Difference between revisions of "MassachusettsNegroFreemasonry"

Revision as of 20:13, 8 July 2013

NEGRO FREEMASONRY IN MASSACHUSETTS

Since the granting of the charter to African Lodge by the Grand Lodge of England, there has been an African-American component to the Craft in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, the difficulties associated with the recognition of its regularity, the activities of the Prince Hall Masonic movement, and the unquestioned issues of prejudice and bigotry have been a part of the relationship between white and black Freemasonry since the beginning.

This page gathers references and commentary on the subject, primarily from the Massachusetts Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. perspective. No judgment on the remarks or declarations is implied or intended; this is a historical reference only.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH PENNSYLVANIA, JUNE 1817

From Proceedings, Page III-101, in regard to allegations made by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania:

The Committee to whom was referred the Consideration of a Communication made by Brother Henry Fowle relating to a conversation which occurred at the City of Philadelphia between himself and several members of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, respectfully Report

That in their opinion a letter of the following import should be forthwith transmitted to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, addressed to the G. Secretary:

To the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and accepted Masons in and for the State of Pensylvania

Strength Health & Prosperity

The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts send Greeting

Whereas a communication has been made to us by Bro. Henry Fowle our Grand Marshall, stating that being at Philadelphia in June 1816, he had the honor to be introduced to many Masons of high rank and eminence, among whom were Members of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania the conversation naturally turned upon the State of Masonry generally. Bro. Fowle observed that some of the Gentlemen seemed to speak with indifference of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, and on enquiring the cause was much surprised to be informed by the Rt. Worshipful William McCorkle, Esq., and others that they understood that the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts had granted a Charter to a number of Black Masons & patronized their Lodge; this they deemed derogatory to the honor of the Craft and was the reason that the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania had ceased to correspond with her Sister the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. . .

Bro. Fowle merely observed that they had been misinformed and that he would state the affair to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts who would no doubt immediately refute the calumny & vindicate their own honor. The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts therefore think proper to state that they have never granted a Charter to black Masons . . . That they have never heard of a Black Mason's requesting to visit a Lodge under this jurisdiction . . . That they have never countenanced the visits of Masons to the African Lodge . . . They have been informed however that prompted by Curiosity several reputable Masons have visited the African Lodge and examined their Charter, records and mode of working, and from them they learn that their Charter was obtained from the Grand Lodge of England, about the close of the Revolution.

The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, know nothing more of the African Lodge, but will be always happy to answer any Communication, which the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania may please to make, and in the mean time hope for the renewal of that friendly intercourse and Brotherly love which among Members of the same family should ever prevail.

by order of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts
EDWARD TURNER, Corresponding Grand Secretary

The above is respectfully submitted by
HENRY FOWLE,
ZACH G. WHITMAN,
Committee

The foregoing communication was read, accepted and directed to be transmitted by the Corresponding Grand Secretary

NOTE ON PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE, MARCH 1847

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. VI, No. 5, March 1847, Page 139:

AFRICAN LODGE, IN BOSTON.

Our readers will recollect that about a year ago we had occasion, in reply to inquiries at that time addressed to us, to refer to the existence of the African Lodge in this city. Among the letters then received, asking for information on the subject, was one from the late Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of New York,-our answer to which will be found incorporated in the following report, adopted by that Grand Rody, at its annual session in June last:-

To the M. W. Grand Lodge of the Slate of New York:

The undersigned, to whom was committed the memorial of a number of persons holding a Lodge in this city, called Boyer Lodge, No. 1, presented to this Grand Lodge in June last, has to report,- That, according to instructions, he has inquired into the facts set forth in said memorial, and finds that the memorialists have been entirely ignorant of Masonic history, and of their own particular history, or otherwise that they very deliberately attempted to impose upon this Grand Lodge as historical facts, what they knew to be untrue.

Said memorial sets forth, "that the Boyer Lodge, No.1, of the City of New York, had been some nineteen or twenty years regularly and legally constituted and installed, as a Master Masons Lodge, with a legal Warrant or Charter, issued from the Rt. W. African Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the City of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, whose Charter empowering them to Charter Lodges in the United States of America, is from the M. W. Gr. Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland, and is now half a century old, being dated the 29th September, A. D. 1784, and of Masonry, 5784, Robert Rolf, D. G. M., and Wm. White, G. Secretary, with the seal of the M. W. G. Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of London, signed by Lord Howard, Earl of Effingham, then acting as Grand Master, under his Royal Highness, Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland." This simple sentence presents a mass of gross absurdities and of false facts; mingling in the Fraternity of the African Lodge in Boston, the two Grand Lodges then in England, and the G. Lodge of Scotland.

To correct this statement, In part, the memorialists have recently presented another paper, in which they say: "We beg leave to state, that the Boyer Lodge, in petitioning your honorable Body in May last, that they fell into an error, if they stated that the African Grand Lodge of Boston, who Chartered us, received their Charter from the Grand Lodge of Scotland, we only intended to state that we was informed that they petitioned that body for a Charter, and in due time received one, bearing the Grand Seal of London, &c. &c. We have recently received a letter from ollr correspondent and Brother, Robert T. Crucefix, stating that the Warrant was granted to the African Grand Lodge of Boston, by the Grand Lodge of England, in the year 1784, and was numbered 459, and that the Grand Lodge of Scotland hod nothing to do with it." They then insert an extract of a letter from Dr. Crucefix, in which it will be noticed he does not call it the African Grand Lodge, as above set forth, but says that "the African Lodge of Boston received its Warrant from the Grand Lodge of England, in the year 1784, and was numbered 459, on the Registry; the Warrant was signed by Rowland Holt, D. G. Master, and countersigned by Wm. White, G. Sec'ry, the father of our present G. Sec'ry. This I find all regularly entered in the books of our Grand Lodge; consequently, any connection with the Grand Lodge of Scotland is out of the question."

1'he undersigned having requested the Rt. W. CHARLES W. MOORE, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, to endeavor to see the Charter of the so called African Grand Lodge of Boston, and if possible, obtain a copy thereof, begs leave to incorporate the following extract from Br. Moore's letter, dated July 26, 1845:-

"I called, agreeably to your request, on Mr Hilton, who, I believe, is the Master of the African Lodge in this city,-stated to him the object of my visit, and asked permission to see the Charter of his Lodge. He informed me that there was a difficulty between his and Boyer Lodgre, of long standing, - that they had nothing to do with that Lodge, nor would they have, until the difference referred to was settled. He further stilted, that they were entirely independent of all white Lodges, asked no favors of them, and would have nothing to do with them; nor would they admit a white Mason, if he should present himself as a visitor. In the course of the conversation, he distinctly said, that he had been told by them people, (meaning Boyer Lodge,) to have no communication with any body on the subject of their recognition by the Grand Lodge of New York. He also positively and repeatedly refused to allow me to see the Charter of his Lodge, or to give me any information in relation to its history or present existence. It is proper for me to add, that my convenation with him was kind and gentle. I explicitly stated to him that I did not call officially, but as a friend, and at your request, with a view to ascertain whether Boyer Lodge was a regularly constituted Lodge, such as the Grand Lodge of New York could recognize.

"This Lodge (African,) has, unquestionably, a Charter of some kind. Twenty years ago I saw it; and my impression is, that it is an ordinary Lodge Charter; but whether genuine or not, I am unable to say. I have understood that it was surreptitiously obtained, (through the agency of a Sea Captain,) from one of the two Grand Lodges then in England; bllt I can lind no such record in the proceedings of either of those bodies. I have a list of the Lodges chartered by the G. Lodge of Scotland, up to 1804. It contains the name of St. Andrew's Lodge, in Boston, chartered in 1756, but it does not bear the name of African Lodge, nor does it furnish any evidence, nor have I ever met with any, (to my recollection,) that the Grand Lodge of Scotland ever granted a Charter for more than one Lodge in Boston, viz: St. Andrews. The only Provincial Grand Lodge ever formed in Massachusetts, under authority derived from the Grand Lodge of Scotland, was that over which Gen. Wllrren presided, in 1769, - and the only one by authority from England, was St. John's Grand Lodge, in 1733. If there be others, claiming such powers, they are spurious.

"The African Lodge has never been recognized by the Grand Lodge of this Commonwealth. Applications have several times been made by its members for admission to our Lodges, but they have generally, if not always, been refused. Mr. Hilton stated to me, that he had once, through the influence of a friend, gained admission into one of our out-of-town Lodges. If so, the Brother who introduced him, laid himself open to censure, and would have been dealt with, had the circumstance come to the knowledge of the Grand Lodge. That the course of our Grand Lodge, in reference to African Lodge, is not the result of prejudice, it is only necessary for me to say, that within the last month, a colored Brother from England, has visited, and been kindly received, in one of our city Lodges.

"Such is the state of the case, so far as I am able to communicate it. The argument does not belong to me; but you will permit me to inquire, whether your Grand Lodge is prepared to recognize any real or pretended Lodge, existing within another jurisdiction, before it has been recoguized by the Grand Lodge of that jurisdiction ? Again,- does your Grand Lodge allow other Grand Lodges to establish Lodges within its jurisdiction? And is it ready to recognize Lodges so established?"

These three questions have been, by repeated decision of this Grand Lodge, answered in the negative; and according to the treaty stipulations entered into by this, and other Grand Lodges of this continent, soon after the revolution, and the uniform resistance of every encroachment upon the sole jurisdiction of tbe several Grand Lodges, down to the present time; these questions can be answered only in the negative.

The undersigned would further state, that the legality of the Body called Boyer Lodge, No. 1, has been already twice reported on by Committees of this Grand Lodge; on the 3d of March, 1812, and on the 4th of March, 1829; in the latter report, the main facts were correctly stated, and able argument sustained, and the conclusion drawn, that Boyer Lodge, No.1, can be regarded only as a clandestine Lodge; the undersigned can arrive only at the same conclusion, it being established beyond doubt, that the African Lodge at Boston was illegally established by the Grand Lodge of England, within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts; that its name has been long stricken from the roll of the Grand Lodge of England, that its assumed authority to grant Warrants was unmasonic and fraudulent; and further, that the statement contained in the memorial of said Boyer Lodge, that it has been "regularly and legally constituted and installed as a Master Masons' Lodge, with a legal Warrant or Charter," is totally unfounded.

All of which is respectfully submitted.
New York, June 2d, 1846.
JAMES HERRING, G. Sec'ry.

Since writing the letter from which the extract in the foregoing report is taken, a friend andBrother has handed us the folluwing document, which was published in the papers of this city in 1827, but had entirely escaped our recollection. We give it as an important part of the history of the Lodge in question :-

AFRICAN LODGE-No. 459. Greeting:

"BE it known to all whom it may concern - That we, the Master, Wardens, and Members of the African Lodge, No. 459, city of Boston, (Mass.) U. S. of America, hold in our possession a certain unlimited Charter, granted Sept. 29, A. D., 5784, A. D. 1784, by Thomas Howard, Earl of Effingham, Acting Grand Master, under the authority of his Royal Highness Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, &c. &c. &c., Grand Master of the most ancient and honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons. Be it further known, that the Charter alluded to bears the seal of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge at London, England, and was presented to our much esteemed and worthy Brethren and predecessor, Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson, and several others, agreeably to a humbla petition of theirs, sent in form to the above Grand LOdge. Be it remembered, that according to correct information as regards this instrument, and the manner in which it was given, it appears to have been confined exclusively to the Africans, and to certain conditions. Whether these conditions have been complied with by our ancestors, we are nnable to say; but we can add, that in consequence of the decease of the above named Brothers, the institution was, for years, unable to proceed, for the want of one to conduct its affairs. agreeably to what is required in every regular and well conducted Lodge of Masons. It is now, however, with great pleasure, we state, that the present age has arrived to that degree of proficiency in the art, that we can, at any time, select from among us many, whose capacity to govern, enables them to preside, with as much good order, dignity and propriety, as any other Lodge within our knowledge. This fact can be proved by gentlemen of respectability, whose knowledge of Masonry would not be questioned by anyone well acquainted with the art. Since the rise of the Lodge to this degree of proficiency, we concluded it was best and proper to make it knowlI to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge from whence we derive our Charter, by sending written documents and monies, to fulfil the agreements of our ancestors, giving information of the low state to which it had fallen, its cause, &c., with its rise and progress; and also, soliciting further favors, whereby we might be placed on a different and better standing than we had heretofore.

And notwithstanding this has been long since done, and more than sufficient time has elapsed for returns, yet we have never received a single line or reply from that Hon. Society. In consequence of this neglect, we have been at a stand what course to pursue. Our remote situation prevents us from making any verbal communication whatever. 'raking all these things Into consideration, we have come to the conclusion, that with what knowledge we possess of Masonry, and as people of color by ourselves, we are, and ought by rights to be, free and independent of other Lodges. We do, therefore, with this belief, publicly declare ourselves free and independent of any Lodge from this day - and that we will not be tributary, or governed by any Lodge than that of our own. We agree solemnly to abide by all proper rules and regulations which govern the like fraternities - discountenancing all imposition to injure the Order - and to use all fair and honorable means to promote its prosperity; resting in full hope that this will enable us to transmit it in its purity to our posterity, for their enjoyment.

"Done at the Lodge, this, the 18th June, A. L. 5827, A. D. 1827. In full testimony of what has been written, we here affix our names.

JOHN T. HILTON, R. W. M.
THOMAS DALTON, Sen. Warden.
LEWIS YORK, Jun. Warden.
J. H. PURROW, Secretary."

There is a discrepancy between the above and the statement given by Dr. Crucefix, as to the name of the acting Grand Master by whom the Charter was granted; but in this Br. Crucefix may have been mistaken. The name, and number, and date agree; and there can be no doubt that both parties refer to the same Charter, nor that it was originally genuine. Nor have we any doubt that it was years ago' forfeited to the Grand Lodge of England, from which it was derived, and from whose roll it was stricken about the beginning of the present century.

NOTE ON PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE, JULY 1848

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. VII, No. 9, July 1848, Page 262:

AFRICAN GRAND LODGE.

We understand that a body of colored persons has recently been organized in this city, under the name of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge. It claims to be a Masonic body, and to have under its jurisdiction one or more subordinate Lodges, and, we believe, one or more Chapters; or, at all events, there are colored persons connected with it, who claim to be R. A. Masons. We understand, also, that they derive their authority to form a Grand Lodge from a body, located either in New York or Philadelphia, styling itself the "General Grand Lodge of the United States."

This is about all we know respecting the matter; and our object in referring to it at this time, is merely to say, that there are no Lodges of colored Masons in this city, or any other part of the United States, that are recognised and acknowledged by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, or, to our knowledge, by any other regularly constituted Grand Lodge in this country; and the same thing is true, so far as we are informed, as regards the Chapters, and all other Masonic bodies. We have thought the statement of this fact important, in order that our Brethren in distant States may not be imposed upon.

We sometime since gave the history of the establishment of the "African Lodge" of colored persons in this city. (Vide this Magazine, Vol. VI, p. 139.) The facts were then fully and correctly stated, and need not now, theiefore, be repeated. The Charter was granted in 1784, though not received until 1787. It was obtained by a Capt. Scott, master of a London packet, sailing out of this port. We have always understood that Scott represented to the authorities at London, (the Duke of Cumberland being Grand Master,) that the petitioners were white persons, and that on the strength of his misrepresentations in this and other respects, the Charter, after having been withheld for two or three years subsequent to its date, was finally sent out, and the Lodge was organized under the immediate auspices of Mr. Prince Hall, a colored person, at that time of some distinction among his own people in this city. It was never recognized by the Grand Lodge of this State; nor has there ever been any Masonic intercourse between the two bodies.

HAYDEN PETITION, DECEMBER 1868 AND AFTER

In December 1868 a petition was presented to the Grand Lodge by a group of black Freemasons; it was referred to committee during the following year.

From Proceedings, December 1868, Page VII-259:

A petition signed by Lewis Hayden and several others, claiming to be Ancient, Free, and Accepted Masons, and asking to be recognized as such, was received, read, and on motion of R. W. Bro. John T. Heard, was referred to R. W. Brothers John T. Heard, George W. Warren, Bradford L. Wales, Isaac Hull Wright, Charles Levi Woodbury, Tracy P. Cheever, and Charles W. Moore.

From Proceedings, June 1869, Page VII-454:

R. W. Br. John T. Heard, Chairman of the committee on the following petition of Lewis Hayden and others made their report:

PETITION

To the Most Worshipful Ancient and Honerable Society of Free and Accepted Masons for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

We the undersigned, represent that in the year seventeen hundred and seventy five the rites of Masonry were conferred in an Army Lodge attached to the British Army then stationed at this Port upon Prince Hall, Thomas Sanderson, Boston Smith, John Main, John Hartfield, William H. Gregory, Charles Spooner, John Carter, and others who were soon after organized as, and dispensated into, a Lodge.

Being thus organized they made application to Major General Warren for a Charter, from whom it appears encouragement was received, but after his fall no more was heard of it.

In seventeen hundred and seventy nine the petition was again renewed, We do not know that an official answer was ever returned but tradition informs us that it was made sport of in the Massachusetts Grand Lodge which fact being made known to them they said "This shall never discourage us, nor move us from our purpose we have undertaken, and we will accomplish our design, we will petition to foreigners for what is denied us at home."

The condition of the colored population of the State at that time, denied as they were of the benefits of education for the support of which-they were taxed, together with public opinion as then existing and expressed through the journals of that epoch forbade the recognition of the negro as a man and a brother. This can readily be seen from the fact that African Slavery and the slave trade were then lawful in this Commonwealth, and as a consequence, the pecuniary interests of the Masons of that age transcended their obligations to the brotherhood of man. Nor was it until seventeen hundred and eighty three that the institution of slavery was abolished; since which time no man has been born in this Commonwealth otherwise than free. We say their condition together with public opinion from the fact that Prince Hall and his associates were denied even the right of assembling except by special permit of the authorities of the town of Boston.

Laboring under these disadvantages the love of Masonry prompted and necessity forced them, to petition the Grand Lodge of England for a Charter and in the year seventeen hundred and eighty four (up to which time no official answer was given their petition by the Massachusetts Grand Lodge) it resulted in the granting of Charter 459 dated Sept. 29th seventeen eighty four, which is now in our possession a true copy of which is here annexed:

"The seal of the
Grand Lodge of
Masons London."

Effingham A. G. M. To all & every one Right Worshipful and loving Brethren, We Thomas Howard, &c. &c., Earl of Effingham - Lord Howard, Acting Grand Master under the authority of His Royal Highness, Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, &c, &c, &c. Grand Master of the Most Ancient and Honerable Society of Free and Accepted Masons sends Greeting:

Know ye, that we, at the humble petition of our right trusty and well beloved Brethren, Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson, and several other Brethren residing in Boston, New England, in North America do hereby constitute the said Brethren into a regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons under the title or denomination of the African Lodge, to be opened in Boston, aforesaid and do further at their said petition, hereby appoint the said Prince Hall to be Master, Boston Smith, Senior Warden, and Thomas Sanderson, Junior Warden, for opening the said Lodge, and for such further time as shall be thought proper by the Brethren thereof, it being our will that this our appointment of the above officers shall in no wise affect any future election of officers of the Lodge, but that such election shall be regulated agreeable to such By Laws of the said Lodge as shall be consistent with the general laws of the society, contained in the Book of Constitutions, and we hereby will and require you, the said Prince Hall, to take special care that all and every one of the said Brethren are or have been regularly made Masons, and that they do observe, perform, and keep all the rules and orders contained in the Book of Constitutions: and further, that you do, from time to time, cause to be entered in a book kept for that purpose, an account of your proceedings in the Lodge, together with all such rules, orders, and regulations, as shall be made for the good government of the same, that in no wise you omit, once in every year to send to us, our successors, Grand Masters or to Rowland Holt, Esq. our Deputy Grand Master, for the time being, an account in writing of your said proceedings, and copies of all such rules, orders, and regulations as shall be made as aforesaid, together with a list of the members of the Lodge, and such a sum of money as may suit the circumstances of the Lodge and reasonably be expected, towards the Grand Charity, Moreover we hereby will and require you, the said Prince Hall as soon as conveniently may be, to send an account in writing of what may be done by virtue of these presents.

Given at London under our hand and seal of Masonry this 29th day of September A, L. 5784, A. D. 1784.
By the Grand Master's command
ROWLAND HOLT D. G. M.
Witness WILLIAM WHITE
Grand Secretary.

By the authority of this Charter they opened a regular and perfect Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the town of Boston, in which they initiated, passed and raised Master Masons, This they continued to do as a subordinate Lodge until the year eighteen hundred and eight at which time there being three Lodges among us, one in Boston, one in Philadelphia and one in Providence, they, under Prince Hall, organized a Grand Lodge in this town, aforesaid which Grand Lodge granted Charters to the several subordinates now existing under the titles and denominations of "Rising Sons of St. Johns' No. 3," "Union No. 2," and "Celestial Lodge No. 4.

It also granted Charters in several other States which have organized themselves into Grand Lodges.

The three first remaining, continued their existence under their old Charters until eighteen hundred and forty seven in which year the National Grand Lodge was formed.

The African Grand Lodge of Boston becoming a part of that body surrendered its charter and received its present Charter, dated, December 11th. Eighteen hundred and forty seven, under the title of Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and by which authority we this day exist as a Masonic body, and subordinate to it are the following named Lodges with their respective locality and membership.

• Union Lodge, No. 2. Boston, 40 Members.
• Rising Sons of St. Johns, No. 3, Boston, 43 Members.
• Celestial Lodge, No. 4, Boston, 52 Members.
• Union, No. 7, New Bedford, 38 Members.
• Eureka, No. 11. Savannah, Geo., 19 Members.
• Sumner, No. 12, Springfield, 29 Members.
• Hilton, No 13, Savannah, Geo., 21 Members.

Hayden Lodge, No. 8, Charleston S.C. withdrawn Oct 1868, and with other Lodges, formed a Grand Lodge for the State of South Carolina. The requisite number of Lodges out of which to form a Grand Lodge are already in existence in Georgia and we doubt not will soon organize a Grand Lodge for that State.

Notwithstanding our changed condition enjoying as we do the benefits of education, and the favorable growth of public opinion, it is questionable, after a lapse of ninety three years of unsullied Masonic existence on our part, aided by Civilization and progress, whether the Masons of to-day unlike their ancestors, free from the perplexing connection with slavery, it having been blotted from the annals of the Continent, are ready to assent to the recognition and truly cosmopolitan character of our fraternity, we are prompted to enter this our humble plea for equal Masonic manhood in the hope that we be permitted to establish our claim to Masonic rite by whatever means the most worshipful Grand Lodge may suggest.

Signed,

• Lewis Hayden, Edwd. C. Ruhler, John J. Smith. Richard S. Brown, John W. Rice, Stephen R. Dorsey, George W. Brown, Joseph P. Hawkins. Francis P. Gray, Joseph Jo. Harvey, Thomas Pritchett. John W. Johnson, Alfred R. Lewis, Thomas McCarppy, William H. W. Derby, John H. Dorsay, Charles H, Greeland. L, V, Johnson, Chas. A. Rickson, Robert Dorsay, A. B, Cannedy, D. H, Corney, Moses Olmstead, Wm Gray. Master Masons of Boston.
• Members of Union Lodge No. 7 of New Bedford: Anthony G. Jourdain Jr., George H. Mitchell, James Thomas. George Delavan, Augustus D. Piper, John A. Austin. Andrew M. Bush, Joseph M, Scott, Charles H. Brook, Charles F. Ferguson, W. M. Jackson, Henry F. Martin, James Wiggins, Edward Jackson, Parker (his X mark) Samplings, Charles H. Carter, Joseph H. Smith, John W, Davis, George H, Braywood, Daniel B. Smith, William H. Watkins, John W.

Williams, Michael Wainer, Jr., Thomas Tillman, Walter S. Tilghman.

• Members of Sumner Lodge No. 12 Springfield: Thos. Thomas, Geo. H. Queen, C. A. Purvis, W. M. Montague, David Jennings, I. J. Baptist, Paylon Washington, W. H. Adams, Charles W. Hall, I. N. Howard, J. W. Francis, Eli. S. Baptist, Samuel R. Scottron, S. E. Wright. Henry 0, Thermann. A. Glasco, Charle Dawson, C. K. Dorsey, L. B, Askin, John Q. Jones, W. J. Lynch.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE

Report of Committee on the above petition.

To the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge:

The Committee to whom was referred the petition of Lewis Hayden and others would respectfully report:

That the petitioners are black men, who though they are not members or initiates of Lodges under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, nor of regular Lodges within the jurisdiction of any Grand Lodge in correspondence with it, still claim that they are Masons and desire to be recognized as such by this Grand Lodge, They plead, in the terms of the petition "for equal Masonic manhood in the hope that we be permitted to establish our claim to Masonic rite by whatever means the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge may suggest."

There are three classes of signers of the petition, namely, 1, Lewis Hayden and twenty four others, who style themselves. Master Masons of Boston. 2. Anthony P. Jourdain, Jr. and twenty five others who designate themselves as members of Union Lodge No. 7. of New Bedford. 3, Thomas Thomas and twenty others, who claim to be "officers and Members of Sumner Lodge No. 12 of Springfield. The petitioners do not avowedly represent either of these Lodges or any others: so that their statements and prayer should be regarded as expressions of individual persons, rather than the representations and request of the Lodges mentioned in the petition.

The petition refers to the origin and progress of the so-called Freemasonry to which the petitioners belong, and embraces a copy of a Charter which certain black men, therein recognized as Masons, obtained in 1784, from the Grand Lodge of England and received by them in 1787.

Your committee have examined the Charter and believe it is authentic: but as they do not deem it to be necessary at this time to investigate the historical statement contained in the petition: they have not inquired into its legal Masonic effect, nor whether any proper organization under it ever took place. The petitioners include only a portion of the persons who claim to derive privileges from this instrument, when it is obvious that the granting of their prayer for the reasons they advance, would equally benefit their associates who have not joined in the petition, and over whom therefore, this Grand Lodge would have no control. Under these circumstances, it is not necessary to inquire into the validity of the proceedings of the persons named in the charter or whether the petitioners have any just claim to be considered their successors.

Lodges professing to be Masonic existing in this Commonwealth without the sanction of this Grand Lodge, are irregular and spurious, and the members of them are of course denied Masonic intercourse with members of regular Lodges, and they and their members, including the petitioners, are not recognized by the Craft.

Our Constitutions make no distinction on account of the color of persons who desire the benefits of Freemasonry, and there are no rules or regulations whereby the petitioners if "worthy and well qualified," are excluded from our fraternity, if they seek admission through duly organized Lodges.

Your Committee recommend that the petitioners have leave to withdraw.

All of which is respectfully submitted JOHN T. HEARD,
G. WASHINGTON WARREN,
BRADFORD L. WALES,
ISAAC H. WRIGHT,
CHARLES W. MOORE
TRACY P. CHEEVER
CHARLES LEVI WOODBURY

The report was accepted.

Massachusetts Main Page