Prince Hall Masons File Historic Lawsuit

June 18, 2009 - PRLog -- Today, Attorney Richard C. Baker, on behalf of 48 Virginia Prince Hall Masons and Eastern Stars filed suit against the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Virginia Free & Accepted Masons, Inc., seeking injunctive relief and over $50 Million in compensatory and punitive damages resulting from malicious, indefinite suspensions issued by the Virginia Prince Hall Grand Lodge under the control of MW Grand Master Larry D. Christian.

Richard Baker stated, “These noble Masons and Eastern Stars, many of whom have been members for over thirty years, are having their rights and reputations trampled upon at the hands of the Virginia Prince Hall Grand Lodge, merely because they also are leaders and active members of the Prince Hall Shrine. There is no doubt that both legally and in practice the Shrine is a separate, distinct, independent and autonomous entity, which does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Virginia Grand Lodge. Therefore, the suspensions issued are both patently unlawful and unbinding.”

Lead Plaintiff Rochelle J. Julian stated, “These despotic efforts by MW Grand Master Larry D. Christian to encroach upon and violate the Shrine's sovereignty are both illegal and outrageous. Neither he, nor the Virginia Grand Lodge, has the authority to issue suspensions of any kind. My brothers and sisters will no longer sit idly by while one man defames our reputations.”

Filed in circuit court in Richmond, Virginia, the suit states that because the Shrine and its auxiliary, are not subordinate to or controlled by the Virginia Prince Hall Grand Lodge, the Edicts and suspensions issued by MW Grand Master Christian are illegal, and both Christian and his agents lack the power under the Grand Lodge's Constitution to suspend any Master Mason or Eastern Star on the grounds of the Grand Lodge's termination of fraternal relations with the Prince Hall Shrine.

The Prince Hall Shriners, also known as the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine of North and South America and its Jurisdiction, Inc., have a long and colorful history. The order was established as Imperial Council of Prince Hall Shriners on June 3, 1893, in Chicago, Illinois, by 13 Prince Hall Masons under the leadership of John George Jones. There are 224 Constituent Temples throughout the Imperial Domain (the World), with a membership of over 25,000.

For additional information or a copy of the lawsuit that was filed, please contact Chris Garrett at 202-223-4338