I know exactly squat about the Masons, but boy, do I remember this Masonic Lodge incident well, as the fall out lasted for over 40 years.
As I said, I know little about the Masons, but I sure remember "black balling" of Mr. Dobb.
And I also know about "black balling" aspiring attorneys!
Please follow below for the short story, and feel free to educate us all about Masons!
My Dad, a WWII vet, was a dedicated Mason. I vaguely remember him going somewhere without Mom and me and my brother once in a while. We always went together, so this was remarkable for me as a 4 or 5 yr old kid. He was going to the Lodge meetings.
I vaguely remember Mom and Dad discussing something, like, he was in the street, challenging a fellow Mason, threatening to whip his ass if he black balled Mr. Dobbs.
Mr. Dobbs, it seems, was a problem. He was poor, raised rabbits, worked at a sawmill, had virtually no education. The Mason who prepared to black ball him didn't want him in the Lodge said "Mr. Dobbs is not the kind of man we want in this Lodge." That Mason was the county attorney. Most of the local Masons had money.
Mr. Dobbs served in WWII. He was captured then sent to a camp somewhere in Russia. He escaped his POW camp. He walked across Europe alone, through numerous enemy lines. He made it to Belgium. He made it home. He could not read, nor write. He could not read a map. He just followed the sun.
He did not get black balled. After he was inducted, or whatever the proper Masonic term is, my Dad resigned.
30 yrs later, that attorney requested the State Bar of Texas question my moral standing to get a bar card.
15 yrs later, that attorney sent me clients, told me I was brilliant, thanked me for being my Father's child.
Oh, and the rabbit my Dad bought for me from Mr. Dobbs was named Thumper.