Purpose:
The Purposes of National Sojourners shall be to organize any Master Mason that has served in the United States Military (past and present), and Honorary Members, into Chapters, for the promotion of good fellowship among its members, for assisting such as may be overtaken by adversity or affliction, for cultivating Masonic ideals, for supporting all patriotic aims and activities in Masonry
, for developing true Patriotism and Americanism throughout the Nation, for bringing together representatives of the uniformed forces of the United States (past and present) in a united effort to further the military need of National Defense, and for opposing any influence whatsoever calculated to weaken the National Security.National Sojourners, Inc., has an unequaled Centennial history. Early in 1900, after the North Dakota Regiment departed the Philippines with its Field Lodge dispensation, a group of Masons organized an informal club and named it “Sojourners.”
History:
In 1901, these Sojourners chartered Manila Lodge under the Grand Lodge of California. Captain Harry E. Stafford, 33°, an original Sojourner, was Chartering Master of Manila Lodge, and in 1913 he became the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines. The Philippine “Sojourners” resurfaced in 1907, open to Masons who were not members of local Lodges. Within a year, it had 174 members from the U.S. and eight other countries. Many Philippine Sojourners eventually returned to the U.S. In 1917, a group of Masonic military officers stationed in Chicago organized the “Sojourners Club.”
Sojourners Club, originally composed of U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and Coast and Geodetic Survey Officers (1917), began chartering Chapters on or near Army posts and Naval bases (1918), became National Sojourners Club (1919), became National Sojourners (1927), became National Sojourners, Incorporated (1931), added Air Force (1948), and added Space Force (2021). National Sojourners efforts focus on Americanism and Masonic activities. Patriotic activities include presentations, flag ceremonies, and other programs on national security and love of country, with focus on Youth. Our Bridge of Light Program directly supports Masonry by involving Sojourners in all Masonic activities, especially Blue Lodges. Heroes of '76
The Heroes of '76 is an affiliate, auxiliary organization of National Sojourners, Inc., which functions under the authority of, and in accordance with, ARTICLE 15 of the By- Laws of National Sojourners, Inc. It is composed of National Sojourners who have, in recognition of exemplary service to National Sojourners, Inc., Freemasonry, or our National Government, received this inspiring patriotic Degree. Each Camp of Heroes is subordinate to and dependent upon one or more Chapters of National Sojourners, Inc. which shall be responsible for it proper functioning. www.nationalsojourners.org
