Original Correspondence.

that on March 8 th , 1777 , the Masons of Boston , of Scottish origin , without the counsel or consent of their parent Grand Lodge , formed a Grand Lodge at Boston , under the nainc of " The Massachusetts Grand Lodge . " Again , the St . John ' s Grand Lotige claiming to have descended from English authority , without giving previous notice , or in any way notifying their mother Grantl

Lodge , united with their Scottish brethren and formed the present Grand Lodge of Alassachusetls . This they did in 1792 . Now , if in consequence of the illegal nction of the African Lodge , the coloured Masons in the United States have lost their right as Masons , why should you not also deprive the white Masons of their Masonic rights , because their predecessors in 1777 , and in 1792 , did in like manner

unceremoniously secede from their parent Grand Lodges . - There can be but one reason ; and that is this : one was white and the other black . It will be seen that in 1868 the late D . G . M ., C . W . Moore , of Boston , wrote to the R . W . liro . John Hervey , Grand Lodge of England , asking whether he ( Bro , Hervey ) did not think that the coloured Masons in the United

States were an illegitimate body . Bro . Hervey replied 111 the affirmative ; but the letter had scarcely been mailed when Bro . Hervey came to an opposite conclusion , and he immediately wrote another letter to Bro . Moore recalling his first decision . And in conversation upon the subject with Bro . Jacob Norton , Bro . Hervey told Bro . Norton that he really could not see any difference between ( lie legality

of the white and coloured organizations in the United States . In 1870 Bro . W . S . Gardner made a strong effort to prove the illegitimacy of the coloured lodges . Bro . Jacob Norton reviewed Bro . Gardnci ' s address , and Bro . Gardner frankly admitted afterwards that Bro . Norton dealt fairly and squarely in his criticisms , assuring him , however , that

when he compiled his address he did not know of pro . Hervey's second letter . That was the only objection Bro . Gardner made to Bro . Norton ' s article , and in the following issue of the " . Masonic Monthly " Bro . Norton exonerated Bro . Gardner from the charge of ignoring the second letter of Bro . Hervey . The same year , 1871 , Bro . Joseph Robbins , as chairman of

the Committee of Foreign Correspondence , also reviewed Bro . Gardner ' s address in the proceedings of the G . L , of Illinois , and indorsed fully and unequivocally Bro . Norton's arguments . And . last but not least , the G . L . of Ohio , at its last annual session , gave utterance in ourfavoui , aslhe following will show : —

" Proposed Recognition of the Coloured Grand Lotige of Ohio . " Your committee , to whom was referred so much of the annual address of the Most Worshipful Grand Master anil accompanying documents as relates to the so-called coloured lodges , and more especially to the coloured Grand Lodge of Free and AcceptedMasons of the State of Ohio ,

have given the subject careful consideration , ami respectfully submit the following : — " We do not propose , nor do we deem it necessary , at this time , to enter into the history of the origin of so-called coloured Freemasonry in this country . That subject lias been fully discussed in all the Grand Lodges and Masonic periodicals of this country for more than 25 years past .

1 our committee deem it sufficient to say that they are satisfied beyond all question that coloured Freemasonry had a legitimate beginning in this country , as much so as any other Freemasonry ; in fact , it came from the same source . " Your committee will not attempt , at this time , to investigate as to the transmission of this legitimate beginning down to the present time , when wc find mure than 40

subordinate lodges and a Grand Lodge of so-called coloured Freemasons , and an aggregate of more than 800 members in the state of Ohio . Your committee hive only to say that such is the fact . " Your committee have the most satisfactory and conclusive evidence that these coloured Freemasons practise the very same rites and ceremonies , and have substantially the

same esoteric or secret modes of recognition , as are practised by the universal family of Freemasons throughout the world . " The question of the recognition of these coloured Freemasons has long been before this Grand Body , and your committee feel that its importance is pressing upon us and fl -manding , prompt , serious , and decided action .

" Your committee , therefore , offer for adoption the following resolution : — " Resolved , by the ' Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Acccptetl Masons of the State of Ohio , ' that this fcrand Body will recognise the so-called Grand Lodge of Coloured Free Masons of the State of Ohio as a legitimate and independent Grand

Lodge , on condition that the so-called Coloured Grand Lodge shall change its constitutional title , so that it shall read as follows : ' The African Grand Lotige of Free ami Accepted Masons of the State of Ohio . ' And if the socalled Coloured Grand Lodge shall accept the recognition and make the suggested change in it ? constitutional title , then , and in that case , upon said being reported to the M .

W . Grand Master of this Grand Lodge , under the seal of said body , then the M . W . Grantl Master is hereby authorised and instructed to issue hi ; proclamation to the subordinates to this Grand Lodge , and to the Grand Lodges throughout the world with which we are in fraternal

correspondence , recognising the said Coloured Grand Lodge as an independent Grand Lodge in the State of Ohio , under the title of ' The African Grand Lotige of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Ohio . ' " Respectfully submitted . "L . V . BlERCIv . "C . A . WOODWARO .

"E . T . CARSOS . "L . H . PIKE . " "F . W 11 . 1 . MER . After discussion thereon , Bro . Lewis H . Williams , W . M . nussellville Lodge , No . 166 , now R . W . Grand Junior

Original Correspondence.

Warden , moved that final action on the subject matter of the Coloured Grand Lodge , as above , be deferred until the next annual Communication , which was agreed to . In the namcol justice to a wronged race , I therefore beg you to publish the above in the " Freemason , " and also Bro . Norton ' s article above alluded to , so that English Masons may learn to understand the true nature of the

controversy : and when once the truth is known-, I am sat isfied that English justice will decide in our favour . You rs , in behalf of truth and justice , LEWIS HAYDES , P . G . M . Prince Hall Grand Lodge " London , August 20 th , 1792 . " Right Worshipful Brother , —

" I have the pleasure of sending inclosed the printed proceedings or the Grand Lodge , by which you will perceive the flourishing state of our society , and in the account of the 24 th November , 1787 , you will find accredited your donation to the Charity Fund ten dollars , sent by Capt . Scott , and that of the 18 th of April last your donation of one guinea . I am much obliged to you for the

summons you sent mc , which I think very well written , and very appropriate for the occasion . When you next write to me I should be obliged to you if you would let me know if the lodges in the inclosed list , which were constituted by the Grand Lodge of England , arc yet in being , as we have never heard from them since the commencement of the late war in America , or , indeed , long before ,

and in case they have ceased to meet , which I rather apprehend , they ought to be erased from our list of lodges . I am much obliged to you for the account you give respecting your own lodge , to which I sincerely wish success as I should be happy to have it in my power to contribute thereto . I , enclosed , send you one of the calendars for the

present year , which I beg your acceptance . " 1 remain , with fraternal regard , Right Worshipful Brother , your obedient Servant and Brother , " ( Signed ) '' WILLIAM WHITE . " Proceedings of the Grand Lodgeof Massachusetts , 1872 , page 3 81 . "

COLOURED LODGES IN THE UNITED STATES . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Only few words as answer to the last article of the " Freemason" on this question . If the Prince Hall Granil Lotige of Boston , i . e ., the African Lodge , was ever for sometime gone asleep and inactive , but still in

possession of its warrant , as was the case , then it had without any doubt the right to assume labour as a just and perfect lodge , and the more so as her mother , the Grantl Lodge of England , had not erased it from the roll . But there is no evidence that the African Lodge was at any time dormant . Bro . Dr . R . Barthelmcss , of Brooklyn ( now at Nuremberg ) has published in the " Bauhiitte , " 1 S 61 , a

report , drawn from the memorials of Bro . Prince Hall , containing the letters to the Grand Lodge of England and the answers of its Grand Secretary . This correspondence proves that the Grand Lodge of England , as in many other instances , did not answer and not much care for her daughter . This correspondence between Prince Hall and the Grand Lodge goes from 1784 to 1806 , and not sooner

than 1829 Prince Hall Grand Lodge declared he rself independent . If my dear English brethren will direct their attention to Hutchinson's Spirit of Masonry , 1795 , 2 ed . ; to Jones' Masonic Miscellanies , eds . 1797 and 1811 ; to the Freemasons' Anthologie of 1813 , they will find , that the African Lodge is made mention of as an active lodge , and as a legitimate daughter of Grand Lodge of England . But , alas , there is at last a happy end of this

question , as will be seen from the admirable and truly Masonic documents of the M . W . Grand Lodge of Ohio , to which , 1 am sure , the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts will follow . I make no other remark , as these important documents , the pride of American Masonry , speak for themselves . J . G . FINDEL . [ We do not republish these printed documents , as they have been before the public , the more so , as we also publish a letter from America on the subject . —ED . ]

ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — On the 6 th of March last you kindly inserted a letter of mine , on the above very important subject , and you were pleased to make some complimentary remarks upon the perspicuity of my plans for removing the baneful

results of the present lax system . I advocated a complete system of enquiries—that no person should be initiated , nor a brother affiliated , in any place elsewhere than where he resides without making certain enquiries—under severe penalties . I explained a system " in extenso , " that any brother who takes an interest in the matter will , perhaps

tlo well to refer to the letter above alluded lo . It is so seldom this subject gets ventilated that I beg you will grant mc the space I now ask . I am proud of being a Mason , would like to see all my best friends in our ranks , yet nothing would intluce me to importune them to enter . I would never stoop to

proselytism . If brethren would but bear in mind that portion of the charge at initiation , what an amount of good woultl accrue to our Order . " By refraining to recommend anyone to a participation of our secrets , unless you have strong grounds to believe that , & c . " I underline strong , but instead of this many

lodges seem to look upon making Masons as a matter of " work , " or " fees : " havinga meeting they " must have a candidate . " Two instances of this deplorable state of things has recently come under my notice ; my wish is to place them before the Craft to illustrate the necessity of stringent rules . 1 . A young man in business on his own account does

Original Correspondence.

not seek admission in the town where he resides , but goes to London and is at once admitted and in due time becomes a M . M . Now had this man sought initiation in his own town he could not possibly have been received , for it was known he was carrying on a fraudulent trade , which culminated in fictitious claims on railway companies , & c , Making the place too hot , he ran his country .

2 . A man in the confidential loan and " status" enquiry business sought ] admission to a lodge held in the town where he resided—lie had been heard to say that his object was to further his business ( especially the latter portion ) . The lodge knowingthe man ' s character , and business tiaits , and having heard of the above remarks , refused him admission . He went to London and in a short time

became a full-blown Mason . Within eighteen months of his initiation he had bolted from England—investigation of his affairs showed that he had embezzled some hundreds of pounds—swindled his creditors ; lastly , he deserted his wife and family . In neither case did the London lodges make the slightest enquiries of lodges held where these men had resided for

years , and were well known—one having been already refused—but thev admitted them , to [ the disgrace of the Order . Wherever these men go they are English Masons . I ask , is it not a scandal that such blots should be seen on . our escutcheon ? In case No . 2 , when the man was newly initiated he

went about snapping his fingers in the face of Masons , saying , " I am a Mason in spite of you all , '' and once , in a public room , was heard to remark ( after shaking hands ) " that so and so were Masons , but so and so were not , " as he had just proved . Will not Grand Lodge give us the power to protect ourselves ? The apathy of many of those high in power is

really surprising . If every Mason would but take the trouble to report to you every case , ( similar to trjese two ) that came to his knowledge , we should soon have the " Freemason " teeming with them , week after week , until steps would have to be taken . What are we drifting to ? English Craft Masonry will soon be on as low a level as Scotch , or perhaps as friendly

societies whose members delight to parade the streets in regalia . In which case our Craft Lodges will but become " a matter of form to go through " for those who wish to enter the High Grades , where ( in such a case ) as each lands , he kicks away the ladder as an unclean thing .

In conclusion let me beg of the brethren to rally round the glorious old Craft , and prevent such a future as I have sketched , that when it is said of a man " he is a Mason , " the world may know him to be a good man . I trust abler pens than mine will follow up this subject . Fraternally vours , " An REM . "

MASONIC LIBRARIES . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — The Utter from Bro . S . B . E . will , I hope , draw the special attention of the members of lodges to the desirability of forming Masonic libraries . In addition to the many advantages resulting from

libraries , so graphically described by Bro . S . B . E ., who is evidently a warm-hearted Mason , and does not begrudge his subscriptions for his Masonic papers' and works , I may mention one important reason why such a subject should receive the support of the members of the Craft generally . How many lodges keep their old minutes , and books

presented by the members from time to time . In preparing " the history of an old lodge the other day , I was more than surprised to find from an examination of the records that very many books , and several volumes of the minutes had disappeared , and the majority were quite unknown to the present members . I found few of the quarterly communications preserved , all the " Freemasons' Magazine "

lost , and a chance copy of the " Freemason" here and there , Sec . Now , all these would , in all probability , have been preserved had there been a Masonic library in connection with the lodge , and from the want of it , the brethren are now lamenting the loss , which no money can replace , for much of the history of the lodge in times gone by is lost for ever . I necil not attempt to say more to induce the

members of the lodges to consider the vital question of the establishment of Masonic libraries , for those who have read Bro . S . B . E . 'scommunication , or have at all thought over the matter , will see the necessity for action , and I hope many lodges will set their house in order at once . There arc many Masonic libraries scattered over the country , and several more than Bro . S . B . E . has fingers on his hands—if of the usual number . The more the better . REVIRESCO ,

"NOBLE GRANDS . " To the Editor of the Freemason ^ Dear Sir and Brother , — I observe in to-day ' s " Freemason " a report of a lecture delivered by Dr . Hunter to the Bath Literary and Philosophical Association on the 24 th ult ., in which he says : —

" What he knew of Masons was all in their favour as a benevolent society , but it was the opinion of the experts of police that Englishmen were not admitted to a knowledge of the real objects of the Order , and that although noblemen ana princes might be called Grand Grands and Noble Grands , they were merely marionettes whose strings were

pulled by a secret council sitting somewhere in Germany . " I think before a man undertakes to lecture on Masonry , or even to touch on it in his lectures , he ought to know better than to attribute to us such very foolish titles as " Grand Grands and Noble Grands . " It is bad enough ( as is sometimes done ) to appoint a " Grand Provincial Superintendent of Works , " who can neither name the orders