MO-AF&AM-3
Registered User
Brethren,
I am writing this post as I am somewhat new to the intricate workings of GL and BL functions in the way that I am about to describe below. So here it goes.
Last week my BL had our official GL visit with the newly installed DDGM. During his time as the Acting WM of the lodge he gave us his "vision" of freemasonry. He puffed his chest and told us that he was a "COP" and if we were caught stealing money he would send us to jail. Which is sort of how life goes and that not a problem with me. However I know quite a bit about the RWB and know that he is not a police officer and has never been a "COP" I however was a police officer in the military for 4 years and a police officer for 8 years, in the same major city he is trying to claim. Furthermore there was a lodge brother that was at the same meeting who I know is a 30 year retired police officer of the same department. There are other police officers that are members of my lodge that were not there that night. After the meeting I left feeling very unhappy and disgusted about the visit.
Exactly one week later I was at a meeting for the Masonic Board of Relief and the DDGM who is the president of that board again stated that he was a police officer and then proclaimed that he would use a law enforcement computer system to aid in investigating in any funny business. As a cop I have used this system and there isn't a lot of information that can't be found (i.e. SSN, DOB, addresses, etc.) I was so mad I tried to jump out of my seat to immediately confront him and I knocked over some chairs. My lodge Brother grabbed my shoulder and told me to stop and think about my actions. I did and I just stood up, apologized to the brethren for the distraction and excused myself from the meeting.
How can I deal with this person in the proper manner as he has lied to two rooms, full of MM that I know of, I'm sure there are more. This is unacceptable and this person no longer has my respect due to his lack of integrity. We are supposed to take each other's word at face value because we are MM but if you do nothing but lie how can you adjudicate someone else's failings and render judgement upon their masonic offenses if so required.
Then there is the non masonic problem: As a former police officer once people find out that you are or were a cop, they ask all kinds of legal or law related questions. If this happens, which I'm positive it will soon enough as I get those questions from my brothers all the time, he will have two choices:
#1 To come clean and tell them that he is a liar, which I am positive he won't due since he seems to love the authority that come with his status as a DDGM and would be charged with masonic offenses and tossed from the fraternity.
#2 He gives them advise which would be based more on a Hollywood movie than actual experience or understanding of the laws, in Missouri, which he doesn't have. At that point now people who are my fellow brothers are in a position that may lead to arrest or worse injury/death based on the belief that he is giving sound advise.
I need some different approaches to this problem so that I may be better able to serve and protect my brothers and freemasonry as a whole.
Thank you for your time.
I am writing this post as I am somewhat new to the intricate workings of GL and BL functions in the way that I am about to describe below. So here it goes.
Last week my BL had our official GL visit with the newly installed DDGM. During his time as the Acting WM of the lodge he gave us his "vision" of freemasonry. He puffed his chest and told us that he was a "COP" and if we were caught stealing money he would send us to jail. Which is sort of how life goes and that not a problem with me. However I know quite a bit about the RWB and know that he is not a police officer and has never been a "COP" I however was a police officer in the military for 4 years and a police officer for 8 years, in the same major city he is trying to claim. Furthermore there was a lodge brother that was at the same meeting who I know is a 30 year retired police officer of the same department. There are other police officers that are members of my lodge that were not there that night. After the meeting I left feeling very unhappy and disgusted about the visit.
Exactly one week later I was at a meeting for the Masonic Board of Relief and the DDGM who is the president of that board again stated that he was a police officer and then proclaimed that he would use a law enforcement computer system to aid in investigating in any funny business. As a cop I have used this system and there isn't a lot of information that can't be found (i.e. SSN, DOB, addresses, etc.) I was so mad I tried to jump out of my seat to immediately confront him and I knocked over some chairs. My lodge Brother grabbed my shoulder and told me to stop and think about my actions. I did and I just stood up, apologized to the brethren for the distraction and excused myself from the meeting.
How can I deal with this person in the proper manner as he has lied to two rooms, full of MM that I know of, I'm sure there are more. This is unacceptable and this person no longer has my respect due to his lack of integrity. We are supposed to take each other's word at face value because we are MM but if you do nothing but lie how can you adjudicate someone else's failings and render judgement upon their masonic offenses if so required.
Then there is the non masonic problem: As a former police officer once people find out that you are or were a cop, they ask all kinds of legal or law related questions. If this happens, which I'm positive it will soon enough as I get those questions from my brothers all the time, he will have two choices:
#1 To come clean and tell them that he is a liar, which I am positive he won't due since he seems to love the authority that come with his status as a DDGM and would be charged with masonic offenses and tossed from the fraternity.
#2 He gives them advise which would be based more on a Hollywood movie than actual experience or understanding of the laws, in Missouri, which he doesn't have. At that point now people who are my fellow brothers are in a position that may lead to arrest or worse injury/death based on the belief that he is giving sound advise.
I need some different approaches to this problem so that I may be better able to serve and protect my brothers and freemasonry as a whole.
Thank you for your time.