Prince Hall Masonry Recognition details
Recognition Chart
The information in this chart was prepared by Paul M. Bessel,
Executive Secretary of the Masonic Leadership Center. Please contact me with any additional information, or any comments or
suggestions.
The 40 (out of a total of 51 -- 78%) U.S.
Grand Lodges listed below have adopted resolutions that say Prince Hall Masonry is "regular."
Almost all of them (probably 38 of the 40) have adopted "full recognition," in the same sense they recognize any other
Grand Lodge, some have granted recognition to the extent of permitting intervisitation but not dual memberships (this is almost always requested by the
Prince Hall Grand Lodges involved), and some have adopted resolutions
recognizing a particular Prince Hall Grand Lodge subject to adoption of similar
action by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge involved.
It should also be noted that several "predominately white"
U.S. Grand Lodges have adopted "blanket" recognition resolutions, saying they
automatically recognize every Prince Hall Grand Lodge that has or will be
recognized by any of the other "mainstream" (predominately white) U.S. Grand
Lodges. See
http://bessel.org/masrec/phablanket.htm
There are 41 states (plus Washington DC) in the U.S. that have
Prince Hall Grand Lodges (the other 10 states may have Prince Hall lodges, but
they are chartered by a Prince Hall Grand Lodge of another state). Of these 41 U.S.
states that have Prince Hall Grand Lodges, 29 (71%)have been recognized by the
"predominately white" Grand Lodge in that state. These are:
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
District of Columbia (Washington DC)
Hawaii
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Texas (according to an email report December 1, 2006)
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
On the following chart, when no date or citation to the Proceedings is shown, I am not aware
of that information and would appreciate any assistance to find out.
Please note that there is a map at
http://bessel.org/masrec/phamap.htm that
graphically shows which "mainstream" Grand Lodges have recognized Prince Hall
Masonry.
# |
Grand Lodge |
Date
of Recognition Action & Proceedings
Citation Type of Recognition
or Action Leading to Recognition & U.S. PHA Grand
Lodges Recognized |
| 1 |
Connecticut |
Oct. 14, 1989 -
1990 Connecticut Proceedings, pages 27-31 and 128-129
reliably reported to be full recognition
for all purposes
Connecticut, Arizona,
California & Hawaii,
Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota,
Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin
|
| 2 |
Nebraska |
Feb. 2, 1990 -
1990 Nebraska Proceedings, pages 94, 55, 83-84
reliably reported to be full recognition
for all purposes
Nebraska, Alaska, Arizona,
California & Hawaii,
Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wisconsin
It is reported that Nebraska has adopted a policy of automatically
recognizing all Prince Hall Grand Lodges that are recognized by their
corresponding "mainstream" or "predominately-white" Grand Lodge in the same
jurisdicction. |
| 3 |
Washington |
June 1990 -
1990 Washington Proceedings, pages 163-167; also
1995/1996 Washington Proceedings, pages 247-249
full recognition for all
purposes
Washington, Oregon, Connecticut
|
| 4 |
Wisconsin |
June 10, 1990 -
1990 Wisconsin Proceedings, pages 86-87, 88-91
visitation
Wisconsin, Connecticut, Oregon
|
| 5 |
Colorado |
Jan. 28, 1991 -
1990 Colorado Proceedings, pages 127-135
visitation
Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas
|
| 6 |
Minnesota |
April 13, 1991 & April 8, 1995 -
1991 Minnesota Proceedings, pages 140, 141, 86-87, 75
and 1995 Minnesota Proceedings, pages 210, 111-112, 52
"full recognition...all the rights
and privileges that accompany recognition between Regular Grand Lodges"
Minnesota, Connecticut, Oregon, Wisconsin
|
| 7 |
North Dakota |
June 14, 1991 -
1991 North Dakota Proceedings, pages 88, 51
to be checked: full recognition is said to have been adopted in June 1998
full recognition
Minnesota
(PH lodges in ND are chartered by the PH GL of Minnesota), Oregon, Wisconsin
|
| 8 |
Idaho |
Sept. 16, 1993 -
1993 Idaho Proceedings, pages 17-19 (also see 1991
Idaho Proceedings, pages 50-52)
"grant full Masonic
Recognition"
Oregon, Washington, Connecticut
(PH lodges in Idaho chartered by PH GL's of Oregon and Nevada)
|
|
9
|
California |
Oct. 19, 1994, modified Oct. 9, 1995 -
1994 California Proceedings, pages 388-92, and for 1996 at pages 369-370
1995 California Proceedings, pages 28, and 8-10, 27,
268-271, 426-428
Also see California Proceedings for 1992 at pages 382-6, for 1993 at
pages 559-62
full recognition
California & Hawaii, Oregon
|
| 10 |
Massachusetts |
March 8,1995 -
1995 Massachusetts Proceedings, pages 31-32
reliably reported to be full recognition
for all purposes
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Wisconsin
|
| 11 |
Vermont |
June 14, 1995 -
1995 Vermont Proceedings, pages 89, 60-61
"full fraternal relations"
Connecticut, Oregon
|
| 12 |
Wyoming |
Aug. 10, 1995 -
1995 Wyoming Proceedings, pages 121-123
"full and complete fraternal
recognition"
Colorado
(PH lodges in Wyoming are chartered by the PH GL of Colorado)
|
| 13 |
Ohio |
Oct. 20, 1995 -
1995 Ohio Proceedings, page 91, 92, 36-38, 114-115
visitation
Ohio
|
| 14 |
Kansas |
1994 Kansas Proceedings, page 108; 1995 Kansas
Proceedings, pages 76-77; 1996 Kansas Proceedings, page 83
Reliably reported to be full
recognition
Kansas
|
| 15 |
New Mexico |
Mar. 15, 1996 -
1996 New Mexico Proceedings, pages 43-44
"full Masonic
recognition...including privileges of visitation and affiliation, and all other rights and
privileges customarily incident to recognition."
New Mexico
|
| 16 |
Maine |
May 8, 1996 -
1996 Maine Proceedings, pages 1584-1586; also see 1998
Maine Proceedings, pages 351-352
appears to be full recognition
Connecticut and Massachusetts
(PH lodge in Maine chartered by PH GL of Massachusetts) |
| 17 |
New Hampshire |
May 18, 1996 -
1997 New Hampshire Proceedings, pages 147-148; and 1996
New Hampshire Proceedings, pages 157, 158
full recognition
Connecticut and Massachusetts
(PH lodge in New Hampshire is chartered by the PH GL of Massachusetts)
At its annual communication on 20 May 2006, the Grand Lodge of New
Hampshire voted to automatically offer to grant recognition to any Prince
Hall Grand Lodge that has been, or will be, recognized by a recognized Grand
Lodge sharing the same geographical area. |
| 18 |
Arizona |
May 21, 1996 -
1996 Arizona Proceedings, pages 139-140, and 135-137
recognition approved, and visitations are permitted, but no dual
memberships, or transfers of membership.
on June 8, 2002, the Grand Lodge of Arizona extended recognition to all
Prince Hall Grand Lodges which are recognized by their corresponding
"mainstream" Grand Lodge. Mutual recognition has been confirmed by the
Prince Hall Grand Lodges of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Nevada, New
Mexico, New York and Oregon-Idaho-Montana |
| 19 |
South Dakota |
June 21, 1996 -
1996 South Dakota Proceedings, pages 69-70, 78-79; also
see 1995 South Dakota Proceedings, pages 57-58
no limit mentioned on recognition of PHA, so presumably full recognition for all purposes
Kansas
(the PH lodge in S.D. is chartered by the PH GL of Kansas)
|
| 20 |
Hawaii |
Nov. 30, 1996 -
1996 Hawaii Proceedings, Resolutions, R97-2
no limit mentioned on recognition of PHA, so presumably full recognition for all purposes
California & Hawaii, Arizona,
Colorado, Connecticut, Oregon, Pennsylvania
One brother reported that on April 29, 2005, the Grand Lodge of Hawaii extended "blanket"
recognition to all Prince Hall Grand Lodges already recognized by their
corresponding "mainstream" Grand Lodge. However, a high official
of this Grand Lodge has told me this is not accurate, so this should not be
accepted. |
| 21 |
Utah |
Feb. 3, 1997 -
1997 Utah Proceedings, pages 137 and 103
Colorado
(PH lodges in Utah are chartered by the PH GL's of Texas and Colorado)
|
| 22 |
Alaska |
May 10, 1997
full recognition of
all the rights and privileges between Regular Grand Lodges
Alaska |
| 23 |
Michigan |
May 30, 1997 -
1997 Michigan Proceedings, pages 67-68, 129-130
reliably reported to be full
recognition
Michigan
|
| 24 |
Pennsylvania |
June 4, 1997 -
1997 Pennsylvania Proceedings, pages 12-13
intervisitation
Pennsylvania, Connecticut
|
| 25 |
Oregon |
June 6, 1997 -
1997 Oregon Proceedings, pages 147, 109-110, 131-132
no limit mentioned on recognition of PHA, so presumably full recognition for all purposes
Oregon, Washington
|
| 26 |
Illinois |
Oct. 10, 1997 -
1997 Illinois Proceedings, pages 71-72, and 31
recognition "same as for any
foreign jurisdiction"
Illinois, Connecticut, Indiana, Oregon, Wisconsin
|
| 27 |
Indiana |
May 19, 1998 -
1998 Indiana Proceedings, pages 83-86
"full fraternal recognition"
Indiana
|
| 28 |
Rhode Island |
Oct. 22, 1998 -
1997-1998 Rhode Island Proceedings, page 140
reliably reported to be full recognition
for all purposes
Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts
|
| 29 |
District of Columbia
(Washington D.C.) |
May 12, 1999, Oct. 23, 1999, Dec.
11, 1999 -
1999 D.C. Grand Lodge Proceedings, pages 15-17, 50, 162
Nov. 4, 2000, Dec. 9, 2000
2000 D.C. Grand Lodge Proceedings, pages 43-45, 65-68, 105-107
Full recognition
District of Columbia, Connecticut, Colorado
On May 12, 2004, the Grand Lodge of Washington DC extended
"blanket" recognition to all Prince Hall Grand Lodges already recognized,
and those that will be recognized in the future, by the "mainstream" Grand
Lodge for their state. See
http://bessel.org/masrec/phablanket.htm for details and a complete copy
of the resolution and its accompanying explanation. |
| 30 |
Montana |
June 25-26, 1999 -
1999 Montana Proceedings, Pages 50 - 51
Full Masonic Recognition, including the privileges of
visitation and affiliation, along with all other rights and privileges customarily
granted upon recognition of another Grand Lodge by the Grand Lodge of Montana. This recognition
is not intended to extend the jurisdiction of either Grand Lodge to the Lodges
of the other, or to the Masons of the other, unless they are dual members.
Oregon (The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of
Oregon, Inc., has jurisdiction over Prince Hall Lodges in Oregon, Idaho, and
Montana.) |
| 31 |
Nevada |
Nov. 8, 1999 -
1999 Nevada Proceedings, Pages 57-62
"Full and complete
Masonic recognition"
Nevada
|
| 32 |
Iowa |
September 16, 2000
Full recognition
Iowa |
| 33 |
New York |
May 7, 2001
Full recognition
New York, Connecticut, Colorado |
| 34 |
Virginia |
Nov. 10, 2001 & Nov. 2003
Limited recognition (without visitation) was adopted in 2001. Full
recognition, including visitation, was adopted in November 2003. |
| 35 |
New Jersey |
April 25, 2002
Recognition was contingent on PH GL voting similar recognition, and visitation
details to be worked out in the future. This was done.
In April 2004, the GL of NJ adopted a "blanket" recognition policy, where it
recognizes all Prince Hall Grand Lodges that are recognized by the PH
GL of NJ and "mainstream" Grand Lodges in the jurisdiction of those PH GLs. |
| 36 |
Missouri |
September 23, 2002
Recognition voted on by the GL of MO on this date -- Recognition had
previously been approved by the PH GL of MO |
| 37 |
Maryland |
May 19, 2003
The Grand Lodge of Maryland, at its Semi-Annual meeting, voted
overwhelmingly to recognize the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Maryland.
Sunday, April 10, 2005
At a joint ceremony witnessed by hundreds, the two Grand Masters signed a
"Proclamation" certifying the mutual recognition, including
intervisitations. |
| 38 |
Oklahoma |
November 8, 2004
The Grand Lodge of Oklahoma voted
overwhelmingly to recognize the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Oklahoma,
subject to reciprocal action by the PH GL of OK. As of
now, no intervisitations. |
| 39 |
Delaware |
At the semi
annual communication on March 25, 2006, the Grand Lodge agreed that PH in
Delaware was regular and should be recognized, and that a committee would
draft a Compact between the 2 GL's. Voting members of Grand Lodge approved
the recognition and the formation of the Committee. Recognition
discussions between the GL of Delaware and the Prince Hall GL of Delaware
have now been completed and passed by their respective Grand Lodges. A
public ceremony of the signing of the Compact between these two Grand Lodges
will take place on September 16, 2006 on the third floor of the Grand Lodge
at 818 Market Street (Grand Opera House) Wilmington, Delaware. The Grand
Lodge will open at 10am and then recess to receive the Prince Hall members
and visitors for the signing. |
| 40 |
Texas |
On December 2, 2006 the Grand Lodge of Texas voted to recognize the Prince
Hall Grand Lodge of Texas. On April 23, 2007, the two Grand Lodges signed a
compact, formally recognizing each other. On June 22, 2007 the Prince Hall
Grand Lodge of Texas voted to ratify the compact that was signed in April. (see signing
at
http://www.mwphglotx.org/index2.htm and click on compact signing. On
August 28, 2007, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas applied to the United
Grand Lodge of England for fraternal recognition. On March 12, 2008, the
United Grand Lodge voted favorably to recognize the Prince Hall Grand Lodge
of Texas.. |
SUMMARY - 40 GL's have
voted favorably toward recognition of Prince Hall Grand Lodges (78%)
11 GL's have not yet done so (22%) Full recognition - 30
(I believe it is actually 37, but do not have documentation to prove that)
Visitation only - 4 (I believe this category no longer exists, but I do not
have documentation to prove that)
Recognition without visitation yet - 3 (I
believe this is now only 1, but am not certain of that)
The rest are unclear or mixed |
|
