Christopher L. Hodapp's Blog, page 23

GL of New York Restores Amity with the GL of Scotland

NY GM restores amity with Scotland (artist rendering).
by Christopher Hodapp

The Grand Lodge of New York has at last settled its six-year-long dispute with the Grand Lodge of Scotland and restored fraternal relations. Announcements were officially issued this morning by New York's Grand Master, Most Worshipful Richard J. Kessler, and Scotland's Grand Secretary, RW William M.S. Semple. (Click images below to enlarge.)


Scotland never did suspend recognition of New York, so their letter merely states ...

RV Vacations For Dummies: Special Pre-sale Offer Today Only

by Christopher Hodapp

This has absolutely nothing to do with Freemasonry and is, in fact, a shameless bit of self-promotion. For those interested in the RV books Alice and I have been writing for the Dummies series, we've got a special one-day only offer for our new one, RV Vacations For Dummies - 7th edition.  Instead of regularly updating this blog, we've been embroiled in this particular project for almost seven months — the final manuscript and artwork was just sent to the printers last week, ...

Thanks To New York's Adelphic-Union Lodge 14 (PHA)

by Christopher Hodapp

Many thanks to WB Will Green, the Brethren, and the many visitors at Adelphic-Union Lodge 14 of the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New York for such a warm welcome last night. I'll make a ballpark guess and estimate more than 70 Masons turned out for the evening.
I learn something new every time I visit or speak at any lodge, and last night was no exception. Masters everywhere make it a standard habit at lodge meetings to ask for reports of "sickness and distress," but last ni...

Speaking Tonight at New York's Adelphic-Union Lodge 14 (PHA)

by Christopher Hodapp

I'll have the honor of speaking tonight in New York at  Adelphic-Union Lodge 14  of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F&AM State of New York. The gavel sounds at 7:00PM.
Many thanks to Worshipful Master Wilbert Green and his brethren for their kind invitation. I'm very much looking forward to being there. 

Adelphic-Union 14 meets in The Prince Hall Masonic Temple located at 454 W. 155th Street in Harlem (between Amsterdam and St. Nicholas Avenues.)

Historic Adelphic-Uni...

Michigan Grand Master Issues Follow Up Letter on Job's Daughters Situation

by Christopher Hodapp

MW Leonard K. Davis, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge F&AM of Michigan , issued a follow-up clarification letter on Tuesday regarding his Edict removing recognition of Job's Daughters International in his jurisdiction. 
That Edict was issued last week, after the international-governing Grand Guardian Council revoked Michigan's Job's Daughters charter and took control of their assets. (See Grand Master Shuts Down Job's Daughters in Michigan on 3/27/23 HERE. )
In his letter, GM Da...

Grand Master Shuts Down Job's Daughters in Michigan

by Christopher Hodapp
The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Michigan , MW Leonard K. Davis, has just issued an official edict that revokes all support and association with Job’s Daughters International, a Masonic-related youth group for girls within his jurisdiction. 

Edict 2022-2 reads, in part:

That no Master Mason within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Michigan can or will be allowed any office, station or place within any Guardian Council, Grand Guardian Council or Supreme Guardian Coun...

Grand Master Renders Official Decision on Transgenders and Masonry in Texas

by Christopher Hodapp

The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas AF&AM, MW G. Clay Smith, has just rendered an official decision (Grand Master's Decision No. 1) concerning transgenderism within his jurisdiction. 
He was asked if the Constitution and Laws of the Grand Lodge of Texas allow biological women whose gender identity or gender expression is now male to become Masons. The short answer is no. The Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Texas is silent on the subject, and so he falls back on th...

Grand Master of Texas Renders Official Decision on Transgenders and Masonry

by Christopher Hodapp

The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas AF&AM, MW G. Clay Smith, has just rendered an official decision (Grand Master's Decision No. 1) concerning transgenderism within his jurisdiction. 
Grand Master G. Clay Smith

To paraphrase the meat of his decision: A biological woman ("an individual who was assigned female at birth") cannot be a Texas Mason.A transgender man ("an individual who was assigned female at birth whose gender identity or gender expression is now male") can...

2023 Sankey Lecture: Heather Calloway Sunday 3/26

by Christopher Hodapp

The Grand Lodge of AF&AM of Canada in the Province of Ontario has a unique relationship with the part of the academic world that studies our fraternity. The annual Dr. Charles A. Sankey Lecture in Masonic Studies at Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario is presented each year through a unique partnership with the Grand Lodge. Since 2010, the Sankey Lecture has presented significant academic scholars who specialize in Freemasonry or fraternalism, and in recent years, thes...

Anniversary of the Death of Jacque DeMolay

Today, March 18th marks the 709th anniversary of the death of Jacques de Molay,  the last Grand Master of the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ, the Knights Templar. (Some accounts say March 11th. Even the two commemorative plaques at the execution site in Paris have conflicting dates.)

He was born in the eastern French village of Molay in 1244 or 45. Almost nothing is known of his early life, but he joined the Templars at the age of 21, and served 42 years as a warrior monk.

In 1291, the Holy Land f...