The history of the General Grand Masonic Congress (G.G.M.C.), Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, is deeply rooted in one of the most important chapters of African American Freemasonry. Its origins are not confined to a single date or convention but are found within a fifty-year journey of Masonic organization, self-determination, jurisdictional development, and fraternal cooperation among men of color throughout the United States and abroad.

The story begins in Boston, Massachusetts, the birthplace of organized Black Freemasonry in America.

On June 24–27, 1847, delegates representing Colored Masonic Lodges and Grand Lodges from various states assembled in Boston to discuss the creation of a national governing body for African American Freemasons. Their objective was noble and timely: to establish harmony among the growing number of lodges, clarify, jurisdictional authority, and to provide a unified framework through which legitimate Colored Masons could cooperate throughout the United States.

This effort resulted in the formation of the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge (N.G.L.), an institution whose mission was to promote friendship, fellowship, brotherly love, charity, and moral leadership among its members.
 

Yet even during its beginning formation, a philosophical debate emerged that would soon shape the future of Black Freemasonry for generations.
 

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The delegates assembled in Boston agreed upon the importance of unity but disagreed about how that unity should be achieved.
 

One faction, later identified with the National Compact movement, believed that all member Grand Lodges should surrender their existing warrants and charters and receive new authority directly from the National Grand Lodge. Under this system, subordinate lodges and Grand Lodges would operate under the direct supervision and authority of a centralized national body.
 

Another faction agreed with the principles of unity and cooperation but maintained that each Grand Lodge should retain its sovereignty, jurisdiction, and right of self-government. These brethren believed that cooperation among Grand Lodges could exist without surrendering their independence.
 

These competing philosophies—centralized authority versus sovereign jurisdiction—became the defining issue of nineteenth-century African American Freemasonry.
 

The resulting disagreements produced reorganizations, withdrawals, mergers, and independent movements throughout the country. While some jurisdictions remained loyal to the National Compact system, others embraced a more independent model of Masonic governance.
 

From these developments emerged what became known as the Independent Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (A.F. & A.M.), a movement that spread from Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Maryland, Delaware, Washington, D.C., and eventually throughout the South.


Among the most influential independent bodies was the historic Hiram Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. Established before the formation of the National Grand Lodge, Hiram Grand Lodge represented a philosophy that emphasized state sovereignty, local self-government, and the independence of constituent Grand Lodges. Although attempts were made to reconcile these differences through various unions and reorganizations, ideological conflicts persisted.
 

As African American Freemasonry expanded during the time of Slavery for many States, it was soon followed by the Civil War, particularly throughout the Southern states, these debates intensified. New Grand Lodges emerged, jurisdictions expanded, and independent Masonic leaders increasingly advocated for a system based upon mutual recognition rather than centralized control. These developments would ultimately pave the way for a new vision of national Masonic cooperation.

 

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By the late nineteenth century (1800's), another major development transformed the Masonic landscape—the rapid growth of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite among Colored Masons.
 

On April 5, 1869, the United Supreme Council (U.S.C.), Southern and Western Jurisdiction, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, was organized in Washington, D.C., under the leadership of Illustrious Edward H. Thomas, 33°. As Scottish Rite Masonry expanded, multiple Supreme Councils emerged throughout the United States, creating overlapping jurisdictions and competing claims of authority.
 

To address these challenges, representatives from the various Supreme Councils convened in New York City between 1880 and 1881. These historic meetings resulted in agreements that ultimately led to the formation of unified Scottish Rite jurisdictions for both the Northern and Southern portions of the United States.
 

These efforts demonstrated that cooperation could be achieved without sacrificing the sovereignty of participating bodies—a principle that would later become fundamental to the General Grand Masonic Congress.

 

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In 1888, The National Grand Master, Captain William D. Matthews issued what became known as the Matthews Manifesto.
 

The Manifesto sought to reassert The National Grand Lodge's authority over independent and dissenting jurisdictions that did not want to fall in line with the National Compact Group. It  required All Grand Lodges to reaffirm their allegiance to the National Grand Lodge or face reorganization.
 

However, rather than restoring unity, the Manifesto accelerated the movement toward further independence of States Rites Grand Lodges.

Many Grand Lodges chose to reaffirm their sovereignty, reorganize their structures, and pursue cooperative relationships outside the authority of the National Grand Lodge system working in conjunction with the Prince Hall National Compact Groups. This watershed moment became one of the defining turning points in the history of African American Freemasonry.

 

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Standing at the center of this movement was one of the most influential Masonic leaders of the nineteenth century—Illustrious John G. Jones, 33°.

Attorney, legislator, publisher, civil rights advocate, international diplomat, and Masonic statesman, Jones believed that Grand Lodges could work together without surrendering their sovereignty.
 

Recognizing the need for a new framework of cooperation, Jones and his associates worked together to legally reorganized the National Masonic Congress in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 9, 1889. Unlike previous models, the Congress sought to unite sovereign jurisdictions through mutual cooperation rather than centralized control.
 

This new vision attracted Grand Lodges and Masonic leaders who embraced independence while still desiring national and international fellowship.

This eventually led to the independence seeking out and receiving the renown Romanian Warrant & Charter allowing for the Formation of a New National Body, Thee General Grand Masonic Congress (G.G.M.C.)
 

The final step toward the establishment of the modern General Grand Masonic Congress came through international Masonic recognition.

Historical records indicate that the 1880 National Grand Lodge of the Republic of Romania extended recognition and authority through a warrant issued to Illustrious Henry C. Scott, 33° from the Most Worshipful Grand lodge in Washington ,D.C., providing an international foundation for the movement that John G. Jones had helped cultivate with the National Masonic Congress in Cleveland, Ohio.
 

Armed with this authority and supported by independent Grand Lodges throughout the United States and Canada, delegates assembled in Washington, D.C.

On April 27, 1896,  where and when the General Grand Masonic Congress of the United States of America and Canada, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, was formally organized under the leadership of Illustrious John G. Jones, 33°, and Illustrious Henry C. Scott, 33°. This historic organization represented the culmination of nearly fifty years of Masonic evolution.
 

The Congress provided a forum through which sovereign Grand Lodges, Grand Chapters, Grand Councils, and other Masonic bodies could cooperate, communicate, and advance the Craft while maintaining their lawful independence.

 

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Today, the General Grand Masonic Congress stands as a living testament to the principles championed by its founders:
 

• Sovereignty without isolation.

• Unity without domination.

• Cooperation without surrender.

• Brotherhood without compromise.
   

Its roots extend from the historic convention in Boston in 1847, through the struggles and reorganizations of the nineteenth century, to the vision of John G. Jones, Henry C. Scott, and the international relationships that helped establish the General Grand Masonic Congress in 1896.

As heirs to this rich legacy, we continue the work of preserving Masonic Light, strengthening fraternal bonds, and advancing the principles of Brotherly Love, Relief, Truth, Justice, Charity, and Self-Governance for generations yet unborn.

 

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1775 – Prince Hall and fourteen other free men of color are initiated into military lodge Masonry in Boston.

1784 – African Lodge No. 459 receives its charter from the Grand Lodge of England.

June 24–27, 1847 – National Grand Lodge organized in Boston, Massachusetts.

1848 – Prince Hall Grand Lodge receives warrant from the National Grand Lodge.
1863–1869 Major withdrawals and declarations of independence by several Grand Lodges.

April 5, 1869United Supreme Council, Southern & Western Jurisdiction organized in Washington, D.C. under Edward H. Thomas.

1869 – United Supreme Council, Southern and Western Jurisdiction, A.A.S.R. organized in Washington, D.C.

1870 – Major reorganization of the National Grand Lodge under Richard Howell Gleaves.

1880–1881 – National Scottish Rite conventions held in New York leading to consolidation efforts among Colored Supreme Councils.

1888 – Captain William D. Matthews issues the Matthews Manifesto, accelerating the movement toward independent jurisdictions.

August 9, 1889 – National Masonic Congress organized in Cleveland, Ohio, under Ill. John G. Jones, 33° and fellow leaders..

1895 – Final separation  and Historic split between John G. Jones and Thornton A. Jackson, leading to permanent separation of Southern and Southern & Western Scottish Rite jurisdictions of independent A.F. & A.M. jurisdictions from Prince Hall Affiliate organizations F & A. M.
1896- Romanian Warrant secured by Henry C. Scott from the National Grand Lodge of Romania (1880).

April 27, 1896 – General Grand Masonic Congress formally organized in Washington, D.C., under Ill. John G. Jones, 33°, and Ill. Henry C. Scott, 33°, with authority derived through recognition from the 1880 National Grand Lodge of Romania.

February 1, 1910Historic legal victory affirming the rights and standing of A.F. & A.M. jurisdictions.

November 3, 1927GGMC re-incorporated and strengthened under Ill. G. C. Williams, 33°.

1945 Most Worshipful Mt. Sinai Grand Lodge Jurisdiction of Texas organized.

August 26, 1946 Major modernization and revision of the GGMC under Ill. J. C. Parker, 33°, "The Builder."

1987–1998 Ill. Ollie Spencer, Sr., 33°, serves as President General and becomes one of the foremost historians and international ambassadors of the GGMC.

2010–2018 Ollie Spencer, Sr., serves as President General Emeritus, continuing efforts to preserve GGMC history and lineage.

2015 Historic Romanian relationship reaffirmed through renewed recognition and warrant connection with the National Grand Lodge of Romania (1880).

2018–Present Michael Billingslea serves as President General, leading the Congress into the twenty-first century.



 while preserving the vision established by John G. Jones and Henry C. Scott.