Grand Lodge of Minnesota breaks silence: A «Fraternal Shield» against violence and ICE

CURRENT EVENTS / MASONIC ETHICS

By Masonic Diary Editorial Staff | Minneapolis, MN | January 28, 2026

MINNEAPOLIS — In what historians of the Order are already calling the most significant institutional shift of the 21st century in the Midwest, the Grand Lodge of Minnesota has decided to abandon its traditional reserve. Facing a social landscape fractured by the resurgence of urban violence and the intensification of federal immigration operations scheduled for the 2025-2026 cycle, Freemasonry has deployed a strategy of ethical intervention. This is not political activism, the Grand Officers clarify, but the operative application of Universal Fraternity in an Orient that demands answers beyond the walls of the Temple.

The ethical imperative in the face of chaos: from Ritual to action

Freemasonry in Minnesota, under the firm leadership of its Grand Master Thomas K. Harrison, has expressed a concern that transcends criminal statistics to enter the realm of civic morality. The wave of homicides and unrest that has struck the Twin Cities metropolitan area has tested the resilience of the Lodges, many of which have seen violence knocking at the doors of their own members.

Analysis: The Duality of the Columns

In Masonic symbolism, the two columns of the porch traditionally represent Strength and Establishment (Stability). However, the current administration of the Grand Lodge interprets these symbols under a new light to address the conflict between legality and humanity:

• Strength The actual capacity of the Order to protect its members and the surrounding community from external coercion and violence.
• Stability (Establishment) The imperative need to keep the social fabric united in the face of political polarization. «The Gavel that directs the Lodge must resonate in tune with the needs of the profane world, without losing its sacred character,» states the new protocol.

In an internal communication of a reserved nature, now partially declassified for subordinate Lodges, Grand Master Harrison was categorical in redefining the role of the contemporary Mason. Breaking with the inertia of decades of social isolation, he stated:

«Masonic silence is a virtue inside the Temple, but it can become complicity outside of it. Our Institution cannot remain indifferent to the pain of families who lose their loved ones in senseless acts of violence. The first duty of a Mason is to be an exemplary citizen, and today, that implies actively working for a society where the rule of law and security are not luxuries, but inalienable rights.»

This paradigm shift seeks to transform the Lodges into active nodes of social support. Sources close to the Grand Secretary confirm that Worshipful Masters of urban districts have been instructed to identify critical needs in their immediate communities. The order is clear: prioritize support for «collateral victims»—widows, orphans, and displaced families—of the organized crime plaguing the region, a recurring theme in our Masonic News section.

The ICE dilemma: A «Fraternal Habeas Corpus»

Perhaps the most sensitive and bold point of this new policy is the institutional response to the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Minnesota has experienced a dramatic increase in raids and administrative detentions, creating a climate of anxiety that permeates even the columns of the Fraternity. Here, Freemasonry faces its toughest test: balancing strict respect for civil law—a mandate of the Ancient Constitutions—with the sacred oath to succor the helpless.

The official position of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota emphasizes the protection of human dignity over bureaucratic technicalities. The Brethren have been reminded that Masonic charity does not request passports nor verify visas. To operationalize this aid without infringing on federal legislation, the Civil Rights Liaison Table has been constituted.

Directed by Bro. Marcus E. Sterling, a former District Attorney and renowned jurist in the York Rite, this table has designed an innovative legal framework. Sterling calls it «Ethical Refuge.» His team offers free legal advice to families of Masons and non-Masons linked to the Order facing deportation proceedings. «We are not a political resistance entity; we are custodians of morality. If a law separates a child from their mother without serious criminal cause, Freemasonry must be there to sustain the child and guarantee due process,» Sterling explained during an Open Meeting (Tenida Blanca) in Duluth.

Emergency protocols and «Operation chain of peace»

The response of the Grand Lodge has not remained in philosophical rhetoric. Under the direct supervision of the Grand Officers, specific programs have been activated and are already functioning on the ground in the Orient of Minnesota, with tangible results:

The pillar of this strategy is the «Seven Steps» Relief Protocol. This shock plan comprehensively addresses the aftermath of violence. Its most innovative component is the immediate psychological assistance unit, coordinated by Bro. Daniel R. O’Connor, a trauma specialist. O’Connor has trained a network of «Emergency Almoners» in each district, qualified to offer emotional first aid within the first 24 hours after a critical incident, a model that could be replicated at an International level.

Simultaneously, Bro. Alejandro V. Ramírez, appointed liaison for vulnerable communities, oversees constitutional orientation workshops. These forums educate immigrants on their basic rights, a pedagogical task that reinforces the principles of Liberty and Equality, foundational pillars of the Order.

A historic alliance: AF&AM and Prince Hall

In a gesture that will go down in the annals of American Masonic history, the Grand Lodge of Minnesota (AF&AM) has merged its community security efforts with the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Minnesota. Historically separated by racial barriers now overcome, today both Powers work as a single body, a phenomenon we frequently analyze in our Masonic History section.

Under the joint direction of Grand Master Harrison and his counterpart, Grand Master Corey J. Williams of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge, «Operation Chain of Peace» has been launched. Operationally coordinated by liaison officer Kevin D. Johnson, this initiative maps risk zones in the most conflicted neighborhoods and deploys shared charity resources.

The image of Masons from both obediences working shoulder to shoulder, organizing safe dining halls and school escort routes, sends a powerful message to a divided society: Masonic unity is the most effective tool against social fragmentation. It is, in essence, North American Freemasonry rediscovering its original purpose of social construction.

KEY DATA OF THE PRONOUNCEMENT

The Grand Lodge of Minnesota reaffirms with actions that the Orient must always be a source of Light, not just a refuge. Facing the challenges of 2026, the Order does not retreat to the safety of its Temples but goes out into the profane world to fulfill its inescapable duty of relief, sheltered by reason, law, and philanthropy.

PROTAGONISTS

• Thomas K. Harrison: Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota (AF&AM).
• Corey J. Williams: Grand Master of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Minnesota.
• Marcus E. Sterling: Jurist, Director of the Civil Rights Liaison Table.
• Daniel R. O’Connor: Psychologist, Coordinator of the «Seven Steps» program.
• Alejandro V. Ramírez: Liaison for immigrant communities.
• Kevin D. Johnson: Operational Coordinator of «Chain of Peace».

BASIC CONCEPTS

• Orient: Masonic term designating the source of Light. It refers both to the location of the Worshipful Master in the Temple and the geographic jurisdiction of a Grand Lodge (e.g., «The Orient of Minnesota»).
• Gavel (Mallete): Symbolic mallet used by the authority of the Lodge. It represents the executive will and force directed by intelligence to maintain order.
• Tenida Blanca (Open Meeting): A special Masonic meeting where «profanes» (non-Masons) are allowed to enter for lectures or celebrations.

SOURCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Proceedings of the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota (January 2026).
• Official Site: Grand Lodge of Minnesota (AF&AM).
• Official Site: Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Minnesota.