Reckless Masonic Assertors.

Well ! Brother McCabe discovered another mother of American Masonry . Ho is very sure that Lord Weymouth granted a deputation , in 1730 , to Bro . Lacy , as Provincial Grand Master of Georgia . Now , I must say

briefly , thafc all the above assertions about American Masonic Mothership are simply groundless . Bro . McCabe made , however , othor curious assertions ; a couple of his assertions will serve as fair specimens of our great Masonic searcher ancl scourer ' s recklessness ; he says : —

Among the social innovations sought to be introduced by modern reformers , and godless blind demagogues , is the elevation of tho African Eace to equality , Political and Social , with the Superior and Ruling Races . Somo have been found to advocate amalgamation of races , by intermarriage of the African with the other races .

But the effort to force the African descendants of Canaan , by affiliation , upon the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Freemasons is the plan of reform to which we direct attention . There has been for some years a body of free Negroes in the United States , chiefly existing in the northern portion of the country , previously to

the Civil War ; but since the restoration of Peace it extended into the Southern States , assuming tho badges and claiming to be free and accepted Masons , appearing in the streets in public processions , and in some States ( as we have been informed ) asking recognition and affiliation of the Grand Lodges . They designate themselves

African Freemasons , and claim to have been legally chartered by the Grand Lodge of England . This body of Negroes , in part and in whole , is spurious , irregular and clandestine . The Grand Lodge of England never did grant a charter for an African Lodge , on the continent of America .

The pretence is false , it has no foundation in fact . Some years ago , the Grand Lodge of England granted a charter to a Sea Captain from Boston ( we think ) . They ascertained that this Captain had established a Negro Grand Lodge in the City of Boston . As soon as this fact was ascertained , the Grand Lodge of England re-called

the charter and struck the Lodge from her rolls . This was substantially the origin of Negro Masonry in the United States . This Lodge , thus illegally constituted , chartered several Lodges , ancl especially in the State of New York these spurious Lodges sought recognition ; their claims were examined , aud they were by

the M . W . Grand Lodge of the States of Massachusetts pronounced illegal and clandestine . This body , calling themselves a Grand Lodge of Masons , and located in tho City of Boston , is not recognized by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts . That erudite Mason , M . Wor . C . W . Moore , editor of the -freemason's Monthh / Magazine , in

a reply to inquiries in relation to a Negro Grand Lodge in Boston , chartered by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , says , there is no such a Lodge in Boston . There is a body of black persons in the City , which assumes to be a Grand Lodge , and having under its authority one or two subordinate Lodgea , but they are not recognized

by the Grand Lodge of this State ; no communication whatever is held with them , nor are black persons received into our Lodges . There is not a regular Lodgo of Black Masons in the United States . There are many coloured persons who claim to be Masons , and from ¦ what we learn , from distant correspondents , they sometimes succeed

in gaining admission into Lodges ; bufc fchey are not lawfully entitled to the privilege of sitting in any Masonic body of competent authority . So much for Buckingham ! All Lodges styling themselves Lodges of Freemasons and conducted by Negroes are spurious and clandestine . This appears from their own showing , and

secondly from the facts of the case . The descendants of Canaan are nofc a free race , they cannot be said to be free born in the technical sense of the Masonic term . This fact excludes the Negroes and establishes their so-called Lodges as spurious and

clandestine . 2 nd . —The Grand Lodge of England never did charter an African Lodge on the continent of North America . The pretence therefore to chartered existence is false and unfounded in fact . Therefore the

¦ whole concern is rotten , from turret to foundation stone . We refer the reader to the Freemason ' s Magazine , 1 st March 1847 , pages 139-42 .

I shall here add , that Bro . C . W . Moore himself told me , 1842 , that he saw the African Lodge Charter , and that it was genuine , and I saw it in 1868 , and what is more , the Committee appointed by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts ,

in 1868 , pronounced the said charter genuine in 1869 . The Grand Orient of Prance , as well as the United Grand Lodges of Germany , have respectively acknowledged the colored Masons in America as legitimate , and I hope that

the Grand Lodge of England will at some near fnture do the same . Bro . McCabe is of opinion that Henry Price received his authority in 1733 from a schismatic Grand Lodge , so ,

alter giving about half a score names of the York Grand Masters from 1705 , he goes on with Buckingham No . 2 , he says : —

During all this period ( 1705-24 ) named , the Craft in the North of England enjoyed great prosperity ; these facts are extracted from the old records of the Grand Lodge . There is dnring the years following , and previously for somo time , no evidence of unpleasant , unfraternal

ieeling or unkindness on the part ot the Masons of York towards the other Grand Lodge . They had not been satisfied with the breach of comity of fraternal courtesy and absolute infraction of Masonic

the restoration of peace , which brought Negro Masonry into the Southern States , I therefore infer that the MSS . was written between 1868 and the end of 18 ? 2 .

Reckless Masonic Assertors.

usage practised by thafc [ fche London ] body in the beginning , and simply desired for safety [ of the ] institution , acknowledgment of error ; not in terms , but in corrected procedure . It is probable this lenient and fraternal feeling would have grown into intimacy had the London Grand Lodge confined itself to a strict observaoco

of the ancient landmarks and issued charters for institution of Lodges within its own proper jurisdiction only , bat , no doubt with sentiments of contempt for tho rights of York , and piovincml Masonry , in violation of ancient landmarks , they invaded tho jurisdiction of York , intiwlticed innovations into the body of Masonry ,

and assumed superior wisdom . The icstimooy of tho three oldest Lodgea in London is , on this subject , c . far , positive and conclusive . Had not her jurisdiction been wantonly violated ? Such was tho desire of the Grand Lodge of York to preserve the unity of tho spirit in the bonds of peace and harmonv that it would have

overlooked all these other departures from Masonio propriety , and sought by mild and fraternal kindness to correct the evils , but the London Grand Lodge of England seemed determined to provoke a breach by actual insnlfc , and continned an insolent encroachment . The lines of conduct pursued by the London Grind Lodge was

inexplicable on any other ground than desire and pii'p > . . of provoking , by nnmasonic conduct , a breach , whilo both bodies . were enjoying unbounded prosperity . A low cli . content ed and unworthy bad Masons of York , moved by lust nf p

heart , applied to the Grand Lodge afc London Cor ii charter to form a new lodge in the City of York , and in nfc . er viol . ti . m ( if all law , usage , landmarks , ignoring the spirit of Masonry . The petition was granted and the Lodge chartered . This was indeed bearding tho lion in his don . The Douglas in his halls .

The Masonic world launched their censures against the London body , and forbade all Masonio association with them , placing them beyond tho pale of recognition . The Grand Lod _ . es of Ireland and Scotland were prompt and decided in thoir acion , sustaining fche Grand Lodge of York , and prohibiting intercourse with the

Masons or Lodges affiliating with tho Loudon body , Lodges chartered by ifc , and Masons made under hs authority . The London body , however , had wondrous local prosperity and strengthened influence , verifying the adage , evil we »< ds grow apace . The Grand Lodge of York was entitled to receive the sympathy

and snpport of the entire legitimate Masonio family . Ir , was the oldest ; organised body of Masous that evi > r issued charter .- ! for constitution of subordinate Lodge .. Ifc had ev .-r lull sacred ¦ hi . original tenets of Masonry , and the proudest boast of Lodge ., cf members of the fraternity , th . nghoufc tho Ma-onio world » a ., — [

am an Ancient York Mason . It i _> so fc > this day . Tlieflnind Lodge at London has time and again trampled underfoot , and disregarded fche ancient usage of fcho Craft . It assumed ( at the time ) tho doubtful right of publishing its proceeding .-, it removed an ancient landmark by throwing off all connection with operative masonry : it .

chartered a Lodge or Lodges in fcbn vnry City in which thu old Grand Lodge held its assemblies ; it innovated open speculative work ; it added to the number of those who had ever constituted the Grand Lodge . No one protends to deny tbat , tip fco fche period here alluded to , the Master and Wardens of the parncular

Lodges alone constituted tho Grand Lodge ; but tho ( . rand Lodge at London added thereto , firsfc , Past Grand M aster , then the Past Deputy Grand Masters , then the Past Senior Wardens , and not only tho Masters and Wardens of Stewards Lodges , bnt lift , en of Uio members also . Nor was this all ; afc a later period , viz ., A . D . 1813 , even

Past Masters of particular Lodges were made members of tho Grand Lodge . Who then will wonder that , with the sober and discreet Masons , the Grand Ledge at London was looked upon with distrust . Bnfc such is the power and influence of money and birth j for it was composed principally of nobles , wealthy commoners ,

men of the Army and the Kobe ( who , ignorant of the issues and the principles involved , innovated boldly . Such personsonce initiated and nofc troubling themselves about controversies ( used their great wealth and influence to advance the cause wifch which fchey were indentified . The very Grand Lodge who committed tbe firsfc and

only violations of Masonic usage and Masonic law , trampled under foot the ancient landmarks , and introduced novelties unknowu to fche fraternity , was ere long destined to trinmp , over all opposition , and stand forth before the world as the only Grand Lodge in England with the assumed title of the Grand Lodge of all Masons .

Our readers need not start at this declaration , for it is true ; look to their proclamation of the election of Grand Master , nnd it will be seen thafc they always declared him to be , not Graud Master of fche Grand Lodge of England , bnfc the Grand Master of all Masons . The Grand Lodge of York styled itself the Grand Lodgo of all

England ; while thafc of London was styled th « Grand Lodge oc England ; The Grand Lodge of York declined as operative Masonry declined , and from the period just named it preferred death to breach of faith , and sacrifice of Masonio consistency . Early in the nineteenth century , ifc was dissolved , and the Grand Lodge afc

London , alias the Graud Lodge of England , has siuca onjoyod undivided authority over fche entire Island . The Grand Lodgo of York still lives in her descendants . In the United Slate ? , the

York Eite is the only legitimate Masonry acknowledged . In the test ; applied to all strangers seeking to visit a Lodge , thoy must show thafc they havo been regularly initiated , passed and raised in a legally constituted Lodge of Ancient York Masons .

I shall only acid , that if Bro . McCabe ' s history had been printed thirty years ago , his nonsense about the Grand Lodges of England , and of York , would have been believed by the then best informed American Masons , jnsfc as they believed that the African Lodge in Boston was never

chartered by the Grand Lodge of England . BOSTON , U . S ., 3 rd May 1888 .