Et cognoscetis veritatem, et veritas liberabit vos.
[This information is compiled from pages previously appearing on Brother Mack's Web Site. As the pages no longer appear on his Web Site and no response has been had from Brother Mack to my inquiries I can only assume the unfortunate matter has been resolved in a satisfactory manner.
The information is presented here, however, as a reminder that all Brothers must continue to seek more light in Freemasonry.]
The Annual Elections at Richmond Randolph Lodge No. 19 in December 2005 resulted in quite a surprise.
The Senior Warden, Brother Douglas Mack, had completed all the proficiency requirements, arranged for candidates for all the offices, and prepared a schedule for the upcoming Masonic year. There was no indication prior to the Annual Elections that he would not be elected and installed as Worshipful Master.
The Senior Steward, Brother Thomas Breeden, was, however, unexpectedly nominated for Worshipful Master by Right Worshipful Wade Evans, a Past District Deputy Grand Master. Brother Breeden was subsequently elected Worshipful Master rather than Brother Mack by a result of 10 to 7.
What happened? Or rather, why did it happen?
A review of materials previously presented on Brother Mack's Web Site, as well as some additional research I have done, has shown the reason he was not elected Worshipful Master of the Lodge was because he was an openly gay man and he maintained a personal Web Site (www.douglasmack.com) where he shared his life as a "gay man who is a Mason and a God-seeker from a Byzantine tradition and who worships in an Episcopal [Anglican] faith community."
It is of interest to note that the materials indicate there are quite a few gay men who are Masons in Virginia - including a current District Deputy Grand Master and a Past Deputy Grand Master.
In addition to Brothers Breeden and Evans the Worshipful Master of the Lodge for 2005, Woshipful Barrye Absher, had prior knowledge of the designs for the Elections.
Brother Mack, following proper Masonic procedure, filed letters of complaint with the Grand Master of Masons in Virginia (Most Worshipful Glover Hunter Jones, III) regarding
Jones
Absher
Evans