Africa

Africa. It is expedient to treat this Continent Masonically as a whole, with appropriate subdivisions relating to the several areas; otherwise, with those areas distributed through this work alphabetically, there would be some difficulty in collating the data or even in finding some of the articles. This is so, because, as the result of two World W*rs and several smaller w*rs, there have been many changes in sovereignty, accompanied by changes in Grand Lodge jurisdictions and, also, as the result of shifting populations produced by explorations and exploitations of natural resources of this large, rich continent, there have been many confusing changes of names of places, countries, and areas.

The period of Masonic activities in Africa covers a little over two centuries, but the greatest growth in lodges and members has occurred in the past half century. One fact worthy of note is that Masonry in the ancient countries of Egypt and others along the south shore of the Mediterranean has made slow and erratic progress, while the greatest growth is taking place in those portions accompanied by some Dutch, that is, in the East and South of the Continent. Another peculiarity is that it is not uncommon for several Grand Lodges or Grand Orients to maintain competing lodges in the same areas, without serious friction, particularly in South Africa, where Dutch, English, Scotch, and Irish lodges exist side by side.

It is there stated that, in 1954, 519 regular and recognized lodges existed in Africa, of which 329 were under the Grand Lodge of England, 142 under that of Scotland, 48 under that of Ireland, and one under the Grand Orient of Belgium. This does not account for lodges under the Grand Lodge of Holland or the Netherlands, which had 63 lodges in South Africa in 1951.

1. British South Africa

Includes Cape of Good Hope, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Natal, and Bechuanaland. The Grand Lodge of Holland formed Lodge of Goede Hoop No. 18 at Cape Colony in 1772. The Modern G. L. of England warranted Lodge No. 334 at Cape Town in 1811. In 1954, Bro. Denslow gives the statistics reflecting massive concentrations of English, Scottish, Irish, and Dutch lodges operating concurrently across the Transvaal and surrounding regions.

2. British East Africa

Includes the Colony of Kenya, Protectorates of Nyasaland, Uganda, and Zanzibar. In 1903, the Grand Lodges of England and Scotland formed lodges at Nairobi. In 1954, Bro. Denslow shows East Africa with 27 English, 4 Scotch, and one Irish lodge.

3. British Egypt and Sudan, and Somaliland

The G. L. of England established 3 lodges at Khartoum in 1901 and 1908 and there were three there in 1954.

4. British Possessions on the West Coast and Islands

Includes Nigeria, Gold Coast (Ghana), Ashanti, Sierra Leone, Gambia, and St. Helena. At Lagos, Nigeria, the G. L. of England warranted Lagos Lodge No. 1171 in 1867. In 1954, Nigeria had 20 English lodges, 9 Scotch, and 2 Irish. Gold Coast (Ghana) had 14 English lodges and 5 Scotch.

5. French West Africa

Includes Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, and others. In Algeria, the G. O. of France established two lodges in 1832 and, in 1954, it had 21 lodges there. In Morocco, the G. O. of France formed 5 lodges beginning in 1891.

11. Egypt

Freemasonry has followed a very confused course in Egypt. The standing of the national Masonic bodies was clouded from the first, since they grew out of the Rite of Memphis of 97 degrees which was imported from France or Italy. In 1802, the Grand Orient of France established Lodge Bienfaisance at Alexandria. The Grand Lodge of Scotland and the United Grand Lodge of England both established numerous lodges throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1922, a schism in the National Grand Lodge resulted in two bodies with exactly the same name. Those who were asserted to have withdrawn to form the new Grand Lodge were finally held by the courts to be the lawful custodians, so that the rival faction had only the satisfaction of wr*cking the lodge furniture before vacating. Egyptian lodges work in Greek, Arabic, French, English, Italian, Hebrew, Armenian, and German, and practically always have three different Volumes of Sacred Law on the altar.

13. Liberia

This country was founded in 1820, largely through the influence of the American Colonization Society as a refuge for freed sl*ves. The first lodge was formed there some time in the early 1800’s. Three lodges formed a Grand Lodge in 1867. Note: The Prince Hall Grand Lodge has several active lodges.

Macoy Collector's Note: An exhaustive historical account of colonial and regional Masonic expansion across the African continent up to the mid-20th century.