The broad ax., 1923-12-22
THE. PRINCE HALL MASONS IN ALL
PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES
ARE MAKING REMARKABLE PRO-
GRESS OR ADVANCEMENT.
CONTRIBUTED BY HON. JAMES E.
HIGHLY INTERESTING ARTICLE
BIS4, 80.

one as a member who IL convicted 81
crime. The quest on OF our legiti-
macy has bothered our Anglo-SaNon
brothers for more than hundred
years. their Historians have tried g
cover up our legitimacy by saying
that although Prince Hall was legally
made, that his followers after his
death lay dormant for number OF
years. The facts are that their Grand
Lodges in Washington, Ohio, and sew
eral other states have had committees
investigate several times and all agree
NJ tn Us. that from the time Prince
Hall was appointed Provisional Grand
Master BY the Grand Lodge OF Eng
land. we have met as a Grand Lodge
every year and was never dormant,
and that Prince Hall Masons have
been active ever since the granting OF
the Warrant to African Lodge $50 to
the present date True We. as well
as our brothers have ceased 10 pay
per capita tax to the Grand Lodge OF
England, but England gives us the
same recognition as they do our An
glo-SaXon brothers, in fact wherever
Masonry exists Except in America)
we are recognized as legitimate Ma
sons. 1t goes without saying, that we
do not measure up to our brothers
financially but we are coming also
along that line We. the Prince Hall
Masons, own approximately one mill
lion dollars worth OF real estate in
this country and are still buying every
year. Our jurisdictions like our bro
theirs are occasionally annoyed with
what is called Clandestine MasOns.
Many Of these lodges are composed
OF men who. for one cause or another
have found themselves outside the reg
ular Masonic Lodges, and have or
gained lodges among themselves.
They have no affiliation with the reg
ular Masons and are not recognized
BY any legitimate Masons, and Oft
times they impose on the public by
posing as Masons During the World
War. Prince Hall and the other Ma
sons were buddes SO to speak. except
those from America and Germany.
They recognized the fact that the
government in which they lived had
first claim on their service and in
obedience to their obligations were
bound to defend their flag. Masonry
legitimate Masonry, is known under
two titles: A. F. & A. NJ. and F. &
"A. NJ The prefix Of the organization
is the Ancient and Honorable Frater-
MY of Free and Accepted Masons;
most Of the lodges Of our Anglo
Saxon brothers have taken the title
A. F. & A. M. while we have left off
the prefix, and most OF us use the title
F. & a. NJ or Free and Accepted Ma
sons. With the title OF Prince Hall,
which designates us as descendants
from the Grand Lodge organized BY
Prince Hall by authority given him
from the Grand Lodge Of England,
under the Warrant Of Prince Hall
Grand Lodge OF Illinois, the subordi-
nate lodges own Halls in Chicago
Mounds, Braidwood, Peoria, Unity,
Quincy, Rock Island. Carbonate and
East St. Louis. They own an old
peoples home in South Rock Island
They are publishing two Masonic
Magazines. and two weekly papers;
they were liberal purchasers Of all the
war bond issues. they contribute to
numerous charity institutions and dur
ing the past three years have laid cor
ner stones to more than thirty public
buildings. 1t was members of the
jurisdiction OF Illinois who made
searching review Of the records Of the
Prince Hall Masons and published
their results in book of research,
that has been quoted all over the Ma
sonic world. 1t was members Of this
jurisdiction that went into the Civil
Courts and established beyond a rea-
sonable doubt, the genuineness Of
Prince Hall Masons 1t was Illinois
who have established a Universal
Identification Card, which has almost
eliminated Clandestine imposition on
the regular Masonic fraternity. 1t was
Illinois who brought about a National
Conclave among Prince Hall Masons.
and the appendent bodies. Illinois has
some of the eminent Masonic Jurists
Of the United States, all Of the
Branches of Masonry, the Royal Arch
Chapters, the Comm ndries of
Knights Templar, Mobiles Of the Mys-
tic Shrine and Ancient and accepted
Scottish Rite, with the female bodies
are in excellent condition. Special
mention might be made OF the rapid
growth of the Heroines of Jericho and
Order Of Eastern Star, the latter owns
a valuable piece Of Real Estate i'll
Harvey Ill, on e!Social side of the
Fraternity the various lodges have
adopted Chapter of the Order East
ern Star and the Commandries have
adopted and MAINTAIN Lady Auxiliary
Commandries Of the wives and daugh-