Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-06-15

Although this issue has not yet been made in
Vermont, deem it Of sufficient Importance To pre-
sent my views OF IL, because the time will NJ
doubt come when must meet and dispose
of it. trust this subject will be treated upon the
grand platform Of Masonic principle and Masonic
law and IN spirit becoming the light and intelll-
gence Of this nineteenth century, and it Will re
quire no special pleading or disturbance of ancient
constitutions and land marks in order to determine
the status and ascertain the rights Of So called
cOlOred Masons. This whole difficulty has grown
out Of what u known the Prince Hall Grand
Lodge of Boston. and the attempt To compel n rec
ignition of II a. "A legal body. | give rssHHir OF
the undisputed facts which think precludes any
chance Tor misappreh ensOn and most eiiectualy
settles this matter hey ond hope of resurrection 1t
is claimed that Prince Hall was made Mason in
a British Army Lodge In Boston, about the 9TH OF
March, l7.5, with some other negroes. The evi
dence of this Is somewhat uncertain, however. At
any rate these negroes established a lodge IN Bus
ton and worked several years without warrant or
any shadow OF authority. In l7Hi, they applied To
England for a charter and on thu ~ OF beptem-
her, 1854, African Lodge No ~ was chartered by
tho Grand Lodge OF England TO Prince Hall and
Others, but the proof is that they did not receive
IL I'll l71', for some reason. This lodge lived
few years and died and rs name was stricken from
the English register. At some time this LODI 20
changed its name to Prince Hail Lodge and in nos
Il became Prince Hall trand Lodge IN connection
with cOluTed lodge in Philadei phia ami ono in
Providence, both Illegal subcrdnates of, and
wDrkin. under dlspcnsations granted by frlnce
Hall Lodge which assumed the right
| TO grant them while working a. subordinate
! LEDGE itself. This l. the origin of negro lodges
frlnce Hall died IN l~us. wow the brand Lodge o.
| massachusetts, was FULLY organized and commenced
| work on the 18th day Of March, M, ana was then
| and - now tho only legal and independent Grand
| Lodge in that State. lapprehend no difficulty at
| all, unle-s violence is done to a law which is uni
vef-ally recognized On tins continent the law of
| sovereign, exclusive and absolute jurisdiction in
| tue Grand Lodg 20 of each State or Province. And
| this well recognized and long-rstablished loyal
right cannot he disputed or iniringed with impuni-
| ~ Tho question Is not whether Tree horn man
with all the other necessary DUAL catiOns is proper
| candidate for the mysteries Of Masonry ,inur how
white or black he must les toIsbsOutey duhar him.
| hut whether or moi a Masonic Lodge can ho cstab
lished in any btato except under tho authority of
the legally -tituted ,Tand Lodge OF that state
such Lodge must even he - necrssitato clHnd'--
tine, and IT'S members spurious aud entitled To- no
recognition whatsoever.
The sad and tragic death Vi X. W. Gturs,
Frank Gourlev, for many years Grand Stcrc-
tary of the Grand Lodge OF Missouri, ON the
| 18th OF April last. ut the burning of the
southern Hotel ut ST Louis, was bri, fly but
appropriately noticed.
| The address was received with hearty ap-