1st question. Who were the Colored Men in the state of Massachusetts
that have advertised themselves and who claimed to have been made Master
Masons in a White Masonic Lodge in the state of Massachusetts. Can you
state the time and place and under what circumstances they have asserted
that it occurred?
1st Answer. The Colored Men in the state of Massachusetts that have been
advertised of having been made Master Masons, were Prince Hall, Boston
Smith, Thomas Sanderson and two or three others. They have said and have
tried to make someone believe that they were made Master Masons in a
White Masonic Lodge that was called a Traveling Masonic Lodge and that
it was connected with General Gages Military Regiment at Boston
Massachusetts on the 6th of March 1775 and that this White Masonic Lodge
in General Gages Military Regiment, they said, held a charter from the
Grand Lodge of England, and replying to that unwarranted statement made
and published by the leaders of the spurious Prince Hall Grand Lodge of
Massachusetts, for the Grand Lodge of England has repeatedly said that
they did not have any masonic lodge in General Gages Military Regiment
when that regiment was in the United States and the question has time
after time been asked the members of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of
Massachusetts and particularly those in Massachusetts that claim to know
so much about it to give the name and the number of that masonic lodge
that Prince Hall, Boston Smith and Thomas Sanderson was made master
masons in that was connected with General Gages Military Regiment which
was then in the United States, and these wily fellows and Masonic
intervators have never been able to give us any information as to what
the name or even the number of this Masonic Lodge that they say was in
General Gages Military Regiment. And inasmuch as no person has ever been
found that could furnish any genuine information about this matter there
is no doubt but the statements that have been paraded around the country
about this matter were bare-faced, willful and malicious falsehoods, and
in the absence of any proof to confirm their statements it is very safe
to say that Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson and their
associates simply went to bed at night and dreamed that they had been
made Master Masons and got up next morning with their minds in a high
state of hallucination and really thought it was so, when as a matter of
fact there was nothing, nothing in it, and they simply drew on their
imaginations.
2nd question. What was the name of the first lodge of Colored Men who
belonged to the Masonic fraternity in the state of Mass.?
2nd Answer. The name of the first Colored Lodge of Masons in the state
of Massachusetts was a lodge named African Lodge No. 459.
3rd question. When was the first Grand Lodge of Colored Masons organized
in the state of Mass.?
3rd Answer. The name of the first Grand Lodge of Colored Masons that was
organized in the state of Mass. was a Grand Lodge that was designated as
African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Mass.
4th question. How many lodges took part in the organization of African
Grand Lodge of Modern Masons that was organized at Boston Mass. on the
24th of June 1791?
4th Answer. There was only one lodge that took part in the organization
of African Grand Lodge of Masons of Mass. on the 24th of June 1791 at
Boston Mass. when the Masonic law and landmarks of Freemasonry have said
that in order to organize a regular Grand Lodge it requires not less
than three warranted lodges, that has been the Masonic law both in this
country and in Europe and has been followed and strictly adhered to by
every well regulated and lawful Masonic Grand Lodge since the year of
1717 down to the present day and not otherwise.
5th question. What is meant by the words F. & A. M.?
5th Answer. Free and Accepted Mason the words and title of Free and
Accepted Mason is an innovation in Masonry and was adopted by Masons who
did not wish to follow the early established custom rules and principles
of the Masonic fraternity.
6th question. What is meant by the words and title A. F. & A. M.?
6th Answer. The words A. F. & A. M. means Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons which words and title are of ancient origin and should be used
and adopted by every well regulated Masonic subordinate lodge and Grand
Lodge in this country. For it is in keeping with the early ancient
Masonic laws rules and regulations of the Masonic fraternity.
7th question. What is meant by the words and title of states rights,
masons as you so often hear in the state of Texas by the masons who
belong to the so-called Grand Lodge of Texas that J. W. McKinney is the
Grand Master of and also the so-called Grand Lodge of the State of New
York that one individual who goes by the name of Henry A. Spencer who
advertises himself as being the Grand Master of the so-called Grand
Lodge of Colored Masons of the state of New York which is a self
constituted and bogus grand body?
7th Answer. The best application and definition that can be given to
those masons who call themselves state right masons is that they are no
masons at all. For if a man is a legal and genuine mason he is a mason
all over the world, and is to be recognized as a mason in every land and
in every country, but the masons in the state of Texas that belong to
the McKinney Grand Lodge in Texas and the self constituted Grand Lodge
in the state of New York that Henry A. Spencer is at the head of they
are not recognized all over the world and these being state institutions
and the masons who belong in Texas and of New York are not recognized as
legitimate masons in any part of the world.
8th question. What is meant by the numbers of 3, 5 and 7?
8th Answer. The fundamental numbers in Freemasonry are 3, 5 and 7, and
of these, by far the most essential is the number 3. The three principal
columns are Wisdom, Strength and Beauty, and a lodge is supported by
them.
The number "three" derived its significance in the early period of
antiquity, and back in the ages of the earliest centuries, no court of
law was legally organized unless three judges were present, and these
tribunals perpetuated ancient temples worshipped frequently, if not
invariably convened, under trees, in imitation of the Scandinavian ash.
Seven threes were prescribed as the highest number. The judges were
absolutely required to open and regularly hold a court of justice. The
maximum was seven, and in some cases five were demanded to proceed in
due form to adjudicate upon the matter brought before them. These
practices in early days present a solution of the Masonic landmark that
three or more members are necessary to open or close a Masonic lodge.
9th question. What is meant by the word and title of A. F. & A. Y.
Masons?
9th Answer. A. F. & A. Y. Masons means Ancient, Free and Accepted York
Masons, the city of York is in the north part of England it is
celebrated for its traditional connection with Freemasonry in England.
The first charter granted in England to the Masons as a body was by
authority and power of King Athelstan, in the year of 926 at York,
England and the application was made by Prince Edwin and Prince Edwin
summoned all the Masons in England to meet him in congregation at the
City of York, England and from this assemblage of Masons at York the
letter "Y" originated. Prince Edwin was elected Grand Master of the
Grand Lodge that was organized at York England in 926. From the
commencement of 926 of the assembly of Masons at York the letter "Y"
commenced, and has been known among members of the Masonic fraternity
and at the establishing of the Grand Lodge at York, England in the year
926 they adopted a constitution and general regulation for the craft.
Prince Edwin, the brother of King Athelstan of England was an eminent
and distinguished Mason and King Athelstan was the grandson of King
Alfred the first anointed King of England who translated the Holy Bible
into the Saxon language.
The Grand Lodge that was established in York, England in 926 prospered
and flourished. The City of York, England was the seat of Masonic
government of the craft in England.
THE MASK STRIPPED OFF OF THE CLANDESTINE SPURIOUS AND UNLAWFUL SELF
CONSTITUTED ORGANIZATION OF FREEMASONRY
Among Colored Men in the State of Massachusetts Under the Supervision
and Control of the Self Styled Illegitimate Prince Hall Grand Lodge of
Massachusetts Dissected and Exposed and is now in the Limelight of Day.
The self styled Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Mass. and the Grand Lodges
among Colored Masons that recognized them and affiliated with them have
time after time published in their printed proceedings to the Masonic
world that Freemasonry among Colored Men in the state of Mass. commenced
at the time when Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson and their
associates were made master masons that it was in a white lodge and that
this White Masonic Lodge was connected with General Gages Military
Regiment, and that this Military Regiment was at Boston Mass. March the
6th 1775 and the Masonic Lodge that was claimed to be connected with
General Gages Military Regiment holds its charter of power and authority
from the Grand Lodge of England and they positively state in language
that it is so plain that it cannot be misunderstood that Prince Hall,
Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson and their followers was made Master
Masons on the 6th of March 1775 at Boston Mass. if any person has any
doubt about the matter read the printed Masonic proceedings of the
Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Mass. of 1875, 1876 and 1877 and the year of
1903 and 1904. See the History of Freemasonry among Colored Men in the
State of Mass. by the late Louis Hayden past Grand Master of the Prince
Hall Grand Lodge of Mass. See the Grand Lodge proceedings of Illinois
for the year of 1873, 1874 and 1875. See the Grand Lodge proceedings of
Pennsylvania of 1865, 1872, and 1876. See the historical facts of
Freemasonry among Colored Men in the United States published by J. M.
Conna of Connecticut in the year of 1876. See the history of Freemasonry
among Colored Men in the United States by W. H. Grimshaw of Washington
D. C. 1903. These and many other Grand Lodges make the same statement.
Now to show you that these ignoramuses and peddlers of Masonic falsehood
did not even know or have the slightest conception of what they were
talking about. They hastened to put their ignorant and prejudice
imagination and conclusions into print which has been the cause and the
means of bringing confusion among the craft.
The records of the War department of the English Government show that
General Gages Military Regiment was not in the United States of America
and located at Boston Mass. in the year of 1772-1773 and in the middle
part of the year of 1774. It appears from the record of the English War
department that General Gages Military Regiment which was stationed at
Boston Mass. was in the middle part of 1774 recalled to England and did
not return back to the United States again. And a number of voluminous
articles has on several occasions appeared in numerous American
magazines by some of our American Military Generals relative to the
occupation of British soldiers on American soil in the year of 1774,
1775, 1776 and you will find that they do not mention or refer to the
name of General Gages Military Regiment being present in Boston Mass. in
the year 1775 at Boston Mass. but they do refer to General Gages
Military Regiment being in the United States at Boston in the year of
1772 and 1773 and the middle part of the year of 1774 and having been
recalled by the English government. In the National Magazine of the
month of June 1907 an article there appeared in that magazine relative
to the withdrawal by the English War Department of General Gages
Regiment from Massachusetts in the year of 1774.
And upon further investigation of this matter we find that General Gages
Military Regiment which Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson and
their associates claim to have been made Master Masons on the 6th of
March 1775 at Boston Mass. that General Gages Regiment was not in the
United States at that time. This was published by a circular issued by
James Barnett Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New York. See the
proceedings of the organization of the second Grand Lodge of Colored
Masons Of the state of New York James Barnett in the year of 1848. See
the circular letter of Jacob Francis Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge
of New York on Oct. 25th 1848, and they state the same thing that
General Gages Military Regiment was not in the United States of America
March the 6th 1775 and that being true how can it be possible that
Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson and their associates could
have been made Master Masons in a Lodge in General Gages Military
Regiment on the 6th of March 1775 at Boston Mass. when General Gages
Military Regiment was not in the United States of America. It shows
conclusively that the introduction of Freemasonry in the State of Mass.
among Colored Men was not only unlawful and a fraud and sham, but that
the statements coming from those individuals from the State of Mass. was
untruthful and unreliable and they simply told beyond all peradventure
of a doubt, a bare-faced, wilful and malicious lie, and which had been
manufactured for the very purpose of misleading and hoodwinking the
Colored People of this country.
I am satisfied that the claim put forth by the members of the spurious
Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Mass. that Prince Hall and his associates
claiming that they were made Master Masons in a Lodge in General Gages
Military Regiment on March the 6th 1775 at Boston Mass. is a falsehood
and a complete misrepresentation from beginning to end for there is not
a particle of genuine documentary evidence that has ever been presented
to sustain or reply upon anything that the followers and Members of the
Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Mass. has ever said or written.
AFRICAN GRAND LODGE OF MODERN MASONS OF MASSACHUSETTS ORGANIZED WITH
ONLY ONE LODGE ON THE 24TH OF JUNE 1791 AT BOSTON MASS.
The first Grand Lodge of Colored Masons in the State of Mass. was named
African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Mass. and it was organized with
only one Lodge and the name of that Lodge was African Lodge No. 459 this
occurred on the 24th of June 1791 at Boston Mass. See the circular of
the proceedings of the organization of African Grand Lodge of Modern
Mason of Mass. organized June the 24th 1791 at Boston Mass. and signed
by Prince Hall Grand Master and Prince Taylor Grand Secretary of the
African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Mass. See the printed
proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Illinois in 1867. See the printed
proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Iowa when it was organized in the year
of 1881 when John Page was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of
Colored Masons of the State of Iowa in 1881.
See the circular and the Masonic proceedings issued by J. H. Hall Grand
Secretary of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey in the year of 1873. See the
proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee when Nelson McGavoc was
Grand Master and Abraham Smith was Grand Secretary in the year of 1874.
See the circular issued by the Grand Lodge of New York in 1874 when W.
C. H. Curtis was Grand Master, and Albert Woodson was Grand Secretary.
See the printed proceedings of the various sessions of the Grand Lodge
of Mass. See the history of Freemasonry in the United States among
Colored Men by J. N. Conna of Connecticut together with the Published
statements of a number of other Grand Lodges and they all emphatically
state and agree in language that is not uncertain, that the first Grand
Lodge of Colored Masons organized in the State of Mass. was African
Grand Lodge of Modern Masons which was organized with only one Lodge and
that was on the 24th day of June 1791 at Boston Mass.
There cannot be any doubt by any Masonic scholar or student in this day
or time nor there can be any uncertainty in the manner by the officers
and members of any well regulated and lawful Grand Lodge of Freemasonry
in the whole world, but that the establishing of African Grand Lodge of
Modern Masons of Mass. on the 24th of June 1791 with only one Lodge but
that it is a clandestine spurious and irregular body for it has been
since the year of 1717 that well established Masonic law of Freemasonry
that it requires not less that three warranted Lodges to organize a
regular Grand Lodge. The Masonic authorities on that proposition both in
this country and Europe are uninformed and no Grand Lodge has ever been
recognized as being a legal Grand Lodge that has been organized with a
less number than three warranted lodges.
The Name of the African Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was Changed to the
Name of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Mass. in 1808.
After the Death of Prince Hall which occurred in the year of 1807, at
the session held in the year of 1808 the name of African Grand Lodge of
Modern Masons of Massachusetts was changed to the name of Prince Hall
Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Mass.
Judging from the rapid and numerous changes of position as soon as a
cloud appeared among the so-called bogus Masons and an spurious Grand
Lodge of Mass. some of the Masonic writers and followers and members of
the bogus Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Mass. when they where exposed and
shown up and dislodged from one untenable position they have jumped from
one position to another. On the 24th of June 1791 they called themselves
Modern Masons, in 1847 they called themselves Compact Masons, in 1880
they styled themselves as Free and Accepted Masons. We may expect at any
time to hear of those Masonic imposters and shams of Mass, belonging to
that notorious self constituted Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Mass. giving
themselves another title and name at any time.
London England
Freemasonry Hall
Office of the Grand Sec.
London England, May 10, 1874.
To John G. Jones, Esq.,
Grand Secretary,
Dear Sir and Bro:--
On the 27th of December of 1873 I addressed you a letter which I
hope will reach you in due time giving you the information that you
seek concerning a Lodge that was said to have belonged to the Grand
Lodge of England in General Gages Military Regiment that was in the
United States of America. As I stated to you in my former letter
that there was no Masonic Lodge in General Gages Military Regiment
in the United States and I beg to state to you and the brethren in
your country as to a provincial Grand Master by the Grand Lodge of
England. Any person having such papers claiming to be such is a
fraud. I enclose you a copy of a letter that I addressed to Mr. B.
F. Rogers of Springfield Ill., who is Grand Master of your State.
I trust this will supply you with all the information that you
desire.
Yours Fraternally,
John Hervey,
Grand Sec'y.
London England,
Freemason Hall
Office of the Grand Sec.
London England, May 4th, 1875.
Mr. B. F. Rogers,
Grand Master of Masons of the State of Ill.