Whereas, A petition bearing date, June 24th, A. D., 1867, was
represented and presented in the name of Wm. D. Mathews and others
praying the grant of a charter of Constitution and erection in the usual
form for holding a Grand Lodge in the State of Kansas under the name and
title of the Most Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge for the State of
Kansas and under the authority of the Most Worshipful National Grand
Lodge of the United States and North America, proposing the persons
after mentioned to be the first grand officers, viz: Wm. D. Mathews,
Leavenworth, Kansas, Grand Master, Geo. Edwards, Deputy Grand Master,
Samuel Jones, Senior Grand Warden, Henry Lee, Junior Grand Warden,
together with their associates which petition having been duly
considered, we are pleased to ordain a charter, to be issued in the
terms herein written.
Know Ye, therefore, That the Most Worshipful National Grand Master and
the National Grand Lodge of North America have constituted, erected and
appointed likewise, they hereby constitute, erect, and appoint the Grand
Master, Grand Wardens and brethren above named to be now and in all
times coming a true and regular Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons
for the State of Kansas under the name, style and title of the Most
Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Ancient York
Masons for the State of Kansas. And we do hereby authorize and empower
our Worshipful and beloved Brethren and their successors in office to
constitute by Charter, or organize by dispensation subordinate Lodges
within the State of Kansas and its jurisdiction, according to the
Constitution of Masonry and of the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge
of North America, upon the payment of such fees as may be determined by
the said Most Worshipful Grand Lodge; also to make choice of a Grand
Master, Deputy Grand Master, Grand Wardens and other Grand Officers
annually to receive and collect funds for the support of the Most
Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge of Kansas, and for the payment of
such sums of money as may be assessed by the Constitution and
regulations of the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge.
And we do further authorize and empower the said constituted brethren
and their successors to have and determined all and singular matters and
things relating to the craft within their jurisdiction with the
assistance of the members of the said Grand Lodge subject to an appeal
to the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of North America and shall
possess and exercise all the power and function of a State Grand Lodge
and we do hereby require the said constituted brethren to attend the
Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of North America at their triennial
communication and other meetings by their Grand Master, Deputy Grand
Master and Grand Wardens, or by proxy regularly appointed; also to keep
a fair and regular record of your proceedings in a book to be kept for
that purpose and we do enjoin upon the officers and brethren of said
Grand Lodge that they be punctual in their payments of such sums of
money as may be assessed on them by the National Grand Lodge of North
America, and to make regular returns annually to the National Grand
Secretary or to the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of the names
and members of all the Lodges under the jurisdiction of said Grand Lodge
where located, of the suspensions, expulsions and the Charters
surrendered; also the number of members belonging to each Subordinate
Lodge and of the election and installation of the officers of the Grand
Lodge.
And we do hereby declare that the proceedings of said Grand Lodge in
National Grand Lodge to commence from the 24th day of June Anno Domini,
One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty-seven; and lastly do we hereby
authorize and empower our said Worshipful Brother Wm. D. Mathews and his
associates in office to install their successors being first duly
elected and chosen to whom they shall deliver this warrant and invest
them with all the power and dignities to their offices respectfully
belonging and such successors shall in like manner from time to time
install their successors, such installation to be upon or near St. John
the Evangelist or St. John the Baptist's day, during the continuance of
this Grand Lodge for ever provided always that the said above named
Worshipful Brothers and their successors pay due respect to the Most
Worshipful National Grand Lodge of North America, and the ordinance
thereof; otherwise this warrant to be of no force or virtue.
Given by the authority of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of North
America, under the signatures of the Most Worshipful National Grand
Officers and the Seal of the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of
North America, this 24th day of June Anno Domini, One Thousand Eight
Hundred and Sixty-seven.
Richard Howell Gleaves, M. W. N. G. M.
Jonathan Davis, M. W. N. G. S.
THE NATIONAL COMPACT GRAND LODGE OF NORTH AMERICA ORGANIZED AT BOSTON,
MASS., JUNE 24th, 1847.
Fifteenth Question--In as much as there has been considerable discussion
and controversy going on through the country for a number of years,
relative to when the National Compact Grand Lodge of North America was
organized and where at, and whether or not it was considered irregular
and unlawful or whether it was a legitimate body, those questions have
been asked for a number of years.
Fifteenth Answer--Mackey's Masonic jurisprudence and all of the Masonic
authors on Masonic law have laid down the well established rule that has
been recognized in the United States of America ever since Freemasonry
was first established in this country, that there cannot be any higher
or Supreme power than a Grand Lodge of a state. And the spurious
National Compact Grand Lodge of North America is an unauthorized and
clandestine body. It was organized in Boston, Mass., on the 24th of
June, 1847, it has been a disgrace and a burning shame and a slander
upon the Colored Masons of this country ever since it was first
organized. The National Compact Grand Lodge of North America that was
established at Boston, Mass., on the 24th of June, 1847, is a self
constituted, bogus, counterfeit grand body, and any Grand Lodge or
Subordinate Lodge in the United States of America that affiliates or
recognizes it is clandestine and bogus.
Sixteenth Question--When the Grand Lodge of Texas was organized at
Houston, Texas, Jan. 19th, 1875, that J. W. McKinney is now the Grand
Master of, did that Grand Lodge have a Charter from the Bogus National
Compact Grand Lodge of North America?
Sixteenth Answer--Yes they did, and looking over the records of the
National Grand Lodge of North America that was organized at Boston,
Mass., in 1847, which was a bogus concern. Here is a copy of the Charter
that was issued to the Grand Lodge of Texas in 1875 by the Spurious
National Compact Grand Lodge of North America.
THE WARRANT OF THE MOST WORSHIPFUL COMPACT GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND
ACCEPTED YORK MASONS FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.
To All Whom It May Concern:
The Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and
honorable fraternity of Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons of the
United States of North America, according to the old constitution at
York in the kingdom of England duly established and organized for the
said Convention held in the city of Boston, the State of Massachusetts
on the 24th, 25th, 26th and 28th day of June, A. D., 1847; A. L. 5847.
Whereas a petition bearing date Jan. 19th, 1875, was represented and
presented in the name of N. W. Cuney and others from the State of Texas
praying the grant of a Charter of Constitution in the usual form for
holding a Grand Lodge in the State of Texas under the name and title of
the Most Worshipful Compact Grand Lodge for the State of Texas, and
under the authority of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the United
States and North America proposing the persons hereafter mentioned to be
the first Grand Master and the first Grand Secretary viz: N. W. Cuney of
Galveston, Texas Grand Master, J. J. Hamilton Grand Secretary together
with their associates which petition having been duly considered we are
pleased to ordain a Charter to be issued in the terms herein written.
Know Ye, therefore, that the Most Worshipful National Grand Master and
the National Grand Lodge of North America have constituted, erected and
appointed likewise, they do hereby constitute, erect and appoint the
Grand Master and Grand Wardens, and brethren to be now and in all times
coming a Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted York Masons for the State of
Texas, and we do hereby authorize and empower our worthy and beloved
brethren and their successors in office to constitute by charter or
organize Lodges within the State of Texas according to the constitution
of the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of North America duly
constituted on the 24th day of June, 1847, at Boston, Mass., and comply
with the rules and regulations and the payment of such sums of money as
be assessed by the Constitution and regulation of the Most Worshipful
National Grand Lodge of North America.
And we do further authorize and empower the said constituted brethren
and their successors to have and determined all and singular matters and
things relating to the craft within their jurisdiction with the
assistance of the members of the said Grand Lodge subject to an appeal
to the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of North America and shall
possess and exercise all the power and function of a State Grand Lodge
and we do hereby require the said constituted brethren to attend the
Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of North America at their triennial
communication and other meetings by their Grand Master, Deputy Grand
Master and Grand Wardens or by proxy regularly appointed; also to keep a
fair and regular record of your proceedings in a book to be kept for
that purpose and we do enjoin upon the officers and brethren of said
Grand Lodge in the State of Texas that they be punctual in their
payments of such sums of money as may be assessed on them by this
National Compact Grand Lodge of North America and to make regular
returns annually to the National Grand Secretary or to the Most
Worshipful National Grand Lodge.
And we do hereby declare that the proceedings of said Grand Lodge in the
State of Texas by which brother N. W. Cuney is the Grand Master of to
commence from Jan. 19th, 1875, and we do hereby authorize and empower
our said Worshipful Brother N. W. Cuney of Galveston, Texas, and his
associates in office to install their successors first being duly
elected and chosen to whom they shall deliver this warrant and invest
them with all the powers and dignities to their offices respectfully
belonging and such successors shall like manner from time to time
install their successors, such installation to be upon or near the St.
John the Evangelist or St. John the Baptist's day during the continuance
of this Grand Lodge.
Given by the authority of the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of
North America under the signature of the Most Worshipful National Grand
Master of the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of North America this
19th day of Jan. 1875.
Richard Howell Cleaves, M. W. N. G. M.
Seventeenth Question--Did you ever have any correspondence with Wm. D.
Mathews, Grand Master of the Compact Grand Lodge of the State of Kansas
relative to the organization of the so-called Grand Lodge of the State
of Texas that was organized Jan. 19th, 1875?
Seventeenth Answer--Yes, I had some correspondence with Wm. D. Mathews,
Grand Master of the King Solomon Grand Lodge of the State of Kansas
relative to the subordinate Lodges that took part in the organization of
the Grand Lodge of Texas, Jan. 19th, 1875. That was the time that the
Grand Lodge of Texas was organized when N. W. Cuney of Galveston, Texas,
was elected Grand Master.
Leavenworth, Kan., Nov. 21, 1903.
Mr. John G. Jones, 33,
Grand Secretary of the M. W. St. Johns Grand Lodge of Illinois,
Dear Sir and Bro--Your letter reached me last week at my home in
Leavenworth, Kan., and in giving you the information that you desire
the Lodge at Austin, Texas, was the first Lodge of Colored Masons
organized among the Colored men in the State of Texas, it was on
April 10th, 1873, it was chartered by the Most Worshipful King
Solomon Grand Lodge of Kansas of which I have the honor of being its
Grand Master. That was the only Lodge that was in good Masonic
standing in our Grand Lodge when the Grand Lodge of the State of
Texas was organized. The Lodge at San Antonio, Galveston, and
Houston Texas was also chartered by our Grand Lodge of Kansas, but
none of these last named three Lodges was in good and regular
standing in our Grand Lodge. So you will notice that the Grand Lodge
of Texas only had one warranted Lodge when it was established.
Yours Fraternally,
WM. D. MATHEWS, Grand Master.
REPORT ON THE ORIGIN AND THE IRREGULARITY OF FREEMASONRY AMONG COLORED
MEN IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AT THE NATIONAL MASONIC CONVENTION HELD IN
CHICAGO, SEPT., 4th, 1877.
To the President and Members of the National Masonic Convention now
Sitting in Chicago, Sept. 4th, 1877:
Your committee that was appointed to investigate the origin of
Freemasonry in the State of Texas beg leave to make the following
report:
We have carefully investigated the matter of the origin of Freemasonry
in the State of Texas and we find that it appears from the record that
Freemasonry was first established in the State of Texas by Wm. D.
Mathews, Grand Master of the King Solomon Grand Lodge of Compact Masons
for the State of Kansas which at the time the said King Solomon Grand
Lodge of Kansas was under and subordinate to the National Compact Grand
Lodge of North America.
We further find that the said Grand Lodge of Texas that C. C. Dean is
the Grand Master of that, the said Grand Lodge of Texas, when organized
January 19th, 1875, did not follow and comply with the landmarks and
laws of Freemasonry and that the said Grand Lodge of Texas is an
unlawful and irregular Grand Lodge and that the delegates from the Grand
Lodge of the State of Texas to this National Masonic Convention are not
entitled to seats in this National Masonic Convention,
Fraternally Submitted,
E. A. WILLIAMS, of Nebraska,
H. D. VENA, of Michigan,
J. H. BANKS, of Rhode Island, Committee.
FIRST REGULAR AND LEGAL GRAND LODGE OF COLORED MASONS IN UNITED STATES
AT WASHINGTON, D. C., 1895.
The first Grand Lodge of Colored Masons in the United States that was
healed and Masonically set right was the Grand Lodge of Colored Masons
of the District of Columbia which H. C. Scott is the Grand Master of. It
occurred in the year of 1895 by the duly accredited representatives from
the White Masonic Grand Lodge of Romania, Germany.