Masonic spat over member's suspension goes to court

By Michael McNarney

NORFOLK

A constitutional dispute - a Masonic constitutional dispute, that is - has spilled from the fraternal organization's members-only hall on East Princess Anne Road into Norfolk Circuit Court.

Norwood Diggs of Norfolk accuses Gidwood W. Sutton Jr. of Chesapeake - "in his official capacity as Grand High Priest, King Cyrus Grand Chapter Holy Royal Arch Masons of Virginia and Jurisdiction" - of wrongly suspending Diggs from the order.

Diggs alleges that he's been targeted for malicious prosecution and that his civil rights have been violated. He's asked a judge to reinstate him.

Sutton, through his attorney, argues that he had every right to suspend Diggs and that the Masons, a private group, is incapable of prosecuting anyone.

"They have rituals and procedures that they follow," Virginia Beach attorney John F. Sawyer said. "A person in a higher station... has to have the authority to maintain order."

Diggs, 70, of the 3000 block of Sewells Point Road, was the order's secretary.

The suit contends that he refused to read aloud a membership application at an October 2007 meeting and was accused of "departing the convocation room without proper Masonic permission and protocol."

Diggs said the application was incomplete and should not have been read. As for leaving without permission, Diggs said he admitted his error and apologized to the lodge. Diggs said the lodge's constitution does not give Sutton the power to suspend him.

"I guess it's hard to understand if you're not a member of the order," Diggs said.

Michael McNarney, michael.mcnarney@pilotonline.com