by Christopher Hodapp
Both the Indianapolis Scottish Rite Cathedral and the Indianapolis Masonic Temple/Freemasons Hall were vandalized this morning by a man wielding a hammer and intent on covering them with graffiti. As of this writing, Lynn Andrew Jackson, 26, was in police custody, charged with misdemeanor vandalism, but authorities are inexplicably resisting charging him with a hate crime.
A little after 10:00AM, the man began spray-painting bizarre messages and an unusual, unidentified symbol on limestone walls and heavy wooden doors on the west, north and east sides of the landmark Scottish Rite Cathedral. At the Meridian Street main entry, he scrawled messages and took a hammer to one of the Cathedral's many magnificent stained glass windows.
At one point, he attempted to enter the building and asked to take a tour inside, but was turned away by the security guard, because the Cathedral doesn't offer Monday tours. He headed south, pausing to hurl his hammer through a second stained glass window that depicts the 16th degree. Cathedral superintendent Tom Fallis told the press that the window damage alone could cost $50,000 apiece to repair.
Crossing North Street, he continued his graffiti spree on the cornerstone of the 1909 Indianapolis Masonic Temple and Freemasons Hall, and all along the east wall facing the Pierson Street alley.
By an unfortunate set of circumstances, the south door of the Temple had been momentarily propped open for a package delivery, and he was able to enter the south entry hall, where he continued spray-painting antique photos, marble wall panels and more. In the lobby he sprayed a statue and the front of the welcome desk before being confronted by the security officer.
He had expressed his intent to get to the 5th floor Masonic Library & Museum.
When the guard asked what his reason was for vandalizing the building, he yelling, 'All Masons must die and be thrown into a grave!' while adding that his damage didn't matter, because the 'Masons have millions to fix it with.'
Bizarrely enough, he voluntarily exited the building, sat down on the south steps, and calmly waited for police to arrive, saying he had accomplished what he set out to do. He was taken into custody and booked for 'misdemeanor vandalism under $50,000' and 'intimidation.'
Despite the 'Masons must die!' threat, there is no hate crime charge as of yet, and it doesn't sound like police have any inclination to investigate it as such, despite the increase in anti-Masonic attacks all around the world over the last few years. I've reported on these attacks many times now, but apparently we don't fall into a neat little protected class authorities commonly cite. The English press keep alleging that police departments are filled with secret Freemasons. If that were really true, these criminals would be charged with hate crimes without question.
Cost of the damage is not yet known. Sadly, stronger security measures will have to be enforced, which absolutely flies in the face of our desire to welcome the public in and tell the story of Freemasonry to as many people as we can. Our magnificent buildings were designed from the very start to be standing beacons of our fraternity to our communities, and none of us want to be forced to lock them down and make them into fortresses. Sadly, there is no easy answer.
Many people have asked how to help financially. By permission of Grand Master John Bridegroom, the Masonic Library & Museum of Indiana has set up a donation link to a special fund that will be evenly shared between the Scottish Rite Cathedral Foundation and the Indianapolis Masonic Temple, specifically for the restoration of the damage caused by this unfortunate incident. Use the QR code below to donate:
Meanwhile, our local news coverage was widespread this evening. The Indianapolis Star sent a reporter, as did every TV station and news radio WIBC-FM93. Just because I want to log them all in one place for my own future reference, I'll link to them all below.
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Local press interviews Eric Vermeulen, Director of the Masonic Home Foundation |
WIBC-FM 93
WXIN Fox59
WTHR-13
WISH-TV8
INDIANAPOLIS STAR
WTHR-13
WISH-TV8
INDIANAPOLIS STAR
See vandalism at Indianapolis Masonic Temple, Scottish Rite Cathedral
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