Christopher L. Hodapp's Blog, page 24

Speaking at MWPHGL of New York's Adelphic-Union Lodge 14 on Tuesday, March 28th

by Christopher Hodapp

On Tuesday, March 28th, 2023 I'll have the honor of speaking in New York City 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 Aven...

Blue Friars 79th Consistory WILL Take Place Today 2/10/23

Our late Friars Rex Hutchens (left) and Alain Bernheim (center) seen here with Grand Abbott Arturo De Hoyos (right) several years ago.

by Christopher Hodapp

Attention Masonic Week 2023 attendees !
Despite what you may have read in the last week, there WILL be a Consistory held today (Friday February 10th).
Previously, Arturo de Hoyos, the Grand Abbot of The Society of Blue Friars, announced that this year's Consistory and induction of a new Friar has been cancelled. 
The Society was founded in 1932 fo...

James Rumsey, Texas Grand Junior Warden, Suspended

by Christopher Hodapp
UPDATED: This post was updated at 9:37 PM 1/30/2023 

The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of Texas , MW G. Clay Smith, has officially suspended the Grand Junior Warden, RW James Rumsey, pending a disciplinary hearing before Texas' Grievances and Appeals Committee next September. (Click image above to enlarge.)
Texas Grand Master, MW G. Clay Smith
According to Smith's letter (posted today on the Grand Master's Blog page), it is alleged that Rumsey,

"while then serving as a D...

Arizona PGM Jeff Carlton Killed in Traffic Accident

by Christopher Hodapp

Arizona's Masonic family has received more tragic news this weekend. Grand Master Jim H. Baker has reported that Past Grand Master Jeffrey Carlton, 33° and his wife Moira were involved in a serious vehicle collision on Friday. MWB Carlton was killed in the accident and Moira is currently in critical condition in the ICU.
The Grand Master requests everyone to keep the Carlton family in their prayers.
MWB Jeff Carlton (photo) served the Grand Lodge F&AM of Arizona in 2012-13, an...

Members to Grand Master: The Eyes of Texas Masons Are Upon You

by Christopher Hodapp

The Grand Lodge of Texas AF&AM's annual session was held this week in Waco, Texas, and new grand officers were elected and installed. Outgoing Grand Master Brad Billings has been succeeded by MW G. Clay Smith, Grand Master for 2023.
There appears to be a faction within the Grand Lodge of Texas that objects to the programs and changes made during  Billings’ term of office in 2022. Presumably to stave off any more newfangled ideas creeping into their grand officers’ line, an at...

UPDATED: Celebration of Life For Illus. Rex Hutchens 33° January 22, 2023

by Christopher Hodapp

The Grand Master of Arizona has officially announced that a Celebration of Life for Rex Hutchens will be held January 22nd, 2023 in the Red Room of the Tucson Scottish Rite Cathedral, 160 S. Scott Avenue, Tucson, Arizona, beginning at 1:00PM.

CLICK IMAGE ABOVE TO ENLARGE.

UPDATED SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2023, 3:45PM

Rex Hutchens' obituary has been posted on the
It reads, in part:

Rex Richard Hutchens passed away on December 17, 2022, at the age of 80 ...

Celebration of Life For Illus. Rex Hutchens 33° January 22, 2023

by Christopher Hodapp

The Grand Master of Arizona has officially announced that a Celebration of Life for Rex Hutchens will be held January 22nd, 2023 in the Red Room of the Tucson Scottish Rite Cathedral, 160 S. Scott Avenue, Tucson, Arizona, beginning at 1:00PM.

CLICK IMAGE ABOVE TO ENLARGE.

Confirmed: Grand Master of Cuba Defects to the U.S.

Grand Master Francisco Javier Alfonso Vidal (Facebook)
by Christopher Hodapp

I received a message from a Brother in Texas last week alerting me that the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Cuba had just defected to the United States. He and his wife traveled to Mexico, purportedly on vacation, and crossed into the U.S. at the Texas border where they requested asylum. The Grand Lodge of Florida provided financial assistance to the couple, and they were helped locally by officers from a lodge in Brow...

Grand Master of Cuba "Abandons His Mission" and "Escapes To Mexico"

by Christopher Hodapp
The Grand Lodge of Cuba announced yesterday that Grand Master Francisco Javier Alfonso Vidal did not return to Cuba from Mexico after taking a trip to Veracruz, Mexico he made with his wife.

Using terms like "escaped," it would seem that he may have defected.

From "The Leader of the Cuban Freemasons Escapes in Mexico, Reports the Grand Lodge" on the Translating Cuba website, translated by Regina Anavy:

Francisco Javier Alfonso Vidal was elected to the position in March 2022. ...

UPDATED 1/6/2023: Illus. Dr. Rex R. Hutchens Passes Away; Celebration of Life Announced

by Christopher Hodapp

Freemasonry has lost another of our legendary giants. Word has come today that Illus. Rex R. Hutchens, 33°, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Arizona in 2006, and author of A Bridge To Light, has passed away. 
I first met Rex in person back in 2010 at the Rocky Mountain Masonic Conference in Albuquerque when Art DeHoyos, Rex and I were the speakers for the program – you can see from this group photo of the three of us that I was at least allowed to be in the same room w...