Your letter was received. I take pleasure in stating to you that in
the latter part of December 1873 I forwarded a letter to Bro. John
G. Jones of Chicago who is Grand Secretary of your Grand Lodge in
which I gave him the information that you now desire. I now beg to
say to you that the Grand Lodge of England never had any Masonic
Lodge in General Gages Military Regiment whose occupation was in the
United States at the time that you mentioned nor has our Grand Lodge
any record of any such appointment as Prince Hall to be Provincial
Grand Master in the United States. If any such appointment is
presented and claims to have been made by the Grand Lodge of England
you are at liberty to deny it, and give the same information if you
wish to the craft in the United States as we do not wish our Grand
Lodge to be misrepresented.
Yours fraternally,
John Hervey,
Grand Sec'y.
Lawyer John G. Jones 33,
Sov. Grand Commander,
Paris, France, Nov. 4th. 1907.
Illustrious Sir and Bro: Your letter reached me on yesterday and
many thanks. You will kindly remember me to all brethren in Chicago.
I like America better than I do this country, or the places that I
have been in since I left Chicago probably that is owing to the fact
that having been born and reared in Chicago I feel more at home. But
the French people, and particularly those that are members of
Masonic fraternity, are very pleasant and kind. I visited one Lodge
last night and last week I visited the consistory of the Ancient
Accepted Scottish Rite. Before you are admitted in any of the
Masonic bodies, here you are required to stand a very rigid
examination, you know about what that is. There is no prejudice in
this section of the country against man because he may be of a dark
complexion, in all of my travels the Masonic body of which you are
the head of in America among colored Masons is the only one that is
known and recognized in this part of the country where I have been.
We will go to London, England, next week. I will write you when I
get there.
Yours Fraternally, H. S. COLLINS, 33,
London, England, Nov. 28th. 1907.
Illustrious John G. Jones, 33,
Grand Master of Masons of Illinois.
Very Dear Brother--We arrived here last week and will remain here
probably for a month. Will you kindly see Bro. Geo. Standwood, the
Secretary of Chicago Lodge No. 5, and pay him my dues to the Lodge?
We will be in Chicago the latter part of February, 1908. I have much
to tell you when I get home. I visited the Masonic Lodges since I
have been here and was treated with the utmost courtesy. The diploma
from my Lodge and Consistory that you signed has been a great
service and benefit to me. I hear your name quite highly spoken of
by the members of the Masonic Fraternity this side of the Atlantic
ocean. The Lodges and Masons that you are connected with in America
among colored Masons are the only ones that are recognized over
here.
Yours Fraternally, H. S. COLLINS, 33.