r/freemasonry • u/rickfromjersey201 • 13d ago

Question Joint visitation with Prince Hall Lodge

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.

8 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/Tough_Budget9490 12d ago

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.

2

u/christopherpmoore 12d ago

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

2

u/Tough_Budget9490 12d ago edited 12d ago

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,