Michael Richards tidbit
- Thread starter klaatu
- Start date
In order to be a 33rd Degree he has to join outside bodies. Yeah, I heard this too. Interesting tidbit, but really not all that vital...
klaatu
Fusionist
Im not insinuating that it is vital to his character one way or another ... I just thought it was interesting. When you say join outside bodies... what do you mean by that? Charitable organizations. Volunteerism ...etc ...?
Nah, The Blue Lodge, or the First Three Degrees, is what Freemasonry really is. In order to become a 32 degree they have to join the Consistory, which is a group outside the lodge that you can only join if you are a Master Mason...
33 Degree is usually reserved for people who have given a great amount of time to the business of Freemasonry... it is an honor given only to a few.
klaatu
Fusionist
Dont know how many ... but there are African American Freemasons ... here is some info ..
80. When and where did African-American Freemasonry start in the United States?
On March 6, 1775, in Boston, when the degrees of Masonry were conferred upon Prince Hall and fourteen other African-American men in a Military Lodge (No. 441 on the Irish Register) in the English Army attached to the 38th Regiment.
81. Who was Prince Hall?
It is recorded that he was born in Barbados, British West Indies. He came to Boston, became the leader of the free African-Americans of that city, and was an ordained minister.
82. Did these African-American Masons have a Lodge of their own?
On September 29, 1784, the Grand Lodge of England issued a Charter for African Lodge No. 459 of Boston. It was instrumental in forming the first African-American Grand Lodge in the United States.
maineman
Banned
I didn't ask if there WERE any...I asked how many there were.
Every racist organization can bring in a few tokens as window dressing.
and why did the african americans need their own lodge in the middle of Boston, I wonder? Do you think that the whites only lodge was too far of a walk for them?
Every racist organization can bring in a few tokens as window dressing.
and why did the african americans need their own lodge in the middle of Boston, I wonder? Do you think that the whites only lodge was too far of a walk for them?
maineman
Banned
klaatu
Fusionist
I searched Mason demographics for numbers .. I could only find that there are roughly 2.5 million Freemasons in the USA. As far as their own lodge in the middle of Boston .... that was back in 1775... I would venture to say the lodges are integrated today, I would be surprised if they werent.
klaatu
Fusionist
There is a dark cloud as far as racism.... but I believe it is limited to this Country back in the days of Pike and his affiliation with the Klan ....
Historically Freemasons were more about a fraternal orginization getting together and thinking freely ... ouitside the circle of the church..if you will..... iow ..Deists
George Washington, Ben Franklin, FDR, Jesse Jackson, Hubert Humphrey, Sugar Ray Robinson were/are all freemasons.
Quite a few, Prince Hall masons as well as direct members in Lodges such as my own. I haven't a total number, but then I am not the Census taker for Freemasons....
The Prince Hall Masons are some of the strongest in the nation. Not all are African Americans, but most of them are... I personally raised 5 in my year as Master. 5 of 17 isn't bad in a state where African Americans make up 4% of the population.
You would venture incorrectly. But that's okay, people search for what they want when they perceive "bad" and want to continue to perceive "bad" in others.
maineman
Banned
damo...do you need to soak your socks in vinegar to keep the ants from crawling up your leg to get at your kindly and sweet sugary ass? could you BE anymore "righteous"? Is there a mean bone in your body?
So all of those articles that I found by googling "masonry + racism" really were all about racism in the bricklaying business?
So all of those articles that I found by googling "masonry + racism" really were all about racism in the bricklaying business?
There is a difference in personal experience that effects how I view things.
There are some Grand Lodges that do not accept them. For instance, Texas who won't accept the Prince Hall Masons because they have more than one Grand Lodge in Texas and their Constitution only allows for one. They do have many regular african-american freemasons though.
Some, like Georgia (I believe, I didn't personally have this happen) also do not allow Colorado Masons to enter their lodges because we do accept the Prince Hall Masons. The racism is there, but it isn't part of the institution. It's like saying all of the US is racist because some states use the Confederate Flag on their state flag.
As I have asked before, do you honestly believe that I am evil? How many Freemasons have you met before you decided to just look online and take people who are anti-masonic's word before your own experience? I simply gave you my personal experience... Take what you will from it, I am done...
maineman
Banned
my uncle was the grand poobah of some national masonic organization...he was the guy that started collecting soft drink pop tops. I know many masons and all of the ones that I know are not racist in the least. I do know, however, that the institutional racism of the masonic organizations is alive and well.
No, masons have the whole gamut when it comes to people. Good and bad, high and low... Just being a freemason doesn't make somebody good, it just gives an already good person a tool whereby to give...