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 41 (out of a total of 51 — 80%) U.S. Grand Lodges listed below have adopted resolutions that say Prince Hall Masonry is “regular.” Almost all of them (probably at least 39 of the 41) 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 42 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, 30 (73%)have been recognized by the “predominately white” Grand Lodge in that state. (However, it is likely that only about half of Prince Hall masons live in states where their “predominately white” counterparts still have not recognized them.) These are:
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
District of Columbia (Washington DC)
Hawaii
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Texas
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 128-129reliably 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, 83-84reliably 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.3WashingtonJune 1990 –
1990 Washington Proceedings, pages 163-167; also 1995/1996 Washington Proceedings, pages 247-249full recognition for all purposes
Washington, Oregon, Connecticut4WisconsinJune 10, 1990 –
1990 Wisconsin Proceedings, pages 86-87, 88-91visitation
Wisconsin, Connecticut, Oregon5ColoradoJan. 28, 1991 –
1990 Colorado Proceedings, pages 127-135visitation
Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas6MinnesotaApril 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, Wisconsin7North DakotaJune 14, 1991 –
1991 North Dakota Proceedings, pages 88, 51
to be checked: full recognition is said to have been adopted in June 1998full recognition
Minnesota (PH lodges in ND are chartered by the PH GL of Minnesota), Oregon, Wisconsin8IdahoSept. 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)9CaliforniaOct. 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, Oregon10MassachusettsMarch 8,1995 –
1995 Massachusetts Proceedings, pages 31-32reliably reported to be full recognition for all purposes
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Wisconsin11VermontJune 14, 1995 –
1995 Vermont Proceedings, pages 89, 60-61″full fraternal relations”
Connecticut, Oregon12WyomingAug. 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)13OhioOct. 20, 1995 –
1995 Ohio Proceedings, page 91, 92, 36-38, 114-115visitation
Ohio14Kansas1994 Kansas Proceedings, page 108; 1995 Kansas Proceedings, pages 76-77; 1996 Kansas Proceedings, page 83Reliably reported to be full recognition
Kansas15New MexicoMar. 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 Mexico16MaineMay 8, 1996 –
1996 Maine Proceedings, pages 1584-1586; also see 1998 Maine Proceedings, pages 351-352appears to be full recognition
Connecticut and Massachusetts
(PH lodge in Maine chartered by PH GL of Massachusetts)17New HampshireMay 18, 1996 –
1997 New Hampshire Proceedings, pages 147-148; and 1996 New Hampshire Proceedings, pages 157, 158full 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.18ArizonaMay 21, 1996 –
1996 Arizona Proceedings, pages 139-140, and 135-137recognition 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-Montana19South DakotaJune 21, 1996 –
1996 South Dakota Proceedings, pages 69-70, 78-79; also see 1995 South Dakota Proceedings, pages 57-58no 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)20HawaiiNov. 30, 1996 –
1996 Hawaii Proceedings, Resolutions, R97-2no 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.21UtahFeb. 3, 1997 –
1997 Utah Proceedings, pages 137 and 103Colorado
(PH lodges in Utah are chartered by the PH GL’s of Texas and Colorado)22AlaskaMay 10, 1997full recognition of
all the rights and privileges between Regular Grand Lodges
Alaska23MichiganMay 30, 1997 –
1997 Michigan Proceedings, pages 67-68, 129-130reliably reported to be full recognition
Michigan24PennsylvaniaJune 4, 1997 –
1997 Pennsylvania Proceedings, pages 12-13intervisitation
Pennsylvania, Connecticut25OregonJune 6, 1997 –
1997 Oregon Proceedings, pages 147, 109-110, 131-132no limit mentioned on recognition of PHA, so presumably full recognition for all purposes
Oregon, Washington26IllinoisOct. 10, 1997 –
1997 Illinois Proceedings, pages 71-72, and 31recognition “same as for any foreign jurisdiction”
Illinois, Connecticut, Indiana, Oregon, Wisconsin27IndianaMay 19, 1998 –
1998 Indiana Proceedings, pages 83-86″full fraternal recognition”
Indiana28Rhode IslandOct. 22, 1998 –
1997-1998 Rhode Island Proceedings, page 140reliably reported to be full recognition for all purposes
Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts29District 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.30MontanaJune 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.)31NevadaNov. 8, 1999 –
1999 Nevada Proceedings, Pages 57-62
“Full and complete Masonic recognition”
Nevada32Iowa
September 16, 2000
Full recognition
Iowa
33New YorkMay 7, 2001
Full recognition
New York, Connecticut, Colorado34VirginiaNov. 10, 2001 & Nov. 2003
Limited recognition (without visitation) was adopted in 2001. Full recognition, including visitation, was adopted in November 2003.35New JerseyApril 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.36MissouriSeptember 23, 2002
Recognition voted on by the GL of MO on this date — Recognition had previously been approved by the PH GL of MO37MarylandMay 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.38OklahomaNovember 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.39DelawareAt 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.40TexasOn 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..41North CarolinaOn September 19, 2008, the Grand Lodge of North Carolina adopted the following resolution:
Resolution of Mutual Recognition of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and Its Jurisdictions, Inc. by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina
WHEREAS, The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina (hereinafter The Grand Lodge) desires to insure a continuing harmonious relationship between it and the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and its Jurisdictions, Inc. (hereinafter The Prince Hall Grand Lodge); to provide for the successful coexistence of both Grand Lodges and to promote Masonry in general among all peoples; AND
WHEREAS, The Grand Lodge, for all the reasons set out in Brother James G. Martin’s statement to The Grand Lodge dated September 29, 2001, believes that it is altogether right and proper and in the best interests of Masonry everywhere and particularly in North Carolina that these two Grand Lodges exercising Masonic jurisdiction in this state mutually recognize each other while each retains its own autonomy and jurisdiction hereafter as heretofore; AND
WHEREAS, The Grand Lodge is satisfied that The Prince Hall Grand Lodge meets all Masonic requirements for recognition; AND
WHEREAS, The Grand Lodge desires to remain autonomous within its jurisdiction and to operate hereafter as heretofore with its own Grand Master and other Grand Lodge Officers, Constitution, By-Laws, Ritual, Rules and Regulations, and to retain its absolute and supreme sovereignty over its own Subordinate Lodges and Membership; AND
WHEREAS, The Grand Lodge is advised that The Prince Hall Grand Lodge entertains the same desires and possesses the same satisfaction with regard to recognition by it of The Grand Lodge and desires that both Grand Lodges mutually recognize each other as duly constituted Masonic Grand Lodges; AND
WHEREAS, The Grand Lodge is advised that The Prince Hall Grand Lodge at its Annual Communication in 2004 passed a resolution extending fraternal recognition to The Grand Lodge in the same manner and on the same terms as the present resolution,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF ANCIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF NORTH CAROLINA THAT:
1. It hereby extends fraternal recognition to The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and Its Jurisdictions, Inc., as a duly constituted Masonic Grand Lodge;
2. It will remain autonomous within its jurisdiction and will operate hereafter as heretofore with its own Grand Master and other Grand Lodge Officers, Constitution, ByLaws, Ritual, Rules and Regulations and will retain its absolute and supreme sovereignty over its own Subordinate Lodges and Membership.42KentuckyThe GL of Kentucky recognized the Prince Hall GL of Kentucky at its grand session October 16-18, 2011, in Louisville. There were only a handful of negative votes out of 401 eligible voters, the result of years of work toward this goal. The PHA GL of KY recognized the GL of KY in August 2010. There is no visitation permitted between lodges yet, and it was rumored that this was at the request of the PHA GL of KY. As in other states, this may come shortly in the future.SUMMARY – 42 Grand Lodges have voted favorably toward recognition of Prince Hall Grand Lodges (82%)
9 GL’s have not yet done so (18%)
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 – 5 (I believe this is now only 3, but am not certain of that)
The rest are unclear or mixed