ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF BOGUS FREEMASONRY AMONG COLORED MEN In the United States of America and Texas, From its Earliest Introduction

San Antonio, Texas Dec 1, 1908

In order that the members of the Masonic Fraternity may have a correct and thorough understanding about the origin and the irregularity of Freemasonry among Colored men in the state of Texas, it will be necessary to state the time and place that clandestine and spurious Freemasonry among Colored Men was instituted in the state of Massachusetts and also the establishing of that self constituted African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Massachusetts which is now the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts for it was from that corrupt, notorious, bogus Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts whose record covers the very blackest page in masonic history that Freemasonry among Colored Men in the state of Texas first originated from. I am fully aware of the fact that when the truth is told about the actions and conduct of the leaders of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts which has been done from time to time their minds are inflamed to an extra ordinary degree of madness, hatred and dislike and they talk and write and say anything except the truth, and the truth they will never state except it is by accident on one hand and mistake on the other.

FREEMASONRY AMONG COLORED MEN IN MASSACHUSETTS

March 6, 1775

1st question. Who were the Colored Men in the state of Massachusetts that have advertised themselves and who claimed to have been made Master Masons in a White Masonic Lodge in the state of Massachusetts. Can you state the time and place and under what circumstances they have asserted that it occurred?

1st Answer. The Colored Men in the state of Massachusetts that have been advertised of having been made Master Masons, were Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson and two or three others. They have said and have tried to make someone believe that they were made Master Masons in a White Masonic Lodge that was called a Traveling Masonic Lodge and that it was connected with General Gages Military Regiment at Boston Massachusetts on the 6th of March 1775 and that this White Masonic Lodge in General Gages Military Regiment, they said, held a charter from the Grand Lodge of England, and replying to that unwarranted statement made and published by the leaders of the spurious Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, for the Grand Lodge of England has repeatedly said that they did not have any masonic lodge in General Gages Military Regiment when that regiment was in the United States and the question has time after time been asked the members of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and particularly those in Massachusetts that claim to know so much about it to give the name and the number of that masonic lodge that Prince Hall, Boston Smith and Thomas Sanderson was made master masons in that was connected with General Gages Military Regiment which was then in the United States, and these wily fellows and Masonic intervators have never been able to give us any information as to what the name or even the number of this Masonic Lodge that they say was in General Gages Military Regiment. And inasmuch as no person has ever been found that could furnish any genuine information about this matter there is no doubt but the statements that have been paraded around the country about this matter were bare-faced, willful and malicious falsehoods, and in the absence of any proof to confirm their statements it is very safe to say that Prince Hall, Boston Smith, Thomas Sanderson and their associates simply went to bed at night and dreamed that they had been made Master Masons and got up next morning with their minds in a high state of hallucination and really thought it was so, when as a matter of fact there was nothing, nothing in it, and they simply drew on their imaginations.

2nd question. What was the name of the first lodge of Colored Men who belonged to the Masonic fraternity in the state of Mass.?

2nd Answer. The name of the first Colored Lodge of Masons in the state of Massachusetts was a lodge named African Lodge No. 459.

3rd question. When was the first Grand Lodge of Colored Masons organized in the state of Mass.?

3rd Answer. The name of the first Grand Lodge of Colored Masons that was organized in the state of Mass. was a Grand Lodge that was designated as African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Mass.

4th question. How many lodges took part in the organization of African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons that was organized at Boston Mass. on the 24th of June 1791?

4th Answer. There was only one lodge that took part in the organization of African Grand Lodge of Masons of Mass. on the 24th of June 1791 at Boston Mass. when the Masonic law and landmarks of Freemasonry have said that in order to organize a regular Grand Lodge it requires not less than three warranted lodges, that has been the Masonic law both in this country and in Europe and has been followed and strictly adhered to by every well regulated and lawful Masonic Grand Lodge since the year of 1717 down to the present day and not otherwise.

5th question. What is meant by the words F. & A. M.?

5th Answer. Free and Accepted Mason the words and title of Free and Accepted Mason is an innovation in Masonry and was adopted by Masons who did not wish to follow the early established custom rules and principles of the Masonic fraternity.

6th question. What is meant by the words and title A. F. & A. M.?

6th Answer. The words A. F. & A. M. means Ancient Free and Accepted Masons which words and title are of ancient origin and should be used and adopted by every well regulated Masonic subordinate lodge and Grand Lodge in this country. For it is in keeping with the early ancient Masonic laws rules and regulations of the Masonic fraternity.

7th question. What is meant by the words and title of states rights, masons as you so often hear in the state of Texas by the masons who belong to the so-called Grand Lodge of Texas that J. W. McKinney is the Grand Master of and also the so-called Grand Lodge of the State of New York that one individual who goes by the name of Henry A. Spencer who advertises himself as being the Grand Master of the so-called Grand Lodge of Colored Masons of the state of New York which is a self constituted and bogus grand body?

7th Answer. The best application and definition that can be given to those masons who call themselves state right masons is that they are no masons at all. For if a man is a legal and genuine mason he is a mason all over the world, and is to be recognized as a mason in every land and in every country, but the masons in the state of Texas that belong to the McKinney Grand Lodge in Texas and the self constituted Grand Lodge in the state of New York that Henry A. Spencer is at the head of they are not recognized all over the world and these being state institutions and the masons who belong in Texas and of New York are not recognized as legitimate masons in any part of the world.

8th question. What is meant by the numbers of 3, 5 and 7?

8th Answer. The fundamental numbers in Freemasonry are 3, 5 and 7, and of these, by far the most essential is the number 3. The three principal columns are Wisdom, Strength and Beauty, and a lodge is supported by them.

The number "three" derived its significance in the early period of antiquity, and back in the ages of the earliest centuries, no court of law was legally organized unless three judges were present, and these tribunals perpetuated ancient temples worshipped frequently, if not invariably convened, under trees, in imitation of the Scandinavian ash.

Seven threes were prescribed as the highest number. The judges were absolutely required to open and regularly hold a court of justice. The maximum was seven, and in some cases five were demanded to proceed in due form to adjudicate upon the matter brought before them. These practices in early days present a solution of the Masonic landmark that three or more members are necessary to open or close a Masonic lodge.

9th question. What is meant by the word and title of A. F. & A. Y. Masons?

9th Answer. A. F. & A. Y. Masons means Ancient, Free and Accepted York Masons, the city of York is in the north part of England it is celebrated for its traditional connection with Freemasonry in England. The first charter granted in England to the Masons as a body was by authority and power of King Athelstan, in the year of 926 at York, England and the application was made by Prince Edwin and Prince Edwin summoned all the Masons in England to meet him in congregation at the City of York, England and from this assemblage of Masons at York the letter "Y" originated. Prince Edwin was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge that was organized at York England in 926. From the commencement of 926 of the assembly of Masons at York the letter "Y" commenced, and has been known among members of the Masonic fraternity and at the establishing of the Grand Lodge at York, England in the year 926 they adopted a constitution and general regulation for the craft.

Prince Edwin, the brother of King Athelstan of England was an eminent and distinguished Mason and King Athelstan was the grandson of King Alfred the first anointed King of England who translated the Holy Bible into the Saxon language.

The Grand Lodge that was established in York, England in 926 prospered and flourished. The City of York, England was the seat of Masonic government of the craft in England.