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

Chapter 3 - Overview of Rites 99
deal in our ritualistic chapters, has filled this gap, a development that proved
helpful in establishing self-pride and self-consciousness among the black middle
class men.
In creating social and psychological distance between its
membership and the majority of blacks, Masonry has not
worked alone. Rather, it has been one link in a chain of
mutually supportive organizations which perform similar roles.
Many of these organizations, like Masonry, are fraternal orders
(e.g., Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and the Order of Elks).
Taken as a network of interlocking and cooperative
organizations, Masonry and its higher degree auxiliaries, allied
fraternal orders, and the middle-class churches have formed an
environment conductive to the creation, maintenance, and
protection of a self-conscious, socially cohesive black middleclass
community. 273
It is indisputable that Prince Hall Masonry, like Freemasonry in general,
suffered from the increasing success of competitive social institutions. In the
period from 1865 - 1900 274 , Masonry and similar fraternities formed the major
social institution in black society, for there were few others. The importance and
attractiveness of black Masonry sank as soon as the black middle class created
other institutions that fulfilled the same role. Since those were less serious and
offered more fun and activities than Masonry, they constituted an alternative for
potential members of the Craft:
Black society was under-organized and lacked institutions, and thus a
Masonic lodge with a few dozen members could easily be the second
major social institution (next to the church) in a small town or even in a
city like Chicago. With the growth of major black urban centers, and the
creation of many civic and social organizations, Masonry had to become
[...] one group among many.
[...] Modern specialized institutions such as professional societies,
college fraternities, civil right organizations, social clubs, and charities
have offered distinctive services and far greater social exclusiveness
than Masonry, all of which have hurt the Order's ability to attract the
elite of the middle class. 275
However, as we shall see in the following section, black Masonry retains it
importance with regard to the economic welfare of its members.
273 Muraskin, p. 26.
274 Cf. ibid, p. 30.
275 Ibid, p. 31.