Grand Lodge of West Virginia

History

Before the American Civil War, West Virginia had been a part of Virginia, and its Lodges were therefore under the control of the Grand Lodge of Virginia. The area that became West Virginia seceded from the Confederacy and "maintenance of fraternal relations between lodges of the two states became impossible" (Gazette-Times, in 1915). A convention to create a new lodge took place in 1864, and then at the war's end, on April 12, 1865, the day when Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was formally disbanded by ceremony at Appomattox Court House, the Grand Lodge of West Virginia was founded in Fairmont, West Virginia. William Bates was its first Grand Master. Over the following period there was confusion as many West Virginia lodges still maintained loyalty to the Grand Lodge of Virginia although all the Lodges that were originally chartered by Virginia were re-chartered by the Grand Lodge of West Virginia within the next fifty years.

Famous West Virginia Freemasons

Association of the Grand Lodge with West Virginia state government continues, for example with then-Governor Gaston Caperton attending "West Virginia Masonic Heritage Day Celebration" in Charleston on August 21, 1993 to accept a "resolution honoring the memory of our Brother and former Governor, George Wesley Atkinson." Nationally prominent U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd was to receive a "Legion of Honor" award that day, relating to his public service and Freemasonry.

Lawsuit

In 2008, Frank Joseph Haas, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge during 2005-2006 and a lawyer and administrative law judge himself, sued the Grand Lodge over its expulsion of him in 2007.

In 2006, Haas tried to bring about reforms of the Grand Lodge which would do away with discriminatory practices. This included allowing handicapped men into West Virginia Masonic lodges and allowing lodges in West Virginia to support non-Masonic charities. The changes would also permit black Freemasons from other recognized jurisdictions to visit West Virginia lodges.

The Grand Lodge of West Virginia reportedly had no black men among its 24,000 members at the time and did not recognize West Virginia's Prince Hall Freemasonry lodge of black Freemasons. (In 2016, it remains one of only nine U.S. states not recognizing Prince Hall lodges.)

In the meeting at which his term of office expired, Haas claims the reforms were passed by a close vote. The reform proposals were immediately ruled invalid by Charles Coleman, one of two Grand Masters who succeeded him. In November 2007, Haas was expelled by the other Grand Master, Charlie Montgomery. In May 2008 Haas sued the Grand Lodge and the two successors over the expulsion, saying it was without due process, and seeking readmission and damages. The lawsuit was notable for offering "a glimpse into the world of the Masons", a society that "is not exactly secretive, [but] has often been veiled in mystery, as some of its customs and practices are not revealed to non-members." Unusual pre-trial motions sought to ban discussion of Masonic rituals and comparisons to Hitler, and a subpoenaed witness was granted a protective order in which Masons are "enjoined and restrained from taking any punitive measures ... as a result of his giving a deposition."

One characterization of the result is that a judge ruled that the Grand Lodge had violated its own internal rules, but there was no legal penalty to be applied against the Lodge, and the jury awarded no damages for the breach of contract. More strongly, the defending lawyer stated the jury "found in the defendants' favor on all counts". A reporter summarized that the case "sends a message that [private] organizations have much leeway in how they manage their affairs, make their rules and deal with membership issues."

Haas was later admitted in to a Lodge in Ohio, which caused the Grand Lodge of West Virginia to withdraw its recognition of the Grand Lodge of Ohio. In 2013, Haas was reportedly expelled from the Ohio jurisdiction and GLWV again recognized the Grand Lodge of Ohio.