Greetings, brother...........allow me to shine some LIGHT on your thread, as to why there is a lot of discussion regarding your Masonic affiliation. I am a Prince Hall Mason here in Texas, and I hail from Bayou City Lodge #228, District 15-A, Houston, Jurisdiction of Texas, Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the Great State of Texas, established in 1878. There are two things that are at the focal point of the controversy or debate that have raged among Black Men who are Masons in the US for over 150 years. Recognition, and Lineage are the two most important issues which define whether a Mason is to be considered "regular and recognized", or clandestine. An irregular mason is one who was raised in a Lodge that does not perform the Ritual as prescribed, and does not even recognize the THREE degrees of Masonry, which include the Hiramic Legend, among other deficiencies. Some examples of Irregular Lodges are "International and Free", and "Free Accepted and Modern" Masons. Clandestine Lodges have a separate issue altogther, which is more of an issue of recognition, which has to do with LINEAGE. If a Mason can trace his Masonic Lineage through his Lodge and Grand Lodge back to the United Grand Lodge of England, then he and his Lodge are considered to be a recognized Lodge, and have likely received a Charter or Warrant from that recognized Grand Lodge in that State which empower that subordinate Lodge to work. That Lodge should have received its Dispensation, Charter, or Warrant from the Grand Lodge, AF&AM, (referred to as Mainstream) or the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of his Home State. The issue with most or all of the Black AF&AM Lodges/Grand Lodges across the country, is that all of them were created by a Mason, without dispensation from either of the two recognized Grand Lodge bodies of the State. There is no supporting documentation which would PROVE the Lineage of that Lodge/Grand Lodge can be traced back to the United Grand Lodge of England. Most of this activity can bve traced back to a Man named John G. Jones, of Chicago, Illinois. He was a 33rd degree Prince Hall Mason, who began creating AF and AM Masons in Washington, DC, in April of 1869. The biggest problem with him doing so was the fact that he did not have the permission of either the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois NOR The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of The District of Columbia to make Masons under his newly created "Southern and Western Masonic Jurisdiction".......This is considered an "invasion", and he was eventually expelled from the Craft in October of 1895. ANY Black AF&AM Grand Lodge or Lodge from that lineage is not recognized in either of the 50 States by Mainstream Masons or Prince Hall Grand Lodges across the Country. I know many GOOD MEN who are self proclaimed "4 Letter" Masons, many of whom don't know the importance of recognition or lineage as it relates to Freemasonry. They see them selves as Masons because they were initiated, passed, and raised in a Lodge, and studied a Ritual from a book (Duncan's Ritual or Lester's Look To The East) that most can purchase in ANY book store. This in itself is a clue that would indicate that Ritual is not a Ritual used or approved by Prince Hall or Mainstream Masons. I am the perfect Man to speak on the issue, because I was raised as a Master Mason in a "4 Letter" Lodge in 2008. I continued to read and do research on the Craft that I love dearly, and was often at a corssroads as to why I was unable to visit or be recognized Masonically by my fellow Prince Hall Masons. A very dear friend of mine who is a Prince Hall Mason finally sat me down, and gave me the information I needed to perform my OWN research. After a year of research and study of Masonic Lineage in regard to my "4 Letter" Grand Lodge and subordinate Lodge, I did not find the link to England for which I was searching. My old Lodge has some VERY good Men, who were quite knowledgable of the Craft and its History. However, I had just been blessed with the birth of my Eldest Son (Nov 2009), and I KNEW that if Masonry was a bond that I wished to pass to my Son, I needed to have a Lineage and Legacy of which I could speak about and prove to be RECOGNIZED AND REGULAR. I was "healed" (reaffiliated and re-obligated with a written Oath of Allegiance to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas) in a Prince Hall Lodge in August 2010, and have not regretted my decision one bit. I did not send this message to you out of showmanship, or in an effort to make my affiliation appear to be worth more than yours. I am simply giving you what Masons search for throughout their travels in life---the pursuit of TRUTH. You are correct; the titles and Offices do not make a Man a Master Mason. It is his walk, talk, and "plain dealing" with others that makes him not just a man, but a REALLY GOOD Man, who is an example to others. If you have time, check out one of the websites that I was given by my Brother to read and research-----www.phylaxis.org. Read through the links, and there are some testimonies on the link regarding what some call Bogus Masonry that are eye-opening.......peace unto you, and may GOD bless you with whatever your future holds..............feel free to email me any time for any questions you may have, or for any further discussion...............BRO. VINCENT C. JONES, SR., Bayou City Lodge #228, F & AM, Houston, Texas