Masonry is an ancient and honorable tradition that has been practiced for centuries. It is open to adult men of good character who believe in a Supreme Being. Masons recognize each other through secret signs, handshakes, or passwords. They meet in lodges governed by a Master and assisted by Guardians, and they have meetings there throughout the year.
Other special meetings are held to initiate new members. A Masonic Lodge is a local organization of Masons, governed by national, state, or provincial authorities, generally called Grand Lodges or Grand Orients. These Grand Lodges publish constitutions that define the structure of Masonry under their authority and appoint Grand Officers from among their superior Masons. To be a Mason means that one has passed through the Degrees of Blue Lodge or Ancient Artisanal Masonry, under the authority of a Grand Lodge.
A Grand Lodge is a governing body of Freemasonry in a specific geographical territory, usually a city, state, or country. Every lodge in the United States is under a Grand Lodge in the state where it is located. There is no separate Grand Lodge headquarters for the Grand Lodge in each state; therefore, the Grand Lodge is the same as the headquarters of each state jurisdiction. Freemasonry was exported to the British colonies in North America in the 1730s, and both the Old (sometimes also called Antientos) and the Moderns (as well as the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland) founded descendant lodges (daughters) and organized several provincial Grand Lodges.
After the American Revolution, independent United States Grand Lodges formed within each state. One group was called the Moderns, but it was actually the oldest of the two English Grand Lodges. The other group was called the Antients, which became the Ancients in AF and AM. Because of this disagreement, the two groups split into separate Grand Lodges.
The disagreement was resolved later, around 1880, but at that time, there were lodges and Grand Lodges all over the United States that descended from one group or another. Most grand lodges in the United States recognize each other and treat each other's members as valid Masons. The Grand Lodges recognize (and are recognized by) the official Grand Lodges of England, Ireland, Scotland and the Grand Lodges of most of Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, Thailand, India, etc. After the death of Prince Hall, his hostel stopped working. Many years later, black Masons established their own Prince Hall Masonic Grand Lodge.
They later issued statutes to black men for subordinate lodges. Today, many of Prince Hall's Masonic Grand Lodges are recognized by their usual (conventional) counterparts. In other states, they are called affiliates. Any Masonic Grand Lodge in Prince Hall that is not recognized by its usual counterparts is called irregular (unconventional) lodges. All Prince Hall accommodations are also F.
FAAM - Free and Accepted Masons The District of Columbia is F, A, A, M. So what is the difference between former free and accepted Masons and free and accepted Masons and members of free and accepted Masonic states and free and accepted Masonic states? This difference can only be important if you buy a piece of Masonic jewelry, an apron from a former master, a Masonic shirt, a Masonic certificate or other item engraved with a specific jurisdictional designation. Are there female Masons? Learn more about Masonic Women's Lodges and Co-Freemasonry. The Masonic wife answers unspoken questions about facts and myths surrounding Freemasonry. The Moderns and Ancients or Ancients began to create daughter lodges and Grand Lodges were organized in several provinces. By the end of the 17th century, lodges attracted more people who were not Masons of integrity and good will; they were called “accepted Masons”.We brothers and sisters of AF&AM did it for them; let's review Washington DC archives and you will see that ALL black Masonic Masons fell under AFAM flag. The term “hostel” comes from structures that stonemasons built against cathedral sides during construction. My 26% brothers please take this knowledge with you and know the difference before making any unjustified judgments about Prince Hall Freemasonry. By progressing through grades, a Mason learns moral and ethical lessons of Masonic rite.
Surprisingly even in Dan Brown's successful novel “The Lost Symbol” Dan makes remarkable claim that ritual is real part of story secret brotherhood called Masons. More than 80 000 Masons in Pennsylvania and several million around world continue to help men & women face challenges 21st century by building bridges brotherhood & instilling hearts men ideals for better tomorrow. Over centuries Freemasonry has evolved into global fraternity that emphasizes personal study self-improvement & social improvement through individual participation & philanthropy. Masonry based on idea character development personal growth responsibility duty service to God & humanity. In 1723 new Grand Lodge had published its first regulation “The Constitutions of Freemasons” & it met quarterly & recorded its meetings. However reports & studies suggest otherwise; according to them Masonic associations have existed since 16th century. In recent years there has been sharp increase curiosity surrounding Freemasonry not least because there have been several references this secret society several best-selling books & popular movies. Masons early years were workers various trades & were limited manual work & only studied improvement art. Prince Hall Masonic Lodge descended from lodge black Masons Boston.
