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The Phylaxis VOL XXXIV No 4 WINTER 2007

Iowa Masonic Library Mecca for Masonic Research The Phylaxis Society The Phylaxis A Society for Freemasons Who Seek More Light and Who PUBLISHED BY THE PHYLAXIS SOCIETY Have Light to Impart PO Box 2212 Tacoma WA 98401-2212 Web Site: http://www.thephylaxis.org

ELECTED OFFICERS PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE John B. Williams, FPS (Life) ...... President Raymond T. Coleman, FPS, Chairman 433 East Ramona Drive, Rialto, CA 92376 Brian Abrams, FPS Michael Delgado, FPS Ulysses Cooper, FPS ...... 1st Vice President Ralph McNeal, FPS 1307 W. 200 N, Clearfi eld, UT 84017 Ezekiel Bey, FPS Larry Moore, MPS ...... 2nd Vice President 114 Corey Ave., Rear, Braddock, PA 15104 Harold H. Bendaw, FPS ...... Treasurer The Phylaxis magazine 12617 Indian School Rd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112 David Archibald, FPS ...... Executive Secretary The Phylaxis is the offi cial publication of the Phylaxis Society. Any article appearing in this publication expresses the opinion of the 2206 East Sweet St., Tacoma, WA 98404 writer, and does not become the offi cial pronouncement of the Phylaxis Jessie Watkins, MPS ...... Financial Secretary Society. All rights are reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, PO Box 5674; Albuquerque, NM 87185-5674 or stored in any retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. Articles in The Phylaxis magazine are received from many APPOINTED OFFICERS sources and sometimes refl ect opposing views. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily refl ect those of the Phylaxis Howard Harvey Council of 459 President staff or the Phylaxis Society. Donald O. Nelson Council of 459 1st Vice President Ras Cannady Council of 459 2nd Vice President Look for us on the Internet at: Robert Campbell Council of Representatives President Edward B. Darnell Budget Chairman

Warren Broomer Audit Chairman www.thephylaxis.org Lawrence Haley Curator Roy H. Althouse Resident Agent John B. Williams The Phylaxis Editor Membership Information Inquiries relative to membership must be addressed COUNCIL OF 459 DIRECTORS to the Financial Secretary at the address below. Annual Stephen Hill Digital Archives membership or subscription is $35.00 per year, which Ras Cannady Council of Chapter Presidents includes a subscription to The Phylaxis magazine for one Ronald Wilson Life Membership year. Any regular Mason may become a member of the John U. Book Department Phylaxis Society. Individuals and organizations who do not Charles Johnson Special Affairs (Documentary) qualify as members may subscribe. Hayward Robinson Public Communications Ralph McNeal Commission on Bogus Masonic Practices John W. Newson Jno G. Lewis Medal of Excellence Brian Abrams Institute James “Rocky” Dallas Institute Subscription and Membership: $35 per year Herby Price, Jr. Masonic Sites MAIL RENEWALS AND NEW MEMBERSHIPS TO: Ulysses Cooper Phylaxis Gift Shop The Phylaxis Society

The Phylaxis Society is not a spokesman for Prince Hall . Post Offi ce Box 5675

Albuquerque, NM 87185-5675 Page 2 — THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 Contents rom the President. This issue looks at libraries and archiving from the perspective of 4 Fpreserving our history. Brother President tells us about his visits to and Arkansas.

rom the Membership. A member writes to encourage archiving. A non-Mason writes 4 Ffrom prison. PGM Lewis Myrick receives an award in .

owa Masonic Library. Brother President visits the Masonic Library and gives a 6 Ireport on what is believed to be the largest repository of books on Prince Hall Masonry in the world. He interviews the Librarian and the Grand Secretary of the of Iowa.

owa Masonic Library—Research Mecca. Brother Alton Roundtree tells how he used the 10 IIowa Masonic Library to write his book, Out of the Shadows.

istorical Masonic Site. Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Arkansas on State Street and Fourth 11 Hin Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

asonic Greetings and Responses. PGM Howard Woods updates his famous Masonic 12 Mgreeting with scriptural references to various .

ew York Lecture. In his last public appearance, Brother Walkes tells why he wrote the 13 NMasonic books he is famous for. Reformation. Brother Louis Anaya fi nds Masonic inspiration in the Book of Judges. 16

rkansas Grand Lodge Dedication. Brother President travels to Arkansas to observe the 18 Adedication of the new grand lodge building in Arkansas and to witness the opening of the fi rst research lodge to be organized in the jurisdiction. Convention Registration Forms. The time to register is upon us. 19

omputer Archives. Adobe Systems Incorporated confi rms their commitment to promoting 20 Cthe PDF format as a means of digital archiving. The pros and cons are presented here. This paper presents what may be an adequate solution to the problem of Masonic archiving.

reemasonry and Religion. The United Grand Lodge of England provides ammunition to 22 Foppose those who accuse Masonry of being a religious cult.

exas to Host the Society in 2008. Brother President visits the , host 23 Tfor the 2008 convention.

losing Charge. Past Grand Master Woods shares the closing charge he wrote for Prince 24 CHall Masons.

THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 — Page 3 From the President As a research society, it is all together appropriate that we We also hear from a long-time take an interest in libraries and in archiving, both of which patron of the Society, Past Grand go hand-in-hand. After all, much of the original material Master Howard Woods. He shares sought by historical researchers is to be found in the archives two pieces with us: his famous of lodges and grand lodges. What a shame it is that in an age Masonic Greeting as well as a of computerization and enlightenment, many of our archives special charge he wrote for Prince are being neglected beyond the point of shame. Part of the Hall Masons. problem is economic: we do not all have the wherewithal to establish fi le rooms, libraries, and museums in which Our annual session is fast to safeguard our valuable documents. Very often some of approaching and I believe that this, our lodges have only one archive: the desk of the secretary. the 35th anniversary of the Phylaxis When he retires, the fi les often retire with him and so does Society and the 25th anniversary of the history of the organization. This issue of The Phylaxis the Phyllis Chapter will be another magazine addresses archives and libraries. The next step is memorable session. We are working hard to make it so, for the historians among us to bring the issue of archiving and we anticipate that the session in Fort Worth may set a and preservation before each of their respective organizations record for attendance. All of our members and fellows are and that Prince Hall history in all our bodies and at all levels invited to attend the business session on Wednesday, March of organization can be preserved. 5th, and they along with other regular Masons may sign up for the Friday and Saturday seminars and workshops. On In this issue, we hear again from our founder and fi rst Wednesday evening everyone is invited to attend a special president, Brother Joseph A. Walkes. We present the talking meet and greet function where we will acknowledge our Jno paper he used in his last public appearance, which was at G. Lewis and Bryce E. Simmons Medal award winners. Abyssinian Baptist Church in . John B. Williams, FPS, Life

From the Membership Saving Our Masonic Records as our own, the collective depreciation could be enormous and would be a real disservice to those who contributed so Honorable Brethren, generously.

Fraternal greetings from a brother in Terre Haute, Your support and leadership will ensure the preservation . of our rich heritage for many generations to come.

This letter is in regards to a potentially disturbing situation. Please note: Contact a local professional (reference It concerns the condition of library books in the smaller blue librarian, museum curator, bookstore owner etc.) or search lodges and appendant Masonic bodies. on-line (www.google.com) for advice in helping you to protect your collection. Recently I’ve undertaken an extensive inventory of our temple library. To our dismay, most of the books have been Handling: unintentionally mishandled and neglected. Merely displaying • Wash and dry hands thoroughly. books in an enclosed bookcase is not enough to ensure long- term preservation. The entire collection was in dire need of • Handle books gently. cleaning and restoration. It was disheartening to witness the • Do not remove by pulling from the top of the book. deterioration of such fi nely crafted and inspired books. Push adjoining books inward and grasp near the spine. Be mindful of fi ngernails. In conjunction with the inventory, an assessment was made for scarcity and value. A vast majority were classifi ed as • Do not lie the book face down or force the book to lie ‘rare’ or better. The ‘market values’ were considerably higher open. than expected, but due to the condition of the collection, the • Shelve books uprightly, loosely and with similar sizes. monetary devaluations were quite signifi cant. Basic Cleaning: Proceed with caution! Use magnetic Hence, the purpose of this letter. I am seeking your help in wiping cloth, low powered vacuuming, plastic eraser ‘discreetly’ notifying (or reminding) the brotherhood to take (ink cannot be removed), fi lter mask and proper handling the necessary steps to protect their collections. Assuming techniques (hold the spine while vacuuming). there may be other Masonic libraries that are in a similar state Page 4 — THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 Preservation: Ideal conditions would be a dry/cool Letter from Washington State Prison environment, 68° -70°, 45% - 50% relative humidity and no ultra-violet light. Options would include a climate controlled An inmate of the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla room or the use of archival enclosures such as slip covers Walla, Washington wrote the following letter to the Phylaxis and storage containers. Society. The letter was written with a very light lead pencil Fraternally Yours, and was diffi cult to read: Bro. William Kennedy December 11, 2006 Social Lodge No. 86 F&AM Phylaxis Society, Terre Haute, IN 47807 Greetings, I write you this letter from Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) inquiring about your lodge and membership. The Allen E. Roberts Award Presented at I, Solomon R. Patu, am a temporary resident here the 134th Annual Communication of the at WSP. I have been studying Prince Hall Masonry for Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of quite some time now and have been trying to obtain Connecticut. knowledge on the Higher Degrees. I have been an avid reader of Prince Hall since 2004. I came into Over the years we have praised the Masons who have gone the knowledge of from a before for their diligence, perseverance, and bravery in the videocassette, from dialogues with Masonic members recognition of Prince Hall Affi liate Freemasonry. Men like and from dialog with Mustafa El-Amin, a Sunni Allen E. Roberts, Jerry Marsengill, Wallace E. McLeod and Muslim. a good number of “Mainstream” Grand Masters who had the I am a South Pacifi c Islander who was born and fortitude to bring the subject of recognition to their Grand raised in the system upon committing a felony crime Lodges. However, it seems to me that we have not given which was theft in the fi rst and second degree. I was suffi cient recognition to the fi rst Grand Master of Masons on once a member of the Nation of Islam and had attended the Prince Hall side. He like his “Mainstream” counter parts the services here at Washington State Prison, WSP, but took the bull by the horns and led his Grand Lodge forward. had stopped after I was placed in IMU. This Grand Master suffered the slings and arrows, not only Although I ask in my current position that I receive of “Mainstream” Masons but also those Masons of Prince some literature and study pamphlets on M. Prince Hall, Hall. Even today he is on the receiving end of those arrows I also would like to ask in the Goodwill of Universal by Prince Hall Affi liate Grand Masters who do not believe Freemasonry if I could receive some of my higher in recognition or who are jealous of the recognition of his degrees of the craft and the ritualistic ceremony guide Grand Lodge and others, or wanted blanket recognition of to the fi rst three degrees. all Prince Hall Affi liates. I am truly looking forwarded to corresponding with you and receiving the degrees. Today he still serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Sincerely yours, Solomon Ricky Patu Recognition of his Grand Lodge. A Prince Hall Grand Lodge that is recognized by some 85 Mainstream Regular Grand As you see, this is a man confi ned in prison seeking Lodges around the world. Last year he was honored by the knowledge of our Masonic fraternity. Obviously he has and proclaimed a Junior Grand obtained bits and pieces of our craft but not enough to Warden of that Grand Lodge. His Grand Lodge is known as satisfy his curiosity. My reply to Mr. Patu was: “Prince “FIRST IN RECOGNITION.” It is my pleasure and honor Hall Masonry’s requirements for membership differs from to announce the Allen E. Roberts award is presented to Most jurisdiction to jurisdiction; contact the Grand Lodge of the Worshipful Lewis Myrick, Sr., Past Grand Master of the state in which you will return following your release from Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Connecticut. prison and inquire about what their requirements are for membership.” I went on to advise him to read publications Nelson King FPS on Masonry available to him in the library at WSP; I also sent him the latest copy of our Phylaxis Magazine. I anticipate more letters from this brother and will submit them for publication in our magazine in order that we can follow his journey.

Jessie Watkins, MPS

At the 134th Annual Communication of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Connecticut I had the honor to represent the Allen E. Roberts Award to Lewis Myrick PGM. The Philalethes has only given out 3 of these awards. It was for Bro. Myrick leadership in Recognition. (Myrick-left, King-right) THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 — Page 5 Iowa Masonic Library by John B. Williams

Anyone involved in Masonic research should become Phylaxis: Brother Kreuger, can you tell us how the library acquainted with the Iowa Masonic Library, which is probably operates? the largest Masonic library in the world, and is undoubtedly the best place in the world to do Masonic research. And no Bill Krueger, Librarian: The library is open to anybody place on the planet has a richer collection on Prince Hall who wants to use the collection, both Masons and non- Masonry than the Iowa Masonic Library. A case in point: Masons. It’s basically open Monday through Friday, 8 to they have proceedings from the early periods of Prince Hall 12 and 1 to 5, but we will be open on weekends if need Masonry that the Prince Hall grand lodges themselves do be, depending on the availability of staff. We have probably not have. When the grand historian in my jurisdiction sought the largest collection of Masonic materials in the United to put together a collection of our proceedings, many of the States, including general histories, encyclopedias, and lodge gaps in our archives where fi lled by the library in Iowa. histories. We have a great Prince Hall collection, I think. We also have a pretty esoteric collection of religious materials On an extended road trip in the summer of 2007 I made it and books dealing with all types of religious topics. We have a point to travel to Des Moines, Iowa to see this remarkable a pretty good size proceedings collection, including Prince library. I was astounded by the vastness of the library and Hall proceedings. We have Prince Hall proceedings from I was impressed with the cooperation of the staff. I spoke most of the state jurisdictions in the United States. Not a lot with Bill Krueger, Librarian; William R. Crawford, Grand of the recent ones, but we have the earlier proceedings that Secretary; and Tim S. Anderson, Deputy Grand Secretary. some of the Prince Hall Masons have been asking us about. I know we have made copies for various individuals and organizations. Different grand lodges in the United States have asked about some of their early proceedings. They are available either to research here or if somebody wants to have copies of certain pages, it will be done at cost. We charge 15 cents per copy page. In some cases the proceedings are small enough we can fi t two pages of text onto one copy page. That can keep the cost down a little. You know 15 cents a page seems a little expensive, but it takes a little bit of time to do that. I think it’s well worth the cost. Those are the things that we offer, and if any one wants to contact us we are available either by telephone at 319-365-1438 or via e-mail at [email protected]@gl-iowa.org or by mail at PO Box279, Cedar Grand Secretary Crawford greets Phylaxis Rapids, Iowa 52406. President Williams at the Grand Lodge of Iowa.

Page 6 — THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 Phylaxis: I think your grand secretary wants to encourage grand lodges to send in their recent proceedings. We would like to offer the Prince Hall Grand Lodges a Krueger: Some grand lodges have the room to store their home for their records. proceedings, and that’s fi ne, but if they want a repository where they know the proceedings will always be available and be in a specifi c location, we’d be happy to add them documents, if they do not have a proper place to keep them, to our collection, and to continue to grow that collection of we would like to have those. In general we would be talking Prince Hall Proceedings and so forth. about proceedings. And occasionally a grand lodge will have someone write a history about that grand lodge; we would Phylaxis: How about having a collection on CD (compact like to have that kind of book. If they have material they disk). don’t know what to do with, that they don’t really have a home for, we would be pleased to keep it as a repository. Krueger: That’s all right. The one thing we don’t know It sometimes happens where you do not have a permanent about CDs is how long they will last. The technology may offi ce for your grand secretary, and we saw here in Iowa change in fi fty years or a hundred years, and we may not be when one grand secretary transitioned to another grand able to access that information. We get CD copies from our secretary, stuff just got left in a fi le area—literally in a closet. Caucasian grand lodges and we always ask for a hard copy And when the offi ce of the grand secretary is literally in the too so we can have those available. You never know if the desk of the grand secretary in his house, there is a limit how disk was burned properly, and if the CD gets scratched, some much material he wants to keep. If a grand lodge does not of your things are going to be lost. So we always ask for a have a comfortable home for their records but would like hard copy for long-term preservation. We know that paper to keep them historically forever and ever, they would be copies will last. here. All materials are always available to researchers, to the respective grand lodges and so on. We would like to offer the Phylaxis: Brother Crawford, you mentioned that you want Prince Hall Grand Lodges a home for their records. And we to encourage Prince Hall Grand Lodges to donate material. would appreciate being on the mailing list so that we add to the collection that way. William Crawford, Grand Secretary: Correct.

Phylaxis: What kinds of materials would you be interested in, and what kinds should they hold on to at their grand lodge.

Crawford: One is, we don’t want to take anything that they would want to keep for themselves. But if they have surplus proceedings going back from day one, we would like to have those in this library. Other important historical

Librarian Bill Krueger (left) and Deputy Grand Part of the Prince Hall collection Secretary Tim Anderson display a volume from the in the library stacks. Prince Hall collection. THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 — Page 7 Taken from the Web Site: www.gl-iowa.org Available Services beginning. Those of the York and Scottish Rite Bodies To be genuinely useful, a Library must be put freely at may also be found here. Many of these are not procurable the disposal of those who have a legitimate claim upon its today, and we have the founder of the library to thank for the services. Measured by this standard, the usefulness of the possession of these rarities, obtained by him as they were Iowa Masonic Library cannot be questioned. It has always issued. Also in these stacks will be found the proceedings of maintained a liberal position, and has not been content many foreign grand jurisdictions, their contents a valuable merely to permit its contents to he used upon request, but record of Masonic affairs and methods in other parts of the has throughout its history insistently called attention to globe. its privileges, inviting the Craft especially to use them in Masonic Journals generous measure. The reports of the Grand Librarian The library has always been diligent in securing a wide presented at the annual communications of the Grand Lodge range of Masonic journals, which include, besides those contain striking evidence that this invitation has had a wide of our own, most of the publications of all other English- acceptance. speaking countries, plus a considerable list of foreign Loans languages. Except for current issues they have been durably Except for rare and costly volumes which could not be bound, and contain an infi nite variety of material refl ecting replaced, and for single volumes which can be purchased the march of events in the Masonic world for over a century. only in complete sets, practically any book in the Library Some of this has never been published in book form, a fact may be borrowed under the usual requirements. Of course which emphasizes the value of the collection. the volumes which may not be loaned may be consulted at Rare Books the Library itself. Again largely due to the watchfulness and discrimination Clipping Bureau of our fi rst Grand Librarian, the library possesses some of the The Clipping Bureau consists of many thousands of items rarest Masonic publications in existence, among them being taken from duplicate copies of Masonic periodicals. These a copy of Franklin’s reprint of Anderson’s Constitutions cover addresses, orations, and articles given or read before (1723), which was the fi rst Masonic book published Masonic bodies; and a very large number of papers on various in America (1734). Here also is a copy of the Roberts’ Masonic topics prepared for publication. These items are Constitutions (1722), believed to be one of the only two loaned upon request, the enormous range of subjects relating copies known to exist. Several other works previous to 1750 to Masonry affording a mine of information, much of which are also to be found here, including all the early editions of has never been put in book form. Additions are continually the Anderson’s Constitutions, which are the foundation of all being made, steadily increasing the valuable service of this Masonic law. The entire list is too long to include here, but department. they may be seen by those who are interested. These rare volumes are now housed in a large, well Masonic ventilated vault in the new building. Many private collections Under the Masonic division, we fi nd a representative of Masonic books have come to the Iowa Masonic Library collection of books published from the time of the because of the protection that has been provided for them in organization of the premier Grand Lodge of England (1717) this new building. down through the years to the present. There are books upon every conceivable phase of Masonry: The Bower Collection Its history, traditions, symbolism, moral teachings, ritual, One of the fi nest and most extensive private Masonic jurisprudence, Masonic conditions abroad, anti-Masonic libraries ever formed in this country was assembled over a propaganda, histories and proceedings of grand lodges, both long period of years by Robert F. Bower of Keokuk, whose foreign and American, including those of many individual death occurred in 1882. Subsequently this was offered the lodges which have attained age and prominence. In addition Grand Lodge at a price of $4,000.00, far below its real value, to these may be found many volumes dealing with the and at the urgent recommendation of Theodore S. Parvin and Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Royal Arch, Council, others it was purchased in 1882. This important addition to Knights Templar, and other rites in Masonry, some of them the accumulation of nearly forty years immediately placed little known in this country. the Library in the front rank of all such institutions, and has proved the most valuable single acquisition of its long Proceedings career. The section devoted to the printed Proceedings of the many research lodges and societies is an important one, as The Arthur E. Waite Collection the work of these bodies has, on the whole, been of immense One of the most outstanding purchases of recent years value. Here are found the results of years of research and has been the collection of writings of Arthur E. Waite, a study given to the many phases of Masonry by her best well-known English Freemason and mystic. This formerly scholars. They have placed the Craft under lasting obligation belonged to the prominent Masonic scholar, H. V. B. by their unselfi sh and effective service. These publications Voorhies. The collection is of unusual value because of its cover a multitude of subjects, and have continued over a completeness and the rarity of some of its items which have long span of years. made it unique in its fi eld. There are 126 volumes in this The second fl oor stacks contain sets of the bound annual group, in addition to valuable articles and clippings. This proceedings, not only of Iowa, but of all other American collection is housed in a special, locked case on the third Grand Jurisdictions, most of the sets complete from the stack area.

Page 8 — THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 Taken from the Library Brochure

The Library Story Located near downtown Cedar Rapids, housed in a white is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. until noon, and 1 p.m. until marble structure, is the oldest, special collection in Iowa. 5 p.m. Free tours are available on a walk-in basis, although The Iowa Masonic Library was formed in 1845 at the urging groups of 10 or more are asked to call ahead. For more of Theodore S. Parvin. In that year the trustees of the Grand information or to schedule a tour, call (319) 365-1438 or Lodge of Iowa voted to allocate $5 to the foundation of a e-mail [email protected]@gl-iowa.org. Masonic Library. Under Parvin’s leadership, serving as The Iowa Masonic Library is reputed to be the largest Grand Secretary and Librarian for over 50 years, the library in the world, and is at least one of the top fi ve, with over amassed a collection of rare Masonic books considered to be 100,000 volumes. Both Masonic and general books are one of the fi nest in the world. included in the collections and the library is open to anyone, The library came to Cedar Rapids in 1884 after nearly a whether Masons or not. 40-year nomadic existence. The collection was moved from This building was completed in 1955 and replaced the Muscatine to Iowa City, to Davenport, back to Iowa City original building on the same location which had been built and fi nally to Cedar Rapids. In that year, the fi rst Masonic in 1884. The new building cost a little over $1,000,000. It Library Building in the world was opened to the public in is constructed of Marble, with grey marble from Cedar Rapids. It was expected to last 100 years, but no one Carthage, , lining the interior halls. Metal work in could have predicted the impact a physical building would the windows, doors and stair rails is of bronze. have on the collection. The collection grew so rapidly that The main portion of the building is over 245 feet long and the building housing it became inadequate, even after two 50 feet wide, while the library wing at the west end is 113 additions were built. Thus, in 1952, the old building was feet deep. demolished, and the present marble structure was opened on Located at 813 First Avenue S.E. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the same site in 1955. the building is open to visitors Monday through Friday from Today, the Iowa Masonic Library boasts one of the 8 a.m. until noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. world’s most complete collections of Masonic and general interest books. It also includes two museums, three special “The oldest, special collection in Iowa” Iowa Masonic Library and Museums Located at: collections and archives. In total, the Library holds thousands st of historical artifacts and well over 100,000 volumes. Grand Lodge of Iowa, A.F. & A.M. 8131 Ave. SE Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402-5001 Phone: 319-365-1438 Days and Hours Open Fax: 319-365-1439 The Iowa Masonic Library is located at 813 First Ave. E-mail: [email protected]@gl-iowa.org S.E. (Business U.S. 151) in Cedar Rapids. It is one of many Web: wwww.gl-iowa.orww.gl-iowa.org interesting cultural sites in the downtown area. The Library

A rare volume stored in “the vault,” a room that is exactly what its name suggests. It is a ventilated, temperature- cotrolled room secured with a bank-like vault door.

THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 — Page 9 Iowa Masonic Library: A Research Mecca By Alton G. Roundtree

The Iowa Masonic Library played a major role in writing “Out of the Shadows: The Emergence of Prince Hall There is so much Freemasonry in America (Over 225 Years of Endurance). information in one location Seemingly, all needed materials (proceedings, books, periodicals, and collections) are in the Iowa Masonic Library. that it is diffi cult to stay The Library collection of proceedings pertaining to Negro focused. or Colored Grand Lodges (today’s PH Grand Lodges) and information concerning allied and appendant bodies were imperative in the research effort. I could not have written Chapter Four () without visiting the Iowa Masonic Library. A trip has been made to the Library Many hours and days were devoted to reading Negro since the book was written and more information has been or Colored Grand Lodge Proceedings from 1847 to 1920. accumulated. Much information was found that refutes what has been written concerning the National Grand Lodge or National Five trips were made to the Iowa Masonic Library over a Compact. Since the argument against the National Grand period of three years. Two of the trips were for one week. Lodge is based on Prince Hall writers and undocumented There is so much information in one location that it is diffi cult information, this writer adamantly doubts that anyone can to stay focused. This writer learned early that it was best to produce information that can refute what is said in “Out develop a specifi c agenda for a visit to the Library and stick of the Shadows.” The information has always been in the to the agenda. There was not enough time in the work day. proceedings. Seemingly, the Prince Hall writers never read It is easy to lose track of time. Bill Krueger or Tim Anderson the proceedings. The National Grand Lodge cannot tell the would tap on the desk or fl ick the lights to let me know that true story because they do not have the proceedings. The it was time to call it a day. Prince Hall Grand Lodges kept the proceedings when they declared their independence from the National Grand Lodge or merged with an independent Grand Lodge since their history extends back to when they were under the National Grand Lodge. The Proceedings are in the Iowa Masonic Library.

If one wanted to do a reference check on “Out of the Shadows” they could easily contact the Iowa Masonic Library and ask for the referenced information. Much of the reference material is in the Iowa Masonic Library.

Truly, “service” is the by word with the staff at the Iowa Masonic Library. One can easily write the Library or call and have information reproduced and sent to them for the cost of printing and postage. Books can also be ordered for loan. No effort is spared in accommodating the seeker of information.

Bound proceedings of the Grand Lodge of go back to 1873. The proceedings of Prince Hall grand lodges are well preserved in the library’s stacks.

Page 10 — THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 This writer found the Harry A. Williamson and Joseph A. grand lodge. Walkes, Jr. collections to be helpful in writing the book. I found much information in those two collections. Williamson’s This writer is planning another trip to the Iowa Masonic level of organization of information is astonishing. In terms Library for one week to complete work on another book, of organization of information, one could easily surmise that The National Grand Lodge and Prince Hall Freemasonry: A Walkes was a student of Williamson.* Quiz Book. It is good to know that required information can be found in one place. One cannot talk about visiting the Iowa Masonic Library primarily to review Prince Hall Grand Lodge proceedings without telling the truth about the lack of a central repository of proceedings and other documents pertaining to Prince Hall Freemasonry. This writer has been asked why he did not contact the Grand Historian, Grand Librarian or Grand Secretary of the Prince Hall Grand Lodges instead of visiting the Iowa Masonic Library. First, in the Prince Hall world, Alton Roundtree is the a brother contacting a Grand Lodge directly is a breach of editor of the Prince Hall Masonic protocol. Even if one did contact a Grand Lodge, Masonic Digest (DC) and imagine the delays involved in receiving needed approvals. is an Actual Fellow of the Many Prince Hall grand lodges do not have complete sets of Phylaxis Society. proceedings. What Prince Hall grand lodge would permit a writer unlimited access to their proceedings without being able to censor what is written? What grand lodge could provide a brother to sit with a researcher for a week? The point is that it was not feasible to contact each Prince Hall * Note the Walkes comment on page 13. Ed.

Historical Masonic Site Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Arkansas

The Director for Historical Sites, Brother Herby Price, Jr., and the Deputy Director for Historical Sites, Brother Richard V. Johnson, are creating a database that will contain all Masonic sites, or as many as you will submit to us, whether or not they have been placed in the national register of historic sites. The logic is that any Masonic site may take on a historical signifi cance depending on how history plays out at the site. We identify Masonic sites and place them in the database while they still stand and can be located by latitude and longitude.

The building pictured belongs to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Arkansas and was their primary headquarters until their new building was occupied this year. See page 18.

GPS location: N 34° 13.576’ W 92° 00.151’

THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 — Page 11 Masonic Greetings and Responses by Howard L. Woods, PGM, MWPHGL of Arkansas

A version of this well known greeting and response recently circulated over the Internet. We went to the source and asked for an update. Past Grand Master Woods, the author, obliged with the version that follows. We fi nish this issue of The Phylaxis with a closing charge to Prince Hall Masons, also written by Past Grand Master Woods.

To: The and Daughters of Isis, we say to you, To: the members of the Order of Eastern Star, in the “Aleikum Es Salaam,” and as Abraham was the father of Book of Genesis, 1st Chapter, God had some ‘glory’ left and Arab through Ishmael, and the Jews through Isaac as found He fl ung it into the heavens and called them ‘stars.’ But in in the 16th chapter of Genesis, and as you travel over the Matthew 2, there is a question asked of Herod, Where is He Rough Sands of Life, tie your El Jamal (camel) to an Alaraf that was born King of the Jews, for we have seen His Star (palm tree), drink from the well of Zem Zem as Hagar and in the East … and of all the thousands of stars God placed Ishmael did, a loud voice from above, says, “Es Salaam in the heavens His is ‘Fairest among Thousands, Altogether Aleikum.” Lovely.’

To: The Illustrious Peers and Sublime Princes, as found in Last, but not least, To the Master Masons: You are the the 13th chapter of Genesis, “If you go to the right, I’ll go to foundations of all Prince Hall Masonry, all male and female the left. But, if you go to the left, I’ll go to the right.” We say houses, as found in the foundation of the Bible, the Book of to you in the words of Jacques de Molay, “Mea Speas in Deo Genesis, Chapter 1, verses 1, 2, and 3, testifi ed to by John the Est, and Deus Memque Jus!” Evangelist in his book, Chapter 1, verse 1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word To: the Loyal Ladies of the Golden Circle, see the 40th was God.” Therefore my brethren, as the plain white apron, chapter of Isaiah, the only place the word “circle” is found in which was given to you at the beginning, wear it proudly the Bible, and after that, Ephesians 4th chapter, then we say, while you are living, and we will say it now, and as it fl oats “One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism.” down on your grave, at your home going, and all Master Masons will say with fi nality, “So Mote it Be!” To: the Knights Templar, draw your sword in defense of Maidenhood and the Christian religion, “In Hoc Signo Response: Substitute “To” with “On behalf of.” Vinces,” or as found in Isaiah 8, “Marharslalarhashbaz.”

To: The Cyrene/Crusaders, as found in John 12, choose the ‘good part,’ “for the poor shall be with you always.”

To: the Masons, as found in Genesis 9, Brother Howard Woods when putting on the Vestments, remember the last thing that is Grand Master Emeritus goes on: “Holiness to the Lord,” then you will understand of the Prince Hall Grand the “bow in the heavens.” Lodge of Arkansas and he served as Grand Master of To: the Heroines of Jericho, as found in Joshua 2, God that jurisdiction for several exalts those of low birth, as in Rahab, sometimes to save decades. He also served as His people, “Our lives for yours, if you utter not this our President of the Conference of business,” or Matthew 21, “Tell ye Daughter of Zion, Behold, Grand Masters. thy king cometh.”

Page 12 — THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 New York Lecture by Joseph A. Walkes, Jr.

Why do I write so many books on Prince Hall Freemasonry?

First let me thank Grand Master Calvin Martin and the I completed a new book, The Legacy of Harry A. Prince Hall and the Committee Williamson: Prince Hall Primer and Digest, and look On Masonic Education for inviting me to give this lecture. forward to its publication by Anchor Communications in Lancaster, soon. In my history of the Shrine and the To my Sweet Jeannette; to the Ira S. Holder, Sr. Chapter United Supreme Council, Northern Jurisdiction, I along with (Brother Holder was Grand Historian Emeritus of New York, my better half, fl ew to New York several times and spent and every Prince Hall grand lodge needs a grand historian. days going through and trying to untangle the Williamson I am a grand historian of Missouri. Ray Coleman from the Collection.* I will never forget taking a break during one mother grand lodge is grand historian); to Doric Chapter; to of these research trips, looking out the window, and seeing Great Lakes Chapter; to Lamont Dixon (our Prince Hall)... the Harlem Hospital across the street. This is where I was born three scores and ten years ago, and I have always been Thank your for your presence today. It is an inspiration to proud to call my self a native New Yorker, and especially be with you. I only have the opportunity to pray and write. being raised in Brooklyn. I had my publishers microfi lm the After today you may wish I had prayed more. entire Williamson Collection so I would have it at home and to save me from fl ying back and forth to the Schomburg as I There is a tendency for the old to lecture the young. continued to pursue writing about my love, which is Prince We can only hope, after all is said and done, that we old Hall Freemasonry. It also gave me the time to untangle the guys will have a few friends left. If I am never invited back collection. Masonically by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge, then I will understand. There is no money to be made writing Masonic books. I wrote in Black Square and Compass, “My observation I stand on sacred ground and feel I should remove my is that I do not see book buying or borrowing high in the shoes as this is the site where Bro. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. priority list of black people,” and this is sad as it refl ects on followed in his fathers footsteps and turned this church into the problems of the race and the problems today in Prince a veritable command post for his many civic protests and Hall Freemasonry. Nevertheless, I brought copies of Prince subsequent political activities. For over 30 years this Prince Hall’s Mission in case there are those who are interested in Hall Freemason from Boyer Lodge No. 1 was Powell the how I became what I am today. I will of course autograph preacher and Powell the politician, and he used the church any copies of any of my books. My books have opened a as a base to preach the gospel and save souls. That brought world for me that I did not know existed when I became a him to the halls of Congress, and in the process, he became Master Mason. an American dilemma. The great Prince Hall scholar Harry A. Williamson from the Prince Hall Grand Lodge Of New I now feel that I have been blessed to have met and York noted that Powell was one of the great Prince Hall fellowshipped with so many Freemasons across the world, Freemasons in America. There is an unknown story of his black and white, Prince Hall and mainstream. Each has left a life and times as a Prince Hall Freemason that needs to be strong impression on me and made me what I have become. I told, and New York needs to tell it. will talk about many things, and I hope that when you leave, you will be able to say that you learned something from this You brothers in this area or jurisdiction are blessed to have lecture. had Harry A. Williamson as a member of your jurisdiction and doubly blessed to have the Williamson Collection Lerone Bennett, Jr., of Ebony Magazine, in his book, housed in the Schomburg Library here in Harlem. Though I The Shaping of Black America, noted that the founding noted some areas of concerns for the collection in my Prince fathers of America were not the founding fathers of black Hall’s Mission book, yet in all, we as Prince Hall Freemasons America, and that we need to rethink the entire structure of should be proud of the work of this outstanding man and the history of this great country, with all of its problems. He Mason, Brother Harry A. Williamson. *See the Roundtree comment on page 11. Ed.

THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 — Page 13 noted that Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Jefferson’s slaves ...the founding fathers lived a different Declaration of Independence, a different revolution and a different America. It is interesting to note of black America were for that the founding fathers of black America were for the most the most part Prince Hall part Prince Hall Freemasons, with Prince Hall himself as Freemasons... one of our nation’s founding fathers. The founding fathers of mainstream America were, for the most part, slave owners, and that being the case, we want little to do with them historically, and this is the reason I use the term Africa We must never forget the words of John Henrick Clark— America. an icon of African-American literature: What we do for ourselves, depends on what we Prince Hall Freemasonry was the fi rst interstate know about ourselves. Until we free ourselves from organization in Africa America, and we must drink of the dependence on other people we will never be free. knowledge of it and the knowledge of our beloved Patron What we do for ourselves, depends on what we Saint Prince Hall. Most of us have read his charges to African know about ourselves, and what we are willing to Lodge No. 459. You can fi nd them in Charles Wesley’s accept about our selves. book, Prince Hall Life and Legacy. Phillip S. Foner in his When other people control what we think about book, The Voice of Black America, notes that Prince Hall’s ourselves, they control what we do for ourselves. Masonic sermon of June 24, 1797 was the earliest published We must reclaim our heritage, in order to be a total speech by a black American, but he was off about fi ve years. people. We can confront the world if fi rst we confront However, Prince Hall’s charge to African Lodge No 459, ourselves. on the 25th of June 1792, was in reality the fi rst published We can change the world if fi rst we change speech by a black American. Prince Hall declares something ourselves. that many of us have overlooked. Said Prince Hall: “I shall now shew what progress Masonry hath made since the siege Why do I write so many books on Prince Hall Freemasonry? and taking of Jerusalem in the year 70 AD.” And he asked I think I have written ten books to include The History Of this question: “Query whether at that day, when there was The Prince Hall Grand Lodge Of North Carolina and The an African church, and perhaps the largest Christian church Legacy of Harry A. Williamson: The Prince Hall Primer on earth…” and then he gives a fascinating history of our And Digest, both which are due to be published soon. As heritage. far as North Carolina is concerned, my sweet Jeannette is a native of that state, and when she told me that the Prince Hall Brethren if you have never read these charges of Prince Masons established the entire educational system in the state Hall to African Lodge, you should not only read them, but for African-Americans, I took that with a grain of salt—until study them as this is a part of your history. Some of our I did the necessary research and learned that it was true! Do researchers have taken this charge of Prince Hall and traced you know that at one time there were nine sitting Prince Hall that history back to the 80,000 Egyptians who worked on grand masters who were born in North Carolina serving in King Solomon’s Temple, to the black Egyptian soldiers who nine jurisdictions across Prince Hall Freemasonry, one being were members of the Theban Legion. These black knights your own Solomon Wallace. who in October 27, 312 AD took the Greek letters Chi Rho and placed it on their shields with the words, Alpha Omega. Many have asked me why I have written so many books on Prince Hall Freemasonry. When I was in the military By the study of our own heritage we today have the Chi I used to always carry a footlocker full of Masonic books Rho Fraternity, PHA. Many of us have been swept up by Dan that I had purchased from Macoy. I loved to read works on Brown’s Da Vinci Code because of its Masonic implications, our fraternity. But then it dawned on me, “Where were the but in Prince Hall’s charge to African Lodge we can learn of books on Prince Hall Freemasonry?” the true reality of our fraternal history and Chi Rho and what it means to us as Prince Hall Freemasons. I organized the Phylaxis Society to tell the Masonic world the true story of Prince Hall Freemasonry, to get At http://www.thephylaxis.org* you will fi nd the history those who were writing negative things about Prince Hall of Chi Rho; you will also fi nd my web site. Take the time Freemasonry off of our backs, and to force, and yes I said to study it. I know that many belong to various greek letter force, mainstream Freemasonry to recognize us. To fi ll this fraternities, but Chi Rho is our own Prince Hall version. gap, I wrote Black Square And Compass to let the world realize that we as Prince Hall Freemasons also had a history that we were proud of and we would tell it to the world! You * This is the new web site. The site referred to in the speech cannot separate black history from Prince Hall Freemasonry; redirects to this one. Page 14 — THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 Holder brought in more than one hundred members from You cannot separate black New York into the Phylaxis Society. He wrote the history of Widows Son Lodge No. 11 and his writings were featured in history from Prince Hall many issues of The Phylaxis magazine. His life showed the Freemasonry; one leads to importance of a grand lodge having grand historians. New the other... York is blessed to have Ezekiel Bey as a member as he has a command of the history of Prince Hall Freemasonry in New York. I have been a grand lodge historian for more years than I want to count. Every Prince Hall grand lodge needs one leads to the other and visa versa. Let me tell you a true to have a grand historian because the history of Prince Hall story to explain my meaning. Freemasonry must be written by Prince Hall Freemasons. We must never allow anyone else to write our history. In March of 1879 in St. Louis, Missouri, black history records that a boat pulled into the harbor and let its passengers While I established the Phylaxis Society 32 years ago off—several hundred of them. The passengers, it turned and served as its president for that many years, its only goal out, were all black Southerners. No one was expecting this was to tell the story of Prince Hall Freemasonry to universal mass of suffering humanity. If you know anything about Freemasonry. Now, with the help of a handful of dedicated St. Louis, in March it is cold. Snow is on the ground and brothers we have established the association of Prince Hall temperatures are in the low nothings. They were dressed Masonic Letters to review all of the works now being written in cotton clothes, most barefooted, had no coats and had no about Prince Hall Freemasonry. This being an internet funds. Black history records that two individuals, though creation to assist those who want to write about Prince Hall shocked to see this mass of humanity land on the shore of St. Freemasonry. Louis, took immediate action when they realized what was going on. One was Brother J. Milton Turner, one of the most This is what it is all about. The blood that fl ows in our recognized blacks in St. Louis, a former ambassador to the veins is that of Prince Hall, one of our nation’s founding Republic of Haiti, and well respected among the elite of St. fathers, and we tell all that Prince Hall Freemasonry made Louis. The other was Moses Dickson, a past grand master of black America what it is today, and we are proud to follow the Prince Hall . in his footsteps.

Turner, a Prince Hall Freemason, organized a committee of I would like to close with a statement made in June 1974 prominent citizens, black and white, of St. Louis to assist the by Rosamond A. Mark in his report to the Prince Hall Grand newly arrived mass of black folks. Moses Dickson organized Lodge of New York as grand historian: a committee of 25 also to help. Reading the proceedings of We realize that the historian is to seek the truth, then the Prince Hall grand lodge we learned that Dickson was a tell it without fear or favor. We also realize that without member of Prince Hall Lodge No. 1 in St. Louis and the lodge the past there’d be no present or future. This offi ce of had exactly 25 members. So it was the Prince Hall Masons grand historian endeavors to fulfi ll the responsibility who came to the rescue of these poor folks from the South of keeping afresh the values of the past, while praising who later came to be called exodusers and were the beginning the achievements, and also cherishing the memories of of the black migration to Kansas after Reconstruction. The our forefathers. proceedings of the Prince Hall grand lodge do not mention The present is to improve upon the past where this exactly, but using black history and the proceedings, one needed and to seek new methods of bringing more light can understand the Masonic implications. We later learned into the distant past, so that the future generations can that the grand master at the annual communication of the be blessed with a fuller knowledge of their heritage and Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Missouri called both of these a better understanding of Prince Hall Freemasonry. brothers up before the craft, and thanked them. The minutes do not say why they were being thanked, but we understand This explains why I write the books that I write. what was not written. My brothers I hope I didn’t keep you too long, and I want to Why do I write so many books on Prince Hall thank you for listening to this old man and his mumblings. Freemasonry? Because I love black history, and I love Prince Hall Freemasonry, and all of us who are Prince Hall I say these things in the name of Prince Hall. Freemasons must understand that the blood of Prince Hall fl ows in our veins. So mote it be.

We have in attendance some of the members of the Phylaxis Society’s Ira S. Holder, Sr. Chapter of Brooklyn. Brother

THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 — Page 15 Brother Joseph A. Walkes, Jr. (1933-2006) was the founder of the Phylaxis Society and was its fi rst president.

The speech given by Brother Walkes at Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York was his last public appearance. The Committee on Masonic Education MWPHGLNY made an excellent DVD recording of the event and makes the DVD available at a nominal cost.

Reformation by Louis Anaya During daily scriptural readings with my wife, I Lord for help. encountered a passage in Judges that I found relevant to Masonry. It concerns reformation. Reformation is crucial We see in Judges 6:1 that the Israelites did evil in the eyes to the continued growth of our Venerable Institution, and is of the Lord, and for seven years, he gave them into the hands crucial to growth within ourselves in our daily lives. of the Midianites. Forty years after the deliverance through the leadership of Deborah and Barak, Israel forgot God. So Reformation: The act of reforming, or the state of God began the process of discipline. The Midianites made being reformed; change from worse to better; correction life miserable for Israel. They took away Israel’s hope. Each or amendment of life, manners, or of anything vicious or Spring, Israel would plant their crops and tend them carefully corrupt; as, the reformation of manners; reformation of the during the growing season. Then, when time for the harvest age; reformation of abuses. came, the Midianites would descend and take the harvest.

Let us examine the scripture fi rst. That way, we can touch You have to ask yourselves how the people could turn upon the spiritual aspect of Reformation and witness an their backs on God again, especially after being delivered so instance that pertained to God. We read in Judges: many times from their enemies? [6:1] The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord turned them over to Midian for seven years. Continuing into Judges, after the Israelites cried out to [6:2] The Midianites overwhelmed Israel. Because God, God answered. He sent them a Prophet, who if you of Midian the Israelites made shelters for themselves are familiar with the passage, was Gideon. Understand in the hills, as well as caves and strongholds. [6:3] that Gideon was no soldier; he was just a farmer until he Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the was called upon by God to be His vessel of purpose. But Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east before Gideon could become a deliverer, he had to become would attack them. [6:4] They invaded the land and a reformer. Gideon had to attack the real root of the devoured its crops all the way to Gaza. They left problem-and that was not the Midianites. God was using the nothing for the Israelites to eat, and they took away Midianites because Israel had turned her back upon God and the sheep, oxen, and donkeys. [6:5] When they invaded was worshiping idols. Listen to these words of instruction with their cattle and tents, they were as thick as locusts. that God gave to Gideon: Neither they nor their camels could be counted. They “That same night the Lord said to him, ‘Take the came to devour the land. [6:6] Israel was so severely second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven weakened by Midian that the Israelites cried out to the years old. [Let me just pause here and say that this bull Page 16 — THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 • Do we practice reform on a wide scale with our broth- Not one of us arrives in ers who seem lost or have transgressed against others? Masonry with his Spiritual • Do we promote the progression of brothers who have Temple complete. reformed? • Do we shun brothers away, then loose them from the had been born the same year that the Midianites had Fraternity? gained control over Israel]. Tear down your father’s • If we choose to practice reformation to an even greater altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. extent than we do now, how will that impact our brother- Then build a proper kind of altar to the Lord your God hood as a whole? on the top of this bluff using the wood of the Asherah • Do we constantly recall the few indiscretions of our pole that you cut down; offer the second bull as a burnt offering.’” (Judges 6:25-26). brother’s past, and forget the progress and good he does in the present, failing to encourage him moving forward? Israel could not be delivered from the grip of the Midianite oppression until the sins that had caused the problem had We should all remember that when we place a candidate been dealt with. Gideon’s fi rst act was not against the in due form about the altar, and we place our hands upon his Midianites, but against the very pagan altar that his own head, we impart these honorable words: father had built. Notice that Gideon could have gone around Vouch Safe thine aid, Almighty Father of the the nation proclaiming that God wanted all the pagan altars Universe, to this our present convention, and grant that torn down. It is pretty easy to tell someone else what they this candidate for Masonry… may BECOME a true should be doing. It is quite another thing to do it yourself. and faithful brother among us! And this, the latter, is exactly what Gideon did. In the truest form, Gideon practiced what he would later preach. Become!

Verse 27 states that Gideon tore down this altar, which I emphasize Become because from the years of youth well was right in his own back yard, late at night when no one into the years of old age, we continue to build that Spiritual was around. His heart was still very fearful. But, fearful or Temple. Not one of us arrives in Masonry with his Spiritual not, he did as God had commanded him. Temple complete.

But, I want us to notice another precious and important On that note, I conclude in hopes that the GAOTU truth found in verse 28. There we read: “In the morning continues to bless our Honorable Fraternity. when the men of the town got up, there was Baal’s altar, demolished, with the Asherah pole beside it cut down and “We take good men and make them Better Men.” the second bull sacrifi ced on the newly built altar!”

Reformation is not only about tearing down that which is offensive to God, but also about building that which is pleasing to God. Hint, brothers: That Spiritual Building not Brother Louis Anaya is currently made by hands. It is not enough to shout against the evils of the Senior Warden of Garrison our times or the evils of one another, but we must instill the Lodge #45 in . His truths about God in ourselves and in the lives of others. passion within the annals of Prince Hall Freemasonry is Masonic We must take from this example of reformation and look Education. inside ourselves:

Top Phylaxis Membership

1. Texas 82 6. Virginia 31 2. California 69 7. North Carolina 29 3. Washington State 37 8. 27 4. Maryland, 34 9. Louisiana 26 5. Missouri, New York 32 10. 25

THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 — Page 17 Arkansas Grand Lodge Dedication and Opening of New Research Lodge

In an atmosphere charged with a sense of history and purpose, the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Arkansas dedicated and consecrated its magnifi cent new grand lodge building, and on the same day opened its fi rst ever research lodge.

Photos, clockwise from top right: W.M. A. S. Holman holds the charter for the Hierophantes de Trismegistus Research Lodge; charter members of the new research lodge; brothers and sisters observe the laying of the cornerstone; brothers assemble before lining up to march in procession to the cornerstone ceremony; and Grand Master Cleveland Wilson performs the cornerstone ceremony.

Page 18 — THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 CONVENTION REGISTRATION FORM HISTORIC PHYLAXIS 35th /PHYLLIS 25th ANNUAL SESSIONS Radisson Fort Worth North—Fossil Creek 2540 Meacham Blvd; Fort Worth, TX 76106 Phone Toll Free 1-888-201-1718 or Local 1-817-625-9911 MAIN DATES MARCH 6 THRU 8, 2008 Make room reservations directly with the hotel; Convention registration is as follows: NAME ADDRESS CITY ______STATE______ZIP TELEPHONE ______E-MAIL PHYLLIS MEMBERS: AUXILIARY NAME

ADVANCE REGISTRATION ___ $ 90.00 SATURDAY REGISTRATION ___ $ 70.00 (Registration, Luncheon & Banquet) LATE REGISTRATION ___ $ 115.00 (After February 15, 2008) THURSDAY BUS TOUR ___ $ 10.00 Total $______

ADDITIONAL TICKETS: Luncheon $30.00, Banquet $40.00 Luncheon: (#Fri) ______(#Sat) ______Banquet ______Total $______

Send to: The Phylaxis Society Convention Fund; PO Box 5675; Albuquerque, NM 87185-5675 CUT HERE SOUVENIR BOOK ADVERTISING RATES: Make check or money order payable to: Outside Back Cover $150.00 MW PH Grand Lodge of Texas Inside Back Cover 125.00 Full Page 100.00 Half Page 60.00 Send ad copy to: MWPHGL of Texas Quarter Page 35.00 PO Box 1478 Patron 15.00 Fort Worth, TX 76101 DEADLINE DATE: FEBRUARY 10, 2008 AIRPORT SHUTTLE REQUEST Detach Shuttle Request and mail to: MWPHGL of Texas; PO Box 1478; Fort Worth, TX 76101

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THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 — Page 19 Computer Archives: PDF as a Standard For Archiving By John B. Williams

During the early days of digital computers there was much country and it is likely to continue in use as an archiving hype about a paperless society in which all institutional and standard for many years to come. The reason is that the PDF private records would be stored in electronic form in digital format overcomes virtually all the original objections to archives. Such a society has yet to come about, and there using computer fi les for archiving documents. are several reasons for it. Let’s fi rst discuss some of the problems and then let’s show how the technology of PDF Planning and establishing digital archives reveals another archiving may be able to solve these problems and overcome problem faced by organizations and businesses in today’s the objections. computerized environment. During the days of typing pools and central fi ling facilities, an organization had centralized Early attempts at computerized archiving and the paperless access to its historical records. Today’s workers create society relied on either emulation or migration. Emulation correspondence on their computers; there is no central archive involves recreating the environment in which the archived where all of an organization’s documents are stored. When document was created. For example, documents may have a worker moves on, often the correspondence he generated been saved on fl oppy disks and in order to open them the for the organization goes with him. With a digital archive, researcher had to fi nd the original computer program used organizations can require that copies of correspondence to create the document and had to fi nd a computer having and reports be sent to a central repository in PDF format the capabilities of the original computer as well. Migration for access by any authorized offi cial (auditors, legal staff, involves moving data to new storage media and new board of directors, etc.) This promotes more effi cient sharing hardware when the original software, media or hardware of information and it contributes to retention of corporate become obsolete. Emulation is ineffi cient, and migration knowledge. proves to be labor intensive and prone to errors. Typically, such a digital archive can also be implemented at In 1992, Adobe Systems, Incorporated sought to fi nd a a cost less than would be required for a paper archive. Adobe “universal way to communicate documents across a wide estimates that a new worker is required for every twelve variety of machine confi gurations, operating systems, and fi ling cabinets in an organization. Also, “while professionals communications networks.” They developed the technology spend 5% to 15% of their time reading information, they known as PDF (portable document format) to meet this need. spend up to 50% of their time looking for it.” With the search PDF fi les can be viewed and printed on any operating system capability of modern computers, fi nding a document in a (UNIX®, Mac OS, Microsoft® Windows®, etc) provided digital archive will be much faster than fi nding it in a paper the system has the Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available archive. free from Adobe.com. Adobe Systems reminds us that archived “records must PDF documents are not like word processing documents be authentic, reliable, complete, unaltered, and usable, and because the person accessing the document cannot edit or that the electronics systems that support the records must change the content except in special circumstances. Also, the be able to protect their integrity over time.” This is true for content can be viewed even if the application used to create paper archives and for digital archives. Adobe goes on to the original document is no longer available. Plus, the PDF explain what this means as it related to PDF fi les: fi le captures not only the data contained in the document but Authentic: It must be possible to prove that a record it captures the exact form of the document—the actual look is what it purports to be, that it has been created or and feel of the original including the original fonts, graphics, sent by the person who claims to have created or sent and signatures. it, and that it was sent at the time alleged. This can be accomplished by use of metadata, which is data There is a big push across the nation and around the world about the data. In the case of PDF fi les, metadata to adopt the PDF format as both a national and international can be programmatically embedded inside of the fi le, standard for digital archiving. PDF is already so widely used thereby ensuring that it is what it purports to be. The that it is fact a de facto standard for digital archiving in this creation, receipt, and transmission of records need to be

Page 20 — THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 controlled to ensure that record creators are authorized a high level of security. PDF fi les can also be secured and identifi ed. While this is usually a function of the with password protection and encryption. Addition- overall electronic records management system, there are ally, there are third-party digital signature and public certain features of PDF fi les, such as security settings, key infrastructure (PKI) solutions for PDF documents that support the establishment of authenticity. Electronic from companies such as Entrust, Inc., and VeriSign, signatures are an additional level of authenticity that Inc. Their products work within the Adobe Acrobat’” can be applied to PDF fi les. In electronic transactions, application as plug-ins. a PDF fi le can combine data on who used the system, Usable: It must be possible to locate, retrieve, render, when they used it, what they did while using it, and the and interpret a record and understand the sequence results of the transaction. A savvy programmer can use of activities in which it was created and used for as PDF fi les to capture and preserve as many elements long as such evidence is required. The newest feature of the electronic transaction as possible, specifi cally, of encapsulating XML metadata into the PDF fi le the complete “visual presentation” of the transaction to ensures that record-quality meta data will be readable the user. Sometimes this visual presentation is shown and accessible into the future. Additionally, PDF fi les back to the user for confi rmation. This can signifi cantly are available for full-text search. Many well-known improve an organization’s ability to meet the tests of software vendors, such as Verity, Hummingbird, and admissibility, since the record of the transaction will be Convera, have integrated PDF fi les into their full-text the same as what the user confi rmed to be acceptable at search engines for many years. This is because the PDF the time of the transaction. fi le specifi cation and software development kit (SDK) Reliable: It must be possible to trust that the are publicly available, and a complete PDF library content of a record is an accurate representation of used for PDF software development and integration is the transaction to which it attests. It should be created available for a nominal fee. and captured in a timely manner by an individual who System integrity: It must be possible to implement has direct knowledge of the event, or it should be control measures such as access monitoring, user generated automatically by processes routinely used verifi cation, authorized destruction, security, and by the organization to conduct the transaction. This is disaster mitigation to ensure the integrity of the records. particularly true for records of electronic transactions. The reliability of systems is important to ensuring Using the PDF specifi cation, a system integration fi rm integrity, and records management applications excel can automate the capture of digital records in PDF at this because they are designed with this in mind. directly from the source application, whether it is a Using a well-documented fi le format as an archival database, a word proces sor, or a spreadsheet program. standard is also important to ensuring individual Complete and unaltered: It must be possible to document integrity. The PDF specifi cation has been protect a record against unauthorized alteration and to used by scores of vendors to create unique applications monitor and track any authorized annotation, addition, that help ensure integrity. The direct integration of or deletion. Records management policies and third-party digital signature and PKI solutions is one procedures should specify what, if any, additions or example. annotations may be made to a record after it is created, under what circumstances additions or annotations may This paper is based on the Adobe Systems Incorporated be authorized, and who is authorized to make them. White Paper, PDF as a Standard for Archiving available This is typically in the realm of metadata changes not on adobe.com © 2006 with express permission from Adobe changes to the record itself. The records management Systems Incorporated. system where PDF fi les are stored will typically provide Archives of the Phylaxis Society If you are a member of the Phylaxis Society, have access to a fl atbed scanner, and would like to help the Phylaxis Society archive its documents, please send an e-mail message to [email protected]

THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 — Page 21 Freemasonry and Religion United Grand Lodge of England

Periodically we must refresh ourselves and gather facts to refute those detractors who accuse us of practicing cultism. This statement from the United Grand Lodge of England needs to be recirculated on occasion.

In the light of recent comments on Freemasonry and FREEMASONRY COMPARED WITH RELIGION— religion and inquiries to be held by various churches into the Freemasonry lacks the basic elements of religion: compatibility of Freemasonry and Christianity, the Board has decided to issue the following statement in amplifi cation (a) It has no dogma or theology (and by for-bidding of that originally approved by Grand Lodge in September religious discussion at its meetings will not allow a Masonic 1962 and confi rmed by Grand Lodge in December 1981. dogma to develop).

BASIC STATEMENT—Freemasonry is not a religion, (b) It offers no sacraments. nor is it a substitute for religion. It demands of its members belief in a Supreme Being, but provides no system of faith (c) It does not claim to lead to salvation, by works, secret of its own. Its rituals include prayers, but these relate only to knowledge or any other means (the secrets of Freemasonry are the matter instantly in hand and do not amount to the practice concerned with modes of recognition, not with salvation). of religion. FREEMASONRY SUPPORTS RELIGION—Free- Freemasonry is open to men of any faith, but religion may masonry is far from indifferent to religion. not be discussed at its meetings. Without interfering in religious practice, it expects each THE SUPREME BEING—The names used for the member to follow his own faith, and to place his duty to Supreme Being enable men of different faiths to join in God (by whatever name He is known) above all other prayer (to God as they see Him) without the terms of the duties. Its moral teachings are acceptable to all religious. prayer causing dissension among them.

There is no Masonic God: a Freemason remains committed Why is a Master addressed as “Worshipful”? to the God of the religion he professes. Few Masonic matters are less understood by the non- Freemasons meet in common respect for the Supreme Masonic public than this. The word “worchyppe” or Being, but He remains Supreme in their individual religions, “worchyp” is Old English, and means “greatly respected.” In and it is no part of Freemasonry to attempt to join religions the Wycliffe Bible “Honor thy father and thy mother” appears together. There is therefore no composite Masonic God. as “Worchyp thy fadir and thy modir.” English and Canadian mayors are still addressed, “Your Worship.” In some of the VOLUME OF THE SACRED LAW—An open Volume Old Constitutions of Masonry is the phrase, “Every Mason of the Sacred Law is an essential part of every Masonic shall prefer his elder and put him to worship.” meeting. The Volume of the Sacred Law to a Christian is the Bible; to Freemasons of other faiths it is the book held holy “Worshipful,” therefore, in modern Masonry continues an by them. ancient word meaning “greatly respected.” A Grand Master is “Most Worshipful,” that is, “Most greatly respected” (except in THE OATHS OF FREEMASONRY—The obligations , where the Grand Master is “Right Worshipful,” taken by Freemasons are sworn on or involve the Volume as are Pennsylvania’s and Texas’ Past Grand Masters). of the Sacred Law. They are undertakings to keep secret a Freemason’s means of recognition and to follow the principles Statement of the Board of General Purposes of Freemasonry. The physical penalties are simply symbolic. United Grand Lodge of England The commitment to follow the principles of Freemasonry is June 12, 1985 deep, and entirely appropriate to this form of obligation.

Page 22 — THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 Texas to Host the Society in 2008

Grand Master Wilbert Curtis and the Grand Lodge of Texas will host the Phylaxis Society at its 35th annual session at the Radisson Fort Worth North, 2540 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76106. Look on our web site and elsewhere in this issue for registration forms. The main meeting dates are March 6 through March 8, 2008 and all members and fellows of the Phylaxis Society are encouraged to be present for two days of Masonic exchange and fraternization with some of the best minds in Masonry.

Brother President visited Texas during their grand session in June of 2007. As a consequence of the renewed activity in Texas, the Texas jurisdiction now has the largest complement of Phylaxis members of all Prince Hall jurisdiction; it recently supplanted California to capture that honor after moving up from fi fth place.

Phylaxis Society President Visits Texas in 2007. Pictured: seated - PGM Howard Woods of Arkansas. Standing, front, left to right - PGM Edwin B. Cash, Texas; PM John B. Williams, the Phylaxis Society; MWGM Deary Vaughn, Oklahoma; and RW Ronald James, Arkansas. Standing, rear, left to right: RW Costroma Willis, RW John McNeil, and MWGM Cleveland Wilson of Arkansas, host for the 2010 annual session of the Phylaxis Session.

Photo by Bernard S. Brown MWGM Wilbert Curtis delivers his annual address to a joint session of the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter in June of 2007. Photo by John Williams

THE PHYLAXIS — Winter 2007 — Page 23 CLOSING CHARGE for PRINCE HALL MASONS By: Howard L. Woods, PGM, Arkansas

y Brethren, you are about to leave this sacred retreat, to return to a world that may or may not be friendly. Yet, we are Prince Hall Masons, bound by the same fraternal Mbonds in public that binds us in the Lodge. Let us join hands in a chain of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. As our hands are joined together, let our hearts and souls be joined together and pray that, until we meet again, this human chain will remain unbroken. Let us not forget that the non-Masonic world will view us, not by the most astute of us, but by the negative actions of ‘brothers’ doing or saying ‘unbrotherly’ things, “Not talking the Prince Hall talk, or Walking the Prince Hall Walk!” Therefore, let us be Temperate in our behavior, more especially in the presence of those that observe us. Let us not bring shame upon our Lodge or the Prince Hall Masonic Family in general, but be found ready to spread that broad mantle of charity to all mankind, more especially a worthy distressed brother. Let us greet all members with the token that is known to us as members of the Prince Hall Masonic Family. Farewell, my Brethren!

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