The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-17
Masonic Grand Lodge Circular on
Negro Masonry"
REcoNsioERs ACTION OF 1895.
An O0eial Notification which VIII
verse Crftician Of MasOas Of
washingt0n by states where
Race PPeJadice Rules - Origin
Of IN Attack Upon Liberal Views.

The Grand Lodge OF Washington Free
and Accepted Masons, which recently met
In Seattle. has embodied in circular let
ter, and is sending cut to the Grand lodges
OF other states throughout the Union. q
report Of It's action In resembling certain
resolutions regarding negro Masonry"
passed by the Grand lodge OF 1895.
The resolutions Of 1895. wiaiie at the time
regarded as entirely unobjectionable, Gre
ased great uproar of Indignation among
the Masons OF other states, and resulted
in the "tabocing'' of the Washington
lodge by the Grand lodges Of several
Southern and New England states, which
resolved TO hold no intercourse with the
Washington lodge Until the resolutions
we're rescinded.
Al the last meeting Of the Grand lodge
II was decided. almost without a dissent
ing voice. TO expunge the two resolutions
considered most objectionable, although
the third. which was less radical in its
language, was allowed to stand. 1t Is con-
sidered that the PRONUNCIATION of this cir
cular letter by the Grand lodge will have
the effect Of restoring Washington Ma
sons TO their previous standing abroad and
OF soothing the ruff!ed dignity Of the pro-
testing lodges.
The most widely criticised resolution Of
the two repealed was one recognizing the
right Of colored Masons to organize lodges
within the state of Washington, and to
establish and maintain, IL considered nee
essary. a Grand lodge for the better gov
ernment Of such lodges.
Masons In states where the color line II
strictly drawn. and In Northern states
where strong race prejudice exists. took
exception to this recognition Of the right
OF coiored Masons to maintain separate
organizations. as the entering wedge of
still wider recognition, and proceeded to
Ia ztx.rr~ w
Although race prejudice undoubtedly in
fluenced the rebuke. the action was not
openly based upon that ground. Instead
the attack was made collateralIy upon the
ground that the Washington lodge had
violated one of the cardinal principles of
Masonic government, that concurrent ju-
risdiction of Grand lodges Is not permits
sibie under any circumstances whatever,
by granting such Jurisdiction to any coll
ored Grand lodge that might In the future
be organized.
The Famous African Lodge.
The other rescinded resolution recognize
ed the legitimacy OF the famous African
Lodge. No. 40. OF Boston. Mass. organ
tied more than a hundred years ago under
charter from the Grand lodge of England.
The Masons of the United States have
never recognized this lodge as other than
ciandestine. ami when the Washington
Grand lodge, by Its resolution. declared II
as legitimate as any lodge in the nation,
another widespread protest was evoked
The third resolution, which was allowed
to stand. despite protests from abroad.
reads as follows:
Resolved That in the opinion OF this
Grand lodge Masonry Is universal. and.
without doubt. neither race nor color is
among the tests proper to be applied to de-
termine the fitness OF candidate for the
degrees OF Masonry.
"And consonantly with the spirit of that
resolution. this Grand lodge would fra
ternaliy suggest to the whole fraternity,
and more especially to those Grand lodges
whose laws forbid the initiation Of men
OF certain race, the propr.ety OF carefully
considering whether such laws are not in
consistent with the spirit Of Free Mason
ry, and whether they place beyond the
pale Of Masonry the bodies which enact
them. Upon the latter of these questions
this Grand lodge expresses no opinion at
this time
The circular letter concludes with the fol-
lowing curt announcement OF a desire on
the part OF the Masons OF Washington to
be allowed 10 govern themselves withou.
interference from the Grand lodges Of other
states:
VIII Maintain Independence.
"Whereas, Certain novel and erroneous