Three Letter Jurisdictions vs Four Letter Jurisdictions

F and AM states are different from AF and AM states. But what makes them different? Here we'll discuss the differences between the two biggest jurisdictional differences in Freemasonry in the United States.

F.&A.M. and A.F.&A.M. are the two largest jurisdictional distinctions in the United States. F.&A.M. standing for Free and Accepted Masons, and A.F.&A.M. standing for the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

In the United States and most parts of the world, it does not matter if you join an F & AM lodge or an AF & AM lodge. Every State in the Union is governed sovereignly by a Grand Lodge, each with one of these two distinctions. There are not one of each in every state. Each Grand Lodge acts as headquarters for each jurisdiction.

Freemasonry as a whole, whether F.&A.M. or A.F.&A.M., all originate from the ancient stonemason's guilds and build their ritual around the Legend of Hiram Abiff, the Architect of King Solomon's Temple. In the 1730s, Freemasonry became increasingly popular in North America. As Masons started to bring up daughter lodges and more and more lodges were founded, Grand Lodges were organized in various provinces to consolidate the efforts of Masonry under provincial jurisdictions. After the American Revolution occurred, there was a formation of independent Grand Lodges in each state, which remain to this day.

Origin of the F and AM vs. AF and AM differences

From 1751 until 1813, two Grand Lodges governed Masons in England. There was a disagreement between these two lodges. A group was called the Moderns which was the older British Grand Lodge. The other group was called Antients, also known as Ancients who were the originators of AF and AM.

The disagreement led to a break of the two groups. Each group spawned their separate Lodges and Grand Lodges all over the United States. In 1880, the disagreement was resolved; however, the Lodges and Grand Lodges retained their initials. That disagreement is why Lodges have little differences in the wordings of their rituals and differences in By-Laws and procedures.

Each of the Grand Lodges in the United States recognize each other and treat each other with respect. Members are regarded equally as Brothers and Masons. All the Grand Lodges in the United States are recognized by other Grand Lodges in Scotland, England, Thailand, Ireland, India, and other countries in Europe, Africa, and South America.

Prince Hall Grand Lodge or PHA

The Prince Hall Grand Lodge was not recognized initially by other regular Grand Lodges. The Lodges under these Grand Lodge were also not recognized by the other Grand Lodges. The Prince Hall Grand Masonic Lodge has its origins from a lodge consisting of African-American Freemasons in Boston. The Lodge was started by an African-American named called Prince Hall.

The first Prince Hall Lodge was founded on March 6, 1775 by charter from the Grand Lodge of Ireland. Prince Hall and 14 other free African-Americans were initiated into Lodge 441 of the Irish Constitution. The Lodge was located at Fort Independence, Boston Harbor. Lodge 441 was attached to the 38th Regiment of Foot of the British Army. Later, the Lodge received a charter from the Grand Lodge of England. When Prince Hall died, the Lodge did not exist again. Some years later, African-American Masons started the Prince Hall Masonic Grand Lodge. The Grand Lodge began to issue charters to other African-American men to create subordinate lodges. Most Prince Hall Grand Lodges are now affiliated with mainstream Grand Lodges, but there are still some Prince Hall Grand Lodges that are not recognized by mainstream Grand Lodges. These unrecognized Grand Lodges are known as irregular Lodges.

States in the Union according to how their Lodges are classified

AF & AM states (Ancient Free and Accepted Masons)

The following states have their lodges termed AF & AM Lodges:

Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin  

F & AM states (Free and Accepted Masons)

Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wyoming

AFM state (Ancient Free Masons)

There is only one AFM state. It is South Carolina.

FAAM (Free and Accepted Masons)

The District of Columbia is a FAAM district 

The differences between the F & AM Masons and AF & AM Masons, AFM, and FAAM are very little. The caution needed comes when purchasing regalia or other Masonic emblems to ensure that your jurisdictional distinction is present and not another jurisdiction's. Aside from regalia, the major differences are in officer titles and little differences in ritual wordings. These differences should not, and do not, deter from the ability for us to recognize each other as Brother Masons and to spread brotherly love wherever we go.

Bro. Matthew R. Ross

Battle Creek Lodge No. 12

Grand Lodge of Michigan F.&A.M.