Christopher L. Hodapp's Blog, page 10

RIP: Bill Hosler

by Christopher Hodapp

The world suddenly became a sadder and far less pleasurable place to inhabit this weekend. Word came that my friend and Masonic Brother William C. Hosler, PM, passed to the Celestial Lodge on Thursday, June 6th. He was 58.
If you're a Masonic podcast fan, you may be familiar with Bill from the 'Meet, Act and Part' program, with co-hosts Greg Knott, Darin Lahners, and occasionally, 'The Midnight Freemasons' author Todd Creason. 
Bill Hosler entered the fraternity three years af...

Ya Gotta Admit – it's Just Plain Big

Spotted on Facebook.

No, it's not ours. Alice and I only wrote the book RVs & Campers For Dummies .

Two Masonic Halls Destroyed in Rioting on Pacific Island of New Caledonia

by Christopher Hodapp

As reported on June 2nd on the Hiram.be website, two Masonic temples in the Ducos peninsula area of the Pacific island French territory of New Caledonia were destroyed by fire earlier this week. There has been widespread rioting going on across New Caledonia in recent weeks, especially in and around the capitol city of Noumea. It's difficult to ascertain if these two Masonic halls were the target of a specifically anti-Masonic arsonist, because there have been so many other ...

175th Anniversary Edition of Macoy's Classic Monitor

by Christopher Hodapp

Hard to believe, but Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply is entering its 175th anniversary of serving the Craft. That's pretty amazing for any company, but especially one that has such a narrow niche of customers. To celebrate, their first project is a reprint of a Masonic classic: the 175th Anniversary Edition of (Robert) Macoy's Masonic Monitor.  
This edition has been thoroughly edited and formatted by Kansas Past Grand Master and author Michael Halleran, and its more than ...

BREAKING: Indiana's Immediate Past Grand Master Suspended Following Annual Meeting

by Christopher Hodapp
Less than 24 hours after his installation as the newest grand master of the  Grand Lodge F&AM of Indiana , MW Grand Master David G. Morgan (2024-25) has suspended the Immediate Past Grand Master (2023-24), Gary E. Brinley, from the fraternity, effective until the 2025 Annual Communication next May. The reason given is reputed to be un-Masonic conduct by Brinley during the discharge of his duties as Grand Master, up to and including during Tuesday's Annual Communication, along ...

Shots Fired At Mississippi Masonic Hall

by Christopher Hodapp

WLBT-TV3 in Jackson, Mississippi reports that shots were fired at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple on John R. Lynch Street at 9:00PM last Sunday night (Mother's Day). No motive known, so no way to know if it was a deliberate attack or random vandalism.
From the story:

A person is wanted after firing multiple shots at the Masonic Temple in Jackson. According to police, the incident happened on May 12 at approximately 9:00 p.m.

Upon arrival, officers found the front glass window of...

Interview: The Mystic Tye Podcast

by Christopher Hodapp

In the runup to next week's Grand Masonic Day in Vancouver, I was interviewed by Brother Troy Spreeuw for  Season 1 Episode 5 of  The Mystic Tye podcast. We cover a lot: how crass commercial promotion made me go legit; civility and Freemasonry; public education; attacks on the fraternity; why a failing lodge can be your best experience; bad jokes about marriage; why the whole world desperately needs obsessive webmasters like the Grand Lodge of British Columbia & Yukon's Trev...

BREAKING: Conference of Grand Masters PHA Declares MWPHGL of Louisiana Irregular

by Christopher Hodapp

I received a message late Thursday that the Conference of Grand Masters of Prince Hall (PHA) Masons, convening in Charlotte, North Carolina this week, just voted to declare the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Louisiana (PHA) irregular. 
This is a mess that's been unfolding for quite some time.

As soon as I can track down more details, I'll post an update to the story.

Speaking at Vancouver All-Masonic Day May 25th

by Christopher Hodapp

I'll be winging my way Vancouver-ward in Canada and visiting the Grand Lodge of British Columbia & Yukon from May 24th through May 27th. I've been graciously invited by the Vancouver Lodge of Education & Research to speak at their Grand Masonic Day event on Saturday, May 25th. 
Freemasons Hall is located at 508 Agnes Street in New Westminster.

A dozen or so years ago I was actually named as the 'Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of BC&Y near Indiana,' yet I've never been...

2024 World Conference on Fraternalism in Paris June 13-15

by Christopher Hodapp

The 2024 World Congress on Fraternalism, Freemasonry, and History will be held June 13-15 in Paris at the rue de Cadet headquarters of the Grand Orient de France between June 13th and 15th. 
Convened by the journal, Ritual, Secrecy, and Civil Society, in cooperation with the Policy Studies Organization, France's Museum of Freemasonry and the GODF, this event explores how associations and volunteerism have shaped democracy, politics, and history.
The conference alternates each ...