The Name of the African Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was Changed to the Name of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Mass. in 1808.
After the Death of Prince Hall which occurred in the year of 1807, at the session held in the year of 1808 the name of African Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Massachusetts was changed to the name of Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Modern Masons of Mass.
Judging from the rapid and numerous changes of position as soon as a cloud appeared among the so-called bogus Masons and an spurious Grand Lodge of Mass. some of the Masonic writers and followers and members of the bogus Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Mass. when they where exposed and shown up and dislodged from one untenable position they have jumped from one position to another. On the 24th of June 1791 they called themselves Modern Masons, in 1847 they called themselves Compact Masons, in 1880 they styled themselves as Free and Accepted Masons. We may expect at any time to hear of those Masonic imposters and shams of Mass, belonging to that notorious self constituted Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Mass. giving themselves another title and name at any time.
London England
Freemasonry Hall
Office of the Grand Sec.
London England, May 10, 1874.
To John G. Jones, Esq.,
Grand Secretary,
Dear Sir and Bro:—
On the 27th of December of 1873 I addressed you a letter which I hope will reach you in due time giving you the information that you seek concerning a Lodge that was said to have belonged to the Grand Lodge of England in General Gages Military Regiment that was in the United States of America. As I stated to you in my former letter that there was no Masonic Lodge in General Gages Military Regiment in the United States and I beg to state to you and the brethren in your country as to a provincial Grand Master by the Grand Lodge of England. Any person having such papers claiming to be such is a fraud. I enclose you a copy of a letter that I addressed to Mr. B. F. Rogers of Springfield Ill., who is Grand Master of your State.
I trust this will supply you with all the information that you desire.
Yours Fraternally,
John Hervey,
Grand Sec'y.
London England,
Freemason Hall
Office of the Grand Sec.
London England, May 4th, 1875.
Mr. B. F. Rogers,
Grand Master of Masons of the State of Ill.
My very Dear Sir and Bro:—
Your letter was received. I take pleasure in stating to you that in the latter part of December 1873 I forwarded a letter to Bro. John G. Jones of Chicago who is Grand Secretary of your Grand Lodge in which I gave him the information that you now desire. I now beg to say to you that the Grand Lodge of England never had any Masonic Lodge in General Gages Military Regiment whose occupation was in the United States at the time that you mentioned nor has our Grand Lodge any record of any such appointment as Prince Hall to be Provincial Grand Master in the United States. If any such appointment is presented and claims to have been made by the Grand Lodge of England you are at liberty to deny it, and give the same information if you wish to the craft in the United States as we do not wish our Grand Lodge to be misrepresented.
Yours fraternally,
John Hervey,
Grand Sec'y.
Lawyer John G. Jones 33,
Sov. Grand Commander,
Paris, France, Nov. 4th. 1907.
Illustrious Sir and Bro: Your letter reached me on yesterday and many thanks. You will kindly remember me to all brethren in Chicago. I like America better than I do this country, or the places that I have been in since I left Chicago probably that is owing to the fact that having been born and reared in Chicago I feel more at home. But the French people, and particularly those that are members of Masonic fraternity, are very pleasant and kind. I visited one Lodge last night and last week I visited the consistory of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. Before you are admitted in any of the Masonic bodies, here you are required to stand a very rigid examination, you know about what that is. There is no prejudice in this section of the country against man because he may be of a dark complexion, in all of my travels the Masonic body of which you are the head of in America among colored Masons is the only one that is known and recognized in this part of the country where I have been. We will go to London, England, next week. I will write you when I get there.
Yours Fraternally, H. S. COLLINS, 33,
London, England, Nov. 28th. 1907.
Illustrious John G. Jones, 33,
Grand Master of Masons of Illinois.
Very Dear Brother—We arrived here last week and will remain here probably for a month. Will you kindly see Bro. Geo. Standwood, the Secretary of Chicago Lodge No. 5, and pay him my dues to the Lodge? We will be in Chicago the latter part of February, 1908. I have much to tell you when I get home. I visited the Masonic Lodges since I have been here and was treated with the utmost courtesy. The diploma from my Lodge and Consistory that you signed has been a great service and benefit to me. I hear your name quite highly spoken of by the members of the Masonic Fraternity this side of the Atlantic ocean. The Lodges and Masons that you are connected with in America among colored Masons are the only ones that are recognized over here.
Yours Fraternally, H. S. COLLINS, 33.