Monday, October 30, 2006

Newly raised black Mason receives hate mail

A Massachusetts black minister who recently became a Mason by joining a regular Antient blue lodge working under the Jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts says he received a letter last week showing an African-American man and containing racist remarks.

According the news reports by television stations WHDH-TV in Boston and WJAR-TV in Providence, the flier claimed the minister is being watched by the Ku Klux Klan, and bore the symbol of Freemasonry, the Square and Compasses.

"A brain is terrible thing to waste, that's why (expletive deleted) don't have any," the message said.

"To think that they are prominent up here as opposed to down South, no one thinks that," Bro. Chan-Williams said. "But now one must ask the question, how prominent are they up here?"

Bro. Chan-Williams refuses to believe the letter could have been sent by a new brother Mason.

"I think it's a coincidence that needs to be investigated by the police and by my lodge and the Grand Lodge. Whether it's a Mason, I do not believe so," Bro. Chan-Williams said.

The FBI and police call it a hate crime, and authorities have increased patrols around the minister's home.

The flier tells Bro. Chan-Williams that he should go home to Brooklyn, New York.

"I'm home," he said. "I'm not going anywhere."

Without a suspect, we're left here with only idle speculation. I doubt they're going to bring out the team from CSI to investigate this incident. Did the Klan send the letter? Did the Masons? Is it just a Halloween prank by some kid? Did the recipient fake it and send it to himself? Is this all a dream we'll wake up from when we click our heels together? Who knows?

All we can say for certain is, someone in the Boston area — home of the Boston Tea Party and the first Prince Hall Masonic lodge — doesn't want to join the 21st Century with class or style.

We'll keep you up to date if this story develops further.

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1 comment:

  1. I would like to first offer my unconditional support and brotherly love to Bro. Chan-Williams. I would hope none of us would stand for one of our own being treated like this. I took an obligation to befriend all brother Masons, and I take it seriously. Keep your chin up, and make your lodge proud.

    May God bless you every day.

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