[JoeProBono]

"Most Worshipful Brother F. Ray Jackson, Grand Master of Masons in Georgia, sir:

What about Georgia? When will the Grand Lodge of Georgia accept black Masons as Masons?

When will we overcome the shackles of our own minds and actually live up to the Masonic tenets of the Brotherhood of All Mankind?

When will the rest of the Masonic world stop laughing at what they think of (and rightly so) as the good ol' redneck racist boys down south?

I and countless other Masons in good standing call upon you, the "elected" leader of Masons in Georgia, to stop the racism. Don't hide behind the supposed need for committees and discussions and votes at some Grand Lodge communication five years from now. If you can excommunicate Masons with the stroke of a pen like you and your predecessor Bro. Garner did last year with his edict, you, sir, can recognize Prince Hall Masons with a simple edict as well.

Yeah, many Georgia Masons will be unhappy. Some may even hate you for it. Some may fume and fret and threaten to never attend Blue Lodge again. So what?"

[PalmettoMason]

So Mote It Be, Joe!

I would like to issue the same challenge to the Grand Master of Masons here in South Carolina.

[mnehring]

Good post, I was struggling what to say, both out of anger as well as frustration but you put it well. I will certainly shoot off a letter. The fact that this is even an issue counters everything Masonry stands for. The history is one of transcending nationality, race, and religion to find a brotherhood based on shared values. I see no place for this type of attitude in the craft, not to mention in this country. This is most likely the bias of a few members. I believe they need to read up on Prince Hall, what he stood for, and what he gave his life for.