MARCH 19, 1994
The above subject, controversial in nature, is at the root of recognition by other Masons (White). However, Prince Hall Masons may be missing an opportunity that never come this way again with such projected impact on a people, African Americans.
A ritualistic trapping will never make you a Mason; neither will a fancy Lodge Hall; nor will a court case. Certainly, an obligation will not make you one, nor will you find legitimacy in numbers, wealth or years of experience through membership. Being a Mason is all a matter of a "Way of Life."
Many of us have talked to Non-Prince Hall Masons that were the type of member we would like to see in our Lodges, but lo, whoever recommended them were in the A.F.&A.M. group, or some Scottish Rite group that claimed legitimacy through Haiti or some other place. Some of those Masons are serious, some more serious than a lot of Prince Hall Masons, yet, because of a part of our obligation that most of us do not understand, we cast them aside in our minds and conversations.
It is possibly time to call a halt to this charade, for what will recognition from our White brothers get us? Will our Lodge Halls fill up any faster? Will our treasuries suddenly take off for higher amounts? Not hardly! The only thing gained at this point in time is "bragging rights!" It is hard to see where the bright future of Brotherly Love has come among Masons in the affected areas. In talking with some Prince Hall Masons, we do not see marked differences in their Masonic education, so are the White Masonic libraries opened to our Prince Hall Masons? It is most likely that recognition has only scratched the surface, for an African American Mason is still not a Royal Arch Mason, Knights Templar Mason, Scottish Rite Mason or Shriner! The Prince Hall Mason's family is still not accepted as the Concordant and Appendant part of the Prince Hall Mason! In other words, nothing much has changed.
On the other hand, there is a great opportunity out there for African Americans to come together and create a very viable force, political, economic, social and certainly, Masonically. They are our Darker Brothers, some that are shysters, yet some are the "real thing." These lack only our stamp of approval, and really, what is that stamp, except to recognize that the Non-Prince Hall Masons are in the same boat that we are, those of us in non-recognized jurisdictions, that is. "They" don't recognize us, and we don't recognize our Darker Brothers.
We are not here to set Prince Hall Masonry back in time, only to cause all of us to look at what is, rather than what we want it to be. In the Southern half of the country, as well as in your larger jurisdictions in the Midwest and North, the tide of recognition is not as swift as in the smaller jurisdictions, where the African American influence is not as great. The social order is still in the 19th century in some states, particularly in the South, where the Civil War is still remembered if not fought. Yet, the bonds of Brotherhood, in isolated cases loom just as large at times as anywhere else. But, it is a guarded thing, certainly not an open thing where another group may observe Masonry in action.
Yet, in all of our jurisdictions, there are African Americans by the thousands and by the ten thousands that would welcome any type of fellowship that would bring Masons of all stripes together without the aura of who is legitimate and who is not. What is the solution then? We can not undo the acts of recognition, nor would we really want to, but what would be wrong with the Grand Masters Conference of North America and the Prince Hall Grand Masters Conference talking about recognition? Then again, what would be wrong with Prince Hall Masons sitting down and talking with Non-Prince Hall Masons of a darker hue? The answers to the above would be "nothing!" A conference table is in order all the time, not just when there is a problem. A good conversation will always beat a bad arguement!
There remain questions from both groups, the problem of 'titles'; the problem of Appendant and Concordant Bodies; the problem of "how far would recognition go." This question was raised in Little Rock, Arkansas at the Phylaxis Society meeting about the 1995 meeting in Tacoma, a jurisdiction where recognition takes place. The statement was made that the White Masons of Washington do not recognize other Prince Hall Masons, so they would not be able to see whether recognition would work or not. We have been in integrated groups of Masons discussing the finer points of Freemasonry, but the line was drawn when it came time to "sit in Lodge." We have been in "Table Lodges" but it was just eating and drinking, with no Masonic rituals taking place. Titles were recognized then, our ladies were recognized as members of the Eastern Star, but no Masonic discourse.
There are some of the problems we would face if all of Prince Hall Masons were recognized over night. Likewise our darker brothers. In Arkansas, with the exception of National Houses, a Non-Prince Hall Mason brings all of his titles with him, and the prefix of 'past' is added to them, in every house that is controlled in the Jurisdiction. This action was done in 1971, the result of the Summit Conference held in Chicago, when the word "Clandestine" was replaced with "Non-Prince Hall Mason." At the same conference, the age limit was lowered to 18 by a great number of jurisdictions and the carrying of "Blue" cards by many. It is possible that those soldiers back then saw the hand writing on the wall, even though the meeting was called to try to come up with ideas to stem the great loss of members. In a twenty year period, we lost from 1 million to 300,000. It was a time for drastic action, and it was taken. Twenty-two years later, while we are still losing, the loss is not as great.
There have been many instances of some type of fellowship among our Prince Hall jurisdictions and the Non-Prince Hall Masons, i.e., Ohio for many years; Arkansas for several years, frequenting dances and banquets. Prince Hall speakers are in demand in Arkansas, including yours truly, especially as a minister. Illinois participates in a newsletter among several Non-Prince Hall Grand Lodges with no ill effects. It can be done, and by doing so, a greater bond will exist where now, there is little or no bond.
In Arkansas, there are plans in the making for a loosely knitted fellowship between our Grand Master and the Grand Master of an A.F.&A.M. group. We are fortunate in Arkansas as we only have 5 Non-Prince Hall Groups, and then only number about 500-700 all over the state. Our numbers overwhelm them, but in some areas, their behavior and mannerisms overwhelm our Prince Hall Masons. We are working on joint participation in parades and other public festive occasions. With our young men running wild with gangs, in Arkansas, we believe that something needs to be done. It may take awhile, but we will be taking it to our Grand Lodge when all details are worked out.
Look among your communities and check out our "Darker Brothers."
Authors: Lucas Lowery, Deputy Grand Master, Missouri and Past Grand Master Howard L. Woods, Arkansas
The above subject, controversial in nature, is at the root of recognition by other Masons (White). However, Prince Hall Masons may be missing an opportunity that never come this way again with such projected impact on a people, African Americans.
A ritualistic trapping will never make you a Mason; neither will a fancy Lodge Hall; nor will a court case. Certainly, an obligation will not make you one, nor will you find legitimacy in numbers, wealth or years of experience through membership. Being a Mason is all a matter of a "Way of Life."
Many of us have talked to Non-Prince Hall Masons that were the type of member we would like to see in our Lodges, but lo, whoever recommended them were in the A.F.&A.M. group, or some Scottish Rite group that claimed legitimacy through Haiti or some other place. Some of those Masons are serious, some more serious than a lot of Prince Hall Masons, yet, because of a part of our obligation that most of us do not understand, we cast them aside in our minds and conversations.
It is possibly time to call a halt to this charade, for what will recognition from our White brothers get us? Will our Lodge Halls fill up any faster? Will our treasuries suddenly take off for higher amounts? Not hardly! The only thing gained at this point in time is "bragging rights!" It is hard to see where the bright future of Brotherly Love has come among Masons in the affected areas. In talking with some Prince Hall Masons, we do not see marked differences in their Masonic education, so are the White Masonic libraries opened to our Prince Hall Masons? It is most likely that recognition has only scratched the surface, for an African American Mason is still not a Royal Arch Mason, Knights Templar Mason, Scottish Rite Mason or Shriner! The Prince Hall Mason's family is still not accepted as the Concordant and Appendant part of the Prince Hall Mason! In other words, nothing much has changed.
On the other hand, there is a great opportunity out there for African Americans to come together and create a very viable force, political, economic, social and certainly, Masonically. They are our Darker Brothers, some that are shysters, yet some are the "real thing." These lack only our stamp of approval, and really, what is that stamp, except to recognize that the Non-Prince Hall Masons are in the same boat that we are, those of us in non-recognized jurisdictions, that is. "They" don't recognize us, and we don't recognize our Darker Brothers.
We are not here to set Prince Hall Masonry back in time, only to cause all of us to look at what is, rather than what we want it to be. In the Southern half of the country, as well as in your larger jurisdictions in the Midwest and North, the tide of recognition is not as swift as in the smaller jurisdictions, where the African American influence is not as great. The social order is still in the 19th century in some states, particularly in the South, where the Civil War is still remembered if not fought. Yet, the bonds of Brotherhood, in isolated cases loom just as large at times as anywhere else. But, it is a guarded thing, certainly not an open thing where another group may observe Masonry in action.
Yet, in all of our jurisdictions, there are African Americans by the thousands and by the ten thousands that would welcome any type of fellowship that would bring Masons of all stripes together without the aura of who is legitimate and who is not. What is the solution then? We can not undo the acts of recognition, nor would we really want to, but what would be wrong with the Grand Masters Conference of North America and the Prince Hall Grand Masters Conference talking about recognition? Then again, what would be wrong with Prince Hall Masons sitting down and talking with Non-Prince Hall Masons of a darker hue? The answers to the above would be "nothing!" A conference table is in order all the time, not just when there is a problem. A good conversation will always beat a bad arguement!
There remain questions from both groups, the problem of 'titles'; the problem of Appendant and Concordant Bodies; the problem of "how far would recognition go." This question was raised in Little Rock, Arkansas at the Phylaxis Society meeting about the 1995 meeting in Tacoma, a jurisdiction where recognition takes place. The statement was made that the White Masons of Washington do not recognize other Prince Hall Masons, so they would not be able to see whether recognition would work or not. We have been in integrated groups of Masons discussing the finer points of Freemasonry, but the line was drawn when it came time to "sit in Lodge." We have been in "Table Lodges" but it was just eating and drinking, with no Masonic rituals taking place. Titles were recognized then, our ladies were recognized as members of the Eastern Star, but no Masonic discourse.
There are some of the problems we would face if all of Prince Hall Masons were recognized over night. Likewise our darker brothers. In Arkansas, with the exception of National Houses, a Non-Prince Hall Mason brings all of his titles with him, and the prefix of 'past' is added to them, in every house that is controlled in the Jurisdiction. This action was done in 1971, the result of the Summit Conference held in Chicago, when the word "Clandestine" was replaced with "Non-Prince Hall Mason." At the same conference, the age limit was lowered to 18 by a great number of jurisdictions and the carrying of "Blue" cards by many. It is possible that those soldiers back then saw the hand writing on the wall, even though the meeting was called to try to come up with ideas to stem the great loss of members. In a twenty year period, we lost from 1 million to 300,000. It was a time for drastic action, and it was taken. Twenty-two years later, while we are still losing, the loss is not as great.
There have been many instances of some type of fellowship among our Prince Hall jurisdictions and the Non-Prince Hall Masons, i.e., Ohio for many years; Arkansas for several years, frequenting dances and banquets. Prince Hall speakers are in demand in Arkansas, including yours truly, especially as a minister. Illinois participates in a newsletter among several Non-Prince Hall Grand Lodges with no ill effects. It can be done, and by doing so, a greater bond will exist where now, there is little or no bond.
In Arkansas, there are plans in the making for a loosely knitted fellowship between our Grand Master and the Grand Master of an A.F.&A.M. group. We are fortunate in Arkansas as we only have 5 Non-Prince Hall Groups, and then only number about 500-700 all over the state. Our numbers overwhelm them, but in some areas, their behavior and mannerisms overwhelm our Prince Hall Masons. We are working on joint participation in parades and other public festive occasions. With our young men running wild with gangs, in Arkansas, we believe that something needs to be done. It may take awhile, but we will be taking it to our Grand Lodge when all details are worked out.
Look among your communities and check out our "Darker Brothers."
Authors: Lucas Lowery, Deputy Grand Master, Missouri and Past Grand Master Howard L. Woods, Arkansas