The records will show that many of the leaders “high up” in these bogus groups are former Prince Hall Masons who have become disgruntled because of their inability to “run things” and to line their pockets with monies filched from the sale of degrees...
BOGUS BLACK GROUPS
OR BLACK ON BLACK CRIME
BY
JOSEPH A. WALKES, JR FPS
PRESIDENT
It is important that the Prince Hall Mason recognize his own legitimacy but it is also equally important that the illegal mason be shown the error of his ways.
I have been interested in this subject for many years, as I realized how damaging these groups operating within the Black community were to Prince Hall Freemasonry. When I began hearing the leadership of our Order calling these groups “Non-Prince Hall Masons” I was greatly insulted, as these various bodies are no more Freemasons than the community Boy Scout Troops. Anyone can place a Masonic apron on a Boy Scout, but that will never make him a Freemason. Realizing the lack of Masonic knowledge among the leaders of our Order, I just shook my head, and marveled at how dumb we are. However, when I began to hear these same leaders proclaim that “we should recognize our Black Brothers before we recognize Whites” I came to the conclusion not only were we dumb, we were plain stupid.
Those who are serious about Masonic research, and especially concerning this subject, I will ask that they read a couple of books, for within these books, one will find a better understanding of what we as Prince Hall Freemasons are actually facing, Black on Black crime, fraud, and out and out criminal activities.
Some time ago, I wrote a paper “John R. Bullock: Most Sovereign Grand Commander (So-called)” . I placed most of the illustrations on transparencies and presented it before the members of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington to warn them of the criminal fraud that was taking place within their jurisdiction. Most thought it was a shame, said they knew the people involved while shrugging it off, and did nothing. It would be many years before the Prince Hall Grand Lodge would do anything, until the outrageous conduct of that fraud became too much for the Prince Hall Freemasons to bear. Today that outfit has been absorbed by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge.
My paper was eventually published in the 1997 edition of The Transactions of Lux e Tenebris a special Chapter within the Phylaxis Society. I would encourage all to read this fascinating story of Black on Black crime. It is my understanding that copies of the book are available.
I took a quote from Issac Blair Evens book, The Thomson Masonic Fraud to show that Bullock had patterned his organization after Matthew McBlain Thomson whose criminal activities would bring them into Federal Court and to the Leavenworth Federal Prison, right up the street from where I live. Evens had stressed three important points that are particular true for Prince Hall Freemasons. I wrote:
Thomson knew that Mason read very little about their own institution and that, therefore, they were generally misinformed in matters of Masonic history and law. He also was aware that Masons in general entertain acute indifference toward all things clandestine. The chances of being caught in (there) gross falsehood were few because, just as no one knew enough about his institution and regular Masonry to answer him, no one would take the pain to run his lies to earth.
In the introduction of his book, The Thomson Masonic Fraud, Bro. Evans stressed another important fact that is important in understanding the subject of his paper. He wrote: “The man who conceived a fraud scheme, invariably plans to come near enough to the truth to escape prosecution for misrepresentation. He goes to great lengths of build factories, create corporations, and outwardly to simulate scrupulously reputable institution similar to his own.”
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”.
Sad also is the attempt by some White Grand Lodges, such as New York, to attempt to exploit the situation of bogus groups within the Black community to divide and to destroy Prince Hall Freemasonry. The plot by the white Masons of New York is before our very eyes, and it is amazing to me that no one seems to understand exactly what is going on. One of the Past Grand Masters of this white Grand Lodge published the fact that his Grand Lodge could not recognize the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New York because of the many Black groups in New York who came from Prince Hall Freemasonry, and since they came from Prince Hall, the white Grand Lodge would have to recognize them all. I wrote this individual, to explain that these groups did not come out of Prince Hall Freemasonry, but were self started with out any Masonic authority. This is all a part of the con game that these whites are playing in New York.
Another of these white New York Masons wrote an article “Freemasonry A Doctrine of Separate but Equal?” which I consider to be one of the dumbest articles I have ever read in my life. He thinks his grand lodge should not be called white, because it has a few token Blacks in membership. He proclaims the Doctrine of Exclusive Grand Lodge Jurisdiction which is stupid and what is truly insulting he uses words from the respected Roscoe Pound in an attempt to back up his argument.
When the question of recognition is placed at the doorstep of the Grand Lodge of New York, how do we respond? The answer is quite simple, for it lies within our own actions, which speak much louder then words. As a progressive Grand Lodge and leader in the world of Freemasonry, the Grand Lodge of New York is no stranger to the concept espoused by Brother (Earl) Warren of “one law for all men.” We are an inclusive Grand Lodge, which embraces men of good character from all races, nationalities, and creeds.
It is a misnomer to describe our beloved Grand Lodge as a “White” or Caucasian Grand Lodge, for we are in fact a Global Brotherhood.”
It is difficult to understand how educated grown adults could write such garbage. In so far as his concept of Grand Lodge Jurisdiction Territory, the writer of that article should attempt to take a reality check. The title of Andrew Hacker’s book “Two Nations: Black and White, Separate, Hostile, Unequal”, rather well explains the reality of the situation. In other words no group of white Masons can sit in their ivory towers and declare that they have some sort of jurisdiction over the Black community, only a mad man would thinks something like this. We call it by another word, white supremacy, how dare anyone to even consider that because of who they are, this entitles them to some sort of jurisdiction over the other half of the two nations, black and white, separate, hostile, unequal. The writer from the White Grand Lodge of New York is living in some sort of a make believe world. A reality check is the need for this writer from New York to research the foundation of his own grand lodge, it is not regular, as most of the white grand lodges in America are likewise not regular. But that is another story.
A reality check would be the recent visit of officers of the white Grand Lodge of New York traveling into Harlem to the Temple of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New York, and being seated and forgotten. They eventually left in a huff, but this only underlies the truth of the matter. They have no jurisdiction within Black America, and their visit to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New York in Harlem bears this out. I am not saying that the conduct of our brethren were correct, when you have visitors, you welcome them, but for reasons only they know, they did not. Perhaps the whites learned a lesson, though I doubt it, they have no jurisdiction in Black America.
While the White Grand Lodge of New York wants to put on display their token Black members, they think that Prince Hall Freemasonry have forgotten the insults leveled at us by this group of so called Masons: In its proceedings of 1851 they made clear their feelings:
It is not proper to initiate in our lodges, persons of the (Black) race; and their exclusion is in accordance with Masonic Law and the Ancient Charges, and regulations, because of their depressed social condition; their general lack of intelligence, which unfit them, as a body to work or adorn the craft; … finally, their not being, as a race, persons of “good report” or who can be “well recommended” as subjects for initiation; they very seldom being persons who have any trade, estate, office, occupation, or visible way of acquiring an honest livelihood, and working in the craft, as becomes members of this ancient and honorable fraternity, but likewise something to spare for the works of charity, and for supporting the ancient grandeur and dignity of the Royal Craft; “eating no man’s bread for naught,” and their general positive deficiency of natural endowments.”
It would be interesting to learn how many of the token Black members within this white Grand Lodge has been told this fact. How times change, now this white Grand Lodge is actively seeking Blacks while attempting to destroy Prince Hall Freemasonry in the process, by seeking to recognize all of the Black bogus groups operating in New York City. In my latest book The History of the United Supreme Council, A.A.S.R., Northern Jurisdiction PHA, I totally destroyed this white madness by showing to all the Masonic Black Elite in Philadelphia. A reading of that book is a must also, to show that white Masons don’t usually know what they are talking about, when it comes to Blacks and Prince Hall Freemasonry. They are dumb and dumber.
The white Grand Lodge of North Carolina who recently laughed at recognizing their Prince Hall Counterpart wrote in 1865:
…we know that the (Blacks) of the South are wholly incompetent to embrace it (Masonry). They are ignorant, uneducated, immoral, untruthful, and, intellectually they are more impotent than minority or dotage – both of which we exclude. It would be rare if any locality could furnish the requisite number of sufficient capacity to open a lodge.”
Perhaps, like most of the white southern Grand Lodges, they probably called off their meetings, to go lynch some innocent Black men. However, while the white Southern Masons were sprouting off this type of insults, there were in full operation hundreds and thousands of Prince Hall Lodges operating in the South.
There was also hundreds of black bogus groups as well, and this paper is directed towards these frauds. I did a paper on John R. Bullock who called himself Most Sovereign Grand Commander of an outfit he called the Sons of Haiti, which was operated in the state of Washington. In an attempt of build Masonic credibility, in began to write letters to individual officers of the United Grand Lodge of England, then he would take their return letters place them on a photocopier, then doctor the letters, and circulate them throughout the United States in support of his fraud. When these doctored letters reached this writer, I in turn sent them back to the original letter writer in England, who were outraged. One wrote me: “I have not at any time been approached by Mr. Bullock for permission to use my letter in the way he has, to give some spurious cachet of regularity to his organization….” To see just how far the fraud went, I placed it all in the pages of Lux e Tenebris Transactions, 1997 edition, and copies are still available today for those who want to see Black on Black crime in its most outrageous operation. Contact phylaxispa@aol.com for a copy. Its cost is $20. Today, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington has absorbed this once bogus group.
In its annual report in 1963, The Prince Hall Commission on Clandestine Masonry of the Conference of Prince Hall Grand Masters issued the following report to the United Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Northern Jurisdiction:
ANNUAL REPORT
As we began the preparation of this report, word was received that the Supreme Court of the State of Washington had affirmed our victory in the Superior Court of King County, granting our injunction against the Most Worshipful Universal Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. and the John A. Bell Grand Lodge of Washington.
We were elated!
Seattle Post-Intelligence
Fri, April 26, 1963
TWO LODGES DENIED TITLE OF ‘MASONS’OLYMPIA, April 25 – (U.P.I) – The State Supreme Court ruled today that the Universal Grand Lodge and the John A. Bell Grand Lodge – both fraternal organizations exclusively for (African-Americans) could not legally call themselves “Masons.”
The court’s unanimous decision upheld the ruling of King County Superior Court Judge Theodore S. Turner who issued an injunction prohibiting the two lodges from representing themselves as branches of the Masonic order.
THE INJUNCTION had been requested by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and accepted Masons, another (African-American) group.
“An established fraternal organization is entitled to relief when its name or one so similar as to be deceiving is adopted by another organization and used in a manner which is confusing and deceiving to the public,” the high court said.
Turner had ruled that the Prince Hall Lodge, which was founded in 1903, is a legitimate (African-American) Masonic Lodge in the state because it traced its lineage to the original (African-American) Masonic lodge in America.
The John Bell lodge was organized in Washington in 1945 and the Universal Lodge was founded in this state in 1947.
The High court said Turner’s decision was “supported by substantial evidence.”
Two more of the bogus groups who would oppose Prince Hall Masons in the practice of the only legitimate Freemasonry for African-Americans have been made to bite the dust!
The opinion of the Supreme Court recites inter alia, the language of the trail court in its degree,
“ … permanently enjoining the respective appellants from establishing or conducting lodges of Masons or auxiliaries thereof within this state and from using certain specified words or initials indicative of the Masonic order.”
And that the
“…trial court found that respondent Prince Hall Grand Lodge is a legitimate Masonic lodge tracing its Masonic ancestry back to the original colored Masonic lodge in America, African Lodge, No. 459, and that appellants have no legitimate Masonic ancestry.“ Appellants have, since their organization, falsely represented themselves as a legitimate Masonic organization and have sought and gained membership among (African-American) men and women of good moral character who might otherwise have sought affiliation with respondents.”
The Supreme Court further held that the trial court’s conclusions of law “are supported by substantial evidence,” and stated, “We are of the opinion that an established fraternal organization is entitled to relief when its name or one so similar as to be deceiving is adopted by another organization and used in a manner which is confusing and deceiving to the public and is detrimental to the organization already using the name."
Found in the Joseph A. Walkes, Jr. Library is the following from the Harry A. Williamson collection: One writer says of this individual: John A. Bell, whose Grand Lodge remains very active in Chicago today, was at one time a respected member of North Star Lodge No. 5, at Grand Rapids, Michigan, when that jurisdiction was known as “Union Grand Lodge” but is now known as the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of that state. Back in 1897, North Star Lodge No. 3 (5) had a member who was very ambitious and desired power. He became not only insubordinate, but rebellious and defiant so far as the Grand Lodge was concerned. He resorted to the newspapers to vilify and place Prince Hall Masonry in a bad light before the public. Who was he? He was John A. Bell. What happened to him? He was expelled from Prince Hall Masonry for his tirade in the press against legitimate Masonry. What did he further do? He organized a clandestine Lodge which flourished in Michigan for a while until Judge Sample of Ann Arbor put him and his outfit out of business.
In due course Bell organized what he called the “M. W. John A. Bell Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of the State of Washington. Later he organized another grand body under the denomination of the “John A. Bell Sovereign Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Michigan.
St. John’s Grand Lodge of Oklahoma now known as the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of that state , brought an action against one of the Bell affiliated, which included the following units: St. Joseph’s Grand Lodge, the Mount Olive Grand Chapter of the Easter Star and the Daughters of Sphinx. The Prince Hall Grand Lodge procured an injunction in the District Court of Pittsburgh County at McAllester, Oklahoma, on May 3, 1921. Still another action against the same outfit was case No. 24,930, which was heard in Creek County and decided in favor of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge.
The “Union Grand Lodge of Michigan” now Prince Hall Grand Lodge, procured a permanent injunction against John A. Bell et al. in the Circuit Court of Washtenaw County on August 8, 1922, which order forbid Bell and his followers too use any word, insignia, etc. belonging to Freemasonry. The case was No. 180, heard before Judge George W. Sample; a complete transcript of the decree can be found in the Williamson Collection in the New York Public Library (Schomburg Center).
Following the death of John A. Bell, one Robert Louis Prince became Grand Master of what Bell had left behind. Although Bell had been dead for some seven years, his name was still in use because a communication bearing his name came into the possession of the white Scottish Rite (Southern) Jurisdiction, stating that his Grand Lodge held a session in the City of Cleveland, Ohio, on August 27, 1949. A letter head bearing the date of October 16, 1946, which possesses a rather formidable masthead which reads as follows:
Most Worshipful Sovereign Grand Lodge A.F.&A.M. Masons
Of the U.S.A. regular Masonic Succession
Instituted (June) A.D. 1901
Original and Founder of this Jurisdiction, Ill. John A. Bell, 33rd with Warrants issued to him by the Grand Lodges of Cuba, Haiti, San Domingo, South Africa and the Patent of Power from the Grand Orient of Haiti, 1920, who received their Authority in the 18th Century from the white Masonic Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, this Sovereign Grand Lodge was formed in Richmond, VA, 1905, by Grand Master Miquel Roman and Quintine Bandera and John A. Bell was elected Sovereign Grand Master for the U.S.A., this jurisdiction has full Rite of Authority and Legal Warrants to Operate Masonry in the United States of America.
The interesting feature of the letter is, that its writer was very anxious to “Incorporate” a Grand Lodge in New York State. He wrote that all which was necessary was to get ten reliable men, and, as he wrote further, “ and I will make you Grand Master so get Busy and Round up me 10 Reliable men and send me they Names and Address, “ etc. This gentleman desired ten men at $10.00 each and he continued: “Just get the men name and Address no money until I set up the Lodge.”
Referring to the letter received by the Scottish Rite body mentioned previously, it is learned a photostatic document accompanied it which alleged the Grand Orient of Haiti had issued a certificate of some sort to John A. Bell, and the letter brings to light the following rather interesting information:
(a) That at the session of the Grand Lodge of Cuba held at Santiago on May 18, 1902 that body granted a charter for Harmony Lodge No. 7, to be situated at Grand Rapids, Michigan.
(b) That the Grand Lodge, A.F.&A.M. of South Africa at a meeting held at Graham Town, had chartered St. Mary’s Lodge, No. 9, at Ann Arbor, Michigan. Insofar as records as are available, there has never been any body of Masons bearing the title of Grand Lodge of South Africa (at the time), and to make the claim further ridiculous is the fact of the existence of the color question in the Union of South Africa.
(c) That the Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of San Domingo had issued a Charter for the formation of Keystone Lodge No. 8, at Ypsilanti, Michigan, when the Grand Lodge met at Los Mastas on May 17, 1902.
It appears the Bell’s Sovereign Grand Lodge was erected by the above named Lodges. It is rather strange that Bell had to go so far from home to procure warrants for his Lodges especially the one granted so many thousands of miles from the shores of the United States.
The same letter from which the above information was obtained carries the further data that the Grand Orient of Haiti, meeting at Port-au-Prince on March 20, 1920, granted Charters for three additional Lodges in Michigan, namely: Keystone No. 3 at Detroit; Emerald No. 2, at Battle Creek and Climax No. 8, at Jackson.
It is unbelievable that anybody in his right mind will place a reliance in the information just presented. Since that letter was written after the death of Bell, it is very evident his followers must be possessed of a remarkable degree of imagination. It is recorded that John A. Bell completed his earthly career on May 8, 1942, at the age of 87 years.
The John A. Bell Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter announced that it was holding its 93rd Sovereign Session in September 1994 in Tuson, Arizona.
In the years since its inception, the Prince Hall Commission on Clandestine Masonry has enjoyed similar successes in every jurisdiction in which it has moved against these bogus groups.
Alerted to the Evil: In previous years, the evil spread by these pretenders to legitimate Freemasonry has been recognized and, in many instances, efforts have been made to combat these bogus (groups). Masonic leaders, ever alert to the evil existence of these degree peddlers desired to make a concerted effort to rid our country of all bogus groups, and thus the Commission on Clandestine Masonry was organized.
From the very beginning it found favor with Prince Hall Masonry everywhere and since its organization it has worked closely with the various jurisdiction whenever and wherever called upon and the fight has gained momentum with the years as more and more (of) our jurisdiction have become alert to the evil spread by these pretenders to legitimate Masonry.
Prince Hall Masons must remain alert to the problem and just because we have been successful in enjoining various groups in the courts, we must not become complacent and think that they are on the run.
They are not!
They might take cover for a while but you may be sure that when they enjoined in Washington, after a short time to gird themselves, they will rise up in another area. They will not willingly give up such a lucrative field.
I will say this again, any one who gives aid or comfort to these Black bogus frauds, are the enemies of Black America.
Education – a Major Weapon
The Commission reiterates that one of the greatest weapons to give impetus to this concerted fight against bogus groups and to help Prince Hall Masonry to take its rightful place as the only legitimate Freemasonry for (African-Americans) is a well planned, functioning program of education.
It is important that the Prince Hall Mason recognize his own legitimacy but it is also equally important that the illegal mason be shown the error of his ways. A skillfully executed program of propaganda pointing out the illegitimacy of the bogus groups and keeping before the public the legitimacy of Prince Hall is a necessity.
The Prince Hall Mason who is not educated – not fully indoctrinated in the facts of his own legitimacy, is sometimes overwhelmed by the propaganda spewed by these bogus groups. I am pained when I hear questions from our young men – Prince Hall Masons – regarding the legitimacy of Prince Hall Masonry.
These young men – though believing in the principles and concepts of Prince Hall Masonry – become confused when so many rise up to brand Prince Hall Masonry as illegitimate.
Our young men – and all Prince Hall Masons – must be firmly indoctrinated with the legitimacy of Prince Hall Masonry. We lose many men – good men – to those bogus groups because we fail to keep our brethren informed of the good works of Prince Hall Masonry and publicize those good works that will build us up in the eyes of those on the outside. A great many good men are misled into joining these bogus groups but when they are convinced of their mistake, they welcome the opportunity to become legal masons.
Bogus Masons Publicize Works. These bogus groups do not hid their works under the proverbial bushel basket! Whenever they can do so, their works are publicized.
I have in hand a souvenir program put out by the International F. & A. Masons and Order of Eastern Star in which they revile Prince Hall Masonry and all it stands for. To give you an example of the venom directed by these groups against Prince Hall Masons, I should like to quote from the “message” of the so-called Supreme Grand Master, William V. Banks:
“Ten years ago, we who founded International Masons, stood at the gateway of a new uncharted fraternal world well acquainted with, and had many friends and compatriots in the old, outmoded Masonic order.”
(Certainly! The records will show that many of the leaders “high up” in these bogus groups are former Prince Hall Masons who have become disgruntled because of their inability to “run things” and to line their pockets with monies filched from the sale of degrees, etc.)
But let us continue with Banks’ tirade:
“It was losing its attraction for intelligent members because it had nothing to offer but senseless snobbery and adherence to sensory social vices as its chief financial means.”
(He is still referring to Prince Hall Masonry but I am not sure that I understand all that he means: “senseless snobbery,” “adherence to sensory social vices…”)
“ …I was opposed to such snobbery which divided my people, while luring, young and old, into its narcotic like clutches by providing desired pleasures at a price which sapped their vital earnings, while promising a secret immunity for any moral and legal criminal excursion. The so-called Prince Hall Masons was the most widely known Masonic order which was operating among our people.”
(Is not this a direct and open attack against Prince Hall Masonry and on all for which it stands. This was written in 1960 – just ten years after the organization of the group. They should have been squelched in their tracks – and could have been easily but we have allowed them to gain a foothold.) To continue: “Every member of our order must be conscious of a duty and a right of every citizen to peacefully assembly. That there exists a fraternal-equality as well as a religious-equality. That anyone whether prince Hall Masons or anyone else, who seeks to abolish this privilege by use of corrupt, or ignorant, court-officials, are setting up illegal tyrannical practices. Though I abhor and oppose these practices, I shall not be drawn into a dog fight in a lower or inferior kangaroo-court hearing, where a suit is filed for the principle purpose of extorting huge sums of money from needy workers to satisfy the greed of lawyers and their bedfellows.”
Here is his method of procedure:
Speaking as a lawyer, who is familiar with the tentacles of such courts of law, it shll be the policy of International Masons, that when any official of a local lodge is served with notice of a court proceeding, designed to deny him this well known God given democratic right, he shall resign from the office and from the local lodge organization. As a member of a voluntary assembly of individuals, this right certainly cannot be questioned.. Other members of the order will continue to set up local lodges throughout. Thus you defeast the purpose of this evil practice while expending only enough money to file your legal appearance and say that you are no longer a member and cannot represent such voluntary assembly. (The Supreme Office will safeguard all your endowment benefits.) This is our best means of combating this evil practice, usually perpetrated by the so called Prince Hall Masons.”
Listen how he brags about his “skullduggery”…
It is a matter of great pride to me personally as well as to my colleagues that our order not only has stood unshaken through all persecution of false arrest of our deputies, and threats of beating, calculated to break the back of our determined effort, but we have doubled and redoubled our forces in the midst of it, until today we stand forth as the strongest and cleanest national fraternal order, this country has ever known.
While perched on the threshold of our next decade we can all take pride in our attainment, in the social realm. We have made a bare beginning on the economic front, by affording greater money benefits from any other order, and by sponsoring beauty schools, and barber colleges, rater second to none. We shall continue and increase this advent to sponsoring economic development. New we shall emerge on a third and most potent endeavor, that of the political arena. If politics is dirty and corrupt, it is only because it must take on the characteristics of those who are engaged in it.”
Today in the year 2000, this bogus group continues to exist. They have added a key to their emblem so as not to be thought of as Prince Hall Freemasons. They have lost their TV station in Detroit, which was once a source of pride to them, the mere reading of the African-American Yellow Pages (Black Pages it is often called) continue to carry their names Found within its pages are such names as the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons, Oscar Mack, National Grand Master and The Federal of Masons of the World and Federation of Eastern Stars, C. E. Gibson, President, Federation of Masons and Lucille McCants, President, Federation of Eastern Star. Also listed is the (Banks outfit) Modern Free and Accepted Masons of the World, Inc., Henry Williams, Supreme Grand Master.
Other than the listing of the Prince Hall Shrine, Prince Hall groups are not mentioned, not even the Conference of Prince Hall Grand Masters or the Phylaxis Society. In so far as the Phylaxis Society is concerned they will have its name registered.
The erstwhile Doctor (sometimes Reverend, sometimes Attorney) Banks has passed on to his reward, the many bogus groups now are geared to being recognized by Prince Hall Freemasonry. They are aware that many of the Caucasian Grand Lodges, to include the United Grand Lodge of England, have recognized our fraternity, and so they are gearing up to convince some ignorant Prince Hall Freemasons to “take care of their ‘soul brothers’. “Why should we allow whites to recognize us when we don’t recognize our own Black brothers” is now the battle area, that the bogus groups are attempting to hoodwink Prince Hall Freemasonry over.
It is sad to say, that Caucasian Grand Lodges like New York is part and parcel of this deception. The bogus groups are on the internet as well, in fact one Prince Hall Freemason in Missouri carries their web page, and then makes excuses for it, how in the world could a Prince Hall Freemason do such a thing?
The Prince Hall Commission on Clandestine Masonry operated by the Prince Hall Grand Masters Conference is no longer functioning, and the Phylaxis Society has attempted to establish a similar organization, but found itself over whelmed by the large amount of clandestine bogus Black groups within Africa America. Yet we must continue the good fight, and Prince Hall Freemasonry must over come these groups.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN BOGUS MASONRY
By
Harry A. Williamson
Unlike regulations which control the operations of fraternal societies generally, those governing the Masonic Fraternity provide for a system of classification unknown to any other organization. The Masonic institution has as its highest governing body what is designated as the “Grand Lodge” which derives its existence, authority, etc., through the combination of constituents or subordinates and without these no such governing body can exist. In accordance with Masonic procedures, the grand and lower groups fall into the following category: (1) regular; (2) irregular; (3) clandestine and (4) bogus, and this discourse will be confined exclusively to organizations within my racial group that come within the No. 4, classification.
Before proceeding further, it becomes necessary for the reader to have a clear understanding of the word “bogus.” According to the 1937 addition of Webster’s Universal Dictionary as published by the World Syndicate Pub. Co., of New York and Cleveland, that word is defined as: “False, sham, counterfeit.”
With the inception of the Grand Lodge system in 1717, the Masonic Fraternity has from time to time adopted specific regulations to govern the formation of both Grand Lodges and their constituent Lodges in order to determine the legality of their origin. Such regulations, in this objective, have been adopted by all of the properly constituted governing bodies of the Craft though the entire Masonic world, consequently, the official status of all units within the Masonic family are thus determined and any so called Masonic body which is unable to both legally and historically measure up to these fundamental requirements is classified as “bogus.”
During the early portion of the year 1946, Mr. Fred W. Hartman held the station of Grand Master of the (white) Grand Lodge of Oregon and in February of that year he delivered an address before the (white) Conference of the Grand Masters of North America which met in annual session at Washington, D.C. That address had particular reference to matters pertaining to Prince Hall Masonry and during the course of the same he gave expression to the following:
“We know there are true Clandestine (Black) bodies operating, and if we carry Masonic law to the point of tolerance, it might be these Clandestine Bodies would eventually overwhelm Prince Hall Freemasonry – at least the danger will be much greater if we hold strictly to Masonic law.”
For this gentleman to have given expression to such a “probability” indicates very clearly he must have given the subject much study, also, considerable foresight is apparent because he has suggested a condition which has been overlooked completely by most Freemasons.
Fraternal organizations now in operation within the Black community in this country are both numerous and varied in character but in so far as I have knowledge no attempt has ever been made to imitate any of these with the exception of bodies attached to Freemasonry. One may well enquire into the reasons underlying this fact and I doubt anybody can furnish a satisfactory answer.
Perhaps there is a greater amount of mystery (?) surrounding this Fraternity then in the operations of any other. No doubt there is great magnetism in the fact that Freemasonry and its Concordant Orders contain such a collection of degrees, titles, etc., that the non-Mason is deeply impressed with the high standing and general importance of some who belong to them. I have read and heard about both “high” and “big” Masons on numerous occasions dur5ing my 40 odd years as a member; such individuals have been in both racial groups and especially within my own and in my own I have met some who, because of height and rotundity, could fill both classes.
For many years the two racial groups have been pestered with fraudulent organization but those have existed in greater number within my own rather than the other. Students of Masonic history are thoroughly familiar with the Thompson and Cerneau incidents of the last century which caused no end of confusion within the Caucasian group. My own has never had such wide controversies as those but has been and still is bothered with many small movements spread over a wide area.
I have known through facts that within the Caucasian organizations the Police Square Clubs have been of great help in frightening the bogus bodies operating among them out of business by keeping such gentry on the run. Unfortunately, within my Masonic grou0s there are no such organization existing among the few Prince Hall Masons who are police officers in the various large cities and as a result, we have been unable to do similarly when any so-called bogus Masonic bodies begin to function.
I am wondering whether or not we are to blame for such conditions. Many years ago I came to the realization my own grand jurisdiction is now suffering from the lack of foresight and inactivity of its leaders of a quarter of a century and more. It is my understanding that bogus masonry first raised its head in the north-western section of New York State about the year 1903 but met with little headway and as now recall, it came into the open when the late Henry A. Spencer, Grand Master from 1905 to 1914, was called into court as a witness in some action in a small court in a town close to the City of Buffalo; Grand Lodge proceedings issued around that period may carry an account of the incident.
I do recall listening to Brother Spencer discussing the subject of bogus Masonry upon several occasions even after it had gained a slight foot-hold in New York City. I was one of a number of brethren who were too young in the Craft at the time to realize just what the situation could develop into and so followed the advice of our “elder” brethren who, especially Spencer himself, assured us that if given any publicity through action of any character, those elements would thrive but if left alone they would eventually “die of their own weight,” so nothing was done although at the time both Spencer and the Later Major R. Poole, were employed in the state capital with access to many Caucasian who were Freemasonry and no doubt would have, had they been approached, introduced measures which would have prevented the further growth of bogus Masonry in New York State. When it was desired to take action the principle of “laches” became the stumbling block and has been so ever since.
From statistics gather by me which includes letterheads of some of the bogus bodies which have come into my possession, the outstanding fact is, they all make use of the two designations, namely, they are either “Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons” or “Ancient, Free and Accepted York Masons. Perhaps they are of the opinion the word “Ancient” identifies them with something handed down from antiquity and I doubt many of their leaders have the least idea of the origin of the word in Freemasonry.
In my investigation of bogus Masonry within my racial group two facts stand out and these are, that many of the leaders are either “professional” men and alleged clergymen. So far in the letter besides many carrying the prefix “Rev”, to their names, three others have been or are “Bishops,” If the latter are truly brethren of the cloth, their use of the Holy Bible is merely a matter of form and in all probability they have never read the 15th verse of the 7th Chapter of St. Matthew.
In examining Masonic periodicals circulating in various sections of the United States from time, one gains the impression it is now being generally accepted that all those grand bodies consisting of men of color and which can trace a direct and undisputed descent from African Lodge No. 459, of 1784, can be tacitly acknowledge as constituting the only Masonic organizations within our racial group to be accorded the distinction of “regular” Freemasons.
It is the custom of most all the bogus organizations to attempt to profit by the use of the name of Prince Hall upon their stationery. Example of this custom are: “Prince Hall Origin;” “Prince Hall Descent;” or “Prince Hall Affiliation.” The latter is exceedingly misleading to the uninformed because many of the Prince Hall bodies make use of that identical statement on their stationary, consequently, non-Masons are deliberately mislead in their conclusions as to the status of our grand bodies.
Those organizations which claim to be of Compact origin (National Grand Lodge of 1847) are not aware of the fact there is evidence extant which establishes the contention that no such national governing body was ever formed at Boston, Mass, in that year. (See proceedings of Grand Lodge of Ohio, 1871, pages 85/101.) To sustain their contention that they are “regular” in character and descent, these bogus bodies will not have to prove the late National or Compact Grand Lodge was organized in both a legal and regular manner but they will have to prove it was ever organized at all.
Three of the groups in my records claim to be “national” in operations and are probably unaware of the fact that upon the North American Continent there is no such an institution in Ancient Craft Masonry; that each State and Province is governed (Masonically) by a separate and distinct unit of authority.
Several of these bodies are “workshops” and one carries a heading which fills almost one half of the letterhead and goes on to state its “authority” has been obtained from Grand Lodges in Cuba, Haiti, San Domingo and South Africa, also, that through the Grand Orient of Haiti, further authority has come down from the 18th century from the white Masonic Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
I want to thank the late Bro Harry A. Williamson for all of the years of research that he did in gathering information on these bogus groups which continue to operate in the year 2000. Some may wonder why I have not included John G. Jones but in my many books, for instance the History of the Shrine and the History of the United Supreme Council, A.A.S.R., Northern Jurisdiction, I have went into great detail on this individual who we call the father of clandestine Black masonry in the United States.
The purpose of this paper on my web site, is to make not only the members of the Prince Hall Craft understand the Black on Black crime that is taking place within our community with these frauds, and the fact there are some white Grand Lodge out there who, like New York who is attempting to use these groups to destroy Prince Hall Freemasonry.
The Phylaxis Society is the only organization within Prince Hall Freemasonry that is attempting to open the eyes of the blind within our Order, but, in reality this is the role of the Conference of Prince Hall Grand Lodges, but of course here you find the blind leading the blind.
We note in Kent Henderson and Tony Pope’s Freemasonry Universal: a new guide to the Masonic world, they list many of these bogus groups, thus giving them the publicity that they are always seeking. But some where, some how, some one needs to understand exactly what is taking place, Black on Black crime within the Black community, and any one who helps these bogus groups are themselves criminals.
I have used some strong words against the white Grand Lodge of New York, but by their actions, they have shown a total disregard for the feelings of Prince Hall Freemasonry and Black America, and they must be judged accordingly. I will say this again, any one who gives aid or comfort to these Black bogus frauds, are the enemies of Black America.