The Grand Orient of the United States of America : A Modern Masonic Experiment ?
Sirius Lodge was projected on the internet as a lodge for the progressive modern Freemason on a slick website , Peace seemingly being in his element as an IT expert , working in a modern-like business manner and now being in control of the type of Freemasonry he and his allies wanted to promote . It was not long before other ideas started to filter into Peace ’ s Masonic project and with the internet , his ideas had reached other like-minded parties quickly .
Aaron Peavy , now a software architect who resides in Alabama , had belonged to a lodge in Alabaster , 6 and had become sickened by his experience of racism within the Grand Lodge system of Alabama . Peavy had forged a friendship with another local Mason called David Cooksey who shared similar feelings , and after forming a ‘ book discussion group ’ for new and young Masons in their lodge , they quickly became disillusioned at what they saw as the control of older Masons who seemed set in their ways and unable to adapt to new ideas , specifically regarding the subject of race . 7 There was a backlash against the book club by the older established Masons and Peavy thus ‘ demitted ’ from the Grand Lodge of Alabama . Cooksey and a handful of other Alabama Masons followed suit , and having formed a friendship with Peace online after hearing what had recently happened in Georgia , it was not long before ideas were exchanged and both parties joined forces . Peavy , Cooksey and the few other Alabama Masons that had left , formed Regulus Lodge under the United Grand Lodge of America , both Sirius and Regulus being named after stars . These became the first two lodges under the new Grand Lodge .
Meanwhile , in Ohio , Halcyon Lodge was entering into their struggle with the Grand Lodge of Ohio and had also made contact with Peace and his allies . Thus , three groups of disenfranchised and disillusioned Masons who had come into conflict with their particular Grand Lodges , came together , and there were now three lodges under the United Grand Lodge of America . According to Peavy , it was at an early meeting at Roswell , north-Atlanta , that the possibility of recognition by the GOdF was discussed , and Peavy in his words ‘ took control ’ and became the first Grand Master of the organisation . Peavy recalled that the meeting took place in a conference suite in an office building that Jeff Peace was associated with in relation to his IT business , the meeting including Peace , Peavy , Cooksey , and Chris Michalek from Halcyon , among others . It was a meeting that would become a rarity in the future as the organization increasingly began to conduct its affairs online . Although Peavy was Grand Master , Peace appeared to be in control of internet operations and , having earlier put together the Rose Cross of Gold degree , came up
6 Peavy was a member of Corinthian Lodge No . 462 F & AM , which meets in Alabaster , Alabama .
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