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| Authorities guarding the area around Boston’s Masonic Temple |
by Christopher Hodapp
A string of reports are coming in about several Masonic buildings suffering damage or vandalism this week. Some are related to the ongoing protests and riots in the wake of the George Floyd death in Minneapolis, but others clearly are not. But what is remarkable is that, despite the widespread historic location of Masonic halls in downtown areas across the country and the high levels of damage for a week now in many cities, very few incidents of vandalism against Masonic buildings have been reported. It’s highly probable that some have not been actively reported, but here is what I have discovered thus far:
Over the last weekend, graffiti was sprayed on Denver’s downtown Masonic Center, home to several lodges and the Scottish Rite – the news reported that some protestors were seen attempting to clean off the slogans. Several Masons reported ‘hunkered down’ at the downtown Tucson, Arizona Masonic hall on the second night of protests after its windows were smashed the night before.
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| Entrance to Paul Revere Restaurant in Boston’s Masonic temple |
Boston’s Masonic Temple, home of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts sits on Tremont Street in downtown Boston. It became the epicenter of several nights of protests and demonstrations. In a Facebook video assuring his members, Grand Master Richard Maggio gave a shoutout to David Hardy and the Grand Lodge security team. The building’s ground floor windows were boarded up, and neither the Masonic areas nor the new Paul Revere restaurant received any damage or vandalism, apart from a spray painted slogan on the plywood.
Washington’s House of the Temple Vandalized
Arturo De Hoyos reports that the Scottish Rite – SJ headquarters, the House of the Temple on 16th Street in Washington, D.C. was vandalized during the demonstrations on Tuesday evening. The large, iconic sphinxes out front were reportedly doused with paint, and the building was defaced with graffiti. Prior to Tuesday night, it had escaped any vandalism or damage during the recent demonstrations.
Damage to Raleigh, NC Prince Hall Lodge
The 1906 Prince Hall Masonic temple owned by Excelsior Lodge 21 and Widow Son Lodge 4 in Raleigh, North Carolina had its windows shattered by protestors on Saturday night. The shops and Chapter Room on the first floor were damaged.
According to lodge Trustee Steven Melton on Facebook,
“We have 4 black businesses that rent from us they were vandalized, we are one of the few black owned buildings downtown but it didn’t matter to those looking to do damage… We still rent the 1st floor to local businesses, the 2nd floor for social events,community programs and Excelsior Lodge #21, Widow’s Son Lodge #4 and Mentor Lodge #55 still meet on the 3rd floor every month. The area surrounding the lodge has been renamed The Prince Hall District and the [building] has been declared a historic building.
Prince Hall Lodge Burns in Asheville, South Carolina
In the Shiloh community of Asheville, South Carolina, fire gutted the Masonic Hall at Caribou Road and Booker Streets.
According to a report on 13WLOS-TV, it had been home to Venus Lodge 62, the first African-American Masonic lodge in Asheville. Built by the lodge in the 1970s, the building had been empty for the last few years, pending renovation.
Originating on Eagle Street in downtown Asheville, Venus Lodge No. 62 was the city’s first black Masonic Lodge group.
Where blackened rubble stands on Booker Street, Ronald Scott pictures years of events, from cookouts to scholarship fundraisers, that brought folks together.
“Very disheartened and sad. Unbelievable,” said Scott, who’s the lodge master.
He hoped to renovate the structure, which had been unused for some seven years since another fire caused extensive damage.
Fire officials are still investigating the cause. The surrounding neighborhood in Shiloh had no demonstration or protest activity, so this may be completely unrelated.
While not in this location, the lodge continues to meet. Venus Lodge 62 is chartered by the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of North Carolina.
Grand Master of Pennsylvania Issues Statement After Franklin and Washington Statues Were Vandalized Saturday
As reported previously, after the bronze sculptures of Brothers Benjamin Franklin and George Washington outside of Philadelphia’s Masonic Temple were sprayed with graffiti Saturday night, Masons quickly arrived and cleaned them off again. Grand Master Thomas Gamon, IV gratefully acknowledged their speedy work in a formal announcement:
Thanks to Brother Ryan Steele for identifying the members of the crew.
LtoR: Paul Roth/University Lodge No. 51, John Mosco/51,
Jason Fugarino/ Richmond-Solomon Lodge No. 3,
Daniel Rivers/Athelstan-Lamberton Lodge No. 482,
Ed Clifford, PM/51;
not pictured/taking the picture ha – Mike Comfort, PM/Melita Lodge No. 295
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