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

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Chapter 8 - Categorization of Rituals
Masonry as a name can also be abused. For instance, let us look at
Freemasonry for the blacks in the United States, Prince Hall Masonry. This type
of the order has experienced the same economic advantages as the white
fraternity, but as a suppressed minority group, Afro-Americans needed them
more badly than the whites. The Afro-Americans wanted to become like the
whites, and one way to achieve this was money. Therefore, black Masonry - next
to its fundamental moral teachings - also provided teachings in business
management. Naturally, there were no courses offered or things like that, but it
was passed from brother onto brother quietly in form of brotherly love: "One of
the skills Masonry tries to instill in its devotees is an appreciation of and ability
in business management. This ideal receives practical expression in the
determination of the leaders of the fraternity to teach governing officials, if they
do not already possess it, the rudiments of 'sound' business procedure." 1633
Specific data of the misuse of Masonry for economic improvement are rare since
the Masons are ashamed of these facts, however, it cannot be denied that black
Masons were and are active in securing jobs for their brethren and training them
in business practice:
While the Order has provided formal channels for aiding members to
obtain employment, more significant has been its function as a meeting
place where individual members can cooperate on an informal basis. In
a manner similar to the white Masons, members of the fraternity have
used the organization to improve their economic status. Exactly how
often they have made use of the Order for this purpose is impossible to
determine, not simply because the activity is unofficial but because
Masons are reluctant to discuss it because of its apparent manipulative,
and therefore 'un-Masonic,' character. 1634
As a social institution, black Masonry has trained its adherents in different
professions. The members were able to acquire knowledge as lawyers, orators,
journalists, etc. These skills could be useful in their life out of Masonry as well,
and their pride to be Masons often enough opened them the way to work in
certain companies, even white ones, since "Masonry" was a good reference for
them. To be a Mason means to be full of integrity. Masons are tested, and
consequently, somebody who is a Mason and applies for a job must have a
proven good character, too.
As an economic empire, black Masonry also had its own banks. The egoboosting
effect goes so far that Grand Lodge leaders declared their moral
institution a business: "The Grand Lodge of Alabama has always been ready to
laud its own business acumen. The Grand Master of that state in 1939 proudly
boasted that through the endowment fund 'the Masonic Grand Lodge has become
a business as well as a Fraternal organization.' " 1635 Thus, it is not astonishing
1633 Muraskin, p. 128.
1634 Muraskin, p. 154.
1635 Ibid, p. 129.