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

Chapter 3 - Overview of Rites 113
As we have said before, it is only in the 20 th century that blacks have joined
African Freemasonry in any strength. As Henderson and Pope state, "[u]p until
the Second World War and the subsequent progressive political independence of
the African nations, there had been a reluctance in many lodges [...] to admit
non-whites to membership." 308 However, except for the situation in South Africa,
the Masonic racial question is said to have been largely settled by now. Even if
white Masons refused blacks the entry into their lodges, Freemasonry purely for
blacks advanced: "Prince Hall Masonry's concern with Africa is only one
example of what might be called 'black American Masonic expansionism.' The
black Masons, in keeping with solidly American principles, have always shown
an inclination to carry the light of virtue to other lands." 309 In some states, such
as Liberia, black Masonry works together with the political elite and thus causes
the Craft to blossom:
In addition to providing links for black Masonic lodges throughout the
country, and helping to unify the black middle-class communities in
which they are situated, Prince Hall Masonry has forged ties with black
lodges (and their communities) throughout the world. The most
important non-American jurisdiction in Prince Hall Masonry is the
Grand Lodge of Liberia. The position of Masonry in the Republic of
Liberia is everything the black Masons could desire for their fraternity.
The Grand Lodge and the Government of the Republic exist in an
intimate embrace in which access to political power is tied to fraternal
standing. 310
Finally, we would like to comment on the latest developments in black
Freemasonry. It is a fact that practically all appendant organizations known to
white Masons also exist in black Masonry, such as Royal Arch Chapters, Eastern
Star Chapters, Commanderies of Knights Templar, Supreme Councils of the
Scottish Rite, the Shrine, etc. Recently, the world-wide recognition of the
regularity of black Masonry has made progress. In 1995, the following Grand
Lodges have recognized Prince Hall Masonry: California (conditional),
Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, North
Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, New Brunswick, Prince Edward
Island and Quebec. 311 And at last, the United Grand Lodge of England resolved
on December 14 th , 1994 that the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts
"should now be accepted as regular and recognized." 312 The Prince Hall Grand
Lodge of Massachusetts is seen as the mother Grand Lodge from which all other
Prince Hall Grand Lodges are descendant.
308 Ibid, p. 14.
309 Muraskin, p. 189.
310 Muraskin, p. 185. Note that Muraskin's work was published in 1975. Therefore, his research data
might be outdated in some points.
311 Cf. CME, p. 100-101.
312 Ibid, p. 101.