The Early Introduction of Bogus Freemasonry in the United States of America and Texas Among Colored Masons

by C. L. Mitchell

CERTIFICATE OF HEALING AND LEGALIZING MASONS AND LODGES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS MARCH 19th, 1908.

Chicago, Ill., April 25, 1908.

To All Whom This May Concern, Greeting:

Whereas, in the course of Masonic events it becomes necessary for one regular and legitimate Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons to heal and Masonically legalize Master Masons and Lodges and a Grand Lodge when the Masonic degrees have been conferred and Masonic work in subordinate Lodges has been irregularly and un-Masonically accomplished.

Whereas, there was a certain number of Masons viz: Chas. L., W. L. Dorn, J. F. VanDuzor and their associates in the City of San Antonio, Texas, and Phillip H. Matthews, Simon Smith of Galveston, Texas; Frank H. Hicks, John Lowery of Taylor, Texas, James F. Harris, Nelson W. Day of Hempstead, Texas, and several other brethren residing in the various parts of the State of Texas, having received the degrees of Freemasonry in an unlawful and irregular and illegitimate manner and,

Whereas, application having been made by the above named brethren and their associates in the State of Texas and the Masonic Lodges which the above named brethren were members of in the State of Texas to the Most Worshipful St. John's Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Illinois and Masonic jurisdiction to be regularly healed and Masonically legalized as Master Mason and members of the various warranted Masonic Lodges in the State of Texas.

Whereas, the petition of the above named brethren in the State of Texas having been duly presented and considered in open session of the Most Worshipful St. John's Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Illinois in special session held in the city of Chicago, Ill., on the 12th of February, 1908, and the prayer of the above named petitioners was then and there duly considered and unanimously granted.

Whereas, the Most Worshipful St. John's Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Illinois and Masonic jurisdiction having in open session duly instructed and empowered the Grand Master of the Most Worshipful St. John's Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Illinois and Masonic jurisdiction to repair to the State of Texas and there proceed to heal and Masonically legalize the Lodges and the above named brethren residing in the State of Texas and to assist them in the formation and install the officers of the Most Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Texas.

Therefore, be it known that I John G. Jones, 33, of the City of Chicago and State of Illinois and Grand Master of the Most Worshipful St. John's Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Illinois and Masonic jurisdiction did in the City of San Antonio, Texas, on the 19th of March, 1908, did then and there under the instructions and authority of the Most Worshipful St. John's Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Illinois did in said city of San Antonio, Texas, on the 19th of March 1908, heal, re-obligate and Masonically legalize the above named brethren who had conferred on them the entered apprentice, fellowcraft and Master Masons degrees and did Masonically legalize the subordinate Lodges in the State of Texas and did assist and was present in the formation of the Most Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Mason of the State of Texas and did install Bro. Chas. L. Mitchell Most Worshipful Grand Master, and the rest of the brethren as Grand Officers of the Most Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge of Texas according to the Masonic laws, rules and regulations of the craft.

And I now do proclaim to the whole Masonic world that the Most Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge of the State of Texas of A. F. & A. Masons has been regularly constituted according to the laws and land marks of Freemasonry.

The Most Worshipful St. John's Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Illinois and jurisdiction further declare that the Most Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Texas is the only regular and lawful Grand Lodge of Colored Masons in the State of Texas.

Yours Fraternally,

JOHN G. JONES, Grand Master.