A treatise delivered before the St. Cyprian Lodge, No. 13, June 24th, A.D. 1853, A.L.5853 by M. R. Delany, K., M., D.D.G.H.P. (Republished by A. D. Delany, Xenia, Ohio, 1904) "Great is Truth, and must prevail." Pittsburgh, Printed by W.S. Haven, Corner Market and Second Street, 1853.
Editor's Note: This treatise was written and delivered by MRD at an early juncture in his career when he believed reasoned argument and marshalled fact could win him and other people of color the whole hearted acceptance of persons of the dominant race in the United States.
My prime object in republishing this sketch of freemasonry, written by Martin R. Delany, M.D., a half century ago, (prior to my birth), is not a mercenary one. Though, as I have attempted it, (at the suggestion of an old family acquaintance, the owner of an original copy, which, on a visit at my old home in Ohio,) I hope to realize some pecuniary compensation therefrom. The friend referred to, with others, heartily endorsed the undertaking, believing it will be beneficial and inspiring to those who may read it.
Although I am a charter member of Mt. Nebo Royal Arch Chapter, No. 12, F. and A.M. and am at this time scribe of the same, having been initiated in Richmond Lodge, F. and A.M., Little Rock, Ark. as recently as July 1901, and "raised" the following December, I am as "green as Jonah's gourd" in the work of the order.
But since my perusal of this small treatise I have been impelled to study freemasonry more intently and thereby to be a mason in fact. Though the little work is the product of the mind of my lamented father, I trust that I shall not be regarded vain--glorious when I state that I commend it to the brethren of the fraternity as worthy of careful consideration of anyone of whatever race or station in life.
His duty to man may become more evident, his obligations to his order more binding, his relations to God closer.
Finally, Brethren, whether or not it seem irrelevant to my preface, let me call your attention to the impressive lines quoted in the work from a poem of that scholar, prince or preachers, and patriarch, the late Rt. Rev. Daniel Alexander Payne, sixth Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
"How applicable are these lines in these days of venomous vituperation of our despised and once dejected, but now, hopeful race. May they inspire, yea, spur us, to think and act correctly, and to insist upon the same on the part of all those with whom we come in contact; and by this course, 'give the lie' to the slanderous utterances of our pretentious friends and avowed enemies; for as is well said: "One is not always responsible for what is said derogatory to his reputation, but he is responsible for its truthfulness." Your fraternity, A.D. Delany
Major Martin R. Delany, born May 6, 1812, was a native of Charlestown, Va, and boasted of being of pure African blood. He was said to have descended partially from African kings and chieftains, his maternal ancestry, being Mandingo, his paternal, Golah.
At first, a medical student under the late Dr. LeMoyne of Pennsylvania, father of Dr. LeMoyne, inventor of the world famous crematory for the incineration of the dead, he subsequently took a medical course in lectures and surgery in Harvard University. It is claimed that he was the first colored student to matriculate in that renowed school. At the age of thirty one, he married Miss. Catherine A., youngest child of Mr. Charles Richards, a man of means of Pittsburg, Pa., the father of whom is said to have owned the first brick house built in Pittsburg. Their union was blessed with eleven children, the writer of this sketch being the seventh.
(Names of children in order of their birth: Genefred L'Ouverture, Toussaint L'Ouverture, Catherine Matilda, Martha Priscilla, Chas. Lenox Remond, Martin R. Boling, Alexandre Dumas, St. Cyprian, Fairstin Soulouque, Placido Rameses, Hallie Amelia E.. Toussaint L'Ouverture was born after the death of Genefred L'Ouverture.)
Early in mature life, he joined the masonic fraternity, taking thirty degrees in his home lodge in Pittsburg and the three "side degrees" in London, England, a few years subsequent to the publication of this book which shows the recognition of our order in foreign lands.
While in the latter country, where he spent the half of eighteen months, the other nine months having been spent in his ancestral land, Africa, as a memeber of an exploring expedition party, he was elected to membership of the International Statistical Congress, the late Lord Henry Brougham, president and was made an F.R.S.(Fellow of the Royal Society)
Immediately preceding the close of the late civil war he was commissioned by the late President Abraham Lincoln, Major of the 104th Regiment of South Carolina, and was continued in servicve on the staff of Gen. Dan E. Sickles. He was a nominee for Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina on the same ticket with the late Judge Green as Governor. It was proved subsequently that the nominees were elected by ten thousand and some hundred majority, but were counted out. Therefore, Major Delany was virtually counted out. Therefore, Major Delany was virtually Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina for six months and ex-officio Governor eighteen months, Judge Green dying six months after the election. He held several government and state offices, one of which was a member of the staff of Gov. Scott, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and one, inspector of customs.
At the close of a useful and eventful career, he quietly passed away in the bosom of his family, January 24, 1885.
Yours fraternally,
A.D. Delany.
Preface/Correspondence/Pittsburgh, June 27, A.D., 1853, A.L. 5853.
Brother Martin R. Delany:
Sir: The undersigned have been appointed a Committee from the St. Cypiran Lodge No. 13 of A.Y. Masons, to solicit the Treatise delivered by you on the 24th of June,A.D. 1853, A.L. 5853, for the publication in pamphlet form hoping thereby to subserve the cause of the Craft generally and that of the colored Masons in the United States in particular.
Such a dissertation on Masonry has long been needed, to set the pubic mind, and that of the unskilled in the Craft, right on several important and essential points in Masonic jurisprudence, and we are fully assured, that in your Treatise, this has been accomplished.
With high regard, fraternally yours,
Elias Edmonds, Thomas Norris, W.J. Trusty.
Pittsburgh, June 30, A.D. 1853, A.L.5853
Companion and Sir Knight:
We, The undersigned, by a resolution of a Grand Lodge Communication, were appointed a Committee to solicit, in conjunction with a Committee from St. Cyprian Lodge, a copy of the able Treatise delivered on the occasion of the last Annual Festival of St. John the Baptist. We take pleasure in uniting our own with the sentiments contained in the above note, and hope ever to remain
Yours, in the ties of Fraternal esteem,
Wm. B. Austin; Alfred H. Johns; James Grigg; Francis J. Hall;
Jonathan Green
Pittsburgh, June 30, A.D., A.L. 5853
Gentlemen, Brethren, Companions, and Sir Knights:
I have received a note jointly from a Committee, appointed by St. Cyprian Lodge, No. 13, and a Communications held by the District Deputy Grand Master, desiring that the Treatise delivered by me before the public on the 24th day of June, inst.(the Annual Festival of our Patron, St. John the Baptist), be published in pamphlet form. With this request, I readily and cheerfully comply.
Permit me to say, in this connection, that whatever undue and unwarrantable obstructions may be thrown in our way by American masons, and they are many, though there are some honorable exceptions, it is within the power of the Grand Lodge of England to decide in the matter, and at once establish our validity. For this purpose I now suggest, through you, that all of our Subordinate Lodges throughout the United States, at once petition their respective Grand Lodges and the Grand Lodges respectively agree and together with the National Grand Lodge, meet by delegated representatives of Past Masters not to exceed from each Grand Lodge and the same number from each District over which there may be a District Deputy Grand Master, the National Grand Masonic Convention, for the single purpose of petitioning the Grand Lodge of England for a settlement of the question of the legality of Colored Masons in the Untied States, claiming to have originated from the warrant granted to Prince Hall, of Boston.
This should at once be done, to settle the controversy as it would to us be a great point gained, because it would be the acknowledgement and establishement of a right among us as a people, which is now disputed but which legitimately belongs to us.
We have for years been fraternally outraged simply for the want of a proper and judicious course being pursued on the part of our Masonic authorities, and the present loudly calls upon us for action in this matter. We are either Masons or not Masons, legitimate or illegitimate; if the affirmative, then we must be so acknowledged and accepted, if the negative, we should be rejected.
We never will relinquish a claim to an everlasting inheritance, but by the force of stern necessity; and there is not that Masonic power in existence, with the exception of the Grand Lodge of England, to which we will yield in a decision on this point. Our rights are equal to those of other American Masons, if not better than some; and it comes not with the best grace for them to deny us.
The suggested Convention should be held in some central place, during the ensuing three years of the National Grand Lodge administration, and in not less than one year from this date, so that full time may be given, for reflection and action, on the part of the various Subordinate and Grand Lodges.
Let not be the hopes of our brethren languish, though calumny and slander may have done their work.
'O Slander! foulest imp of hell!
they tongue is like the scorpion's sting!
Nor peace nor hope can near thee dwell;
Thy breath can blast fairest thing!
O could I grasp the thunderbolt!
I'd crush thee, limping fiend of hell!
From earth I'd chase thy serpent soul,
And chain thee where the furies dwell!'
by Bishop Payne
Fraternally Yours, In the bonds of Union and
Fellowship,
M.R. Delany To Elias Edmonds, Wm. B. Austin & Committees.
