The Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge Free & Accepted Ancient York Masons Prince Hall Origin National Compact USA (also referred to as Prince Hall Origin as well as Compact Masons) is a body of Masonry in the United States of America composed predominantly of African American Freemasons.
This is in contrast to the report by Joshua Woodlin and is corroborated by newspaper accounts of the activities of United Grand Lodge of New York in 1848.
[2] It is also important to note that according to both primary sources of Woodlin and Lux et Veritas, Alexander Elston, whom is referenced for New York not joining the National was a National Grand Lodge officer (National Grand Sword Bearer) The primary purpose of the meeting was to heal tensions between the two Pennsylvania Grand Lodges and to unify the bodies of African American Freemasons in light of them being excluded from the predominantly white Freemasonry in the United States.
The National Grand Lodge approved its Declaration of Sentiments which were as follows: "The question has been asked the cause of the separate organizations of white and black Masons in the United States of America.
We are, and always have been, in procession of all the ancient landmarks and regulations of the craft, and we do acknowledge all genuine Masons of all Nations and complexion to be our brethren."
"THEREFORE, in pursuance of the above call, we have met in the city of Boston, State Massachusetts, in the year and date above-mentioned, and do form in solemn convention and say before the world our sentiments thereon."
"In all stages of oppression we have petitioned for redress, but found none; therefore, in solemn convention assembled, we do, in the name of the Great Masonic Body of Free and Accepted A.Y.
We, therefore, the delegates of the several Lodges throughout the United States, in convention assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do in the name and by the authority of our constituents, declare and publish the said National Grand Lodge of Color of the United States to be a free and independent body, with full power, as named in third article of this declaration, and for the support of the declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge ourselves to each other in the solemn ties of brotherhood.
d. Independent PHA Grand Lodges with lineage to either a., b., or c.[6] This lineage has been, most recently acknowledged by the Prince Hall Conference of Grand Masters which stated in 2012: Committee on Bogus Masonry, MWGM Robert E. Joseph (IA) Chaired this Committee.
459 organized by Prince Hall from March 1775 (African American Masons) Thus said, if we intend to have a relationship of some kind then we recommend that we focus on Prince Hall Origin Grand Lodges who can trace their lineage to African Lodge No.
459 and develop an approach to convince them that Prince Hall Masonry is the way to go.
[6] These Grand Lodges are now styled as Prince Hall Affiliates (PHA).
This was popularly called the "Matthews Manifesto" and was generally ignored by those Grand Lodges that withdrew.
[15] The Grand Lodges that remained with the National Grand Lodge along with those states re-organized by Matthews following the manifesto formed what is now styled as Prince Hall Origin – National Compact (PHO).
[citation needed] The National Grand Lodge convenes triennially and is the legislative, executive and judicial body of all subordinates of its jurisdiction.