EXTRACTS FROM THE PROCEEDINGS AND SOME OF THE DECISIONS OF THE VARIOUS MASONIC CONGRESSES AND NATIONAL MASONIC CONVENTION HELD AMONG THE COLORED MASONS IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE AUGUST 11th, 1820. Chicago, Ill., April 8, 1908. To All Whom This May Concern, Greeting: The management of the International Masonic Bureau of Information of the world wishes to state that we have devoted much time and labor in collecting this much needed information which gives the time and place as well as the decisions and also a brief account of the proceedings of the various general Masonic congresses and National Masonic Convention that has been held among the Colored Masons in the United States of America since June 11th, 1820. THE FIRST NATIONAL CONVENTION OF COLORED MASONS OF UNITED STATES HELD JUNE 11th, 1820, AT PHILADELPHIA, PA. A resolution was adopted recommending to the Grand Lodges that it was unlawful and un-Masonic for any subordinate Lodge or Grand Lodge to meddle with the degrees of Royal Arch Masons. The convention after some other Masonic discussions adjourned. SECOND NATIONAL CONVENTION OF COLORED MASONS IN THE UNITED STATES HELD AT BOSTON, MASS., JUNE 24th, 1847. John T. Hilton, Wm, A. Bruce, Henry Harris of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, James Richmond, James Bird, Samuel Van Brackle, Phillip Buchanan, John Anderson, James Powell of Pennsylvania, and Alexander Elston, Wm. H. Clark of New York issued a call for National Masonic Convention to meet in Boston, Mass., June the 24th, 1847, and it was agreed and they did organize the National Compact Grand Lodge of North America. John T. Hilton of Boston, Mass., was elected M. W. N. Grand Master Wm. E. Ambush was elected National Grand Secretary. This National Grand Lodge of North America adopted a constitution claiming and exercising power and authority over every Grand Lodge of Masons in each state in the United States and Canada. This National Compact Grand Lodge in violation of all Masonic law proceeded to issue charters to Grand Lodges in the United States which was a Masonic law and rule that they adopted that was unheard of among Masons of any nationality in any country or any land. This National Compact Grand Lodge sowed the seed of discord and dissension among Colored Masons in this country whose record has covered one of the blackest pages in Masonic history. This National Compact Grand Lodge continued to meet and elect officers for some years thereafter placing heavy assessments upon subordinate Lodges and Grand Lodges throughout the country. THIRD NATIONAL CONVENTION OF COLORED MASONS HELD IN UNITED STATES WAS AT NEW YORK CITY OCT. 12th, 1848. James Barnett, Jacob Gibbs and several others of New York State called a National Masonic Convention to meet in New York City, Oct. 12, 1848. James Barnett was elected president of the convention.