themselves and their wives and families to the 5 or more years of griping and complaining that they must endure while "serving" their nobility.  When a qualified Nobles serves on a Divan with a group of unqualified Divan members (this probably hits close to home for you in particular), they quickly get labeled as "one of the bad guys", simply because when you leave the Divan meeting, you are all supposed to be united before the nobility.  This becomes part of the "brain washing" attempt on the qualified Divan member by the "good old boys".    I suspect that this is why you are finding it difficult for a sitting Divan member to stand up and be recognized.  They are out there, but fear both ridicule and reelection, particularly because those that will stand up are exactly who should be on there and will probably be the first to go.  Does this also hit a bit close to home?

As you know, a qualified candidate must endure pressure from his fellow Divan members, he must face several years of complaints from his nobility, he must divest himself of most of the activities of his own family and non-Shriner friends, schedule most if not all of his vacations around Shrine activities, spend thousands of dollars on clothing for him and his wife, on attending activities and functions that are of absolutely no interest to him, place his occupation in limbo for the "Divan ride"; all for the opportunity to be presented with a Past Potentate fez and again be labeled, once again as "one of them".  Why did I do this?  Because I thought I could make a difference.  Did I?  I didn't finish the job, but I got a good start on it.    I am confident that this work will continue with the current line of officers at our Temple.  At least by going through the line, it gave me 100% insight to every detail of the expenses incurred by our Temple.  I have warned every Divan member that will follow me that I will be reviewing every line item in every Temple budget submitted as long as my life shall last.  I told them that it wasn't meant to be a threat and that in some cases, something might even need to be added (though the chances of that are highly unlikely!)  Do I regret doing it in the first place?  >From a family standpoint, maybe.  Though I have an extremely devoted and wonderful wife.  But from the standpoint of my commitment to our Fraternity and our Philanthropy, I am proud of every day that I served.
Keep up the great work you are doing.   God bless you.

 

I just received the letter you wrote forwarded to me by Chuck Huddleston.

I could  have written that letter, since for many years I have been saying and expressing the same sentiments to no avail, we have become the "Retirement Center" for many and a group of six or so control the Divan and give perks to the senior citizens so they vote their way.

In my unit Director's Staff we have had 5 PP's as Directors and one in waiting for next year in the last 6 years because  they want their Buddy's in the Divan so they get appointed Director. We have not done any semblance of a second section in all those years, not even the cold sands.

The idea this year as well as last is if you have a candidate, let us know and we will put a short version (15 minutes) any place he lives.

We are still 100 plus behind in membership, suspended as many for non payment.
 A few of us keep fighting but we are getting tired of it, we have a life outside Shrinedom and slowly but surely we are becoming dues paying members. We feel that nobody cares and if we get anew Noble that is good and 1st class citizen after a month or so they quit coming.

Once again I commend you in your letter and I hope for the good of our kids, those people wake up and do the right thing instead of looking for accolades they have never received in their chosen profession.

Ralph De Cardenas
"God Bless America"
"Pray for our troops"


 

The below points of view are compilations of Masonic Brothers’ experiences and viewpoints from lodges.  The names of the brethren were withheld at their request for fear of retribution or being ostracized from their respective lodges!
   
1.  Many brethren have watched other brethren get mistreated just because they have long hair.  Some have been ostracized from the line up because of their dress.  Our we not taught in the very beginning that it is not the external (cars, clothes, money, looks, political office, etc.) but the internal qualifications that recommend a man to be made a mason?  Seems some lodges and some members put too much emphasis on the external and not the internal.  It has happened time and time again.  Lodges want you to conform to what they believe a mason should look like or what type of clothes they should wear.  It is understood that you should not come to a stated meeting in dirty clothes and smelling like a sewer.  It really should not matter if a man wears a suit and tie or a nice pair of dress jeans, boots, nice dress shirt, leather vest and a western tie.  SO what if he has long hair or a longer mustache or even a goatee?  Is he neat, clean, and conducts himself in a manor that reflects positively on our organization?  Then that is all that should matter!!!

2.  I was in the line up at my home lodge when another brother who suffered being forced out of the line up had joined another lodge.  He was in the line up at the new lodge and asked me to come over.  The lodge invited me in with open arms at first stating that they needed younger Masonic blood.  So I got in the line up and began my trip to the east.  However, I got screwed by my fellow brethren and all in the name of what’s good for the lodge.  That was a bunch of BS!  My friend and brother was going to the east.  He wanted me in the west.  The lodge at this point was in the process of combining with another lodge.  The lodge elders, or as I like to call them the old farts that try to run the lodge even when they are not in the east, offered to give the other lodge's SW my slot in the west.  What really pissed me off and hurt my feelings to the point that I have never set foot in that lodge again, was that they had the nerve to talk about me in front of me like I didn't exist!  (I did however show up at the elections to show my support for my friend that went to the east.)  We were having a meeting and they were discussing the issue of making the guy SW regardless of who the WM elect wanted (which was me).  This guy they elected was told that if he wanted to go to the west that he needed to start showing up and participating in the lodge.  The only time he showed up was the last meeting before the election!!!  The elders that were talking at the meeting where I heard all of their conversations where sitting directly across the table from me at the time!  They made statements about me and my contributions and my work at the lodge but then said it didn't matter.  They even made statements about not caring if it hurt my feelings or pissed me off.  They didn't even care that it pissed the WM elect off that they talked about me like that in front of me.  The only thing they didn't do was refer to me by name.  They just referred to me as the guy the WM elect wanted or the WM elect's friend.  I still pay my dues to support the lodge because of what it stands for and my home lodge dues because that is where I was raised from a superficial flat to a living perpendicular!

3.  I am a police officer by profession.  In my career, I run into numerous Prince Hall Masons that are officers.  These guys are the ones I have to depend on to save my life when the fecal matter hits the horizontal oscillator!  They learn I am a mason and try to talk to me about Masonic things.  When I try to explain that I can't, I get hit with the “you’re a racist” issue.  I know and understand the history between us.  But damn this is 2006; can't we just try to look at it from another prospective?  The Masonic order is dying.  There are numerous people that believe that we are a bunch of old racist and devil worshipers etc.   Would it really hurt us to consider at least recognizing Prince Hall Masons, at least on some level?  I am not saying we have to let them visit our lodges.  But surely can't we find some middle ground to stand on?  So I don't have to alienate the officers I have to depend on for backup?  I have sat in lodges were some members have said they would demit if a black man was allowed to join our lodge.  Correct me if I am wrong but doesn't masonry teach us to SQUARE OUR ACTIONS TOWARD ALL MANKIND??  IF WE DON'T SQUARE OUR ACTIONS TOWARDS THE DIFFERENT RACES, OUR WE NOT SAYING THAT THEY ARE NOT HUMAN (OR MANKIND)?  IS THAT NOT THE ACTION OF A RACIST ORGANIZATION?  Many of the supervisors in my dept. are black and either current or former Prince Hall Masons.  All of them have expressed in some way or another during our conversation that the Grand Lodge of Texas and it's lodges are either racist or have members that are.

4.  One of my supervisors is a great man.  I would recommend him to be made a mason any day of the week.  I however was not privy to the knowledge that he was seeking to join.  He petitioned a lodge in the town that he lives.  Everything was going great, when the worshipful master ran in to him at a restaurant with his wife.  His wife is black.  All of a sudden everything is dropped.  The lodge was telling him his EA date was going to be XX.  Now all of sudden, nobody calls him or tells him why.  So the next time he sees me, I get an odd look from him.  One that is not very pleasant.  So he tells me the story.  This man is the one that will handle any complaint against me.  He now thinks that the organization as a whole promotes racism or at least allows it to be practiced within its walls/lodges.  I asked another well connected brother to look into what happened.  To see if the official record indicated anything so that maybe if depending on the record, we could have him petition and begin his degree work with a more modern understanding lodge.  Sadly, I have had no response as of yet.  Why? 

5.  Is it not a big enough blow to our great fraternity that we had a sexual assault cover up at the Masonic Home and School in Fort Worth.  I know many masons that are absolutely furious over that issue.  They should have dealt with it at the time it happened and not covered it up.  I believe that the public is much more forgiving if there is a problem in a fraternity that identifies a problem, then takes steps to correct a problem, and is open/forth coming about the problem to the public.  If we had handled the correct way, would that not be the way our vows require?  Would that not gain are fraternity respect from the public?  I know that we are not supposed tell except for murder or treason.  But personally, I believe every mason should always protect a child from harm especially if it is from a supposed brother.  I say supposed brother because if a mason molests or sexually assaults a child he is in no way honoring our obligations.  How could doing that to a child be squaring one's actions toward all mankind?  What if that child was your child or relative?  How would you feel if we had covered up such an awful crime?  Does our cover up actions not put our fraternity in the same class as the catholic priest hood and all of its issues?

Comment by a brother who reviewed the above:  Brethren with issues that have been recently discussed in the emails concerning the Shrine and the above issues in our Blue Lodges is it not obvious that we need to apply our great Masonic teachings to our own fraternity before we embark on any great journey?  Regardless of the accuracy of these points and whether or not you believe them, it is important to note that if any one mason is mistreated in his lodge it is an absolute Masonic tragedy.  Our obligations demand that we treat everyone with the square and compass.  Until all of the aforementioned issues are addressed in a manor to stop them from ever occurring again, it is very likely that the Masonic Order will slowly die in today's world.  We are declining in members and the old farts that vote and control the Grand Lodge refuse to bring our great fraternity into the modern age of temperance and harmony of all mankind.  No Masonic Brother will continue to participate in our great fraternity if he is continually mistreated by lodge elders and other brethren who refuse to follow are obligations.  Our obligations are what bind us as brothers.  They are the glue of are fraternity.  If they are not practiced, how can our fraternity remain as one?  Our fellow brethren were recommended to be made a Mason because of their internal qualifications.  The further we get from our internal qualifications while concentrating on the external qualifications the further we get from our Masonic Heritage and very reason for our existence!  I am simple Master Mason.  I never joined the Shrine.  Why you may ask?  It is because I was told that it was a “rich mans masonry” and that I could not afford to be in any of the specialized units so I would not be accepted!  Masonic history has repeated itself.  Many years ago Masons controlled the U.S. Government and many State Governments.  When the general public got tired of the special treatment and unfair treatment to the non-mason citizen, the majority of the public forced Masonry almost to extinction!  If only certain Brethren are allowed to go through the chairs and participate in certain units/groups, then we are alienating are very own brethren!  They will eventually stop attending lodges and stop paying dues or just demit all together.  This in turn will cause our fraternity to become extinct!