Christopher L. Hodapp's Blog, page 4

Philly Inquirer Tours Historic Masonic Temple

Monica Herndon/Philadelphia Inquirer
by Christopher Hodapp

A Philadelphia Inquirer reporter toured the incredible Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania's  magnificent Masonic Temple for a story over the weekend. 
See  "Philly’s own ‘Temple of Doom’ has fossils in the floors, stars in the ceiling, and an Egyptian room,"  by Stephanie Farr, with photos by Monica Herndon. 
Monica Herndon/Philadelphia Inquirer
Apart from the usual journalistic sniping these days (superficial explanations, an obligatory "dead white gu...

2025 U.S. Masonic Cons and More

by Christopher Hodapp

Grab your Masonic Calendar as the Masonic conference season kicks into full swing. Freemasons are organizing fun and educational events all over the country. 
The Grand Lodge of New York started off the year with their Masonic Con back in mid-January, but as the weather warms up, other jurisdictions are announcing their own similar events. Please alert me if yours isn't listed below and I'll add it to this list.
Montana Masonic Con April 25-26, 2025 – Great Falls, Montana NOTE!...

Midwest Conference on Masonic Education in Indianapolis May 2-4, 2025

by Christopher Hodapp
Don't forget to register for the Midwest Conference on Masonic Education May 2-3, 2025 in Indianapolis. 

Here's the lineup for what is shaping up to be a truly terrific program.
This year's conference will be held at the historic Indianapolis Masonic Temple, located at 525 N. Illinois Street.
Indianapolis Masonic Temple
Be sure you visit the Masonic Library and Museum of Indiana on the 5th floor of the Masonic Temple. It will be open throughout the day on Saturday.

Don't forget ...

OES National Grand Chapter Issues Explanation of Rule Change

by Christopher Hodapp

The national Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star has released an explanatory letter regarding the recent change to the OES constitution which removed the former Masonic family connection for female petitioners.  
As reported HERE, MW David Ray Pyle, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of West Virginia issued a directive earlier this month evicting OES chapters from all Masonic lodge halls and buildings in his jurisdiction. 
In their letter, OES Grand Worthy Ma...

May 3rd "Railroad Degree" in Northern Delaware

by Christopher Hodapp
I'm a total sucker for Masonic degrees performed in unusual settings, and outdoor degrees can be found all over the Masonic world. But for this old veteran of railroad museums from back in my teenaged years (I became a steam locomotive fireman and engineer at 15, before I could legally drive a car) you can't beat Ionic Lodge 31's "Railroad Degree" near New Castle, Delaware.

Beginning in 2016, Ionic Lodge began this unique degree conferral in conjunction with the historic Wilm...

OES Removed Masonic Family Relationship For Women Last November

by Christopher Hodapp

THIS STORY IS SLIGHTLY EDITED FOR CLARITY FROM ITS ORIGINAL VERSION FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2025, 12:33AM
As reported here on Monday, the   Order of the Eastern Star has been evicted from all Masonic buildings in the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of West Virginia. In the wake of that decision, I was sent the following letter that had issued back on January 2nd of this year by the OES General Grand Chapter. 
I am posting this as a clarification of what started the imbroglio in...

West Virginia GM Boots OES Chapters Out of All Masonic Buildings

by Christopher Hodapp
NOTE: THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED AS OF TUESDAY APRIL 8, 2025 AT 7:50AM:
I've had it confirmed that on March 21st, 2025, David Ray Pyle, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of West Virginia , issued a directive ordering all chapters of the Order of the Eastern Star to vacate all West Virginia Masonic buildings, effective immediately.
WV Grand Master David Ray Pyle
In his directive, he states that the O.E.S. in West Virginia no longer requires Masonic membership as a prerequisi...

Wisconsin MasoniCon in Eau Claire This Saturday April 12th

by Christopher Hodapp

The MasoniCon season is heating up. Join me this Saturday, April 12th at the Wisconsin MasoniCon in Eau Claire, where I'll be speaking along with Steven Harrison of the Midnight Freemasons blog and author of Freemasons–Tales from the Craft.
The day will kick off at 10AM with a special meeting of the Silas Shepherd Lodge of Research #1843. Steven and I will speak after lunch.


This event takes place at the magnificent Eau Claire Masonic Temple located at 616 Graham Avenue, from ...

April 13th: Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library Celebrates Its 50th

by Christopher Hodapp

The Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library  in Lexington, Massachusetts is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. If you've never visited, make the effort. It's one of the top Masonic museums in the U.S.
The Museum & Library first opened as the 'Museum of Our National Heritage' in 1975 to correspond with the American Bicentennial, on the 200th anniversary of the battles at Lexington and Concord. It was envisioned by then-Sovereign Grand  Commander George A. Newbury as an ...

Thanks To Rochester, New York's College of Freemasonry

by Christopher Hodapp

Last Saturday I was supposed to be in New York to make a presentation at the 2025 College of Freemasonry , sponsored by the Scottish Rite Valley of Rochester . The theme of the event was the 200th anniversary of the disappearance of William Morgan in nearby Batavia back in 1825. Alice and I were hoping to drag out the Airstream and camp out in upstate New York after this event. Unfortunately, Alice is still recuperating from her foot surgery performed back in February and is u...