The DC Grand Lodge 2004 Committee on Masonic Recognitions unanimously
recommends that our Grand Lodge adopt the following motion concerning
recognition of Prince Hall Grand Lodges:
Recognition of Prince Hall Grand Lodges
A. Our Grand Lodge hereby recognizes, and will in the future recognize
without further Grand Lodge vote, each Prince Hall Grand Lodge that
does not state that it does not want to be recognized by our Grand Lodge,
and that is recognized, and continues to be recognized, by:
1. The Grand Lodge in its jurisdiction which our Grand Lodge already
recognizes - so long as that Grand Lodge does not object to our Grand Lodge
recognizing this Prince Hall Grand Lodge in its jurisdiction;
2. The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia - so long
as the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia does not
object to our recognizing this Prince Hall Grand Lodge in another
jurisdiction;
B. This recognition by our Grand Lodge of a Prince Hall Grand Lodge in
another jurisdiction will be effective on the same dates and to the same
extent as the recognition by the Grand Lodge that our Grand Lodge
already recognizes in that jurisdiction.
C. Our Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Recognitions will provide the
office of the Grand Secretary with a list, and future updates, of Prince
Hall Grand
Lodges in other jurisdictions that meet the standards described in this
resolution and which are thus recognized by our Grand Lodge.
A copy of the list of recognized Prince Hall Grand Lodges, and future updates,
will be distributed regularly by the Grand Secretary's office to each
Lodge in our jurisdiction.
D. The office of the Grand Secretary will contact each Prince Hall
Grand Lodge in another jurisdiction that is on the list of Prince Hall
Grand Lodges recognized by our Grand Lodge, and attempt to establish the
exchange of Grand Representatives.
Explanation:
When one of our sister U.S. Grand Lodges recognizes the Prince Hall
Grand Lodge in its jurisdiction, and that Prince Hall Grand Lodge is also
recognized by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia,
our Grand Lodge will routinely approve a request for recognition by that
Prince Hall Grand Lodge. However, doing this one at a time is time-consuming
(nationwide, 2,295 separate recognitions would be needed), creates unnecessary
paperwork, and is disrespectful to Grand Lodges we already recognize.
Since the local "mainstream" Grand Lodge
(the one we already recognize in each jurisdiction) has already investigated
the regularity of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge in its jurisdiction and has
recognized it, and the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia has
also investigated that Prince Hall Grand Lodge and recognized it, our Grand Lodge
recognition of that Prince Hall Grand Lodge would be a sign of respect to those two
Grand Lodges which we already recognize and respect.It is becoming a common practice
for Grand Lodges to recognize all Prince Hall Grand Lodges that are recognized by
"mainstream" Grand Lodges in their jurisdictions. The Grand Lodge of New Jersey adopted
this policy a couple of weeks ago, and the Grand Lodges of Nebraska and Kansas,
among others,have had it in effect for several years, and they all report enthusiastic
support for this policy and no adverse consequences.No "mainstream" Grand Lodge has
or will recognize a Prince Hall Grand Lodge that is not regular, nor would the
Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia. However, in case either would
in the future feel it necessary to withdraw recognition, or to object to our
Grand Lodge recognizing or continue recognizing, a particular Prince Hall Grand Lodge
for any reason,our recognition would terminate.If this resolution is adopted, it will
mean that since, for example,the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts now fully recognizes
the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, our Grand Lodge will fully recognize the
Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts so long as the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts
and the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia do not object.
And in the future, if, for example, the Grand Lodge of Texas recognizes the
Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas, our Grand Lodge would recognize the Prince
Hall Grand Lodge of Texas effective on the same date and to the same extent
as the recognition by the Grand Lodge of Texas, so long as the Grand Lodge
of Texas and the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia
did not
object.
The following 28 Prince Hall Grand Lodges are recognized by
the "mainstream"
Grand Lodge in their jurisdiction, plus the DC Prince Hall Grand
Lodge,
as of May 2004, and thus would be recognized by our Grand Lodge:
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
(also covers Wyoming and Utah)
(already recognized by our Grand Lodge) Connecticut
(already recognized by our Grand Lodge) DC
(already recognized by our Grand Lodge) Hawaii
(request for recognition by our Grand Lodge currently under consideration)
Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas
(also covers South Dakota)
Maryland Massachusetts
(also covers New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont)
Michigan Minnesota
(also covers North Dakota)
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
Ohio
Oregon
(also covers Idaho and Montana)
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
The following 14 Prince Hall Grand Lodges are recognized by the DC
Prince Hall Grand Lodge but are not, as of May 2004, recognized by
the "mainstream" Grand Lodge that our Grand Lodge already recognizes
in their jurisdiction, so they would not be recognized by our Grand Lodge
until they become recognized by that Grand Lodge in their jurisdiction and
thus meet the standards of this resolution:
Alabama
Arkansas
Delaware
Florida
(called the Union Grand Lodge)
Georgia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Mississippi (called the Stringer Grand Lodge)
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
West Virginia
.
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