The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-16
Grand Lodge Officially Recognizes
Colored Men.
COMMITTEE REPORT ADOPTED.
Grand Jurisdietion of Wnshingfon
the First 80 Concede Authority ST
GoIored Lodge. to Confer Masonic
DeGrees-liistory and Significance
of the notwithstanding Out Of
the broad and Liberal Principle.

A far-reachlng event IN the history OF
Freemasonry In this country occurred al
the session OF the Grand Lodge OF Free
aud Accepted Mason.s In the Masonic tenn
pie yesterday Il was. In effect. recesnl-
ton of negro Masons and the Grand Lodge
OF the grand jurisdiction Of Washington
was the first lodge in this country 10 recog-
NICE the authority OF negro lodges to confer
Masonic degfeea Prior to yesterday no
negro Masonic lodges ever received any
recognition whatever except TO occasion
ally appear In Masonic parades.
Twenty years ago the same question
came up III the Grand Lodge Of Ohio. but
was defeated. Since that time various
Grand Lodges of different states have con-
ssdered II with a like result. AT the session
of the Grand Lodge OF this grand jurIsdic-
ton las; year the question came up. and a
committee of three consisting of Thomas
NJ. Reed. OF Olympia. chairman: William
III. Upton. OF Seattle. ana James f. Edm1s-
ton. OF Dayton. was appointed Ito devise
pans by which the negroes could be rec
ognized as Masons and 10 report al the
yesterday afternoon tbs report was made
and adopted. IL reviewed al length the HIS
tory or FreeJlaSouTy and the principles
upon which IL is founded together with a
history OF the various negro lodges in this
country one OF the FIRST lodges OF this
Kind 10 receive u charter in this country
wa, the Prince Halt lodge of Massachu-
aetts. getting lis charter from the Grand
Lodge or England, and later, in 11s5 t,s-
coming a Grand Lodge. Only lodges that
obtained charters from the Prince Hal.
Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge Of Eng
land were recognized I'm the report. Speak
Ing Of the effect Of this action. Mr. Thomas
NJ. Reed said 10 a Post-lnte,ligencer re-
porter. 1T has the same effect as the rec
osnition or the odd Fellows lodge. only
that a negro Mason il entitled To visit a
white lodge II h. il freahoTn. These lodges
have the same laws and the Same ritual
rs ours. and as one Of the main princi-
Piles upon which Masonry Is founded Is the
brotherhood OF man and We recognize no
color iine and no conditions OF frees.orn
man. IL Is right aud just that the negro
lodges that have the same authority 10 OK
ist as We. should Re recognized In Eng
land the Grand Lodge has substituted the
word freemen for the word 'freeborn,' hu,
We still adhere ~ the ancient law in this
respect. cf course" he said IN answer IN
a question from the reporter. the negro
-'f't%1{t Hi4F Visit white lodges, but II any
member objects on tho ground that he
would diSturn the harmony ~ the Lodge h.,
IL excluded i'set ven might exclude some
enc from yo3r home. IN fact If a member
or white lodge desiring to visit n neigh
boring ledge. asks for admission and sr,ne
enc objects on the same ground he would
He refused iusf the same As the col0-e1
ncnbc~ What We have done l. eEunI,
20 carry OUT. In broader and better sens,
the ui3e prtnclplo Of Frsema sonry. we
recognize the Turk and the Chinese and
why leave ont TN neCra@ believe thai
This - the FIRST step toward "A general rec.
t&nj'iou of all legitimate negro lodges if,
this country hy every Grand Lodge ~ s.v-
~ strand jurisdiction in ,he United
S.8fts"
~ tho afternoon session q. select commit
tee = as apcotutel - consider The Irxft.,gay,
from the Grand Lodge ar Virginia >, az
iend % f1nenirr oFat ion az the !arh anrf-
FerSary II ;ac death 40 George Wev75ya-
tor. The dat So tar .hc exercises L. NJ
'@rueer u 1902. The tepcvt cf the commit
tFr accepting jae invitation AMI au.h,r5y.
jag the grant master ~ ap,.olnt sven
rf't mars 20 20 Is representatives.. ys-
adopted
}H" entire session was taken up Nth fne
consideration II thc reports Of commits. eos
anf as'le@rrsd al o'clock e. fs4 ,s,.f1 .hsy
morning RI o-5tech
Lass Night the Sestt}e Ma~sna cave
banquet - taF VISITING rs,s-.,resr, en3 "a
dsNs ~ ,he Eastern scar II 4eHs - ,,.as.
et'rsrSa ara every aoAv had a sa,,l s5s,a
70 ..f