The Most Worshipful Smooth Ashlar Grand Lodge

Free & Accepted Ancient York Masons

 Prince Hall Origin (COMPACT)

Jurisdiction of Georgia

A Brief Historical Sketch of Compact Freemasonry in Georgia and

The Most Worshipful Smooth Ashlar Grand Lodge

By

Brother Christopher Belcher

Bright Hope Lodge # 465

Inman, Georgia

In the year of 1870, the National Grand Lodge, under the leadership of the sixth National Grand Master, the Honorable Richard H. Gleaves, established the first Grand Lodge of Compact Freemasons in the state of Georgia. The Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge, between the years of its inception 1847 and 1878, established a great majority of African-American Grand Lodges in existence to this day. The first session met in Savannah, Georgia, 22 August 1870. The year of 1874 served as a year of turmoil and dissention when a rival Grand Lodge of so-called “state-rite” masons was established. This rebellious “state-rite” movement within the state was led by a northern alliance that withdrew from the National Grand Lodge and commenced to set up Grand Lodges in states where the National Grand Lodge had already set up Grand Lodges. The “state-rite” Grand Lodge established within the state of Georgia was in staunch opposition to the National Compact. In 1878, the toxic set of events of the “state-rite” movement had its effects on members of the Compact Grand Lodge in Georgia. The Compact Grand Lodge in Georgia eventually stopped making returns to the National Grand Lodge. Even though the Georgia Compact Grand Lodge ceased to make returns to the National Grand Lodge, the National Grand did not drop the Georgia Grand Lodge from their rolls. This sad state of affairs and the state wide Masonic civil war amongst the two African American Grand Lodges lasted for nearly ten years.

These events came to a head when the Honorable Captain William D. Matthews, the eighth National Grand Master issued orders for all subordinate Grand Lodges and Lodges to return their allegiance National Grand Lodge. Those that chose not to return would be expelled by the National Grand Lodge and the National Grand Master would re-organize those lodges and members that chose to remain with the National Compact. With powers vested by Article VI (b) and Article VII (d) of the National Grand Lodge Constitution, Captain Matthews re-organized Compact Freemasonry in Georgia as well as other states where Compact Lodges & Grand Lodges rebelled and seceeded from the Compact. From this great Manifesto and subsequent actions by our great leader and National Grand Master Captain Williams D. Matthews, the great renaissance of Free and Accepted Ancient York Masonry in Georgia and the Most Worshipful Smooth Ashlar Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Ancient York Masons was established. The original lodges were Renaissance # 1 (Macon), Jackson Temple # 2 (Savannah), and Griffin # 3 (Griffin). Many records with regards to the re-organization are unavailable. References towards re-organization in the early 1890s were made by Herry Rutherford Butler and Sol C. Johnson (both of the state -rite faction).An article in the Atlanta Constitution newspaper dated 31 August 1897 entitled "Which Of These Be True York Rites", states that the Most Worshipful Smooth Ashlar held their fifth Grand Lodge Session at the Odd Fellows Hall, Piedmont Avenue. National Grand Master Captain William D. Matthews was in attendance and lectured on the origin of Compact Freemasonry in Georgia.  Another article in the Augusta Chronical Newspaper entitled, "Masons Holding An Interesting And Instructive Session In The City", dated  29 September 1900, listed that Session as the eighth Grand Lodge session for the Most Worshipful Smooth Ashlar Grand Lodge. Nothing else has been introduced into the literature to show any evidence to the contrary. Widow's Son Lodge #4 (Douglasville, Georia est. 1895), still in existence to this day, listed the Hon. Dick Bowens as Grand Master,  Floyd Roberts, Deputy Grand Master,  P. Mosley Grand Senior Warden, Simon Aiken, Grand Junior Warden, O. W. Durham, Grand Secretary and Alexander Smith as Grand Treasurer.

From the time of her inception, the Most Worshipful Smooth Ashlar Grand Lodge has been a vital part of the growth and progress of the National Grand Lodge. The Most Worshipful Smooth Ashlar Grand has produced three National Grand Masters (Hon. Rev. A.B. Allen, Hon. S.S. Simmons & Hon. Norman Woodard), countless numbers of National Grand Cabinet Officers, National Department Heads and has hosted a number of National Grand Triennial Sessions. The Most Worshipful Smooth Ashlar Grand Lodge is and will continue to be a force, a voice and a leader in Compact Freemasonry for years to come.