Fake Masonry EVERYWHERE - or so it seems sometimes....
The Black Community in the United States, more than any other group it seems, has been beset by the shams of 'fraudulent' Masonry. The material below will be more understandable by Americans who know the racial divide of their country than by those where men of all colors and creeds have always stood together as Masons.
We believe that there's a reasonable and rational explanation for this calumny in America. Black men have been involved with Freemasonry since Colonial times. Prince Hall, a 'Negro', became a Mason during the Revolutionary War and despite the segregation then rampant in a supposedly 'free' country, lodges of Black men grew and prospered. They were 'pillars of the community': business and political leaders amongst their segregated and oppressed people. Masonry was a uniting force in their separate and far less than equal community and the Freemasons helped develop new generations of leadership. (Additional information here.)
As invariable happens though, hucksters and opportunists observed the respect with which the Black community held up Freemasonry - and they determined to gain as a result. Gain they did, through the formation of 'make-believe' Masonic groups - created out of thin air, sometimes by disgruntled or overly ambitious ex-Masons and sometimes by those looking to make a quick buck. Following in the tradition where Prince Hall led his lodge/grand lodge for a lifetime, those lodges which drew their heritage from that source likewise had Grand Masters whose grip on the reigns of leadership would extend for decades, thus chafing the more aggressive who themselves wanted to be in charge.
One on every corner...
And thus arose many groups, claiming to be Masons but having no legitimacy of origin (a matter of particular concern to Freemasonry with no one entitled to simply go off and start their own Masonic group), they were shunned within the Prince Hall Masonic community but were nevertheless successful in seducing many men into believing that they had really and truly become 'Masons'.
As we expanded our section on 'Fake Freemasonry', we asked the permission of Bro. Ralph L. McNeal, Jr., FPS, Director of the Phylaxis Society's Commission on Bogus Practices, an unofficial but highly respected group, to include their listing of these pseudo-Masonic groups here so that you could see how many will attempt to use Freemasonry for their own, usually selfish, ends. While these groups purport to be "Masonic", they have no legitimacy outside of their own VERY small circle. Should you choose to join one of these groups, you'll find that no one will accept you as a Mason (except the group itself) and that your hope of sharing friendship and fraternity worldwide will, instead, most likely result in ostracism and embarrassment.
The entire Masonic community appreciates the efforts of Bro. McNeal and the Commission in trying to eliminate the confusion which pseudo-masonic groups can cause. You'll find several of the Commission's reports right here and if you're interested in the sordid details of Bogus Freemasonry, you should definitely not miss their material!
Alabama
1. Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of F&AAYM of U.S.A., Prince Hall Origin & Parent Body of All Legitimate Masons, York Scottish (AL)
2. Lincoln Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Colored Masons of America (AL)
3. Supreme Workshop of Modern Free and Accepted Colored Masons of America (AL)
4. King Solomon Grand Lodge, AF&AM (AL) (AR) (DC)
5. Grand Lodge AF&AM, Scottish Rite (AL)
6. The Most Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge, A.F.&A.M., Scottish Rite of the State of Alabama, Inc (AL)
Arizona
7. Ezra Grand Lodge, AF&AM (AZ)
Arkansas
8. King David Grand Lodge, AF&AM (AR)
9. St. John's Grand Lodge, AF&AM (AR) (CT) (DC)
10. St. James Grand Lodge, AF&AM (AR)
Colorado
11. Ivanhoe Grand Lodge, AF&AM (CO)
California
12. Sons of Light Grand Lodge, AF&AM (CA)
13. Hiram of Tyre Grand Lodge, AF&AM (formerly "Fletcher Grand Lodge") (CA)
14. Eureka Grand Lodge, F&AAYM (CA)
15. King Solomon Grand Lodge F&AAYM (National Compact) CA
16. St. John's Grand Lodge AF&AM of Canada and California (CA)
17. St. Anthony's Grand Lodge, AF&AM
18. Grand Lot of Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons (CA)
19. Pyramid Grand Lodge AF&AM (CA
20. Esoteric Grand Lodge of America (CA)
21. Enoch Grand Lodge AF&AM (CA)
22. St. Matthew's Grand Lodge (CA)
23. True Light Grand Lodge AF&AM (CA)
24. Mount Logan Grand Lodge AF&AM (CA)
25. Most Worshipful Mt. Tabor Grand Lodge AF&AM, Inc., Scottish Rite (CA)
Delaware
26. Harmony Grand Lodge F&AAYM (National Compact) on the Continent of North America (DE)
27. Orient Grand Lodge AF&AM, Inc., Scottish Rite (DE)
28. Two Individual Lodges (DE)
Washington, D.C.
29. Grand Lodge AF&AM, Inc. (unit of McBlain Thomson's American Federation) (DC)
30. National Ethiopian Supreme Council of the Universal Order of Freemasons (Ethiopian Rites Exclusive) (DC)
31. Universal Grand Lodge AF&AM (DC)
32. Sovereign Grand Lodge AF&AM (DC)
33. Grand Orient of the District of Columbia (DC)
34. Washington Consistory No. I AASR (DC)
35. Benderson Grand Lodge (DC)
Florida
36. Prince Hall Grand Lodge AF&AM, Inc. (FL)
37. Grand Lodge AF&AM (FL)
38. Most Worshipful Cypress Grand Lodge, AF&AM of Florida (FL)
-- and another addition: Sovereign Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Universal Masonic Brotherhood, Inc. (Website here devoid of any relevant information except that which is designed to create an appearance of legitimacy. Don't be misled! Hilariously, their 'search for a lodge' is nothing but a blank page - not even a fillable form...)
Georgia
39. Grand Lodge F&AAYM, Inc. (GA)
40. International Free and Accepted Masons (GA)
41. Smooth Ashlar Grand Lodge F&AAYM (GA)
42. Supreme Grand Lodge of Modern Free and Accepted Masons of the USA (GA)
43. St. Joseph's Grand Lodge AF&AM (GA)
Illinois
44. Most Worshipful Sovereign Grand Lodge AF&AM of the USA - Regular Masonic Succession, Instituted A.D.1901 (IL)
45. St. Mark's Grand Lodge F&AAYM (National Compact) Prince Hall Origin (IL)
46. St. John's Grand Lodge AF&AM (IL)
47. Grand Lodge AF&AM (IL)
48. St. James Grand Lodge AF&AM (IL)
49. Hiram Grand Lodge AF&AM (IL)
50. W.T.M. Grant Jr. Grand Lodge AF&AM (IL)
51. King David Grand Lodge AF&AM (IL)
52. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons - Working In and For the USA, Its Dependencies, Territories, Canada and the Free World (IL)
53. Most Worshipful United Grand Lodge, AF&AM of Illinois, Inc. (IL)
54. Most Worshipful St. Ezra Grand Lodge (IL) (est. 1999)
55. The Original Most Worshipful St. John's Grand Lodge of Illinois, AF&AM (IL)
56. Most Worshipful St. Paul Grand Lodge (IL)
57. Moses Grand Lodge (IL)
58. Shadrach Grand Lodge (IL)
Indiana
59. Hiram Grand Lodge AF&AM (IN)
60. King Solomon Grand Lodge AF&AM (IN) (KS)
61. King George Grand Lodge AF&AM (IN)
Iowa
62. King David Grand Lodge AF&AM (IA)
63. St. James Grand Lodge AF&AM (IA)
Kansas
64. St. John the Evangelist Grand Lodge AF&AM (KS)
65. St. Mark's Grand Lodge AF&AM (KS)
Louisiana
66. United King George Grand Lodge AF&AM (LA)
67. Universal Grand Lodge AF&AM (LA)
68. United St. John's Grand Lodge AF&AM (LA)
69. St. Andrew's Grand Lodge AF&AM (LA)
70. Jerusalem Grand Lodge AF&AM (LA)
71. St. John's Grand Lodge AF&AM (LA)
72. Prince Hall Grand Lodge of F&AAYM (PH origin) Compact (LA)
Massachusetts
73. Alpha Grand Lodge AF&AM (MA)
74. Eureka Alpha Grand Lodge of AF&AM Scottish Rite Colored Masons of Massachusetts (MA)
75. George W. Carver Grand Lodge AF&AM (MA)
76. Hiram Grand Lodge AF&AM (MA)
Maryland
77. Hiram Grand Lodge AF&AM, Inc (MD)
78. Zerubbabel Grand Lodge (MD)
Michigan
79. Mt. Nebo Grand Lodge AF&AM (MI)
80. United Grand Lodge, Inc., Scottish Rite Masons (MI)
81. Mt. Sinai Grand Lodge AF&AM (MI)
82. Atomic Grand Lodge AF&AM (MI)
83. St. John's Grand Lodge AF&AM (MI)
84. Pride of the East Grand Lodge AF&AM (MI)
85. King Solomon Grand Lodge AF&AM (MI)
86. Mount Olive Grand Lodge of AYM (MI)
87. Universal Grand Lodge of AYM of the Provinces of the Continent of North America (MI)
88. International Free and Accepted Modern Masons, Inc. (MI)
89. King David Grand Lodge AF&AM (MI)
90. Tyree Grand Lodge AF&AM (MI)
Most Worshipful Enoch Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of Michigan
(These guys STOLE
copyrighted material from this website and had it on theirs for over two years
trying to enhance their credibility!)
Mississippi
91. Prince Hall Grand Lodge AF&AM (MS)
92. King Hiram Grand Lodge AF&AM (MS)
93. King David Grand Lodge AF&AM (MS)
94. Cuey Grand Lodge AF&AM (MS)
95. King Solomon Grand Lodge AF&AM (MS)
96. Grand Lodge AF&AM, Inc. (MS)
97. W.T.M. Grant, Jr., Grand Lodge AF&AM (MS)
Missouri
98. St. Matthew's Grand Lodge AF&AM (MO)
99. St. Mark's Grand Lodge AF&AM (MO)
100. Tyre Grand Lodge AF&AM (MO)
101. Grand Lodge AF&AM (MO)
102. St. Andrew's Grand Lodge (MO) Afro-American Free and Accepted Masons of U.S. (MO)
103. St. Matthew Grand Lodge (MO)
New Jersey
104. Oriental Grand Lodge AF&AM (NJ)
105. St. John's Grand Lodge AF&AM (NJ) (NY)
106. King Hiram Grand Lodge AF&AM, Inc., Scottish Rite (its constitution styles it as "William Hiram Pilgrim") (NJ)
107. King David Grand Lodge AF&AM (NJ)
108. D.U.B.F.K.S. and K.M.T. Grand Lodge No. 1, AF&AM (NJ)
109. King William Grand Lodge AF&AM (NJ)
110. King Solomon Grand Lodge AF&AM (NJ)
111. York Grand Lodge (NJ)
112. Union Grand Lodge AF&AM (NJ)
113. Most Worshipful New Birth Grand Lodge (Break-off from the United Masonic Brotherhood) (NJ)
114. Most Worshipful Garden State Grand Lodge (Break-off from Oriental G.L.) (NJ)
115. United Masonic Brotherhood (NJ)
New York
116. Enoch Grand Lodge AF&AM (NY)
117. United Grand Orient (NY)
118. Universal Grand Orient, Inc. (NY)
119. King Solomon Grand Lodge AF&AM (NY)
120. Orient Grand Lodge AF&AM of the State of New York (NY)
121. St. John's Grand Lodge AF&AM of the World (NY)
122. Esoteric Grand Lodge of America, Inc. (pending) (NY)
123. Hiram Grand Lodge AF&AM No. I (Bronx) (NY)
124. Hiram Grand Lodge AF&AM No. 2 (Manhattan) (NY)
125. Mecca Grand Lodge AASR (NY)
126. Unity Grand Lodge AF&AM (NY)
127. King Cyrus Grand Lodge AF&AM (NY)
128. Grand Lodge AF&AM of the State of New York (NY)
129. United Grand Lodge AF&AM Scottish Rite (NY)
130. St. John's Grand Lodge, Scottish Rite (NY)
131. Oriental Grand Lodge AF&AM of State of New York (NY)
132. Alpha Grand Lodge AF&AM (NY)
133. Most Worshipful Doric Grand Lodge AF&AM, State of New York, Inc. (NY)
134. Most Worshipful Mystic Tie Grand Lodge (NY)
New Mexico
135. King Solomon Grand Lodge AF&AM (NM)
North Carolina
136. Brotherly Love Grand Lodge AF&AM (NC)
137. Grand Lodge AF&AM (NC)
138. Keystone Grand Lodge AF&AM (NC)
139. Omega Grand Lodge AF&AM (NC)
Minnesota
140. North Star Grand Lodge F&AAYM (MN)
Ohio
141. Sovereign Grand Lodge AF&AM of U.S.A. (OH)
142. United Grand Lodge AF&AM (OH)
143. Most Worshipful Grand Lodge AF&AM Under the authority of Haiti (OH)
144. Titus Grand Lodge AF&AM (OH)
145. St. John's Grand Lodge AF&AM (OH)
146. King George Grand Lodge AF&AM (OH)
147. Benevolent Grand Lodge AF&AM (OH)
148. Royal Craft Grand Lodge F&AM of the World (OH)
149. Rising Heights Grand Lodge AF&AM (OH)
150. Eureka Grand Lodge AF&AM (OH)
Oklahoma
151. National Grand Lodge F&AYM of USA Colored, Inc. (OK)
152. Mount Moriah Grand Lodge AF&AM (OK)
153. Oriental Grand Lodge AF&AM (OK)
154. Eureka Grand Lodge F&AAYM (OK)
155. St. Joseph's Grand Lodge AF&AM (OK)
156. King David Grand Lodge AF&AM (OK)
Oregon
157. Rising Hiram or King Hiram Grand Lodge AF&AM, Scottish Rite (OR)
Pennsylvania
158. Imperial Grand Council AF&AM of Philadelphia (PA)
159. King Solomon Grand Lodge AF&AM (PA)
160. Masonic Brothers of Philadelphia (PA)
161. Hiram Grand Lodge AF&AM (PA)
162. Grand Lodge F&AA York Rite Masons (PA)
163. H.T. Broadus Grand Lodge of A.F. and African Masons of Philadelphia (PA)
164. Widow's Son Grand Lodge AF&AM (PA)
165. Keystone Grand Lodge AF&AM (PA)
166. Nehamiah Grand Lodge AF&AM (PA)
167. Pride of Pennsylvania Grand Lodge AF&AM (PA)
168. Knight of St. John Grand Lodge (PA)
169. Most Worshipful Pennsylvania Grand Lodge F&AAYM, Prince Hall origin, National Compact (PA)
South Carolina
170. Williams Grand Lodge AF&AM (SC)
171. Palmetto Grand Lodge F&AAYM (SC)
172. Most Worshipful B’ Natural Grand Lodge (SC)
Tennessee
173. King David Grand Lodge AF&AM (TN)
174. Hiram Grand Lodge AF&AM (TN)
175. King Solomon Grand Lodge AF&AM (TN)
176. Grand Orient of America A&ASR Masons (TN)
Texas
177. St. John's Grand Lodge AF&AM, Inc. (TX)
178. Alpha Grand Lodge AF&AM (TX)
179. Sunset Grand Lodge AF&AM (TX)
180. St. Joseph Grand Lodge (Colored) AF&AM (TX)
181. King Solomon Grand Lodge (Colored) AF&AM (TX)
182. King Solomon United Grand Lodge AF&AM (TX)
183. Dozo Grand Lodge AF&AM (TX)
184. United Most Worshipful Scottish Rite Grand Lodge, Inc. (TX) (See the story on Dr. Conrad Murray here!)
185. Universal Grand Lodge AF&AM (TX)
186. Mount Carmel Grand Lodge AF&AM (TX)
187. Mount Sinai Grand Lodge AF&AM (TX)
188. Hiram Tyrar Grand Lodge AF&AM (TX)
Virginia
189. Mount Olive Grand Lodge, Inc., for the U.S.A. (VA)
190. Sovereign Grand Lodge AF&AM (VA)
191. Grand Lodge F&AM (VA)
192. St. John's F&AM (Prince Hall Origin) (VA)
193. Prince Hall Grand Lodge AF&AM (VA)
-- Not to be confused with the Regular/Recognized Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Virginia, Free & Accepted Masons, Incorporated! We've received a couple of notes about this - and this is EXACTLY why these organizations name themselves with VERY close-sounding names: to deceive!
194. Most Worshipful Consolidated Hiram Grand Lodge, AF&AM Scottish Rite, Jurisdiction of Virginia, Inc. (VA)
195. Most Worshipful United Grand Lodge of AF&AM of the Democratic Republics
Washington
196. Universal Grand Lodge AF&AM (WA)
West Virginia
197. King Hiram Grand Lodge AF&AM (WV)
198. Royal Craft Grand Lodge F&AAYM (WV)
Wisconsin
199. Mount Olive Grand Lodge AF&AM (WI)
200. King Solomon Grand Lodge, Inc. (WI)
201. Most Worshipful St. Mark Grand Lodge AF&AM of Wisconsin, Inc (WI)
202. International Masons and OES (WI)
203. National Compact Grand Lodge (WI)
Note: This list was current when composed. Please check with the Phylaxis Society's Commission on Bogus Practices if you have questions about any group listed here.
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