Bro Seeker, in the thread you're referring to, I was the author of a couple of posts, and gave some enlightenment to the Young Brother who asked me some questions. I sensed and was fully aware that he wanted to bait me into a debate, but like I told him, I have no need to debate, because I have 237 years of Free and Accepted Masonry on my side. He happened to state that his affiliation was from some "Grand Lodge" in Tennessee, and it was also styled "AF&AM", and it was a Black Grand Lodge, so instantly, I knew that his "Grand Lodge" was clandestine. This doesn't make him a bad Man, by any means, however, I had to temper my response to him toward that which is public knowledge. The book I suggested for his reading would be good for YOU as well.
"Inside Prince Hall", by Bro David Gray, will give you the insight you are seeking regarding the history of Prince Hall Freemasonry here in America, as well as the formation of these
clandestine Lodges of African American descent. Unfortunately, this issue is more of a problem in the Black communities, and there are several reasons.
The FULL AND DETAILED explanation of these reasons would take longer than I may have at the moment, but, just realize one basic fact as it pertains to the "debate" between Prince Hall Affiliated Lodges, and other so called "4 Letter and 5 Letter" groups in the Black community. (Prince Hall Origin Lodges, International and Free and Ancient Accepted Masonry Lodges, John G Jones styled Ancient Free and Accepted Lodges, etc.)
WE HAVE RECOGNITION, LINEAGE, AND A CHARTER TO PROVE OUR EXISTENCE,
WHICH TRACES OUR FREE AND ACCEPTED ORIGIN BACK TO ENGLAND, AND THEY DO NOT. The book written by Bro Gray presents several factors which contribute to the establishment of these clandestine groups. As with any organization, there are growing pains, and the eras in Prince Hall Freemasonry between 1801 and 1827, 1827 to 1847, and 1847-1900 are differing periods of growth and expansion, and also controversy. These spurious groups began RECRUITING unsuspecting Black Men to join, (a HUGE NO-NO) who simply wanted to become Masons, and had no knowledge of the
degrees for sale,
expelled Prince Hall Brothers creating Lodges and conferring Degrees, and these same Men
traveling across State Lines creating Lodges and Grand Lodges styled
"Ancient Free and Accepted", in States where there were already two established Masonic bodies-----Prince Hall Grand Lodges, and Mainstream Grand Lodges. There was also the attempt at the establishment of a National Compact in 1847, which was a National Grand Lodge, of sorts. However, MOST States opted to maintain their sovereign nature, and hence, you have the Prince Hall Affiliated vs the Prince Hall Origin debate. This was solved, however, and Prince Hall Affiliated Grand Lodges are the Lodges which are deemed "regular and recognized", which ended that debate.
The crossing into other established Masonic Jurisdictions and establishing Masonic bodies is termed a Masonic Invasion, and is illegal. This is what Black Clandestine groups began to do in the Mid-19th Century. A legitimate English Chartered exception, Prince Hall Grand Lodge bodies were established, and were allowed to co-exist, however, due to the Black Man not being allowed to join Mainstream Lodges and practice Masonry alongside his White counterparts in the late 18th century, and throughout the 19th century. These bodies have co-existed to the present day, and each is steeped their own History and Legacy.
The book also touches on Court action that Prince Hall Brothers took against these Bogus groups in the past, but in modern times, it is very hard to police the plethora of groups that dupe and miseducate many unsuspecting Men, many of whom would make excellent Masons in either a Mainstream or PHA Lodge. We have groups such as the Phylaxis Society, which is a Research Society for Prince Hall Freemasonry, that has a link that lists Bogus or Clandestine Groups.....The site relies on Brethren to contact them, and report all clandestine Masonic activity, and they will post it on their site (
www.phylaxis.org)
For this reason, among many others, many Mainstream Lodges refused to "recognize" Prince Hall Affiliated Masonry, and to THIS day, there are 9 States which still do NOT recognize Prince Hall Masons, or allow Intervisitation. Our Great State of Texas is unique, in that we have a signed compact of "mutual recognition" from 2007, but NO intervisitation at the present. The MWPHGLoTX reached out to the UGLE, in an effort to reestablish ties with the UGLE, and the FIRST step in accomplishing this was to establish Masonic ties with the Mainstream GLoTX, AF&AM, first.
We are secure and clear on our definition of OURSELVES; unfortunately, the clandestine groups are so numerous that they are still able to RECRUIT members, and dupe them into believing that THEY are just as legitimate as we are. This is one of the symptoms of the DISEASE of clandestine masonry running rampant in the Black community. No PHA Mason will ever get defensive, when questioned about HIS lineage or how his form of Free and Accepted Masonry is defined, because we have remained true to our roots, and we are in possession of a Charter as well as a Legacy that defines US.
Many of us do believe, however, that educating others about our form of Masonry is important, but we do not feel the need to commercialize ourselves NOR do we recruit. We seek Good Men who are the Cream of the Crop in their communities. Unfortunately, one thing that helps clandestine groups is that the uneducated Man who has not researched that which he seeks to join, will continue to listen, and join a bogus group before realizing how precarious of a position he has placed himself in. I will admit that we could use an upgrade in technology in regard to the Locator link on the GL site, however, there are enough of us on this Forum now to assist with any questions or issues any Brother may have if unable to locate information regarding PHA or the MWPHGLoTX.
Brother Seeker, If you have read many of the differing threads on this subject, I think you will see that many of the Brothers that are members of this Forum are in favor of both Mutual Recognition
AND Intervisitation; however, one would be naive to think that this will be an easy sell to members on both sides. You have your progressive brethren, and your Brethren who have opposing views on this subject; only GOD AND TIME will tell whether this TRUE Masonic spirit of Fraternalism will ever be realized. I am optimistic, but there are many obstacles in the way, the MAIN one being educating one another about each other, (which we are doing now) another is racism, (on both sides) still another is reluctance to infuse NEW ideals into what are BOTH storied Grand Lodges steeped in Texas History. That is the beauty of what happens on this Forum daily----
the exchange of ideas on the Internet can be the virtual precursor to actual visitation; it creates familiarity as Brethren ask questions, and express opinions.
Bro Seeker, your State of CT was actually the FIRST State to take this step toward Mutual Recognition and Intervisitation, back in 1989. Many other States have followed suit, and Prince Hall Brothers here have actually been granted permission to visit our Mainstream Lodges of Brothers in OTHER States, but not our own. It will take meetings, Internet Forums, but MOST importantly, the power of the
VOTE at Grand Lodge Communications in order to solidify what most of us know will be nothing less than positive.
Please order that book; I am confident that it will assist you in learning more about PHA Masonry. If any Brother has questions, or is simply curious about an issue, all he has to do is ask. Obviously, there are limitations within our Constitutions which we know impede ACTUAL AND COMPLETE ENLIGHTENMENT, but, this Forum is a great start toward the continued communication between Brethren of different Jurisdictions..........
When there is a question any Mainstream Brother has about legitimacy of a Lodge or "Grand Lodge", or any historical information, I am sure one of the Forum "regulars" will be close and can help you-----myself, brother Kosei, Brother BUpton52, Brother PH021211, Bro. Benjamin, or, last but certainly NOT least, Bro Raymond Walters, to name a few. These are the names you see contributing posts regularly, and can shed some LIGHT on any PHA issue a Brother may have..........."Iron Sharpens Iron"..........I hope this offering can help you acquire some knowledge on this subject, Brother.................
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Fraternally Submitted, Bro. Vincent C. Jones, Sr., Bayou City Lodge #228, PHA, F&AM, Houston, Texas