Many have asked how to help? Here is your chance. On the right sidebar you will notice a new widget that links to a site where you can donate to help defer the cost of MWB Frank's legal fees. Your donation can be completely anonymous.

We are working on a way for a donation to be mailed in for those who prefer to send a check to a financial institution directly. More on that later.

Brethren, please read Frank's account of what happened and search your conscience. Give as liberally as you can........

The direct link to the site is http://www.giveforward.com/frankhaaslegalfees

Amason

Words of great wisdom from my friend and Grand Master....

Reflections on my trial

I won what became a bitter contest, because the Court ruled, as I said from the beginning, that there had been a breach of contract: the Grand Lodge did not follow its own law, which forms a contract with all its members. The Grand Lodge denied my right to a fair Masonic trial. The Court also separately ruled that grand masters cannot summarily expel any members, and it is unreasonable and unenforceable if they do. However, without injunctive relief, which I also requested, winning is a Pyrrhic victory: it feels empty, like this whole process. The true loser in this sad affair is our gentle Craft in West Virginia and those many honorable Masons who suffer in silence while the in-crowd crows about dodging a bullet.

Without ever allowing the Craft to vote on it, your grand officers spent perhaps $400,000 from our – your – treasury, only to lose their case. My own legal expenses approach several times my annual salary—a problem I have yet to solve.

It is true: I remain unlawfully expelled. But that doesn’t matter to me now. Doing the right thing is far more important. It is the fading of the dream of the Wheeling Reforms that I mourn. They are so sorely needed, the reforms that we voted on and which were adopted by the Craft in our Grand Communication in Wheeling in 2006. The favorable vote was proven in sworn testimony by three witnesses in my trial, yet these reforms continue to be denied. Masons in West Virginia still may not pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States when we assemble; a handicapped war veteran cannot become a Mason if he lost his thumb; and our rules about participation in funeral honors remain deplorable and an insult to widows and families. And we say we honor widows! My friends, I fear that without these reforms, and the others, we will continue to be mocked, and marginalized, and will miss the resurgence now taking place in other jurisdictions.

I won—but not enough to bring West Virginia the justice that had been denied her, and for that, I am profoundly sorry. Please know that I did my very best.

Fraternally,
Frank Joseph Haas
judgefjh@swave.net
133rd Grand Master of Masons in West Virginia
Senior Deacon, Steubenville Lodge #45,
Grand Lodge of Ohio, F & AM
16 December 2010

The Judge has apparently ruled in a pre-trial hearing the following:

1. The Grand Master did not have the authority to expel a member based on the Laws of Masonry (West Virginia Lawbook).
2. The State of West Virginia has the authority to rule and force a private organization to follow its own rules.
3. The Grand Lodge had filed a motion to NOT allow any discussions regarding race. Their argument was that race was not pertinent to the case. She denied it and my understanding is that she indicated that it IS pertinent to the case.

A Mason

I am told the brother's family had a team of brethren travel from Ohio to respect his last wishes, but no West Virginia masons were allowed to participate. This barring of West Virginia participants was apparently done by order of the Grand Master of West Virginia. The Grand Lodge of Ohio would have allowed West Virginia participants, in much the same way that the edict severing relations was not reciprocated by Ohio. West Virginia masons are still quite welcome in Ohio lodges as long as they don't mind risking their membership....

Lastly, lest the fanboys of Grand Lodge point out that there was a masonic funeral held, understand that if there had been some sort of "Masonic Police" the Grand Lodge of West Virginia would not have allowed the funeral to happen here. The simple fact is that they do not have nearly as much control as they imagine. They cannot control anyone (including you) unless you let them. With the recent rulings from Judge Webster, they are starting to have it explained to them....

A Mason

Now that the MW Grand Lodge has taken umbrage at the MW Grand Lodge of Ohio's treatment of Brother Frank Haas, you are now not allowed to visit the largest Masonic jurisdiction in the world. Does the Grand Lodge of West Virginia really expect that the Grand Lodge of Ohio will feel the loss of visitation from one of the smallest ( albeit neighboring ) Grand Lodges? The West Virginia brethren may feel different? I know all along the river brethren have enjoyed their visits to Ohio Lodges. There they were able to see and participate in Masonic activities that have long been forbidden here... Things like pledging allegiance to our flag, seeing a disabled American veteran made a mason or allowing a brother to take his obligation on a book that is sacred to him.

This is not the first time that we've not been allowed to cross the river. The last time it was over Prince Hall recognition. It seems that Grand Lodge doesn't trust us to understand, let alone keep our obligations. Instead they interpret for us, tell us what is and is not allowed. They do it very apologetically, always saying that we must follow the lawbook. If a bold brother chances to ask about changing the lawbook, they carefully explain that of course it can be changed and all anyone needs do is submit In Proper Form legislation to modify our lawbook. I find it ironic that a PGM and lawyer has for the last couple years has been unable to figure out just what proper form is, that a Judge does not understand our lawbook and Robert's Rules of Order, or that educated men cannot count and do simple arithmetic?

I realize that this sounds like an oxymoron, but there is an agenda here... by not being allowed to visit Ohio, you won't be distracted from pure ancient craft masonry in it finest! I recall hearing our Grand Lecturer state at Grand Lodge that he was opposed to having foreign degree teams confer here as the brethren might get ideas...

Brethren the time is upon us that we must stand up and be counted! Take the time to respectfully tell the Grand Master what your feelings are. You've very little Masonry left to lose if you don't and everything to gain if you do!

A Mason

More to come.....

For now I have linked the old site so that it is backed up for historical purposes.

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A Mason