PHA GL of Virginia Vs. PHA Shrine
Raum Sariel
Most Worshipful Grand Master
"Letting Our Light Shine"
January 22, 2009
To: All Owing Allegiance to the MOST WORSHIPFUL PRINCE HALL GRAND
LODGE of Virginia, F. & A. M., INC.
I must report to the Jurisdiction of Virginia that your Masonic
leaders have been unsuccessful in attempting to bring resolution to
the impasse with the AEAONMS. Many of you are not members of the
Shrine and therefore may have little or no understanding of the
problems between Shrinedom and Prince Hall Masonry over the past few
months.
Several months ago, the Imperial Potentate, who is the head of
Shrinedom, issued a "protective order" in an attempt to stop certain
practices by several Jurisdictions that he believed impinged upon the
rights of its members. The constitution of the Shrine stated that the
membership would consist of Master Masons in good standing, who were
also members of the Scottish Rite (Consistory) or York Rite (Knights
Templar). The "protective order" changed all of that. For the sake of
this disclosure, it’s immaterial whether the Imperial Potentate had
the authority to violate his own constitution or not. The fact is he
decreed that persons no longer had to belong to the Scottish Rite or
York Rite and did not have to be in good standing as a Master Mason.
Meetings were held between the Imperial Potentate and the Prince Hall
Grand Masters at the Conference of Grand Masters. Instead of a "meet
and confer" type of gathering, it was a purely confrontational
diatribe on the part of the Imperial Potentate. In August 2008, a new
Imperial Potentate was installed. The hope was that the new Imperial
Potentate would revert back to the original position for Shrine
membership. Much to everyone’s surprise, the topic of membership never
made it to the convention floor and the new Imperial Potentate stated
that he did not intend to change the previous "protective order".
I must admit this Jurisdiction has made some unreasonable demands on
the Shrine Temples in the past years. We were willing to concede this
point and attempted to heal old wounds so that peace and harmony could
prevail. What we encountered, however, was a perverse mood of
disrespect for the Grand Master and the Constitution of the Grand
Lodge of Virginia.
The AEAONMS were welcomed into Virginia based on the fact that its
membership would be composed of Prince Hall Master Masons, in good
standing with their lodge, and who would also be members, in good
standing, of either the Scottish Rite or York Rite of Masonry. Under
the present leadership of the Imperial Council of AEAONMS that
membership requirement has now changed. In fact, according to a letter
dated January 8th, the Imperial Potentate is even attempting to change
the English Language by giving his own definition for words rather
than Webster’s. According to my dictionary, the words "concordant" and
affiliate" mean "existing in agreement" and "to associate or ally
oneself" which fits the relationship that existed between Shrinedom
and the Jurisdiction of Virginia prior to the "protective order".
As Grand Master, I cannot condone the violation of our Constitution
nor accept the disrespect directed to this office. Until the
"protective orders" pertaining to membership are addressed and
resolved, there will be no relationship between AEAONMS and the
Jurisdiction of Virginia.
Attested:
Larry D. Christian Isaac S. Hughes
Most Worshipful Grand Master Right Worshipful Grand Secretary