"black brethren will not acknowledge them.
The reason given is, that the blacks were made
clandestinely in the first place, which if known
would have prevented them from receiving a
Charter. But this inquiry would not have
been made about white lodges, many of which
have not conformed to the rules of Masonry.
The truth is, they are ashamed of being on
an equality with blacks. Even the fraternal
kiss of
France, given to merit, without distinction
of colour, doth not influence
Massachusetts
Masons to give an embrace less emphatical,
or tender & affectionate to their black brethren.
These on the other hand, valuing them-
selves on their knowledge of the Craft, think
themselves better masons, in other respects,
than the Whites; because Masonry considers
all men equal who are free, &
Massachusetts
Laws admit of no kind of slavery. It is evid-
ent from this, that neither avowedly nor
tacitly do the blacks admit the Preeminence of the whites; but it is as
evident, that a pre-eminence is claimed by the whites.
The End of Dr B's paper C.D.