Christopher L. Hodapp's Blog, page 27

Ohio's Chad Simpson Passes Away

by Christopher Hodapp

NOTE: This story has been updated 5/6/2022 5:00PM:
It was a shock for me today to spot a Facebook post from Arts and Sciences Lodge 792 in Ohio reporting the death of Brother Chad Edward Simpson on Monday, May 2nd. He was just 49 years old.
I've known Chad almost since the day I became a Master Mason, and if memory serves, we joined the fraternity in the same year. In the early 2000s a group of us connected regularly via Masonic email groups and online forums, long before the ...

Bazillionare Elon Musk Twitters "Freemasons"; Masons Go Wild

by Christopher Hodapp

Online Masonic forums and Facebook pages were all atwitter Tuesday over a Twitter tweet by Elon Musk in which he referenced Freemasons.

Ultimately, the downfall of the Freemasons was giving away their stonecutting services for nothing

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 3, 2022

Musk announced his purchase of a majority of the company's stock last week and posted this message as part of a thread opining on the possibility of charging a fee to use the platform. 
What was kind of ama...

GL of South Carolina Expels PGM Cal Disher

by Christopher Hodapp

After a Masonic trial conducted during the April annual communication of the Grand Lodge A.F.M. of South Carolina, the assembled brethren voted to expel the immediate Past Grand Master (2019-21), Walter Calhoun "Cal" Disher II (photo above).
Disher's Masonic trial was conducted by the Grand Lodge. Four charges of violating his obligation as a Master Mason as well as provisions of their Constitution were filed in November 2021 by Batesburg-Leesville Lodge 138. Disher was ultim...

Hollywood's Newest Illumi-nuttiness

by Christopher Hodapp

This year Hollywood is going goofy for Illuminati references in two new projects, and just in time for the 246th anniversary of Adam Weishaupt's very real founding of the group on May 1st, 1776 today. 
In classic murder mystery stories of the 1920s and 30s, the final, last-chapter solution was generally "the butler did it." Similarly, in classic conspiracy theories of the last two and a half centuries, "the Illuminati did it" is in there somewhere, if you just dig hard enough...

David Staples Resigning as U.G.L.E.'s CEO and Grand Secretary

by Christopher Hodapp

The United Grand Lodge of England's First Rising email newsletter arrived Monday morning with a surprising message from Geoffrey Dearing, President of the UGLE's Board of General Purposes:

I'm sorry to announce that David Staples (CEO) has decided to resign from his role as Chief Executive Officer for United Grand Lodge of England with effect from 14 April 2022 although he will remain as Grand Secretary until 14 September 2022 and will attend the investiture events.

David has...

Brother Seeks Kidney Transplant Donor

by Christopher Hodapp

It's not often that we encounter a grand hailing sign in the real world, but I received this message privately about a Masonic Brother who is truly in distress. As the message explains, he is in desperate need of a kidney transplant. And unlike most appeals we come across in the wild these days, this one can't be solved by just clicking a Paypal donation button. This one requires true sacrifice on the part of a potential donor.
(Please note: I'm withholding this Brother's ide...

Crowdfunding Campaign for Indiana University's Center for Fraternal Collections & Research

by Christopher Hodapp

Back in August 2021, Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana announced the opening of the new Center for Fraternal Collections & Research (CFCR), headed up by Dr. Heather Calloway. This Wednesday, April 20th is #IUDay at Indiana University and the Center is attempting to raise $5,000 with a crowdfunding campaign to help establish an endowment.

CLICK HERE to donate
The mission of the CFCR is to collect, preserve, and protect objects and ephemera of fraternal and religious gr...

Welcome Brothers: GL of Ohio Raises 780 in Statewide One Day Class

by Christopher Hodapp

On March 26th, the Grand Lodge of Ohio F&AM conferred the Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason degrees on a total of 780 candidates as part of a statewide One Day Class at several locations. Naturally, the Masonic Intertube discussion boards, Twitbook, and Facetwit sites went mildly berserk over the news. As many as 780 may sound, it's only about 10% of the record 7,700 Masons raised by the Grand Lodge of Ohio at a similar statewide one day event back in 2002.
Ev...

Georgia Grand Masters to Sign Treaty of Amity Saturday

by Christopher Hodapp

The Grand Lodge of Georgia F&AM and the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F&AM of Georgia will hold a joint public presentation this Saturday, April 9th to officially sign treaty of amity documents and cement their mutual recognition. 
Most Worshipful Grand Masters Donald C. Combs of the GL of Georgia and Corey D. Shackleford of the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia will jointly preside.
The voting members of the MW Grand Lodge of Georgia voted in favor of accepting ...

Midwest Conference on Masonic Education in Kansas City, MO: April 29 - May 1, 2022

by Christopher Hodapp

The 73rd annual Midwest Conference on Masonic Education will be held April 29th through May 1st, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri.
From their website:

The Midwest Conference on Masonic Education 2022 promises to be an excellent event that offers excellent resources for Masonic Educators at all levels. Whether you are the chair of Masonic Education in your jurisdiction, a local Lodge Education Officer, or just a Brother interested in contributing to Masonic Education in your local...