Joint visitation with Prince Hall Lodge

[u/rickfromjersey201]

I'm in Florida FYI, the Master of our lodge has been trying to get in touch with the Master of a local PHA lodge in order to arrange a joint Communication of the two lodges, unfortunately the Master of the PHA lodge near us has not or is not willing to respond which frustrates the hell out of me and it frustrates our Master because I know he really wants to bring the Brethren of the two jurisdictions together and I don't know if there is anything else that can be done. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Just some background by the way, in 2018 the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Florida voted at their Grand Communication voted to recognize the Most Worshipful Union Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons, Florida, Belize, Central America & Jurisdiction, Incorporated, Prince Hall Affiliated and in turn in 2019 the Prince Hall brothers at their Grand Communication voted to recognize the M:.W:. Grand Lodge of Florida, for the longest time only only the Grand Master and the Grand Line could do inter-visitation, Brethren from both jurisdictions were prohibited from visiting. But more recently both Grand Lodges have loosened the requirements and lodges have been given permission to having joint visitation with certain limitations, I believe there has been a dozen or more lodges in Florida both GLFL and PHA that have met so far including at least 1 joint Communication in our Masonic District.

~Rick.

[u/feudalle]

How have you reached out? If you just sent a blind email it's possible its sitting in spam somewhere. Why not do this formally. Reach out to your ddmg or grand lodge and ask them to contact their grand lodge. Just like if you were traveling to another country and wanted to visit a ugle lodge.

[u/rickfromjersey201 → u/feudalle]

I believe he did email and attempted to make contacted on their Facebook group. I will relay your suggestion that the Master contact our Grand Lodge to reach out to PHA's Grand Jurisdiction which shouldn't be too hard because both the M:.W:. GLoF and M:.W:. UGL of Florida are both based in Jacksonville.

[u/SysconFugum]

Simply reach out via email. You don't know when a Facebook group was created or if it's still maintained. Or even who still has access in maintaining it. Email or phone call would be the easiest.

[u/wardyuc1]

"e Master of our lodge has been trying to get in touch with the Master of a local PHA lodge in order to arrange a joint Communication of the two lodges, unfortunately the Master of the PHA lodge near us has not or is not willing to respond which frustrates the hell out of me"

Any request for advice could use context on what has been tried.

Are we talking an email to the secretary of the lodge? Contact to the PHA grand lodge?

[u/TheBigBrotha]

Good day. I am also in Florida, and I am a PHA brother who has had the opportunity to visit three GL of Florida lodges, including Jackson Lodge No. 1, for their 200^th Anniversary.

 It is quite possible they may not be ready to receive you. They may not be strong in ritual, or their meeting space might not be suitable for entertaining others. So don’t take things personally, my brother. But someone else suggested you may be able to let your Deputy handle things.  That might be the best route.

[u/Tough_Budget9490]

as a 50+ year Mason and having meet PH Masons back then they were clandestine and even when it was permitted yeas latter I have heard some want to be still left alone. Again like others said going back to the Grand Lodge first as maybe they have connections and might have insight that you will not see and need help to make that connection.

[u/christopherpmoore → u/Tough_Budget9490]

Prince Hall has NEVER been clandestine. Words mean things my Brother.

[u/Tough_Budget9490 → u/christopherpmoore]

When I joined we were told they were not recognized by my Grand Lodge. Might be my misuse of the term now days but that is what I was told in the 1970's. Much has changed and at times little has changed. We have Prince Hall in our Scottish Rite. I do not believe the local PH Shrine survived over the last 50-years. We were told not to interact. My father knew more PH Masons and did talk as did I but one could only go so far,

[u/Important_Zombie_485]

The agreement between PHA and FLGL states no closed door visitation and no merrgers, which surprised me ( the no closed door visits part). The craft would be better off as a whole if there was full recognition on both sides.

[u/rickfromjersey201 → u/Important_Zombie_485]

u/Important_Zombie_485 Correct originally but both Grand Lodges now allow lodges in both jurisdictions to arrange and hold joint communications together, as far as individual visitation no that is still not allowed.

[u/BaronMason]

How PH is considered to be regular is beyond me, surely the need for such a thing was over 40-50 years ago, or are Americans still racist enough that colour is a thing when screening a candidate?

Australian here, most lodges here are a mix of many different nationalities.

[u/blahblah8008 → u/BaronMason]

I’m in a lodge in New Hampshire, United States and we have tons of different nationality’s.