Christopher L. Hodapp's Blog, page 2

TempleLive Abruptly Closes; Operated Former Masonic Temples in Four Cities

by Christopher Hodapp
A bold vision to try and save historic Masonic temples has tragically failed, apparently. Or at least struck a sizeable reef. News sources in Cleveland, Ohio reported last week that TempleLive, the company operating the Cleveland Masonic Temple and several other landmark Masonic theater venues, seems to have folded. Shows have been canceled, performers have been unable to get responses, and the company isn't answering phone calls. The company website is also down. 
If they re...

Conference in Lexington, KY Sep. 19-20: "Exploring the Role of Masonic Research Lodges in the 21st Century"

by Christopher Hodapp

UPDATE: A previous version of this story mistakenly announced the wrong month! The conference is NEXT WEEKEND, September 19-20.
What is the modern day purpose of Masonic lodges of research, in an age of podcasts, YouTubes, e-books, video streaming on demand, and the onslaught of self-publishing that has diminished the role of editors and fact-checkers? 
Next Friday and Saturday, September 19th and 20th, 2025, Kentucky's William O. Ware Lodge of Research with their co-hosts, Le...

Conference in Lexington, KY Aug. 19-20: "Exploring the Role of Masonic Research Lodges in the 21st Century"

by Christopher Hodapp

What is the modern day purpose of Masonic lodges of research, in an age of podcasts, YouTubes, e-books, video streaming on demand, and the onslaught of self-publishing that has diminished the role of editors and fact-checkers? 
Next Friday and Saturday, August 19th and 20th, 2025, Kentucky's William O. Ware Lodge of Research with their co-hosts, Lexington Lodge No. 1, The Rubicon Masonic Society, and The Philalethes Society will hold their  13th Annual Festive Board and Confer...

Upstate New York Masonic Temple For Sale

by Christopher Hodapp

If you ever wanted to own your own impressive Masonic hall, head for upstate New York. It’s not every day a nearly-110-year-old, castle-like Masonic Temple with bowling lanes, a ballroom, an organ, and movie-ready tech hits the market for under half-a-million smackers.
The massive former Masonic Temple in Little Falls, NY has just gone on the market for just $499,900. (If it looks familiar, I also wrote about it in 2017, the last time it went on the market: 'When The Profan...

Texas PGM Reese Harrison Passes Away

by Christopher Hodapp
UPDATED: Texas Past Grand Master Reese L. Harrison has passed to the Celestial Lodge Above. A post on the Grand Lodge of Texas Facebook page from Grand Master Reader this afternoon says he actually passed on August 29th, and was laid to rest at a private ceremony today, September 4th.
It would be nearly impossible to accurately recount the vast Masonic resumé of PGM Harrison. His longstanding devotion to the fraternity and its many appendant bodies over the decades is unmatc...

Philippines: Catholic Priest Suspended For Blessing Masonic Marker

Photo: Yeng Abinales for Daily Tribune
by Christopher Hodapp

A Catholic priest on the Philippine island of Leyte has been temporarily suspended from performing his duties after blessing a Masonic marker at a dedication ceremony in August.
Rev. Fr. Luigi Kerschbamer, OAD, Prior Provincial for the Order of the Discalced Augustinians (OAD) for the Province of St. Nicholas of Tolentino, temporarily suspended Rev. Fr. Libby Daños from performing his priestly activities, pending an investigation by the a...

2026 Masonic Week Feb 4-8: Registration Now Open

by Christopher Hodapp

Registration is already up and running for next February's Masonic Week at the Crystal City Double Tree by Hilton in Arlington, Virginia. Mark your Masonic calendar for February 4th through 8th. 
Held continuously around the Washington DC area ever since 1938, Masonic Week (or more officially known as AMD - Allied Masonic Degrees - Week) is an event that brings together numerous small, generally invitational, Masonic organizations for their annual meetings, officer elections,...

G. Washington Masonic Natl Memorial Wraps Up Major Exterior Restoration

by Christopher Hodapp

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria has been undergoing a major (and painstaking) exterior restoration project for the last eleven years. The monument to Brother George was built over a century ago and suffered from increasing water damage, limestone degradation, and even cracks from a 2011 earthquake. Work started on the iconic 9-story tower in 2014 and has at long last been completed.

An article in the local Zebra publication two weeks ago written ...

MW Thomas Watson, Grand Master of South Carolina, Passes Away

by Christopher Hodapp

Most Worshipful Brother Thomas 'Tommy' E. Watson, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge AFM of South Carolina , passed away unexpectedly at his home on Monday. A message was forwarded to members yesterday by Deputy Grand Master A.C. Flora, IV. 
Brethren are asked to keep his family in their prayers.


Grand Master Watson was elected in 2025 to a two-year term of office, the standard in South Carolina. Presumably, DGM Flora will now assume the office and serve until 2027.
From GM Wat...

Albert Pike's Masonic Statue To Be Reinstalled in Washington D.C.

by Christopher Hodapp

The National Parks Service has announced it will restore and re-install the iconic bronze statue of Scottish Rite sage Albert Pike on its former plinth in Washington, DC's Judiciary Square. On June 19, 2020, the statue was toppled by rioters, covered in paint, doused with lighter fluid, and ignited, a victim of the national Confederate-related statue-toppling mania that went on in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
According to a press release from the NPS ...