Published Monthly by The
Phylaxis Society Public Affairs Office
and Masonic Information Center
December 1999
The December Special Millennium issue of Ebony Magazine featuring 100 Most Important Blacks in The World in the 20th Century. What is interesting is the fact- a number are Prince Hall
Freemasons. Nelson Mandela, the soul of South Africa's freedom movement, during one of his visits to the United States, then Grand Master William Parker Jr. of the M.W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge of North Carolina, met with him in his hotel suite to present a gift from the Prince Hall Grand Lodges of Georgia and North Carolina and at that time "dubbed" him a Prince Hall Freemason. What that means is a guess. W.E.B.DuBois initiated in Widow's Son Lodge No. 1, New Haven, Connecticut, with his political and scholarly writings, whose great inspiration was his book "The Soul of Black Folks " inspired Blacks throughout the Diaspora to seek freedom. John H. Johnson, of Western Consistory No. 28, Chicago, Illinois, owner and former editor of Ebony Magazine and Jet was coronated a thirty third degree Scottish Rite Mason in a special session in Washington, DC on February 10, 1970 for the United Supreme Council, A.A.S.R., Northern Jurisdiction, PHA. Thurgood Marshall served as Grand Minister of State for the United Supreme Council A.A.S.R., Southern Jurisdiction, PHA. before becoming the first
African-American to sit on the United States Supreme Court. Nat "King" Cole an incomparable song stylist, who opened doors for many Blacks in the entertainment industry was a member of Thomas Waller Lodge No. 49 of Los Angeles, California. Oscar Depriest , a highly respected Congressman from Chicago, and a member of that Prince Hall Jurisdiction. Duke Ellington of Social Lodge No. 1, Washington, D.C., prolific jazz musician/composer. Alex Haley, author of the best selling "Roots" was made a Mason on sight by the Grand Master of California. W. C. Handy a fife time member of Hiram Lodge No. 4 of New York, was known as the "father of the blues". Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. of Harmony Lodge No. 88, Chicago, Illinois is a prominent civil rights hero. Maynard Jackson a member of H.R. Butler Lodge No. 23 Atlanta, Georgia's first Black Mayor. General Daniel (Chappie) James became the first Black promoted to four-star general. James Weldon Johnson, an author, diplomat and NAACP Leader, penned the words to "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" (The Black National Anthem). A. Philip Randolph leader of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, a long time member of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New York. Charles C. Spaulding from the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of North Carolina and President of the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Co., which he built into a financial success. L. Douglas Wilder, the first African-American Governor in the United States was a member of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Virginia. Andrew Young of St. James Lodge No. 4, Atlanta, Georgia Mayor,
United Nations Ambassador, civil rights hero. Whitney M. Young, National Urban League executive director, a member of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Iowa. There are of course many others, but the Society has no direct Masonic information on them.
Dear Most Worshipful Grand Master Jones:
I am the brother who initiated the proposal of a resolution to negotiate recognition between the two Grand Lodges in Alabama. By now I am sure you have heard that not only did this resolution fail, but it suffered a humiliating defeat on the floor of my Grand Lodge on 17 November 1999. 1 want to personally apologize to you for my failure to achieve the passage of this resolution. I must take full responsibility for this loss, my tactics were based on an appeal to conscience rather than political astuteness. Sadly, this did not achieve the desired goal. The brethren under the jurisdiction of my Grand Lodge embarrassed us all with their behavior this week but not all of them did so. I would like to share with you an event that took place the day after the vote was taken . .... my home lodge, raised a new Master Mason. He is a young man twenty-three years of age. I arrived about 6:30 PM to find my District Lecturer, a former District Lecturer and several Past Masters from my lodge and others had already arrived. These brothers came up to me and not only expressed their regret over what they heard happened in Montgomery, but also their regret that the resolution did not pass. The big surprise came when a District Lecturer, and a Senior Warden, arrived who had driven over 100 miles just to say how sorry they were the resolution had not passed. The newly raised Master Mason.... he came up to me and announced that no matter what, there was now one more vote in favor of recognition. Most Worshipful Grand Master, I understand that these events are sufficient to anger even the most patient of men. I hope relations between our Grand Lodges can weather this storm. I beg you not to let my failure on this issue damage the chances for our Grand Lodges, and members in general, to work together in the future. We have too much to offer each other to allow that to happen. If there is anything I can do to facilitate this, please do not hesitate to contact me.
With deepest respect and fraternal admiration
(Phylaxis Note: The Brothers who wrote this letter, requested that his name be used because he believed in what he was fighting for, however, we thought it wise not to publish his name or the name of his Lodge in fear for his own safety, as we remembered that when the subject first came up there was talk of lynching, by members of his Grand Lodge of Alabama A.F.& A.M. So much for Masonry in Alabama!)
by
Harry A. Williamson
(Phylaxis Note: See Pages 146-147 of the History of the United Supreme Council,
A.A. S.R., Northern Jurisdiction by Joseph A. Walkes, Jr. Recently there has been a great
interest in Freemasonry in France by Prince Hall Freemasonry, with several Jurisdictions
signing amity agreements with the Grand Lodge of France, therefore the editor will continue to discuss Freemasonry in France over several issues of the Phylaxis Notes. The subject of Freemasonry in France will be a major workshop at the up coming annual session of the Phylaxis Society by Brother Ralph McNeal, Jr. FPS). This portion is continued from the November issue of the Phylaxis Notes.
It is my honest opinion that those leaders either had no knowledge of the Masonic situation relative to the Grand Orient or else they "got scared' because the feelings of some white American Masons might be injured because of that visit. I ask bluntly, of what business was it to any white Mason what Brother Greene had done? For what valid reason could anybody's feeling be injured since the white Fraternity is without any Masonic control over men of color? This, in particular, because of the attitude of the white toward the Prince Hall Fraternity.
Before any of our jurisdictions or even the Conference of Grand Masters attempts to take any action concerning the matter of the Grand Orient of France, they had better engage in an intensive and extensive study of all the phases related thereto and not accept say-so of those who, in so far as their Grand Lodges are concerned, refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the Prince Hall Fraternity. Such a study will not be accomplished in a day, a week nor a month, I have been engaged in such for close to two years and the end is not yet.
The foregoing is preliminary to a brief examination of the subject as between the Grand Orient and the English-speaking bodies particularly in this country.
Many of the proceedings of the American Grand Lodges have, when discussing the Grand Orient, given expression (of) untruths in many instances. Just as these have circulated untruths about the Prince Hall Craft, so have they done similarly about the Grand Orient consequently, much which has been written must be examined very critically.
Although the United Grand Lodge of England is not the mother of present day Freemasonry, it is a fact that officials of American Masonry are very readily led around by the nose, so to speak, by the English jurisdiction and that body possesses the effrontery to deem itself to be the Grand Lodge of the world; that whatever it may say or do, must be accepted, respected and obeyed by all the other Grand Lodges whether or not those approve or disapprove of the dictation's of England.
How many of my Prince Hall Brethren are aware of the fact there is a very growing antagonism toward the Masonic Fraternity among Protestants in both England and the United States. The following religious denominations as being opposed to membership in the Fraternity have been listed in "Darkness Visible" by Walton Hannah, a non-Mason Englishman; this work was first published in London in June 1952, and during the rest of last year it underwent four separate reprintings, so much was the demands:
The anti-Masonic religious bodies listed are:
1. The Greek Orthodox Church condemn Masonry on October 12, 1933.
2. The "Original Session" of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland in 1757.
3. Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ireland
4. Free Presbyterian Church in Scotland in 1927.
5. Orthodox Presbyterian Church in America in 1942.
6. English Methodists at Bradford Conference in 1927.
7. The Salvation Army.
8. American Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod).
9. Dutch Reformed Church of South African (Cape Synod), November 1940.
On page No. 12, in the 1952 proceedings of the Conference of Prince Hall Grand Masters there is reference to "the best minds of this conference.,, I am wondering how could these be any "best minds" when very few, if any of the Conference possessed the slightest idea about the Grand Orient and the American Jurisdictions, except those best minds were guided by the prejudices of members of the opposite racial Fraternity.
The Prince Hall Fraternity was not in the least interested in the controversy raised by the American grand bodies against the Grand Orient, is very evident through the following which has been transcribed from the proceedings of the Prince Hall Jurisdiction in Pennsylvania for its session held December, 1883, and on page 43:
In the morning session of the Grand Lodge, Brother Alexnder Clark made a very lengthy speech in reference to his European travels, and his pleasures with European Masons, and presented the following letter as proof of his remarks:
Paris, August 27th, 188 1. "To the very dear Bro. Clark, P.G.M. of the (Prince Hall) Grand Lodge of Missouri:
Very Dear Bro. In my own name, as well as in the name of the Grand Orient of France, I thank you for the visit you have been so kindly pleased to make us in your trip to Paris. You will recall with pleasure that you have in France devoted friends, Masons who place humanity above the ignoble rivalries of race; who ardently desire to see fraternity reigning among all the inhabitants of the earth. These sentiments are familiar to you, and you sympathize with them; it remains for you to conquer the prejudices which array themselves against you in your own country. Be assured that all we can do to aid you will be done. Permit me to express to you the desire that a more intimate correspondence may be established between your Grand Lodge and Bro. Cantet, your distinguished Representative near the Grand Orient of France. Will you have the great courtesy, my dear Brother, to present my fervent regards to the Grand Lodge of Missouri, and accept the assurance of my fraternal devotion.
ADRIN GUIMAUX 57 Rue de Morge, Paris
The visit of Brother Clark was made four years after the American Grand Lodges had severed relations with the Grand Orient of France. If I recall correctly, Brother Moses Dixon was made the Grand Representative of the Grand Orient near his Grand Lodge just about that
time
It is announced that Phylaxis President Joseph A. Walkes, Jr. will have his own web page
http://freemasonry. org/jawalkes and he has plans to continue the above story under the title of the 'Trench Masonic Incident" in much more detail. Brother Walkes has promised that it is a subject that will be talked about throughout Universal Freemasonry for years to come. We continue to invite all to visit our web site on
http://freemasonry.org/phylaxis' to view the new addition on the life and times of our Patron Saint, Brother Prince Hall as well as the Welcome section by the President. The Society invites you also to view the information on the up coming annual session to be held in Kansas City, Missouri in March 2000.
