Editing Freemasonry (section)

====Exclusive jurisdiction====
Exclusive Jurisdiction is a concept whereby normally only one Grand Lodge will be recognised in any geographical area. If two Grand Lodges claim jurisdiction over the same area, the other Grand Lodges will have to choose between them, and they may not all decide to recognise the same one. (In 1849, for example, the Grand Lodge of New York split into two rival factions, each claiming to be the legitimate Grand Lodge. Other Grand Lodges had to choose between them until the schism was healed.<ref>[http://www.themasonictrowel.com/ebooks/fm_freemasonry/Lang_-_History_Of_Freemasonry_in_NewYork_1922_raw.pdf Ossian Lang, "History of Freemasonry in the State of New York" (pdf)], 1922, pp. 135–140, ''Masonic Trowel eBooks'', {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201003501/http://www.themasonictrowel.com/ebooks/fm_freemasonry/Lang_-_History_Of_Freemasonry_in_NewYork_1922_raw.pdf|date=1 December 2010}}</ref>) Exclusive Jurisdiction can be waived when the two overlapping Grand Lodges are themselves in amity and agree to share jurisdiction. For example, since the Grand Lodge of Connecticut is in amity with the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Connecticut, the principle of Exclusive Jurisdiction does not apply, and other Grand Lodges may recognise both.<ref>[http://www.bessel.org/exclartl.htm "Exclusive Jurisdiction"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203002511/http://www.bessel.org/exclartl.htm |date=3 December 2013 }}, ''Paul M. Bessel'', 1998, retrieved 25 November 2013</ref> Likewise, the five distinct kinds of lodges in Germany have nominally united under one Grand Lodge in order to obtain international recognition.