October 1998
EDITOR'S NOTES:
This article was published in the Winter 1997 issue of The Royal Arch Mason Magazine, it
is reprinted here with permission. The Hiram Grand Lodge is listed in the Phylaxis Society
Directory of Unrecognized Masonic Organizations. A brief history of Hiram Grand Lodge can
be found in the July 1996 issue of the Non-Prince Hall Commission Newsletter.
Wonders never cease. It was one evening in November 1996 when the telephone rang and the Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master, Phillip S. Ajayi 33' answered the call. The person on the other end said, "I want to invite your Royal Arch Masons to our (White Masons) 200th Anniversary celebration parade in Annapolis, Maryland on Saturday, June 21, 1997."
The Deputy Grand Master asked him if he knew we are Masons of Color and he answered, "Yes, I know." In the final analysis, he was to send an official written invitation to us at 1205 Eutaw Place, Baltimore, MD 21217.
The letter of invitation was received and handed to the Excellent High Priests of both Chapters who responded accepting the invitation. Correspondence between the two organizations continued until final plans regarding our participation in the parade were completed.
On Saturday, June 21, 1997, at 6:30 am, 30 Companions gathered in front of the Masonic Temple at 1205 Eutaw Place, Baltimore, MD 21217 ready to embark on the bus at 7 am to begin the trip to the history-making event in Annapolis, Maryland.
Arriving in Annapolis, Maryland around 9 am, we were warmly greeted by the Past and Present General Grand High Priests of the General Grand Chapter of Maryland. Later, other dignitaries from the Maryland Grand Lodge, Grand Council of Royal and Select Masons, General Grand Encampment of Knights Templars and the Grand Consistory came over and greeted us as we mingled and engaged in general discussions with other delegations from the General Grand Chapters of Washington, District of Columbia and Baltimore, Maryland.
Among the dignitaries who traveled with our delegation to participate in the parade were, the General Grand High Priest, Honorable James L. Mosley of the General Grand Chapter of Royal \Arch Masons of our National Affiliation, Past Excellent High Priests, Companions Horace Love, Andrew Chesson, Leroy Wilkins, James C. Johnson, William Jackson; two Presiding Excellent High Priests, Companions Moses Gradner, George Jefferson; Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master, Phillip S. Ajayi and Right Worshipful Tyler, Jerome Houston.
In the history of Masonry in the United States of America it is the very first time that Masons of Color have been asked to engage in any Fraternal intercourse or have been invited to participate in any Masonic activities such as this 200th anniversary celebrations parade. The Royal Arch Masons delegation working under the Most Worshipful Hiram Grand Lodge, AF & AM, Inc., Jurisdiction State of Maryland was the only group of Masons of Color represented and placed sixth in position of the entire parade following the Honor Guard, the General Grand High Priest of Maryland, Grand Master of Maryland, the first of several marching bands, and the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Maryland. Other Masonic and allied organizations represented were the Order of Eastern Stars, Order of De-Molay, Order of Rainbow for Girls, Order of Royal and Select Council of Cryptic Masonry, Encampment of Knights of Templar, Scottish Rite Freemasonry, and several Shrine Regiments.
Loud cheers and positive comments on our appearance were heard coming from Whites and Blacks watching the parade from the sidewalks. Our General Grand High Priest, James L. Mosley was robed in the traditional attire of Jewish High Priest with the breast plate depicting the 12 tribes of Israel, and wore the mitre on his head with the words, "Holiness To The Lord" inscribed in front. What a feeling of elation and a sense of pride it was for us, as we marched that day, realizing that White and Black Masons have come together for the first time in the history of the State of Maryland and of the United States of America.
At the conclusion of the parade, we were extended an invitation to participate in another parade which will proceed and end at the foot of the Washington Monument in Washington, District of Columbia in August,1997. We will be glad to be part of that gathering as well.
Submitted by
Companion Benjamin Amara
Note: A letter of protest was sent to the editor of the Royal Arch Magazine by Phylaxis President Joseph A. Walkes, Jr. The editor of the Magazine said the Prince Hall Royal Arch was invited and never responded to the invitation and that a mistake was made in inviting this group.
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By
Harry A. Williamson
(Continued from last issue)
The Decree of the Court in its entirety was published in the Michigan State News under the of September 9, 1932.
The next is Case No. 24, 930, entered in the District Court of Creek County in Oklahoma, ch 9, 1943, File No. 143 Pac. (2nd), 119, Journal of Entry of Judgment and Formanont Injunction."
St. John's Grand Lodge (Prince Hall) of Oklahoma brought action against a so-called St. Joseph Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. Colored, and associated bodies and our jurisdiction in the state received the decision of the Court and the St. Joseph organization was directed to discontinue operations but it failed to heed that order and continued to operate, consequently, our jurisdiction there brought the St. Joseph outfit into court again with the result the leaders and officers of allied bodies were levied along with several others: L. C. Clark; Rev. Aaron Jackson; Mrs. Lela Clark and Folly Ann Spencer. A transcript of the decree along with that in the Michigan action can be found in the Williamson Masonic Collection in the New York public Library.
The Oklahoma Court found: (a) St. John's d Lodge had been in existence since its incorporation on November 17, 1892. (b) It had aqcuired "first, prior and exclusive right" to the name "A.F. & A.M." etc. (c) The St. Joseph body was organized in 1936, "as a humane, benevolent charitable corporation" but had assumed another status not authorized to it by law. (d) The use of Freemason by the St. Joseph body was "Calculated to deceive the public," etc. (The St. Joseph body was forbidden to operate as a grand body or to form subordinates).
The following items have been transcribed from the proceedings of Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois for 1946, page 26. In discussing this subject, the Grand Master, Ashby B. Garter, stated in his address in part:
"*** For instance, it is always good strategy to show the 'clans' up by making them lose face. You do this when you expose their intent to use as bait for other victims. Grand Senior Warden Rogan reports a good example of this in Decatur. The bogus boys there had a popular barber spotted for a 'kill.' The Decatur No. 17 brothers got wind of it and warned this barber that he was about to be fleeced. Impressed by this warning from some of the city's most respected citizens, he immediately sought admission to Decatur Lodge thereby removing a potential operating base for the 'clan.'"
"Another example was provided in Chicago last July. Some members of the Past Masters Council, alert Past Grand Junior Warden Laurence Jones particularly, noticed a sign on a new church reading ' Cornerstone Laying Here Next Sunday by St. John Grand Lodge, A.F.A.Y. Masons.' A committee from the Council came to me on a Tuesday night. Wednesday night, accompanied by Past Master C. A. Scott, who just happened to be a city policeman, I visited the pastor of the church and acquainted him with the situation. He was alarmed as well as chagrined at having been duped. I told him that we would lay the cornerstone. Although I had commitments for speaking engagement on that Sunday in Indianapolis, I arranged with District Deputy C. A. Vanderberg to assume charge and prepare to perform the ceremony. With only three days for preparation about sixty Prince Hall Masons were on hand at the appointed hour. The bogus Grand Master and about fifteen of his followers put in their appearance and were made to look and feel foolish when the pastor informed them that the real Masons were going to lay his cornerstone. Threats to go to court fell on deaf ears and the impostors sneaked away like wet rats. I hear that some of that fifteen have sought admission to Prince Hall Lodges. Alertness, intelligence, uprightness will win the day any time anywhere."
The next illustration comes from the great Keystone State. A case awaiting decision is that of Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania versus a so-called "Widows Son Grand Lodge, AR & A. Colored Masons." This is an appeal from the Court of Common Pleas No. 1, of Philadelphia, No. 1057, of the March Term of 1945. The appeal is No. 145, and was argued in the October 1946, Term of the Superior Court of the state.
According to information which has come to me that if the decision is favorable to our group, it will prove of as great a benefit to the Caucasian branch of the Craft in that state as to our own.
Another illustration of vigilance and one combined with personal courage is down in my records and has reference to an incident in January 1946, which involved certain brethren of Progressive Lodge No. 17, at New Brunswick and Aaron No. 9, of Princeton, both belonging to our New Jersey jurisdiction.
For over three years the members of No. 17, under the guidance of Aldrage B. Cooper, now Grand Junior Warden, had undergone an intensive course in the history of Prince Hall Freemasonry. These brethren have come into possession of a number of items of old and current literature upon the subject, consequently, are very reasonably qualified to discuss and even debate the various phases that might be raised.
A member of No. 17, learned of a meeting to be held in what is known as New Brunswick Heights, for the purpose of organizing a bogus Lodge. Four brethren from Aaron Lodge and a similar number from Progressive, journeyed to the meeting place but found, that due to very inclement weather, the meeting had been postponed but this group kept their "ear to the ground."
Information came to the effect a meeting of the victims was to be held the first part of February so a member of Lodge No. 9, made it possible for himself and other to receive invitations. On the night of the 2nd of that month, Brothers Thomas and Raye of Aaron Lodge and Holman and Schenck of Progressive, really "invaded" the meeting which was held in the home of a probable victim duly armed with numerous items of printed literature. After passing a book around containing an illustration of the Charter of African Lodge and advancing such convincing arguments, the proposed victim then began to question their supposed leaders but these were unable to offer a defense of any character and could only admit they had none to offer because they did not need any form of My report of the incident contains among other facts that one of the leaders of the proposed new Lodge was not only uncouth in his manner but used very offensive language while the other, a "church deacon," was perfectly willing to exhibit his resentment by engaging in fisticuffs but the reader can rest assured the Prince Hall group was able to take care of the situation had such developed.
Our New Jersey brethren deemed that vigorous action was required upon that occasion because the two bogus grand bodies operating within the jurisdiction of New Jersey had indulged in several competitive efforts to get a foothold in that area.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article is
from the reverse side of the application for burial certificate of the Supreme Council of
Louisiana of the Sovereign Grand Inspector Generals 33 and Last Degree.
Masonic jurisdictions derive their authority to work Freemasonry in many ways. We of the
Scottish Rite get our authority from four directions or in four ways. First by our Masonic
lineage, heritage and historical connections; secondly, by charter rights; thirdly by the
General Regulations of the Order; and finally, by our Act of Incorporation.
Our Masonic lineage, heritage, and Masonic connections date back to Mother Kilwinning Lodge No. 0 of Scotland, established in the little town of Kilwinning more than eight hundred years ago. Mother Kilwinning Lodge No. 0 of Scotland established the Mother Lodge at Marseilles, France, about the year 1400. The Mother Lodge at Marseilles, France granted a provisional charter to Polar Star Lodge in New Orleans in 1795. Later in 1804 the Grand Orient of France granted a charter to Polar Star Lodge.
In 1812 a treaty of Masonic Union, alliance, and Confederation was concluded in Paris, France by representatives of the Supreme Council of New York, France, the Empire of Brazil; and Brussels created the United Supreme Council for the Western Hemisphere sitting in New York City. The official representatives for the Supreme Council of New York were the Count St. Laurent, and Marquis, Lafayette.
The United Supreme Council for the Western Hemisphere granted a charter for the establishment of a Grand Consistory in New Orleans in 1813.
The Supreme Council of Louisiana has enjoyed friendly and fraternal relationships with the following grand jurisdictions: Grand Orient of Italy, Grand Orient of Belgium, Harmony Grand Lodge of Delaware, Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Grand Lodge of Hanover, Grand Lodge of France, National Grand Lodge of North America, Grand Orient of Egypt, Grand Orient of Haiti, Supreme Council of Mexico, Eureka Grand Lodge of Louisiana, Grand Orient of France and the Grand Lodge of Mexico.
Our charter rights stem from the original charter granted by the Mother Lodge at Marseilles, France to polar Star Lodge in New Orleans in 1795, and later in 1804 from the charter granted the same lodge by the Grand Orient of France, and from the charter from the United Supreme Council of the Western Hemisphere for the Grand Consistory in New Orleans.
The General Regulations of the Order provide for the establishment of a Supreme Council in any country, state, nations, or territory where no such authority exist. Three Inspector Generals regularly created thirty-third degree Masons may come together and organize a Supreme Council for the government of the Rite. In 1839 there was no governing authority in the United States for the Scottish Rite for all of the five Supreme Councils which existed in the United States were slumbering. Three Inspector Generals; Orazio de Attellis, Marquis de Santaugelo, created a thirty-third degree Mason in the valley of New York on November 16, 1827, Jose Antonio Roca de Santi Pietri, created a thirty-third degree Mason by the National Supreme Council of Spain on April 10, 1832, and J. J. Conte created a thirty-third degree.
Mason by the Supreme Council of the Grand Orient of France on May 20, 1822 met in New Orleans on October 17, 1839 and organized the Supreme Council for the United States of America.
The supreme Council for the United States of America became the Supreme Council of Louisiana by an Act of Incorporation dated March 16, 1870, and granted at an extra session of the Legislature of Louisiana.
Our Masonic lineage, heritage, and historical connections, our charter rights, the provisions of the General Regulations of the Order for the organization of a Supreme Council, and our Act of Incorporation, give us the regularity, constitutionality, and genuineness.
Editors Note: Eureka Grand Lodge (Prince Hall) broke off Masonic intercourse and declared the Supreme Council of Louisiana to be clandestine. See Jno. G. Lewis, Jr. - End of an Era: History of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Louisiana by Joseph A. Walkes, Jr.