Christopher L. Hodapp's Blog, page 17

New York Mayor Eric Adams Made a Prince Hall Mason

by Christopher Hodapp
On Tuesday last week, the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F&AM of New York conferred the Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason degrees upon New York City Mayor Eric Adams in a special ceremony. Also raised at this event was the city's Police Commissioner, Edward Caban, and Chief of Police, Jeffrey Maddrey.
(LtoR)Grand Master Gregory Roberson Smith, Jr,
Mayor Eric Adams, Commissioner Edward Caban,
Chief Jeffery Maddrey.

The historic event was held at Gracie ...

Suspect Arrested in Greece Over Anti-Masonic Bombing in Athens

by Christopher Hodapp

Back in July, the Scottish Rite Supreme Council of Greece building in Athens suffered limited damage after a bomb exploded outside the entrance. A second device was safely detonated outside of the adjacent Grand Lodge of Greece building. A suspect was arrested on July 25th, and I'm only just finding out about that now. 
Thanks to Joe Wäges for passing along the story this afternoon. The headline describes him as a follower of the "far-right", but the story does not reveal his...

UPDATE: Suspect Bound For Trial in Chattanooga Masonic Center Fire

by Christopher Hodapp

The lone suspect in the Labor Day arson fire that heavily damaged the Masonic Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee has been bound over for trial, and his bail has been raised to $450,000. On Monday, Judge Lila Statom bound all charges of the Grand Jury against Kadum Hunter Harwood (29). Those charges include arson, vandalism, harassment, aggravated burglary, and reckless endangerment.

Harwood acted as his own attorney, which should go well, I'm sure.

From an article on the Chatta...

Speaking 10/28/23 at Ohio's Goose and Gridiron Lodge 1717

by Christopher Hodapp

I'll be speaking on Saturday, October 28th at the Goose and Gridiron Lodge 1717 meeting and Festive Board in Dayton, Ohio. See the lodge website for details. Registration ends on October 18th.
On Friday night there will be a pre-event gathering at Jimmies Ladder 11 from 6PM-9PM.

The event will be held at the magnificent Dayton Masonic Center, 525 West Riverview Avenue, Dayton, Ohio.

Minnesota Lodge Restores Historic 1857 Charter

1857 Charter of Mankato Lodge No. 12 in Minnesota
(CNHI News Service)

by Christopher Hodapp
In 1857, the just-formed Grand Lodge of Minnesota AF&AM issued a charter for that state's twelfth Masonic lodge – Mankato Lodge No. 12 . The lodge was first organized in 1856, the year before statehood was granted to Minnesota. A century and a half after it was issued, Mankato Lodge has taken steps to carefully restore and preserve their original, fragile document. 
Mankato's charter (or warrant) was printed ...

Former Masonic Temple To Become Lansing, MI City Hall

by Christopher Hodapp

Lansing, Michigan's Mayor Andy Schor announced this week that the former downtown Masonic Templeat 217 S. Capital Street will become the new City Hall. The original Temple was built in 1924 at the height of the City Beautiful Movement, and was home so numerous Masonic lodges and appendant organizations.

The Masons moved out of the building many years ago as lodge memberships diminished and downtowns deteriorated in the late 1960s, and the Temple building became the Cooley La...

10/14: Scottish Rite Research Society Symposium at Indiana University/Bloomington

by Christopher Hodapp

The Indiana University Center for Fraternal Collections and Research will be hosting the 2023  Scottish Rite Research Society  Symposium on October 14, 2023 between 1:00-5:00PM. Everyone is welcome to attend - Masons, non-Masons, and SRRS members. 

The event will be held in the historic McCalla Building on the beautiful Bloomington campus of Indiana University. Bloomington is located in south/central Indiana 50 miles south of Indianapolis, off of I-69.
The McCalla Building featu...

Suspect in Chattanooga Masonic Center Attack Arrested in Georgia

by Christopher Hodapp

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED Tuesday 9/5/2023 11:20PM
WDEF-TV News in Chattanooga reports that authorities in Catoosa County, Georgia arrested a suspect in the arson and vandalism case of the Chattanooga Masonic Center, which took place on Labor Day.
On Monday evening, Georgia police arrested 29-year-old Kadum Harwood (photo), who will be extradited to Hamilton County in Tennessee and charged with arson, vandalism, burglary and reckless endangerment.

Tennessee Grand Master James...

CANCELLED: Tuesday, Sept 5th Event at New York's Pelham Lodge 712

MY SPEAKING EVENT AT NEW YORK'S PELHAM LODGE 712 ON TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 5TH HAS BEEN CANCELLED!
I BROKE MY LEG AND ANKLE AND HAD EMERGENCY SURGERY ON FRIDAY. I AM UNABLE TO TRAVEL AT THIS TIME.
My deepest apologies to everyone who was planning to attend.
THIS EVENT WILL BE RE-SCHEDULED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

(Here's my surgeon's handiwork. Looks like my own questionable carpentry skills, except he knows what he's doing.)

Tennessee: Another Masonic Hall Vandalized

by Christopher Hodapp

The Masonic Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee was vandalized at some point this weekend. I've received few details as of Monday afternoon, but the building was apparently broken into, damaged caused, and a fire was set.
From the Chattanoogan.com website :

Chattanooga Fire and Chattanooga Police are investigating an incident early Monday morning at the Chattanooga Masonic Center involving arson and vandalism.

 Chattanooga firefighters responded at 2:11 a.m. on Monday to the Masoni...