by The Society

Why is Bogus Freemasonry so prevalent in the Black community and such a threat to Prince Hall Freemasonry? The answer to this question is 'The REAL Issue' and the key to the solution of eradicating this deadly pestilence to Prince Hall Freemasonry and America.

Predominately Black Bogus Freemasonry or commonly called Non-Prince Hall Freemasonry has been a pest in the side to Prince Hall Freemasonry since the early 1800's. It started with the schism in Pennsylvania with Hiram Grand Lodge, fueled by the death of the National Grand Lodge, climaxed with John Jones (AFAM) type Grand Lodges and became a pyramid profiteering scheme with International Grand Lodges. There are over two hundred predominately Black Bogus Grand Lodges in the United States, that are estimated to have a membership of 22,000 to 47,000 individuals, claiming to be Freemasons. These Lodges and Grand Lodges are primarily located in our larger America cities, with New York City boasting the highest population of irregular groups.

These groups pray upon the naïve profane, who almost never knows what regularity is or has knowledge that there is a difference between Freemasons. All the profane typically knows is that he wants to be a Freemason, and from there he is taken advantage of - hoodwinked - robbed - victimized and left ignorant - shamed and branded by these Bogus Groups. Maybe Prince Hall Freemasonry might heal him, but not likely! That new Bogus Mason will go out and bring in five to ten more of his friends and associates to also become foes to regular Freemasonry.

A predominately Black University remains to be a microcosm of the Black Community and when we were faced with same threat at Central State and Wilberforce Universities (OHIO) in the mid 90's from the irregular Prince Hall Origin and International Groups, we significantly reduced their intake by educating our members that the Bogus Mason was not their Masonic equal and informed the public about regular Prince Hall Freemasonry through public seminars and lectures. Today these Bogus Groups still get a small amount of members from the campuses, but mainly only the individuals that couldn't get a petition from us, due to their character.

Bogus Freemasonry doesn't exist just because! It exist through ignorance of our own members and the ignorance of the public about us! The public won't get to know us through banquets or parades or church visits. We have get out there and tell them who we are - Educate the Public and your new Master Masons. Once we shift through all the rhetoric, it's easy to see that the Real Issue is ignorance and this is the reason why Bogus Freemasonry is a great danger regular Freemasonry and the public.

We are very fortunate to have as members of our society, four members of the Commission on Bogus Masonic Practices of the Phylaxis Society. This group of zealous Prince Hall Freemasons makes it their job to educate anyone who will listen to them about the threat of Bogus Freemasonry. They were gracious enough to allow us to interview them in this issue:

1. Tell us about the brief history and purpose of the Phylaxis Society Commission on Bogus Practices.
   |R. MCNEAL| Since the conference of Grand Masters (PHA) no longer considered Bogus Masonry a threat, the Non-Prince Hall Commission was disbanded. The president of the Phylaxis Society, Bro. Joseph Walkes, Jr., knew that the threat still existed and asked his First Vice-president, Bro. Zellus Bailey to run a new directory. This took place in the mid-seventies. Bro. Robert Simmons, the second Vice-president during that time would become the next director of this commission.
   
   Later, Bro. Paul Best, the executive secretary during the 1980s would organize a Phylaxis chapter in Des Moines, Iowa called the A.G. Clark Chapter after one of our Masonic trailblazers. This new chapter took over the commission and undertook the task of learning Names, and Addresses of all the Bogus African-American groups across the country. Using the name of "Mr. Phil Laxis", the commission began to collect their newspapers, rituals and other materials!
   
   In 1993, Bro. Steven Hill was appointed the directorship. Bro. Hill came out with a quarterly newsletter that was sent out to many of our Grand Lodges and her leaders. The same thing that happened in the seventies and eighties, his hard work researching this information fell on deaf ears.
   
   Bro. Hill resigned from this position last year. In January of this year, I was asked to take the reins of this commission. A recommendation came from one of our Mainstream brethren that we should change our name. The new name was the "Unrecognized Commission." After going back and forth with the brothers that I wanted to surround myself with, we decided that the term "Unrecognized" was too soft of a term dealing with this problem. We want to expose this type of mason, so we came up with the name, "The Commission on Bogus Masonic Practices."
   
   The Commission presently consist of:
   Director - Ralph McNeal (Arizona)
   Ass. to the Director - Emanuel Stanley (Maryland)
   First Vice President - Ezekiel Bey (New York), and
   Second Vice President - Joe Snow (Georgia)
   
   
   The purpose of the commission in this century is no different from what the late Harry A. Williamson tried to impart. His research has been made known since the 1950s on these groups. Our purpose is to inform our Prince Hall Brethren (Leaders included), the mainstream Freemason, and the innocent Bogus Mason of the origins of these so-called Grand Lodges.
   
   
2. Who ultimately benefits from your work?
   |R. MCNEAL| Our Prince Hall Brothers and Sisters are our ultimate benefactors. We've have had many hits on our web page to view our work, but unfortunately, many do not have access to the Internet. With the recognition wagon hitting so many jurisdictions, some of the Bogus Masons are reaping the benefits of those who have labored hard in the quarries.
   
   
3. How deadly of a threat is Bogus Black Freemasonry to Prince Hall Freemasonry?
   |R. MCNEAL| As long as our leaders are unaware of what is in their own backyards, it will continue to be a deadly threat to Prince Hall Freemasonry. The sad part is that in some jurisdictions, the Bogus Grand Lodges are taking their Masonry out of their Lodge Halls. They are working within their respective communities, taking our future members. Some of these organizations are no more than a Friday night Fish-fry social club, yet they are visible all year, including the festive seasons.
   
   We as Prince Hall Masons need to stop relaying on our past laurels. There are enough accurate historical books on our fraternity. Put some of these books in the schools, and libraries. With our history in these institutions, maybe the public at large will ask the Bogus Mason from whence he came.
   
   |J. SNOW| Very Deadly because the Bogus Groups are starting to meet together to establish mutual recognition and by trying to gain strength in numbers with these meetings make a move to squeeze Prince Hall Masonry out of business state by state.
   
   
4. What do you say to those Prince Hall Masons who just wants all Black Masons to get along? Or that Prince Hall Mason who thinks a Bogus Black Mason is his Masonic Equal?
   |R. MCNEAL| I would say to ask why do your Masonic colleges; universities and quarterly seminars apparently do not teach you Masonic Law? Ask that a section devoted to the Ancient charges be taught. Show them the ways of the Bogus Mason.
   
   To the Prince Hall Mason who thinks that the Bogus Mason is his equal? We say visit our web page (http://www.freemasonry.org/phylaxis), and then render us an opinion.
   
   The Bogus mason will play on your emotions when you challenge his history. He will say, "Can't we all get along?" If the Prince Hall mason listens to it, it gives that Bogus Mason CREDIBILITY! This is what they are seeking. But sadly many of our brethren and leaders give that sympathetic ear.
   
   Let's get back to the comment of "being equals." I tell many of my Prince Hall brethren to think of a brother getting expelled for Unmasonic conduct. He starts his own Grand Lodge. Would you recognize him then? As I have stated, it boils down to Masonic Law. Tracing your lineage to African Lodge Number 459 or the United Grand Lodge of England. and civil rights. So our mission forty to fifty years ago was twice the workload than we have today.
   
   
5. Are Bogus Eastern Stars any threat to Prince Hall Eastern Stars?
   |R. MCNEAL| Yes they are! Most of our jurisdictions forget our Eastern Stars. With the adoption law, it has strengthened some, but the adoption law should be made known to some of these Bogus chapters. It can do nothing but to swell our ranks. Many of our Chapters are hurting for members. The same process of taking in the irregular Freemasons should be set up for Eastern Stars.
   
   | EDITORS NOTE - A majority of Prince Hall Jurisdictions have either all together dropped the Bloodline Requirement or opens occasional windows when chapters can initiate women who have no Prince Hall Freemasons as relatives. |
   
   
6. Generally speaking - How do these group get going and operating and spread?
   |R. MCNEAL| These groups are started in many ways. Some are expelled Prince Hall Masons. Some are men of the cloth who feel the need to have a tighter rein on their flock as well as make additional money for themselves and their churches.
   
   Bro. Stanley and I were offered Lodges and Grand Lodges in our name for a fee. You have some such as the Bank's organization (International Free and Accepted Modern Masons) that is nothing more than a multi level marketing group. Getting paid to bring in warm bodies! Imagine that!
   
   Then you have some that preach reverse racism and talk about the right to be Masons. Tracing that inherent right to the Grand Lodge of Luxor in Egypt.
   
   
7. How do these groups presence on the internet increase their danger to us?
   |R. MCNEAL| The Information Age has brought Freemasonry into homes around the globe, in a way which could never have been imagined. The initiated and the curious alike have but to type the word 'Freemasonry' in an internet search engine and a plethora of data on the Fraternity is made available.
   
   Recognizing the need to appear as legitimate as any other Masonic body on the world wide web, these groups develop there own web pages. A standard MO (modus operandi) for bogus Masons is to have a links page, which intermingles bogus web sites with those of mainstream Masonry. Thus giving the illusion of regularity.
   
   Another common practice is to mix ones spurious origins with that of regular freemasons, again casting the illusion of being a legitimate organization with a legitimate history. You will find that many African-American Grand Lodges include the history of Prince Hall on their web pages as well.
   
   
8. Of all these Black Irregular Groups - Which has to be the most ridiculous in their practices?
   |J. SNOW| There is a so-called body of Masons working in the City of Savannah Georgia by the Name of Henry Allen Lodge. We as PHA masons call them football field mason because they make masons behind the bleachers at Savannah State College where they operate. They set up at different members apartments by taking the furniture from the front room and set up an alter and have what they call a Masonic meeting. When the apartment is occupied and cannot be used, they go down to one of the local restaurants and hold meetings. The members are never given a dues card or patent for membership
   
   
9. Does Mainstream Freemasonry face the same dilemma with Bogus Freemasonry as Prince Hall?
   |R. MCNEAL| Mainstream has the same problem. However it is not as big as a threat to them as it is to Prince Hall freemasonry. The sad part is that many of the Bogus masons have entered into a Masonic dialogue due to the mainstream mason not knowing the difference. Many are still confused about P.H.A. versus P.H.O. We have Prince Hall Masons who do not know the difference. I know a P.H.O. Mason who stated to me that he did in fact visit a P.H.A. lodge. He was asked for his dues card and still got in! Then we have some who think that the father of Bogus masonry, the late John G. Jones (an expelled Prince Hall freemason) are regular due to his organization following the Ancient Charges.
   
   
10. Who is the infamous Dr. York and what's his relation to Bogus Black Freemasonry?
    |E. BEY| Now that is an interesting question. Many may feel that this question cannot be answered in one interview due to the appearance of such a simple inquiry. Well, let me attempt to define this individual who comes under so many names and faces. First Mr. York was known in New York City, Brooklyn as "AS SAYYID AL IMAAM ISA AL HAADI AL MAHDI" founder of what was called the "THE NUBIAN ISLAAMIC HEBREWS" and "The ANSAARU ALLAH COMMUNITY" in the 70's. This individual today calls himself Chief Black Eagle, Dr. Malachi Z. York EL, Nayya Malchizodok EL, Al Mahdi, Dwight York, Rabboni Y'shua Bar El Haady just to name a few. Mr. York to put it blank is a Master Con and brain washer. The reason he attracts so many is because he caters to the needs or desires of gullible people who think he is giving them what can help their condition. This man has literally written books on extraterrestrial beings that he has seen and some who are living on the Planet Earth. This man has plagiarized writings from other authors and has claimed them as his own.
    
    In 1993 FBI report has surfaced calling the group a ''front for a wide range of criminal activity, including arson, welfare fraud and extortion.'' They have even taken on the name "Moor" (United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors) to attract even those who were followers of the Moorish Science Temple whose founder was Noble Drew Ali in 1913. He has taken teachings from many organizations and religious sects and formulated a pot of mixed doctrines to confuse further those who are already confused enough in their world of dependent thinking. This man has literally admitted in using tactics in drawing weak minded people explain in one of his web pages saying "I diligently treaded the streets of New York and the surrounding areas as I propagated Sufi Islam. I was blessed with the "gift of gab" and combined with a sense of humor and charisma that draws people of all walks of life to me."
    
    Mr. York with his mixed doctrine has now established his own Nuwaupian Grand Lodge AF&AM International and his own Shrine Temple Al Mahdi No. 19, and has attracted hundreds of poor Black Souls in making them think that they have some superior Freemasonry that was handed down to him by Noble beings in Egypt. Mr. York on top of that has his own music studio for Nuwaubian Nation of Moors to rap and chant about his teachings.
    
    So you ask, "Who is Dr. York"? He is everything to many people and he can become what you want him to be. The greatest danger and downfall of many is that once one discovers that it is all an illusion he has cast over the eyes and minds of the weak, the void returns with a programmed mentality that needs now twice as much consciousness to de-program.
    
    Mr. York is a thief of souls.
    
    
11. . What is the MWPHGL of GA doing to neutralize York's organization and other groups in the state?
    (The statement below is from the M.W. Grand Master of the PHGL of Georgia - The Honorable Bro. Willie L. Williams)
    
    "We are in the developmental phase of deciding what actions to take. I have made contact with the mainstream Grand Lodge to begin talk of recognition. As you know, I hope to launch a publicity campaign to educate the state about Bogus vs. Legitimate Masonic bodies. I also plan to have this on the agenda at the next Grand Master's Conference."
    
    
12. What is the MWPHGL of NY doing to neutralize its many start-up Black Bogus Masonic Groups?
    |E. BEY| I cannot speak for the MWPHGL of NY, or for my Grand Master, but I'm personally not aware of any committee set in place for the eradication of Bogus groups. So I cannot fully answer this question.
    
    The estimated amount of Bogus Grand Lodges in the state of New York is approximately twenty-one, although the list we have provided on our website list nineteen. Two are still under investigation.
    
    
13. What can be done by all Prince Hall Grand Lodges to minimize the impact of these groups?
    |E. STANLEY| Unfortunately, a panacea for the pariah we call Bogus Masonry is not easily developed. However, I am certain that the current policy of ignoring them in hopes they will disappear has been and will continue to be a failure. If I were to advise the Grand Lodges of what should be done to minimize the impact, I would say one word EDUCATION. Far too many Masons falling under the banner of Prince Hall are unfamiliar with Masonic Law and Masonic History. Somehow we must begin to indoctrinate the members of Prince Hall on OUR unique and turbulent past as it relates not only to our struggle to be deemed regular by Mainstream but also our struggle against splinter groups within our own communities. Many in our ranks would recognize these men simply because they look like us. If the average Prince Hall Mason would read "Prince Hall Life & Legacy" by Bro. Dr. Charles H. Wesley, they would understand that Bro. Prince Hall would not approve of these so-called Masons.
    
    The Commission is helping to enlighten everyone on the spurious practices of groups claiming to be Masonic in nature. Once we have educated Freemasons we must then educate the public at-large. This can be accomplished by being more visible in the communities in which we hold lodge meetings. Prince Hall Masons have for the most part disappeared from the neighborhoods and are less involved in community affairs than we were some 30 to 40 years ago.
    
    these Bogus Grand Lodges have is from the state capital. A charter stating that they have registered as a business.
    
    How do you know what was involved in their initiations? Just because he is financial and can parrot the ritual does not make him a Freemason. If we show our kids the ritual and let them memorize it, will that make them a mason? Some were only obligated instead of going through the ceremony of Initiation (degrees). So it is incumbent that we do away with the "reward" of giving titles of Past Grand Master and many other titles. That we do away with "healing" and let them come in the same way and manner. We are doing nothing more than making those who have fought for us turn in their graves…
    
    
14. . How do we resolve 'The Real Issue'?
    |R. MCNEAL| We have to put this information about Bogus Freemasonry into the hands of our leaders and the average Prince Hall Freemason. We have to take our Masonry out side of our lodge halls. We all have to be on one accord as far as our history. Our craft is in confusion. One group states that Prince Hall was born in 1748. The brothers that have poured over historical documents state 1735-1738.
    
    We have to educate the Prince Hall family on one accord, then let them take their masonry out of their lodge halls and chapters. If we do that and become visible within our communities, then we would not face this threat of losing future members for this prestigious fraternity.