Published Monthly by The
Phylaxis Society Public Affairs Office
and Masonic Information Center
January 2000
MASONS ACCUSED OF HAZING
FROM: ARLINGTON MORNING NEWS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1999
By James Trahan & Ben Tinsley
Staff writers of the Arlington Morning News
The Tarrant County District Attorney's office is investigating allegations that an Arlington man was assaulted during a
Masonic induction ceremony at a community center Eric Mitchell accuses masons Of Thomas H. Routt Lodge No. 639 of bounding, blindfolding and beating him on the legs and buttocks before dropping ice down his pants in September during a ceremonial ritual at the Hugh Smith Recreation Center, 1815 New York Ave. The 32-year old Arlington hair salon owner said the incident occurred while he and five other men were being inducted into the fraternal organization. "Before we knew it I received three lashes on the right buttock with a board-like object and three more lashes to my left buttock with a steel or iron ball-like object," Mr. Mitchell said Wednesday. "We were blindfolded so I don't know who did it, even to this day Once they got their lashes, the guys pulled my sweat pants open - we had gray sweats and white T-shirts - and they poured ice down my genitals. They mistook my pain as laughter .. So I received three more lashes on my right check with the board, then four more with the blunt steel
ball like object." Darrick Staff, one of 17 members of the Lodge suspended pending an investigation by the state organization that governs; masons, denies
Mr. Mitchell's allegations. "The hazing didn't take place. We are all mature people," said Mr. Starr a Rowlett resident. "I don't know about the hazing and about the investigation..." Mr. Mitchell filed a report with the Arlington Police Department Oct. 22. Police investigated the incident - classifying the case as a class A misdemeanor assault punishable by up to I year in jail and a fine up to $4,000 - before turning the matter over to the district attorney's office about two weeks ago. Masonry is the oldest fraternal order in the world, dating back to 1717 in England. The organization raises
funds for scholarships and community projects among other things. Following the incident, Mr. Mitchell said the skin on his backside was so swollen a welt rose about an inch and a half He said the antics seemed more like a fraternity than a Masonic organization. He estimated them were between 13 and 16 people in the room when he was paddled. "I have many members of my family who are high-ranking Masons and they strongly advised me to take this seriously."
Mr. Mitchell said. "This should never have happened. "These guys are in their 30s and have jobs and families." His attorney,
Adrian Craine of Dallas, said he intends to file a lawsuit against the lodge within 10 days seeking $300,000 in damages. "We have not identified the particular individuals," Mr.
Craine said. The particular criminal proceedings will be against the Masonic lodge. We would rather that a determination be made and then include them in the lawsuit. The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas retrieved the Thomas H. Routt Lodge's charter and suspended 17 members following the incident Robert E. Conner, Jr., Grand Master of the state organization, granted district officials authority to pull the Arlington group's charter for "conduct unbecoming of a lodge." Mr. Conner did not return repeated phone calls left at his home in Columbus on Wednesday, but an attorney for the group has denied responsibility. "it is the position of the Grand Lodge that it is not responsible for any assault that may have occurred," Willie High Coleman, Jr. of Houston, an attorney representing the Grand Lodge, wrote in
an October 31 letter. Mr. Craine said he believes the state organization has more culpability then it is willing to admit -1 find it interesting the Houston organization is washing their hands of the entire routine," he said. "They claimed they we not responsible, yet they have the authority to cancel the charter and suspend the members." (Arlington Morning News, Thursday, December 9, 1999 page 14A)
ARLINGTON MAN SAYS HE WAS HURT
IN HAZING BY MEMBERS OF LODGE
By Jeff Prince
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
A former professional football player has felt die pain of a dislocated shoulder and other such injuries, but he said few hurt mom than a paddling he said he received in a recent Masonic induction ceremony in Arlington. -it was excruciating pain," said Eric Mitchell 32, owner of a Arlington hair salon. "It's a pain I wouldn't wish on anyone. I had to go to the emergency room and seek medical attention." The alleged paddling, which at least one Mason denies, has led to claims of assault, a threatened $300,000 lawsuit, the suspension of Thomas H. Routt Lodge No. 639's charter and the suspension of 17 members. The
allegations are directed at a charter of The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas, a predominantly African-American Masonic organization that traces its roots to 1775 and the induction of a group of free black in= in Boston. Mitchell and five others were seeking induction into the local group, which met Sept. 24 at Hugh Smith Recreation Center on New York Avenue, when the men were
blindfolded and paddled, according to a report filed with the Arlington Police Department. Police classified the incident as a Class A misdemeanor assault with bodily injuries, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. "We took statements from people who were them and we felt we had enough evidence to go forward and present the case to the district attorney," said Arlington police spokesman Dee Anderson. "We haven't heard back front the DA yet." Mitchell attorney, Adrian
Craine of Dallas, said he has pictures of Mitchell's bruised and swollen buttocks as evidence.
Craine said he contacted the Mason's state organization, spoke with Grand Master Robert E. Conner Jr. and requested a settlement. Yesterday Conner recalled the conversation. "I had an attorney contact me and say, "Money soothes all wounds," Conner said. "I
immediately referred him to my attorney." The state group's lawyer, Willie Coleman, said
Craine threatened to file an assault report against members of the local lodge if a settlement was not reached. Instead, Coleman filed a report with Arlington police. On Sept. 28, Conner suspended Lodge No. 639's charter and suspended 17 members. The organization's policy in such matters is that members and their lodges are "guilty until proved innocent," Conner said. Conner said the oft group accepts no liability. "The persons who committed the offense will deal with it individually," he said. Mitchell said he heard about the local Mason organization from a customer at his salon and decided to join. The charitable group is involved in community projects and provides scholarships. Mitchell and the other inductees were told to
wear gray sweats and a white T-shirt to the ceremony, he said. :We didn't have any mica what was going to happen," he said. The men were placed in a line and blindfolded, then beaten on the buttocks with paddles and metal rods, he said. A few days later, bruising, pain and swelling prompted Mitchell to seek treatment at an emergency room, he said. Mitchell, who is 6 feet tall and 240 pounds, played football at the University of Oklahoma and was drafted in 1999 by the New England Patriots. He had brief stints with several National Football League team and played professional football in Canada for several years. One of the suspended Masons Darrick Star of Rowlett, denied the assault and said he had no other comments. "It didn't happen like that," be said. Another suspended member, James Johnson of Fort Worth, said he was not present the night of the ceremony and did not know why he was suspended. He said he had been with the local chapter for
five years and has never witnessed paddling or hazing. Some members who were not present at the ceremony were suspended because of conduct that occurred later involving the Mitchell incident Conner said. He did not explain We have done an
in-house investigation and have made all of our information available to the Arlington Police Department. Conner said. "We do not tolerate hazing in any fashion. If the DA finds an assault has occurred, we will cooperate with the DA 100 percent"
Craine said be will file a $300,000 lawsuit in the next week or so, probably against the oft organization rather than individuals. He tried to initiate a settlement to "handle things quietly,- he said.
(Editors note: The following is taken from "Thomas Henry Routt: Grand Master and
Judge" by Dr. Robert L. Uzzel FPS of the Phylaxis Society, and Grand Historian, Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas.)
Judge Thomas Henry Routt, the eighteenth Grand Master of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas, was born on 5 March 1930 in the Bakers Hill community, near Navasota Grimm County, Texas. After serving in the United States Air Force, he moved to Houston, where he spent most of his life. On 22 December 1954, he married Richie L. Wilson. To this union, two children - Lora Dean and Thomas, Jr. - were born. At the time of their father's death on 3 January 1991, Lora was employed as a management analyst in the City of Houston's Department of Finance and Administration and Thomas, Jr. was a graduate student at the University of North Texas in Denton. Routt attended public schools in Bon Weir, Brazos County Texas and graduated with honors from George Washington Car" High School in Navasota in 1945. He attended Prune View A&M University in Prune View, Texas from June 1945 through August 1947 and Texas Southern University in Houston from September 1930 through January 1952. He received a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Texas Southern's Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 1961. Always concerned about keeping up with now developments in the judicial field, he graduated from the Academy of Judicial Education of the University of Alabama in 1970, from Texas College for the Judiciary in Austin in 1974, and from National College for the Judiciary (now National Judicial College) in Row, Nevada in 1975. He took a number of graduate courses and seminars from the latter institution between 1975 and 1985. His law school designated him as Outstanding Alumnus in 1994. Routt was licensed to practice law by the State of Tom in 1961 and was later authorized to practice in all four Federal District Courts of Texas and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit In 1967, he was authorized to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. He was involved in private practice in Houston from December 1961 through June 1965 and employed as sole practitioner, staff attorney and assistant chief of the Enforcement Division in the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin from July 1965 through July 1966. He then returned to Houston, where he served as managing
attorney for the Houston Legal Foundation from August 1966 through August 1968 and as judge of the Municipal Court from September 1968 through December 1972. He then returned to Austin as assistant attorney general. He held the later position from January through August 1973. He was then named judge of the Hams County Criminal Court at Law No. 6. He was the first African-American
appointed to such a position on a full-time basis and served in this office until May 1977. The following month he was appointed by Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe as judge of the 208th District Court of Texas, thus becoming the second African-American appointed to a criminal district court in Hams County He was elected to this position in 1979 and reelected in 1982, 1986 and 1990. On I January 1991, his old Mend State District Judge Carl Walker, Jr., came to his home and swore him in for his fourth term. At the time, Roan was suffering from colon cancer and too weak to walk As a result, the swearing in took place in his bedroom, surrounded by family and friends. Routt died two days later Freemasonry played a major role in the life of Thomas Henry Routt beginning in 1951, when he was raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason in Oyoma Lodge No. 222 in Navasota. He later became a member of Ever Ready Lodge No. 506 in Rosenberg, Fort Bond County, Texas. He served as his Lodge's Senior Warden from 1975 to 1978 and as Worshipful Master from 1978 to 1982 and as District Deputy Grand Master from 1982 to 1994. Routt was an active York Rite Mason. In Sunrise Chapter No. 77, Royal Arch Moons, he served as King in 198 1, and High Priest from 1982 to 1984. In Sanderson Commandery No. 2, Knights Templars, he
served as Generalissimo in 1981 and Eminent Commander from 1982 to 1983. On the state level, he served the Most Eminent Prince Hall Grand Chapter of Holy Royal Arch Masons as Grand
Lecture in 1980; and the Lone Star Grand Commandery as Grand Lecturer in 1991, Grand Captain General from 1992 to 1984, and Deputy Eminent Grand Commander from 1984 to 1986. Routt was also an active Scottish Rite Mason. In 1975 he received the 32nd Degree in Goodwill Consistory No. 238. The following year, be received the 33rd Degree from the United Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction. He saved the Council of Deliberation of the State of Texas as Second Lieutenant Commander from 1978
to 1980; as First Lieutenant Commander form 1980 to 1986, and as President of the Southern Area from 1982 to 1987. He served the Commanders of the Rite for the Valley of Rosenberg and the Orient of Texas as both vice-.President and President. Routt was created as a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in Doric Temple No. 76 in Houston in 1975. He served his Temple as First Ceremonial Master in 1975, as Assistant Rabban in Temple 976, as Illustrious Potentate in 1977 and 1978, as Chairman of the Council of Past Potentates in 1979, as Imperial Deputy of the Oasis in 1980 and Director of Group Supervision in 1981. He served the Desert Conference as Chairman of the by-law Committee in 1977; Chairman of the Budget, Finance and Audit Committee in 1978 and 1979, and Chairman of the Audit Committee from 1980 to 1987. He was elected Grand Master in 1997. Routt had a great interest in Masonic research. Thus, in 1979, he joined the Phylaxis Society, a Society for Prince Hall Freemasons who seek more light and who have light to impart. He attended a number of annual sessions of this research organization. On 5 March 1986, Routt delivered the opening speech at the 13th Annual Session of the Phylaxis Society in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In this inspiring message, he declared: "Any member of a Masonic just partially informed or observant, has to recognize the fact that Freemasonry is on the decline and is not doing the job for which it was designed. This includes my state, in spite of the fact that during the last Masonic year, our Grand Lodge posted a small increase in membership in our subordinate lodges - the first in over a dozen years. This is generally true across the board in all houses and in all jurisdictions, Prince: Hall and Caucasian.... Prince Hall Freemasonry is under heavy attack from many angles. On the one side, them are members of the organization whose own regularity is questionable, who fabricate information in order to deny our regularity, without regard to the universality of Freemasonry. Racism, unfortunately, overrides their consideration for their Masonic oaths. Objective research and interpretation upholds our regularity and raises questions concerning theirs. On another side, men of color hold themselves out as Mason on the strength of nothing more than a state issued charter and enlist some good uninformed men.... Still others are operating in our midst, based on nothing but audacity, and obviously intended only to turn a fast buck. On still another side, universal Freemasonry is under attack as an institution and our Charter Mother Grand Lodge finds itself fighting to keep its members from being declared ineligible for certain employment in die government, based totally on Masonic membership, there is again being raised papal objections to Catholic membership, and even here in the U.S.A., discussions and attacks are taking place, both by organized bodies and singularly, or radio nation-wide, and from the pulpit. We have been called many things and connected with many other organizations, none to our credit. What we don't understand, we fight and destroy. Unfortunately, our weakness are highlighted.
Past Grand Master Routt was a Fellow and a supporter of the Phylaxis Society. He sponsored one of our annual sessions in Houston. Some time later, when I was in Houston on business it began to rain heavily and the roads began to flood. Judge Routt sent a Deputy Sheriff to pick me up at the hotel, to bring me to the airport to catch my flight. The Deputy, a female using her radio to learn which streets was passable, brought me to the airport in time for my flight. I will never forget Bro. Routt for his kindness. The events of Thomas Routt Lodge No. 639 if true is demeaning not only to the name of Bro. Routt but to Prince Hall Freemasonry in particular and Freemasonry in general.