The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

Chapter 3 - Overview of Rites 111
and tried to unify the latter, so that the compact would be strong enough to
oppose the white fraternity:
In the spread of Prince Hall Freemasonry, one problem that plagued the
leadership stemmed from an unsuccessful experiment with national
unity. Because of internal black Masonic factionalism [...], a group of
prominent leaders decided to set up a National Masonic Grand Lodge, a
body superior to the state Grand Lodges. They hoped to end internal
dissent, create a nationwide Masonic communication network, and help
present a united front of black Masons to the whites. 303
The National Grand Lodge or Compact was "organized for survival during a
period in American history that was particularly harsh for Black America," 304
and is a black institution similar to the Conservators of Rob Morris who tried to
unify the rituals of the white fraternity (cf. Section 14.5). However, the attempt
of centralization rather led to increased friction and disunity, and the National
Compact was relatively short-lived since more and more states withdrew from it,
declaring it an un-Masonic institution.
It is only against the background of the 'madness' of that year that the
formation of the National Grand Lodge or 'Compact,' can be placed into
proper perspective. Those critics who attempt to view the Freemasonry
of the Black man in America in the same vein as mainstream American
Freemasonry cannot comprehend that they are dealing with two
Americas and two peoples, who had little in common. Though the laws
of Freemasonry as derived from England may have had strict
guidelines, they could hardly apply to a people who lived in the racist
atmosphere that existed during that period. Prince Hall Masons looked
for survival more than precedents in Masonic regulations. 305
Black Masonic universality was dispersed by politics of expansionism. The
black fraternity attempted to bring light and truth to the people throughout the
United States. Thus, the oldest Grand Lodges established lodges in the southern
and western States. In 1916, New York Prince Hall Grand Lodge reported that its
first Masonic district included Manhattan, the Bronx, and the Bahama Islands.
Then, it ultimately carried Masonry into Connecticut, North Carolina, Halifax,
Nova Scotia, the Bahamas, and Barbados, and in 1968 it established a lodge in
Guyana, South America. The following chart reproduced from Henderson and
Pope's Freemasonry Universal 306 shows the distribution of Prince Hall
Freemasonry in the United States and their possessions:
303 Ibid, p. 39. Bold print added.
304 Walkes, A Prince Hall Masonic Quiz Book, p. 56.
305 Walkes, A Prince Hall Masonic Quiz Book, p. 58.
306 Henderson and Pope, vol. I, p. 211.