Sons of Haiti
Encyclopedia
The Sons of Haiti is an African-American Masonic Grand Lodge
and fraternal organization with headquarters in Renton, Washington
.
The organization has subgroups in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Texas and Washington. The group also claim jurisdiction over the King James Grand Lodge of Oregon AF&AM.
originated in the early nineteenth century, at a time when it was extremely rare for African-Americans to be admitted into mainstream (predominantly white) Masonic Lodges in the United States (a state of affairs that only began to change in the late twentieth century). As a unique branch of Freemasonry, the history of African-American Freemasonry has been somewhat chaotic, prone to disharmony and schisms. Today, it is common for multiple, rival, African-American Grand Lodges to exist in the same State, each declaring the others illegitimate and irregular.
The Sons of Haiti were formally founded in 1962 after a preceding period when the organization was involved with lawsuits against other African American Masonic organizations in Washington. Following its founding, the organization was recognized by the Grand Lodges of Haiti, The Grande Loge de France, and a Mexican Grand Lodge. Perhaps not inconsistently with that self-presentation, the "Bogus Masonry" project of Prince Hall Freemasonry
's Phylaxis Society describes the Sons of Haiti as "bogus" for not having descended from African Lodge Number 459 or the United Grand Lodges of England, Ireland, or Scotland.
The Supreme Council of the Sons of Haiti Lodge is located in Renton, Washington. The City of Renton City Council "recognized August 11, 2010 as Sons of Haiti Supreme Council Day".
Before moving to Renton, the Supreme Council operated out of Washington Hall (Seattle, Washington)
, which they purchased in 1973. They rented the auditorium to various community groups, which used the rented space for concerts and other public gatherings. The building was sold in 2009 to Historic Seattle
for $1.5 million.
The organization has held annual Supreme Council planning and session events from 1983 to 2006 in locations ranging from Oakland, California to Nassau in the Bahamas.
's 24th annual "Keep Alive The Dream" tribute to Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. in 2009.
Charitable entities associated with Sons of Haiti include:
Grand Lodge
A Grand Lodge, or "Grand Orient", is the usual governing body of "Craft", or "Blue Lodge", Freemasonry in a particular jurisdiction. The first Masonic Grand Lodge was established in England in 1717 as the Premier Grand Lodge of England....
and fraternal organization with headquarters in Renton, Washington
Renton, Washington
Renton is an Eastside edge city in King County, Washington, United States. Situated 11 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, Renton straddles the southeast shore of Lake Washington. Founded in the 1860s, Renton became a supply town for the Newcastle coal fields...
.
The organization has subgroups in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Texas and Washington. The group also claim jurisdiction over the King James Grand Lodge of Oregon AF&AM.
History
African-American FreemasonryPrince Hall Freemasonry
Prince Hall Freemasonry derives from historical events which led to a tradition of separate predominantly African-American Freemasonry in North America...
originated in the early nineteenth century, at a time when it was extremely rare for African-Americans to be admitted into mainstream (predominantly white) Masonic Lodges in the United States (a state of affairs that only began to change in the late twentieth century). As a unique branch of Freemasonry, the history of African-American Freemasonry has been somewhat chaotic, prone to disharmony and schisms. Today, it is common for multiple, rival, African-American Grand Lodges to exist in the same State, each declaring the others illegitimate and irregular.
The Sons of Haiti were formally founded in 1962 after a preceding period when the organization was involved with lawsuits against other African American Masonic organizations in Washington. Following its founding, the organization was recognized by the Grand Lodges of Haiti, The Grande Loge de France, and a Mexican Grand Lodge. Perhaps not inconsistently with that self-presentation, the "Bogus Masonry" project of Prince Hall Freemasonry
Prince Hall Freemasonry
Prince Hall Freemasonry derives from historical events which led to a tradition of separate predominantly African-American Freemasonry in North America...
's Phylaxis Society describes the Sons of Haiti as "bogus" for not having descended from African Lodge Number 459 or the United Grand Lodges of England, Ireland, or Scotland.
The Supreme Council of the Sons of Haiti Lodge is located in Renton, Washington. The City of Renton City Council "recognized August 11, 2010 as Sons of Haiti Supreme Council Day".
Before moving to Renton, the Supreme Council operated out of Washington Hall (Seattle, Washington)
Washington Hall (Seattle, Washington)
Washington Hall is a historic building and a registered city landmark in Seattle, Washington. It was originally built as a community center by the Danish Brotherhood in America, a fraternal organization, with meeting halls and one-room apartments for new immigrants...
, which they purchased in 1973. They rented the auditorium to various community groups, which used the rented space for concerts and other public gatherings. The building was sold in 2009 to Historic Seattle
Historic Seattle
Historic Seattle is a Seattle, Washington public development authority focused on preserving Seattle's architectural heritage. They issue a monthly online magazine, Preservation Seattle and are involved in advocacy and education....
for $1.5 million.
The organization has held annual Supreme Council planning and session events from 1983 to 2006 in locations ranging from Oakland, California to Nassau in the Bahamas.
Community involvement and charity
The Sons of Haiti acted as a volunteer group at the city of Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
's 24th annual "Keep Alive The Dream" tribute to Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. in 2009.
Charitable entities associated with Sons of Haiti include:
- Sons of Haiti Manor Housing Association, 153 14th Ave, Seattle, Washington, founded in 1995, a registered nonprofit
- Sons of Haiti Senior Housing Association, same address and founding date, also a registered nonprofit