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PHO vs PHA

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TravelLight91

Registered User
What is the difference between PHO and PHA? I am hearing that PHO is considered bogus and not legit masonry? Could someone explain more please?

Thanks,

Brother Caution.

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Txmason

Txmason

Registered User
Prince Hall Masonry is (PHA) and there is also mainstream freemasonry but there is no PHO masonry that is bogus.

Where do you live? in what city? I'd be glad to help you find a lodge to visit and learn about masonry. Are you interested in becoming a mason?


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MarkR

MarkR

Premium Member
PHO is also referred to as "National Compact." Quite some time ago (mid 1800's IIRC,) some Prince Hall Lodges decided to have a national Grand Lodge. They apparently thought all Prince Hall Lodges would go along, but they didn't. So, it caused a schism. PHO has a national Grand Lodge (http://www.mwnationalgrandlodge.org/), PHA is organized with state Grand Lodges only. When "mainstream" state Grand Lodges started recognizing Prince Hall, they started recognizing PHA. I also think there a lot more PHA Lodges and brothers than PHO.
 
towerbuilder7

towerbuilder7

Moderator
Premium Member
Brother mark r is correct-----pha (prince hall affiliation) is the preminent style of masonry of the two. We are considered regualr and recognized by the ugle here in texas, and pho (prince hall origin) is not..........i've heard rumors of "talks" of reconciliation between the two bodies, but none were verified.........bro jones
 
dfreybur

dfreybur

Premium Member
MarkR said:
So, it caused a schism.
Click to expand...

Bro Mark,

Regularity comes in several levels and forms. It's a gray scale or floating point. In comparison recognition is yes/no digital. Being not recognized does *not* automatically mean being clandestine. This description makes PHO sound regular in almost every way but a decision on how many levels of sovereignty there should be. The divide between the Antients and Moderns was no larger than that and they unified into the UGLE in 1817.

Might PHO reconcile at some point? In several countries there are both national and state GLs that get along and that could eventually happen in the US. If they have a definite lineage it's possible. If that's the only point of departure on regularity.
 
MarkR

MarkR

Premium Member
dfreybur said:
Bro Mark,

Regularity comes in several levels and forms. It's a gray scale or floating point. In comparison recognition is yes/no digital. Being not recognized does *not* automatically mean being clandestine. This description makes PHO sound regular in almost every way but a decision on how many levels of sovereignty there should be. The divide between the Antients and Moderns was no larger than that and they unified into the UGLE in 1817.

Might PHO reconcile at some point? In several countries there are both national and state GLs that get along and that could eventually happen in the US. If they have a definite lineage it's possible. If that's the only point of departure on regularity.
Click to expand...
You're absolutely correct (except UGLE formed in 1813.)
 
bupton52

bupton52

Moderator
Premium Member
The PHO of yesterday is not the same one that operates today. The original was shut down and the one that operates now is doing so clandestinely. Everything from holding annual communication without quorum to self apoointed National Grand Masters.

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dfreybur

dfreybur

Premium Member
Bro Byron,

Thanks for addressing my "If that's their only point of departure from regularity". Sounds like they have departed greatly from regularity at this point. Some clandestine group riding the tails of a now defunct almost-regular group.
 
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tjmonty32

Registered User
PHO was never shut down. Read Out of the Shadows and The National Grandl Lodge, the untold truth by PHA writer Alton Roundtree. PHO IS LEGIT.

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tjmonty32

Registered User
The compact has continued to meet since its formation in 1847, alist of its triennial sessions in listed on pages 787-788 in the book "Tha National Grand Lodge,The Untold Truth" by PHA writer Alton Roundtree

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bupton52

bupton52

Moderator
Premium Member
Here is the cliff notes version:

The National Grand Lodge (NGL) was meant to be like a COGM to stop clandestine freemasons and spread "negro" freemasonry. Once they started to try to exercise authority over GLs, those GLs started separating themselves (becoming independent like they are today) By the time the convention of 1878 came in Delaware, hardly anybody showed up. There wasn't enough representation to even open the session (quorum) Convention after that, same thing. GL's had pulled away and became independent, thus returning sovereignty to the State GL and not having a GM over state GMs like the NGL is set up. The NGL even started putting replacement GLs in some of the states where the existing regular PHGLs are today! The structure of the NGL/PHO is irregular. The fact that they continued to operate after dying is clandestine. Also the fact the National Grand Master (NGM) put out Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that include goals to "Establish recognition with Modern Free Masons, Scottish Rite Masons and International Masons." ,which are known clandestine organizations, makes it even less likely that the NGL/PHO will ever be considered a regular organization or recognized by the rest of the masonic community.
 
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