What exactly would the purpose of a clandestine lodge be? What is the point of it? I see this is an old thread so don't feel obliged to answer, I understand, just reading through here and this is fascinating stuff. John
A clandestine lodge would be one that is not recognized by your lodge or grand lodge.
Purpose?
My step-grandfather entered a lodge in Ohio in 1917 that was apparently part of Scottish Rite attempt to exercise control over the blue lodge. When the higher numbers used in the Scottish Rite did not allow the SR to dictate policies to the grand lodges, they attempted to start a competing system of lodges that would supplant the existing system.
After Primm was Raised, he asked about how to visit other lodges, and was informed no other lodge within several hundred miles recognized it. He quit and was not able to raise the money to join a recognized lodge until 1943.
Another situation started in Boston, with African Lodge #457 being formed by the Lodge of the Irish Regiment of Foot in the early days of the American Revolution. When the regiment was moved by the Royal Army, the lodge of several African-American men was left behind, and started meeting independently. Attempts to affiliate with the newly formed Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, and later with the United Grand Lodge of England were rebuffed, allegedly due to racial prejudice, so the lodge continued meeting, declared itself a grand lodge, and began chartering other lodges and grand lodges. It named itself after its first Worshipful Master, a leather worked named Prince Hall.
You wanted to be a Mason, and they did too!
Other clandestine lodges and grand lodges exist, but I wouldn't guess why these men did not just join recognized lodges.
Google: Dr Conrad Murray Freemason [Michael Jackson's last doctor], his garb looks impressive, but only to the non-mason. His collar carries a jewel I've never seen in lodge or grand lodge.
S&F