National Sojourners is an American patriotic organization of Freemasons who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Members are organized and meet in Chapters.
Contents
Purpose
The Purposes of National Sojourners shall be to organize current and former members of the uniformed forces of the United States, and Honorary Members, who are Master Masons and U.S. citizens 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."
The organization pursues its aims by assisting local Masonic authorities through initiatives which promote American patriotism and Americanism, both with the fraternity and the community. These include: Youth Leadership Programs, essay contests, educational programs and involvement in ROTC and JROTC awards.
History
The organization developed from a group of American Freemasons in the Philippines who participated from 1898 in meetings of a field lodge attached to the North Dakota Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, which met under a dispensation granted by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota. When the regiment withdrew from the Philippines in 1900, the American Freemasons left behind formed an informal Sojourners Club.
In 1917, a group of Masonic military officers, meeting in Chicago, Illinois, formally organized the Chicago Sojourners Club. Further Sojourners' clubs formed at army posts and naval bases around the United States and overseas. In 1927, the word Club was officially dropped and the National Sojourners were formally incorporated in 1931. Today, National Sojourners are organized in some 150 chapters in 44 states of the United States as well as in Germany and Panama.
The organization's headquarters are in Waynewood, Virginia. It also houses the Collingwood Library and Museum on Americanism. Both are open to the public.