Many of you have contacted me in the last few days about the final decision to expel me from the Grand Lodge of British Freemasons in Germany.  You have read the proclamation sent out.  Unfortunately I have neither been sent this document nor have I been given any such notification regarding this decision.  Par for the course I would suggest. 

Anyway, this is what has been circulated by the Grand Secretary and I take no pleasure in pointing out the grammatical and spelling mistakes with which our Grand Lodge is making itself known around the world!

The letter.....

SORRY IT IS DIFFICULT TO READ-YOU CAN COPY & PASTE IT TO A WORD DOCUMENT TO SEE IT BETTER.  AS STATED, I HAVE NOT YET HAD THE PLEASURE OF RECEIVING IT 

I am very happy that I have already had the following emails of support.  Unfiortunately because of the nature of the situation I have left off the names to eliminate the possibility of threats and intimidation from the Grand Lodge.......................................

WBro John,
 
I am truly shocked and appalled at the way you have been treated and presently feel ashamed to be a member of BF in G. How these people have arrived at this decision is beyond comprehension.
 
They have obviously forgotten the three grand tenets of our organisation, Brotherly love, Truth and Justice. They have not been willing to hear or accept the truth and there is certainly no justice here as this decision appears to have been made by a "select" few. In a democratic society in order that justice prevails, an individual is deemed innocent until proven guilty and is entitled to be heard before his peers. Apparently certain people in GL BFG have elected to place themselves into a dictatorship role.
 
Have these people lost control of their senses and forgotten that it is the membership and dues they receive from the Lodges under their jurisdiction that allow them to function? This proclamation will have adverse affects throughout Germany and should awaken other brethren as to the corruption within GL BFG.
 
Do the obligations these people took as EA mean nothing once light blue is changed to dark blue?. They seem truly obsessed with obtaining Rank and fortune.
 
I for one will treat this proclamation with the respect it deserves and line my cat litter tray with it.
 
You have my total support and the support from my mother lodge in Scotland.
 
I hope that all is well  and that we can all meet in a harmonious Lodge so that Masonry can at least retain it's lustre.

 

Dear John,

I can only endorse the sentiments of Graham who sent me the proclamation of your expulsion from freemasonry globally.  I had heard of comments and rumours but no basis of fact which I or anybody else could approach you on the steps being taken behind the scenes.  Indeed, I - and I am sure nearly everybody else from the FMNA - was totally unaware of anything untoward happening to you until Graham Cook sent me the e-mails today. 

It follows that although you may not know me as well as I perhaps know you, I have been a regular attendee to New Absalom Installation meetings for some 15 years and have only missed two meetings in that time.  So, as you can appreciate, your expulsion has left me with a jaundiced view of the justice system of your fellow Grand Officers in the Grand Lodge of British Freemasonry in Germany.  It is not, I believe, representative of Grand Lodges throughout the world but sometimes people enjoy playing politics with peoples' lives.  As has already been mentioned, freemasonry is not about winning and losing, it is about enjoying the friendship and comradeship of fellow brothers.

If it is of any help to you mentally, I share the view that you are a good Freemason with a good character and would always be welcome in any lodge with which I were associated.  You will continue to be a friend and brother to myself.  Unfortunately / fortunately, depending on your point of view, I live in Portugal and there is very little masonic activity in our region.  There are some isolated groups on the English speaking part of the Algarve, Lisbon and Porto so I don't get to visit as they are too far away and, to be honest, the one which I was asked to visit with a view to joining was some three hours drive away and sounded like an ex-pats gin and tonic and jolly hockey stick club - not my cup of tea at all.

Wishing you all the best for your immediate and long term future.

Yours in friendship,

Brethren,

I think we all think the same way regarding the appalling and vindictive action that has been taken regarding John Kellas.

John Kellas , and I direct this to you - you and I have not always seen eye to eye on a number of issues over the past 25 odd years but I have always respected and liked you, if not always agreeing with your viewpoint. I have always regarded you as a true mason with his heart in the right place, if on occasions a little too much of a Yorkshireman!! As I said in my earlier email, I am disgusted at what has happened. I am not aware of all the facts that led to this, but Grand Lodge has not helped itself either by ignoring letters sent by concerned brethren, or by its code of silence and secrecy. Clearly it has something to hide and I only hope that truth will out eventually. For my part, I intend to resign both from Grand Lodge and from New Absalom, a decision that I have not taken lightly for I have been a member of 841 for over 25 years. However, enough is enough for I have no desire to remain a member of the Grand Lodge of British Freemasons in Germany and intend to write to the Grand Master informing him thus.

What you brethren do, is of course entirely up to you but I for one cannot see how any true Brother would wish to continue associating himself with an organisation that can treat a True Brother in the way he has been, merely because I suspect he stuck a stick into an ants nest and the Queen Ant didn't like what could have happened if the nest had been opened fully. Read what you will into that last statement.

I intend, the GAOU willing, to be at New Absalom's March meeting but whether as a member or as a visitor wearing light blue, (for the way I am feeling at present makes me wonder whether I will ever wear this Grand Lodge's dark blue ever again ).

Once again John Kellas. John,, please know that you have friends who are there to support you in any way they can.

S&F

John,

I am likewise appalled in the way that the GM and GL have acted towards you in such an unjust and downright disgusting manner (amongst other things).  It would appear that they're showing their true colours, and it ain't blue!  Sadly, it seems that the meaning of Freemasonry has been lost along the way.  I am a great believer that the truth will always out, and I hope that will happen within the not too distant future.

Take care John, we'll be in touch.

S & F regards,

John

May I also add my sense of sadness and outrage at this vindictive action. I fear that this decision may well lead to the Grand Lodge of British Freemasons regretting it was ever pursued, from the ground swell that I'm picking up from various sources.

S&F

Dear VWBro John,

may I just mention my absolute disgust at this proclamation(surely a Woodhouse effort if ever there was one) and let you know of my support for you.

It just doesn't make sense that these people have orchestrated this complete farce. They have expelled you for NOTHING.

I know your fighting qualities and am certain that you will not be leaving it there. As said, you have my support.

Kind fraternal regards,

Dear John,

horrified is the only word I can use to describe what I have heard about the decision of what can only be called a dictatorship, not a Grand Lodge, to expel you. I wouldn't accept this if I were you. These is no legal basis for this decision. Oh yes, they may have changed the rules in order to accomodate this action against you and really the brethren of GL should have been more aware about what they were doing, but at the end of the day their accusations lack one important and necessary component: Evidence! Innocent until proven guilty remains the name of the game and they have proved nothing. There are many of us here in Germany who will now slowly start cranking up the machinery against all of this corruption you so rightly recognised back in 2005.

I cannot believe I will be the only one who pledges his support to you. Keep your spirits up John for the truth always has a way of coming back to bite those who wish to distort it.

Please call me if you want a chat. Best fraternal and sincere regards

John

May I also add my sense of sadness and outrage at this vindictive action. I fear that this decision may well lead to the Grand Lodge of British Freemasons regretting it was ever pursued, from the ground swell that I'm picking up from various sources.

S&F

Wherever I go and whomsoever I meet, I shall make a point of including this travesty of justice, this unmasonic action, this corruptive leadership in the conversation until almost all Masons in the world get to hear about it.

Rest assured John, those who are presently destroying our Masonry in Germany will be found out and get what's coming to them.

See you in a lodge soon John

S&F

 Dear VWBro John,

Although your expulsion does not come as a surprise. You and I both now that that was their intention from the word go.  his is what happens to good masons when a GL has a puppet such has Fred Colbran is as their GM, a position that he is not qualified to old.

You have my support now as you have had it in the past. I certainly ope that now like minded brothers will do the right thing and air their disgust at this GL BFG or better still this GRAND CIRCUS

S&F