THE NEW YORK AGE - APRIL 7, 1934 - MASONIC NOTES by Bertram L. Baker AN ANNOUNCEMENT - From time to time the editor of this column has b@en priveleged to publish articles from the pen of Brother Harry A Williamson, noted Masonic author. In fact, in a pinch, when the press of other matters has prevented me from scribblIng a line, I could always call on him to "fill in" my column for me. Among actors there is an unwritten law - "the play must go on." So it is with the columnist - "the column must go on." Aside from this strictly selflsh gratification on my part, Masons throughout the country have on numerous occasions expressed their deep interest in these articles, and have commented upon their value as a source of authentic information to which the student of Freemasonry may turn. In addition to his many contributions to periodicals both local and foreign, he is the author of the following books: " Negroes and Freemasonry"; "The Negro in Masonic Literature"; "The Prince Hall Primer"; "A History of Freemasonry Among the American Negro." He has been honored with membership in the following foreign Masonic Research Societies: -- Dorsett Masters' Lodge No. 3366, Poole, England; Lodge of Research, No. 2429, Leicester, England; Manchester Association for Masonic Research, Manchester, England; Masters and Past Masters Lodge No. 130, Christ Church, New Zealand. His Masonic activities in the United States include the following: Past Grand Lecturer; Past Grand Historian; Past Grand Secretary; Past Senior Grand Warden; Past Deputy Grand Master; former Chairman of Committee of Fraternal Correspondence and Foreign Relations; - all of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the State of New York. Honorary Past Deputy Grand Master of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of West Virginia; Grand Representative of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Connecticut. Charter Member of Carthaginian Lodge No. 47, Brooklyn, NY. Brother Williamson has now in the course of preparation a volume entitled: "A Chronological History of Prince Hall Masonry, 1784-1932". I have had the pleasure and privilege of looking through the original manuscript. The volume when published, I believe will be the most complete of its kind. Beginning with the State of Massachusetts, which has the distinction of rightfully claiming the first and oldest Grand Lodge of Negroeg on the North American Continent, the writer continues with complete and concise history of origin of the order in the several states of the Union. In the interest of the Craft and for the benefit of those - the average Mason,into whose hands the completed volumn may never reach,but who nevertheless reads his newspaper, I have prevailed upon Brother Williamson to permit an advance publication of this valuable work in the form of a series of installments through this column. The Grand Jurisdiction of each state will be dealt with separate and complete. It will be of interest to our out-of-town brethren to foilow this column for that section affecting their particular State. THE NEW YORK AGE - April 14, 1934 - Masonic Notes By Bertram L. Baker A CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF PRINCE HALL MASONRY 1784-1932 By Harry A Williamson PREFACE The preparation of this volume proved to be a greater effort than had been anticipated. Almost at the very beginning a great deal of difficulty was experienced in the endeavor to accurately separate the operations of the duel Grand Lodges that existed in a number of states between the years - 1847- -1882, particularly the State of Pennsylvania where there were three grand jurisdictions in operation at the same time. During the period mentioned, Freemasonry among the Negroes of the United States was divided into two groups, namely, those who held allegiance to the national grand Lodge of North America, generally known as National Compacts and those who belonged to the State's Rights or independent organizatians, while several states proved fertile field for the formation of mushroom Grand Lodges by men who became dissatisfied with procedure of the two larger groups. From this mass of confused material, the author has endeavored to make his volume as complete in detail and as accurate in data as is possible to do, particularly in view of the absence and loss of numerous records. What here follows has, in most instances, been obtained through tedious and careful examination of the old proceedings as were issued from time to time by the various Grand Lodges in both groups; those issued by the late National Grand Lodge of North America, and pamphlets published from time to time by individual brethren. The author is greatly indebted to brethren in several states who gener- Cont. on next page June 1991 - THE PHYLAXIS - Page 3 ously assisted with the preparation of the data pertaining to their respective grand jurisdictions and due acknowledgment will appear therein. Later research may bring to light slight errors relative to the origin of some of the early lodges in various states and ghould such be found, these are due primarily to the lack of interest manifested by the officials in those jurisdiction who either failed to properly respond ta the quastionaires forwarded them or ignored the subject entirely. In the examination of the old proceedings available, the author came across many items of interest, noting particularly the great variation in the methods of procedure found in same states. The oldest volume known to be in existence is that of the Hiram Grand Lodge of Delaware for the year 1855, while the next oldest is that of the National Grand Lodge for the Third Triennial Session held July 7, 1856, at Philadelphia, PA The oldest Masonic Code examined is the one adopted in 1848 by the United Grand Lodge of New York; this volume ia in the author's collection The book was printed in 1851, and is dedicated to "Our Worthy Brother, Robert Thomas Cruciflx, of the Grove Graves End, Kent, England." The reasons underlying this dedication would prove an interesting contribution to contemporary Masonic literature. The oldest minute book examined was that of New York beginning with the year 1855. The foregoing volumes, together with over one hundred old proceedings now in the author's collection and several hundred others which were borrowed from the libraries maintained by Caucasian Grand Lodges in several States, are the sources from which the greater portion of the material has been gathered. The author has endeavored to give the correct corporate title of each grand jurisdiction. Not a few of these now make use of the phrases "Prince Hall" or "Prince Hall Affiliation" as a part of their title. Attention is directed to the fact that several so-called Masonic bodies consisting of Negroes, style Page 4 - THE PHYLAXIS - June 1991 themselves as of "Prince Hall Origin." Such bodies are not recognized by our Jurisdictions and are considered by these as "Bogus" organizations. In view of this fact the reader will readily realize such a declaration is annexed to their title for the sole purpose of misleading the public into the belief that such organization is a "regular" descendant from African Lodge No. 459. Also, there are some who style themselves as of "National Compact Origin. " Bogus groups among American Negroes are very active elements in various sections throughout the United States and in the main, are of great pecuniary benefit to those within the inner circles, Most of these bodies style themselves "A.F.&A.M." This fact has influenced Freemasons who belong to "regular" Grand Lodgeg where a similar title is used, to become identified with the bogus group in such states where the "regular" Grand Lodge uses only "F. & A.M. ," when they either visit or affiliate with Lodges therein. Some of the bogus organizations put forth the claim that they work in the "Scottish Rite" in their efforts to impress the uninformed. In this volume many statistical errors that have been found in similar publications, have been corrected and there is presented for the first time interesting valuable data heretofore inaccessible to other writers. Much of this will have an important bearing upon the statug of many individual Lodges and the origin of some Grand Lodges. frequent use of the word "dispensated" has been made in connection with the date of the original formation of numerous Lodges. The reason for thig is, in many instances the date when the dispensation for a new Lodge was issued has been found while that of the warrant remains unknown, further, many Lodges never operated under a dispensation but procured a warrant immediately upon their formation. In numerous instances it will be noted that dates of both the dispensation and the warrant are given. THE NEW YORK AGE - April 21, 1934 - Masonic Notes by Bertram L. Baker A CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF PRINCE HALL MASONRY 1784 - 1932 By Harry A Williamson MASSACHUSETTS This is the flrst, consequently, the oldest Grand Lodge of Negroes upon the North American Continent. It was originally established June 24, 1791, under the title of the "African Grand Lodge of North America," the formation session held at the Golden Fleece, 20 Water Street, in the City of Boston. This Grand Lodge came into existence through the doctrine of "revolution and assumption" as explaned elsewhere (1). At an Assembly of the Craft held in 1808, the title of the society was changed to "Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F. & A.M. of Massachusetts," by which it is still known. The first Lodge of Freemasons established upon American soil, the membership of which consisted entirely of persons of African birth or decent, was known as "African Lodge #459," located at Boston, founded by the Mother Grand Lodge of the Masonic Craft throughout the world, the Grand Lodge of England, under the date of September 29, 1784. At the time of the erection of African Lodge there were two Grand Lodges in England whose headquarters were at London and the oldest of the two from which all Prince Hall Masons are descended, was generally designated as the "Moderns" in order to distinguish it from the later body known as the "Ancients." Because of the delay in the delivery of its warrant, African Lodge was not formally constituted until May 6, 1787, and some years later, when the Lodges then upon the English register were renumbered, the position of the Lodge was advanced to that of No. 370, and in 1813, when the two Grand Lodges mentioned above adjusted their differences and consolidated into one organization. African Lodge, along with a large number of others located in the American colonies and elsewhere, was erased from the register of the United Grand Lodge of England. This erasure, as discussed in the volume entitled "A Page 4 - THE PHYLAXIS - June 1991 History of Freemasonry Among the American Negroes," did not affect either the status of the Lodge as a body nor did it affect the status of its members in their capacity as "regular" Freemasons. The archives of this Grand Lodge contain numerous important and valuable documents pertaining to the early History of Freemasonry among the citizens of our group in the United States and according to a list published in the proceedings of the Jurisdiction for 1916, a few of these items are: 1. The original Warrant, No. 459, granted by the Grand Lodge of England. 2. A gavel supposed to have been used by Prince Hall. 3. A volume of sermons in manuscript dated about 1787. 4. An apron worn by Brother Prince Hall. 5. The Minutes of African Lodge 1797. 6. Minute book from December 28, 1797, to June 12, 1826. 7. Records from 1825 to 1846. 8. Copy of the famous "Declaration of Independence" of 1827. 9. Monitor of 1820. 10. Receipt book, 1826 to 1851. 11. Miscellaneous documents to 1833. 12. Ten sheepskin aprons of African Lodge. 13. An address delivered to the Philharmonic Grand Lodge of New York. 14. An address delivered to African Lodge in 1828. 15. A charge delivered to African Lodge by Prince Hall, at Charleston, June 25, 1792. The author of this volume was privileged to hold in his hand, the "Original Warrant, No. 459," referred to as item no. 1. in the above list. This event occurred during the centennial celebration held in connection with the change of title to "African" to Prince Hall Grand Lodge, at Boston, in 1908, when the Parker Memorial Building was dedicated for Masonic use. The Original Warrant was used upon this occasion and the author being one of a small group of Freemasons present, occupied the station of Acting Grand Treasurer. The foregoing fact together with the publication of the existence of the document some eight years later, is positive refutation of the charge made many years ago that the warrant had either been destroyed or returned to England. Two writers , William H. Upton and William H. Grimshaw, have both advanced the opinion that Prince Hall held the position of a Provincial Representative of the Grand Lodge of England. In his brochure (2), Brother Jolm M. Conna supports this opinion, for he states on pages 14-15, that Hall as "D.G. Master of the Grand Lodge of London, England," warranted the following Lodges: "St. John's, at Providence, RI, February 22, 1792, and "Hiram No. 2," at Philadelphia, PA, March 22, 1797. He further states that "St. John's" became defunct about the year 1827. The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was one of the organizations that assisted in the formation of the Nation Grand Lodge. Brother Conna says this occurred June 28, 1847, and that its independence of the same was declared at a session of the Craft heldin Boston on December 18, 1873. The present Grand Lodge was incorporated under the laws of the state November 11, 1874, and it owns a Temple on Tremont Street in the City of Boston valued at about $100,000. A number of years ago, because of the influx and activity of a large element of bogus Masons, the Jurisdiction ceased designating its Lodge by number, so that they are now known by name only. This feature also applies to the Caucasian Jurisdiction in the state which dispensed with the numbering af Lodge when the rival bodies consolidated in 1792, a year after the formation of the "African Grand Lodge of North America." The following items pertaining to Massachusetts Freemasonry are to be found in the author's Masonic collection: (a) Constitution: Prince @all Grand Lodge, F. @. A.M. of Massachusetts Revised, June 21, 1866. Printed by Edward S. Coombs & Co. Boston, 1866, 56 pp. (b) Proeeedings, One Hundredth Anniversary of Granting of Warrant to African Lodge No. 459, Bost@n, 1874. (c) Photo facsimile af the African Lodge warrant. (d) Two of the centennial medals struck in 1908. REFERENCES (1) Harry A Williamson's History of Freemasonry among the Negroes. (2) John M. Conna's Historical Foot Print of Modern Freemasonry Among the Colored Men in the United States and Canada. TO BE CONTINUED June 1991 - THE PHYLAXIS - Page 5 (Note: this series will be continued in several parts.)