Christopher L. Hodapp's Blog, page 9

UPDATES: Hurricane Helene Hits Six States

The 600-mile path of Hurricane Helene (Image: New York Times)

by Christopher Hodapp

NOTE: THIS POST WILL BE UPDATED.
The path of destruction and devastation over the weekend from Hurricane Helene stretched 600 miles across six states. Thousands are without homes in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee, while deaths from the storm continue to rise – as many as 130 are reported dead as of 10:30 Monday night, according to the Associated Press.
Scores of communities ...

Slate: 'What if the Solution to Men’s Loneliness Is… Freemasonry?'

Illustration by Logan Guo for Slate
by Christopher Hodapp

There's been no dearth of reports over the last few years about what many sociologists and psychologists are calling an 'epidemic of loneliness' among men under 40 or so. Several emails this weekend alerted me to an article on Slate – 'What if the Solution to Men’s Loneliness Is … Freemasonry? What makes a guy decide to join a really old fraternal order in 2024' , by Allegra Rosenberg. It's a refreshingly evenhanded exploration by a non-Maso...

Grand Master Morrow of Grand Lodge of Scotland Abruptly Resigns

by Christopher Hodapp

The Grand Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , RW D. Joseph J. Morrow, resigned unexpectedly on Wednesday, according to a message circulated to lodge secretaries and posted on their website.  
According to messages on Redditt, GM Morrow is currently traveling abroad with his wife. The message gave no explanation beyond "personal reasons" for his abrupt departure.
From the official announcement:

The Grand Master Mason, Brother Dr Joseph J. Morrow, has resigned, for perso...

Endangered Masonic Halls: Author Will Moore To Speak in Indianapolis October 15

Photo: Indiana Landmarks

by Christopher Hodapp
On Tuesday, October 15th, Indiana Landmarks will be presenting a program, Understanding Masonic Temples , featuring guest speaker Will D. Moore, author of the 2006 book  Masonic Temples: Freemasonry, Ritual Architecture and Masculine Archetypes .

Last month, Indiana Landmarks released its annual listing of the Ten Most Endangered Buildings in Indiana — historic structures in our state on the brink of extinction that are too historically, architecturally, ...

Esotericism In Freemasonry 2024 Conference in Seattle: Sept 27-29

by Christopher Hodapp

The 4th Esotericism In Freemasonry 2024 Conference will be held the weekend of September 27-29 at Occidental Lodge in the Ballard Masonic Center in Seattle, Washington, featuring a lineup of some of the top contemporary writers and researchers in Western esotericism, comparative religion, and much more. 
An increasing number of men coming to Freemasonry are thirsting for esoteric knowledge that goes far beyond the usual Blue Lodge fare of Masonic education. Expressing interes...

San Antonio Scottish Rite Forms Partnership With City's Philharmonic Orchestra To Preserve Cathedral

Article and photos by Christopher Hodapp
On Saturday, September 7th, the San Antonio (Texas) Philharmonic Orchestra and the San Antonio Valley of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite (SJ) announced the formation of a new 501(c)3 partnership to preserve and modernize the city's beautiful downtown Scottish Rite Cathedral. Under the terms of the agreement, the two organizations will share ownership of the 100-year-old Cathedral, providing the orchestra with a magnificent (and permanent) new home, and ...

Janesville, Wisconsin Masonic Center Damaged by Multiple Gunshots

Photo: Janesville News Report

by Christopher Hodapp

Shots were fired at the Masonic Center in Janesville, Wisconsin at about 2:30 AM on the morning of Sunday August 25th. Bullets were found by police after they struck multiple windows. No injuries were reported, and no suspects have been named at this time.
Photo: WKOW-TV 27
According to the Channel 3000 website:

On Aug. 25, at 2:47 a.m., the JPD said officers were dispatched to the intersection of East Milwaukee St. and North Sumac Drive after recei...

California Masonic Symposium: 'Fringe Freemasonry and the Mysteries That Bind Us'

by Christopher Hodapp

The   California Masonic Symposium is hosted annually by the Grand Lodge of California. This year's event will be held next Wednesday, August 28th and will feature presentations on some of the most mysterious and esoteric Masonic-related rites and organizations that are often referred to as “fringe Masonry.” Many have borrowed styles, substance, symbolism, and practices from the Masonic fraternity, but while "fringe" may sound derogatory at first blush, the label isn't meant ...

Embattled Grand Master Mario Urquía Carreño of the GL of Cuba Is Forced To Resign

Mario Urquía (left) and the Grand Masonic Temple of Cuba (right)Image © Collage Facebook/Mario Urquía - CiberCuba

by Christopher Hodapp

Mario Alberto Urquía Carreño, the embattled Grand Master of the  Gran Logio de Cuba ( Grand Lodge of Cuba) , has resigned following months of controversy and scandal. His resignation was officially tendered Sunday, August 18th after a contentious confrontation with representatives from more than 100 lodges on the island.
Carreño had already been removed from his offic...

Virginia's Grand Senior Warden Matthew Szramoski Named As G. Washington Masonic Memorial's New Executive Director

by Christopher Hodapp

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association in Alexandria, Virginia has just announced the appointment this week of Matthew Szramoski as its new Executive Director, effective immediately. He replaces Karl V. Hopkins who was appointed following the retirement last August of longtime Executive Director George Seghers.
Brother Szramoski was most recently the Director of Development for the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdi...