AFRICAN ORIGINS OF FREEMASONRY

Many Masonic authors have done great and extensive research about their fraternity, yet they cannot find a positive origin for their practices.  Others deny the antiquity of Masonry and try to connect it with the medieval stonemasons.  Many Freemasons know that their society originated not only with the building of King Solomon’s temple, but also with the Africoid people of Africa and the Middle East.  They avoid the subject of Ancient African Freemasons altogether.  There was a time in America when Black Freemasons who received their Masonic Degrees from Prince Hall jurisdiction would not even be accepted by White Masons as true Masons and brothers and even to this day many White Masons will not open up their lodges to black men.

Are they racist or do they know that the men and women that are discriminated against are the true Masons and Eastern Stars and also the true Shriners and Daughters of Isis?  In some cases the answer is yes, and the true history of the ancient African society is bottled up in the symbols of the lodges ant the literature of its libraries.  Freemasons and non-Freemasons both black and white have held these ideas. Elijah Muhammad, Noble Drew Ali, Martin R. Delany, Albert Churchward, Frank C. Higgins, Godfrey Higgins, George G.M. James, Yosef A.A. Ben-Jochannan, and John Jackson all knew Freemasonry originated in Africa in some form or another

The term Free Mason has many explanations.  Some say that it came from the medieval stonemasons.  It is stated that they were “ Free” to travel the land to work their trade free from interference of landlords who desired to stop serfs from leaving the land.  Some say that it came from the Roman Collegia of Artificers.  Others maintain that the word was invented shortly before the establishment of a grand lodge system in the Seventeen hundreds.  The above statements are partially true, and many Masonic authors have left out the pertinent information of a more ancient origin.

Mr. John G. Jackson (1972) in Man, God, and Civilization researched the ancient philosophies that were practiced by our ancestors.  He even studied some Masonic Sources.  He stated that the term Free Mason was traced back to the ancient Khametic empire (Egypt).  It comes from a combination of two Khametic words Phre (the sun) and Mas (a child) meaning children of the sun and/or sons of light (John Jackson, 1972).  These two words combine to make the word Freemason.  The term originated in Egypt and proves that the first Freemasons were ancient Africans (called black people in modern racial terms).  It also shows that the order originated in Africa.  Frank C. Higgins also defines Freemason the same as above, and he has it as Phre-Messen (from Egypt) (Higgins, 1923)

As every Master Mason knows great emphasis is place upon the east.  This is the direction in which the sun rises.  And all Freemasons deal with traveling East.  A Freemason is supposed to be an adept or master of the ancient esoteric knowledge of the arts sciences, mathematics and other great aspects of learning of the old world.  Freemasons have kept the ancient knowledge and ceremonies alive within their lodges.  The lodges are places where masons meet, and they (lodges) are filled with symbolism and are symbolic of the mystery schools of the African and African-Asiatic peoples.

One scholarly Freemason named Albert Churchward, a 30^th degree Freemason at the time of his writings wrote extensively about Freemasonry and its African origin.  We do not agree with all of Albert Chruchward’s theories, but we admire Mr. Churchward.  He was honorable enough to reveal that the order of Freemasonry originated among Blacks in Africa.  Through his extensive research in anthropology and Freemasonry, Churchward’s proved that the so-called Negro was the original man (called Primary man).  Even though Churchward was a Caucasian, he exposed the truth to Freemasons and others about origins of light (knowledge) and life upon the continent of Africa.  I suggest that all Freemasons and specifically Prince Hall Masons read Chruchward’s work.  Note: His book were written in the early 1900’s therefore a few facts may be displaced, vague, or obscure because Churchward did not have access to the same technology that we have today.  However, inspite of the lack of information Churchward over came great limitations of time along with the criticism of his works.

Churchward (1903) separated the dispensation of time into three distinct parts.  These parts Churchward called the stellar, lunar, and solar mythos and through these time periods ancient Freemasonry developed.  Churchward’s research also reveals that the origin of the mythos (religious doctrine) and Masonry came from early Africans in ancient Egypt and the Great lakes region (source of the Nile)