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Black Freemasonry: From Prince Hall to the Giants of Jazz — Occult Philosophy

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Black Freemasonry: From Prince Hall to the Giants of Jazz

Name: Black Freemasonry: From Prince Hall to the Giants of Jazz
Price: 29.95 USD
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ISBN: 9781620554876

✍️ Révauger, Cécile

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4.5

(1 review)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Cécile Révauger's compelling work meticulously charts the trajectory of Black Freemasonry, beginning with its foundational moments in late 18th-century Boston and Philadelphia. It navigates through pivotal historical eras, including the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement, revealing how this unique fraternal order became a sanctuary and an engine for social change. Delving into the correspondence of Prince Hall, the movement's esteemed founder, and illuminating the Masonic ties of cultural icons like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, this book offers an essential re-evaluation of Black identity and collective action within America's complex social fabric.

🕯️

Occult Philosophy

Praise for this book

“From the Revolution through abolitionism, the rise of jazz, and the civil rights movement, African American Freemasonry has played an important role in the central events of black history--and the history of America itself. Cécile Révauger's book will allow more people to learn about this extraordinary fraternal movement.”

— Steven C. Bullock, author of Revolutionary Brotherhood: Freemasonry and the Transformation of the Am

🏛 Inner Traditions International 📅 2016 📖 320 pages 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781620554876

Fun Fact

Révauger's 'Black Freemasonry' is an impeccably researched and vital contribution, meticulously piecing together a previously fragmented narrative. It shines in its ability to connect disparate historical threads—from colonial-era fraternalism to the Civil Rights era and the vibrant world of jazz—into a cohesive, compelling story. While it may not delve deeply into esoteric rituals, those seeking a rigorous historical account of Black Freemasonry's societal impact will find it invaluable. This work firmly establishes itself as a definitive text in both Masonic studies and African American history.

📝 Description: Black Freemasonry: From Prince Hall to the Giants of Jazz

The history of black Freemasonry from Boston and Philadelphia in the late 1700s through the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement - Examines the letters of Prince Hall, legendary founder of the first black lodge - Reveals how many of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century were also Masons, including Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Nat King Cole - Explores the origins of the Civil Rights Movement within black Freemasonry and the roles played by Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois When the first Masonic lodges opened in Paris in the early 18th century their membership included traders, merchants, musketeers, clergymen, and women--both white and black. This was not the case in the United States where black Freemasons were not eligible for membership in existing lodges. For this reason the first official charter for an exclusively black lodge--the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts--was granted by the Grand Lodge of England rather than any American chapter. Through privileged access to archives kept by Grand Lodges, Masonic libraries, and museums in both the United States and Europe, respected Freemasonry historian Cécile Révauger traces the history of black Freemasonry from Boston and Philadelphia in the late 1700s through the Abolition Movement and the Civil War to the genesis of the Civil Rights Movement in the early 1900s up through the 1960s. She opens with a look at Prince Hall, legendary founder and the chosen namesake when black American lodges changed from "African Lodges" to "Prince Hall Lodges" in the early 1800s. She reveals how the Masonic principles of mutual aid and charity were more heavily emphasized in the black lodges and especially during the reconstruction period following the Civil War. She explores the origins of the Civil Rights Movement within black Freemasonry and the roles played by Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois, founder of the NAACP, among others. Looking at the deep connections between jazz and Freemasonry, the author reveals how many of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century were also Masons, including Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Eubie Blake, Cab Calloway, and Paul Robeson. Unveiling the deeply social role at the heart of black Freemasonry, Révauger shows how the black lodges were instrumental in helping American blacks transcend the horrors of slavery and prejudice, achieve higher social status, and create their own solid spiritually based social structure, which in some cities arose prior to the establishment of black churches.

📑 What's inside

Foreword by Margaret C. Jacob, Ph.D. Foreword by Peter P. Hinks, Ph.D
Acknowledgments
INTRODUCTION
Interpreting the Black Experience
PART ONE
The Genesis of Black Freemasonry
ONE Prince Hall Legend and History 8
TWO The Birth of Black Freemasonry
THREE The Major Principles
PART TWO A Militant Tradition
FOUR Abolitionism
FIVE Education
SIX The Fight for Civil Rights
PART THREE
A Community Takes Control of Its Own Destiny
SEVEN The Cooperative Ideal
EIGHT Women and Black Freemasonry
NINE Jazzmen and Black Artists
PART FOUR
The Parted Brothers
TEN The Brothers Who Were Excluded in the Name of the Great Principles
ELEVEN The Racism of White Freemasons
TWELVE Some Attempts to Come Together
THIRTEEN Prince Hall and the French Masonic Obediences
FOURTEEN The Perspective of Prince Hall Freemasons
The Separatist Temptation
FIFTEEN The Caribbean Masonic Space
Between Prince Hall and Europe
CONCLUSION To Each His Own Path
AFTERWORD A Question of Democracy by René Le Moal
Appendices
APPENDIX I Original Prince Hall Charter, General Regulations, and Petitions
APPENDIX II "Heroines of Jericho"
APPENDIX III Letters
APPENDIX IV Prince Hall Grand Lodges
Notes Bibliography of Masonic Speeches and Annals Bibliography Index

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Révauger provides a meticulous charting of Black Freemasonry’s trajectory, offering fresh insights into its role during pivotal eras like the Civil War. However, readers seeking entertaining biographical anecdotes or dramatic narratives may find the scholarly tone dry. It is not suited for those uninterested in fraternal organizations or historical sociology. The book demands patience for its detailed examination of correspondence and institutional structures. While intellectually robust, it lacks the narrative flair expected by casual history buffs. It is best reserved for serious students of esoteric traditions and social movements who value academic rigor over storytelling.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers passionate about the hidden architectures of Black American history will find this book essential. It reveals how Prince Hall and subsequent generations used Masonic networks as sanctuaries and engines for social change. Those interested in the cultural impact of jazz legends like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington will appreciate the deep dive into their fraternal ties. This text offers a vital re-evaluation of collective action and identity, making it perfect for historians, sociologists, and anyone curious about the unseen forces that shaped resilience and defiance in America.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

If you are drawn to the hidden currents of American history, the resilience of marginalized communities, or the secret lives of cultural icons, this book is essential. It offers a fresh, scholarly perspective for anyone interested in African American studies, fraternal organizations, or the social…

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Révauger provides a meticulous charting of Black Freemasonry’s trajectory, offering fresh insights into its role during pivotal eras like the Civil War. However, readers seeking entertaining biographical anecdotes or dramatic narratives may find the scholarly tone dry. It is not suited for those uninterested in fraternal organizations or historical sociology. The book demands patience for its detailed examination of correspondence and institutional structures. While intellectually robust, it lacks the narrative flair expected by casual history buffs. It is best reserved for serious students of esoteric traditions and social movements who value academic rigor over storytelling.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Black Freemasonry, primarily through the Prince Hall lineage, formed because existing American Masonic lodges in the 18th century denied membership to Black individuals due to racial discrimination. Consequently, the first official charter for an exclusively Black lodge was granted directly by the Grand Lodge of England.

Beyond its founder Prince Hall, the book highlights the Masonic affiliations of significant figures across various fields. This includes Civil Rights pioneers like Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois, as well as legendary jazz musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Nat King Cole.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Origins of Black Freemasonry

This book meticulously details the establishment of Prince Hall Freemasonry, tracing its unique inception in the face of racial exclusion within mainstream American lodges. It explores the critical role of the Grand Lodge of England in chartering the first Black lodges, highlighting how this distinct lineage emerged as a powerful institution for African American communities.

Freemasonry and Civil Rights

Révauger illuminates the profound, often overlooked, connections between Black Freemasonry and the nascent Civil Rights Movement. The text reveals how prominent figures such as Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois found common ground and organizational structure within Masonic lodges, leveraging these networks to advocate for racial equality and social justice.

Jazz and Fraternal Bonds

A fascinating aspect explored is the significant presence of Masonic brotherhood among 20th-century jazz giants. The book uncovers how influential musicians like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Nat King Cole were not only musical innovators but also active Masons, suggesting that these fraternal ties provided both personal support and collaborative inspiration within the jazz world.

📜 Historical context

Black Freemasonry emerged as a distinct tradition in 18th-century America, directly in response to racial segregation within existing Masonic lodges. While Freemasonry in Europe initially embraced diversity, American lodges largely excluded Black men. This led to the formation of Prince Hall Freemasonry, a parallel and equally legitimate tradition that provided a vital space for community, leadership, and resistance, profoundly influencing African American social and political development.

📚 Glossary

Freemasonry
Prince Hall
Grand Lodge

📔 Questions to reflect on

How did the necessity of forming separate fraternal organizations like Prince Hall Freemasonry reflect broader societal inequities, and what parallels can be drawn to today's social structures?
Consider the role of secret societies or fraternal organizations in fostering community and enacting social change. How might their methods differ from more overt forms of activism?
Reflect on the connection between artistic expression (like jazz) and communal support systems. How might membership in a group like the Masons have influenced the creative output or resilience of artists like Duke Ellington?