Prince Hall Masonry has always been plagued with groups within the Black Community claiming to be Masonic. The Phylaxis Society has since its formation, considered such groups a direct threat to Prince Hall Freemasonry. The Society’s First Vice- President, Zellus Bailey would become the first Chairman of the Non-Prince Hall Commission. Robert A Simmons, the Second Vice-President, would become the next Chairman of the Non-Prince Hall Commission.
Paul V. Best, The executive Secretary of the Phylaxis Society, organized the A.G. Clark Chapter in Des Moines, Iowa. This new Chapter was asked to take over the Non-Prince Hall Commission. They were asked to undertake the task of learning the names and addresses of Bogus African-American groups across the country, using the name,”Mr. Phil Laxis” to collect their newspapers, rituals and other materials. The Society also considered having the Chapter join the Universal league of Freemasons (U.L.F.), it being felt that by doing so, the Society would have greater access to the names and addresses of a number of Non-Prince Hall Groups.In 1983, the Society issued a Special March issue of the Phylaxis on Clandestine and Bogus Masonry with a brief review on a book, “History of the National Grand Lodge” by Matthew Brock, Past National Grand master of the Compact. This special issue featured a cover drawn by Sherman Brooks. The Illustration showed the veil lifted from the Volume of Sacred Law and the Square and Compass.
The Phylaxis Society invited Matthew Brock, Past Grand Master of the National Grand Lodge to the 13th Annual Session in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Society was anxious to have someone from an organization not recognized by Prince Hall Freemasonry, but in reality coming from the same source, that is African Lodge Number 459, and calling itself Prince Hall origin instead of Affiliated to come and explain how it continued its organization after all the State Prince Hall Grand Lodges had withdrawn from it’s “Compact.” Matthew Brock declined to do the special workshop on the national grand lodge due to poor health.Brother Stephen Hill, FPS., of California ran the commission from 1994 until 2000. Under his directorship a newsletter was established and sent to all of the Grand Lodges and Grand Masters.
Due to fraternal recognition, it was advised to change the name from Non-prince Hall Commission to Unrecognized Commission. After much thought and bringing brothers on board with certain expertise on the subject, it was decided to change the name of the Commission to, The Phylaxis Society’s Commission on Bogus Masonic Practices.
The Phylaxis Society has always been alarmed at this threat to Prince Hall Freemasonry and continues to maintain a Commission to identify these many groups in the Black Community, and publishing a listing of them that are sent to the various Prince Hall Grand Lodges or the Conference of Prince Hall Grand Masters.(This history was compiled by Bro. Stephen Hill, FPS. (Ca), from the book, “Prince Hall’s Mission: The Rise of the Phylaxis Society, By Bro. Joseph A. Walkes, Jr.)
INTRODUCTION
1. The regularity and recognition of Grand Lodges are separate but allied subjects. Unless a Grand Lodge is regular, it cannot be recognized. Unless a Grand Lodge is recognized, its Brethren cannot (or should not) be met as Freemasons by Brethren of regular and recognized Grand Lodges.
BASIC PRINCIPLES
2. The "Basic Principles for Grand Lodge Recognition" were adopted by Grand Lodge in 1929. This was a codification, and not a statement of new principles. summarized the tests which the United Grand Lodge of England had applied and would apply in recognizing regular Grand Lodges throughout the World. Eight principles are set out in 'the Book of Constitutions, and restated in Grand Lodge's leaflet "Freemasonry's External Relations" To be eligible for recognition, a Grand Lodge must
a. be regular in its origin (see paragraph 3 below)
b. be truly independent and self-governing (see paragraph 4 below)
c. adhere to 'landmarks' (a landmark is an essential characteristic of regular Freemasonry), viz:
(I) its Brethren must believe in a Supreme Being (the GAOTU);
(ii) Obligations must be taken on or in full view of the VSL;
(iii) it must display the three Great Lights of Freemasonry when it or its Lodges are open;
(iv) discussion of religion and politics in its Lodges must be prohibited, and
(v) its membership must be male, and it must have nothing to do with mixed or women's Lodges.
REGULARITY OF ORIGIN
3. The original Grand Lodges (England, Ireland and Scotland) were formed by private Lodges which had formed themselves Time immemorial Lodges, in English parlance. the 18th Century, three State Grand Lodges in the United States of America were formed by two Lodges, and one was formed by a Grand Convention of Masons Subsequent Grand Lodges follow the modern rule in paragraph 4.
4. A Grand Lodge must have been established by: a) a recognized Grand Lodge, or b) three (nowadays) or more regularly constituted private Lodges, formed in accordance within the rules and customs of a regular Grand Lodge.
5. A Grand Lodge must have undisputed authority over Craft (or basic) Freemasonry within its jurisdiction, and not be subject in any way to or share power with any other Masonic body.
6. This principle is expressed overseas as exclusive Territorial jurisdiction, but has recently been qualified as being "subject to exceptions" This qualification means the principle is not violated if Grand Lodges agree to share territory while remaining authority over Brethren under their jurisdiction (e.g., our recognition of four Grand Lodges in Colombia; the acceptance of the Grand Lodges of New Zealand and South Africa (etc.) of Lodges under the UGLE (etc.) in their territory, and the fact that Lodges under the Grand Lodge of the State of Washington work in the territory of the Grand Lodge of Alaska). Agreement by one Grand Lodge to share its territory with another does not imply license for other Grand Lodges to insert Lodges into the territory of the first Grand Lodge.
7. England's view, of jurisdiction over the Brethren in its constitution regardless of where their Lodges meet, has the merit of simplicity, and is compatible with the territorial view described above. In practice, England does not ignore territorial sovereignty when it considers recognition.
RECOGNITION
8. Recognition is a series of bi-lateral relationships between Grand Lodges. If a Grand Lodge seeks recognition from England, and in due course is recognized, the mutual recognition between it and England cannot bind a third Grand Lodge.
9. England's recent policy on recognition has been described as needing to be convinced that it should be granted, rather than noting an absence of reasons why it should not.
What Does Recognition Mean?
Recognition is a word used in many acknowledgements in life, and is defined to recognize or accept its existence. The root word of recognition is “recognize”. Most often times the word Recognition is used in the Masonic world to acknowledge the authenticity of a regular constituted Lodge recognized by some Grand Body of a Regular status in origin.
Recognition between Grand Lodges has been a struggle on both sides for centuries because the different aspect of what one sees as “regular”. The lineage of Lodges which ties regularity to a Grand Lodge is the issuance of charters by it legal Masonic authority. The Grand Lodge of England of 1717, issued charters to many European Lodges and many American Lodges across the world. It was/is consider the premier Grand Lodge to many Grand Lodges and Lodges alike that was birth by it.
One charter in particular that was issued by the Grand Lodge of England on September 20, 1784 was to a Lodge numbered 459. This Lodge which is the lineage of all Prince Hall affiliated Grand Lodges have through out the last past 222, and 231 years if we count the initiation of Prince Hall, has been placed under scrutiny of its regularity when all proof of its regular status is available to anyone of interest.
So what is truly recognition of Grand Lodges? Should I recognize you if you do not recognize me? The prejudice of one can caused the prejudice of the other in defense of its denied origin and regularity. This is the feud of recognition between Prince Hall and some “so-called” mainstream Grand Lodges. I prefer to say “Predominately White Grand Lodges”. It is all about lineage and what connects you to your beginning.
Today many Mainstream Grand Lodges have recognized Prince Hall’s regularity and have shared in “MUTUAL” recognition and visitations. You will have some “IGNORANT” people who feel that the Prince Hall Grand Lodges have in some way begged others for recognition. Nothing is further then the truth. Predominately white Grand Lodges and Prince Hall Grand Lodges have sat down and discussed the many issues that affect us, and the detriment and injustice we do to this fraternity.
This concern has been aggressively addresses by both Grand Bodies. It is a progress, which we in many jurisdictions have fought for and continue to struggle until all regular bodies see each other as we see ourselves, “REGULAR”. This endeavor will prove the true spirit of Freemasonry and will allow us to lay down the Tyler’s sword against our counterparts and we will be able to live the universal part of Freemasonry. However, we must be forever careful of bogus entities that try the wolf in sheep’s clothing maneuver. Many think because they claim the same passwords, grips, signs and even words makes them a Mason. This is not the facts and until we separate ourselves from this concept the more truthful we will be to the Ancient Land Marks.
Regular bodies must remember the past, and correct it in order to have a prosperous future with all mankind, especially our Brethren. Let us not commit the errors of our forefathers but rather pardon them by correcting them today. We must stop crucifying the moral teachings of Freemasonry and begin NOW, to live according to it divine teachings.
In the case of “so-called Mainstream” and Prince Hall most of the past mistakes have been on both sides because of the era and time we lived in. It is a new day now and we must break the change of ignorance. We have concentrated for many years of our differences that we neglected how much alike we are.
I pray that this paper is understood in the good intentions of my heart and not interpreted as placing blame. If we don’t change today, we are making it harder for tomorrow. Today is us, Tomorrow is our Sons. Let us make it better for their fraternal sake.
God Bless this great Fraternity of ours.
What Does Recognition Mean?
Written By: Ezekiel M. Bey
For More information on masonic regularity and recognition, please visit:
https://masonicrecognition.org/
The word “bogus” is a word that has been used for a very, very long time. It can be traced as far back as 1797. It was then used to define a machine that made counterfeit coins, it actually meant, “fake”. So why the word “bogus” when dealing with illegal Freemasonry? Many are used to the word “clandestine” as mentioned in many of our rituals, but very few know what the word “bogus” means, its origin or derivation.
Henry Wilson Coil in his Masonic Encyclopedia reveals that; “the term was first used Masonically in the Constitutions of 1784 issued by the Grand Lodge of England (Moderns) but is not eminently appropriate to the use made of it. It means secret, hidden, private, or concealed, which might be said of the many Masonic bodies.” Coil then defines the word as meaning; “underhanded, stealthy, sly, furtive, but many so-called clandestine bodies are quite open, aggressive, ambitious, and eager to defend themselves.” Macoy’s Encyclopedia describes clandestine Lodges as “Lodges which have been formed by avaricious Freemasons, who take money from those people who have no idea of the difference between warranted Regularly Constituted Grand Lodge and one that is not Regularly constituted.” This meant that these Lodges/Grand Lodges were greedy for gain in seeking and attempting to hoard riches from their members and potential candidates. Brother Kit Haffner, in Joseph A. Walkes book, “A Prince Hall Masonic Quiz Book” states; “Members of these organizations are to be treated as if they were not Mason”.
One of the biggest feuds in Freemasonry in the early to mid-1700’s was between the Moderns and the Antients. The Moderns undoubtedly regarded any Mason made in an “Antients” Lodge as having been initiated in a clandestine manner. The members who assisted in ceremonies or even associated with an “Antient Mason” could be excluded, censured, and even expelled.
As the practice of illegal Masonry grew within our Fraternity, to keep what was deemed unlawful, regular bodies tried keeping illegal masonry from flourishing and hoodwinking the innocent who came across those that were considered “Irregular”. An irregular lodge is one not entitled to Masonic recognition no matter how slight the irregularity. Irregularity can vary and have various degrees in nature. An example of this can be made mentioned of the hybrid Masonic body of 1847 under the name and title “The “National Grand Lodge.” This body today is not the same National Grand Lodge of 1847 and in many instances scholars and researchers of Freemasonry have considered this body “bogus”. However, we will later speak of the word “Bogus”, its definition and why it is used today. Some irregular bodies are irregular for not having a VSL displayed. As far as the irregular Grand Lodge/Lodge this can be corrected by what is called a healing process. An irregular Lodge is actually one not being or acting in accordance with the laws, rules, or established customs of the fraternity. A clandestine body can be both irregular and clandestine.
Spurious is another term used to define illegal bodies calling themselves Masonic. Spurious can be considered bodies of illegitimate birth, outwardly similar or corresponding to something without having its genuine qualities. It is a so-called Masonic entity that falsifies or erroneously attributes its origin to some non-existing Masonic source. It is deceitful in nature. Remember, if a thing is false, it cannot be a fact in its representation. The only fact is that a spurious Lodge is a false Masonic body. The word “spurious” was used in England as far back as 1824when they considered lodge No. 557 spurious. This spurious Lodge met a tan inn called, “The White Bear” and thereafter “The Royal Hotel. Many who are spurious or even part of a spurious body do not know the origin of his Grand Lodge/Lodge and are hoodwinked with false pretense that he has joined a respectful organization thinking that its main objective and cause is for the upliftment of humanity, never noticing fraud or deceit. Many good Men have been sucked into these organizations by way of ignorance. They, along with clandestine and irregular bodies, have often used the false history of Masonry and in particular the history of Prince Hall Freemasonry. They have used the mud throwing of calling us paupers of charters, beggars of recognition, and even calling Prince Hall Masons racist of their own kind, not knowing that although an organization with a makeup of predominately men of color, we have hundreds of white Brothers in our ranks.
Now, for the word “bogus”. This word has been used as far back as the late 1800’s in Masonry. One who used the word was the Grand Secretary of Arkansas (PHA), by the name of J.C. Corbin. This word has been avoided by illegal Masons and regular Masons alike. The misunderstanding is that they feel it is disrespectful to use the word. Some have gone on record to say that the word is ”slang” and indeed it has been used as slang in specific accounts; however, this does not eliminate the truth of the meaning of the word. Miseducation on such a subject that describes the very false image of “Bogus” outfits is an injustice to the forefathers of Prince Hall Masonry. I have seen, heard, and read, how the misunderstanding of this word has taken regular Mason off their course in protecting this gentle Fraternity because their ignorance of the knowledge of the word “Bogus.” Some go as far to say that it sounds “ghetto”.
The word “bogus” comes from the word “boko”, meaning “deceit” or “fraud” in the Hausa language of West Central Africa. One theory would be that the word would have been brought over by Africans sold into slavery in America. Hausa is the Chadic language with the largest number of speakers, spoken as a first language by about 24 million people, and as a second language by about 15 million more. Native speakers of Hausa are mostly to be found in the African country of Niger and in the north of Nigeria, but the language is widely used as a lingua franca (similar to Swahili in East Africa) in a much larger swathe of West Africa, particularly amongst Muslims. Hausa is an official language in the north of Nigeria. The West African English word (Sierra Leone) bogo-bogo, and the Louisiana-French word bogue, which also means fake, fraudulent, and phony. The ending of the word "bogus" is part of the words hocus-pocus. Another theory is that "bogus" may have arisen in criminal slang as a short form of "tantrabogus," which was evidently a 19th century slang term for an odd-looking or menacing object, having some authorities to believe that "bogus" might be linked to "bogy" or "bogey" (as in "bogey man").
The word “bogus”, circulated widely once introduced into our language and began to count for more than just counterfeit money. In 1827, in Painesville Ohio, a machine that made fake coins was called a “bogus”. It then meant counterfeit money by 1848. By the mid-1800s,the word “bogus” meant anything fake, as it does nowadays. Recorded in our American history is a “bogus” legislature in 1852 and a “bogus’ lottery tickets in 1856. Also, in 1859 it is known in the history of the American courts of the “bogus” life insurance company scams. By 1860, any jewelry that was not diamond, gold, silver, or any authentic stone or metal was considered “bogus” jewelry. History even speaks of the “bogus” piano tuner in 1887. So, the word “Bogus” has been around for a very long time and it defines all things fake and fraudulent.
Many Freemasons have adopted the word to describe so-called Masonic operations that perform functions and exert power and influence over blind innocent men. Masonic operations that work without authority, the common customs and traditions of Freemasonry are considered “BOGUS”. This is evident, especially when the word started to be strongly used after the Thomson Masonic Fraud in 1922. In the recent past though sometime used as a slang expression, the word “bogus” in not a slang word in the real sense today as it is now part of our official vocabulary. The reason for this is because the word “bogus” has been used for so long that it is not an informal nonstandard vocabulary word composed typically of coinage. To describe these illegal groups in a sugar-coated manner shows the lack of honest and effective communication to save innocent people. The late Brother Joseph A. Walkes Jr., in his article “Bogus Black Groups or Black on Black Crime” stated, Unfortunately the leadership of both Prince Hall Freemasonry and its Caucasian counterparts have little or no knowledge of Masonic common law, and exactly what Freemasonry is all about, and they continue to make dumb and dumber statements on the subject of bogus frauds operating within the Black community, such as calling them “non-Prince Hall Masons”. Some of our leadership do not understand the importance of educating ourselves of these groups who are bogus. The word “BOGUS” is NOT a figure of speech but part of our vocabulary and common language.
10 STUPID justifications plus a BONUS given by Bogus Masons as to why they should be recognized.
Misguided bogus Masons say:
1) We read the same rituals
2) We take the same degree
3) We practice the same Masonry
4) We have the same regalia
5) We give the same grips, signs and words
6) We confer the same degrees
7) We take the same obligations
8) We Black Masons should stick together.
9) We believe in God
10) We belong to the same church
BONUS) He’s my Frat Brother (Greek)
(The word “bogus” is universal. Below is the word “Bogus” in different languages.)
(Nederlands(Dutch) nep-, vals), ( Français (French) faux, bidon, factice),(Deutsch (German) adj. -falsch, gefälscht), (Ελληνική (Greek) adj. πλαστός, κάλπικος,ψεύτικος, πλασματικός), (Italiano (Italian)falso), (Português (Portuguese) adj. – adulterado), (Русский (Russian)фальшивый, притворный), (Español (Spanish) adj. - falso,postizo), (Svenska (Swedish) adj. -fingerad, falsk, bluff), (中国话 (Simplified Chinese) adj. -假的,伪造的),(中國話(Traditional Chinese) adj. - 假的, 偽造的),(日本語(Japanese) adj. - 偽の), (العربيه (Arabic) (صفه) كاذب,زائف, مصطنع), (עברית (Hebrew) adj. - מלאכותי, מזוייף)
REFERENCES
Merriam Dictionary
Wikipedia Encyclopedia
Macoy’s Encyclopedia
Coil’s Encyclopedia
Black on Black Crime (Joseph A. Walkes Jr.)
PBS
African American Vernacular English
Africanism in America
Slavery In America
Thomson Masonic Fraud (Isaac Blair Evens)
A Prince Hall Quiz Book) Joseph A. Walkes Jr.)
ARS QUATUOR CORONATORUM (Volume 90)
Freemasons Guide & Compendium (Bernard E. Jones)
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President: Alex Smith, FPS
Director: Joshua Feliciano, FPSH
