Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1947-05-30
RAPs ~cLANDEsrNE~ LODGES:
Grand Secretary Minnesota
Prince Hall MasOns Raps
Talk of Masonic Merger

In a sWeoping statement to tbs
press h. Franklin Henderson. OF
ST. Paul. grand secretary Of the
Free and Accepted MRsons, Prince
Hall AffiliAtion Of the Minnesota
Jurisdiction, this week denounced
what he called attempts . .
through the press and various
sources Of communication for
'clandeStins' lodges are attempting
To iRhltFAto into the ranks Of Au-
thoFised MRsons and their Masonic
families"
The Minnesota grand sccrctaryb
statement was In rpply 20 state
ment 81 X. J. Simmons, national
grand secretary Of the York Rite
MaSona, who has urged that the two
Masonic bodies merge. Henderson
said there was no chance II such
merger.
HendeFsOn'H statement set forth
the following claims and charges;
These illegal organizations are
proving u sore spot and the time
is ripe 10 stamp out these impostoTu
through legal process M Il has
been proven In the court Of Pennnyl-
vRnia, These people can never be.
come MRsons In tho true sense of
the word until they come through
the proper chRnncls, and doubt
whether some could ever become
Master Maaons. There can never
be u merger of lodge Of ClandSa-
tinss with an authorized body Of
Prince Hall Manons, 80 that ave.
nue. IL cut OF. We will not rcCog.
Mae Clandestines In Minnesota, the
other states of our country, or will
we recognize them any place in the
world.
as u member Of the Association
Of Grand Secretaries Of Prince Hall
Lodges, have received various
communications warning against
this attempted inhltratiun and II
IL time that some one speaks up In
defense Of tho True Principles Of
our Order and the things that wa
represent,
The State Superior Court
handed down a decision IN Pitts,
burRh, Pa, last Tuesday. April ~,
outlawing so-cRlled Masonic Or.
dsru," which actually were not reg
ularly authorized Masonic bodies
established under the Jurisdiction
Of recognized Masonic authority,
The decision II being hailed by both
white and colored Masons through
out tho state.
THE opinion was written by Su-
perior Court Judge Arnold, and
ended long fight begun by tho
Pennsylvania Grand Lodge Of Ma.
sons, Of which Magistrate HobSon
Il, Reynolds Ia grand mater, "a
stop the incorporation Of Ave lodges
In Philadelphia operating m Ma
sons,
Rivals sought Charter
Testimony taken IN the lower
court showed that In 1888 Edward
Scott, along with four other men,
started 10 organize various so
called Masonic lodges. among them
the Rising Star Lodge, Now Bsthl0-
hem Lodge, Quaker CITY Lodge and
others. Subsequently, an applIca-
ton was made 20 the Philadelphia
Common Pleas Court for the In.
corporation Of all lodges into n
Grand Lodge, 10 10 known ~ the
Most Worshipful widows Sons
Grand Lodge u Free and Accepted
Colorsd MasonE u Philadelphia.
"Ths Grand Lodge ~ Psnnsyl-
vania, which had been In existence
for more than 1870 years, went into
court 10 protest this Incorporation.
and retained Attorney John Fran.
els Williams. 10 oppose the hpplich-
ton, along with Attorney William
G. Douglas, ~ Pittsburgh. and the
Grand Attorney for the lodge. The
Widows' Sons Lodge was repre-.
ssntsd by the law offices of John
II, X. Scott. HRrdie Scott and VIM.
r. Conner.
After several hearings IN the
lower court, IN which a tremendous
amount ~ testimony was presented
by the Grand Lodge, also known
~ the Prince Hall Lodge, Common
Pleas Court approved 81 the
Widow Sons application for n
charter and dismissed Prince Halls
complaint.
Appeals 10 superior Court
"Thsrsupon an appeal was taken
10 the Superior Court, and on Oct.
N. 1915. Mr.. Williams argued the
ease before the Superior Court.
William T. Conner vigorously