Grand Lodge of West Virginia

The Grand Lodge of West Virginia is one of two bodies that govern Freemasonry in the state of West Virginia[1] (the other being the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of West Virginia).[2] It oversees around 140 local lodges,[3] and supervises the West Virginia Masonic Home in Parkersburg, West Virginia.[4]

History

It is one of ten Grand Lodges in the U.S. that does not recognize Prince Hall (African American) Masonic Lodges and in 2008 was reported as having no black members,[5] and these policies have been invoked as a reason for a lawsuit from a former grand master Frank J Haas.[6]

Lawsuit

In June 2008, former Grand Master Frank Joseph Haas sued for readmission after being expelled in November 2007.[7]

In his suit, Haas claims that he tried to make changes known as the "Wheeling reforms", which would do away with practices that Masonic organizations in other states had "long since done away with."[8] This includes allowing black and handicapped members into West Virginia Masonic lodges as well as allowing lodges in West Virginia to support non-Masonic charities.[8][9]

The jury found against Haas in December 2010.[10]

External links

  1. ↑ Official Web site
  2. ↑ Grand Lodge of BC&Y page on Prince Hall Grand Lodges
  3. ↑ West Virginia Grand Lodge: List of West Virginia Lodges AF&AM
  4. ↑ West Virginia Grand Lodge:West Virginia Masonic Home
  5. ↑ From Would-Be Reformer, to Former Mason, to Plaintiff, New York Times, June 16, 2008
  6. ↑ Expelled Masons leader says meeting was worst time of his life , Wednesday December 8, 2010, Charleston Daily Mail
  7. ↑ Clevenger, Andrew (9 June 2008). "Judge sues W.Va. Masons". Charleston West Virginia Gazette-Mail.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Barry, Dan (16 June 2008). "From Would-Be Reformer, to Former Mason, to Plaintiff". New York Times.
  9. ↑ "Expelled Mason in W.Va. sues grand master, lodge". Associated Press. 9 June 2008.
  10. ↑ http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201012150820