Wendell Terry, a black Mason from Davenport, recently made his first official visit to a white Masonic lodge.

It was a landmark occasion not only for him but for all Iowa Masons, whose fraternal society long has been separated along racial lines.

“The twin evils of racism and ignorance have divided the craft of Freemasonry for over 200 years,” Terry told the 36 black and white Masons gathered at the North Scott Lodge in Eldridge, Iowa.

The gathering was equally significant for Matthew Johnston, a white Mason from Davenport. “Among the tenets of Masonry is trust and brotherhood. That results through light and exposure. It was exciting for all of us to be together.”

The event marked the first time that black and white Masons in Iowa had attended lodge together since the signing of a historic recognition resolution.

The resolution allows members of the predominantly white Grand Lodge of Iowa, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, and the predominantly black Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Iowa and Jurisdiction Inc. “to recognize the other as legitimate proponents of brotherly love, relief and truth within the State of Iowa and do accord to each other rights of visitation in Grand Lodge and subordinate lodges wherever assembled within their respective jurisdictions.”

In short, the wall that stood between white and black Masons in Iowa since the 19th century had come tumbling down.

The impact extends beyond the world of Freemasonry, an international organization that has lodges in virtually every town in the United States and throughout the world. Masonry has emphasized the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of mankind since the first grand lodges evolved in the 1700s from the builders’ guilds of England and Scotland.

The recognition resolution adapted by Iowa Masons is significant because while whites and blacks mingle freely in the workplace, they still tend to go their separate ways socially. The action by Iowa Masons shatters a barrier that discourages or prevents interaction.
Such recognition resolutions have been signed elsewhere, with 32 out of 51 U.S. Masonic grand lodges adopting them. The trend toward recognition is a step toward a single, unified Masonic organization of all colors, Masonic leaders say.

“Things are heading in that direction,” Tim Anderson, deputy grand secretary of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, said.

Kenneth Collier, the most worshipful grand master of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Iowa, agreed that the recognition agreement ultimately will result in multi-racial Masonic lodges in Iowa.

There are no racial or religious restrictions to becoming a Mason, Iowa Masons say, and there are black members of the Grand Lodge of Iowa and white members of Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Iowa. But over the years, Masons had adopted a rule that only one official grand lodge could be recognized as the true Masonic lodge in each state.

The Grand Lodge of Iowa held that claim in Iowa.

“To recognize another Grand Lodge is monumental,” Anderson said.
The recognition, which had been more than a decade in the making, was a top priority of Lester C. Fleming, the immediate past grand master of the Iowa Grand Lodge.

“Iowa is one of the few Midwestern states which has not done this, and many feel that it is long overdue,” he told members in a lodge communication last year.

He and Eugene Taylor, of Davenport, then the most worshipful grand master of Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Iowa, got together to make it happen. The Prince Hall Grand Lodge, which has about 350 members, approved the recognition resolution at its grand lodge meeting July 15 in Davenport. Grand Lodge of Iowa, which has 29,800 members, approved the resolution at its grand lodge meeting Sept. 16 in Sioux City.

“I truly say this is worth working for, the principle of Masonry in Iowa and the world, for the betterment in what we all believe in,” Collier said in a letter to Prince Hall Grand Lodge members.
“Mutual support and recognition is critical to the survival of Masonry,” he added.

Since the signing of the recognition, the Prince Hall and Iowa Grand Lodges have been combining information on their Web sites, hosting exchanges and, in general, getting to know each other.

Both grand lodges have a proud history. The Grand Lodge of Iowa was founded in 1844. Prince Hall Masonry dates back to the American Revolution, and the first Prince Hall Grand Lodge in Iowa was founded in 1866.

Shortly black and white Masons got together in Eldridge, Masonic history repeated itself as 16 white Masons visited Hiram Lodge No. 19, a Prince Hall affiliated lodge in Davenport. Terry, who is the lodge’s worshipful master, introduced his lodge’s three new Master Masons and joined with his guests in setting up more joint activities.

It all means a stronger Masonic organization.