The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1906-07-28

Pennsylvania are very Strong Inc
claim is founded on the fact that Pro.
vincial Grand Master Daniel Coke in
i73O-l73e was deputed 10 establish
lodges In America and was for a short
time in Philadelphia and that there
were without question lodges In that
city earlier than 1888 Brother Nick
erson. however, claims that these early
lodges were merely informal gatherings
of Mas0ns, meeting without authority
that Coke established no lodges during
his short stay IN this country and that
the first regularly constituted lodge
was organized IN Boston, August 30
1893 by Henry Price provincial grand
master. Benjamin Franklin, who was
made Mason in England previous 70
1880 petitioned Henry Price for con-
hrmation 81 the privileges of the
Philadelphia Masons ia 1884, which It
is claimed he would not have done if
the Pennsylvania bodies had previous
Is obtained regular authority from
Grand Master Coke The first lodge in
America was called First lodge In
Boston organized in 1888, and
chartered by the Grand Lodge Of Eng
land in l5i9, according 20 the Grand
Secretary
The public press has recently con-
tanned many notices concerning the So
called col0red "Masons The follow
ing communication was sent 70 An
eastern paper 20 correct any misunder-
standing which might arise To the
Fraternal Editor The colored
Craftsmen, who work under "a warrant
from the Grand Lodge OF England
etc. the above from a paragraph re-
ferring to the grand lodge colcred,
Freemasons somewhat misleading
Internationally I am sure but simply
reciting what they the colored Free
masons) claim The facts in the case.
however are the Grand Lodge Of
England never granted charter or
warrant for a grand ldoge in the Unit.
"a States but in lisa despite the fact
that they were encroaching on the teg
ritory of another grand lodge ON the
Grand Lodge of England, modern did
grant charter to.(Prince Hall and
others tcolored "a Boston for lodge
20 be known as African lodge No 459
which, otter an existence OF two years
or less, became dormant and finally
WIS stricken from the roll Of that grand
lodge This charter was brought to
light about 1916 and an attempt made
to reorgsnize the lodge and 70 make
it conform 70 changed conditions,
Those who had control Of the docu-
ment. sent ID 70 the Grand Lodge Of
England, after previously making a
copy Of 10, to nave some alterations
made In Ii. and the grand lodge 70
cretary r. W Grey Clark. very pro-
perly retained L. It. therefore, fol.
lows. the grand lodge Of Freemasons
lcolored not only never received a
charter from the Grand Lodge of Eng
land, but the subordinate charter it
holds is simply q copy Of the one
granted to African lodge OF Boston In
l7sf Realizing fully the good work
the coloroa Freemasons are doing a.
moug their own race thi. Is not i'm
tended 10 be construed a. derosatory to
them but simply 90 correct au ar-
parent historical error ~ i Alleen
Western Star Chapter r. A. NJ OF
Batavia r. g. recently came into
possession III the records Of the chapter
covering "a period from 1918 to 1876
the year ia which the Morgan excite
meut took place AT TINT time they
were taken care Of by Brother G t.
Bissen. Of Leroy aud have been In his
possession ever since When he died
his family sent the records 90 the Le-
Roy chapter and they an turn handed
them over Or the Batavia Masons