AP: Ala. Governor Defends White Masonic Unit

[Eugene]

Ala. Governor Defends White Masonic Unit

By JAY REEVES
The Associated Press
Friday, September 29, 2006; 2:21 PM

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Gov. Bob Riley is defending his membership
in a Masonic organization that critics say excludes blacks.

Riley, a Republican running for re-election against Democratic
Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley, is a member of a Masonic lodge in his east
Alabama hometown of Ashland. It is affiliated with the Grand Lodge
of Alabama, a statewide group.

Speaking in an interview with The Associated Press, Riley said
he did not know whether his lodge had any black members.
But Riley denied that the Masonic group is racist.

-snip-

The head of the Grand Lodge of Alabama, Grand Master Frank W.
Little, said he knows of no blacks among its 32,000 members.
The group has 318 lodges and accepts new members by applications
and referrals from other members. The organization has an affiliated
women's group called the Order of the Eastern Star.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/29/AR2006092900760.html

[Virginia Dare]

1. It's not racist at all...

they just don't like black people....:eyes:

[htuttle]

2. I think that less that 1/4 of the Masonic groups in the US...

...are either still segregated and bar blacks from membership, or do not recognize the predominately-black Prince Hall masonic lodges (which themselves have a long history). Most of these 'holdouts' are in the south.

Sounds to me like Frank W Little is a member of one of these.

[enuffs_enuffs]

3. Well, the Masons... really... weren't many of the founding fathers Masons?

I really don't see membership becoming any kind of real issue in the upcoming months.

Imagine if all Masons were booted from office... It would be one less boys club, but still... many to go.

[Radical Activist]

4. Some of them were also slave owners.

So I don't really see that as an excuse.

[enuffs_enuffs]

5. Currently, being a Mason isn't criminal, owning slaves is.

Besides, that argument won't carry ANY weight in the south. Just my perspective. No offense.