Society of Blue Friars


The Society of Blue Friars is a Masonic organization established in 1932 with the explicit purpose of recognizing Masonic authors. It is widely regarded as one of the smallest and most distinctive appendant bodies within Freemasonry.

Structure and operations

The core of the organization consists of three officers:
  1. The Grand Abbot, who presides over the Society and holds office for as long as they wish or as long as they live.
  2. The Deputy Grand Abbot, designated as the successor to the Grand Abbot.
  3. The Secretary-General, responsible for administrative matters.
The Grand Abbot has the authority to appoint new Friars, and their decisions are final. Additionally, only the Grand Abbot has the power to change the Society's regulations. The term "Abbot" and "Friar" were deliberately chosen to hark back to monastic traditions of the Middle Ages when monks wrote many of the books of their time.

Notable Members

The following authors and researchers have been recognized as Friars as of 2023:
  • 1. Wallace E. McLeod
  • 2. John M. Hamill
  • 3. Christopher L. Murphy
  • 4. Richard E. Fletcher
  • 5. S. Brent Morris
  • 6. Rex R. Hutchens
  • 7. Robin L. Carr
  • 8. John W. Boettjer
  • 9. Arturo de Hoyos
  • 10. Leon Zeldis
  • 11. Robert L. Uzzel
  • 12. Thomas W. Jackson
  • 13. W. Kirk MacNulty
  • 14. Mark A. Tabbert
  • 15. Alain Bernheim
  • 16. Gary H. Leazer
  • 17. Yasha Beresiner
  • 18. Pierre G. Normand, Jr.
  • 19. Alton G. Roundtree
  • 20.'''Christopher L. Hodapp'''

Contributions and achievements

Christopher L. Hodapp is a well-known Masonic author and researcher. He gained recognition as Friar #101 in the Society of Blue Friars in 2012. Hodapp is the creator of the widely read "Freemasons For Dummies" blog, established in 2006, which is a significant source of current international news about the Masonic fraternity.
In 2019, Christopher L. Hodapp was named Worshipful Master of the Dwight L. Smith Lodge of Research in Indiana.
Alain Bernheim, an esteemed Freemason since 1963, held memberships in the Regular Grand Loge of Belgium and the Grand Lodge Alpina of Switzerland. He was also awarded the 33° by the Supreme Council of the United States and was elected a Chapter Knight of the Great Priory of Belgium. Furthermore, he was a member of the Royal Order of Scotland. Notably, he became the first French Freemason to be elected as a full member of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076 under the United Grand Lodge of England. The Supreme Council of France recognized him as a Member of Honour in 2014 and awarded him the distinction of Grand Commander Honoris Causa in 2018.
Alain Bernheim was awarded the Norman Spencer Award by the premier Lodge of Research, Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076, in 1986 and 1993. He also received the Certificate of Literature from the Philalethes Society in 1997. In 2001, he was honored with the Albert Gallatin Mackey Scholar Award by the Scottish Rite Research Society, which also elected him as a Fellow. In 2007, he was selected as a member of the Society of Blue Friars.