Is There No Help For The Poor Widow's Son by Bro Fahim A. Knight - Part 2

This is the second and concluding part to the article by Bro Fahim A. Knight. As before, the external links was supplied by the moderator as an added information. In no way the links are the only relevant information on the net as to Bro Knight's article; they are supplied as a starting point for your further Masonic Education. It is up to you to search and dig deeper; to search your "Light".

Part II

"Sherrod N. Gresham in his book titled, “Prominent Prince Hall Masons on the Philatelic Materials: Stamps, First Day Covers, and Post Cards” stated, “On March 2, 1784, African Lodge #1 petitioned the Grand Lodge of England, the Premier or Mother Grand Lodge of the world, for a warrant (or charter), to organize a regular Masonic lodge, with all the rights and privileges thereunto prescribed. The Grand Lodge of England issued a charter on September 29, 1784, to African Lodge # 459, the first lodge of blacks in America.”

Black Masonry, for the most part, has accepted the racist practices of white masons in a passive manner. But black Freemasonry as an institution, will be called upon to be more vocal outwardly in the black community and move away from a tradition of apolitical and a non-engagement stance while the social issues are mounting in the black community and in reality there is no room for silence.

Prince Hall, a free black man of Boston, Massachusetts was initiated and raised as a master mason by a traveling British Military lodge in 1775 along with fifteen other free black men. In addition, Prince Hall received an official and legitimate Masonic Charter from the Grand Lodge of England on September 29, 1784, which led to the establishing of African lodge Number 459. The United States Supreme Court on June 23, 1929 handed down a decision, which guaranteed that Prince Hall Masons and Shriners had all the rights as a fraternity to appear in public, and in private to practice the time honored traditions of Masonry.

The “News Quarterly”, which is the official publication of the United Supreme Council 33 Degree Prince Hall Affiliated, its Editor-in-Chief Joseph Walkes stated, “prior to 1914 and even up to 1918, both white and black fraternities had established local lodges and local Shrine Temples in several cities and states. In some instances they were established in the same cities, namely Dallas, El-Paso, and Houston. In 1914, White Masons in five Southern States; Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas, attempted to stop the practice of masonry by Prince Hall Masons and Prince Hall Shriners, as legitimate fraternal bodies in the United States. The White group appeared in a Texas court and entered a lawsuit against blacks, charging that they had no legitimate right to display Masonic or Shrine emblems in private or public, or call themselves Prince Hall Masons, Shriners, or anything else”.

The above historical facts should serve as evidence which to dismantle the question of whether or not Prince Hall Freemasonry should be designated and viewed by white Masons as “irregular”; thus, there is enough historical documentation that suggest that these African-American Masons did received a legitimate and authentic charter from the Grand Lodge of England.

Now! I am quite sure this argument has been presented over and over again, to the white Grand Lodges of the United States, but to little or no avail. Racism is a mindset that considers black people as a group as being inferior to whites because of physical (‘genotypical’ and ‘phenotypical’) traits. The racist further believes that these physical traits are detriments of social behavior and moral or intellectual qualities, and ultimately presumes that this inferiority is a legitimate basis for inferior social treatment of black people in society.

Prince Hall has some distinguish and prominent members such as: Thurgood Marshall (Former Supreme Court Justice), A. Phillip Randolph, Booker T. Washington, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, W. C. Handy, Eubie Blake, Whitney Young, Jesse Jackson, Elijah Muhammad, Al Sharpton, Mathew Henson, Charles Barkley, Alex Haley, Andrew Young, Sugar Ray Robinson, Charles Rangel, Louis Stokes, John H. Johnson, Lionel Hampton, Scottie Pippen, Benjamin Mays, Benjamin Hooks, Thomas Bradley, Richard Allen, etc. But many of these prominent African American Masons were not able to desegregate one of the last standing symbols that represent the values, culture, folkway, mores, etc., of a nation divided on racial lines which is the collective institution of Freemasonry.

The entire system of Masonry is a dying one because individuals who sought it out were not serious about what the craft offered. They got stuck at the first three symbolic degrees (Blue Lodge) and failed to captivate the moral lessons in which the Order was pointing. The traveling journey is a continuation of lessons and directions that are valuable to up-lifting humanity.

The Plessy versus Ferguson decision, which the United States Supreme Court in 1896, ruled and passed legislation declaring "separate but equal" as being constitutional and the law of the land. This legal decision ushered in segregation, institutionalize racism, and pervasive Jim Crow laws that lasted over fifty-eight years. Jim Crow Laws and segregation became to exemplify a nation divided on the lines of race. It was eventually overturned with the 1954 Brown versus Board of Education decision of Topeka, Kansas, which the United States Supreme Court declared "separate but equal" as being unconstitutional and it would be this high court's rendering that marshaled in the modern day Civil Rights era. (Reference: Andrew Hacker “Two Nations: Black and White, Separate, Hostile, Unequal).

This legal decision stood for fifth-eight (58) years and represented a turbulent era in United States History. Blacks began to socially and politically agitate the United States Government in their demand and quest for justice and inclusion that led to Civil Rights Movement.

Blacks in the United States led the fight for Civil Rights in the 1950’s and the 1960’s WHICH TO ERADICATE INSTITUTIONALIZE RACISM. Many Blacks lost their lives in this fight for freedom, justice and equality. Their social protest and agitation led to a sizable amount of public accommodation legislation being passed. For example, the passing the 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act, two huge pieces of legislation gained by the unswerving demand for total equality.

Blacks in the 1960’s fought (Bull Connors, Governor George Wallace, Senator Strum Thurmond, Senator Jesse Helms, etc., symbols of white manifest destiny) for inclusion and brought an end to racist segregation that had unjustly discriminated against blacks for so long. This writer wonders, where were the white Masons when the United States Supreme Court in 1954 with Brown versus Board of Education decision Topeka, Kansas, which overturned Plessy versus Ferguson (1896) and declared “separate but equal” as being un-Constitutional? (Reference: John Hope Franklin, “From Slavery Too Freedom: Since 1865).

Black Freemasonry historians for the most part are passive parrots who offer no real dialogue to Freemasonry as a philosophy. Joseph Walkes is considered a Masonic Scholar Emeritus in the body of Prince Hall intellectualism; he authored one the most definitive books on Prince Hall Freemasonry titled “200 Years of Prince Hall Freemasonry Black Compass and Square”. But after reading Walkes work it was evident that he had some serious problems with how white Masons have historically treated Prince Hall and the black Masonic craft in general.

But like most African American historians they shy away from tempered discussions and Walkes was no different---intellectual cowardice is the best way this writer can describe those who take the easy way out and remain silent to injustices in order to appear non-emotional and scholarly based on the rules the dominant culture has set-up for them to follow.

The majority of the Prince Hall writers do not provide the readers with substantive information other than dates and events. If they truly believe that there is no secret to Freemasonry, then why do they not offer light (truth) because only truth can rescue a collapsing social order?

Walkes stated, “In my diary is a notation and reminder to myself, not to be too critical of Caucasian Masonry.” He attempted to justify his silence in the name of observing empirical research methods. He was not ignorant to the racist and social contradictions being advocated by white Masons in the name of Masonry. Joseph Walkes, the Prince Hall Historian should not have be an apologists for a racist institution they call 'regular' Freemasonry, but many of them do not have the courage nor the heart to challenge and condemn their white brethren.

If that is the case stand back and allow me to speak TRUTH TO POWER. True Freemasonry must be rescued from the gamut of lies, misconceptions, racism, hypocrisy, duality, etc.The white Freemasons in the United States are still practicing racism and discrimination in 2007 against Black Masons, this is not only shameful, it is reprehensible.

In the State of North Carolina, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge is located in city where this writer resides--- Durham, North Carolina and this writer has had the pleasure to meet and talk with the black Most Worshipful Grand Master Prince Hall Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina Jurisdictions. His name is Milton “Toby” Fitch; thus, he was a former State Representative of North Carolina and now holds a seat on the North Carolina Superior Court. The Grand Master struck me to be highly educated and equally intelligent, and wore the highest Masonic honor--- the title Grand Master.

But with all his academic learning and Masonic decorations and accolades he would not be accepted into the white Ancient Free and Accepted Masonic (AF&AM) family in North Carolina because of his skin color. Grand Master Finch even at the annual Prince Hall Grand Lodge sessions in September 2003 in Winston Salem, North Carolina; (Finch) invited the white Ancient Free and Accepted Grand Master Leonard Y. Safrit, Jr., (AF&AM) and put a resolution on the Masonic floor recognizing and accepting AF&AM, as well as extending full Prince Hall Masonic brotherhood to its white counterparts. But only to witness the white AF&AM not return the favor and voted to continue their racist and segregated practice against their Black Masonic Brothers of Prince Hall Masonry.

This writer applauds Grand Master Fitch’s humanity, but questions his motives to integrate; perhaps subconsciously they question their own legitimacy by still seeking to compromise their independence and sovereignty, by always being in quest of the organizational approval of their white brethren.

This writer knows throughout both orders' histories, there have been appeals to resolve the social antagonism between black and white Masons with little positive results. Black Freemasonry claims a philanthropic posture throughout the Black community and this is undeniable. However, the majority of the Black communities throughout the United States know very little about what Prince Hall Masonry truly stands for. This is why the social and political struggles of the order has fallen on deaf ears, as far as receiving assistance from the non-Masonic Black population who has not been raised by lodge ritualism.Joseph Walkes Prince Hall Historian should not have be an apologists for a racist institution they call 'regular' Freemasonry. True Freemasonry must be rescued from the gamut of lies and ritual justification of such lies.

Naim Akbar in his book titled “Chains and Images of Psychological Slavery” stated, “ Slavery was legally ended in excess of 100 years ago, but the brutality and the unnaturalness constituted a sever psychological and social shock to the minds of African Americans. This shock was so destructive to the natural life processes that the current generation of African Americans though we are 5-6 generations removed from the actual experience of slavery, still carry the scars in both our social and mental lives”.

Freemasonry in general gives the impression of representing the highest aspirations of universalism and yet right here in America, white Mason and black Mason brothers have little dialogue because they can not see further than race and skin color. What happen to the biblical lesson of the 133 Psalms represented in the Entered Apprentice, the first Degree and the foundation of Masonry? “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments. As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”

Lastly, there is no doubt in my mind that Prince Hall Masonry will survive the onslaught of negative propaganda coming from their so-called white Masonic brothers. But will it be an effective institution in the Black community, as we slowly move further into the 21st Century? I am also equally disappointed that Prince Hall Masonry who has millions of black members throughout the United States and world, but are still seeking the fraternal recognition from white Masonic Grand Lodges, as opposed to cherishing their independence and sovereignty and continue to declare themselves legitimate, with or without the approval of their white Masonic brothers.

We have found that true masonry is an expression of justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude and at the basis of these virtues lay friendship and brotherly love. We who believe in social justice must challenge white Masons in the United States to abolish their racist and segregationist views about black Masonry and to subdue their passions and improve themselves in Masonry. Let God shine his light on us all."

Fahim A. Knight Chief Researcher for KEEPING IT REAL THINK TANK located in Durham, NC; our mission is to inform African Americans and all people of good will of the pending dangers that lie ahead; as well as decode the symbolisms and reinterpret the hidden meanings behind those who operate as invisible forces, but covertly rules the world. We are of the belief that an enlighten world will be better prepared to throw off the shackles of ignorance and not be willing participants for the slaughter. Our MOTTO is speaking truth to power. Fahim A. Knight can be reached at fahimknight@yahoo.com.

STAY AWAKE UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, Fahim A. Knight

Note from the Moderator: I took the liberty of changing the paragraphs of Bro Fahim's article. The main reason is readability to suit the blog format. Shorter paragraphs hopefully will make the article easier to read and understand. As always your comments andsuggstios are welcome.