The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1859-12-22
For the palladium

For the Palladium.
The following letter was addressed to Mr..
Ron. MoRRIs, Esq, editor of the ''Voiee OF
Masonry" tSc.. published at Louisville. KY.
in answer to an article published in the Oct.
No. in which my name was used, and in
which an attempt was also made to establish
as fact the iliegality of the colored Nasons
of the United States.
+ Mr.. MoRRrs having utterly refused to pub.
lish this reply. we have determined to give
both sides of the subject to the Masonic
world. j. G.. BRIrroS.
RICHMOND. Ind, Oct. Goth, 80
Ma. ROB. MoRaIs:-As you have taken
the liberty to my mama in al article in
your paper, headed african Masonry" L
J hops you will do me the justice to publish
the following reply:
( First, the d Jcument presented to you at
indianapolis was erroneous IN many respects,
though not discovered by myself Al the time
it was presented. This document was copied
off by man whose chief object was specu-
lation and sold without the sanction of any
OF the Lod yes, as we have since learned
1t is "A fact. however, that the G.. Lodge of
England did grant warrant to certain col
ored Brethren IN Boston to form .'Provin-
clal Grand Lodge" giving the poicer far
e dnttRg dtspensattons and lo1rr mt for tie
establishment of subordiaate Lodges through-
out North fmerica This warrant was gran
ted by the &. Lodge at London TO a certain
number of colored men, hich was to be
styled or named the first African Grand
Lodge of North America. and We worked
under it until 1847, when convention was
called aud a resolution passed to form Ma
tional G. Lodge for the convenience OF the
Graft which we had right to do. AS for
the original warrant bein. dead. it positively
is not so for our Brethren are received aad
acknowledged in England. and all parts of
the world except the United States. We
hold the original document until this day.
which is safely deposited il the archives of
the Nstiona! G. Lodge.
This warrant was granted rs in 1894, Civ
ing US Grand Lodge privileges, a ID was
known as a provincial G. Lodge under the
supreme power of the G. Lodge of f ngand.
We were compelled to resort to this in order
| to establish Lodge of colored Maso1s. for
the whites refused to grant US dispensation
or warrant after making many applications,
and ou- fathers who had been made in Great
Britain, were determined to have a Lodge,
and petitioned to London for a warrant and
got it.
In view of these facts, so far as illesality
is concerned, we have just good right to
denounce the whites as being clandestine as
they have US, for it is fact beyond success.
ful contradiction, that after the war between
this country aud Eng gland-their charter be-
ing lost or destroyed during the revolution
the whites called convention and declared
themselves an independen, body Why then
this great outcry of claudestine. clandestine?
Shaine shame!
and we rejoice to know that England and
| other parts Of the world are not all ths Uni
ed States; but that we are recognized as
| regular in all parts of the globe, except
the United States. We are acknowledged
by all good Masons withersoever dispersed
| around the globe, but We do not expect to
enjoy ''companionship" with our inve,erate
ioes, who utterly disregard the great and
everything principles Of human bro,he rhood
inculcated by our Order.
JOHN G. BRITToN.
MR. ROB MORRISON, Louisville, KY
P. S.--Let our enemies read tie following
facts, and then veil their faces:
In the year 1888, on application Of certain
brethren residing in Boston, a warrant v as
granted by the G. Lodge Of England for the
establishment of the first Lodge in n. Amer
| ica. appointing the Right Worshipfal HENRI
PRtScE, Master. Accordingly Lodge was
! organized q; Boston under the name of ST.
Johns Grand Lodge. There was also a. the
came time a Grand Lodge in Boston under
the designation OF the Massachusetts, Grand
/ Lodge. The warrant for the formation of
this Lodge was granted by the Grand Lodge
/ of Scotland. on the petition of certain breth-
! rem residing in Boston, s1d was named s.
Andrews Lodge, No. So. In the year 5769,
| by the commission of the g. Master of Ma
sons in Scotland. an ancient Grand Lodge
established In America. aud JOSEPH WARREN,
/ Esq appointed Grand Master From the year
/ 5769 to 5792, (23 years. the two Grand
| Lodges granted warrants Of constitution for
Lodges TO be holden in difieren, parts of the
/ United States, and in the year 5792. com
plete uaion took place between these two
i Grand Lodges, We; white Masons SO cslledl
dare to tell that according to ''snieersal
usage it Is impossible for two Grand Lodges
/ to legally exist in one or the same country.
I The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. togeth-
er with all the Lodges both color-t and white
established by authority OF the g. Lodge OF
England In North America. we're under the
direction of the provincial e. Master up to
. the wear 17o2. when the union was formed
and indie ependence declared. In Ike manner
the colored Masons met and formed IN iu1e-
pendent body. j. g. B.