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Masons are taught to use the Square to square their actions and the Compass to circumscribe their desires and keep their passions in due bounds with all mankind.
So effectively they are saying in order to behave appropriately and limit sinful desires, Masons must somehow apply these two working tools in their day-to-day lives. Although they are never really shown how to do this, Masons are expected to study and apply Masonic principles and through their own effort “improve themselves in Masonry.”
Is this biblical? Can we, in and of ourselves, improve from our own human frailties and fallen, sinful nature? Not according to Jesus in John 15 and Romans 8. Jesus said that apart from Him, we can’t do anything and unless we surrender our lives completely to His Spirit, moment-by-moment on a daily basis, and allow Him to live His life in and through us (Galatians 2:20) we will eventually fail and hopelessly fulfill the desires of our sinful flesh (sinful nature).
What does it really mean to surrender to God? Contact us and we will help you understand what it means to surrender to God and how to do it successfully.
The Common Gavel is an instrument used by operative masons to break off the corners of rough stone, the better to fit them for the builder’s use, but we as Free and Accepted Masons use it for a more noble and glorious purpose of divesting our minds and consciences of all vices and superfluities of life, thereby fitting us as living stones for that spiritual building, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
North Dakota Monitor, page 81
First of all, this is a classic example of ‘Masonic Scripture Twisting’. Notice how the following verses were mutilated then blended together and taken completely out of context:
1 Peter 2:5 – “you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
2 Corinthians 5:1 – “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
There is no mention of Jesus in the Masonic ritual, nor do they teach that those who are in Christ are the tabernacle or temple of the Holy Spirit. Besides, as Christ-followers, how are we to biblically “divest our minds and consciences from vice” (borrowing the Masonic terminology)? By the renewing of our minds, by the Spirit of God through the Word of God (Romans 12). This is accomplished by diligent, daily Bible study (2 Timothy 2:15) and applying to our lives the principles found in Scripture, not the principles of Freemasonry.
Finally, notice the adverb “thereby” in the description of the Common Gavel, which signals the means to salvation. In other words, if a Mason applies Freemasonry’s Common Gavel to his life, he can expect to go to heaven. Yet, the Bible clearly teaches, that the only way to heaven is by faith in Jesus Christ alone (John 14:6), and in His substitutionary, sacrificial atoning death on our behalf. This leads us to another symbol—that of Masonic eschatology.
My Brother, I now present you with this lambskin or white leather apron. It is an emblem of innocence and the badge of a Mason – the distinguished badge of a Mason.
Nevada Ritual
The Lamb has in all ages been deemed an emblem of innocence. By the lambskin, therefore, the Mason is reminded of that purity of life and rectitude of conduct is so essential to gaining admission to the Celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides.
Louisiana Monitor
The Bible teaches that faith without works, deeds, or conduct of behavior demonstrates that one’s faith is actually alive, vibrant, and true, then such faith is dead (James 2:14-26). In other words, the Bible instructs us that good works are the by-product of genuine faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-13) not a means to salvation. Freemasonry, on the other hand, teaches that good works – without the need for faith in Jesus – will get a Mason into heaven.
Where is the biblical prerequisite for salvation, of faith in Jesus Christ alone found in Masonic ritual? Don’t bother looking, because you will not find it. It doesn’t exist in Masonic rituals. Yet, clearly, the Masonic lecture of the Common Gavel and of the White Leather Apron both tell the Freemason that by applying the principles of Freemasonry and performing “good works” he can expect to gain admission to the Celestial Lodge above.
Nevada Ritual
The Lamb has in all ages been deemed an emblem of innocence. By the lambskin, therefore, the Mason is reminded of that purity of life and rectitude of conduct is so essential to gaining admission to the Celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides.
Louisiana Monitor
The Bible teaches that faith without works, deeds, or conduct of behavior demonstrating that one’s faith is actually alive, vibrant, and true, then such faith is dead (James 2:14-26). In other words, the Bible instructs us that good works are the by-product of genuine faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-13) not a means to salvation. Freemasonry, on the other hand, teaches that good works – without the need for faith in Jesus – will get a Mason into heaven.
Where is the biblical prerequisite for salvation, of faith in Jesus Christ alone found in Masonic ritual? Don’t bother looking, because you will not find it. It doesn’t exist in Masonic rituals. Yet, clearly, the Masonic lecture of the Common Gavel and of the White Leather Apron both tell the Freemason that by applying the principles of Freemasonry and performing “good works” he can expect to gain admission to the Celestial Lodge above.
The Plumb is an instrument used by operative masons to try perpendiculars, the Square to square their work, and the Level to prove horizontals; but we, as Free and Accepted Masons, are taught to use them for more noble and glorious purposes. The Plumb admonishes us to walk uprightly in our several stations before God and man, squaring our actions by the Square of Virtue, ever remembering we are traveling upon the Level of Time to that undiscovered country from whose borne no traveler returns.
Grand Lodge of New Jersey & Grand Lodge of New York
If the VSL used in the second degree (Fellow Craft) is the Holy Bible, then it is generally opened on the Masonic altar to Amos 7:7-8 and reads:
Thus he showed me: and, behold, the LORD stood upon a wall made by a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumb line. Then said the LORD, Behold, I will set a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them anymore.
The Masonic explanation of the Plumb to the Fellow Craft Mason:
Here the Plumb as a Jewel, the Plumb as a working tool of the Fellow Craft, and the Heavenly Plumb in the hand of Jehovah, as told in ‘Amos VII’, are so inextricably mingled that, while there are many references to them in different parts of the degree, they must symbolically be considered together. The Fellow Craft learns to judge his work by his own plumb line, not by another’s; if he erects that which is good work, true work, square work by his own working tools – in other words, by his own standards – he does well.
The Electric Lodge No. 495, Grand Lodge of Canada, Province of Ontario
So, we see that a Mason is taught to go about establishing his own righteousness, that his life’s work is to be based on his own standards, and as long as he is satisfied with how he is living his life and what he has accomplished, he does well. This is reiterated in Grand Lodge Masonic Education material:
Masonry teaches the practice of all good morals, leaving the interpretation of right and wrong to the individual conscience.”
Lodge System of Masonic Education, Booklet 1, page 8 Grand Lodge of Florida
Yet, is this appropriate from a biblical perspective? Absolutely not!
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Romans 10:3
Jesus Christ is revealed as the Plumb-line in Amos 7:7-8. A plumb line is an instrument used to measure an absolutely perfectly straight vertical line. Jesus Christ is not only 100% God; He is the epitome of human perfection. Therefore, Christ alone is qualified to walk in the midst of His people, measuring and exposing good and bad, true and false (Revelation 2 and 3).
For this reason, we as Christians are to examine ourselves and live according to Christ’s standard, being transformed (Romans 12:2) and conformed to His likeness (Romans 8:28-29), being made perfect (Matthew 5:48) by Him as we submit to His Will (Job 22:21) and allow Him to live His life in and through us (Galatians 2:20) to produce His fruit (good works), not ours (Galatians 5:22-23). For our fruit (righteousness), as well as the fruit of the Mason and of all mankind is nothing more than filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) when compared to the perfect righteousness of God found only through Christ Jesus our Lord (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Finally, the last Masonic symbol we will examine here is the Trowel:
The Trowel is an instrument used by Operative Masons to spread the cement which unites the building into one common mass; but we, as Free and Accepted Masons, are taught to use it for the more noble and glorious purpose of spreading the cement of brotherly love and that cement which unites us into one sacred band, or society of friends and brothers, among whom no contention should ever exist, save that noble contention, or rather emulation, of who can best work and best agree.
Prince Hall Masonic Ritual
Unfortunately, man-made tools do not have the power to unite mankind. The Bible teaches us that it is God the Holy Spirit who unites (1 Corinthians 12:13) mankind into the family of God (John 1:12-13), a sacred and royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), and seals us together until the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13 and Ephesians 4:30) through faith in God the Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
So, you can see, that the teachings of Freemasonry are very problematic from a Christian perspective. Consequently, Masons who profess to be Christian need to face the truth of the matter and resign from the lodge and renounce its heresy.
We also challenge the non-Christian Mason to reconsider his faith in light of Holy Scripture. They too should take a very close look at what they believe and compare it to the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ. We also will make ourselves available to any Mason who would like to further discuss these issues in order to explore and discover God’s love so that they too can enter into a biblically-appropriate personal relationship with Him.
Not sure if you are, or ever were, a member of a fraternity. Nevertheless, I am sure you would agree that, by the very definition of the term fraternity, the idea of a racially segregated one is an oxymoron.
Most people have heard of the “Masons” but I suspect most people (except Masons) are unaware of its racial dichotomy. For those who are not aware of it, and to fully understand how it happened and why it continues today, allow me to provide a little background. Before doing so, let me state up front that I speak from firsthand experience, as a former Mason of Prince Hall affiliation (Black Freemasonry in America). I am no longer an active Mason; having resigned primarily because its religious teachings conflict with biblical Christianity. However, the racism in Freemasonry is also another significant reason why I left the fraternity.
Freemasonry arrived in America by way of British Colonialism, in the 18th century, during a time when slavery was legal and racial attitudes were clearly not what they are today. One of the requirements to join a Masonic Lodge is to be "free-born" (i.e. not a slave or the descendent of slaves). For this reason, although some slaves at the time earned their freedom, they were not welcomed to be a part of the fraternity. While brotherly love, relief, and truth are supposed to be three key tenets on which the Lodge was founded, Masons are as hypocritical today, as were the drafters of our Declaration of Independence - some of whom were Masons and slave-owners themselves.
Even though this declaration was based upon certain "truths" that all men are created equal and are entitled to certain "unalienable rights" that the government should never take away, history tells us that this obviously didn't apply to slaves. These rights included "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," but as we know, not for the black man. Herein lays the irony on which our country was founded and the hypocrisy of the Masonic worldview of the "Brotherhood of Man."
Interestingly though, while there were no men of color among the Freemasons prior to 1775, on March 6 of that year, fifteen African-Americans (free men, not slaves) were initiated into Freemasonry by Sergeant John Batt of the Irish Military Lodge No. 441, attached to the 38th Foot of the British Army, one year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Among them was a man who would become their first Master and is now immortalized by African-American Masons. His name was Prince Hall, and this group of African-American Masons, located in Boston, began meeting as a lodge; and were formally chartered by England in 1784 as African Lodge No. 459.
Since then, due to slavery and racial segregation, the descendants of the African Lodge were left with no other choice but to develop a separate Grand Lodge system, known today as Prince Hall Masonry. Unfortunately, racial feelings of the era caused Freemasonry for African-American men to develop independently. While there are those among the rank and file of "White" Masons who would deny the legitimacy of Prince Hall Masonry, Prince Hall Grand Lodges have the exact same beliefs, follow the same rituals, and contain the same tenets and teachings of all "regular" Freemasonry throughout the world.
In fact, the United Grand Lodge of England (U.G.L.E.), generally recognized as the Mother of all Freemasonry, saw fit in September of 1784 to grant Prince Hall Masonry a warrant, or charter of dispensation, allowing them to officially operate in America. Yet, there are lodges in this country that refuse, to this day, to accept the U.G.L.E. acknowledgment that Prince Hall Masons are legitimate, and still continued to bar black men and black Masons from entering their lodge rooms.
Despite the obvious racial division within Freemasonry, the ironic thing is the fact that this is a clear violation of essential Masonic Doctrine. This doctrine has to do with the jurisprudence, laws & by-laws, and the 25 Landmarks of Freemasonry. For our purposes here, we will briefly discuss just the four landmarks most relevant to the topic of the racial divide in the Masonic Order.
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FRATERNITY BY A GRAND MASTER
These are the current two Grand Masters of the State of New York as of 2022.
Because there are two Grand Lodge systems, one white and one black, which one really has the power, or authority, over the state or jurisdiction that they both preside over? In fact, if both sides decided to unite and become more like modern-day society and move toward integration, rather than maintaining segregation, which Grand Master is willing to relinquish his gavel of authority?
Given the fact that there are a total of more than 100 US Grand Masters, on both sides combined, you can see how this could be an enormous political dilemma for the fraternity.
Therefore, it is highly likely that they will remain permanently separate. Adding to this dilemma is the fact that Masons on both sides will argue that there is a lot of rich "tradition" that could possibly be destroyed should they merge. As you will soon see, the only real tradition being preserved by Freemasonry is that of "separate drinking fountains."
THE RIGHT OF EVERY MASON TO VISIT and sit in every "regular" Lodge is an unquestionable Landmark of the Order. This is called "the right of visitation."
This brings to mind a time, in 1982, when I first became active as a Prince Hall Mason. After learning about this critically important Landmark, I wanted to see for myself how it worked within my own jurisdiction of the state of North Carolina. There was no problem with my visiting other Prince Hall Lodges within my state, or in the world for that matter, but after being warned not to play with fire, I wanted to see if the principle of brotherly love would be honored by a (white) Non-Prince Hall lodge in my own jurisdiction.
So one night, with my ritual and full Masonic regalia in hand, I set out to visit such a lodge in Fayetteville, NC, and to my great disappointment, I was denied visitation. Testing the fraternity's concept of the "Fatherhood of God and 
Brotherhood of Man" left me with far more than a burning blister on my mind; at the time it felt more like a dagger in my heart.
Certain qualifications of candidates for initiation are derived from a Landmark of the Order. These qualifications are that he shall be a man, unmutilated, free-born, of lawful age, and well recommended.
Again, this speaks more to the hypocrisy of the Masonic Order. On the one hand, they claim to be founded on the principle of brotherly love, yet on the other hand, they discriminate when it comes to actual membership.
To accommodate women, Freemasonry has for them the Order of Eastern Star, and other female appending bodies. As for the physically disabled and those born with deformities, there is no accommodation, unless, of course, the physical handicap resulted after becoming a Mason.
And of course, as we have mentioned, to accommodate blacks there's the "separate drinking fountain" of Prince Hall Masonry. Also, it makes you wonder, if in some lodges, being a descendant of slaves disqualifies one from Freemasonry, how is it that there are so many Masons who are Jewish? Aren’t they too the descendant of slaves? Yet, Freemasonry has always accepted Jewish membership, but not black membership, until recently. More on that in a moment.
THE EQUALITY OF ALL MASONS is another Landmark of the Order.
Here you have Grand Lodges like the state of Nevada making such claims as they do in a booklet they issue titled, Freemasonry - A Way of Life:
The Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man are two of the fundamental truths upon which our civilization is built. Freemasonry encompasses both but emphasizes the brotherhood of man through the practice of brotherly love, relief, and truth. Brotherly love, in the Masonic sense, is more than the congenial bond of goodwill and understanding that exists between close friends. It is, rather, genuine tolerance and charity toward all men which affords a basis for mutual respect between men in spite of the diverse backgrounds, creeds, ideals, and code of conduct.
One would think that this is consistent with the following statement made by Joel Springer, President of the Masonic Philalethes Society:
We have all been taught that Freemasonry regards no man because of his worldly honors... Nor does Freemasonry regard men because of their race, color, religion, ethnic origins, or sexual orientation - it is only essential that a man be good and true. To be a good Mason, it simply does not matter if a man is Black or White, Hispanic or Asian, Christian, Jewish, Moslem, or Hindu, Gay or Straight.
The Philalethes, June 2002
Yet, this also brings to mind, while practicing Freemasonry, when I had sat in lodge meetings with a few 'white' Masons who shared that, because of the racism within their respective former jurisdictions; they decided to demit from their lodge to become members of Prince Hall Masonry. They argued that only Prince Hall Masonry fully honored this principle of brotherly love.
However, in Prince Hall or Non-Prince Hall, there are some Masons who would argue, "There are black men in some non-Prince Hall lodges, therefore there is no racism in Masonry." Such logic lends itself more to tokenism rather than fact. Conversely, no one can say "There are no black men in any non-Prince Hall lodges, therefore all of Masonry is segregated."
If Masons would be honest, however, they would affirm that both of the quotes above are untrue. Yet, even if they are not honest, we know they are not true based on the personal testimony of men who have left Freemasonry. Earlier, an example of Masonic racism was given based on my personal experience as a ‘black' Mason. The following is another former Mason speaking about his experience as a 'white' Mason practicing in the state of Oklahoma.
Racism is rampant here. Over half the members I have met openly announce that they will resign the day that a 'nigger' sets in an Oklahoma Lodge. Racist jokes are commonplace just before or after a Masonic function. One of our past grand masters even made racist jokes at a District meeting.
We are not even a little bit selective about the white people we let into the lodge. In Oklahoma, if you are white and are not on America's Most Wanted, then some lodge will let you in. I personally know of a lodge Jr. Warden who was renowned in his town as an alcoholic and wife-beater. He was widely known as such when initiated, passed, raised, and when elected to office. And this is not at all an exception in Oklahoma. In fact, the bulk of attending Masons (those that show up) are usually from the lower end of society.
They are poorly educated, bigoted, and often ignorant. I know of Past Masters that won't keep a job, Past Masters that are renowned for their belligerent attitude, etc. They seem perplexed that the few members in the lodge that have some community standing (be they a teacher, doctor, etc.) don't show up for meetings. Well, it's because they are embarrassed to be seen with their lodge brothers.
I am also not talking about 1 or 2 incidents. In my entire district, there are maybe 6 to 8 Masons that I would not be ashamed to have shown up at my job. I had one Past Master show up at my office on one occasion having worn the same clothes for several days.
When I joined not one person that signed my petition even knew me at all. I asked friends and coworkers, none had ever had any inquiries about my character. Frankly, none in the lodge cared as long as I was willing to pay the dues. But maybe it's different elsewhere.
We lead a man to believe that he will learn great philosophical truths. This is what originally attracted me to Masonry as I have always been a student of philosophy. Yet the 'teachings' of Masonry are the most mundane and commonplace lessons that virtually all men have already heard elsewhere. When we charge a man for degrees in which he learns 'lessons' that he already knows, we are in effect defrauding him.
Few Oklahoman Masons take it seriously. Even those who memorize the degree work frequently don't even know the meanings of the words they memorize, much less the meanings of words they don't memorize. You would be amazed how many think the word 'allusion' is 'illusion.'
Frankly, Masonry is not evil; it's not a conspiracy, etc. It is simply—at least in Oklahoma—a club for old men and rednecks to go to and give each other important-sounding titles. ~ Chuck Easttom, 32°
A former Confederate general and Freemason, Nathan Bedford Forrest, founded the Ku Klux Klan and served as its first Imperial Wizard. Albert Pike 33°, held the office of Chief Justice of the Ku Klux Klan while he was simultaneously Sovereign Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction. Pike's racism was well known. He expressed his concept of Masonic brotherhood succinctly: "I took my obligation to White men, not to Negroes. When I have to accept Negroes as brothers or leave Masonry, I shall leave it." Some believe Pike concocted the ritual for the original KKK.
Source: Christianity and American Freemasonry, by William J Whalen: (pages 17-18)
The rolls of Prince Hall Masonry include a number of distinguished African-Americans such as former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Julian Bond former National Chairman of the NAACP, Former Mayor of Atlanta and former US Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young, the Reverend Al Sharpton and Medgar Wiley Evers, just to name a few. Each of these men contributed significantly to the success of the Civil Rights Movement in America in the 1960s.
As a result, they helped to make this country what it is today in terms of the progress of racial harmony. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (though he was not a Mason) they helped, "to build a greater nation." However, can the same be said of their 'white' Masonic counterparts? Believe it or not, none of these black Masons I mentioned would be allowed to visit any White Masonic lodge in this country then, nor many today. But didn't the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which Dr. King championed, abolish "separate, but equal" segregation from institutions in our country? Why hasn't it been abolished in the institution of Freemasonry? Why is it still having this battle more than nearly 60 years later?
One theory is the infiltration of, and the influence that the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) has had on Freemasonry after it became more secluded. Subsequently, Klan membership has ebbed and flowed, rising and falling over the years, but has managed to raise its ugly head from time to time ever since its inception. The fact that some of the founders, revivers and current members of the Klan were, or are, also Freemasons cannot be denied. Many of its earlier leaders were also high-ranking officers in the Confederate Army of the U.S. Civil War.
Whether the Southern Confederacy influenced Freemasonry, or Freemasonry influenced Southern Confederacy is difficult to conclude. One thing is certain, during the civil-rights conflict of the 1960s, knowledgeable Prince Hall Masons knew that many of the leaders of the segregationists' movement, such as Governors Ross Barnett of Mississippi, Orval Faubus of Arkansas, and George Wallace of Alabama were all active Masons. It is difficult to look back at news footage from the civil rights era, and as a former Prince Hall Mason, it is excruciating to see images of Thurgood Marshall facing off with the bigotry and hatred of former Governor of Alabama George Wallace, knowing they were both members of the same fraternity.
Likewise, it is difficult to accept the fact that a 'white' Mason would assassinate his 'black' Masonic brother. But it’s true, that civil rights leader Medgar Evers, was gunned down, shot in the back, and murdered in Jackson, Mississippi, on June 12, 1963, by Klansman, Freemason, and Shriner Byron De La Beckwith. As if refusing to acknowledge members of the same fraternity as fellow "frat" brothers isn't bad enough. But, I'm sure everyone would agree that it's just a crying shame for racism within a fraternity to cause one brother to kill another.
A key measure of the lingering racism within the fraternity is the slow, and gradual, recognition of Prince Hall Masonry by White-American Grand Lodges. This did not begin until 1989 when the Grand Lodge of Connecticut finally passed the first resolution for Prince Hall recognition in America. That's over 200 years after the UGLE granted Prince Hall the warrant to officially operate in this country. What's worse is the fact that it wasn't until July 14, 2001, that the 'white' Shriners finally recognized Prince Hall Shriners, despite the landmark US Supreme Court case of August 1929, which declared Prince Hall Masonry and its Shriners as legitimate. In North Carolina, where I was made a Prince Hall Mason, it did not finally occur until September 2008, 20 years after Connecticut's proposal. Dr. King once challenged America to avoid the "tranquilizing drug of gradualism" when it comes to correcting racial injustice. In the case of Freemasonry, it appears that my former fraternity seems to have overdosed on this socially lethal drug.
Noble John T. Chapman, 33°
Imperial Potentate for Black Masons as of 2022
Noble William S. “Bill” Bailey, 33°
Imperial Potentate for White Masons as of 2022
While progress has been made to bridge the gap between Prince Hall and Non-Prince Hall Masonry in terms of recognition, there is no evidence, in the foreseeable future, to suggest that there will ever be one Grand Lodge System in the United States.
According to Masonic research authority, Christopher L. Hodapp, author of Freemasons for Dummies says, 46 out of 51 (92%) of White-American Grand Lodges have adopted resolutions that say Prince Hall Masonry is "regular" (orthodox, legitimate, or "duly constituted" Masonry). But look, it took nearly three centuries, 260 years, from when it began in the United States. Almost all of these, roughly 39 of the 46, have adopted "full recognition," in the same way they recognize any other Grand Lodge, others have granted recognition only to the extent of permitting intervisitation rights, but not dual or cross membership. Or much worse, not allowing any intervisitation rights at all.
Take the Grand Lodge of Georgia for example:
As you are aware, the Grand Lodge of Georgia, during the 2021 session, voted to extend recognition to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia. To reiterate, this does not allow for visitation or cross-membership - it is recognizing the Prince Hall Grand Lodge masons as masons and brothers in the craft.
From the Grand Lodge of Georgia's official Facebook page
In other words, we’ll acknowledge that you are legitimate Masons, but none of you are allowed to come into our lodges.
"Recognition" is the acknowledgment from one Grand Lodge of the "regularity" of another Grand Lodge. The following map by Hodapp shows the 46 states that have finally come to accept Prince Hall Masonry as legitimate. The remaining four states have yet to acknowledge Prince Hall Masonry as legitimate, and who knows if they ever will.
As for the gray-colored state of Louisiana, Hodapp explains:
It seems that the mainstream Grand Lodge of Louisiana (established in 1812) has passed joint recognition of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F&AM of Maryland (PHA, established in 1876), NOT Louisiana. I think this may be the first time this has happened in the history of American Freemasonry regarding Prince Hall amity agreements.
However, the voting members of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana decided NOT to recognize their own state's Prince Hall counterpart at this time. Their decision was based upon the preponderance of the evidence of ongoing irregular activities carried out by the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F&AM of Louisiana (established in 1869) and its MW Grand Master Ralph Slaughter.
I've been told that GM Slaughter has allegedly issued charters outside of Louisiana in jurisdictions of other existing regular grand lodges with already established territories, which violates Masonic ground rules involving regularity and recognition. I'm still seeking clarifications for that.
With this development in mind, I can't really say "And then there were four..." regarding amity agreements between mainstream grand lodges and their Prince Hall counterparts, but I can take them off the list of the last holdouts in the U.S. So I made Louisiana a neutral gray color on the map for the moment.
The last four remaining states (yellow-colored) without any recognition between mainstream and Prince Hall (PHA) grand lodges whatsoever are Arkansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, and West Virginia. This story will be updated.
The good news is the fact that membership in American Freemasonry has been on the decline since 1962. Relative to the US population, membership in the Masonic Order was at its highest in 1928, when there were 3.2 million Freemasons in a population of 106 million US citizens or 3.11%. Freemasonry in the United States enjoyed its highest membership in the mid to late 1950s when there were about 4 million Masons in the US population—at the time—of approximately 3 million people or 2%.
At this point you might ask if membership in the Masonic Order is declining so much relative to growth in the US population, doesn’t that mean that Freemasonry is fading away, and if it’s fading away why is there a need for this ministry? How much negative spiritual influence can one percent of a population of 332,403,650 people really have?
Well, let’s put that into perspective. If one bad apple spoils the whole barrel, if a spill of only one gallon of oil can contaminate a million gallons of water, then all it takes is one person, thing, one element of falsehood to ruin the entire group, situation, project, fact or truth. In other words, all it takes is one theologically misinformed Mason to cause other members of his family, friends, neighborhood, and even church members within their sphere of influence to embrace false beliefs that are contrary to the Word of God (the Holy Bible).
Therefore, our ministry persists to thwart Masonic heresy from creeping into the church. If any assembly of the Craft thinks we are out of our minds, it is for the sake of Christ; and if we are in our right mind, it is for the Craft. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that He died for all, including Masons, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, or the Lodge, but for Him who died for them and was raised again (2 Corinthians 5:11-15).
Our prayer is that all Masons we come in contact with would come to know Jesus for who He really is. And that these men may enjoy the full riches of a complete understanding of Him, in order that they may know the greatest mystery of all, namely— "Christ in you, your only hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27), and in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom, knowledge, and truth.