Subject Files (G) Fraternal Relations, 1934-1957

The records in this series are organized by time period, and then alphabetically within each period. The folders are arranged in original order. The majority of the records in this series document the fraternal relationships that the Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, had with various Masonic organizations around the world. It includes Johnson's correspondence with other Sovereign Grand Commanders, as well as correspondence with other American organizations, such as the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts (of which Johnson was Past Grand Master), the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction and the United Supreme Council, Northern Jurisdiction, Prince Hall Affiliation. Notable records in this series include his correspondence with Rene Raymond, Sovereign Grand Commander for France, which details the state of Freemasonry in Europe both during and after World War II; with Publio Cortini of Italy, which discusses the re-establishment and recognition of Freemasonry in Italy after the war; with Sovereign Grand Commanders in South America, including details of Johnson's trip in 1949; with John H. Cowles of the Southern Jurisdiction, with whom he had many well-known differences of opinion; and with the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts and George Crawford of the United Supreme Council, Northern Jurisdiction, Prince Hall Affiliation, which details early work of the Massachusetts Masons to recognize Prince Hall as a fraternal body. Note: Some files contain materials in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Romanian, German and Italian.