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diff --git a/40234-0.txt b/40234-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b1827f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/40234-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2408 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40234 *** + + 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 + + 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. + + + + +[Illustration + + 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.? + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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. + + 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 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 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, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, +Michigan, Tennessee, Missouri, Colorado, New York and Kansas. John G. +Jones of Chicago was elected president of the congress. E. R. Overall of +Omaha, was elected secretary. + +Wm. D. Mathews, Grand Master of King Solomon Grand Lodge, of Kansas, +applied for admission to the convention and was refused on the grounds +that his Grand Lodge was irregular and clandestine. + + +THE MOTHER OF ALL THE COMPACT AND STATE RITES IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts Colored Masons, Spurious +Followers in New York State Come to Grief. + +A case has been decided in the law court at Charlotte, New York State +that has created intense interest in the Masonic circles among Colored +Masons in several of the States last week, and the Colored Grand Lodge +of New York, which was first started some years ago by the Prince Hall +Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, met an overwhelming defeat and was routed +at every point. The Grand Lodge of the State of New York commenced a law +suit at Charlotte, N. Y., against several Masons representing the Hiram +Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of +Pennsylvania to prevent them from organizing lodges in the State of New +York under the authority of the Hiram Grand Lodge of the State of +Pennsylvania. The case came up before Judge Laverty and was bitterly +contested, and after an argument of a whole day by counsel representing +both sides Judge Laverty rendered his decision that after investigating +the matter thoroughly that the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts +that was organized many years ago, was an illegal and irregular Grand +Body, and that the Grand Lodge in the State or New York having had +lodges established in New York State that organized lodges from the +Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts that established the Grand +Lodge of New York that it was an unlawful Grand Lodge, and that the +Hiram Grand Lodge of Colored Masons of the State of Pennsylvania was a +lawful and regular Grand Body. The Hiram Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was +organized formerly of chartered lodges from the Grand Lodge of the +District of Columbia. + +And the M. W. Grand Lodge A. F. and A. M. of the District of Columbia, +held her warrant of constitution, power and authority from the White +Grand Lodge Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the Republic of Romania, +Germany. + +This warrant was granted to Hon. H. C. Scott 33 degree G. M. in 1895, he +was the first and only Colored man in the United States of America to +ever receive a lawful and regular warrant from any White Grand Lodge of +Masons of foreign jurisdiction, and is now healing and setting +Masonically right the Colored Masons in the United States of America. + +What have the so-called State Rites got to say about this verdict, +coming from the mouth of such an able jurist of the Empire State. Our +people have been and are being robbed out of thousands of dollars by +these bogus Masons in this and other States. + +Done at Masonic headquarters this first day of December, 1908. San +Antonio, Texas. + +Ninth Question--What is meant by the word and title of A. F. & A. Y. +Masons? + +Ninth 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 Edward 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. + + +FREEMASONRY FIRST ORGANIZED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS ON APRIL THE 10th, +1873, AT AUSTIN, TEXAS. + +Tenth Question--When was Freemasonry first established in the State of +Texas among Colored men? As there have been a great deal of controversy +about the matter, inasmuch as some person have fixed it one place and +some have fixed it another place, let us see who is right? + +Tenth Answer--The first Lodge of Colored Masons organized in the State +of Texas was at Austin, Texas, April 10th, 1873, the name of the Lodge +was Mount Bonnell Lodge, it was instituted and chartered by the +notorious self-constituted clandestine King Solomon Grand Lodge of the +State of Kansas that Wm. D. Mathews was the Grand Master of, and all +Masonic students and all Masonic authors in the United States have said +time after time that the King Solomon Grand Lodge of Kansas was a bogus +Grand Lodge. Sometime after Mount Bonnell Lodge was organized at Austin, +Texas. A Lodge was organized at San Antonio, Texas, and Houston, Texas, +and Galveston, Texas, all these Lodges were established by the spurious +King Solomon Grand Lodge of Kansas. And it appears from the records and +a circular issued by the King Solomon Grand Lodge of Kansas that at the +time the convention was held to organize a Grand Lodge for the State of +Texas that the Lodge at San Antonio, Texas, and the lodge at Houston +Texas, was only working under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of +Kansas, and only a few years ago I held a conversation myself with Wm. +D. Mathews, Grand Master of the King Solomon Grand Lodge of Kansas and +he stated to me that at the time the Grand Lodge of Texas was organized +that there was only one Lodge and that was Mount Bonnell Lodge at +Austin, Texas, that was in good Masonic standing and that Saint John's +Lodge at Galveston, Texas, and the Lodge at San Antonio, Texas, and the +Lodge at Houston, Texas had been suspended by the Grand Lodge of Kansas +for un-Masonic conduct and that the dispensation to three of these +Lodges had been revoked by him as Grand Master of the King Solomon Grand +Lodge of State of Kansas and in support of that the King Solomon Grand +Lodge of Kansas refused to recognize and hold any Masonic intercourse or +affiliation with the Grand Lodge of Texas. That matter came up and was +discussed at the National Masonic Convention held in the city of +Chicago, Sept. 4th, 5th, 6th, 1877. + +Eleventh Question--When was the Grand Lodge of Texas organized? + +Eleventh Answer--A convention of delegates for the purpose of arranging +to organize a Grand Lodge of Texas was held at Brenham, Texas, Aug. +19th, 1874, and after some considerable discussion the convention +adjourned to meet at Houston, Texas, Jan. 19th, 1875, at Houston, Texas, +the so-called Grand Lodge of Texas was organized Jan. 19th, 1875, N. W. +Cuney was elected Grand Master and J. J. Hamilton was elected Grand +Secretary so it will be seen that Freemasonry in the State of Texas was +established in a clandestine manner by the compact King Solomon Grand +Lodge of Kansas. + +Twelfth Question--Did the Grand Lodge of Texas work under the National +Compact Grand Lodge of North America and affiliate with it? + +Twelfth Answer--It appears from the records that the so-called Grand +Lodge of the State of Texas took out a charter and worked under the +bogus National Compact Grand Lodge of North America and affiliated with +it and this same Grand Lodge of Texas now affiliates and recognizes such +bogus Grand Lodges as the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, and +the notorious Compact Grand Lodge of Illinois whose records for +irregularity and spurious Masonic work have no equal in any part of the +world. + +Thirteenth Question--Has the so-called Grand Lodge of Texas that J. W. +McKinney is the Grand Master of since it was instituted in an unlawful +and irregular manner, has it ever been Masonically legalized by any +Grand Lodge of Masons in the whole world, if so let them state what +Grand Lodge it was, when it was, and where at, that question has been +propounded to them time after time and they have refused to answer it +and in as much as they have refused to answer it, it must be taken and +accepted as being unlawful and a bogus Grand Lodge let me have your +opinion about the matter? + +Thirteenth Answer--I have called upon the leaders of the so-called Grand +Lodge of the State of Texas that is managed and controlled by J. W. +McKinney and his followers in the State of Texas to name the time and +place if they could, if their Grand Lodge was ever Masonically legalized +and set Masonically right by any legitimate Grand Lodge in the world. +And they have failed and refused to give the name, time or place when +the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas was ever Masonically legalized by any +legitimate Grand Lodge in the country and they have failed to do that, +they are certainly designated as an unlawful and clandestine Compact +Grand Lodge. They were established in an irregular manner and are +unlawful and bogus from their inception down to the present day and the +most of the leaders of the Compact Grand Lodge in the State of Texas are +the largest falsifiers, and liars and Masonic innovators that have ever +held their hands up toward heaven and as for the truth, for any +statement that they might make I would just as soon believe one of them +over a spelling book as a Bible. + +[Illustration: + + J. F. Van Duzor, 33° + Grand Secretary + M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge + A. F. & A. M. Jurisdiction of Texas.] + + +KING SOLOMON GRAND LODGE OF KANSAS ORGANIZED JUNE 24th, 1867. + +Fourteenth Question--When was the King Solomon Grand Lodge of Kansas +that Wm. D. Mathews was Grand Master, when was it organized in the State +of Kansas, and whereat, and did this King Solomon Grand Lodge in Kansas +take out a charter and work under the National Compact Grand Lodge of +North America, give me all the facts and information that you have at +hand relative to that matter? + +Fourteenth Answer--When the King Solomon Grand Lodge of Kansas was +organized June 24th, 1867, at Leavenworth, Kansas, it was accepted and +stated by most every Colored Mason in the United States that knew +anything about the matter that this King Solomon Grand Lodge of Kansas +was organized and proclaimed to be a Grand Lodge by Wm. D. Mathews and +his followers in the State of Kansas with only one Lodge and nobody +knows whether or not even that Lodge was a chartered Lodge. It was said +however that this one Masonic Lodge that proclaimed itself and organized +the King Solomon Grand Lodge of Kansas that it secured a charter from +the Compact Grand Lodge of the State of New York and at the time the +King Solomon Grand Lodge of Kansas was organized with only one +subordinate Lodge composed of a membership of eleven members. June 24th, +1867, at Leavenworth, Kansas, it took out a warrant of authority from +the National Compact Grand Lodge of North America that was organized in +the State of Massachusetts on the 24th day of June, 1847, for it must be +admitted by all well informed Masons that Massachusetts was the hotbed +and the Masonic factory where all kinds of Masonic degrees were +manufactured and all sorts and kinds of Masonic Lodges and Grand Lodges +and a spurious National Grand Lodge of North America was organized to +suit the time and conveniences of those that wished to secure and gain +high sounding Masonic titles regardless as to whether it was right or +wrong. If you have any doubt about the matter I herewith present a copy +of the warrant that was issued to the King Solomon Grand Lodge of Kansas +by that irregular and self-constituted National Compact Grand Lodge of +North America whose record has covered the very blackest page in Masonic +history among the colored Masons in this country. + + +THE WARRANT OF THE MOST WORSHIPFUL KING SOLOMON GRAND LODGE FOR THE +STATE OF KANSAS. + +To all whom it may concern: + +The Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and +honorable fraternity of Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons of the +United States of North America, according to the old constitution at +York in the kingdom of England duly established and organized for the +said United States according to the resolutions and by the authority of +a Grand Convention held in the city of Boston, the State of +Massachusetts on the 24th, 25th, 26th and 28th day of June, A. D., 1847; +A. L. 5847. + + +WISDOM, STRENGTH, FRATERNITY. + +Whereas, A petition bearing date, June 24th, A. D., 1867, was +represented and presented in the name of Wm. D. Mathews and others +praying the grant of a charter of Constitution and erection in the usual +form for holding a Grand Lodge in the State of Kansas under the name and +title of the Most Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge for the State of +Kansas and under the authority of the Most Worshipful National Grand +Lodge of the United States and North America, proposing the persons +after mentioned to be the first grand officers, viz: Wm. D. Mathews, +Leavenworth, Kansas, Grand Master, Geo. Edwards, Deputy Grand Master, +Samuel Jones, Senior Grand Warden, Henry Lee, Junior Grand Warden, +together with their associates which petition having been duly +considered, we are pleased to ordain a charter, to be issued in the +terms herein written. + +Know Ye, therefore, That the Most Worshipful National Grand Master and +the National Grand Lodge of North America have constituted, erected and +appointed likewise, they hereby constitute, erect, and appoint the Grand +Master, Grand Wardens and brethren above named to be now and in all +times coming a true and regular Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons +for the State of Kansas under the name, style and title of the Most +Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Ancient York +Masons for the State of Kansas. And we do hereby authorize and empower +our Worshipful and beloved Brethren and their successors in office to +constitute by Charter, or organize by dispensation subordinate Lodges +within the State of Kansas and its jurisdiction, according to the +Constitution of Masonry and of the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge +of North America, upon the payment of such fees as may be determined by +the said Most Worshipful Grand Lodge; also to make choice of a Grand +Master, Deputy Grand Master, Grand Wardens and other Grand Officers +annually to receive and collect funds for the support of the Most +Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge of Kansas, and for the payment of +such sums of money as may be assessed by the Constitution and +regulations of the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge. + +And we do further authorize and empower the said constituted brethren +and their successors to have and determined all and singular matters and +things relating to the craft within their jurisdiction with the +assistance of the members of the said Grand Lodge subject to an appeal +to the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of North America and shall +possess and exercise all the power and function of a State Grand Lodge +and we do hereby require the said constituted brethren to attend the +Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of North America at their triennial +communication and other meetings by their Grand Master, Deputy Grand +Master and Grand Wardens, or by proxy regularly appointed; also to keep +a fair and regular record of your proceedings in a book to be kept for +that purpose and we do enjoin upon the officers and brethren of said +Grand Lodge that they be punctual in their payments of such sums of +money as may be assessed on them by the National Grand Lodge of North +America, and to make regular returns annually to the National Grand +Secretary or to the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of the names +and members of all the Lodges under the jurisdiction of said Grand Lodge +where located, of the suspensions, expulsions and the Charters +surrendered; also the number of members belonging to each Subordinate +Lodge and of the election and installation of the officers of the Grand +Lodge. + +And we do hereby declare that the proceedings of said Grand Lodge in +National Grand Lodge to commence from the 24th day of June Anno Domini, +One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty-seven; and lastly do we hereby +authorize and empower our said Worshipful Brother Wm. D. Mathews and his +associates in office to install their successors being first duly +elected and chosen to whom they shall deliver this warrant and invest +them with all the power and dignities to their offices respectfully +belonging and such successors shall in like manner from time to time +install their successors, such installation to be upon or near St. John +the Evangelist or St. John the Baptist's day, during the continuance of +this Grand Lodge for ever provided always that the said above named +Worshipful Brothers and their successors pay due respect to the Most +Worshipful National Grand Lodge of North America, and the ordinance +thereof; otherwise this warrant to be of no force or virtue. + +Given by the authority of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of North +America, under the signatures of the Most Worshipful National Grand +Officers and the Seal of the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of +North America, this 24th day of June Anno Domini, One Thousand Eight +Hundred and Sixty-seven. + + Richard Howell Gleaves, M. W. N. G. M. + Jonathan Davis, M. W. N. G. S. + + +THE NATIONAL COMPACT GRAND LODGE OF NORTH AMERICA ORGANIZED AT BOSTON, +MASS., JUNE 24th, 1847. + +Fifteenth Question--In as much as there has been considerable discussion +and controversy going on through the country for a number of years, +relative to when the National Compact Grand Lodge of North America was +organized and where at, and whether or not it was considered irregular +and unlawful or whether it was a legitimate body, those questions have +been asked for a number of years. + +Fifteenth Answer--Mackey's Masonic jurisprudence and all of the Masonic +authors on Masonic law have laid down the well established rule that has +been recognized in the United States of America ever since Freemasonry +was first established in this country, that there cannot be any higher +or Supreme power than a Grand Lodge of a state. And the spurious +National Compact Grand Lodge of North America is an unauthorized and +clandestine body. It was organized in Boston, Mass., on the 24th of +June, 1847, it has been a disgrace and a burning shame and a slander +upon the Colored Masons of this country ever since it was first +organized. The National Compact Grand Lodge of North America that was +established at Boston, Mass., on the 24th of June, 1847, is a self +constituted, bogus, counterfeit grand body, and any Grand Lodge or +Subordinate Lodge in the United States of America that affiliates or +recognizes it is clandestine and bogus. + +Sixteenth Question--When the Grand Lodge of Texas was organized at +Houston, Texas, Jan. 19th, 1875, that J. W. McKinney is now the Grand +Master of, did that Grand Lodge have a Charter from the Bogus National +Compact Grand Lodge of North America? + +Sixteenth Answer--Yes they did, and looking over the records of the +National Grand Lodge of North America that was organized at Boston, +Mass., in 1847, which was a bogus concern. Here is a copy of the Charter +that was issued to the Grand Lodge of Texas in 1875 by the Spurious +National Compact Grand Lodge of North America. + + +THE WARRANT OF THE MOST WORSHIPFUL COMPACT GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND +ACCEPTED YORK MASONS FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS. + +To All Whom It May Concern: + +The Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and +honorable fraternity of Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons of the +United States of North America, according to the old constitution at +York in the kingdom of England duly established and organized for the +said Convention held in the city of Boston, the State of Massachusetts +on the 24th, 25th, 26th and 28th day of June, A. D., 1847; A. L. 5847. + +Whereas a petition bearing date Jan. 19th, 1875, was represented and +presented in the name of N. W. Cuney and others from the State of Texas +praying the grant of a Charter of Constitution in the usual form for +holding a Grand Lodge in the State of Texas under the name and title of +the Most Worshipful Compact Grand Lodge for the State of Texas, and +under the authority of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the United +States and North America proposing the persons hereafter mentioned to be +the first Grand Master and the first Grand Secretary viz: N. W. Cuney of +Galveston, Texas Grand Master, J. J. Hamilton Grand Secretary together +with their associates which petition having been duly considered we are +pleased to ordain a Charter to be issued in the terms herein written. + +Know Ye, therefore, that the Most Worshipful National Grand Master and +the National Grand Lodge of North America have constituted, erected and +appointed likewise, they do hereby constitute, erect and appoint the +Grand Master and Grand Wardens, and brethren to be now and in all times +coming a Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted York Masons for the State of +Texas, and we do hereby authorize and empower our worthy and beloved +brethren and their successors in office to constitute by charter or +organize Lodges within the State of Texas according to the constitution +of the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of North America duly +constituted on the 24th day of June, 1847, at Boston, Mass., and comply +with the rules and regulations and the payment of such sums of money as +be assessed by the Constitution and regulation of the Most Worshipful +National Grand Lodge of North America. + +And we do further authorize and empower the said constituted brethren +and their successors to have and determined all and singular matters and +things relating to the craft within their jurisdiction with the +assistance of the members of the said Grand Lodge subject to an appeal +to the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of North America and shall +possess and exercise all the power and function of a State Grand Lodge +and we do hereby require the said constituted brethren to attend the +Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of North America at their triennial +communication and other meetings by their Grand Master, Deputy Grand +Master and Grand Wardens or by proxy regularly appointed; also to keep a +fair and regular record of your proceedings in a book to be kept for +that purpose and we do enjoin upon the officers and brethren of said +Grand Lodge in the State of Texas that they be punctual in their +payments of such sums of money as may be assessed on them by this +National Compact Grand Lodge of North America and to make regular +returns annually to the National Grand Secretary or to the Most +Worshipful National Grand Lodge. + +And we do hereby declare that the proceedings of said Grand Lodge in the +State of Texas by which brother N. W. Cuney is the Grand Master of to +commence from Jan. 19th, 1875, and we do hereby authorize and empower +our said Worshipful Brother N. W. Cuney of Galveston, Texas, and his +associates in office to install their successors first being duly +elected and chosen to whom they shall deliver this warrant and invest +them with all the powers and dignities to their offices respectfully +belonging and such successors shall like manner from time to time +install their successors, such installation to be upon or near the St. +John the Evangelist or St. John the Baptist's day during the continuance +of this Grand Lodge. + +Given by the authority of the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of +North America under the signature of the Most Worshipful National Grand +Master of the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of North America this +19th day of Jan. 1875. + + Richard Howell Cleaves, M. W. N. G. M. + +Seventeenth Question--Did you ever have any correspondence with Wm. D. +Mathews, Grand Master of the Compact Grand Lodge of the State of Kansas +relative to the organization of the so-called Grand Lodge of the State +of Texas that was organized Jan. 19th, 1875? + +Seventeenth Answer--Yes, I had some correspondence with Wm. D. Mathews, +Grand Master of the King Solomon Grand Lodge of the State of Kansas +relative to the subordinate Lodges that took part in the organization of +the Grand Lodge of Texas, Jan. 19th, 1875. That was the time that the +Grand Lodge of Texas was organized when N. W. Cuney of Galveston, Texas, +was elected Grand Master. + + + Leavenworth, Kan., Nov. 21, 1903. + + Mr. John G. Jones, 33, + + Grand Secretary of the M. W. St. Johns Grand Lodge of Illinois, + + Dear Sir and Bro--Your letter reached me last week at my home in + Leavenworth, Kan., and in giving you the information that you desire + the Lodge at Austin, Texas, was the first Lodge of Colored Masons + organized among the Colored men in the State of Texas, it was on + April 10th, 1873, it was chartered by the Most Worshipful King + Solomon Grand Lodge of Kansas of which I have the honor of being its + Grand Master. That was the only Lodge that was in good Masonic + standing in our Grand Lodge when the Grand Lodge of the State of + Texas was organized. The Lodge at San Antonio, Galveston, and + Houston Texas was also chartered by our Grand Lodge of Kansas, but + none of these last named three Lodges was in good and regular + standing in our Grand Lodge. So you will notice that the Grand Lodge + of Texas only had one warranted Lodge when it was established. + + Yours Fraternally, + WM. D. MATHEWS, Grand Master. + + +REPORT ON THE ORIGIN AND THE IRREGULARITY OF FREEMASONRY AMONG COLORED +MEN IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AT THE NATIONAL MASONIC CONVENTION HELD IN +CHICAGO, SEPT., 4th, 1877. + +To the President and Members of the National Masonic Convention now +Sitting in Chicago, Sept. 4th, 1877: + +Your committee that was appointed to investigate the origin of +Freemasonry in the State of Texas beg leave to make the following +report: + +We have carefully investigated the matter of the origin of Freemasonry +in the State of Texas and we find that it appears from the record that +Freemasonry was first established in the State of Texas by Wm. D. +Mathews, Grand Master of the King Solomon Grand Lodge of Compact Masons +for the State of Kansas which at the time the said King Solomon Grand +Lodge of Kansas was under and subordinate to the National Compact Grand +Lodge of North America. + +We further find that the said Grand Lodge of Texas that C. C. Dean is +the Grand Master of that, the said Grand Lodge of Texas, when organized +January 19th, 1875, did not follow and comply with the landmarks and +laws of Freemasonry and that the said Grand Lodge of Texas is an +unlawful and irregular Grand Lodge and that the delegates from the Grand +Lodge of the State of Texas to this National Masonic Convention are not +entitled to seats in this National Masonic Convention, + + Fraternally Submitted, + E. A. WILLIAMS, of Nebraska, + H. D. VENA, of Michigan, + J. H. BANKS, of Rhode Island, Committee. + + +FIRST REGULAR AND LEGAL GRAND LODGE OF COLORED MASONS IN UNITED STATES +AT WASHINGTON, D. C., 1895. + +The first Grand Lodge of Colored Masons in the United States that was +healed and Masonically set right was the Grand Lodge of Colored Masons +of the District of Columbia which H. C. Scott is the Grand Master of. It +occurred in the year of 1895 by the duly accredited representatives from +the White Masonic Grand Lodge of Romania, Germany. + + +VARIOUS GRAND LODGE DECISIONS. + +FIRST LEGAL GRAND LODGE OF COLORED MASONS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, MARCH +19th, 1908. + +The Most Worshipful St. Johns Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. Masons of the +State of Illinois established several Subordinate Lodges in the State of +Texas. A Masonic convention was held in the State of Texas by several of +the Subordinate Lodges in the State of Texas on March 19th, 1908, at San +Antonio, Texas, and the Most Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge of A. +F. & A. Masons for the State of Texas was organized. Bro. Chas. L. +Mitchell is Grand Master and Bro. J. F. VanDuzor is the Grand Secretary. + + Yours Fraternally, + JOHN G. JONES, 33, + Grand Master of Masons of the State of Illinois. + + +DECISIONS OF MASONIC GRAND LODGES. + +1.--Since the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia has been under the +supervision and control of the Past Grand Master Wm. H. Johnson and the +present Grand Master H. C. Scott of Washington, D. C., the Grand Lodge +has rendered some very important decisions which has been a guide for +many of the Grand Lodges for sometime in the past and will be a guide +and a landmark for many of the Grand Lodges in the future. + +The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts is Irregular and +clandestine, it was instituted with only one subordinate Lodge. + +The Most Worshipful St. John's Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the +State of Illinois that Bro. John G. Jones is the Grand Master of was +lawfully and constitutionally established according to the landmarks and +laws of Freemasonry and is recognized by this Grand Lodge. + +The Most Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the +State of Texas that Bro. Chas. L. Mitchell is Grand Master of has been +regularly and lawfully established and is recognized by this Grand +Lodge. + +The Most Worshipful St. Andrew's Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Mason of the +State of Louisiana that Wm. T. Grant is the Grand Master of has been +regularly instituted according to the landmarks and laws of Freemasonry +and is recognized by this Grand Lodge. + +The Most Worshipful German Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State +of Alabama that Bro. J. H. McGehee is the Grand Master of has been +lawfully instituted and is recognized by this Grand Lodge. + +The Most Worshipful Wm. T. Grant, Jr., Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons +of the State of Mississippi has been regularly organized and is +recognized by this Grand Lodge. Bro. J. R. Rawlins of Natchez, Miss., is +the Grand Master of. + +The Most Worshipful Hiram Grand Lodge of A. F. A. Masons of the State of +Pennsylvania that Bro. C. R. France is the Grand Master of, has been +instituted in a regular and lawful manner and is recognized by this +Grand Lodge. + +The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Florida that Bro. E. E. +Franklin is the Grand Master of was regularly instituted and is +recognized by us. + +We find the formation of the spurious Grand Lodge of Texas that J. W. +McKinney is the Grand Master of and W. M. McDonald is the Grand +Secretary of, was established in the most extraordinary irregular and +unlawful manner and is with the establishing of the bogus Prince Hall +Grand Lodge of Massachusetts which was only organized with one Lodge. + +The so-called Grand Lodge in the State of Texas which is said to have +been instituted by K. R. Rogers of Austin, Texas, and is known as the +Hiram Tyram Grand Lodge is beyond all question or doubt the most +Clandestine and irregular Masonic Grand Lodge that has ever appeared +upon the Masonic stage of action. It is a Grand Lodge only on paper and +was instituted not in compliance with any of the landmarks or laws of +Freemasonry and is therefore counterfeit and Bogus and is not recognized +by this Grand Lodge. + +This Grand Lodge has carefully examined into the origin of the Compact +Grand Lodge of Masons in the State of Illinois that H. E. Burris, of +Rock Island is the Grand Master, and the notorious R. E. Moore is the +Grand Secretary of, and we find it was instituted with only two +warranted Lodges and a Lodge under dispensation and from the records of +the Grand Lodge of Ohio one of the warranted Lodges that took part in +the convention was at that time not in good standing with the Grand +Lodge of Ohio. See records of the Grand Lodge of Ohio of 1865 and 1866. + +Prince Hall of Massachusetts, a founder of a Spurious and Illegitimate +Masonry, among the Colored Masons in the United States, died at Boston, +Mass., in the year of 1807. + + +COLORED GRAND LODGE OF ALABAMA. + +The Colored Masonic Grand Lodge of the State of Alabama which is named +the German Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Alabama in +the year of 1906 at the annual session held at Montgomery, Ala., Bro. +J. H. McGehee, 33, Grand Master, and Bro. G. W. Hill, 32, Grand +Secretary, the Grand Lodge made the following decisions: + +That the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was organized with +only one Lodge which makes the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts +unlawful clandestine and irregular Grand Lodge. + +It requires not less than three warranted Lodges to assemble in a +Masonic convention and organize a regular Grand Lodge for a State. + +All Masons who are members of Compact Lodges are Bogus, Irregular and +Clandestine, and must not be recognized as Masons anywhere. + +No compact Mason can be admitted in any subordinate Lodge in this State. + + +COLORED MASONIC LODGES OF COLORADO. + +No Supreme Council of Ancient, Accepted Scottish Rite Masons possess any +right or power or authority to confer the degrees of entered apprentice +fellow-craft and Master Masons degree. + +If a commandery of Knights Templars should confer the entered apprentice +fellow-craft and Master Mason's degree it is spurious and unlawful +Masonic work. + + +DECISIONS OF WHITE MASONIC GRAND LODGES. GRAND LODGE OF ARKANSAS. + +The White Masonic Grand Lodge of the State of Arkansas at the annual +session held in 1838 and 1838 rendered the following decision: + +This Grand Lodge will not recognize a Grand Lodge unless it has been +regularly organized by not less than three warranted Lodges. + +GRAND LODGE OF CONNECTICUT. + +The White Grand Lodge of Connecticut was organized July 8th, 1789, the +following is some of the decisions that the Grand Lodge of Connecticut +has rendered: + +One Grand Lodge cannot issue a charter to organize another Grand Lodge. + +The power and the authority to organize a Grand Lodge resides in the +three warranted Lodges that meet in a Masonic convention for that +purpose. + +A regular Grand Lodge of Masons of a state is vested with power and +authority to go in another state and there organize subordinate Lodges +if the Grand Lodge in that state which has been already organized was +organized In an unlawful and irregular manner. + +When a Grand Lodge of a state has been organized in an unlawful Masonic +way and manner it is then considered as no Grand Lodge at all and +another lawful and regular Grand Lodge has the authority and power to +invade such territories and there organize regular subordinate Lodges. + +The White Masonic Grand Lodge of Alabama in the year of 1821 rendered +the following decisions at the session held at Montgomery, Alabama, +Thomas W. Farrar was Grand Master and Thomas A. Rogers was Grand +Secretary. + +A Grand Lodge of a State cannot be regularly organized unless there is +not less than three regularly warranted Lodges. + + +WHITE MASONIC GRAND LODGE OF DELAWARE. + +The Masonic Lodge of the State of Delaware since it was organized on +June the 6th, 1806, has rendered some very important decisions which has +been a guide for many of the Grand Lodges that have been organized since +that time. + +The African Grand Lodge of Colored Masons in the State of Massachusetts +cannot be recognized not because they are Colored Masons but for the +reason that they were unlawfully instituted. They organized a Grand +Lodge with only one Lodge when they should have had not less than +three. + +A regular Grand Lodge must be organized with not less than three +warranted Lodges. + + +THE LIGHT TURNED ON, ON BOGUS MASONRY IN TEXAS. + +The record shows the first Lodges In Texas were organized by Capt. W. D. +Matthews, Grand Master of the King Solomon Compact Grand Lodge of +Kansas, on April 10, 1873, by organizing Mt. Bonnell Lodge No. 1, +Austin, No. 2, San Antonio and No. 3 Houston, No. 4 at Galveston. On the +19th of August, 1875, these four lodges met at Brenham, Texas, and +organized a Compact Grand Lodge with N. W. Cuney as the Grand Master, +and J. J. Hamilton as Grand Secretary. + +Some years after, about 1885, (the record is not clear,) C. C. Dean +succeeded N. W. Cuney as Grand Master. Rev. A. Grant, W. D. G. M., and +in the year 1886 C. C. Dean, G. M. + +Rev. A. Grant, W. D. G. M., called a special session of the Grand Lodge +and at that session declared and adopted the act of Secession from the +National Compact Grand Lodge, elected delegates to go to Houston, Texas, +as special commissioners to meet the Worshipful Grand Lodge of White +Masons for the purpose of being healed and chartered. + +Now, according to the record found in Sayles' Masonic Jurisprudence, on +the History of Negro Masonry in Texas, emphatically states that these +Negro delegates did appear and did present to the White Grand Lodge a +petition to be healed and chartered. + +Sayles does not give the names of the petitioners. The petition sets +forth that there were 650 members at that time, to be healed. + +The record shows that the White Grand Lodge appointed a committee to +investigate the petition, and the record further shows that the +committee made the following report: + +COMMITTEE REPORT ON NEGRO MASONRY IN TEXAS. + +"We your committee find that these 650 so-called Negro Masons are not +Masons, and have no business with us nor about us, neither of us. If +Ephriam is joined to his Idols let him alone." + +Now the record further shows that this Grand Lodge has sent delegates to +the General Masonic Congress on several occasions, and these delegates +were rejected. The first was in Sept. 4th and 5th, 1887, at Chicago. Mr. +Gillett of Kansas, offered the following resolution and it was +unanimously adopted: + +"Whereas, The facts are before this convention that the Grand Lodge of +Texas, Colored, under C. C. Dean as Grand Master, was organized by +subordinate lodges instituted in the State of Texas by W. D. Matthews, +Grand Master of the Compact Grand Lodge of Kansas. + +"Be it Resolved by this convention that the said Grand Lodge of Texas, +above mentioned, is hereby now declared by this convention to be an +unlawful and irregular Grand Lodge, and that this National Masonic +convention will now refuse and neither recognize or admit their +delegates in this convention." + +And similar resolutions were adopted at the General Masonic Congress +that was held in Pittsburgh, Pa., July, 1904. + + +HOW THE MOST WORSHIPFUL KING SOLOMON GRAND LODGE, A. F. & A. M. WAS +ORGANIZED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. + +The origination of the M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge, A. F. & A. Masons +which was organized March 19, A. D., 1908, and incorporated under the +laws of the State of Texas, March 27, A. D., 1908, of the following +Lodges, viz: + +Mount Nebo Lodge No. 14, Galveston, Tex., Brackenridge Lodge No. 21, +Excelsior Lodge No. 25, San Antonio, Golden Jewel Lodge No. 23, Taylor; +Eureka Lodge No. 12, Hempstead. + +These (5) five Lodges held their warrant of constitution from the M. W. +St. John Grand Lodge, A. F. & A. M. of the State of Illinois of which +the Hon. John G. Jones, 33rd degree, is Grand Master, and the M. W. St. +John Grand Lodge, A. F. & A. M. held her warrant of constitution from +the M. W. Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M., of Washington, District of +Columbia, of which Hon. H. C. Scott, 33rd degree is Grand Master. This +warrant was granted to Hon. H. C. Scott, 33rd degree Grand Master in the +year 1895. He was the first and only Colored Mason in the United States +of America to ever receive a lawful and regular warrant from any White +Grand Lodge of Masons of foreign jurisdiction, and he is now healing and +setting Masonically right the Colored Masons in the United States of +America. + +According to Masonic law the only lawful and regular Grand Lodge of +Colored Masons in the State of Texas is the Most Worshipful King Solomon +Grand Lodge, A. F. & A. M., which was organized at San Antonio, Texas, +on 19th day of March, A. D., 1908 and lawfully incorporated under the +laws of the State of Texas on the 27th day of March, A. D., 1908, and it +is the only Colored Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. in the State of Texas that +is recognized by foreign White Masonic jurisdiction of which C. L. +Mitchell, 33rd degree is Grand Master. + + In Reference to the Circular Matter Relative to One John A. Bell + of Grand Rapids, Mich., Claiming to Hold a Warrant of Authority + From the Grand Lodge of Liberia, I Beg Leave to Submit a Copy. + The Original is Now in Possession of the Ill. Capt. W. T. Grant, + M. W. Grandmaster of the M. W. St. Andrews Grand Lodge A. F. & + A. M. of the State of Louisiana, and President of the + International Bureau of Masonic Information of the World. Office + 331 Corondelet St., New Orleans, La. + + Masonic Hall, + Monrovia, Liberia + Oct. 18, 1908. + + Bro. W. T. Grant, + + Grand Master of the M. W. St. Andrew Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. + State of Louisiana. + + Most Worshipful Brother: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of + your favor of the 29th of August, inquiring if this Grand Lodge + or the Grand Master has a Deputy in the person of John A. Bell + at Grand Rapids, Michigan, and if any authority has been given + him to open a lodge in America. + + In reply, I have to say that this Grand Lodge has no Deputy in + the person of John A. Bell, nor has any warrant been given him + authorising him to open any lodge in America or to do anything + else. If he is doing anything Masonically whatsoever, he does it + without the knowledge, consent and authority of this Grand + Lodge. + + I beg to remain, + Fraternally yours, + A. B. STUBBLEFIELD, + Grand Master of Masons in the Republic of Liberia. + + +CERTIFICATE OF HEALING AND LEGALIZING MASONS AND LODGES IN THE STATE OF +TEXAS MARCH 19th, 1908. + + Chicago, Ill., April 25, 1908. + +To All Whom This May Concern, Greeting: + +Whereas, in the course of Masonic events it becomes necessary for one +regular and legitimate Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons to heal and +Masonically legalize Master Masons and Lodges and a Grand Lodge when the +Masonic degrees have been conferred and Masonic work in subordinate +Lodges has been irregularly and un-Masonically accomplished. + +Whereas, there was a certain number of Masons viz: Chas. L. Mitchell, W. +L. Dorn, J. F. VanDuzor and their associates in the City of San Antonio, +Texas, and Phillip H. Matthews, Simon Smith of Galveston, Texas; Frank +H. Hicks, John Lowery of Taylor, Texas, James F. Harris, Nelson W. Day +of Hempstead, Texas, and several other brethren residing in the various +parts of the State of Texas, having received the degrees of Freemasonry +in an unlawful and irregular and illegitimate manner and, + +Whereas, application having been made by the above named brethren and +their associates in the State of Texas and the Masonic Lodges which the +above named brethren were members of in the State of Texas to the Most +Worshipful St. John's Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of +Illinois and Masonic jurisdiction to be regularly healed and Masonically +legalized as Master Mason and members of the various warranted Masonic +Lodges in the State of Texas. + +Whereas, the petition of the above named brethren in the State of Texas +having been duly presented and considered in open session of the Most +Worshipful St. John's Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of +Illinois in special session held in the city of Chicago, Ill., on the +12th of February, 1908, and the prayer of the above named petitioners +was then and there duly considered and unanimously granted. + +Whereas, the Most Worshipful St. John's Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons +of the State of Illinois and Masonic jurisdiction having in open session +duly instructed and empowered the Grand Master of the Most Worshipful +St. John's Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Illinois and +Masonic jurisdiction to repair to the State of Texas and there proceed +to heal and Masonically legalize the Lodges and the above named brethren +residing in the State of Texas and to assist them in the formation and +install the officers of the Most Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge of +A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Texas. + +Therefore, be it known that I John G. Jones, 33, of the City of Chicago +and State of Illinois and Grand Master of the Most Worshipful St. John's +Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Illinois and Masonic +jurisdiction did in the City of San Antonio, Texas, on the 19th of +March, 1908, did then and there under the instructions and authority of +the Most Worshipful St. John's Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the +State of Illinois did in said city of San Antonio, Texas, on the 19th of +March 1908, heal, re-obligate and Masonically legalize the above named +brethren who had conferred on them the entered apprentice, fellowcraft +and Master Masons degrees and did Masonically legalize the subordinate +Lodges in the State of Texas and did assist and was present in the +formation of the Most Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. +Mason of the State of Texas and did install Bro. Chas. L. Mitchell Most +Worshipful Grand Master, and the rest of the brethren as Grand Officers +of the Most Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge of Texas according to +the Masonic laws, rules and regulations of the craft. + +And I now do proclaim to the whole Masonic world that the Most +Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge of the State of Texas of A. F. & A. +Masons has been regularly constituted according to the laws and land +marks of Freemasonry. + +The Most Worshipful St. John's Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the +State of Illinois and jurisdiction further declare that the Most +Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of +Texas is the only regular and lawful Grand Lodge of Colored Masons in +the State of Texas. + + Yours Fraternally, + JOHN G. JONES, Grand Master. + + +[Illustration] + +MOST WORSHIPFUL KING SOLOMON GRAND LODGE, ANCIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED +MASONS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND JURISDICTION ORGANIZED ON THE 19th DAY +OF MARCH 1908 AT SAN ANTONIO. + +A Masonic Convention of several warranted Lodges of Ancient, Free and +Accepted Masons of the State of Texas, assembled in Masonic Convention +in the city of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, on the 19th day of +March 1908, and lawfully organized Most Worshipful King Solomon Grand +Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Texas and +Masonic jurisdiction, and the grand officers were elected and installed. + +The Grand Officers were installed by Bro. John G. Jones, Grand Master of +the Most Worshipful St. Johns Grand Lodge of A. F. and A. M. of the +State of Illinois. + +Addresses were made by several of the brethren and after the transaction +of considerable business, charges were preferred against Bro. K. R. +Rogers of Austin, Texas, and he was expelled for un-Masonic conduct, +from rights and privileges of Free Masonry. + + +[Illustration] + +KEYSTONE GRAND CHAPTER OF ROYAL ARCH MASONS FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS AND +JURISDICTION, ORGANIZED MARCH 20th, 1908, AT SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. + +A Masonic convention of seven Chapters of Royal Arch Masons met in +convention and organized a Keystone Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons +for the State of Texas, and the Grand Officers were elected and +installed. The Grand officers were installed by Companion John G. Jones. +33rd degree of Chicago, Ill., Most Excellent Grand High Priest of the +Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons for the State of Illinois. + +Companion K. R. Rogers, 33rd degree of Austin, Texas, was expelled for +un-Masonic conduct from all the rights and privileges of Royal +Arch-Masonry. + + +[Illustration] + +MOUNT CALVARY GRAND COMMANDERY, KNIGHT TEMPLARS FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS +AND MASONIC JURISDICTION, ORGANIZED ON THE 20th DAY OF MARCH, 1908, AT +SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. + +A convention of Knight Templars, and representatives from seven (7) +warranted Commanderies of Knight Templars in the State of Texas met in +convention on March 20th, 1908, at San Antonio, and organized the Mount +Calvary Grand Commandery of Knight Templars for the State of Texas. The +Grand Officers were elected and Installed by Most Eminent Sir John G. +Jones, 33rd degree Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knight +Templars of the United States and Canada. + +Sir K. R. Rogers, of Austin, Texas, was expelled for unbecoming Masonic +conduct, from Knighthood throughout the world. All Sir Knights and all +Commanderies of Knight Templars are hereby notified of the same. + + +[Illustration] + +ORIENTAL GRAND TEMPLE MYSTIC SHRINE, ORGANIZED MARCH 20, 1908 + +A convention of Mystic Shrine and representatives from several Temples +met in convention on March 20, 1908, and organized the Oriental Grand +Temple. Grand officers were elected and installed by Noble John G. +Jones, 33rd degree Imperial Grand Potentate of the Imperial Grand +Council of North and South America. Noble K. R. Rogers, 33rd degree was +tried, found guilty and expelled for un-Masonic conduct from all the +rights and privileges of the Mystic Shrine. + + +ST. JOHN'S GRAND CONSISTORY, A. A. S. R. ORGANIZED MARCH 21, 1908. + +A convention of S. P. R. S., 32nd degree and representatives met in +convention and organized St. John's Grand Consistory on March 21, 1908. +Grand officers were duly installed by Ill. John G. Jones, 33rd M. P. +Sov. Grand commander of the United Supreme Council, A. A. S. R., U. S. +A. + +Ill. K. R. Rogers was expelled for gross un-Masonic conduct for life. + +At the annual session of 1905, John A. Bell, 33, of Grand Rapids, Mich., +Wm. Gray, 33, H. W. Knight, 33, of Chicago, Ill., Daniel Brown, 33, of +Rosebud, Ala., and at a special session held at San Antonio, Texas, +March 20th, 1908, K. R. Rogers, 33, of Austin, Texas, was expelled for +un-Masonic conduct from all the rights and privileges of the A. A. S. +Rite throughout the world. + +Copy of original letter from John G. Jones, to K. R. Rogers. + + Chicago, Ill., March 25th, 1908. + +[Illustration] + + Mr. K. R. Rogers, 33, + Austin, Texas. + +You are hereby notified that at a special session of the United Supreme +Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons of the 33rd degree +held at San Antonio, Texas, on the 20th of March, 1908, that charges for +un-Masonic conduct were preferred against you, and after the charges had +been thoroughly investigated you was found guilty of un-Masonic conduct, +and was expelled for un-Masonic conduct from the United Supreme Council +of the 33rd degree. And from all the rights and privileges of Scottish +Rite Freemasonry throughout the world and the craft is hereby notified +of the same. + +No further correspondence with you will be necessary or required. + + Yours Fraternally, + JOHN G. JONES, 33, + Sov. Grand Commander. + + +EXCERPTS FROM THE MASONIC GUIDE. + +Official Organ of the Supreme Grand Council of the Ancient Accepted +Scottish Rite Masons of the Southern and Western Jurisdiction of the +United States of America. + +Montgomery, Ala., April 11, 1908--King Solomon Grand Lodge of the Lone +Star State (Texas) has been legally organized, 19th day of March, 1908, +at San Antonio, Texas. Ill. C. L. Mitchell, 33, Grand Master, 310 +Monterey Street, San Antonio; Ill. J. F. VanDuzor, Grand Secretary; K. +R. Rogers, 33d, of Austin, was expelled. Mount Calvary Grand Commandery +Knights Templars and Keystone Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, were +organized by Ill. John G. Jones, 33d, G. G. C. of Chicago. All of this +grand work was done on March 19th and 20th, 1908. Ill. John G. Jones is +destined to capture the United States. Ill. C. L. Mitchell, 33d, will +lead Texas against all opposition and perfidy. Hurrah for the Texas +invincible. The German Grand Lodge of Alabama, A. F. and A. Masons, +extend them the right hand of fellowship. We will gladly accept a +fraternal representative from that jurisdiction, as this is the only +Legal Grand Masonic Lodge organized in Texas. + +Montgomery, Ala., June 20, 1908--The Grand Lodge over which Mr. J. W. +McKinney, of Texas, presides is spurious and bogus, and belongs to the +original Prince Hall Clandestine National Compact Grand Lodge of Masons +of Boston, Mass. He has no Masonic authority in the world for operating +Masonry in the State of Texas. Ill. C. L. Mitchell, 33d, is the only +legal Grand Master of A. F. & A. M. in Texas, and all intelligent +gentlemen like Dr. Sparks, of Terrell, Tex., and others will allow Ill. +Mitchell, of San Antonio, Texas, to heal and Masonically set them right. + + +EXTRACT FROM THE HISTORY OF BOGUS MASONRY AMONG COLORED MEN IN MISSOURI. + +By Capt. W. T. Grant, thirty-third degree Grand Master, St. Andrews +Grand Lodge, A. F. & A. M. of the State of Louisiana, and President of +the International Bureau of Masonic Information of the World, viz.: + +Seventh Question--Are you acquainted with Brother Chas. L. Mitchell, 33 +degree Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas? + +Seventh Answer--Yes. I am well acquainted with him. Bro. Chas. L. +Mitchell is a Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas and is a +prominent and distinguished Mason, and a very reliable and honest man. +He is a man and Mason that stands high in the estimation of the people +all over the country. He has the power and authority to organize Masonic +Lodges in the State of Missouri, and all Masonic work done by him is +regular and genuine, for there is not now a lawful and genuine Masonic +Lodge, nor Grand Lodge in the State of Missouri, except the Lodges that +Bro. Chas. L. Mitchell, 33d degree has organized. + + +STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF BEXAR. + +Personally came before me Chas. L. Mitchell, who being by me duly sworn, +declares that he is the Grand Master of M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge +of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Texas, and Masonic jurisdiction and +acting under the instruction and authority of the M. W. King Solomon +Grand Lodge of the State of Texas, and Masonic Jurisdiction; that +affiant went to the State of Missouri and was in the city of St. Louis, +Mo., on July 4, A. D., 1908, and affiant did in the city of St. Louis, +Mo., on July 4, A. D., 1908, regularly obligate and Masonically set +right according to the ancient custom, rules and regulation of the +craft. Bro. J. J. Edwards, Henry J. Harbert, Sterling Grey, A. W. +Prentiss, A. B. Shriver, E. J. Wade and others residing in the city of +St. Louis, Mo., under the power and authority of the M. W. King Solomon +Grand Lodge A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Texas and Masonic +Jurisdiction. + +Officers of C. L. Mitchell Lodge No. 1, A. F. & A. Masons: J. J. Edwards +W. M.; Henry J. Harbert, S. W.; B. Henderson, J. W.: S. Reed, W. T.; H. +Newcomb, W. S.; Frank Dorsey, S. D.; E. J. Wade, J. D.: H. W. Prentess, +S. S.; Milton Henderson, J. S.; A. B. Shriver, Chaplain; Sterling Grey, +Tyler. + +Affiant further says that the C. L. Mitchell Lodge No. 1 of St. Louis, +Mo., has been regularly organized in the City of St. Louis, Mo., on the +fourth day of July, A. D., 1908, according to the Ancient custom and +landmark of the Order, and it is recognized by us to be the only lawful +and genuine Lodge of Colored Masons in the State of Missouri. + + C. L. MITCHELL. 33rd Degree G. M., + M. W. KING, Solomon Grand Lodge. A. F. & A. M. of Texas. + + Sworn to before me this 16th day of December, A. D., 1908. + (Seal). + L. W. GREENLY, + Notary Public, Bexar County, Texas. + + +LEGALIZING MASONS IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS AUGUST 7, 8, 9 AND 10, 1908. + +To All Whom This May Concern, Greeting: + +Whereas, in the course of Masonic events it becomes necessary for one +regular and legitimate Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons to heal and +Masonically legalize Master Masons and Lodges and a Grand Lodge. + +Whereas, There was certain numbers of Masons, viz: R. Amos, Isaac +Butler, M. F. Leon, H. C. Leon and their associates of the City of +Montrose, Ark., J. C. Parker, R. B. Morehead, B. G. Head, A. W. Spears, +R. B. Hockenhull and others of Pine Bluff, Ark., C. W. Ross, J. L. Brown +and others of Readland, Ark., C. J. Jefferson, K. P. Ross. A. McDonald +and others of Sun Shine, Ark., and several others in the State of +Arkansas, C. W. Ross, E. E. Perryman, J. L. Brown and others of Eudora, +Ark. + +Whereas application having been made by the above named brethren and +their associates in the State of Arkansas, and the Masonic Lodges of +which the above named brethren were members of in the State of Arkansas. +The M. W. King Solomon, Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of +Texas and Masonic jurisdiction to be Masonically legalized as Master +Masons and members of various warranted Masonic Lodges in the State of +Arkansas. + +Whereas, The M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Ma-kansas +having been duly presented and considered in open session of the M. W. +King Solomon Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Texas in +special session held in the City of San Antonio, Texas, on the 4th day +of August, A. D., 1908, and the prayer of the above named petitioners +was then and there duly considered and unanimously granted. + +Whereas, The M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. Masons of +the State of Texas and Masonic jurisdiction having in open session duly +instructed and empowered the Grand Master of the M. W. King Solomon +Grand Lodge of the A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Texas and Masonic +jurisdiction to repair to the State of Arkansas and there proceed to +Masonically legalize the Lodges and the above named brethren residing in +the State of Arkansas, and to assist them in the formation and install +the officers of the M. W. Hiram Grand Lodge, A. F. & A. Masons of the +State of Arkansas. + +Therefore, be it known that I. C. L. Mitchell, 33rd degree of the City +of San Antonio, State of Texas, and Grand Master of the M. W. King +Solomon Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Texas and +Masonic jurisdiction did in the City of Montrose, Ark., on the 7th day +of August, A. D., 1908, did then and there under the instruction and +authority of the M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge A. F. & A. Masons of the +State of Texas did in said City of Montrose, Ark., on the 7th day of +Aug. A. D., 1908, obligate and Masonically legalize the above named +brethren and did Masonically legalize the subordinate Lodges in the +State of Arkansas, and did assist and was present in the formation of +the M. W. Hiram Grand Lodge of the A. F. & A. Masons of the State of +Arkansas and did install Brothers Ralph Amos, M. W., Grand Master and +J. C. Parker, Grand Secretary and the rest of the brethren as grand +officers of the M. W. Hiram Grand Lodge of Arkansas according to the +Masonic laws, rules and regulations of the craft. + +And, I, now do proclaim to the whole Masonic world that the M. W. Hiram +Grand Lodge of the State of Arkansas of the A. F. & A. Masons has been +regularly constituted according to laws, landmarks of Freemasonry. The +M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of +Texas and Masonic jurisdiction further declare that the M. W. Hiram +Grand Lodge of the A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Arkansas is the +only regular and lawful Grand Lodge of Colored Masons in the State of +Arkansas. + + Fraternally Yours, + C. L. MITCHELL 33rd Degree. + Grand Master M. W. K. S. G. L., A. F. &. A. Masons of + Texas and Masonic Jurisdiction. + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + +Changes have been made to the original publication as follows: + + Preface: + realized by my brethern _changed to_ + realized by my brethren + + styled--Illigitimate Prince Hall Grand Lodge _changed to_ + styled--Illegitimate Prince Hall Grand Lodge + + of the United States, its' _changed to_ + of the United States, its + + Page 1: + neccessary to state the time and place that _changed to_ + necessary to state the time and place that + + that it occurrd _changed to_ + that it occurred + + Page 2: + and these wiley fellows and _changed to_ + and these wily fellows and + + in the state of Mass _changed to_ + in the state of Mass. + + African Grand Lodge of Modern Mason of Mass. _changed to_ + African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Mass. + + Page 3: + and genuine mason he it a _changed to_ + and genuine mason he is a + + land and in every coutry, _changed to_ + land and in every country, + + Page 4: + letter "Y" originated, Prince Edwin _changed to_ + letter "Y" originated. Prince Edwin + + the Grand Lodge that was orgrnized at York _changed to_ + the Grand Lodge that was organized at York + + Prince Edwin, the brother of King Athlestan of _changed to_ + Prince Edwin, the brother of King Athelstan of England + + an eniment and distinguished Mason and King _changed to_ + an eminent and distinguished Mason and King + + Athlestan was the grandson of King Alfred the _changed to_ + Athelstan was the grandson of King Alfred the first + + annointed King of England who translated the _changed to_ + anointed King of England who translated the + + Page 6: + valuminous articles _changed to_ + voluminous articles + + has on several occassion _changed to_ + has on several occasions + + refer to Genaral Gages Military Regiment being _changed to_ + refer to General Gages Military Regiment being + + And upon futher investigation of this matter _changed to_ + And upon further investigation of this matter + + General Gages Millitary Regiment which Prince Hall _changed to_ + General Gages Military Regiment which Prince Hall + + of the Grand Lodge of New York on Oct, 25th 1848 _changed to_ + of the Grand Lodge of New York on Oct. 25th 1848 + + Page 7: + documentry evidence that has ever + documentary evidence that has ever + + Page 8: + to you and the brethern in your country as to a _changed to_ + to you and the brethren in your country as to a + + Page 10: + are admitted in any of the Masonic bodys _changed to_ + are admitted in any of the Masonic bodies + + Grand Lodges in This County and _changed to_ + Grand Lodges in This Country and + + Page 11: + irregular and clandestine and predicted _changed to_ + irregular and clandestine and predicated + + nothing but breed dissention _changed to_ + nothing but breed dissension + + Page 12: + and the second irrigeular _changed to_ + and the second irregular + + Page 15: + Spingfield, Ill., Jos. H. Banks of Providence _changed to_ + Springfield, Ill., Jos. H. Banks of Providence + + Page 16: + STATS WAS HELD AT OMAHA, NEB., MAY THE 10th _changed to_ + STATES WAS HELD AT OMAHA, NEB., MAY THE 10th + + Pennsylvaniia. The case came up before _changed to_ + Pennsylvanyia. The case came up before + + Page 17: + Alfred the first annointed King of England who _changed to_ + Alfred the first anointed King of England who + + Page 18: + after Mount Bonnel Lodge was _changed to_ + after Mount Bonnell Lodge was + + that was Mounte Bonnell Lodge at Austin _changed to_ + that was Mount Bonnell Lodge at Austin + + Cuny was elected Grand Master and J. J. Hamilton was _changed to_ + Cuney was elected Grand Master and J. J. Hamilton was + + of since its was instituted in an _changed to_ + of since it was instituted in an + + Page 20 + 24th day of June Amo _changed to_ + 24th day of June Anno + + North America, this 24th day of June Amo _changed to_ + North America, this 24th day of June Anno + + Page 21 + bigus, counterfeit grand body, and _changed to_ + bogus, counterfeit grand body, and + + Grand Master and Grand Wardens, and brethern + Grand Master and Grand Wardens, and brethren + + Page 22 + brethern and their successors to have and _changed to_ + brethren and their successors to have and + + brethern and their successors in office to _changed to_ + brethren and their successors in office to + + brethern and their successors to have _changed to_ + brethren and their successors to have + + brethern to attend the Most Worshipful _changed to_ + brethren to attend the Most Worshipful + + the officers and brethern of said Grand _changed to_ + the officers and brethren of said Grand + + Page 23 + CHICAGO, SEPT, 4th, 1877. _changed to_ + CHICAGO, SEPT., 4th, 1877. + + Page 24 + by this grand Lodge. _changed to_ + by this Grand Lodge. + + Page 25 + Accepted Scottinsh Rite _changed to_ + Accepted Scottish Rite + + degree it is suprious and _changed to_ + degree it is spurious and + + Page 26 + by organizing Mt. Bonnel Lodge _changed to_ + by organizing Bonnell Lodge + + with N. W. Cuny as the _changed to_ + with N. W. Cuney as the + + succeeded N. W. Cuny as Grand _changed to_ + succeeded N. W. Cuney as Grand + + that was held in Pittsburg, Pa. _changed to_ + that was held in Pittsburgh, Pa. + + Bro. W. T. Grant,, _changed to_ + Bro. W. T. Grant, + + Page 27 + regular and legitmate Grand Lodge of _changed to_ + regular and legitimate Grand Lodge of + + Chas. L. W. L. Dorn, J. F. VanDuzor _changed to_ + Chas. L., W. L. Dorn, J. F. VanDuzor + + Page 28 + charges were prefrred against _changed to_ + charges were preferred against + + Page 29 + MOUNT CALVARY GRAND COMMANDRY, KNIGHT _changed to_ + MOUNT CALVARY GRAND COMMANDERY, KNIGHT + + warranted Commandrys of Knight Templars in _changed to_ + warranted Commanderies of Knight Templars in the + + organized the Mount Calvary Grand Commandry _changed to_ + organized the Mount Calvary Grand Commandery of Knight + + Commandreys of Knight Templars are hereby _changed to_ + Commanderies of Knight Templars are hereby + + Page 31 + street San Antonio; _changed to_ + Street, San Antonio; + + Page 33 + regulations of the craft, _changed to_ + regulations of the craft. + + Page 32 The text has been transcribed as in the original + publication but words appear to be missing between + "Ma-" and "kansas" which is split at the end of a + line in the original + + + + + +End of 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 + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40234 *** |