Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-11-29
NEGRO MASONIC LODGES.

and Accepted Masons, of Maryland, has
resolved to cut off all communication
with the Grand Lodge of the Stale OF
Washington, unless the latter body
shall rescind its action extending recog-
milton to the negro Grand Lodges Of
the country.
|. The action of the Maryland lodge
followed the report made by the com
mistee of correspoudence-Messrs. Ed
ward T. Schultz, John NJ. Carter and
Thomas Footer--and was unanimous.
Nothing further can be done until next
June, when the annual meeting OF the
Washington Grand Lodge will be held
The Washington lodge was appealed
to in June. 1897, to recognize negro
Masons. A committee was appointed
to investigate, and it reported
last June. The Grand Lodge
adopted resolutions declaring that
Masonry is universal, and without
doubt neither race nor color are among
the tests proper to be applied 10 de-
termine the fitness of candidate for
the degree OF Mas oury."
I? was determined 10 extend recogn
ton to any negro lodge that could trac>
it's origin to Prince Hall Lodge, No.
400, of Boston
The Maryland committee stated: II
is claimed that Prince Hall end four
teen others of African descent received
the degrees of Free Masonry in an army
or travelling lodge attached to British
regiment stationed in Boston in 1775,
and that they subsequently assembled
as a lodge under dispensa,ion from
that lodge. There is no evidence that
they ever received such dispensation.
l; is fact, however, that Prince Hal
and Others, in 1884, applied to tbs
Grand Lodge Of England for u warrant.
which was granted them, but net re-
ceived until 1887, under the name OF
African Lodge, No. 459, and that this
lodge paid to the grand charity fuod OF
the Grand Lodge of England Ger ain
sums of money up to the year l1S|
after which it appears to have beco nf
dormant, and at the union ofthe Aa-
cient and Modern Grand Lodges OF
! England ir 1913 was struck from their
regist y.
"Prluce Hall died in 1907, previous
to which this lodge assumed to act as
mother lodge by creating a lodge al
Philadelphia in 1897, and about the
same period another at Providence
The two lodges thus created, together
with the Boston lodge, organized 10
1908 what vas then, and is now, known
as Prince Hall Grand Lodge OF Massa
chusetts, and from this body, as stated,
either directly or indirectly, have ema-
mated all the organizations OF negro
Masonry in this county"
The Washington Grand Lodge clted
a number of cases of recognition, and
of this the Maryland committee said
''In all the instances mentioned the
irregularities were condcned and legal.
lied by the authority having control"
! Prince Hall Lodge, it is asserted, Wa
never, ,legalized. The report conclude
I'VE are not informed of the numbe'
of negro Gland Lodges in thi
country, but we believe there are
at least fifteen such organizations,
and that one of these is located
10 our own State. By its action
the Grand Lodge of Washington rec
oguizes dual Grand Lodges in these
Jurisdictions. 1t cannot be supposed
that the regular Grand Lodges OF these
jurisdictions will tamely submit to this
action. or that other conservative jurls-
dictions, where such dual Grand
Lodges do not exist, will do so. One
jurisdiction (Kentucky) has already
withdrawn traternal intercourse wild
the Grand Lodge of Washington Al
no doubt this action will be followed IN
other States.
"It is altogether gratuitous, at this