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Squire Bentley
Unregistered
Posts:
Registered: |
 Posted August 10th, 2008 11:16 AM IP   
The Grand Master, Robin Griffith, of The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of West Virginia has filed an Amicus Brief in support of Past Grand Master and expelled Mason, Frank Haas, against the mainstream Grand Lodge of West Virginia.
For a good discussion of this issue see my blog at:
http://beehive135.blogspot.com/
See also: http://sundaygazettemail.com/News/200808060819
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Torence Evans Ake
Past Master
Posts: 54
Registered: Sep 2010 |
Posted November 29th, 2010 11:46 PM IP
MWB Frank Haas will be in court on Monday 12/6/10.
The Judge has apparently ruled in a pre-trial hearing the following:
1. The Grand Master did not have the authority to expel a member based on the Laws of Masonry (West Virginia Lawbook).
2. The State of West Virginia has the authority to rule and force a private organization to follow its own rules.
3. The Grand Lodge had filed a motion to not allow any discussions regarding race. Their argument was that race was not pertinent to the case. She denied it and my understanding is that she indicated that it is pertinent to the case.
Fraternally,
Torence Evans Ake
Secretary - Auburn Park Lodge No. 789 - Crete, Illinois
PM - Arcadia Lodge No. 1138 - Lansing, Illino
FRaternally,<br />
Torence Evans Ake<br />
Secretary - Auburn Park Lodge No. 789 - Crete, Illinois<br />
PM - Arcadia Lodge No. 1138 - Lansing, Illinois
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Torence Evans Ake
Past Master
Posts: 54
Registered: Sep 2010 |
Posted December 19th, 2010 10:14 PM IP
FYI: M.W. Bro. Haas wrapped things up in court this week. Here are his comments. :
Reflections on my trial
I won what became a bitter contest, because the Court ruled, as I said from the beginning, that there had been a breach of contract: the Grand Lodge did not follow its own law, which forms a contract with all its members. The Grand Lodge denied my right to a fair Masonic trial. The Court also separately ruled that grand masters cannot summarily expel any members, and it is unreasonable and unenforceable if they do. However, without injunctive relief, which I also requested, winning is a Pyrrhic victory: it feels empty, like this whole process. The true loser in this sad affair is our gentle Craft in West Virginia and those many honorable Masons who suffer in silence while the in-crowd crows about dodging a bullet.
Without ever allowing the Craft to vote on it, your grand officers spent perhaps $400,000 from our – your – treasury, only to lose their case. My own legal expenses approach several times my annual salary—a problem I have yet to solve.
It is true: I remain unlawfully expelled. But that doesn’t matter to me now. Doing the right thing is far more important. It is the fading of the dream of the Wheeling Reforms that I mourn. They are so sorely needed, the reforms that we voted on and which were adopted by the Craft in our Grand Communication in Wheeling in 2006. The favorable vote was proven in sworn testimony by three witnesses in my trial, yet these reforms continue to be denied. Masons in West Virginia still may not pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States when we assemble; a handicapped war veteran cannot become a Mason if he lost his thumb; and our rules about participation in funeral honors remain deplorable and an insult to widows and families. And we say we honor widows! My friends, I fear that without these reforms, and the others, we will continue to be mocked, and marginalized, and will miss the resurgence now taking place in other jurisdictions.
I won—but not enough to bring West Virginia the justice that had been denied her, and for that, I am profoundly sorry. Please know that I did my very best.
Fraternally,
Frank Joseph Haas
judgefjh@swave.net
133rd Grand Master of Masons in West Virginia
Senior Deacon, Steubenville Lodge #45,
Grand Lodge of Ohio, F & AM
FRaternally,<br />
Torence Evans Ake<br />
Secretary - Auburn Park Lodge No. 789 - Crete, Illinois<br />
PM - Arcadia Lodge No. 1138 - Lansing, Illinois
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canuck
Mastermason
Posts: 293
Registered: Dec 2009 |
Posted December 20th, 2010 02:04 AM IP
I think that he brought disgrace to the Craft as a whole and he caused damage to masonry in WV. No matter how right he was in his reasons to oppose the WM of WV, once things got out of control he should have stepped back in the name of harmony.
www.victorialodge.ca
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S. T. Lehane
Master Mason
Posts: 1568
Registered: Oct 2006 |
Posted December 20th, 2010 09:40 AM IP
Quote:
canuck wrote:
I think that he brought disgrace to the Craft as a whole and he caused damage to masonry in WV. No matter how right he was in his reasons to oppose the WM of WV, once things got out of control he should have stepped back in the name of harmony.
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I think the issues in this particular case are a little more complex than that.
(Edited by S. T. Lehane)
Fraternally!
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Jay
Master Mason
Posts: 304
Registered: Feb 2010 |
Posted December 22nd, 2010 11:29 AM IP
Quote:
canuck wrote:
I think that he brought disgrace to the Craft as a whole and he caused damage to masonry in WV. No matter how right he was in his reasons to oppose the WM of WV, once things got out of control he should have stepped back in the name of harmony.
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I have to disagree. The subsequent GMs that drove Bro. Haas to the point of a civil lawsuit did more to destroy the craft in WV. Perhaps this trial did more to let WV masons know what was going on. I have no doubt that were it not for this trial, many would have been kept in the dark.
These GMs were guilty of a greater masonic misconduct than Bro. Haas. I applaud his bravery to take them on and let them know that no man is greater than the craft. That no GM can circumvent the rules. That no GM is a dictator and they are answerable to the brethren that elected him.
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canuck
Mastermason
Posts: 293
Registered: Dec 2009 |
Posted December 23rd, 2010 01:06 AM IP
True - they are answerable to the brethren that elected them. When three GM's in a row stick to the same decision, without anyone opposing the issue on a GL session - it means it wasn't a GL problem! It was personal. No matter how good his intentions were in the beginning - the way he ended it was disgraceful to the craft. He could have done it in a different manner, without the involvement of the public courts.
At the end of the day - the masonic ritual is the Alpha&Omega of our work. That same ritual gives very clear instructions on how a mason should act in cases like this. The Craft is greater than any of it's members - and the damage that was caused by this case is far greater than any of the benefits!
www.victorialodge.ca
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Jay
Master Mason
Posts: 304
Registered: Feb 2010 |
Posted December 23rd, 2010 08:27 AM IP
Well said, Bro. Canuck.
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S. T. Lehane
Master Mason
Posts: 1568
Registered: Oct 2006 |
Posted December 23rd, 2010 04:03 PM IP
The issues run even deeper on this one.
There's a huge can of worms sitting there on the table in front of us...
I'm sure as hell not going to be the one to open it!
Fraternally!
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Jay
Master Mason
Posts: 304
Registered: Feb 2010 |
Posted December 23rd, 2010 06:41 PM IP
Quote:
S. T. Lehane wrote:
The issues run even deeper on this one.
There's a huge can of worms sitting there on the table in front of us...
I'm sure as hell not going to be the one to open it!
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I see a couple of cans and I think most know what they are.
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skiendhu
Super Moderator
Posts: 2627
Registered: Dec 2004 |
Posted December 24th, 2010 09:04 AM IP
How does a discussion group discuss a can of worms if nobody is willing to open it?
Isn't that what this web site is for? 
Practical experience is the best teacher
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Jay
Master Mason
Posts: 304
Registered: Feb 2010 |
Posted December 24th, 2010 12:51 PM IP
Quote:
skiendhu wrote:
How does a discussion group discuss a can of worms if nobody is willing to open it?
Isn't that what this web site is for?
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I see 3 distinct cans. Any other issue would be a smaller can within.
First is using the mass media and public courts to air our dirty laundry.
Second is a series of Grand Masters acting like tinpot dictators. Doing whay they will with no regard for the rules. Like somehow the Constitution of WV are suggestions, not firm rules.
Third is still the overall race issue. Through all of the muck of this court case, the issue of race is still not being addressed properly. This issue was somehow brushed aside. Seems to me like this public trial played right into the hands of these GMs. Brethren and profane alike have forgotten that actual issues behind Bro. Haas' explulsion.
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kevins
Member
Posts: 8
Registered: Dec 2010 |
Posted December 31st, 2010 09:27 PM IP
It also seems that WV has become a "sealed up" can of worms, at least to the Brothers in OH. I may be mistaken but since Brother Haas has petitioned and been accepted into an Ohio Lodge, no Mason from OH may sit in a WV lodge. I do hope that I am wrong.
Master Mason
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skiendhu
Super Moderator
Posts: 2627
Registered: Dec 2004 |
Posted December 31st, 2010 11:23 PM IP
Quote:
Jay wrote:
I see 3 distinct cans. Any other issue would be a smaller can within.
First is using the mass media and public courts to air our dirty laundry.
Well, the powers that be keep saying that there are no secrets in Freemasonry, now they're doing their best to prove it
Second is a series of Grand Masters acting like tinpot dictators. Doing whay they will with no regard for the rules. Like somehow the Constitution of WV are suggestions, not firm rules.
I've noticed this trend in recent years, some of them seem to have an exagerated opinion of their powers. Fortunately it only lasts for one year in each case.
Third is still the overall race issue. Through all of the muck of this court case, the issue of race is still not being addressed properly. This issue was somehow brushed aside. Seems to me like this public trial played right into the hands of these GMs. Brethren and profane alike have forgotten that actual issues behind Bro. Haas' explulsion.
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There's a race issue in Freemasonry? 
Practical experience is the best teacher
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Jay
Master Mason
Posts: 304
Registered: Feb 2010 |
Posted January 3rd, 2011 04:12 PM IP
Quote:
skiendhu wrote:
There's a race issue in Freemasonry?
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Not where you and I attend lodge. However, there are some jurisdictions in North America that still have a handfull of small minded men.
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S. T. Lehane
Master Mason
Posts: 1568
Registered: Oct 2006 |
Posted January 3rd, 2011 06:33 PM IP
Quote:
kevins wrote:
It also seems that WV has become a "sealed up" can of worms, at least to the Brothers in OH. I may be mistaken but since Brother Haas has petitioned and been accepted into an Ohio Lodge, no Mason from OH may sit in a WV lodge. I do hope that I am wrong.
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Seriously? Have the Grand Lodges of Ohio and West Virgina rescinded mutual recognition over this?
I don't know Bro. Haas at all, but as I understand it, he is now a MM in good standing in Ohio, (as well as an expelled GM from WV).
PS: Did I mention that this is a big can of worms?
Fraternally!
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S. T. Lehane
Master Mason
Posts: 1568
Registered: Oct 2006 |
Posted January 3rd, 2011 06:48 PM IP
Quote:
S. T. Lehane wrote:
Seriously? Have the Grand Lodges of Ohio and West Virgina rescinded mutual recognition over this?
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Ok... Now, I can answer my own question.
Holy crap, they did! (Maybe this is old news to you guys).
Quote:
“The Grand Master of West Virginia, Gregory A. Riley, Sr., issued an edict on April 19, 2010 withdrawing fraternal recognition from the Grand Lodge of Ohio because Steubenville Lodge No. 45 elected Frank Haas to membership and conferred the three degrees of Masonry on him on Saturday, April 17, 2010.” |
Have any other GLs rescinded recognition over this?
(Edited by S. T. Lehane)
Fraternally!
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russellholland
Master Mason
Posts: 996
Registered: Feb 2005 |
Posted January 3rd, 2011 08:11 PM IP
I sometimes wonder at the wisdom of having so many Grand Lodges but it is hard to see circumstances in which the administrative organisations would agree to merger.
Russell Holland
Caboolture 266
UGLQ
Australia
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S. T. Lehane
Master Mason
Posts: 1568
Registered: Oct 2006 |
Posted January 4th, 2011 03:48 AM IP
Quote:
russellholland wrote:
I sometimes wonder at the wisdom of having so many Grand Lodges but it is hard to see circumstances in which the administrative organisations would agree to merger.
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Sorry Russell... you're not on the right page. You're not even looking at the right book.
Why was the Immediate Past Grand Master summarily expelled?
Fraternally!
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Freemason Discussion Group :: Freemasonry :: Masonic World View :: Prince Hall WVA Joins Haas Lawsuit |
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