American Doctrine

American Doctrine. This is the rule, sometimes called Territorial Exclusiveness, that there can be but one recognized Grand Lodge in a state and that it must have exclusive jurisdiction therein. At the time this doctrine originated, it was contrary to such precedents as existed, and it cannot be said to have been generally recognized in this country until after the Revolution. The Grand Lodge at London at no time raised any objection to the Grand Lodge at York. Both the Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Lodge of Scotland warranted lodges and Provincial Grand Lodges in the American Colonies and sometimes in the same Colonies.

The doctrine of territorial exclusiveness had its origin in this country during the formation of independent Grand Lodges during and following the Revolution. This movement proceeded by states and each state proceeded alone to form its Grand Lodge, without any argument or issue as to whether there ought to be one or thirteen Grand Lodges. This was in spite of the fact that several of the Provincial Grand Lodges had and were exercising jurisdiction over all the Colonies. There was little or no Masonic precedent authorizing the Freemasons in each or all of the new States to sever their connections with the Mother Grand Lodges in Britain, because of change in political status, and it was disavowed by prominent Freemasons at the time. It seems, however, to have been impossible for the brethren, as Freemasons, to be oblivious to their feelings as citizens of a new nation and, more especially, as citizens of new States, for the feeling of interstate jealousy was high.

One of the first express declarations on the subject of this title was that of New York in 1796, when the Grand Lodge resolved that it would not charter any lodge outside that State where there was another Grand Lodge in existence. The idea spread by common consent and regard for its merit, though there were notable and somewhat protracted violations of it. There were two Grand Lodges in South Carolina from 1787 to 1803, and two in Georgia from 1827. New York had two rival Grand Lodges between the years 1823 and 1827, 1837 and 1850, and 1853 and 1856. In Louisiana, there was so much confusion from multiple Grand Lodges that it is almost impossible to say how often or how long such duplication of authority existed. Missouri chartered St. Clair and Marion Lodges in Illinois in 1842, and kept two lodges in New Mexico on its roll after the latter had been recognized by Missouri in 1877. But, when the Grand Lodge of Tennessee revoked the charter of one of its lodges in Missouri, the Grand Lodge of Missouri held the action invalid, for the reason that it alone had jurisdiction. Evidently, all c*nflicts of that kind were cleared up before the end of the 19th century.

Great difficulty has been encountered in enforcing the American Doctrine against European Grand Bodies, especially the Grand Orient of France. One notable example was the act of the Grand Orient in 1869 in giving recognition to a spurious Grand Body known as Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in and for the Sovereign and Independent State of Louisiana, which claimed jurisdiction over the Craft degrees, as well as over those of the Scottish Rite. The Grand Lodge of Louisiana protested vigorously and called on other states for support, which was promptly afforded by the Grand Lodges of New York, Arkansas, California, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin, all of which severed relations with the Grand Orient. Although the Grand Orient had been repudiated by practically all English-speaking Grand Lodges, the Grand Orient returned to the attack in 1924 by sponsoring in Pennsylvania the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Universal Free Masonry, which latter body claimed the right to confer all degrees.

This doctrine was one of the arguments used to prevent the recognition of Prince Hall Masonry. In 1989, however, the Grand Lodge of Connecticut officially recognized the Connecticut Prince Hall Grand Lodge as an equal, permitting intervisitations. A few other American Grand Lodges followed. As of July, 1991, six others had followed the action of Connecticut.

Macoy Collector's Note: This is a landmark entry. The ”American Doctrine” of exclusive territorial jurisdiction is the bedrock of Masonic law in the United States, and its history explains the unique structure of fifty sovereign, independent Grand Lodges.