The following article by RW Carl Ek is reprinted from the January 2009 issue of The Connecticut Freemasons publication, which is running a series of articles celebrating the 20th anniversary of our mutual recognition.
~~~~~
(Editor's note: in the span of several months in
mid-1989, the Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Connecticut and
the Grand Lodge, F. & A.M.,Prince Hall Affiliates, of
Connecticut, Inc. crafted an agreement that changed how
Masonry operated, not just in Connecticut, but worldwide.
Two decades later, almost 80% of United States Grand Lodges
have formally recognized Prince Hall Masonry, including
several south of the Mason-Dixon line. How did these
Connecticut organizations bring together under the umbrella
of recognition two old and proud bodies? A series of stories
will appear in Connecticut Freemasons this year to celebrate
the 20th anniversary of mutual recognition.)
"Is there anything further to come before
this Grand Lodge session?" The newly installed Grand Master
asked the question perfunctorily, almost as though it was a
necessary piece of the ritual.
The craft - more than 500 uncomfortable, tired brothers,
seated in the ballroom of the Park Plaza Hotel in New Haven
that day in March 1989 - were sure they knew the answer to
that question. They looked forward to the closing of what
would surely be recalled as the most rancorous Grand Lodge
session in decades, if not ever.
The heating and cooling systems of the era were often
mutually exclusive, providing either heat or air
conditioning, and not easily shifting from one to the other.
Less than a week into spring, it was not expected that the
outdoor temperature would rise to nearly 80? on March 29. In
the ballroom, brothers' tempers would raise that figure
significantly.
The year 1989 was already an historic year for Connecticut
Masonry. The Grand Lodge had been chartered in 1789 and a
New Haven brother installed as the first Grand Master. Thus,
New Haven was an appropriate city to host the Grand Lodge
kickoff of the bicentennial. Further, the Masonic Charity
Foundation was celebrating its centennial, having been
incorporated in 1889. There would be much to celebrate in
the coming year.
To help Masonry grow into its third century, a 'task force'
had been commissioned to learn what was good and what needed
to be changed about the fraternity to make it more relevant,
especially for young men who would be desirable prospective
members. Consultant Dudley Davis, a non-Mason, was employed
to survey Masons and non-Masons alike, distill their
thoughts, and offer proposals for change in an organization
not noted for embracing that concept.
Most Worshipful Grand Master John Gonsalves had the
unenviable task of presiding over the session. The task
force had presented five recommendations, three of which the
voting delegates approved as a package, apparently
unanimously, by voice vote. A controversial proposal to
change the requirement to reject a candidate for Masonry
from one black cube to three was also approved, but only by
a one-vote majority. As a by-laws change needed a 2/3
majority, this proposal failed, but showed an amazing degree
of open-mindedness among the craft.
The 'leadership' proposal was the most controversial, and
the Grand Master announced that there would be two hours
allotted for commentary from the craft before the vote would
be taken. He then began calling upon appointed Grand Lodge
line officers to read supportive speeches that had been
prepared by the task force. The delegates, ready to have
their say, remained respectful as RW Bro. Ken Hawkins read
his tract. Then RW Bro. Sam Walker took the microphone.
By midpoint in the presentation the craft had had enough.
They realized that someone had planned to use as much of the
debate time as possible by having line officers read "their"
remarks, thus allowing little or no time for the lodge
delegates to express their positions. This these delegates
would not allow.
Past Grand Master Herbert L. Emanuelson, Jr., who was
shepherding the task force proposal, took the microphone in
the Grand East. Acknowledging the obvious - that the craft
would not be excluded from being heard - he asked that the
floor be opened for comments. It was clear to even the most
enthusiastic backer of the task force's work that the last
proposal would not even reach the slim one vote victory.
The work of the day completed, it was time for the
concluding events of every Grand Lodge session - the then
private installation of the Grand Lodge officers, the roll
call of lodges, and closing. For those who had been in the
ballroom for more than eight hours, lunch excepted, closing
could not come soon enough.
MW Past Grand Master Gail L. Smith, 1968, took the Grand
East for the unique opportunity of installing his son, Gail
N. Smith, as Grand Master for the Bicentennial year. The
elder Smith installed his son and the corps of officers with
dispatch. The usual presentations of jewels, past and
present, followed. Departure would be soon for those
occupying the delegate seats.
"Is there anything further to come before this Grand Lodge
session?" Newly installed Grand Master Gail Nelson Smith
paused, silence being the expected response for all but
three brothers sitting in that session.
"Yes, Grand Master, there is!"
The growl thundered from the southeast corner of the all-but
deserted dais in the Grand East. Past Grand Master Gail
Linnell Smith stalked back to the podium, pulling a crumpled
sheet of paper from his pocket as he went. The exhausted
brethren were all but beside themselves. What could he
possibly need to do now, well past 5:30 p.m.?
Gail Linnell Smith needed to change the history of
Freemasonry in Connecticut.
Brother Smith read a resolution proposing that, with the
approval of both Grand Lodges, there be mutual Masonic
recognition between the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, A.F. &
A.M. and the Grand Lodge, F. & A.M., Prince Hall Affiliates,
Inc.
Part Two:
A Craft
Ecstatic
by Carl G. Ek
(Author’s note: in the span of several
months in mid-1989, the Grand Lodge, A.F.
& A.M. of Connecticut and the Grand Lodge,
F. & A.M., Prince Hall Affiliates, of
Connecticut, Inc. crafted an agreement
that changed how Masonry operated, not
just in Connecticut, but worldwide. In our
first installment, the stage was set as
MWPGM Gail Linnell Smith rose to present a
resolution proposing mutual recognition.
What led MWPGM Smith to the belief that
this was necessary and proper? And how
would local lodge leaders react to such a
proposal? A series of stories will appear
in Connecticut Freemasons this year to
celebrate the 20th anniversary of mutual
recognition.
Closing moments of the March 29, 1989
Grand Lodge session, approaching 6 PM, at
the hot, un-air conditioned Park Plaza
Hotel in New Haven; the business of the
session – much highly contentious – had
been accomplished, the new Grand Lodge
officers elected and installed, and
everyone anxious to close and go home.
There were three brothers in the room who
had other plans.
“Is there anything further to come before
this Grand Lodge session?” asked newly
installed Grand Master Gail Nelson Smith
of the silent gathering.
“Yes, Grand Master, there is!”
The growl seemed to resonate from the
past. Gail Linnell Smith, 1968 Grand
Master, father of the new Grand Master,
strode from his seat in the corner of the
Grand East dais. The crumpled paper he
took from his pocket was placed on the
podium. Father and son stood together as
the elder Smith read a resolution he had
hoped to offer for more than a decade.
“WHEREAS – Qualified Masonic scholars and several in-depth investigations have demonstrated conclusively that the Prince Hall body of Freemasonry is completely legitimate;
“WHEREAS – Eminent and distinguished members of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, A.F. & A.M. have, more than once, attested in the courts of the land to the legitimacy of the Prince Hall Masons in Connecticut;
“WHEREAS – The doctrine of exclusive jurisdiction is a myth, and a device formulated by American Grand Lodges without any basis in Masonic custom and usage and not universally practiced by the originators;
“WHEREAS – Division among Men and Masons claiming to practice the Brotherhood of all Man under the Fatherhood of one God is contrary to the basic and ancient tenets and teachings of Freemasonry;
“THEREFORE – Be it resolved that this Grand Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Connecticut, request fraternal recognition from the Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Connecticut, Prince Hall Affiliation;
“And be it further resolved that the Grand Master is hereby authorized to appoint a special, temporary sub-committee to the Committee on Fraternal Relations for the sole purpose of contacting Connecticut Prince Hall Masons and advising the full Committee.
“I move that this resolution be accepted, printed in the proceedings and referred to the Committee on Fraternal Relations with instructions to present a report with a recommendation at the next communication of this Grand Lodge on October 14, 1989.”
Hundreds of brothers rose as one to
enthusiastically, urgently “Second!” this
motion. The Grand Lodge Proceedings
reported the approval as unanimous.
Moments earlier, a hot, tired, gloomy
craft awaited the end of an unpleasant
session. Suddenly, a sense of jubilation
gripped the craft. The issues of earlier
in the day were forgotten; all that was
important was that we were recognizing
Prince Hall Masonry! Brethren all but
floated out of the Grand Ballroom after a
closing that no one heard as they
discussed among themselves what they had
just occurred.
What brought the senior Brother Smith
to believe that this was a necessary and
proper course for Connecticut Freemasonry
to take?
PGM Gail Smith had done his research well.
He knew that twice before, ‘white’ Grand
Lodges had recognized their Prince Hall
counterparts, only to withdraw that
recognition in the face of protests from
other Grand Lodges throughout the nation.
What made him think that Connecticut could
successfully pursue the recognition that
had eluded the Grand Lodge of Washington
in 1897 and the Grand Lodge of
Massachusetts in 1947?
After Bro. Gail retired from the state
police, he came to the Masonic Home and
Hospital in Wallingford as director of
admissions. He assumed that position only
a few years after the passage of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964. A part of the Act
provided that recipients of Medicare and
similar health care payments could not
discriminate on the basis of race, creed,
or color when providing those services.
Those who did would lose their right to
government payments.
The Masonic Home and Hospital was never
segregated, but it was only open for
Masons and their families. Connecticut
lodges in the 1960’s likely had no black
members. However, the Grand Lodge was well
acquainted with the Prince Hall Grand
Lodge, which it deemed the only legitimate
– though not recognized – Masonic group
for black men.
In 1960, the Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. had
appeared in Superior Court to support the
petition of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge
against other black organizations trying
to use the name “Masons” in public events
and parades. Past Grand Masters and
lawyers Frank L. Wilder and George R.
Sturges, and future Grand Master Irving E.
Partridge, then Deputy for Scottish Rite,
appeared as ‘friends of the court’ to
state unequivocally that Prince Hall
Masonry was the only black group that had
the right to use the term “Mason.” They
pointed to the long history of the Prince
Hall Grand Lodge, including the chartering
by the Grand Lodge of England of African
Lodge No. 459 in 1774, as reasons to
support the Prince Hall position. The
court agreed, issuing the requested
injunction.
In 1966, The Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M.
united with the Prince Hall Grand Lodge
and the statewide groups from the Knights
of Columbus and B’nai Brith to form
"Brotherhood in Action." The goal was to
bring together fraternal organizations of
men doing good work in their communities
to multiply their successes. Local units
were encouraged to follow suit, giving the
‘white’ and ‘black’ Grand Lodges a chance
to work with their Roman Catholic and
Jewish counterparts – and, perhaps most
importantly, with each other.
Against that backdrop, Prince Hall
brothers and their families were welcomed
and encouraged to apply for residence at
what is now called the Masonicare Health
Center in Wallingford. Thus did PGM Smith
meet MW Bro. John Rogers, a Prince Hall
Past Grand Master who spent the last
several years of his life as a guest in
Wallingford. Bro. Rogers was a scholar and
educator, and in their frequent talks,
Bro. Smith became convinced that there was
no good reason why the two Grand Lodges
could not extend recognition to one
another, visit each other’s meetings, and
truly practice the Masonic brotherhood
that we speak about. He set about doing
the research necessary to have such a
change – a monumental change – made.
Part Three
"The large(r) question of… legitimacy…"
by Carl G. Ek
(Editor’s note: in the span of several months in mid-1989, the Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Connecticut and the Grand Lodge, F. & A.M., Prince Hall Affiliates, of Connecticut, Inc. crafted an agreement that changed how Masonry operated, not just in Connecticut, but worldwide. In our first two installments, the stage was set and MWPGM Gail Linnell Smith presented the resolution proposing mutual recognition. Would local lodge leaders be knowledgeable enough to support this proposal? A series of stories will appear in Connecticut Freemasons this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of mutual recognition.)
In the closing moments of the March 29, 1989 Grand Lodge session, three brothers revealed their plan. New Grand Master Gail Nelson Smith, his father, Past Grand Master Gail Linnell Smith, and newly installed Grand Senior Deacon Kenneth B. Hawkins, Sr., had agreed on the presentation of the Prince Hall recognition resolution, which was met with unrestrained positive response from the craft.
An observer would have believed that craft leadership present understood the complexities of the issue, knew that Prince Hall Masonry was as Masonically legitimate – and perhaps more so – than many or most North American lodges, and that there was no Masonic reason to oppose recognition. Perhaps they did, even though Bro. Smith’s resolution had included none of his research.
In large measure, most of the work necessary to establish the legitimacy of Prince Hall Masonry had been conducted by the Grand Lodge of Washington in their preparation to recognize Prince Hall Masonry in 1897. This work was updated by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts just after World War II and they recognized the descendants of African Lodge No. 459 in 1947. Regrettably, both Grand Lodges withdrew recognition soon after due to pressure from other continental Grand Lodges.
On this point, the trio behind Connecticut’s proposal was in agreement. There would only be one chance for recognition to be mutually approved, so the work done by the special committee authorized in the resolution would have to get it right. They also agreed that once recognition was approved – as they confidently expected – there would be no turning back.
MWGM Smith quickly appointed his special committee. RW Hawkins would chair, and six Worshipful Brothers who had supported Prince Hall recognition would make up the committee. They were: John H. Blennerhassett, Jr., Annawon No. 115, West Haven; William L. Greene, Uriel No. 24, Merrow; Robert L. Hodgson, Bay View No. 120, Niantic; Edward N. Jones, Wooster No. 10, Colchester; W. John Nissen, St. John’s No. 3, Trumbull; and John E. Suomala, Hiram No. 98, Bloomfield. Several would later wear ‘the purple of the fraternity,’ but the committee intentionally excluded permanent members of the Grand Lodge. Recognition, if it were to occur, would come as the desire of the craft, not as an imposition from the Grand Lodge. But what evidence could be offered as to the legitimacy of Prince Hall Masonry? PGM Smith had done his work well in mining a mountain of research from recognized Masonic authorities.
In 1897, the Grand Lodge of Washington received a report of the “Special Committee on Negro Masonry,” prepared by Deputy Grand Master William H. Upton and “most heartily concurred in” by the committee. With no Prince Hall lodges then in Washington state, Prince Hall brothers Gideon S. Bailey and Con A. Rideout – a justice of the peace and an attorney, both with impeccable Masonic credentials – requested that the Grand Lodge “devise some way whereby we [the writers of the letter] as true, tried and trusty Masons, having been regularly initiated, passed and raised, can be brought into communication with, and enjoy the fraternal confidence of the members of the Craft in this State.”
The committee recognized the larger issue than two transplanted Prince Hall Masons hoping to attend lodge; namely that “what they really seek is recognition of the right of the bodies in which they were initiated to make Masons. In other words, they raise the large question of the legitimacy of the so-called ‘Negro Masonry’ of the United States.”
They noted:
“The question of the legitimacy of the Lodges existing among the colored men of the United States is no new one. It has been warmly and ably discussed from time to time: and was quite fully examined over twenty years ago, when a proposal in the (white) Grand Lodge of Ohio — recommended by the Grand Master and favorably reported by the committee to which it had been referred — to recognize as a lawful body the negro Grand Lodge which has existed in that State since 1849, was defeated by a very slender majority.”
The Washington State Grand Lodge committee recited the history of what is now known as Prince Hall Masonry:
“On March 6, 1775, an army Lodge, warranted by the Grand Lodge of England… initiated Prince Hall and fourteen other colored men of Boston into the mysteries of Freemasonry…. They applied to the Grand Lodge of England for a warrant, March 2, 1784. It was issued to them, as ‘African Lodge No. 459,’ with Prince Hall as Master, September 29, 1784, but not received until May 2, 1787. The Lodge was organized under the warrant four days later.”
“Brother Prince Hall a man of exceptional ability, worked zealously in the cause of Masonry; and, from 1792 until his death in 1807, exercised all the functions of a Provincial Grand Master [licensing lodges in Philadelphia and Providence, Rhode Island]… In 1808 these three Lodges joined in forming the ‘African Grand Lodge’ of Boston — now the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts – and Masonry gradually spread over the land.”
To support these actions, the committee quoted Brother and General (and racist son of the slave-holding antebellum South) Albert Pike: “Prince Hall Lodge was as regular a Lodge as any Lodge created by competent authority, and had a perfect right (as other Lodges in Europe did) to establish other Lodges, and make itself a mother Lodge. That's the way the Berlin Lodges, Three Globes, and Royal York, became Grand Lodges.”
After several additional pages of supporting material, the committee set forth recommendations that were adopted:
“Resolved, That, in the opinion of this Grand Lodge, Masonry is universal; and, without doubt, neither race nor color are among the tests proper to be applied to determine the fitness of a candidate for the degrees of Masonry. Resolved, That in view of recognized laws of the Masonic Institution, and of facts of history apparently well authenticated and worthy of full credence, this Grand Lodge does not see its way clear to deny or question the right of its constituent Lodges, or of the members thereof, to recognize as brother Masons, negroes who have been initiated in Lodges which can trace their origin to prince hall Lodge, No. 459.”
A ‘white’ Grand Lodge had legitimized Prince Hall Freemasons for the first time.
20 Years of Mutual Recognition
Part Four
(Editor’s note: in the span of
several months in mid-1989, the Grand
Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Connecticut and the
Grand Lodge, F. & A.M., Prince Hall
Affiliates, of Connecticut, Inc. crafted
an agreement that changed how Masonry
operated, not just in Connecticut, but
worldwide. In our first three
installments, MWPGM Gail Linnell Smith
presented the resolution proposing mutual
recognition and we learned that other
Grand Lodges had also done so in the past.
Would Connecticut Masons support this
proposal? A series of stories will appear
in Connecticut Freemasons this year to
celebrate the 20th anniversary of mutual
recognition.)
In the closing moments of the March 29,
1989 Grand Lodge session Past Grand Master
Gail Linnell Smith presented the
resolution calling for the mutual
recognition of Prince Hall Masonry
immediately after installing his son, Gail
Nelson Smith, as the new Grand Master. The
craft would come to learn that this
proposal had been made in at least three
states previously, and that two had
already passed – and then rescinded –
recognition.
In the 1870’s, the question came before
the Grand Lodge of Ohio, where it was
‘narrowly defeated.’ In 1897, the Grand
Lodge of Washington was presented with the
request of two transplanted Prince Hall
Masons for the opportunity for fraternal
interaction. The appointed committee, led
by Deputy Grand Master William H. Upton,
chose to examine “the large(r) question
of… legitimacy” of lodges that were the
‘offspring’ of African Lodge No. 459 and
the Prince Hall Grand Lodge that coalesced
in 1808.
The result Bro. Upton’s committee’s work
was simple: a ‘white’ Grand Lodge had
legitimized Prince Hall Freemasons for the
first time. Their report discussed the
possible reaction from other Grand Lodges,
but did not expect there to be significant
problems. In that they were sadly
surprised, and by the next Grand Lodge
communication, it was necessary to rescind
recognition of Prince Hall Masonry.
Now Past Grand Master Upton made his
feelings clear: there was to be no
monument, marker, or other identification
on his grave that he was even a Mason
until the Washington Grand Lodge again
recognized their Prince Hall brothers.
A span of fifty years passed before
another Grand Lodge would essay
recognition. Much had changed in the
world. Most Worshipful Past Grand Master
of Missouri Harry S Truman had succeeded
Bro. Franklin D. Roosevelt as President,
and one of his executive orders provided
for the desegregation of the United States
military at all levels. Enlightened people
questioned issues of race, and the civil
rights movement was stirring.
In Massachusetts, the home of African
Lodge No. 459, the Grand Lodge agreed with
the conclusions reached a half-century
earlier by a Grand Lodge a continent away.
Grand Master Melvin M. Johnson was a
strong proponent for recognition, which
was passed in March 1947. Again, sadly,
this was short-lived as Grand Lodges
around the nation brought fraternal
pressure to bear. Two years later,
recognition was rescinded.
These activities at Connecticut’s northern
border caught the attention of Bro.
Raymond H. Dragat, a member of Level Lodge
No. 137 and Philosophic Lodge of Research
(PLR). Bro. Ray had been raised in
Cosmopolitan Lodge No. 125 in New Haven
while attending Yale Law School. Returning
to his native Hartford, he changed his
affiliation to a lodge that was initially
built on the premise of alternating
Christian and Jewish Worshipful Masters
year by year.
The secretary of Level Lodge and PLR for
more than 50 years aggregated, Ray
ascended to the Oriental Chair in
Philosophic Lodge in 1959. In that year he
presented his paper, Prince Hall Masonry
in the United States of America. This
well-researched paper earned Ray the
lifelong respect and numerous honors from
Prince Hall Masonry.
Then Grand Lecturer and eventual Prince
Hall Grand Master John E. Rogers ¬– and
friend of Gail L. Smith at the Masonic
Home – wrote to Bro. Dragat, “I cannot
find the proper words to type my
appreciation of your interest and
inspiration. But I will give you this
promise in return; I will ever in my
lectures and future instructions to my
younger brothers stress love and tolerance
so that the spirit of Dragat, Upton and
Melvin Johnson will always be reflected by
those Prince Hall men with whom I come in
contact.”
Bro. Dragat’s paper caused a stir at the
time of its publication, especially when
it noted that “the procedure of forming
African Grand Lodge in 1791 was more
properly accomplished than was the
formation of white Grand Lodges in
Massachusetts and other states.” He
concluded, as had many before him, that
there was no Masonic reason not to
recognize Prince Hall Masonry.
Within a few years, though, it was
generally forgotten. Ray updated the work
in 1978 to reflect several court cases
where ‘white’ Grand Lodges had supported
Prince Hall Masons’ efforts to suppress
clandestine black groups claiming the name
of ‘Masons.’ One court expressed amazement
that there was no record ever of any
adversarial court action between Prince
Hall Grand Lodges and their AF & AM
counterparts!
Ray’s paper may have remained ‘forgotten’
had not Philosophic Lodge of Research
begun a program to bring more Masonic
light to the craft. Under the leadership
of WM Frank H. Icaza in 1984, the lodge
began selling 10 different papers from its
archives. Bro. Dragat’s Prince Hall paper,
the most expensive simply due to
reproduction costs, was by far the best
seller of the group.
Papers were available at Committee on
Masonic Information officer seminars
through the late 1980’s, and many brothers
who owned the paper were voting delegates
at the 1989 Grand Lodge session. Craft
leadership was thus aware that Prince Hall
Masonry was Masonically legitimate. They
had every reason to support recognition.
A strong case can be made that when Gail
Linnell Smith “… request(ed) fraternal
recognition from the Grand Lodge, Free and
Accepted Masons of Connecticut, Prince
Hall Affiliation;” and those hundreds of
brothers rose as one to enthusiastically,
urgently “Second!” this motion, they were
expressing their understanding of a paper
written 30 years earlier by a brother who
would receive his 80-year pin at the age
of 102. Fortunately, Brother Ray Dragat
lived to see the premise of his paper
accepted and recognition accomplished, the
greatest honor he could have ever
received.
Part Five
A Cautiously Positive Reaction
by Carl G. Ek
(Editor’s note: in the span of several months in mid-1989, the Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Connecticut and the Grand Lodge, F. & A.M., Prince Hall Affiliates, of Connecticut, Inc. crafted an agreement that changed how Masonry operated, not just in Connecticut, but worldwide. In our first four installments, MWPGM Gail Linnell Smith presented the resolution proposing mutual recognition; based on a paper written for Philosophic Lodge of Research by WB Raymond H. Dragat, Connecticut Masons understood why they should support this proposal. A series of stories will appear in Connecticut Freemasons this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of mutual recognition.)
In the closing moments of the March 29, 1989 Grand Lodge session Past Grand Master Gail Linnell Smith presented the resolution calling for the mutual recognition of Prince Hall Masonry immediately after installing his son, Gail Nelson Smith, as the new Grand Master. New Grand Master Smith appointed the subcommittee on Prince Hall recognition provided for in the motion; RW Grand Junior Warden Kenneth B. Hawkins, Sr. headed this group.
How did the Prince Hall Grand Lodge react as the A.F. & A.M. Grand Lodge moved forward?
The year was 1978. Bro. Preston L. Pope, Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge and a friend of WB Ray Dragat, took an unprecedented action: he wrote to another friend, MW James M. Desmond, Grand Master of the A.F. & A.M. Grand Lodge, requesting dialog leading to mutual recognition between the two Grand Lodges.
Bro. Desmond – the first son of a Grand Master to become Grand Master in Connecticut – was surprised by this request, and unsure of how to proceed. He asked the Past Grand Masters for their counsel on such a momentous matter. The PGMs of that era overwhelmingly recommended that he do nothing! Sadly, many of these good brothers were from an era where ‘out of sight, out of mind’ was the answer to questions of race relations.
The Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. followed the suggestion of the ‘Pasts’ and never responded to the letter. MW Bro. Pope asked MWPGM Gail Linnell Smith to intercede on behalf of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge. This he did, urging a response to the Prince Hall letter, if only out of brotherly courtesy. Regrettably, this did not happen. The Prince Hall Grand Lodge was understandable disturbed by the lack of even a negative reply.
Fortunately, this missed opportunity only cost a decade.
Prince Hall Freemasonry had come to Connecticut in 1849 with the chartering of Widow’s Son Lodge No. 1 at New Haven. In 1873, four local Prince Hall lodges formed what is now the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Connecticut, Inc. Despite broader Masonic issues of jurisdictional sovereignty, the Prince Hall and A.F. & A.M. Grand Lodges were well known to one another. Relations, at the state level, were friendly and generally respectful.
In 1960, the A.F. & A.M. Grand Lodge supported the Prince Hall Grand Lodge’s challenge to other organizations of black men claiming use of the name of ‘Masons.’ Two A.F. & A.M. Past Grand Masters testified “to the recognized legitimacy of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge.” The court found the Prince Hall Grand Lodge to be legitimate and enjoined the non-Prince Hall groups. The establishment of the “Brotherhood-In-Action" program in 1966 united members of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Masons, Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. Masons, B'nai B'rith, and the Knights of Columbus. In 1967, decisions made by the Masonic Charity Foundation of Connecticut opened the Masonic Home and Hospital to qualified Master Masons, their wives and widows, of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge.
Yet the Prince Hall Grand Lodge had no immediate response to the A.F. & A.M. Grand Lodge motion of March 29, 1989. Why? It was not informed of the motion until May because MW Bro. Smith wanted to be sure that everything was in place on his end before contacting his Prince Hall counterpart.
Bro. Lewis Myrick, Sr., was coming to the end of first year as Grand Master of Prince Hall Masons, and planned to seek election to a second year in the Grand East. (This is common in the Prince Hall Grand Lodge.) MW Bro. Myrick was personally in favor of recognition, but Prince Hall Masons did not universally share this sentiment. When MW Bro. Smith contacted Bro. Myrick about the resolution seeking mutual recognition, he was congratulated on the courageous step his Grand Lodge had taken but told that Prince Hall leadership needed to discuss the issue before any decision could be made.
Subcommittee chairman Ken Hawkins went to New Haven in May to introduce himself to Bro. Myrick, who was participating in the city’s annual Freddy Fixer Parade. Bro. Myrick was appreciative of the meeting, but Bro. Hawkins came away with the impression that the Grand Master’s opinion of this new initiative was best described as “here we go again.”
A lengthy discussion regarding mutual recognition among Prince Hall Grand Master Myrick, Deputy Grand Master Thaddeus Holman, Senior Grand Warden Michael S. Bivans, and Junior Grand Warden Robert Williamson led to consensus to proceed toward recognition. Grand Master Myrick appointed an A.F. & A.M. Committee, Prince Hall, to meet with Bro. Smith’s Prince Hall Recognition Committee. The Prince Hall chairman was MWPGM Preston L. Pope.
Bro. Pope and his committee would meet separately and with Bro. Hawkins and his committee throughout the summer to work out an agreement in principle satisfactory to both Grand Lodges. There was urgency in their work; a report was due to the A.F. & A.M. Grand Lodge special communication on October 14 – the same date as the Prince Hall Grand Lodge Annual Communication. Could these brothers, in less than five months, craft a lasting agreement? The Masonic world was watching….
Part Six
Reflections
on Recognition, 20 Years Later
A Cautiously Positive Reaction
by Carl G. Ek
(Editor’s note: in the span of several
months in mid-1989, the Grand Lodge, A.F.
& A.M. of Connecticut and the Grand Lodge,
F. & A.M., Prince Hall Affiliates, of
Connecticut, Inc. crafted an agreement
that changed how Masonry operated, not
just in Connecticut, but worldwide. In our
first five installments, MWPGM Gail
Linnell Smith presented the resolution
proposing mutual recognition and
Connecticut Masons enthusiastically
supported this proposal. But what of the
Prince Hall Grand Lodge? A series of
stories will appear in Connecticut
Freemasons this year to celebrate the 20th
anniversary of mutual recognition.)
In the closing moments
of the March 29, 1989 Grand Lodge session
Past Grand Master Gail Linnell Smith
presented the resolution calling for the
mutual recognition of Prince Hall Masonry
immediately after installing his son, Gail
Nelson Smith, as the new Grand Master. New
Grand Master Smith appointed the
subcommittee on Prince Hall recognition
provided for in the motion; RW Grand
Junior Warden Kenneth B. Hawkins, Sr.
headed this group.
The ball, as the saying goes, was now in
the court of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge.
Above Photo From: Prince Hall Recognition
For some, undoubtedly, the term ‘recognition’ would serve only as a precursor to the eventual merger of the two Grand Lodges. The idea of merging – losing individual identities through combining or being absorbed – was understandably unacceptable to Prince Hall Masonry. The history of Brother Prince Hall and his efforts to obtain a charter for free black Masons in Boston before the independence of the United States is a source of pride among brothers of Prince Hall Affiliation.
Further, innumerable Masonic authorities have examined the now unquestioned regularity of the charter of African Lodge No. 459 across the centuries. As Bro. Myrick asked, “How many ‘Regular Grand Lodges’ could withstand the scrutiny that Prince Hall has been subjected to? According to Masonic history, not very many would be considered ‘Regular’ if the same rules were applied as used against Prince Hall.”
No, ‘merger’ was neither the object, nor an acceptable outcome.
However, what about such Masonic courtesies as demitting and dual membership? The Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. (Caucasian) had, in 1989, approximately ten times the membership of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge. A scenario could be envisioned where demits by A.F. & A.M. members could dilute or change the character of Prince Hall lodges.
The question of dual
membership was easily
resolved: the Prince
Hall Grand Lodge did not
then permit dual
membership, and this
would not change under
mutual recognition.
After considerable
discussion, it was
agreed that initially,
at least, demission
between the two Grand
Lodges would not be
allowed. This would,
after the votes were
taken, lead some to say
that the two Grand
Lodges had only achieved
‘partial recognition,’
but all appropriately
opted for caution as the
Grand Lodges explored
unbroken ground.
It will be recalled that
the Grand Lodge of
Washington in 1897 and
the Grand Lodge of
Massachusetts in 1947
did not feel that there
would be any backlash
from other Grand Lodges
when they extended
recognition to Prince
Hall Masonry. In both
cases, they severely
underestimated the wrath
prompted by their
actions. The Prince Hall
Grand Lodge was
concerned about similar
reactions from their
sister Grand Lodges.
Not every state has a
Prince Hall Grand Lodge,
but across the states
that do, there were
strong feelings – mostly
negative – about the
recognition of ‘Regular
Grand Lodges’ by other
Prince Hall Lodges. Much
discussion and
soul-searching was
expended on this topic.
Among the questions that
had to be answered by
Connecticut’s Prince
Hall Masons: were we
willing to be outcasts?
Would we be able to
accept criticism for
taking this step? Were
we willing to accept the
possibility of some
Prince Hall Grand Lodges
withdrawing recognition
of the Prince Hall Grand
Lodge of Connecticut?
After debate and
deliberation,
Connecticut’s Prince
Hall brothers moved
forward with what was
thought to be best for
Connecticut. Under Bro.
Myrick’s leadership,
Connecticut Prince Hall
Masonry decided that it
was willing to accept
criticism and the
possible withdrawal of
recognition from sister
grand jurisdictions in
order to practice the
true meanings of
Freemasonry.
These feelings were
communicated to Bro.
Pope’s committee as the
basis for its
discussions with the A.F.
& A.M. committee chaired
by Bro. Hawkins.
The summer of 1989 saw
the two recognition
committees meeting
separately and jointly.
The first joint meetings
allowed brothers to get
to know one another, and
to begin to feel
comfortable speaking
frankly about things
that they liked and
disliked, things that
were acceptable and
unacceptable to their
respective Grand Lodges.
It was at a late summer
joint meeting in the
conference room of the
old Grand Lodge office
in Wallingford that the
final wording of
resolutions to be
circulated among voting
members of both Grand
Lodges was signed off on
by the committee members
and Grand Masters Smith
and Myrick. On October
14, the resolution would
come before the Prince
Hall Grand Lodge at its
annual communication in
Cromwell; on the same
day, the Grand Lodge,
A.F. & A.M. would hold a
special communication in
Wallingford to take up
the identical
resolution.
As October 14
approached, Connecticut
Freemasons and the
Masonic world watched
and waited.
Would both Grand Lodges
approve mutual
recognition? What if one
voted in the negative –
would the process
proceed? All sides had
agreed that there would
be but one chance to
secure recognition –
what if the vote failed?
by Carl G. Ek
(Editor’s note: in the span of several months in mid-1989, the Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Connecticut and the Grand Lodge, F. & A.M., Prince Hall Affiliates, of Connecticut, Inc. crafted an agreement that changed how Masonry operated, not just in Connecticut, but worldwide. In our first six installments, MWPGM Gail Linnell Smith presented the resolution proposing mutual recognition and Connecticut Masons and Prince Hall Grand Lodge leaders enthusiastically supported this proposal. How would the craft vote? A series of stories will appear in Connecticut Freemasons this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of mutual recognition.)
Dateline: Cromwell, Connecticut, October 14, 1989. The Prince Hall Grand Lodge met in annual communication, and voted on the recognition resolution first. In the parlance of sports, the vote was a slamdunk, with only one member voting in the negative.
That brother later approached then Prince Hall Grand Master Lewis Myrick, Sr., asking to change his vote. "Hell no!" replied the Grand Master. "That's how you voted, and that's how it stays."
With the requirement of 'all or nothing,' it was Prince Hall's turn to wait to see if the A.F. & A.M. Grand Lodge would likewise approve mutual recognition at their special communication, being held at Sheehan High School in Wallingford.
As it became clear that the special Prince Hall Recognition Committee chaired by Grand Senior Deacon Kenneth B. Hawkins, Sr., would report favorably on the plan, brothers who may not have been in favor carefully attempted to have influence on the decision.
A Past Grand Master approached MW Gail N. Smith to suggest that given the magnitude of the proposed change, some brothers might desire a written, private ballot to express their feelings. Bro. Smith agreed that he was correct – thinking that some would use 'privacy' as an excuse to retain the status quo while not appearing to be racially motivated. Still, Grand Master Smith directed Grand Secretary and MWPGM R. Stanley Harrison to prepare paper ballots for the recognition vote – knowing that they would never be used.
As some in Prince Hall Masonry feared being overwhelmed by the much larger A.F. & A.M. Grand Lodge, so some A.F. & A.M. Masons expressed a concern that their meetings might be visited by large groups of Prince Hall Masons. Why, others asked, would that be a problem? Lodges that 'blitz' might arrive unannounced at a visited lodge with 10, 20, even 30 members (and, politely, with a large quantity of refreshments). Why would a visit from a Prince Hall delegation make any difference to the visited lodge? Unless, of course, there were other, unspoken, considerations….
Then Senior Grand Warden of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge Michael Bivans focused on some of those concerns while speaking to Compass Lodge No. 9, Wallingford in the weeks leading up to the votes. RW Mike had been invited by Compass WM Charles Rogers to speak to his lodge to give a history of Prince Hall Masonry. After his formal presentation, Mike responded to a question about visitation between jurisdictions.
"Do all of your (A.F.& A.M.) members show up at your meetings? Of course not," Mike answered his own question, looking at vacant seats in the nearly full lodge room. "And do all of my (P.H.A.) members show up at all of our meetings? Same thing. So what makes anybody think that when we approve mutual recognition, all of 'your' members are going to start going to 'our' meetings, and all of 'our' members are going to going to start to 'your' meetings? Won't happen," he concluded. History has proven him correct.
From Prince Hall Recognition |
Image:
MW Lew
Myrick
and RW
Carl
G. Ek,
Worshipful
Master.
Unity
Lodge
No.
148,
New
Britain,
at the
Recognition
Table
Lodge.
MW
Myrick
was
protagonist
for
recognition
twenty
year
ago,
and RW
Ek is
the
author
of
this
series.
Dateline:
Wallingford,
Connecticut,
October
14,
1989.
The
Grand
Lodge
A.F. &
A.M.
special
communication
being
held
at
Sheehan
High
School
had
several
items
on the
agenda,
most
of
which
were
disposed
of as
preludes
to
what
everyone
understood
to be
the
main
topic
of
business.
Brothers
learned
about
plans
for
the
next
inspection
cycle
and
filled
out a
questionnaire
concerning
the
then-Grand
Lodge
quarterly
publication,
Connecticut
Square
and
Compasses.
The
questionnaires
filled
out
and
collected,
Grand
Master
Gail
Nelson
Smith
announced,
"We
will
now
take
up the
Prince
Hall
Recognition…"
and
stated
that
there
could
be no
amendments
to the
resolution
since
it was
the
same
resolution
being
acted
upon –
at the
same
time –
by the
Prince
Hall
Grand
Lodge.
After
opening
remarks,
Bro.
Smith
asked
subcommittee
chairman
Hawkins
to
read
the
recommendations
of his
group.
Issues
of
Masonic
legitimacy
of the
Prince
Hall
Grand
Lodge,
the
'sovereignty
issue'
of
only
one
Grand
Lodge
per
jurisdiction,
and
the
potential
for
other
Grand
Lodges
to
withdraw
Masonic
recognition
from
Connecticut
should
the
vote
be in
the
affirmative
were
discussed.
The
first
two
were
simple
to
resolve;
as to
the
last,
the
report
stated,
"… we
have
no
control
over
their
actions,
and
our
vote
must
not be
influenced
by
what
might
happen,
but
rather
what
is
prudent
in
this
Grand
Jurisdiction."
Past
Grand
Master
Morris
I.
Budkofsky,
chairman
of the
Fraternal
Relations
Committee,
reported
complete
satisfaction
with
the
legitimacy
of the
Prince
Hall
Grand
Lodge
and
recommended
that
approval
of
"Fraternal
Recognition,
including
rights
of
visitation,
be
granted…"
The
original
motion
was
reread
and
opportunities
for
remarks
allowed.
Grand
Master
Smith
then
asked
those
in
favor
of the
resolution
to
stand,
be
counted,
and
those
opposed
to
stand.
The
final
tally
was
not
recorded
in the
Grand
Lodge
Proceedings
except
to say
that
"a
large
majority"
had
approved
the
resolution
at the
historic
communication
of the
Grand
Lodge.
Bro.
Smith
then
reported
– to
great
applause
– the
Prince
Hall
Grand
Lodge's
vote
of
approval
and
concluded
the
agenda
of his
own
session.
Thereafter,
Bros.
Smith
and
Hawkins
made a
short
drive
to
close
a
centuries-old
gap in
Masonic
brotherhood,
becoming
the
first
A.F.&
A.M.
Masons
to be
formally
received
into
the
tiled
Prince
Hall
Grand
Lodge
session.
Joint
news
releases
would
spread
word
of the
good
work
publicly,
but
the
pre-Internet
Masonic
grapevine
spread
the
word
faster,
that
recognition
was
reality.
Response
would
be
rapid….