FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE MASONIC BODIES OF COLOR IN THE USA? 

F&AAYM, National Compact (PHO)- As a result of the problems surrounding Pennsylvania from 1842-1847, every GL birthed from African Lodge #459 was summonsed to meet in Boston the dates of June 24-26, 1847. The meeting resulted in the formation of the M.W. National Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Ancient York Rite Masons, National Compact. The GL’s in existence prior to the formation of the NGL were, Boyer GL of NY, African GL of MA, Hiram GL of PA and 1^st Independent African GL of PA. All other Grand Lodges birthed from 1847-1878 were in fact, birthed by the National Grand Lodge. 

F&AM, (PHA)- Grand Lodges birthed by the NGL that decided to pull out of union with the National Compact. The NGL birthed every current PHA GL, directly or indirectly. 

AF&AM- John G. Jones was a member of the GL of Illinois, which pulled out of the National Compact, and is now known as the PHGL of IL. He was very influential, and is the very reason that there are black Shriners today. He fell out of grace with his Grand Lodge when he started erecting lodges, not under the Grand Lodge umbrella. He was expelled from the GL of Illinois in 1889, and began erecting his own GL’s through out the USA. Because these lodges were irregularly started, they have no Masonic lineage to African #459. Several court cases have been brought on this body of masons, most of which have been lost by them. The General Grand Masonic Congress is this Body’s NGL, and at one time they claimed a date of origin of 1847. All scholars know that the only National Convention that created any Masonic authority was that of the formation of the National Grand Lodge, National Compact.

WHICH BODIES HAVE MASONIC INFLUENCE?  

We all do. The community at large doesn’t know one body of masons from the other. All masons are recognized by the service to its community.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ANCIENTS AND THE MODERNS AND HOW DO THEY RELATE TO PRINCE HALL? 

• Ancients

The Ancients were the time immemorial lodges that practiced ritual handed down from mouth to ear, from one century to the next.  These lodges preceded any formation of a Grand Lodge.  The first Grand Lodge was composed of Ancient lodges, and became known as the Grand Lodge of England.

Some time thereafter, the Grand Officers allowed innovations to be made to the ritual, and this caused a major riff in the organization.  Several lodges severed their ties with the Grand Lodge of England and became independent.  These independent lodges began chartering other lodges.  In a time frame of less than 50 years, the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland were constituted from Ancient practicing lodges.

Prince Hall

Prince Hall and 14 other men of color were made Masons by a lodge under Irish charter, which means they were made using Ancient ritual.

• Moderns

The Grand Lodge of England became known as the ‘Moderns’ by many Ancient practicing Masons because of their innovations to the ritual.  Interestingly enough, within the ranks of the Moderns were lodges that didn’t adhere to the revised ritual of the Moderns.  Many of the Modern chartered lodges were using the Ancient ritual.  This inevitably led to the unification of the Modern and Ancient Grand Lodges to the United Grand Lodge of England.

Prince Hall

Prince Hall petitioned the Grand Lodge of England for a charter, and it was so granted.  Which ritual should Prince Hall have been using?  The Modern ritual.  However, which ritual was Prince Hall accustomed to?  The Ancient ritual.