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

Chapter 3 - Overview of Rites 93
"Moderns") for a charter, which was granted on September 29 th , 1784, but
received only on April 29 th , 1787.
After Prince Hall's death in 1807, African Lodge is said to have become
"dormant" (which is the Masonic technical term for falling into abeyance) for
want of a leader. Allegedly, African Lodge ceased its connection with the Grand
Lodge of England for many years, and about the beginning of the 19 th century its
registration was stricken from the rolls of the United Grand Lodge of England. In
1827, African Lodge was revived, but this time the Grand Lodge of England
refused recognition. Therefore, the black Masons resolved that "with what
knowledge they possessed of Masonry, and as people of color by themselves,
they were, and ought by rights to be, free and independent of other Lodges." 257
Soon after, they changed their lodge's name into "Prince Hall Grand Lodge," and
began to issue charters for the constitution of subordinate black lodges, from
which have proceeded the black lodges of the U.S. By today's Masonic
standards, African Lodge of Boston did not possess the right and power to form
itself into a Grand or Mother Lodge, but, as Walkes states, "we are dealing with
a 'nation within a nation' in the midst of a hostile mainstream which by its very
laws was attempting to keep the Black inferior [...]." 258 Several other black
Masonic bodies used similar procedures as African Lodge.
3.3.2 Black Masonic Historical Tradition
The legendary provenance of black Freemasonry as interpreted by black
Masonic historians is rather strange, even compared to the already unusual, farfetched,
various explications of white Masonic historians when referring to their
mythological origins. We would naturally suppose that the black Freemasons,
who have assimilated the rituals of white Freemasonry, have also taken over the
white Masons' alleged historical line. But on the contrary, the black Freemasons
have a totally different way of tracing themselves back to Biblical times; a
fashion that is resplendent of self-pride and race-pride. While several white
Masonic historians used to claim that their institution dates back to King
Solomon, black Masons still pretend to stem from the ancient Egyptians. Not
only that the Egyptians were not black, also the identification of Afro-Americans
with the Egyptians instead of the Jews is very appalling. Folk heritage of Afro-
American blacks has it that they either stem from Jewish heroes of the Old
Testament, or from the ancient Ethiopians. So why the strange notion that black
Masonry descends from the Egyptians? This question can only be answered
when we consider the value system of the white American society adopted by the
blacks in order to gain on their part respect in the eyes of the superior whites:
257 EOF, p. 508.
258 Walkes, A Prince Hall Masonic Quiz Book, p. 8/9.