Secret Society Membership Won’t Save V.I. National Guardsmen From Sexual Harassment And Assault Prosecution, Mapp Says

ST. THOMAS — When Governor Kenneth Mapp brought to light at a Tuesday press conference that rampant sexual assault, harassment, assault, sexual intercourse for employment (quid pro quo) and fraud were found to be commonplace at the Virgin Islands National Guard for decades following a National Guard Bureau investigation, and that course-resetting changes at the organization were underway, the governor issued a warning to members of secret societies that their membership in such groups would not save them from facing prosecution.

One of the most widespread and prominent secret society organizations in the territory is the Masons or Freemasons. The secret society’s origins date to the formation of European stoneworker fraternities at least as early as the 15th century, and the Odd Fellows, a fraternity of men in various occupations that emerged in England in the late-18th century. Masonic and Odd Fellow lodges mushroomed in the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries, giving rise to a fascinating, quasi-religious material culture, according to the New York Times.

When Mr. Mapp won the November 2014 general election, an ad was placed in a local newspaper by a local masonic group congratulating him as one of its members on the accomplishment. But the governor was not plaintive when issuing a warning to his potential masonic brothers and members of other fraternities who work at the National Guard and may have been involved in what the governor described as predatory behavior. According the investigation’s findings, as relayed by Mr. Mapp, V.I. National Guard recruiters coerced would-be female V.I. National Guard members into having sex with several Guardsmen before they could join V.I.N.G.

“Any of us who are members of these organizations — I know that we sought of fight a myth that somehow these organizations are existing and you can do whatever you want because they’re going to protect you, and there are actually some folks in some of these organizations that believe that that’s their role, and hence whomever is a member of a fraternity or social organization will be covered. But I’m here to tell you this morning that is no longer accepted neither in the government, but specifically not in the National Guard,” Mr. Mapp said.

“You’ll find no comfort from me in Government House; you will find no comfort from me personally,” Mr. Mapp preempted. “Notwithstanding who you are, it makes very little sense to try to reach me to get some benefit or get some aid. Your day of being a predator on young people and taking advantage of them in the National Guard is over.”

The governor seemed to have been affected the most by the portion in the report that described how many would-be V.I.N.G. members were treated by V.I. National Guard recruiters.

“I just find it abhorrent that a young person could graduate from high school, be a member of the Junior ROTC programs, seek to enter the National Guard and actually be passed around like a piece of property before they can advance in their career,” Mr. Mapp said.

Our full report on the investigation is here.

Feature Image: An Odd Fellows staff with ram’s horns. (Credit: New York Times).