The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Early Introduction of Bogus Freemasonry in the United States of America and Texas Among Colored Masons, by Chas. L. Mitchell

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

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.

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

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

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[2] 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[3] 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 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 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 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,[4] 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 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.

[5] 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.

[6] 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.

[7] 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[8] 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.

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[9] 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.

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.

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,[10] 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.

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.

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.

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.

[11] 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.

[12] 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[13] 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.

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.

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.

[14] 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.

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.

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[15] 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.

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[16] 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.

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 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[17] 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 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.

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[18] 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 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.

[19] 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.

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[20] 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.

[21] 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.

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[22] 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.

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.

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[23] standing in our Grand Lodge. So you will notice that the Grand Lodge of Texas only had one warranted Lodge when it was established.

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,

E. A. WILLIAMS, of Nebraska,
H. D. VENA, of Michigan,
J. H. BANKS, of Rhode Island,

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.

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[24] 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.[25] 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.

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:

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.

[26] 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; [27] 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.

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.

CERTIFICATE OF HEALING AND LEGALIZING MASONS AND LODGES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS MARCH 19th, 1908.

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., 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[28] 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.

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.

[29] 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.

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.

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[30] 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.

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.

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.

EXCERPTS FROM THE MASONIC GUIDE.

Official Organ of the Supreme Grand Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish[31] 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.

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.

[32] 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.

LEGALIZING MASONS IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS AUGUST 7, 8, 9 AND 10, 1908.

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,[33] 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.

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,

Paragraph break added before 6th Answer

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 changed to
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
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
Pennsylvania. 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 Bonnell1 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 Mt. 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

THE EARLY INTRODUCTION OF BOGUS FREEMASONRY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TEXAS AMONG COLORED MASONS