Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-06-28
INTELLIGENCE.
Negro Lodges and Negro SIasOns

The following from the report of the
Committee on Foreign Correspondence
of the Grand Lodge of Maine, whose
chairman is the NJ. w and HI. Bro.
Josiah H. Drummond, Attorney Gene
raj of that State, on the subject of " Ne
gro Lodges and Masons, will, no doubt,
be read with interest and Improvements.
A great deal of misapprehension has
existed in regard to the subject, which
need no longer be INDUCED in, if an in
diligence in it be to retain error:
We had supposed that the Craft
were quite familiar with the fact that
there is a national organization of col
ored men in the nature of national
Grand Lodge, with Grand Lodges and
subordinates in many of the States.
But we find that there is a lack of in
formation upon this subject. For this
reason. and because these organizations
are rapidly increasing, and because their
relations, actual and possible, to Mason
ry have been warmly discussed, we pro-
pose to give the result of our investiga-
tions.
The military Lodges in the English
army, in the war of the revolution, be-
tween 1775 and 1892, initiated many
men of color into the mysteries of Ma
sorry. There were quite number in
Boston, but the Lodges there declined
to recognize them or admit others.
In 1882, Prince Hall and others went
to England, and were there made Ma
sons, and, in 1884, a warrant was
granted to them for a Lodge in Boston,
with the further authority to establish
new Lodges. This Lodge was enrolled
as No. 459 in the Grand registry of Eng
land.
But the granting of this charter was
an invasion of the jurisdiction Of the
Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. Itwas,
therefore, recalled, but copy of it was
kept by the Lodge, and though it was
no longer any authority for them, they
continued to work as a Lodge, many of
those made in the military Lodges hav-
ing Joined them
After time this Lodge in Boston re-
solved itself into Grand Lodge, and
issued dispensations and charters. Three
Lodges having been thus chartered in
Pennsylvania, Grand Lodge was or
ganized for that State, and afterwards a
general Grand Lodge.
But they were not exempt from inter
nal dissensions, and another Grand
Lodge was established at Philadelphia
in 1892. Other Lodges adhered to the
Prince Hall BOSTON, Grand Lodge.
In l847 delegates from these three
bodies met in convention and formed a
National Grand Lodge, which has since
met regularly triennially-the last time
in 1865.
Their proceedings for 1856, 1862 and
1865 have been published. In 1865
they had Grand Lodges in Massachu-
sets, Rhode Island, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Mary
land, District of Columbia, Ohio, In
diana, Michigan and California. Since
then Grand Lodges have also been or
ganized in Virginia, Missouri, Illinois,
Kentucky, and perhaps other States. In
each of these States there are not less
than three Lodges, and some about
twenty. The whole number of members
returned in 1865 was 2356. Several of
the Grand Lodges have also published
their proceedings The membership
of the Ohio Grand Lodge increased
from about $50 in 1865 to $50 in 1867.
But they also have their troubles A
Grand Lodge was formed in Louisiana,
called Eureka Grand Lodge The lat
ter is not recognized by the others
what the questions at issue are we do not
know. We also learn that the clandes-
tine Supreme Council in Louisiana is
sues charters to Lodges, which receive
eolored men asinitiates.
Quite lively contest is going on be-
tween the Grand Lodges and the Ma
tional Grand Lodge, or the National
Grand Master The latter claims au-
thority, etc, which the former claim.
This conflict of authority has caused a
sharp discussion, in which acts of the
n. G. Master are strongly denounced.
There is no doubt that they are forming
Lodges in nearly all of the States, and
that the membership is rapidly inereas-
ing.
Having given this history, so that the
Craft having proper information, would
know how to act, is all that would have
been necessary to say, had not the i'll
advised action of North Carolina, which
we have formerly noticed, aroused a
feverish anxiety in Southern Grand
Lodges, which has led to the passage of
foolish resolutions, and the saying Of
silly things by brethren whose ordinary
good sense seemed for the time to have
left them. In this category we must
also place those of our Iowa brethren,
who have proposed to consider the pro
priety Of action looking to the recogni-
ton of these Lodges
1t is the boast of the common law,
that whatever new cases or new ques-
tons arise, they may be settled by an
of its principles
SO it Is with Masonic law; the land
marks, and principles as old as the
landmarks, are sufficient for the decis-
ion Of all these questions. These Lodges
are irregular, and all their Masens clan
destine.
Every Master Of Lodge has been
taught that no con,tenance be given to
any irregular Lodge, or to any person
clandestinely initiated therein, being
contrary to The Aacieat Charges of the
Order
This settles the status of all these
bodies and their members they can re-
ceive no coWateRoRce whatever, not be-
cause of their race or color but because
they are, at best, but clandestine Ma
sons.
Another question, however, has been
agitated. Win regular Lodges receive
negroes And if so, must other Lodges
recognize them?
Let US go back to the landmarks
again. A candidate must be free born,
and elected by the unanimous vote of the
Lodge; and no visitor can be admitted
to a Lodge against the objection of
single one of its members. and no now