The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Early Introduction of Bogus Freemasonry in the United States of America and Texas Among Colored Masons, by Charles L. Mitchell This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license Title: The Early Introduction of Bogus Freemasonry in the United States of America and Texas Among Colored Masons Author: Charles L. Mitchell Release Date: July 14, 2012 [EBook #40234] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EARLY INTRODUCTION OF *** Produced by Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) THE EARLY INTRODUCTION OF BOGUS FREEMASONRY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TEXAS AMONG COLORED MASONS Copyrighted February 23, 1909, by Chas. L. Mitchell San Antonio, Texas Decoration PRICE 25 CENTS Complied by C. L. MITCHELL, 33° Grand Master of M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. of Texas And Grand Auditor General H. E. of the United Supreme Council of A. A. Scottish Rites for the Southern and Western Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America THE ARMSTRONG CO. SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Preface In the pleasant labors of compiling this work I have been assisted by one of the brightest stars in the galaxy of brilliant meteors in the Masonic Firmament, to whom I heartily tender my grateful acknowledgements; hoping that the advantages anticipated may be fully realized by my brethren. In my effort to pull the Mask off of the Clandestine, self constituted Organization of Freemasonry Among Colored Men in the state of Massachusetts, under the supervision and control of the self styled—Illegitimate Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, And also the early introduction and the irregularity of Clandestine and Bogus Freemasonry in the State of Texas among Colored Men; I respectfully submit and dedicate the results of my efforts of this work to the Ill. John G. Jones, 33° M. P. Sovereign Grand Commander of the United Supreme Council of A. A. S. Rites of the Southern and Western Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States, its Territories and Dependencies, and Imperial Grand Potentate of the Imperial Grand Council of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of North and South America, also Grand Master of Masons of the State of Illinois. C. L. Mitchell, 33°, Grand Master, M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge, A. F. & A. M. of Texas and Masonic Jurisdiction. San Antonio, Texas. Decoration C. L. Mitchell C. L. MITCHELL, 33° M. W. Grand Master M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. Jurisdiction of Texas. Grand Auditor General, H. E. United Supreme Council, A. A. S. R. for the S. and W. Masonic Jurisdiction U. S. A. Grand Deputy of the Imperial Grand Council for the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine For North and South America Grand Register General of the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF BOGUS FREEMASONRY AMONG COLORED MEN In the United States of America and Texas, From its Earliest Introduction San Antonio, Texas Dec 1, 1908 In order that the members of the Masonic Fraternity may have a correct and thorough understanding about the origin and the irregularity of Freemasonry among Colored men in the state of Texas, it will be necessary to state the time and place that clandestine and spurious Freemasonry among Colored Men was instituted in the state of Massachusetts and also the establishing of that self constituted African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Massachusetts which is now the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts for it was from that corrupt, notorious, bogus Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts whose record covers the very blackest page in masonic history that Freemasonry among Colored Men in the state of Texas first originated from. I am fully aware of the fact that when the truth is told about the actions and conduct of the leaders of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts which has been done from time to time their minds are inflamed to an extra ordinary degree of madness, hatred and dislike and they talk and write and say anything except the truth, and the truth they will never state except it is by accident on one hand and mistake on the other. FREEMASONRY AMONG COLORED MEN IN MASSACHUSETTS March 6, 1775 1st question. Who were the Colored Men in the state of Massachusetts that have advertised themselves and who claimed to have been made Master Masons in a White Masonic Lodge in the state of Massachusetts. Can you state the time and place and under what circumstances they have asserted that it occurred? 1st Answer. The Colored Men in the state of Massachusetts that have been advertised of having been made Master Masons, were Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson and two or three others. They have said and have tried to make someone believe that they were made Master Masons in a White Masonic Lodge that was called a Traveling Masonic Lodge and that it was connected with General Gages Military Regiment at Boston Massachusetts on the 6th of March 1775 and that this White Masonic Lodge in General Gages Military Regiment, they said, held a charter from the Grand Lodge of England, and replying to that unwarranted statement made and published by the leaders of the spurious Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, for the Grand Lodge of England has repeatedly said that they did not have any masonic lodge in General Gages Military Regiment when that regiment was in the United States and the question has time after time been asked the members of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and particularly those in Massachusetts that claim to know so much about it to give the name and the number of that masonic lodge that Prince Hall, Boston Smith and Thomas Sanderson was made master masons in that was connected with General Gages Military Regiment which was then in the United States, and these wily fellows and Masonic intervators have never been able to give us any information as to what the name or even the number of this Masonic Lodge that they say was in General Gages Military Regiment. And inasmuch as no person has ever been found that could furnish any genuine information about this matter there is no doubt but the statements that have been paraded around the country about this matter were bare-faced, willful and malicious falsehoods, and in the absence of any proof to confirm their statements it is very safe to say that Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson and their associates simply went to bed at night and dreamed that they had been made Master Masons and got up next morning with their minds in a high state of hallucination and really thought it was so, when as a matter of fact there was nothing, nothing in it, and they simply drew on their imaginations. 2nd question. What was the name of the first lodge of Colored Men who belonged to the Masonic fraternity in the state of Mass.? 2nd Answer. The name of the first Colored Lodge of Masons in the state of Massachusetts was a lodge named African Lodge No. 459. 3rd question. When was the first Grand Lodge of Colored Masons organized in the state of Mass.? 3rd Answer. The name of the first Grand Lodge of Colored Masons that was organized in the state of Mass. was a Grand Lodge that was designated as African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Mass. 4th question. How many lodges took part in the organization of African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons that was organized at Boston Mass. on the 24th of June 1791? 4th Answer. There was only one lodge that took part in the organization of African Grand Lodge of Masons of Mass. on the 24th of June 1791 at Boston Mass. when the Masonic law and landmarks of Freemasonry have said that in order to organize a regular Grand Lodge it requires not less than three warranted lodges, that has been the Masonic law both in this country and in Europe and has been followed and strictly adhered to by every well regulated and lawful Masonic Grand Lodge since the year of 1717 down to the present day and not otherwise. 5th question. What is meant by the words F. & A. M.? 5th Answer. Free and Accepted Mason the words and title of Free and Accepted Mason is an innovation in Masonry and was adopted by Masons who did not wish to follow the early established custom rules and principles of the Masonic fraternity. 6th question. What is meant by the words and title A. F. & A. M.? [1] [2] [3] 6th Answer. The words A. F. & A. M. means Ancient Free and Accepted Masons which words and title are of ancient origin and should be used and adopted by every well regulated Masonic subordinate lodge and Grand Lodge in this country. For it is in keeping with the early ancient Masonic laws rules and regulations of the Masonic fraternity. 7th question. What is meant by the words and title of states rights, masons as you so often hear in the state of Texas by the masons who belong to the so-called Grand Lodge of Texas that J. W. McKinney is the Grand Master of and also the so-called Grand Lodge of the State of New York that one individual who goes by the name of Henry A. Spencer who advertises himself as being the Grand Master of the so-called Grand Lodge of Colored Masons of the state of New York which is a self constituted and bogus grand body? 7th Answer. The best application and definition that can be given to those masons who call themselves state right masons is that they are no masons at all. For if a man is a legal and genuine mason he is a mason all over the world, and is to be recognized as a mason in every land and in every country, but the masons in the state of Texas that belong to the McKinney Grand Lodge in Texas and the self constituted Grand Lodge in the state of New York that Henry A. Spencer is at the head of they are not recognized all over the world and these being state institutions and the masons who belong in Texas and of New York are not recognized as legitimate masons in any part of the world. 8th question. What is meant by the numbers of 3, 5 and 7? 8th Answer. The fundamental numbers in Freemasonry are 3, 5 and 7, and of these, by far the most essential is the number 3. The three principal columns are Wisdom, Strength and Beauty, and a lodge is supported by them. The number "three" derived its significance in the early period of antiquity, and back in the ages of the earliest centuries, no court of law was legally organized unless three judges were present, and these tribunals perpetuated ancient temples worshipped frequently, if not invariably convened, under trees, in imitation of the Scandinavian ash. Seven threes were prescribed as the highest number. The judges were absolutely required to open and regularly hold a court of justice. The maximum was seven, and in some cases five were demanded to proceed in due form to adjudicate upon the matter brought before them. These practices in early days present a solution of the Masonic landmark that three or more members are necessary to open or close a Masonic lodge. 9th question. What is meant by the word and title of A. F. & A. Y. Masons? 9th Answer. A. F. & A. Y. Masons means Ancient, Free and Accepted York Masons, the city of York is in the north part of England it is celebrated for its traditional connection with Freemasonry in England. The first charter granted in England to the Masons as a body was by authority and power of King Athelstan, in the year of 926 at York, England and the application was made by Prince Edwin and Prince Edwin summoned all the Masons in England to meet him in congregation at the City of York, England and from this assemblage of Masons at York the letter "Y" originated. Prince Edwin was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge that was organized at York England in 926. From the commencement of 926 of the assembly of Masons at York the letter "Y" commenced, and has been known among members of the Masonic fraternity and at the establishing of the Grand Lodge at York, England in the year 926 they adopted a constitution and general regulation for the craft. Prince Edwin, the brother of King Athelstan of England was an eminent and distinguished Mason and King Athelstan was the grandson of King Alfred the first anointed King of England who translated the Holy Bible into the Saxon language. The Grand Lodge that was established in York, England in 926 prospered and flourished. The City of York, England was the seat of Masonic government of the craft in England. THE MASK STRIPPED OFF OF THE CLANDESTINE SPURIOUS AND UNLAWFUL SELF CONSTITUTED ORGANIZATION OF FREEMASONRY Among Colored Men in the State of Massachusetts Under the Supervision and Control of the Self Styled Illegitimate Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts Dissected and Exposed and is now in the Limelight of Day. The self styled Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Mass. and the Grand Lodges among Colored Masons that recognized them and affiliated with them have time after time published in their printed proceedings to the Masonic world that Freemasonry among Colored Men in the state of Mass. commenced at the time when Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson and their associates were made master masons that it was in a white lodge and that this White Masonic Lodge was connected with General Gages Military Regiment, and that this Military Regiment was at Boston Mass. March the 6th 1775 and the Masonic Lodge that was claimed to be connected with General Gages Military Regiment holds its charter of power and authority from the Grand Lodge of England and they positively state in language that it is so plain that it cannot be misunderstood that Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson and their followers was made Master Masons on the 6th of March 1775 at Boston Mass. if any person has any doubt about the matter read the printed Masonic proceedings of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Mass. of 1875, 1876 and 1877 and the year of 1903 and 1904. See the History of Freemasonry among Colored Men in the State of Mass. by the late Louis [4] [5] Hayden past Grand Master of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Mass. See the Grand Lodge proceedings of Illinois for the year of 1873, 1874 and 1875. See the Grand Lodge proceedings of Pennsylvania of 1865, 1872, and 1876. See the historical facts of Freemasonry among Colored Men in the United States published by J. M. Conna of Connecticut in the year of 1876. See the history of Freemasonry among Colored Men in the United States by W. H. Grimshaw of Washington D. C. 1903. These and many other Grand Lodges make the same statement. Now to show you that these ignoramuses and peddlers of Masonic falsehood did not even know or have the slightest conception of what they were talking about. They hastened to put their ignorant and prejudice imagination and conclusions into print which has been the cause and the means of bringing confusion among the craft. The records of the War department of the English Government show that General Gages Military Regiment was not in the United States of America and located at Boston Mass. in the year of 1772-1773 and in the middle part of the year of 1774. It appears from the record of the English War department that General Gages Military Regiment which was stationed at Boston Mass. was in the middle part of 1774 recalled to England and did not return back to the United States again. And a number of voluminous articles has on several occasions appeared in numerous American magazines by some of our American Military Generals relative to the occupation of British soldiers on American soil in the year of 1774, 1775, 1776 and you will find that they do not mention or refer to the name of General Gages Military Regiment being present in Boston Mass. in the year 1775 at Boston Mass. but they do refer to General Gages Military Regiment being in the United States at Boston in the year of 1772 and 1773 and the middle part of the year of 1774 and having been recalled by the English government. In the National Magazine of the month of June 1907 an article there appeared in that magazine relative to the withdrawal by the English War Department of General Gages Regiment from Massachusetts in the year of 1774. And upon further investigation of this matter we find that General Gages Military Regiment which Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson and their associates claim to have been made Master Masons on the 6th of March 1775 at Boston Mass. that General Gages Regiment was not in the United States at that time. This was published by a circular issued by James Barnett Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New York. See the proceedings of the organization of the second Grand Lodge of Colored Masons Of the state of New York James Barnett in the year of 1848. See the circular letter of Jacob Francis Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of New York on Oct. 25th 1848, and they state the same thing that General Gages Military Regiment was not in the United States of America March the 6th 1775 and that being true how can it be possible that Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson and their associates could have been made Master Masons in a Lodge in General Gages Military Regiment on the 6th of March 1775 at Boston Mass. when General Gages Military Regiment was not in the United States of America. It shows conclusively that the introduction of Freemasonry in the State of Mass. among Colored Men was not only unlawful and a fraud and sham, but that the statements coming from those individuals from the State of Mass. was untruthful and unreliable and they simply told beyond all peradventure of a doubt, a bare-faced, wilful and malicious lie, and which had been manufactured for the very purpose of misleading and hoodwinking the Colored People of this country. I am satisfied that the claim put forth by the members of the spurious Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Mass. that Prince Hall and his associates claiming that they were made Master Masons in a Lodge in General Gages Military Regiment on March the 6th 1775 at Boston Mass. is a falsehood and a complete misrepresentation from beginning to end for there is not a particle of genuine documentary evidence that has ever been presented to sustain or reply upon anything that the followers and Members of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Mass. has ever said or written. African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Massachusetts Organized with Only one Lodge on the 24th of June 1791 at Boston Mass. The first Grand Lodge of Colored Masons in the State of Mass. was named African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Mass. and it was organized with only one Lodge and the name of that Lodge was African Lodge No. 459 this occurred on the 24th of June 1791 at Boston Mass. See the circular of the proceedings of the organization of African Grand Lodge of Modern Mason of Mass. organized June the 24th 1791 at Boston Mass. and signed by Prince Hall Grand Master and Prince Taylor Grand Secretary of the African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Mass. See the printed proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Illinois in 1867. See the printed proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Iowa when it was organized in the year of 1881 when John Page was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Colored Masons of the State of Iowa in 1881. See the circular and the Masonic proceedings issued by J. H. Hall Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey in the year of 1873. See the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee when Nelson McGavoc was Grand Master and Abraham Smith was Grand Secretary in the year of 1874. See the circular issued by the Grand Lodge of New York in 1874 when W. C. H. Curtis was Grand Master, and Albert Woodson was Grand Secretary. See the printed proceedings of the various sessions of the Grand Lodge of Mass. See the history of Freemasonry in the United States among Colored Men by J. N. Conna of Connecticut together with the Published statements of a number of other Grand Lodges and they all emphatically state and agree in language that is not uncertain, that the first Grand Lodge of Colored Masons organized in the State of Mass. was African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons which was organized with only one Lodge and that was on the 24th day of June 1791 at Boston Mass. There cannot be any doubt by any Masonic scholar or student in this day or time nor there can be any uncertainty in the manner by the officers and members of any well regulated and lawful Grand Lodge of Freemasonry in the whole world, but that the establishing of African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Mass. on the 24th of June 1791 with only one Lodge but that it is a clandestine spurious and irregular body for it has been since the year of 1717 that well established Masonic law of Freemasonry that it requires not less that three warranted Lodges to organize a regular Grand Lodge. The Masonic authorities on that proposition both in this country and Europe are uninformed and no Grand Lodge has ever been recognized as being a legal Grand Lodge that has been organized with a less number than three warranted lodges. The Name of the African Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was Changed to the Name of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Mass. in 1808. [6] [7] [8] After the Death of Prince Hall which occurred in the year of 1807, at the session held in the year of 1808 the name of African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Massachusetts was changed to the name of Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Mass. Judging from the rapid and numerous changes of position as soon as a cloud appeared among the so-called bogus Masons and an spurious Grand Lodge of Mass. some of the Masonic writers and followers and members of the bogus Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Mass. when they where exposed and shown up and dislodged from one untenable position they have jumped from one position to another. On the 24th of June 1791 they called themselves Modern Masons, in 1847 they called themselves Compact Masons, in 1880 they styled themselves as Free and Accepted Masons. We may expect at any time to hear of those Masonic imposters and shams of Mass, belonging to that notorious self constituted Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Mass. giving themselves another title and name at any time. London England Freemasonry Hall Office of the Grand Sec. London England, May 10, 1874. To John G. Jones, Esq., Grand Secretary, Dear Sir and Bro:— On the 27th of December of 1873 I addressed you a letter which I hope will reach you in due time giving you the information that you seek concerning a Lodge that was said to have belonged to the Grand Lodge of England in General Gages Military Regiment that was in the United States of America. As I stated to you in my former letter that there was no Masonic Lodge in General Gages Military Regiment in the United States and I beg to state to you and the brethren in your country as to a provincial Grand Master by the Grand Lodge of England. Any person having such papers claiming to be such is a fraud. I enclose you a copy of a letter that I addressed to Mr. B. F. Rogers of Springfield Ill., who is Grand Master of your State. I trust this will supply you with all the information that you desire. Yours Fraternally, John Hervey, Grand Sec'y. London England, Freemason Hall Office of the Grand Sec. London England, May 4th, 1875. Mr. B. F. Rogers, Grand Master of Masons of the State of Ill. My very Dear Sir and Bro:— Your letter was received. I take pleasure in stating to you that in the latter part of December 1873 I forwarded a letter to Bro. John G. Jones of Chicago who is Grand Secretary of your Grand Lodge in which I gave him the information that you now desire. I now beg to say to you that the Grand Lodge of England never had any Masonic Lodge in General Gages Military Regiment whose occupation was in the United States at the time that you mentioned nor has our Grand Lodge any record of any such appointment as Prince Hall to be Provincial Grand Master in the United States. If any such appointment is presented and claims to have been made by the Grand Lodge of England you are at liberty to deny it, and give the same information if you wish to the craft in the United States as we do not wish our Grand Lodge to be misrepresented. Yours fraternally, John Hervey, Grand Sec'y. Lawyer John G. Jones 33, Sov. Grand Commander, Paris, France, Nov. 4th. 1907. Illustrious Sir and Bro: Your letter reached me on yesterday and many thanks. You will kindly remember me to all brethren in Chicago. I like America better than I do this country, or the places that I have been in since I left Chicago probably that is owing to the fact that having been born and reared in Chicago I feel more at home. But the French people, and particularly those that are members of Masonic fraternity, are very pleasant and kind. I visited one Lodge last night and last week I visited the consistory of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. Before you are admitted in any of the Masonic bodies, here you are required to stand a very rigid examination, you know about what that is. There is no prejudice in this section of the country against man because he may be of a dark complexion, in all of my travels the Masonic body of which you are the head of in America among colored Masons is the only one that is known and recognized in this part of the country where I have been. We will go to London, England, next week. I will write you when I get there. Yours Fraternally, H. S. COLLINS, 33, London, England, Nov. 28th. 1907. Illustrious John G. Jones, 33, Grand Master of Masons of Illinois. Very Dear Brother—We arrived here last week and will remain here probably for a month. Will you kindly see Bro. Geo. Standwood, the Secretary of Chicago Lodge No. 5, and pay him my dues to the Lodge? We will be in Chicago the latter part of February, 1908. I have much to tell you when I get home. I visited the Masonic Lodges since I have been here and was treated with [9] [10] the utmost courtesy. The diploma from my Lodge and Consistory that you signed has been a great service and benefit to me. I hear your name quite highly spoken of by the members of the Masonic Fraternity this side of the Atlantic ocean. The Lodges and Masons that you are connected with in America among colored Masons are the only ones that are recognized over here. Yours Fraternally, H. S. COLLINS, 33. CAN ONE MASONIC LODGE ASSUME THE FUNCTION OF A GRAND LODGE? Some one might ask the question can only one lodge assume the functions of a Grand Lodge? The answer to that must be emphatically No, and whatever Lodge assumes the functions of a Grand Lodge then such Grand Lodge is unlawful and irregular. See Mackey's Masonic Jurisprudence, see Mitchell's Authority on Masonic Law, see Chase and Preston on Masonic Law and they all agree that one Lodge cannot assume the function of a Grand Lodge. BOGUS PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS NEVER HAS BEEN HEALED. In order to place the matter before the Masonic fraternity some one might inquire and ask the question that since the time that African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Massachusetts was organized with only one Lodge. On the 24th of June. 1791, which is now the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts have they ever been healed and legally Masonically set right? The answer to that is that they have not and only a short time ago they admitted by saying that they had never been healed, and Masonically set right, and that being true they were established in an unlawful manner and are clandestine and irregular Masons to this very day, and I challenge them to present any proof to the contrary. CAN A SUBORDINATE LODGE GRANT A LICENSE OR CHARTER TO ORGANIZE ANOTHER LODGE? THEY CANNOT. In order to justify the irregular and unlawful Masonic work that has been done in the State of Massachusetts by the Colored men who belong to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts they attempt to justify their actions by saying that it was legal and lawful for African Lodge No. 459 to grant a license or charter to organize another Lodge and they have published in a circular of two cases of that kind that occurred in the year 1625. I have taken particular pains to thoroughly investigate the cases that they referred to and no such actions of that kind was ever done by any Masonic Lodge in the places that they referred to. All the Masonic authorities, both in this country and Europe, have made it plain how a Masonic Lodge could be organized and it must be done by the authority of a Grand Lodge. No intelligent Mason and no genuine and regular Mason, either Black or White, in the whole world, can find any authority or precedent where one Subordinate Lodge can grant a charter to another Subordinate Lodge. The Following Excerpt of a Letter From Ill. John G. Jones, of Chicago, Ill., Relative to Law Suit Pending in the District of Columbia Between the Old Compact Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia and the Legitimate Grand Lodge A. F. & A. Masons of Which Bro. H. C. Scott is Grand Master Shows That the Question at Issue is Purely a Local Matter and Does Not in Any Way Affect Any Other Grand Lodges in This Country and Shows Conclusively That the Claims Made by W. H. Grimshaw Amount to Nothing. Chicago. Ill., Dec. 2, 1908. Bro. Charles L. Mitchell, 33, Grand Master. The law suit between the two Grand Lodges in the District of Columbia is as follows: The Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia that Bro. H. C. Scott is the Grand Master of, over two years ago commenced a law suit against the old Compact Grand Lodge in the District of Columbia to prohibit them from using the word "ancient" the old Compact Grand Lodge in the District of Columbia filed a cross bill and saying that they were the first Grand Lodge in the District of Columbia to use the word "ancient" and Judge Wright of the Equity Court in giving his opinion rules and held that the old Compact Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia was entitled to use the word "ancient" and enjoined the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia that Bro. H. C. Scott is the Grand Master of from using the word "ancient" and Bro. Scott and his Grand Lodge has appealed the case to the Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia where they can get justice in the matter. The law suit is a local matter between the two Grand Lodges In the District of Columbia which does not in the least or in any manner whatever affect any other Grand Lodge in this country and does not alter or affect the Masonic legal status of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia that Bro. H. C. Scott is the Grand Master of except using the word "ancient" of which I am satisfied that the higher court will reverse the decision of Judge Wright in the matter. PRINCE HALL AND HIS ASSOCIATES MADE MASONS WITHOUT ANY CHARTER OR AUTHORITY. According to the statements made and published by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, that from March the 16th, 1775 to 1787, that African Lodge had no charter of any kind, and still in the face of all of that we find that Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson of Massachusetts, conferred the degrees of Free Masonry upon certain men without any charter or without any authority whatever and still they wish to call themselves regular Masons. CLANDESTINE, SPURIOUS AND UNLAWFUL NATIONAL COMPACT GRAND LODGE OF MASONS OF NORTH AMERICA THAT WAS ORGANIZED AT BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ON THE 24th OF JUNE, 1847. [11] For many years past a great deal has been said and written about the establishing of the Irregular and Illegitimate National Compact Grand Lodge of Masons that was organized without a shadow of Masonic power and authority in 1847 at Boston, Massachusetts and of all of the absurd and ridiculous ideas which have ever incorporated itself in the minds of any man who is a Mason there seems nothing so utterly weak and imbecile as the doctrine that is advocated by the followers and adherents of that Clandestine National Compact Grand Lodge which was founded upon everything that was irregular and clandestine and predicated upon fiction fables and falsehoods, these and nothing else. The numerous statements that have been made and are being made now by the exponents of the National Compact Grand Lodge purporting to be genuine and historical, are solely unreliable and cunning inventions of their own devised for the purpose of misleading the people. On the 24th of June, 1847, at Boston, Mass., John T. Hilton, Grand Master, Henry Harris, William Bruce, of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, and James Bird, John G. Bias, James Richmond, of the African Grand Lodge of North America, with its headquarters at Philadelphia, Pa., and the Hiram Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, represented by James Newman, John Anderson, Samuel Brackles, Phillip Buckhammond and several others from the Hiram Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and from the Boyer Grand Lodge of New York was William H. Clark, Lewis Hayden, Alexander Elston, together with several others, met in Boston, Mass., and organized the National Compact Grand Lodge of North America. They elected John T. Hilton, of Boston, Mass., National Grand Master, and William E. Ambush was elected National Grand Secretary. This National Compact Grand Lodge of North America has done nothing but breed dissension among Colored Masons in the United States. From its earliest period of existence down to the present date, and it has never been recognized as a regular and legal Masonic Grand Body and never will as long as intelligent men have their right senses about them. THE GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND HAS NEVER RECOGNIZED THE PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS. If it was true that the Grand Lodge of England granted a charter to African Lodge No. 459 at Boston, Mass., on Sept. 29th, 1784, and this same African Lodge organized the African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Massachusetts on the 24th of June, 1791, which now is the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, what was the matter or cause and reason that the Grand Lodge of England has failed and refused to recognize the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts? It must be self apparent to every intelligent Mason that it shows and proves conclusively that the Grand Lodge of England never did grant a Charter to African Lodge No. 459 at Boston, Mass., as the leaders of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts would try to have you believe. Who in the world ever heard of a Grand Lodge granting a charter to a Subordinate Lodge and then refusing to recognize the very Lodge that the Grand Lodge granted them a charter? It is the most ridiculous and absurd statement I ever beard of. It certainly shows that the Grand Lodge of England never at all granted a charter to African Lodge No. 459. On the 29th of Sept., 1784, and the officers of the Grand Lodge of England say that they did not and all the talk about a commission having been granted to Prince Hall as a Provincial Grand Master in America by the Grand Lodge of England stamps the whole thing from beginning to the end as a manufactured statement, a fraud and a sham. TWO WHITE MASONIC GRAND LODGES IN ENGLAND, ONE ORGANIZED IN 926 AND THE OTHER ORGANIZED IN 1739. The first Grand Lodge organized among the White Masons of England was organized at the City of York, England, in the year of 926, and the second White Grand Lodge of England was organized at London, England, in the year of 1739. See Mackey's Encyclopedia of Masonry; see Mitchell's History of Freemasonry; see the Voice of Freemasonry published in Chicago in the month of June, 1867. The members that composed the second White Grand Lodge of England when it was organized in 1739 was made up of expelled Masons from the first Grand Lodge of England that was organized in the year of 926, and the second irregular and unlawful Grand Lodge of England that was organized at London, England, in the year of 1739 is the same Grand Lodge. R. Holt was Deputy Grand Master, and William White was the Grand Secretary, and it was from this second irregular and unlawful Grand Lodge of England that the African Lodge No. 459 claims that they secured their charter from. In all fairness if the Grand Lodge of England granted a charter to African Lodge No. 459 at Boston, Mass., it being a clandestine Grand Lodge, it would follow beyond all dispute that African Lodge No. 459 at Boston, Mass., was unlawful and clandestine Lodge. Although the Grand Lodge of England has said they did not grant any charter to African Lodge at Boston, Mass. PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS HAS NEVER PRESENTED OR SHOWED THE CHARTER OF AFRICAN LODGE, TO ANY PERSON. For many years the members of the Masonic fraternity have asked to see the charter of African Lodge No. 459. That Prince Hall Grand Lodge members of Massachusetts say that they had in their possession, and when committees after committees have called and asked for to see it they have been denied the opportunity and that one time they said in Boston, Mass., to the committee that the charter had been destroyed by fire, and another time they told the committee that they could not find the charter. Don't you think and believe that if they had a charter for African Lodge in Massachusetts that they would have that historical Lodge on their roll in their printed proceedings? If you can find the name of African Lodge in any of the Masonic printed proceedings of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts it is more than any body else can find. See and read the printed Masonic proceedings of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, and see if you can find the name of African Lodge printed there? PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS IS NOT RECOGNIZED BY THE GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND. [12] [13] Bro. John G. Jones, 33, Grand Master of Masons of Illinois, London, Eng., Dec. 20th, 1907. Dear Sir and Brother—We have remained here in London, England, longer than we intended to, and since writing to you I have made a visit to Dublin, Ireland. A large number of people in Dublin, Ireland, are doing fairly well, but from time to time there is a large number of people there leaving and going to United States. The other day I went to the Masonic headquarters here in London, England, to find out and investigate for myself if the Grand Lodge of England recognized the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts as I had always heard that our Masonry in America among Colored people came from Grand Lodge of England and the officials of the Grand Lodge of England who were very courteous to me took the occasion to inform me that the Grand Lodge of England does not recognize or affiliate with the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. How is that Bro. Jones, that some of the Colored Masons keep saying in America that they got their charter from the Grand Lodge of England, when the Grand Lodge of England says that they do not recognize the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, and it was at Boston, Mass., that the Colored Masons in Massachusetts have stated that they got a charter for a Lodge from the Grand Lodge of England? I want nothing more to do with any of the members that belong to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. Our Colored brethren in United States should be informed about this matter. Yours Fraternally, H. S. COLLINS, 33. THIS IS WHAT MAKES THE PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS SPURIOUS AND CLANDESTINE. 1—Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson and their associates of Boston, Mass., could not have been made Master Masons in a Lodge in General Gages Military Regiment on the 6th day of March, 1775, at Boston, Mass., for General Gages Military Regiment was not in the United States at that time. 2—Prince Hall of Boston, Mass., never was appointed provincial Grand Master in the United States by the Grand Lodge of England. 3—The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts having connected itself with the spurious National Compact Grand Lodge of North America in 1847 surrendered all of its rights if it had any as a Grand Lodge. 4—The White Masonic Grand Lodge of England that African Lodge No. 459 obtained a charter from was a clandestine and unlawful Grand Lodge of Modern Masons in England. 5—The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts styles themselves as Modern Masons and Modern Masons are those Masons who refused to follow and adhere to the ancient laws, rules and regulations and the landmarks of Freemasonry. Those Modern Masons are Masonic innovators. JOHN G. JONES, 33. Grand Master of Masons of Illinois. EXTRACTS FROM THE PROCEEDINGS AND SOME OF THE DECISIONS OF THE VARIOUS MASONIC CONGRESSES AND NATIONAL MASONIC CONVENTION HELD AMONG THE COLORED MASONS IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE AUGUST 11th, 1820. Chicago, Ill., April 8, 1908. To All Whom This May Concern, Greeting: The management of the International Masonic Bureau of Information of the world wishes to state that we have devoted much time and labor in collecting this much needed information which gives the time and place as well as the decisions and also a brief account of the proceedings of the various general Masonic congresses and National Masonic Convention that has been held among the Colored Masons in the United States of America since June 11th, 1820. THE FIRST NATIONAL CONVENTION OF COLORED MASONS OF UNITED STATES HELD JUNE 11th, 1820, AT PHILADELPHIA, PA. A resolution was adopted recommending to the Grand Lodges that it was unlawful and un-Masonic for any subordinate Lodge or Grand Lodge to meddle with the degrees of Royal Arch Masons. The convention after some other Masonic discussions adjourned. SECOND NATIONAL CONVENTION OF COLORED MASONS IN THE UNITED STATES HELD AT BOSTON, MASS., JUNE 24th, 1847. John T. Hilton, Wm, A. Bruce, Henry Harris of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, James Richmond, James Bird, Samuel Van Brackle, Phillip Buchanan, John Anderson, James Powell of Pennsylvania, and Alexander Elston, Wm. H. Clark of New York issued a call for National Masonic Convention to meet in Boston, Mass., June the 24th, 1847, and it was agreed and they did organize the National Compact Grand Lodge of North America. John T. Hilton of Boston, Mass., was elected M. W. N. Grand Master Wm. E. Ambush was elected National Grand Secretary. This National Grand Lodge of North America adopted a constitution claiming and exercising power and authority over every Grand Lodge of Masons in each state in the United States and [14] Canada. This National Compact Grand Lodge in violation of all Masonic law proceeded to issue charters to Grand Lodges in the United States which was a Masonic law and rule that they adopted that was unheard of among Masons of any nationality in any country or any land. This National Compact Grand Lodge sowed the seed of discord and dissension among Colored Masons in this country whose record has covered one of the blackest pages in Masonic history. This National Compact Grand Lodge continued to meet and elect officers for some years thereafter placing heavy assessments upon subordinate Lodges and Grand Lodges throughout the country. THIRD NATIONAL CONVENTION OF COLORED MASONS HELD IN UNITED STATES WAS AT NEW YORK CITY OCT. 12th, 1848. James Barnett, Jacob Gibbs and several others of New York State called a National Masonic Convention to meet in New York City, Oct. 12, 1848. James Barnett was elected president of the convention. Arnold Hicks offered a series of resolutions which was adopted bitterly denouncing the National Compact Grand Lodge of North America that was organized at Boston, Mass., June 24th, 1847. He claimed that the whole National Compact Grand Lodge was a fraudulent and unlawful organization. Chas. Hooten offered a resolution which was adopted that the organization of African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Massachusetts, June the 24th, 1791, at Boston, Mass., with only one Lodge that such Grand Lodge was irregular and unlawful. The Grand Lodge representative system was discussed and properly outlined in the convention and each Grand Lodge was requested to follow the same by an exchange of Grand representatives with each Grand Lodge. A resolution was also adopted and the convention decided that the Masonic law watch had been strictly adhered to by all regular Masons that whenever a Grand Lodge for a State was organized that it required not less than three warranted Lodges to assemble in a Masonic convention for that purpose. FOURTH NATIONAL CONVENTION OF COLORED MASONS OF UNITED STATES WAS HELD AT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS, JULY 10th, 1869. Frank Caldwell offered a resolution to the effect which was adopted that it is the sense of this convention that the establishing of Freemasonry among Colored Masons in the United States at Boston, Mass., was unauthorized and irregular and that the pretending of the organization of African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Boston, Mass., June the 24th, 1791, was unwarranted and clandestine. THE FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF COLORED MASONS OF UNITED STATES WHICH CONVENED IN CHICAGO, AUGUST 10th, 1872. A resolution was offered by W. R. Lawton and adopted that a committee of five (5) be appointed by the president of this congress to investigate the correct origin and genuineness of Freemasonry among the Colored Masons in the United States at Boston, Mass. President W. C. H. Curtis appointed on the committee W. R. Lawton, of Missouri, John G. Jones of Chicago, B. F. Rogers of Springfield, Ill., Jos. H. Banks of Providence, R. I., H. D. Vena of Detroit, Mich. To the President and Members of the General Masonic Congress: The undersigned committee that was appointed to investigate the origin and the legal conditions of Freemasonry among our race in the State of Massachusetts now submit their report. Your committee wishes to be understood that we have taken considerable time in a thorough examination of the matter and we have searched diligently to ascertain the truth regardless of whom it may please or displease. 1—We find that the establishing of the African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons in Massachusetts among the Colored men on June the 24th, 1791, at Boston, Mass., that the whole work was irregular, unlawful and contrary to Masonic law. The names of the Grand officers that were elected at the organization of this spurious and irregular African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Massachusetts on June 24th, 1791, was as follows: Prince Hall Grand Master, Nero Prince, Deputy Grand Master, Cyrus Forbes, Grand Secretary, Peter Best, Grand Treasurer. 2—Your committee have investigated and made searching inquiry to find who took part in the organization of the African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons among the colored Masons at Boston, Mass., on June the 24th, 1791, and it appears from the records as well as the delegates from Massachusetts who admit and confirm the same that there was only one Lodge and that was African Lodge No. 459 that participated in the organization of the African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons that was organized June 24th, 1791, at Boston, Mass., such organization of the Grand Lodge is in open violation of Masonic laws and we cannot indorse or approve the same. Your committee finds according to the statements of the delegates from Massachusetts that since the time of the organization of the African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons in the State of Massachusetts which occurred June 24th, 1791, that no steps or effort had been made or taken by the officers and members of the African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Massachusetts to have said Grand Lodge Masonically legalized and set right. Your committee is wholly unable to find or secure any genuine information that even a charter was ever granted by the Grand [15] [16] Lodge of England for the establishing of African Lodge No. 459 at Boston, Mass. Your committee has investigated various printed proceedings of the African Grand Lodge of Massachusetts which name was changed in the year of 1808 to the name of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, and we cannot find the name of African Lodge No. 459 printed in any of the Grand Lodge proceedings of Massachusetts. Your committee is unable to find or be placed in the possession of any genuine information that would lead the committee to believe that there was ever a charter granted by the Grand Lodge of England to Prince Hall and his associates at Boston, Mass. Your committee finds further that the so-often repeated statement made by some of the less informed brothers of our race that the color line and prejudice had been the cause in the State of Massachusetts and other places throughout the country and especially in the northern states in the refusal of some of the White Grand Lodges of Masons in denying us recognition was not based on account of color but it was predicated solely upon the grounds that the origin of Freemasonry among the Colored Masons in the State of Massachusetts was unlawful and irregular. Committee: JOHN G. JONES, of Illinois, W. R. LAWTON, of Missouri, B. F. ROGERS, of Illinois, H. D. VENA, of Michigan, J. H. BANKS, of Rhode Island. The above named committee report was adopted forty-one to ten. THE SIXTH NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF COLORED MASONS OF THE UNITED STATES WAS HELD AT OMAHA, NEB., MAY THE 10th, 1874 The Sixth National General Assembly of Colored Masons of the United States convened at Omaha, Neb., May the 10th., 1874. Delegates were present from the States of Pennsylvania, Nebras...