The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1947-03-29
MaSOnS
Continued from Page y

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these two branches of Free
masons have existed side by side
| in the Commonwealth for more
than century and half each
by its own preference adhering
strictly to its own racial sphere
of activity and without intervisi-
tations." l know the words each
by its own preference" to be err
roneously used. I was at first a
Prince Hall Mason and came to
be a Past Master as such and !
know that many requests for
closer relations between the
! groups of white and Colored Ma
sons inthis state and other parts
Of the country have been re-
| jected by the white MaSonS. The
word inevitable should be sub
stituted for "by their own
choice" in the writer's statement.
Tntervisitations of colored bish-
ops was the barrier that so long
divided the M. E. Church North
and the M. E. Church South and
unification was not effected until
a compromise was made which
was, of course, odious to the col
ored members, but was accepted
by us rather than defeat the
Union,
The fact that we are Scottish
Rite Masons also may be the
rock bottom reason for our re-
lection. If recognized at all it
must be as equals.
Again I quote Sovereign
Grand Commander Melvin John
son when he declares that Free
masonry seeks to build char
acter and promote brotherhood
among all men. White and col
ored people are interdependent.
Each has its own schools and
Colleges and churches" Fine
sentiments indeed, but not en-
tirely true in this pioneer state.
From kindergarten to college,
boys and girls are educated to-
gether, and out of these New
England colleges have gone some
of the most brilliant colored
professional men and women,
ministers, techicians, business
men, athletes, etc, that the world
has ever known. Free MaSons
should not only seek to build
character but also to promote
harmony between races, Your
recognition Of one group OF
colored Masons while calling the
other "clandestine" is throwing
firebrand that lights the path
of hate and dissention. BY your
limitations you humiliate the
group that you would favor and
you manifest your own superior
ity complex.
In every group there are little
men with little minds. That ele-
ment will feel that they can
gloat over us Scottish Rite
MasonS as a matter of course.
But the fairminded, thoughtful
Prince Hall men will not, in my
opinion, feel glorifed at all.
I hope the incident will serve
to bring about close relations
between colored Masons in Bos-
ton and remove the racial bar
rier to perfect harmony and
equality with white Masons. The
Almighty Grand Master in the
Heavens above frowns upon such
differences.
In my talks to my own group,
since being elected Grand
Master I have pictured the great
host Of Freemasons, irrespective
of difference in letters and SYM
bols and racial distinctions,
marching to the Celestial City in
one solid phalanx. T repeat again
that, realizing that in unity
there is strength, there is dig
nifty, there is grandeur, 7 want
to take one arm of Grand Master
M. ]. Hicks Of the Prince Hall
Masons as we march through
the portals Of Glory into that
Temple not built with hands
eternal in the Heavens.
Would you, Sovereign Grand
Commander of the Supreme
Council 33rd degree Ancient Ac-
cepted Scottish Rite White
Masons walk beside ]. C. Parker
of Detroit, Mich, former holder
Of the same rank over coIorec
MaSons, and now Charles H
Isaacs of Mississippi present
Sovereign Grand Commander?
Every Mason of whatever race
or nationality should adhere tc
the principle, "All men are ere
ated equal
VIM. A, HOWARD.