LEGALIZING MASONS IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS AUGUST 7, 8, 9 AND 10, 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.
Whereas, There was certain numbers of Masons, viz: R. Amos, Isaac Butler, M. F. Leon, H. C. Leon and their associates of the City of Montrose, Ark., J. C. Parker, R. B. Morehead, B. G. Head, A. W. Spears, R. B. Hockenhull and others of Pine Bluff, Ark., C. W. Ross, J. L. Brown and others of Readland, Ark., C. J. Jefferson, K. P. Ross. A. McDonald and others of Sun Shine, Ark., and several others in the State of Arkansas, C. W. Ross, E. E. Perryman, J. L. Brown and others of Eudora, Ark.
Whereas application having been made by the above named brethren and their associates in the State of Arkansas, and the Masonic Lodges of which the above named brethren were members of in the State of Arkansas. The M. W. King Solomon, Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Texas and Masonic jurisdiction to be Masonically legalized as Master Masons and members of various warranted Masonic Lodges in the State of Arkansas.
Whereas, The M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Ma-kansas having been duly presented and considered in open session of the M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Texas in special session held in the City of San Antonio, Texas, on the 4th day of August, A. D., 1908, and the prayer of the above named petitioners was then and there duly considered and unanimously granted.
Whereas, The M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. Masons of the State of Texas and Masonic jurisdiction having in open session duly instructed and empowered the Grand Master of the M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge of the A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Texas and Masonic jurisdiction to repair to the State of Arkansas and there proceed to Masonically legalize the Lodges and the above named brethren residing in the State of Arkansas, and to assist them in the formation and install the officers of the M. W. Hiram Grand Lodge, A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Arkansas.
Therefore, be it known that I. C. L. Mitchell, 33rd degree of the City of San Antonio, State of Texas, and Grand Master of the M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Texas and Masonic jurisdiction did in the City of Montrose, Ark., on the 7th day of August, A. D., 1908, did then and there under the instruction and authority of the M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Texas did in said City of Montrose, Ark., on the 7th day of Aug. A. D., 1908, obligate and Masonically legalize the above named brethren and did Masonically legalize the subordinate Lodges in the State of Arkansas, and did assist and was present in the formation of the M. W. Hiram Grand Lodge of the A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Arkansas and did install Brothers Ralph Amos, M. W., Grand Master and J. C. Parker, Grand Secretary and the rest of the brethren as grand officers of the M. W. Hiram Grand Lodge of Arkansas according to the Masonic laws, rules and regulations of the craft.
And, I, now do proclaim to the whole Masonic world that the M. W. Hiram Grand Lodge of the State of Arkansas of the A. F. & A. Masons has been regularly constituted according to laws, landmarks of Freemasonry. The M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Texas and Masonic jurisdiction further declare that the M. W. Hiram Grand Lodge of the A. F. & A. Masons of the State of Arkansas is the only regular and lawful Grand Lodge of Colored Masons in the State of Arkansas.
Fraternally Yours, C. L. MITCHELL 33rd Degree.
Grand Master M. W. K. S. G. L., A. F. &. A. Masons of Texas and Masonic Jurisdiction.
Transcriber's Note:
Changes have been made to the original publication as follows:
Preface:
realized by my brethern changed to
realized by my [brethren]
styled--Illigitimate Prince Hall Grand Lodge changed to
styled--[Illegitimate] Prince Hall Grand Lodge
of the United States, its' changed to
of the United States, [its]
Page 1:
neccessary to state the time and place that changed to
[necessary] to state the time and place that
that it occurrd changed to
that it [occurred]
Page 2:
and these wiley fellows and changed to
and these [wily] fellows and
in the state of Mass changed to
in the state of [Mass.]
African Grand Lodge of Modern Mason of Mass. changed to
African Grand Lodge of Modern [Masons] of Mass.
Page 3:
and genuine mason he it a changed to
and genuine mason he [is] a
land and in every coutry, changed to
land and in every [country,]
Paragraph break added before [6th Answer]
Page 4:
letter "Y" originated, Prince Edwin changed to
letter "Y" [originated.] Prince Edwin
the Grand Lodge that was orgrnized at York changed to
the Grand Lodge that was [organized] at York
Prince Edwin, the brother of King Athlestan of changed to
Prince Edwin, the brother of King [Athelstan] of England
an eniment and distinguished Mason and King changed to
an [eminent] and distinguished Mason and King
Athlestan was the grandson of King Alfred the changed to
[Athelstan] was the grandson of King Alfred the first
annointed King of England who translated the changed to
[anointed] King of England who translated the
Page 6:
valuminous articles changed to
[voluminous] articles
has on several occassion changed to
has on several [occasions]
refer to Genaral Gages Military Regiment being changed to
refer to [General] Gages Military Regiment being
And upon futher investigation of this matter changed to
And upon [further] investigation of this matter
General Gages Millitary Regiment which Prince Hall changed to
General Gages [Military] Regiment which Prince Hall
of the Grand Lodge of New York on Oct, 25th 1848 changed to
of the Grand Lodge of New York on [Oct.] 25th 1848
Page 7:
documentry evidence that has ever changed to
[documentary] evidence that has ever
Page 8:
to you and the brethern in your country as to a changed to
to you and the [brethren] in your country as to a
Page 10:
are admitted in any of the Masonic bodys changed to
are admitted in any of the Masonic [bodies]
Grand Lodges in This County and changed to
Grand Lodges in This [Country] and
Page 11:
irregular and clandestine and predicted changed to
irregular and clandestine and [predicated]
nothing but breed dissention
nothing but breed [dissension]
Page 12:
and the second irrigeular changed to
and the second [irregular]
Page 15:
Spingfield, Ill., Jos. H. Banks of Providence changed to
[Springfield], Ill., Jos. H. Banks of Providence
Page 16:
STATS WAS HELD AT OMAHA, NEB., MAY THE 10th changed to
[STATES] WAS HELD AT OMAHA, NEB., MAY THE 10th
Pennsylvaniia. The case came up before
[Pennsylvania]. The case came up before
Page 17:
Alfred the first annointed King of England who changed to
Alfred the first [anointed] King of England who
Page 18:
after Mount Bonnel Lodge was changed to
after Mount [Bonnell1] Lodge was
that was Mounte Bonnell Lodge at Austin changed to
that was [Mount] Bonnell Lodge at Austin
Cuny was elected Grand Master and J. J. Hamilton was changed to
[Cuney] was elected Grand Master and J. J. Hamilton was
of since its was instituted in an changed to
of since [it] was instituted in an
Page 20
24th day of June Amo changed to
24th day of June [Anno]
North America, this 24th day of June Amo changed to
North America, this 24th day of June [Anno]
Page 21
bigus, counterfeit grand body, and changed to
[bogus], counterfeit grand body, and
Grand Master and Grand Wardens, and brethern
Grand Master and Grand Wardens, and [brethren]
Page 22
brethern and their successors to have and changed to
[brethren] and their successors to have and
brethern and their successors in office to changed to
[brethren] and their successors in office to
brethern and their successors to have changed to
[brethren] and their successors to have
brethern to attend the Most Worshipful changed to
[brethren] to attend the Most Worshipful
the officers and brethern of said Grand changed to
the officers and [brethren] of said Grand
Page 23
CHICAGO, SEPT, 4th, 1877. changed to CHICAGO, [SEPT.] 4th, 1877.
Page 24
by this grand Lodge. changed to
by this [Grand] Lodge.
Page 25
Accepted Scottinsh Rite changed to
Accepted [Scottish] Rite
degree it is suprious and changed to
degree it is [spurious] and
Page 26
by organizing Mt. Bonnel Lodge changed to
by organizing Mt. [Bonnell] Lodge
with N. W. Cuny as the changed to
with N. W. [Cuney] as the
succeeded N. W. Cuny as Grand changed to
succeeded N. W. [Cuney] as Grand
that was held in Pittsburg, Pa. changed to
that was held in [Pittsburgh], Pa.
Bro. W. T. Grant,, changed to
Bro. W. T. [Grant]
Page 27
regular and legitmate Grand Lodge of changed to
regular and [legitimate] Grand Lodge of
Chas. L. W. L. Dorn, J. F. VanDuzor changed to
[Chas. L.,] W. L. Dorn, J. F. VanDuzor
Page 28
charges were prefrred against changed to
charges were [preferred] against
Page 29
MOUNT CALVARY GRAND COMMANDRY, KNIGHT changed to
MOUNT CALVARY GRAND [COMMANDERY], KNIGHT
warranted Commandrys of Knight Templars in changed to
warranted [Commanderies] of Knight Templars in the
organized the Mount Calvary Grand Commandry changed to
organized the Mount Calvary Grand [Commandery] of Knight
Commandreys of Knight Templars are hereby changed to
[Commanderies] of Knight Templars are hereby
Page 31
street San Antonio; changed to
[Street], San Antonio;
Page 33
regulations of the craft, changed to
regulations of the [craft.]
Page 32
The text has been transcribed as in the original publication but words appear to be missing between "Ma-" and "[kansas]" which is split at the end of a line in the original