Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-08
NEGROES AS MASONS.
VIEWS OF THE GRAND LODGE OF
SOUTH CAROLINA.
TIE CASE ELABORATELY STATED.
Review of the History of the Prince
uau Lodge, No. 4oo-Resoi"'i""
p.,ations with Grand
,.,. NJ Washington state.

o-harieston Is. CO News and CourierJ
- ,,o,,,r,,t,ee ON Foreign Correspond
.nce made its regular report, which wa
odon,ad This committee also niauS
80, ,enort on the negro question: a'
follows: -. vour
II is with profound regret tha' yO1
committee finds renewal oil Inc
sion in regard to negro Masonry que'
ton which had been looked upon de 'O'
ever buried In the grave OF OBLIVION n''''
70 know a resurrection. Between the yea
1874 and 1876 this subject was iuily an
exhaustively discussed by many u
sblest writer's OF the craft, anu Wy -
Teton uos finally reached that, from TIC
statements of these persons theihse'ss,
,hev had not a shadow OF claim - %
laritv as a Masonic organization or 10
in no nearer relation TO masonry '+''t,n,,
nrofane. In 1869 certain persons c-and
themselves Masons applied 10 IN laS Tor
Lodge Of Massachusetts, ana asheu ~
.1oao,,,,on 'rhe committee 20 whlch tiI i..
notttion was referred disposed OF ~
diair, en- an admirable report eonl"i ,-'5
M nolitical feeling whatever anu ,-il,,e
tbat they were irregular ana sPl,,..-,
"a could nave no Masonic inteicou' a.
with the members or regular lO0e
the Jurisdiction OF Massachuset u. hoon
The question thus set al resi- 10 ac,ion
again brought 10 our notice .! -" yvssh-
- ,ba Grand Lodge OF the state Oh ~
teton THE printed proceedings "a ,,et
nrora Lodge Of washington nave NJ
-, raceived. although our Grahu -,
-, sneoially asked for Cops ~
P-otber r. NJ. Reed. Grand SeSi 80 80
Washfneton. Though the text OF 'H IL ~
1utions is not at hand We "e s-tlots
Gather their import from IL" LTa,tuclxv.
issued by the grand loases , %
Arkansas. Louisiana, ana MAJ AM ~
~ .heee sources We learn thdl az
-. o,r,,al communication OF the uI an
1 ~ of washington, held June o. 49,
denomination was presented 10 tnS
80 Todge and read by the uIelu
S1s,a,ar, from Con A. Rideout, HiIeoi
paiiet, and others claiming 10 pe re
"a Sccented Masons Of African descent
and appealing 10 the Grand l'oDhe 80
Use some way whereby theE, -,
tried and trusty Masons can Dc pio1e ~
q, Communication with and enjoy 'ne
fraternal confidence OF ING
the craft in this State .o,a,
TtIs netition was referred 10 a specisl
oo,,ar,,ittea Of three brothers I. NJ. helu'
w II T-nton. and J. l.. Edmiston) 10 re-
| mort at the next annual comm niCa ~ "a
| ~ the Grand Lodge. one year eiap -
S,,rtrg which time this committee 'o"e
| 80 whom bv the way. Is the represeh1a-
| tive Of the Grand Lodge OF sOulh "a ~
lima near the Grand Lodge OF aSA''-5
TOM. studied the question ana III an -
| - renort submitted by them. came 70
| the conclusion that the op.'iON ~
committee is. that persons initiated III so
c9iled negro lodges. which can trace their
/ origin 10 Prince Hall, or Prince nan
To5oe No 45g. are as fully entitled 10 'he
rame of Nasons and 10 brotheriy recos,
milton as any other Masons IN the "orlu.
They recommend the following Ieso-
lutious which. we are informed Were
| unanimously adopted. together win the
| full report of the committee; ,,-
Resolved That in the opinion Oh tHls
| Grand Lodge Masonry is uhl'eisa,' an" l'u
without doubt neither race nor ~ Q, -
among the tests proper 10 De appAeu ~
! determine the fitness Of a candidate Ioi
| the degrees OF Masonry.
Resolved, That In view OF Recognized
laws Of the Masonic institution ana OF
/ facts Of history well authenticated ahu
worthy Of full credence, this Grand Lodge
| does not see its way clear 10 deny OF
question the right Of It's constituent
lodges. or the members thereof 10 recos'
nize as brother MasOns negroes VINO nave
been initiated in the lodges when can
trace their origin TO Prince Han Louse
No. 459. organized under the warrant OF
Rigbt Worshipful Brother Thomas How
ard. Earl Of Efiingham, Acting Crane
Master. under the authority OF IL. X. H.
Henry Frederick Duke Of Cumberland
etc. Grand Master OF the most Ancient
and Honorable Society Of Free ana Ac
cepted Mas0ns In England. bearing date
September 29. A. l., 5lSi, or 20 our Rlgh
Worshipful Brother Prince Han master
of said lodge. and In the opinion OF TINS
Grand Lodge, for the purpose OF uacihs
such origin. the African Grand Lodge
of Boston. organized in loJS, SUBSEQUENT
~ known as the Prince Han CRAM Lods'
of Massachusetts,; the first African Crane
Lodge of North America in. for. and Com
monwealth OF Pennsylvania, organized II
1915. and the Hiram Grand Lodge o
Pennsylvania may justly be Regarded a.
legitimate Masonic Grand lodges.
Resolved, That while this Grand Lodg'
RECOGNIZES no difference between brethrel
based upon race or color, yet IL Is no
unmindful OF the fact that the white an'
colored races in the United states nav
in many ways shown preference 10 re
main. in purely social matters, separat
and apart. In view OF this Inclination o
the two races-MasOnry being pre-eml
nently a social institutiOn-this Gran
Lodge deems il TO the best interest %
Masonry 10 declare that If regular Ma
sons OF African descent desire 10 estao
lish. within the state OF Washington
lodges confined wholly OF chiefly 1
brethren of their race, and shall estab
| lsh such lodges strictly In accordanc
with the landmarks OF Masonry. and i
accordance with Masonic law as hereto
fore interpreted by Masonic tribunals O
their own race, and il such lodges sha
In due time see fit in like manner [
erect a Grand Lodge for the better admin
istration OF their affairs. this Gran
Lodge having more regard for the goo
| OF Masonry than FOR any mere techn
cality, Will not regard the establishmei
? OF such lodges or Grand Lodge as an il
vasion OF its jurisdiction. but as eyincir
a disposition 10 conform 10 lis own idea
? as 10 the best interests OF the craft und
peculiar circumstances and will ever e,
D tend TO our colored brethren its sincel
7 sympathy I'm every effort TO promote q
d welfare OF the craft OF inculoate the puI
principles OF our own art
Resolved, That the Grand Secretary I
instructed 20 acknowledge receipt Of Il
, communication from Gideon 5. Bale
j. and Con A. Rideout and forward them
u copy Of the printed proceedings OF IN
u annual communication OF the Grar
. Lodge as a response 10 said commune.
> ton.
= This Is the action OF the Grand Lodl
= OF Washington. and. as any one can 81
at glance, il Ia more than d local issu
e but one far-reaching IN It's eject. al
e fraught with danger and disastrous CO
sequences 10 the prosperity and harmon
n the entire body OF American Masonr
=