Vol. 50, Issue No.2, July 2017

Brother Fred Staton Joppa Lodge#55 Celebrating 102 Years of Life and 57 Years in Masonry

Summer 2017

3. Grand Master’s Message

M.˙. W.˙. Larry Mitchell (55) 32. Jephthah Lodge # 89 By W.M. Nathaniel B. Daniels (89) 14. Cornerstone Laying

First Timothy M. B. Church, Buffalo, New 35. Harry Albro Williamson York, May 21, 2017 Masonic Scholar & Prince Hall Mason Cover Story By R.˙. W.˙. Ludwick Hall

17. Brother Fred Staton 40. What should I do when Celebrating 102 Years of Life and visiting Lodges outside 57 Years in Masonry By R.˙. W.˙. John J. Phillips, (55) my jurisdiction? & Brother Christopher Wright, (55) By Brother Guillermo “Bill” J. M. Thorne, Sr.,

20. Club 454 43. Pentecost Consistory # 98 Open for business 23rd Annual Breakfast By R.˙. W.˙. Robert B. Hansley (93) By SGIG Leonard W. LaRue 33°

22. Boyer Lodge # 1 History of the mother Prince Hall lodge in the state of New York 2. Editorial By W. M. John Isaac (1) By R.˙. W.˙. Robert B. Hansley (93)

24. John Edward Bruce 4. Grand Cabinet

Early member of the Harlem Renaissance. He was also a mentor to Arthur Scomburg 5. Grand Trustees By R.˙. W.˙. Ludwick Hall

6. Appointed Grand Lodge 26. Adelphic Union # 14 Officers Over 150 years of Masonic history By R.˙. W.˙. Kevin Wardally (14) 10. Worshipful Masters

29 . George William 12. Worthy Matrons & Patrons

Augustus Murray 16. P.H. Eastern Star in the News Civil War Veteran & Prince Hall Mason Past Matron Mikki E. Ealey (67) just By R.˙. W.˙. Ludwick Hall published her first book.

The Prince Hall Sentinel is the official publication of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of the state of New York. However, all articles appearing in this publication express the view and opinion of the author or interviewee, and do not, unless specially stated, express the views and opinions or become official pronouncements of the Grand Master or Grand Lodge. All rights reserved.

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THE PRINCE HALL SENTINEL Official Publication of The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F&AM, State of New York

Elected Grand Lodge Officers

M.˙. W.˙. Larry Mitchell From The Editor’s Desk Grand Master

R.˙. W.˙. Walter C. King Although many of our Brothers are very Deputy Grand Master

good in reciting the ritual during our R.˙. W.˙. Gregory R. Smith Jr.

various ceremonies, it is also true that Grand Senior Warden

many don’t know the meaning of the R.W. Darren M. Morton Grand Junior Warden words they recite. The following are just a few of the words used in our ancient R.˙. W.˙. Jean E. Apollon Sr. Grand Treasurer and honorable fraternity. R.˙. W.˙. Pete Rivera-Bey ACCEPTED Grand Secretary

In Operative Masonry members were admitted through course of time, and when Grand Trustees the Craft had begun to decay, gentlemen who had no intention of doing builders' work but were interested in the Craft for social, or perhaps for antiquarian R.˙. W.˙. Norman R. Gipson Chairman reasons, were accepted" into membership; to distinguish these gentlemen R.˙. W.˙. Kevin P. Wardally Masons from the Operatives in the membership they were called the "Accepted." After 1717, when the whole Craft was revolutionized into a Fraternity, all R.˙. W.˙. James Smith members became non-Operatives, hence our use of the word in such phrases as R.˙. W.˙. Keith Smith McNeil

"Free and Accepted Masons." R.˙. W.˙. Percy J. Perdue

ALARM R.˙. W.˙. Matthew Teah Wulah

The English "alarm" means "to arms, signifying that something has happened of R.˙. W.˙. Jimmie Chaple possible danger. A knock at the Lodge door is so named because it calls for R.˙. W.˙. Oswaldo Mestre Jr. alertness, lest the wrong man be permitted to enter. R.˙. W.˙. Thomas G. McKnight

ALLEGORY This is the speaking about one thing in the terms of something else. In Masonry, Editorial Staff we have the allegory of Solomon's Temple, of a journey, of the legend of a martyr M.˙. W.˙. Larry Mitchell Publisher builder, etc., in each case the acting and describing of one thing being intended to refer to some other thing. For example, the building of Solomon's Temple is R.˙. W.˙. Robert B. Hansley Editor described, not for the purpose of telling how that structure was erected, but to R.˙. W.˙. Gregory R. Smith Jr. suggest how men may work together in brotherhood at a common task. Business Manager

ALTAR R.˙. W.˙. Raymond N. Freeman Jr. Literally meaning a "high place." In primitive religion, it was a common practice Grand Photographer to make sacrifices, or conduct worship, on the top of a hill, or high platform, so R.˙. W.˙. Ezekiel M. Bey that "altar" came to be applied to any stone, post, platform, or other elevation Grand Historian used for such purposes. In. the Lodge the altar is the most holy place. Contributors in this issue:

SGIG Leonard W. LaRue 33° ASHLAR

Bro. Guillermo “Bill” J. M. Thorne Sr., (79) In early English it was spelled asheler and was used to denote a stone in the R.˙. W.˙. Kevin Wardally (14) rough as it came from the quarries. The Operative Masons called such a stone a

R.˙. W.˙. Ludwick S. Hall "rough ashlar," and when it had been shaped and finished for its place in the R.˙. W.˙. John J. Phillips (55)

wall they called it a "perfect ashlar." An Apprentice is a rough ashlar, because Bro. Christopher Wright (55) unfinished, whereas a Master Mason is a perfect ashlar, because he has been W.M. John Isaac (1) shaped for his place in the organization of the Craft. W.M. Nathaniel E. Daniels (89)

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By the time you read this edition of the Sentinel, we will most likely be in the mist of, or just completed the 172nd Annual Grand Communication of the MWPHGL of the State of New

York. This year, as in the past each Grand Session demands more from its leadership and more importantly from each of us as individuals. This requires the Craft to take on one of the great laws of nature, either “Grow or Die”. As you are

aware, my credo is “Promote the Brand and Protect the Legacy.” I continue to promote this maxim and pray that you too support me in this regard.

I certainly consider it an honor and a privilege to serve as the 57th Grand Master to this august body, and I look forward to continuing leading us in the ensuing year. During the past several years, both in my professional and Masonic life, I have had the opportunity of listening to many outstanding, inspirational, and dynamic, speakers and contributors to the Craft including, the likes of Vincent E. Best, William J. Richardson and the often imitated but never duplicated, SGC Solomon Wallace, all of whom served as Grand Masters of this grand body.

These men along with many others have taught me that “Masonry does things inside the individual Mason”. Most Masons feel a need for continued growth and development as individuals. We feel we may not be as honest or as charitable or as compassionate or as loving or as trusting as we ought to be. Honor and integrity are essential to life. Life, without honor and integrity, is without meaning.

Masonry reminds us over and over again of the importance of these qualities. It lets men associate with other men of honor and integrity who believe that things like honesty and compassion and love and trust are important. In some ways, Masonry is a support group for men who are trying to make the right decisions. It's easier to practice these virtues when you know that those around you think they are important, too.

Each Mason must take responsibility for his own life and actions. Neither wealth nor poverty, education nor ignorance, health nor sickness excuses any Mason from doing the best he can do or being the best Mason possible under the circumstances. Each Mason must learn and practice self-control. “A man who cannot control his desires will never leave a legacy.” And ask themselves, “What did we come here to do?” It has been stated that, “Freemasonry is relevant as much as the actions of Freemasons are meaningful and the strength of Freemasonry is in its loyalty to each other.”

We are very fortunate in our Craft. We have many talented and knowledgeable Brethren, who could do great service in the administration of the Craft. But we don't always get the right people doing it. Sometimes we hang onto prerequisites by placing Brothers in positions and not holding them accountable for their actions. I could go on with that topic for days; but I conclude by saying, never before in the history of the Craft has there been a greater need for leadership.

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I also submit Brethren, that never before in the history of Freemasonry has there been a greater need for effective, dynamic, honest, trustworthy, prestigious leadership. This is so true at this time when we have Freemasons staying away in droves from our Lodge meetings or Brothers who have violated their obligation not to cheat nor defraud a Lodge or Brother to the value of anything…etc.

I'm saddened by the fact that we are having more and more of this in the Craft. As leaders it is your duty and your responsibility to model the way for others. After all each of us joined Freemasonry because of an outstanding model in our lives. Someone you wanted to be like.

Yes, we must practice what we preach. I learned of a little poem that was written by a Freemason, Edgar Guest a year ago, and I believe that it best summarizes everything about the concept of either “Grow or Die” or as I proclaim “Promote the Brand and Protect the Legacy.”

I'd rather watch a winner, than hear one any day, I'd rather have him walk with me, than merely show the way, The eye's a better pupil, more willing than the ear.

Find counsel is confusing but example's always clear, The best of all the coaches, are the ones who live their creeds, For to see the good in action is what everybody needs, I can soon learn how to do it, if you show me how it's done.

I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run, The lectures you deliver may be very wise and true, But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do.

For I may misunderstand you, and the high advice you give, But there is no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

Yes, I'd rather watch a winner, than hear one any day, I'd rather watch a leader, modelling the way.

May the blessings of Heaven rest upon you and all regular Masons, So Mote It Be.

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R.˙. W.˙. Walter C. King Jr. R.˙. W.˙. Larry Mitchell R.˙. W.˙. Gregory R. Smith Jr. Deputy Grand Master Grand Master Grand Senior Warden

R.˙. W.˙. Jean E. Apollon Sr. R.˙. W.˙. Darren M. Morton R.˙. W.˙. Pedro Rivera-Bey

Grand Treasurer Grand Junior Warden Grand Secretary

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District Deputy Grand Masters

First District Second District Third District

R.˙.W.˙. Willie E. Jackson (89) R.˙. W.˙. Derek Pritchett (123) R.˙. W.˙. Kenneth Lee (62)

R.˙. W.˙. Stephen Q. Gray (1) R.˙. W.˙. Luther M. Wright (58) R.˙. W.˙. Jeffrey S. Johnson (96)

R.˙. W.˙. Eric White (97) R.˙. W.˙. William E. Boyd (63) R.˙. W.˙. John Johnson (34)

R.˙. W.˙. Mitch Eleam (99) R.˙. W.˙. Shawn J. Strafford (59)

Fourth District Fifth District Sixth District

R.˙. W. Kenneth A. Neal (92) R.˙.W.˙. George E. Dewitt Sr. (78) R.˙. W.˙. Russell E. Duckett (120)

R.˙. W.˙. Kelly J. Sheppard (124)

Seventh District Grand Liberian R.˙. W.˙. Kermit Q. Petty Jr. (88) Grand Historian

R.˙. W.˙. Walter E. Jackson R.˙. W.˙. Stanley Mack (88) R.˙. W.˙. Ezekiel M. Bey

Chairman Committee on Foreign Correspondences

Committee Members Committee Members

R.˙. W.˙. Philson A.A. Warner (1) R.˙. W.˙. Fitzgerald Boyce (123)

R.˙. W.˙. Michael Nix (36) R.˙. W.˙. R. Kenyatta Punter (86)

R.˙. W.˙. Tchiyuka Cornelious (37) R.˙. W.˙. Roy Stamps (96)

R.˙. W.˙. Roy Clark (95) R.˙. W.˙. Maceo Skinner (16)

R.˙. W.˙. John Philips (55) July 2017 Prince Hall Sentinel Page | 7

Grand Lecturer

R.˙. W.˙. Thomas L. Booker

District Deputy Grand Lecturer

First District

R.˙. W.˙. Roosevelt R.˙. W.˙. Raymond R.˙. W.˙. Lionel Cunningham Riley R.˙. W.˙. Hondri R.˙. W.˙. James Thompson Jr. “Emeritus” “Emeritus” Spears Ravenell

R.˙. W.˙. Michael R.˙. W.˙. Emile R.˙. W.˙. John R.˙. W.˙. Randel Paynes Hill Robinson Burch July 2017 Prince Hall Sentinel Page | 8

District Deputy Grand Lecturers

Second District

R.˙. W.˙. Smith R.˙. W.˙. Gerald R.˙. W.˙. Frank R.˙. W.˙. Anthony R.˙. W.˙. Kenneth Keith McNeil Boyce McCants Buissereth McDonald

Third District

R.˙. W.˙. Melvin R.˙. W.˙. William R.˙. W.˙. Vincent R.˙. W.˙. Fabien Effort Shaw Jackson Yearwood “Emeritus”

R.˙. W.˙. Steven R.˙. W.˙. Corey R.˙. W.˙. Albert R.˙. W.˙. Dennis Dandridge Nicholas Anderson Fields

Fourth District

R.˙. W.˙. William R.˙. W.˙. Robert G. R.˙. W.˙. Kevin R.˙. W.˙. Donald R.˙. W.˙. John Preston Brown Lee Spearmon Batson Dash Sr. “Emeritus” July 2017 Prince Hall Sentinel Page | 9

District Deputy Grand Lecturers

Fifth District Sixth District

R.˙. W.˙. Andrew R.˙. W.˙. Robert R.˙. W.˙. Richard Smalls R.˙. W.˙. Richard A. R.˙. W.˙. Willie H. Smalls Nicholson “Emeritus” Bourne Owens

Seventh District

R.˙. W.˙. Jimmie Chapel “Emeritus”

R.˙. W.˙. Clarence R.˙. W.˙. Jayson R.˙. W.˙. Howard D. Richardson Perry III Davidson

MISSION STATEMENT Office of the Grand Lecturer

It is the responsibility of the Grand Lecturer’s Office to assure that the Ancient Landmarks and customs of the Fraternity are preserved.

Moreover, this office will impart the standard work and lectures, approved and determined by the Grand Lodge,

to the lodges or brethren in this jurisdiction. This office will maintain ritualistic consistency, propagate clear and concise information to the craft, and periodically review all lodges for ritualistic proficiency.

We will perform Masonic funerals, lay cornerstones, install lodge officers, dedicate new lodges, and assure the annual exemplification of all three ancient craft degrees in each Masonic district.

We will oversee the Masonic burial certification for brothers who wish to perform the last Masonic obsequies for a brother and participate in the preparation of any lodge for this purpose.

We will participate on the Committee on Work and Lectures; in the development and implementation of the M.W.P.G.M. Daniel D. Simmons Center for Masonic Excellence; and in the continuing education of our Prince Hall Brethren throughout the jurisdiction of the State of New York.

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The followingThe list following list is according to the records of the Grand Secretary

First Masonic District

(Manhattan) John Isaac Bernard B.H. Bowman Warren C. Borden Corey Fonville

Boyer # 1 Prince Hall # 38 Euclid # 70 Fidelity # 97

James R. Wills Jr. Luis F. Taveras Sean Paul Wade Mark Rabb

Mount Olive # 2 Joppa # 55 Beacon Light # 76 St. James # 98

LaKeith I.D. Rouse Sr. Halbert C. Clark Joshua Brown Rodney M. Chadwick

Celestial # 3 Crispus Attucks # 60 Abercorn # 86 Masters # 99

Dayequan El-Amin Charles H. Pryor Nathaniel B. Daniels Shawn Hartzog

Adelphic Union # 14 Samson # 65 Jephthah # 89 Mount Moriah # 107

Christopher Mitchell Omar Henry David Quintero

St. John # 29 Antioch # 66 Meridian # 93

Michael Lee King Ralph M. Harris Ernest R. Byrd

Cornerstone # 37 Lewis Hayden # 69 Prince Hall Ashlar # 94

Second Masonic District (Brooklyn & Staten Island)

Erroll J. Clarke Myron Johnson Jerry Henderson

Widow Son # 11 African (459) # 63 St. James # 114

Jeffery E. White Jeffery Fullard Howard Solomon

Hiram # 23 St. Cecile # 68 Epiphany # 121

Dexter McKenzie Abraham Fennell Keith B. Bryant Sr. Carthaginian # 47 Mount Pisgah # 83 Louis A. Fair # 122

Alfred B. Curtis Jr. Michael A. Braddock Carlos E. Rodriquez Silver Lake # 59 Mount Zion # 90 Sons of Kings # 123

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Third Masonic District

(Hudson Valley) James L. McKinley James Marshall James Strother James H. Farrell # 34 Bright Hope # 62 Bethany # 101

Reginald Carter Jr. Bennie E. Terry Ryan Carden Corinthian # 44 Progressive # 64 Ionic “A” # 108

Harold Miller Jodi Michel Mark H. Grant

Hebron # 48 Tappan Zee # 79 Masada # 115

Chad Taylor Sr. Richard A. Strother Damon Perry Xenia # 50 Nimrod # 96 St. Joseph # 117

Fourth Masonic District (Nassau & Suffolk)

Darrel E. Wilkerson Sr. Michael Foster Jr. Lloyd N. Robinson Trinity # 51 David W. Parker # 72 George W. Carver # 95

Vincent Kennedy Leslie A. Moore Jr. Ricardo A. Reyes

Doric 53 Tyre # 91 St. Paul # 111

Mario Turner LeRoy E. Eley Patrick Rosene Lebanon # 54 Hollywood # 92 Huntington # 124

Seventh Masonic District Fifth Masonic District Sixth Masonic District (North East New York State) (Central New York State) (Central New York State)

Bruce A. Riggins Sr. Otis Brown Rashaun D. Tubbins Mount Mariah # 25 Hiram # 18 St. John # 16

Robert D. Nichloson Samuel D. Roberts Hugh D. Dougall

Mount Zion # 46 Onondaga # 32 Eureka # 36

Howard Smith Curtis Murray Damon Moore

Capital City # 78 Chenango # 39 Electric City # 49

Delanty Trafton Michael D. Thomas Charles Epps II Tuscan # 85 Henry H. Garnett # 40 Paramount # 73

Gregory S. Thomas Robert White

Mount Nebo # 82 Ionic # 88

Jamaal C. Chaple John Burhanan Paul J. Cooper # 120 Master Craftsman # 110

Gregory Whealton Sr. Solomon Wallace # 125

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The following list is according to the records of the Grand Secretary

Sis. Michelle Louis-Juste Sis. Noreen Chatmon Sis. Lisa Dobie Knight Bro. Michael Watson Bro. Richard Slaughter Bro. Travers A. Everson

Sis. Antoinette Aaron Sis. Maxine McDonald Sis. Juliet Thomas

Bro. Lonnie Johnson Bro. Richard A. Lomax

Sis. Diane Ramnarine-Singh Bro. Curtis Murray Sis. Chandra Y. Flemming Sis. Teresa Newallo Bro. Richard Kearns Bro. Halbert Clark

Sis. Jacqueline Smith Bro. Ira White Sis. Dorcedious Elaine Davis Sis. Sabrina L. Crockett Bro. Jack C. Blake

Sis. Lizzie Mae Huff Sis. Charmagne Tellis Bro. Robert Frasier, Sr. Sis. Rhonda Lewis Warren Bro. Patrick Ryner Bro. James Simmons

Sis. Sheila Lilley Sis. Valerie Spratley Sis. Tobi Cooper Bro. Malcolm Douglas Bro. Northern Wilcher Bro. Jamal Ali

Sis. Yolanda Belle Sis. Tina Jefferson Bro. Kevin Grant Sis. Gwendolyn Clarke Bro. Michael Dixon

Sis. Sandra D. Scott Sis. Nikia Holland Sis. Ashlee Smith Bro. Derrick Husbands Bro. Richard Ashby Bro. Howard J. Smith

Sis. Zenda Smith Sis. Cheryl Stanford Sis. Anilsa R. Nunez Bro. Sandino Sanchez Bro. Denilo Antonio Kinch

Sis. Loretta D. Wilson-Cousin Sis. Leandra Joy Ancrum Bro. Donell Raye Sis. Wendy G. Taylor

Bro. Anthony McEachin

Sis. Jasmine Beard Sis. Irene E. Anderson

Bro. Derome Mitchell Bro. Lawrence Charles Pickering Sis. Millicent L. Clarke-Maynard

Bro. Deloy Magee July 2017 Prince Hall Sentinel Page | 13

Sis. Katheann M. Woodroffe Sis. Simone A. Francis Bro. Patrick Browne Bro. Melvin Waddy

Sis. Toni DuBois Sis. Patricia Stewart-Alexander

Bro. Orande Isaac

Sis. Jateria Callands Bro. Ernest Horge Sis. Patricia Ephraim Bro. Bernard Bowman

Sis. Zakia Howard Bro. Michael Simmons Sis. Mary Patton-McNeil

Bro. James Strother

Sis. Angela Oxendine Bro. Gary J. Oxendine Sis. Alene Sherman Bro. Leon Shackleford

Sis. Dana Rollins Bro. Carlton Seay Sis. Charlene Weaver

Sis. Celeste T. Whitaker Sis. Ronda Ferguson

Sis. Victoria Motley Sis. Pamela Junior Bro. Leonard Winchall Motley Bro. Gibert O’Shay Worrell

Sis. Robin Mitchell Sis. Dorothy Brown Bro. Norman Sellers Bro. David Damon

Sis. Valeria Anderson Sis. Ethel "Lady E" Williams Bro. Howard Williams, Jr. Bro. Anthony Curtis

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Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge Free & Accepted Masons of the State of New York

Cornerstone Laying

On Sunday May 21, 2017 M.˙. W.˙. Larry Mitchell lead a team to the Frist

Timothy Missionary Baptist Church located at 1467 Genesse Street in Buffalo, New York 14211.; to conduct a Cornerstone Laying ceremony. Under the direction of the Grand Marshal R.˙. W.˙. Christopher Smith and the Grand

Lecturer R.˙. W.˙. Thomas Booker, the ceremony was performed in due form.

The team consisted of R.˙. W.˙. Walter C. King, Deputy Grand Master, R.˙. W.˙. Gregory R. Smith Jr., Grand Senior Grand Warden, R.˙. W.˙. Doreen M. Morten, Junior Grand Warden, R.˙. W.˙. Jean Apollon Sr., Grand Treasurer, and R.˙. W.˙. Pete Rivera-Bey, Grand Secretary.

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Submitted By P.M. Robert B. Hansley (93)

Past Matron Mikki Arlene Ealey (MAE) of Meridian Chapter # 67, Eureka Grand Chapter Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star state of New York, has achieved one of her long sort after goals of publishing her first book.

P.M. Ealey is an avid reader and founder of “Mz. Social Butterfly Network LLC/Press-a Life Coaching Empowerment Speaking and Small Press company”.

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renowned jazz saxophonist

Contributed By

R.˙. W.˙. John J. Phillips, (55) & Brother Christopher Wright, (55)

Brother Fred Staton is a proud “Life Member” of Joppa Lodge No. 55. Most Worshipful Prince Hall

Grand Lodge of the State of New York. He became a member on March 26, 1960. He is also a “Life Member of Medina Temple No 19, A.E.A.O.M.N.S and a member of King David Consistory. No. 3,

A.A.S.R., Northern Jurisdiction, PHA. He also served as Worthy Patron of Ashlar Chapter No. 71, Eureka Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliation, State of New York. Last year, Fred Staton, a renowned jazz saxophonist, celebrated his 101st birthday at the Monday Night Jam, hosted by the Jazz Foundation of America in NYC, on February 15. Brother Staton, whose sister is the late Jazz/Blues songstress, Dakota Staton, is evidence of the power of jazz and the importance of living a life of passion, no matter one's age. His Mother influenced his musical interest.

Born in Pittsburgh, PA on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1915, Fred Staton's career has spanned the history of jazz and found him performing alongside some of the music's most prominent players, including Errol Garner, Art Blakey, Horace Silver, and "Take the 'A' Train" composer Billy Strayhorn.

He won an Emmy for his work on the 1968 ABC film "LSD: The Trip to Where?" His life and the pursuit of his dreams in music - most notably, his dream to perform for U.S. President Barack Obama - is encouragement to us all that a life well lived is one that is filled with love and dedication.

The Jazz Foundation of America hosted Fred and his family, closest friends and fans on a night that was filled with great live music, food and fun. Last year's centennial celebration was attended by a variety of well-wishers including Mayor David Dinkins, activist and author Cornel West, and Manhattan Borough President, Gale Brewer.

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Brother Staton performed with his longtime counterparts in the swinging' Harlem Blues

& Jazz Band at his party.

He is currently performing as leader of the

gospel group, Sounds of Deliverance, and he is a member of the Harlem Blues and Jazz

Band. We are blessed to have such a talented musician in our Fraternity

The Jazz Foundation of America (JFA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to keeping jazz and blues alive by helping the musicians who have played with everyone from Duke

Ellington and Billie Holiday to Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones.

The organization now assists in more than 5,000 cases nationwide, providing housing assistance, healthcare, dignified employment, and emergency financial support to musicians in crisis. JFA is "saving jazz and blues...one musician at a time.

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Birthday Celebration for Bro. Fred Staton

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New York Prince Hall Family

Spotlight

The long-anticipated re-opening of Club 454 at the Grand East has finally happened. On March 10, 2017, thanks to the tireless effort of M..˙. W.˙. Dorian

R. Glover, Past Grand Master and M.˙. W.˙. Larry Mitchell, Grand Master. The door to the newly renovated Sports Bar was opened for business.

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The “New Club 454” started with the complete demolition

and reconstruction of the old bar.

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Submitted By W. M. John Isaac (1)

On February 16, 1812 (a significant date to Prince

Hall Masons) African Lodge 459 of Boston, Massachusetts, acting in the role of a Mother Lodge issued a facsimile of their charter to a number of Black Masons to establish a lodge in New York City under the name “African Lodge of New York”, later

known as “Boyer Lodge No. 1 of New York”. Thus, the year 1812 marked the beginning of “Negro Masonry” in the State of New York.

The name of the Lodge was later chosen in honor of Jean Pierre Boyer who Black Masons admired and respected for his significant role in Haiti’s war of liberation from France and president of Haiti from 1818 to 1843. Between 1819 and 1827 the name of African Lodge of New York was changed to Boyer Lodge in honor of the second President of Haiti, Jean Pierre Boyer.

Boyer Lodge has rich history that has been well documented since the year 1812. Boyer Lodge was an outspoken, political Lodge in the early to mid-19th century. It was very much involved in the needs and struggles of the black community and society as a whole.

Mother Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1796 and chartered in 1801, and was considered a “safe stop” for those traveling through the Underground Railroad. Some called it “Freedom Church”. In the 19th Century Prince Hall Masons in New York State played a vital role in assisting Black Slaves to freedom. In 1812, R.W. Sandy Lattion (Right Worshipful Synonymous with today’s Worshipful Master) was the first Worshipful Master of Boyer Lodge. WM Sandy Lattion was a member of Mother Zion AME Church and he was also instrumental with James Varick, the first Presiding Elder of the AME Zion Church, in the anti-slavery movement in New York City. In 1827, Boyer Lodge No. 1 received its charter from Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.

In 1826, Black Freemasonry in New York State was expanded by the Chartering of Celestial Lodge #2, Rising Sun Lodge #3 (Brooklyn) and Hiram Lodge #4. In 1845, further progress, in New York, was achieved when Boyer Lodge#1, Celestial Lodge #2, Rising Sun Lodge#3 and Hiram Lodge#4 convened and erected BOYER GRAND LODGE. BOYER GRAND LODGE became the third Prince Hall Grand Lodge in history. Paul Drayton was the first elected Grand Master. The road has not always been smooth, there is a period in Masonic history from 1848 to 1877 in which Grand Lodges split up into rival Grand Lodges.

In late June of 1847, a schism in the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania had caused the birth of a rival Grand Body named Hiram Grand Lodge. Union Lodge had declared itself “independent” of the established Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. As a result of Union Lodge’s actions there were expelled. Hiram Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was erected as a result of the expulsion of Union Lodge. July 2017 Prince Hall Sentinel Page | 23

Troubled by the situation in Pennsylvania, John T. Hilton, Grand Master of Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts requested that a meeting be held to resolve the problems in Pennsylvania. Three brothers from Boyer Grand Lodge of New York had been sent to Boston, Massachusetts, along with requested representatives from the two rival Grand Lodges of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The sole purpose of the meeting was to settle the acrimony between the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and Hiram Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. Also, the visiting delegations of New York and Pennsylvania walked on St. Johns Day with their Boston Brothers.

On June 27, 1847, the scheduled meeting was convened, matters discussed, proposal made and resolutions (not laws) were agreed upon to take back to the individual Grand Bodies for their consideration. The meeting was closed “sine die”.

Coincidently, the follow day one of the Pennsylvania delegations that was not in Boston on the day of the called meeting, arrived. Even though the original purpose of the call meeting had been addressed, Grand Master Hilton convened another meeting with all the delegations, out of which came the establishment of a Masonic anomaly called the National Grand Lodge of North America a.k.a. National Compact. None of the representatives from the visiting jurisdictions had the authority at this second meeting and could not commit their Jurisdictions to such a major deviation in Masonry, the National Compact.

Since the Boyer Grand Session was held in early June of 1847, the proposals of the National Compact had to wait until the next Boyer Grand Session in 1848. The New York delegation returned home and since no action on the proposed resolution was taken, no record of any Edict issued, it was presented at the Boyer Grand Lodge Session in early June 1848 and was REPUDIATED by the body. It is a fact that neither Boyer Grand Lodge nor Boyer

Lodge #1, F. & A.M. of New York was ever part of the National Grand Lodge or National Compact.

Boyer Lodge #1, rather than be a part of a questionable and probably un-masonic body, spearheaded and quickly, with the cooperation of the other Lodges, erected the UNITED GRAND LODGE. Those Brothers who voted in the minority and pledged allegiance to the National Compact were eventually re-warranted. Re-warranted by the United Grand Lodge of New York in 1848. Boyer Lodge has remained in operation since its chartering date.

In 1877, the rival Compact Grand Lodge in New York recanted and rejoined the United Grand Lodge and out of which was re-organized as “The Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of The State Of New York”.

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John Edward Bruce (Bruce Grit) Journalist, Historian and Pan Africanist By R.˙. W.˙. Ludwick S. Hall

John Edward Bruce, also known as “Bruce Grit” or “J. E. Bruce-Grit”, was mostly self-educated, a Pan Africanist, and an early member of the Harlem Renaissance. He was also a mentor to Arthur Schomburg the noted Bibliophile, and a journalist who founded newspapers in many major Cities in the Northeast, as well as a co-

founder of the Negro Society for Historical Research in New York.

On February 22, 1856 in Piscataway, Maryland, Bruce was born a slave on the

1 plantation of Major John Henry Griffin, a veteran of the War of 1812, Bruce’s

parents Robert and Martha Allen (Clark) were also slaves of Major Griffin. In

1860, after Bruce’s father was sold to a slaveholder in Georgia, Bruce and his

mother escaped to Washington D.C. with a Company of Union Army soldiers who 1 were passing through Maryland on their way to Washington, D.C. In 1863 Bruce

and his mother moved to New York for a year, and in 1864 they moved to Stratford,

Connecticut. There Bruce attended an integrated school and at Eight (8) years of

1 age, received his first formal education. Eventually Bruce and his mother returned

to Washington D.C, where he received a private education and subsequently

attended Howard Normal Institute (now Howard University).

1 In 1874, at Eighteen (18) years of age, he was employed as an assistant in the Washington Bureau of the New York Times.

His early experiences working for the Times was an impetus for his subsequent career as a journalist.

During the Reconstruction period following the Civil War, many leaders of the African American communities advocated non -violent strategies for social change. Appalled at the rise of lynching’s of African Americans and the re-enforced policy of racial segregation that was legalized by the 1897 Supreme Court “Plessy v. Ferguson” decision, Bruce was one of the most vocal supporters of armed self-defense against racist attacks on African Americans. He was quoted as saying: "The

Man who will not fight for the protection of his wife and children...is a coward, and deserves to be ill-treated. The man who takes his life in his hands, and stands up for what he knows to be right, will always command the respect of his enemy." In other words, Bruce supported "organized armed resistance to racial violence and injustice, that was at the time, victimizing

African Americans.

In 1879 Bruce became a journalist, historian, writer, orator, civil rights activist and Pan-African nationalist. . In 1880 he

founded the Sunday Item and in 1882, the Republican, both in Norfolk, Virginia. Also in 1882, he returned to Washington,

D.C. to establish the newspaper “Grit”. During that period, he earned additional income as a paid contributor writing articles for: The Boston Transcript, The Albany Argus, The Buffalo Express, The Sunday Gazette, and the Sunday Republic of

Washington. All of the articles he wrote for those newspapers were under his pen name "Bruce Grit" In 1884 he served as an associate editor and business manager of “The Commonwealth” a newspaper in Baltimore, Maryland.

Bruce became prominent on the lecture circuit, giving speeches that addressed the lynching’s of African Americans, their living and social conditions in the South, and the American political system that failed to protect their civil and constitutional rights. In 1890, he joined New York’s activist T. Thomas Fortune's Afro-American League, the first organized black civil rights organization in the nation. In 1898, he became the organization’s president when it was reformed as the Afro-

American Council.

A Republican, as many African Americans of the time, he was a member of the literary bureau of the Republican National

Committee in 1900.

By 1908, as a part of the Great African American Migration from the South to Northern Cities, he moved permanently to

Yonkers, New York. Also in that year, he established the Yonkers, New York, Weekly Standard and in 1910, he became the American Correspondent for the African Times and Orient Review of London, England, which was edited by Dusé

Mohamed Ali. Also in 1910, in addition to working in the newspaper business, he worked as a probation officer for the City of Yonkers, N.Y. July 2017 Prince Hall Sentinel Page | 25

In Harlem and Yonkers, Bruce became involved with the emerging community of intellectuals, including newly arrived immigrants from the Caribbean. In 1911, with his protégé’ Arthur Schomburg he founded the Negro Society for Historical Research, which was at first based in Yonkers. Its purpose was to create an institute to support scholarly research by persons of African descent. For the first time the institute brought together African, Afro-West Indian and Afro-American scholars. With Bruce, as one of its prominent leaders, this was the beginning of the period that was later to be known as the “Harlem Renaissance.” Bruce was also a mentor to Hubert Henry Harrison, the young migrant from St. Croix who became influential in black socialism and black nationalism.

Bruce's belief in an independent national destiny for African Americans in the United States led him around 1919, to embrace Marcus Garvey's Pan-African nationalism. As a member of Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), Bruce wrote for the movement's Negro World and the Daily Negro Times. Additionally, Bruce was a member of the Humane Order of African Redemption,

Bruce, a Prince Hall Mason, was a member and Past Master of “El Sol de Cuba Lodge No. 38”, of the MWPH, G.L-NY. In 1881 when that Lodge was warranted it was the first lodge in the Jurisdiction of New York to be composed exclusively of persons of Hispanic descent. Most of its charter members consisted mostly of Spanish speaking brethren from Cuba and Puerto Rico. In 1914 during the administration of Arthur Schomburg, the Worshipful Master of the Lodge at the time, when the ethnic composition of the Lodge had become primarily African American, it was renamed ‘Prince Hall Lodge No. 38.

Bruce, Schomburg and David Bryant Fulton, all members of the Lodge were devoted to the collection and documentation 1 of both the history of the Lodge and that of the Prince Hall Masonic fraternity. In response to the prevailing opinions of the time, and to the efforts by members of White fraternal organizations to discredit Prince Hall Masonry and other fraternal organizations composed of African Americans, in 1921, Bruce published a book, “Prince Hall, the Pioneer of Negro Masonry. Proofs of the Legitimacy of Prince Hall Masonry”. It was both a history of Prince Hall Masonry, and a literary rebuttal to what at the time was a movement, both legislatively and through the Court system by White fraternal organizations to destroy African American fraternal organizations. In it Bruce stated that because their legitimacy was being questioned, it was important that the craft maintain accurate historical records and also correct biographical sketches of the important men in the fraternity, so that an accurate "History of Negro Masonry" can one day be written. But like Harry Williamson, and in spite of his intense Afro centricity, Bruce waged a constant campaign for the White Grand Lodges to recognize the "legality of the Prince Hall fraternity. He also pointed out that "Prince Hall Masonry is not only legitimate, but, its claim to legitimacy predated most Lodges of white men who questioned its legitimacy, and the legitimacy of the warrant that was issued to African Lodge No. 459 by the Grand Lodge of England in 1784. At the time the above book was published, the White Shriners was suing the A.E.A.O.N.M.S. (the Prince Hall Shrine) in Federal Court with the intent of putting it out of business. That case (A.E.A.O.N.M.S. v. Michaux), the last of many brought by White Masons against Prince Hall and other fraternities composed of African Americans, was decided by the United States Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision against the White Shriners that was announced on June 3, 1929.1 That legal victory has been celebrated annually on the Sunday closest to the Third Day of June by the Imperial Council of the A.E.A.O.N.M.S. and its subordinate Temples as “Jubilee Day”.

Bruce was married twice. His first wife was Lucy (Pinkwood) Bruce. That union ended in divorce. His second wife was Florence A. (Bishop) Bruce. That union resulted in the birth of one daughter, Olive Bruce.1

After leaving the Yonkers, N.Y. Probation Department, Bruce was employed by the Port of New York Authority. He retired in 1922, two years before he died in Bellevue Hospital on August 7, 1924. He was funeralized on August 10, 1924 at the UNIA (Universal Negro Improvement Association) Liberty Hall in New York City. More than 5,000 people attended his

UNIA, religious and Masonic Funeral services.1 He was buried in Oakland Cemetery in Yonkers. After his death, his widow Florence, gave his extensive collection of books and memorabilia on the African Experience in the American diaspora to his protégé’ Arthur Schomburg. The collection was subsequently sold by Schomburg to the New York Public Library and served as the nucleus for the present collection at the Schomburg Center for Research.1

1 Crowder, Ralph, L. “John Edward Bruce”, Politician, Journalist, and Self Trained Historian of the African Diaspora, Pg. 7 1 Crowder, Ralph L., “John Edward Bruce”, ibid, Pg. 8 1 Crowder, Ralph L., “John Edward Bruce”, ibid, Pg. 10 1 Crowder, Ralph L., “John Edward Bruce”, ibid, Pg. 11 1 Crowder, Ralph L., “John Edward Bruce”, ibid, Pg. 117 1 “The New York Age”, newspaper, June 8, 1929, Pg. 1 1 Crowder, Ralph, L. “John Edward Bruce”, ibid, Pg. 22 1 Crowder, Ralph, L. “John Edward Bruce; ibid, Pg. 135 1 Crowder, Ralph, l. “John Edward Bruce”, ibid, Pg. 128

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Adelphic Union Lodge # 14 Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge

Free & Accepted Masons, State of New York

Submitted By R.˙. W.˙. Kevin Wardally (14)

Adelphic Union Lodge No. 14 affectionately known as “The U” enjoys the distinction of being one of a few Lodges in the Prince Hall Masonic History with over one hundred and fifty years of continuous existence.

A Charter was duly issued to Adelphic Union Lodge No. 7 on the 11th day of May 1863, A.L. 5863, by the United Grand Lodge of the State of New York. The Charter was signed by the M.W.G.M. Patrick H. Reason, D.G.M. Jonas H. Townsend, S.G.W. Peter W. Ray, J.G.W. John M. Thomas and John R. Porter, Grand Secretary. This Charter empowered the Lodge to admit, enter, pass and raise Free Masons according to the ancient usage and customs of the Craft, within the City of New York.

In its illustrious history, many landmarks have been established in perpetuating the ideals of Free Masonry among men of color in this Masonic Jurisdiction. On the 18th day of December 1878, the present Grand Lodge which grew out of the consolidation of the United and National Compact Grand Lodges re-warranted Adelphic Union with Brother John Rogers as Worshipful Master. The original Grand Lodge Charter bears the notation "Cancelled 4th December 1879". The records show that the designation No.7 ceased and the present No.14 came into being after 1878.

On or about January 14, 1881 the recorded minutes show that the Lodge met twice monthly at 835 Broadway and George Harris was the Worshipful Master to November 23, 1885. John R. Adkins presided as Worshipful Master from November 1885 to November 22, 1890. During this administration, it is noted that there was a fine spirit of cooperation among the few existing Lodges. There were frequent visits from Boyer No. 1, Hiram No. 4, Celestial No. 3, Mt. Olive No. 2, Widows Son No. 11, and Cornerstone No. 37. The visiting brothers then as today took an active part in working of the various degrees.

AUL 14 has many reasons to be proud of its many achievements. It has cooperated fully in all phases of Grand Lodge activities, leading the way in many instances where the benefit of the Craft was involved. One of the most noteworthy achievements is the introduction of men into the Craft who have distinguished themselves not only in community life but have brought distinction to the Craft; men who have risen in ranks from the Entered Apprentice to the honored office of the Most Worshipful Grand Master.

We are justly proud of three advancing to the Grand East and the appointment of an Adelphian to the position of honorary Grand Master. The choice by the rank and file of the Craft of these leaders from Adelphic Union attests to the love and confidence that is held for us, and we are appreciative of this action of the brethren. Past Grand Master Edward T. Sherwood for three years (1930-1933), Past Grand Master Dr. Charles H. Griffin (1966-1968), Honorary Past Grand Master Murray Wilkerson (1995), and Past Grand Master Louis Fair, Jr., who led the Craft for ten years (1942-1951). During which time our present Prince Hall Masonic Temple (454 West 155th Street) was obtained through his ingenuity, hard work and vision. Noteworthy also was P.G.M. Fair’s efforts in obtaining

Roscoe as our Masonic Resort in upstate New York during his administration. In 2012, the Lodge saw another member elected to the Grand Lodge for the first time since 1968 as RW Kevin P. Wardally was elected a Grand Trustee.

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Past Grand Master Past Grand Master Charles h. griffin Murray Wilkerson 1966 - 1968 Honorary 1995

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Adelphic Union No.14 has several times participated in community activities which were of a worthwhile nature. It holds a life membership in the NAACP; developed a partnership with New York Cares to provide ongoing community service projects throughout New York City; maintains a relationship with Exodus Transitional Community Inc. where we provide business attire and job training skills for the formerly incarcerated; supports L&A Academy located in Accra Ghana with school supplies and much needed mosquito nets; and many other causes the Brothers of Adelphic Union Lodge No. 14 participate in.

The Lodge in recent years has embarked upon a progressive resurgence embracing the Universality of the Craft, the strengthening of strong fraternal ties and the performance of excellent ritual work. The lodge could barely open in the early 2000’s with less than 20 members on the books now they have almost 100 active members on the roles and received the honor of being named Lodge of the Year in 2011 under then WM Kevin P. Wardally by the MWPHGL of NY. The lodge has made a practice to open in October ceremoniously in Spanish each year since 2012 when the leadership of then WM Gene A. Edwards Jr. brought the tradition back to the lodge. And in 2014 for the first time in its history Adelphic Union #14 elected its first Latino Worshipful

Master then WM Sandino Sanchez.

Our fervent wish is that the Masonic principles inculcated in the several degrees will continue to inspire this Lodge to greater heights. May the Great Architect of the Universe forever continue to guide their efforts and bless The U.

Established May 11, 1863

Adelphic Union Lodge #14…. where Masonry happens….

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George W. A. Murray who was a member of Widow Sons Lodge No. 11, both when it was a subordinate Lodge of the National Grand Lodge New York affiliate, and after the merger of the two Prince Hall Grand Lodges in New York, was born on December 28, 1829 in Washington, D.C. He came to Brooklyn, N.Y. with his parents in 1835 at Six years of age. Married as a young man, he had two sons, George W. A. Murray Jr. and Irving Murray, and three daughters, Mrs. B. Elizabeth Scott, Mrs. Adelaide Taylor, Mrs. Harry J. Ensley and nine grandchildren. (A grandson of George William August Murray, also named George W.A. Murray was a former President of the Jamaica, N.Y., Branch of the

N.A.A.C.P.).

For Thirty-six (36) years, he was employed as a clerk in the U.S. Customs House in downtown New York City (Manhattan). A veteran of the Civil War, he served in the segregated 13th Infantry Regiment, a Negro Regiment of the United States Army Colored Troops.

After being discharged from the Army, he enlisted and served as a Seaman in the United States Navy.

A Prince Hall Mason, he held many offices in the fraternity. He served as a Worshipful Master of Widows' Sons Lodge No.11, when it was a subordinate Lodge of the National Grand Lodge, New York Affiliate.1 In 1877 he was elected and served as Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of New York, F. & A.M.

July 2017 Prince Hall Sentinel Page | 30

At the consolidation of the two Prince Hall Grand Lodges in New York. In 1878, he was again elected 1 to that position. The Grand Lodge of New York, F.& A.M. is now the M.W.P.H., G.L.-N.Y. A Royal Arch Mason, he was a Past High Priest of Widows' Sons Chapter No. 1, Holy Royal Arch Masons. He was elected and served the Most Excellent Prince Hall Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons as the Grand 1 Scr ibe in 1879 and Grand King in 1880. Prior to the merger of the Prince Hall organizations in New York, he served as a Grand High Priest of the Holy Royal Arch Grand Chapter of the State of New York 1 (National Compact). He was also a Past Eminent Commander of Paul Drayton Commandery No. 2, of the Prince Hall Grand Commandery, Knights Templar. Paul Drayton Commandery No. 2 was established after Drayton’s death, as a tribute to the first Grand Master of Prince Hall Masons in the State of New York. It was one of the Three (3) Commanderies that met in Grand Session on December 5, 1876 and established the Prince Hall Grand Commandery of the State of New York. Also on December 5, 1876, at the establishment of the Prince Hall Grand Commandery of the State of New Yor k, he was elected its first Grand Recorder.1

A 33° Scottish Rite Mason, he originally was a member of the King David Supreme Council of Philadelphia. 1 In 1881 when the King David Supreme Council of Philadelphia was dissolved and became a part of the United Supreme Council, he decided to become a member of the Supreme Council of the United States in New York. He was also a Past Patron of Alpha Chapter, No. 1 of the Order of the Eastern Star, and a senior advisor to the Ladies of Helping Hand Auxiliary No. 3 of Brooklyn, the

Ladies Auxiliary of Gethsemane Commandery No. 3. Prior to the organization of the Order of Cyrene, the wives, widows, mothers, sisters and daughters of the Order of the Knights Templar, organized themselves into units that were known as the “Ladies of Helping Hand Auxiliary”. The Ladies of the Helping Hand Auxiliary, as with most Adoptive Rite organizations in the Prince Hall fraternity had men who were members, Today, the men in the Order of Cyrene are known as Sir Engineers, and the male elected to assist the Royal Commandress or the elected head of a Cyrene Court is known as the Chief Engineer. Prior to the formation of the Order of Cyrene, the men in the Helping Hand Auxiliaries were known as “Advisors”, the male elected to assist the female head of the auxiliary was known as the “Senior Advisor”.

In addition to his Masonic affiliations, Murray was a member of the William Lloyd Garrison Post No. 207 of the G. A. R. (Grand Army of the Republic),1 and in 1902 was elected a colonel in that organization. 1

(Hat device worn on uniform hats/caps of members of the Veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic)

In the Civil War (1861-1865) the United States Army (aka the Union Army) was referred to as “The Grand Army of the Republic”. After the war, veterans of the war who had served in the Union Army, established a Fraternal Organization known as “Veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic”.1 The Veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic was one of the first socially integrated fraternal organizations in the country. It is also responsible for having May 30, (Memorial Day) established as a National holiday in memory of the veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States (Union Army, Navy and Marine Corps) who died in the Civil War.1 Murray was also a member of the Brooklyn Association of Naval Veterans.

George William Augustus Murray died on Sunday, July 30, 1905 at his home, at 2039 Fulton St, in Brooklyn. His fraternal, Masonic and religious funeral services were held on Wednesday August 2, 1905

July 2017 Prince Hall Sentinel Page | 31 at Concord Baptist Church in Brooklyn. His religious funeral service was conducted by the Rev. W. T. Dixon, the Pastor of Concord Baptist Church, who was assisted by the Rev. Nathaniel Peterson Boyd, Rector of St. Philip's Episcopal Church of Brooklyn.1 Rev. Boyd was a charter member, and Chaplain of Carthaginian Lodge No. 47. He was also the Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of F. & A. M. of N.Y. (now the M.W.P.H., G.L.-N.Y.).1 At the time of his death, Past Master Murray was one of the oldest and best known residents of African descent in the Borough of Brooklyn. He was buried with full military honors in the National Cemetery at Cypress Hills in Brooklyn, N.Y.1

1 “The Brooklyn Daily Eagle”, newspaper, August 1, 1905, Pg. 3

1 “Official Proceedings of the One Hundred and Sixty Third Annual Communication of the M.W.P.H., G.L._N.Y.”, 1 “Roster of the Most Excellent Prince Hall Grand Chapter, H.R.A.M., of New York State”, 1988-1989, “Officers of the Grand Chapter” 1 “The Brooklyn Daily Eagle”, newspaper, August 1, 1905, Pg. 3 1 Information from the Charter, of Gethsemane Commandery No. 3, Knights Templar 1 “The New York Globe: newspaper, June 7, 1884 1 “Proceedings of the Thirty Seventh Annual Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic”, Pg. 381 1 “The Brooklyn Daily Eagle”, newspaper, August 1, 1905, Pg. 3 1 “Encyclopedia Americana”, Volume No. 13, Pg. 161 1 “Encyclopedia Americana”, ibid 1 “The Brooklyn Daily Eagle”, newspaper, August 1, 1905, Pg. 3 1 Williamson, Harry A., “The Story of Carthaginian Lodge, 1904-1949”.

1 “The Brooklyn Daily Eagle”, newspaper, August 1, 1905, Pg. 3

(Medal authorized by the Congress of the United States to be worn by members of the Veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic)

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Free & Accepted Masons, Prince Hall Affiliation State of New York

DISPENSATED FEB. 21st, 1948 WARRANTED OCT 16th, 1948

By W.M. Nathaniel B. Daniels (89)

These dates might seem insignificant to the casual observer, but to the member of the Jephthah

Lodge No. 89 and especially those that were there in the beginning it brings back fond memories of a by gone day. Nostalgia at times can be ruinous, but to those that progress with the tide of time and to those that are quick to grasp the situation of modern changes, it is only a matter of adjustment. th, Jephthah Lodge No. 89 was formulated from the United Circle Club on December 67 1947, which was motivated by the first Master- Clarence H. Watson.

After many meetings in 1947, a petition was filed with the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, State of New York on January17th, 1946. This position was favorably received and the club was set up as a lodge Under Dispensation (U.D.) on February 21st, 1948 under the name “Jephthah Lodge” with Special Deputy R.W. Emil Toussant appointed by the then Grand Master Louis Fair, Jr. – charged with formulating the lodge.

The membership under U.D. consisted of 31 members. The principal officers were:

Clarence H. Watson, Master and Founder Franklin E. Browning, Secretary

Samuel A. Hazel, Senior Warden Samuel Bridgewater, Senior Deacon

Arthur E. Harris, Junior Warden Pryce R. Watkins, Junior Deacon

Wilmer Cartus, Treasurer Hussein Adeeb, Chaplain

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After serving the U.D. apprenticeship, a petition was sent to the Most Worshipful Prince Hall st, Grand Lodge’s Season being held in Jamestown, N.Y. on June 1 1948 for a Charter of Membership. The petition was granted by the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge and a charter th, was issued. On October 16 1948, the lodge was warranted under the name of Jephthah Lodge No. 89 under the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, State of New York and Jurisdiction. Since that day and to present time, Jephthah Lodge No. 89 had maintained traditions of the most Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons (PH).

Throughout our years of existence, Jephthah Lodge No. 89 has contributed unselfishly to various charitable organizations, with active involvement in community affairs. These include donations to the United College Fund, NAACP (Life Membership), George Washington Masonic Memorial Shrine (Life Membership) Sickle Cell Anemia (Life Membership), sponsored a team in the St. Philips Invitational Basketball Tournament, involvement in The Harlem Inter-Faith Counseling Service, Greater Harlem Nursing Home, Delano Village Pre-School, Annual Bus Outing for Underprivileged Children, Annual Health Day, YMCA and Jephthah Lodge No. 89 Educational Fund.

During the years, the following have served as Masters: *Clarence H. Watson 1948-49 *Jack W. Daniels 1977-78 *Samuel A. Hazel 1949-50 *Roger E. Reid, Sr. 1978-79 *Harold Gonsalves 1950-51 *Henry L. Regester, Sr. 1978-79 *Wilmer Cartus 1951-52 Nathaniel Reynolds 1980-81 *Oscar J. Levy 1952-54 Willie D. Wynn 1980-82 *John A. Maynard 1954-55 George C. Counts 1983-83 *Ernest G. Reven 1955-56 *Charles W. Caines 1983-84 *Franklin E. Browning 1956-57 Alexander Malloy 1984-85 *Sterling Payne 1957-58 Leroy Tuff 1985-86 *Granville Sweeting 1958-59 *Rev J, Robert Carter 1986-87 *Ruxton A. Thompson 1959-60 *Howard F. Cabbagestalk 1987-88 *David I. Francis 1960-61 *James E. Brooks 1988-89 *Herman Dove 1961-62 Roy A. Benjamin 1989-91 *Bruce Ward 1962-63 Leonard E. Richardson 1991-92 *Henry Venable 1963-64 *Paul H. Finn 1992-94 *John Coleman 1964-65 *James Wynn 1994-95 *Abraham Skyers 1965-66 David Henryhand 1995-97 *Lee M. York 1966-67 *John Coleman, Jr. 1997-98 *William A. Thompson 1967-68 Willie E. Jackson 1998-20 *Lionel C. Gaskin, Jr. 1968-69 *George R. Rowan 2000-02 *Harcount Blatch 1969-70 Vernon C. Taylor 2002-04 *Joseph Lambert 1970-71 *Michael Brown 2004-06 *William Yeldell 1971-72 Blayne E. Saunders 2006-08 *Archie L. Gordon 1972-73 Shawn T. Blount 2008-10 *James W. Wilson 1974-75 Caesar Cowart 2010-12 *Walker W. Wigginton 1973-74 Moses Denson 2012-14 *Walter E. Furr 1976-77 Nathaniel B. Daniels 2014-Present

The following is a list of Past Masters that have given timely and invaluable advice and service to this Lodge, but never served as Master of Jephthah: *M.W. Henry A. Topping – P.G.M.; *P.M. John T. Hogen; *P.M. William T, Carrington; *P.M. Henry Padler; *P.M. Freddie Steward; *P.M. William E. Broadhurst; P.M. Charles M. Robinson; *P.M. James S. Brown. *Deceased

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Harry Albro Williamson Masonic Enigma and Prominent Researcher of the Prince Hall Fraternity

By R.˙. W.˙. Ludwick S. Hall

Henry Albro Williamson, known as Harry, was one of the most prominent historians and researchers on the African American experience and the history of

Prince Hall Masonry in the 20th (Twentieth) Century. He was born on October 25, 1875 in Plainfield, New Jersey, the only child of William Edward Williamson and Mary Elizabeth Pauline (Lyons) Williamson1. After his father's untimely death in

1880, Harry and his mother moved to Oakland, California, where she became one of the first African Americans in the United States to become a licensed Practical Nurse.1

Eventually leaving Oakland, Williamson and his mother moved back to Brooklyn, N.Y. where they lived with his Mother’s sister, and his aunt Maritcha Redmond Lyons. For over Forty-Eight years Maritcha was a teacher in the Public Schools

System, and when appointed an Assistant Principal at Public School No. 83, at the

Time located at Bergen St. and Schenectady Ave., in Brooklyn, she was only the second woman of African descent to be appointed an Assistant Principal by the Board of Education of the City of Brooklyn, N.Y.1 Prior to 1898 Brooklyn was a separate City. In that year, it joined the four other counties (boroughs) in the greater New York area to form the current City of New York.

After graduating from High School, Williamson worked for a number of years at the Anaconda Copper Manufacturing Co, while at the same time studying Chiropody. Chiropody is the medical practice which today is known as Podiatry. Eventually graduating and passing the licensing examination for the New York State Board of 1 Chiropody , he opened an office and established a practice of his profession in Manhattan. Unfortunately, in the African American community in the early 20th Century there was little call for the services of a Chiropodist (Podiatrist). Ultimately, to supplement his income he took a position in the United States Post Office.1 For a period of time he worked both as a Doctor of Chiropody (Podiatrist) and as a Postal worker. He eventually gave up chiropody and concentrated on his career in the Postal Service until he retired in 1940.1

In 1901 Williamson married Laura Julia Moulton. That marriage lasted several years before it ended in divorce. Laura an Eastern Star was a member of Queen Esther Chapter No. 9, the first Eastern Star Chapter established by Eureka Grand Chapter in Brooklyn, N.Y. In 1920 Williamson married Blanche C. Atkins, a librarian at New York University. That marriage lasted for forty years until her death in 1960. Blanche an Eastern Star, was a member and Past Matron of Joppa Chapter No. 30, a subordinate Chapter of Eureka Grand Chapter.

She was also a sister of Past Grand Matron Alice Campbell, who was a member of Ruth Chapter No 8, and who served as Grand Matron of Eureka Grand Chapter from 1911 until 1937. Williamson credited Blanche for much of the research, compilation and maintenance of his Masonic records.

Williamson a Prince Hall Mason, was initiated on January 12, 1904 in Mount Olive Lodge No. 2, passed to the degree of Fellow-craft on February 9, 1904 and eventually raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on March 5, 1904. He was a charter member, and the second Worshipful Master of Carthaginian Lodge No. 47, in Brooklyn, N.Y. He was first elected to that office in 1907 and then re-elected in 1908. In 1940, after 35 years of membership in Carthaginian Lodge, he was elected to life membership.

It was also during the early years of his membership in Carthaginian Lodge that he became a diligent student and researcher of Masonic literature and its history, as it relates to the Prince Hall fraternity and the African American Masonic experience.

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Because of the widespread opinion which was also shared by a white friend who was also a Mason, that Masonry among African Americans was alleged to be spurious and clandestine, he began an intensive research for information which would document the "legitimacy" and "subsequent progress of Prince Hall Masonry"1. During this period, the main goal of the many years of his comprehensive research and extensive Masonic study was to determine the true origins and authenticity of "Prince Hall" or "Black Freemasonry." In striving to examine the fraternity impartially, Williamson corresponded with Masons in the United States and in numerous foreign countries. He also sought to establish recognition of Black Freemasons by white lodges and to dissolve the barriers of racial discrimination within the fraternity. Williamson's correspondence touched on every facet of

Black Freemasonry, its laws, philosophy and rituals.

In 1911 Williamson was elected the Grand Secretary of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge in New York. He served in that position until 1914. During the period, he was the Grand Secretary, he compiled the history of the Grand Lodge from the records in that office, from the inception of the Grand Lodge in 1845 up to and including the year 1914. When he left the office of the Grand Secretary, he was succeeded by Bro. David W. Parker. It was during Parker’s tenure as Grand Secretary that all of the records of the Grand Lodge from 1845 up to 1914 were destroyed in a fire in a warehouse in the Bronx where they were kept.1 In 1915 Williamson was elected to the office of Grand Senior Warden. He served in that office until 1918 when he was elected Deputy Grand Master. From his research while Deputy Grand Master, he was able to convince the Grand Lodge of the importance of its connection to the legacy of Prince Hall, and he suggested that the Grand Lodge honor the founder of the fraternity by adding the words Prince Hall to its name. In 1919 his suggestion was adopted by the Grand Lodge, and it was renamed, “The Grand Lodge of New York, F. & A.M., Prince Hall. In the 1921 Grand Lodge election,

Williamson unsuccessfully ran against the incumbent Grand Master, David W. Parker, who was first elected Grand Master in 1918. This loss was the first of a series of events which embittered him toward much of the leadership in Masonry. He subsequently challenged Parker three other times, 1922, 1923 and 1924, for the office of Grand Master, each challenge resulting in his being defeated.1

Williamson served in many other positions in the Grand Lodge, among them were: Deputy Grand Lecturer, Grand Lecturer, Grand Historian (Thirteen years, 1925-1938), Grand Representative to the Grand Lodges of Connecticut and Nebraska, in addition to serving on numerous Grand Lodge committees. In 1923, he was one of the founders of the Prince Hall Square Club, the first Masonic Square Club in the Prince Hall fraternity. During the 1940’s Williamson is also credited with having established a Masonic Lodge of Research for the MWPH, GL-N.Y. Subsequently copied by many other jurisdictions, this was the first Research Lodge in the world-wide Prince Hall fraternity. One of Williamson’s greatest accomplishments, for which he’s not credited, is the current names of most of the Grand Lodges in the Prince Hall solidarity, with the exception of the Union Grand Lodge of Florida and the Stringer Grand Lodge of Mississippi being named “The Most Worshipful

Prince Hall Grand Lodge of their respective State.

Prior to 1944, the Grand Lodges currently named after Prince Hall had a wide variety of names. At the 1944

Prince Hall Conference of Grand Masters, that was held in Hot Springs, Arkansas, he submitted a recommendation that all regular Grand Lodges that can trace their origin to African No. 459 of Boston, change their corporate name where not restrained legally by copy right, to the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F & A.M. of their respective State, to honor the legacy of Prince Hall.1

His recommendation was adopted by the Conference, which subsequently recommended it to the various State Grand Lodges for their consideration. Williamson was a prolific writer on the subject of Freemasonry. He along with John Edward Bruce (aka Bruce Grit), Aldrage B. Cooper, Harry E. Davis, Charles H. Wesley and Arthur Schomburg were considered the foremost authorities on Masonry among African Americans in their time. He published numerous books, articles and monographs on Masonry, among them, Negroes and Freemasonry (1920), The Negro in Masonic Literature (1922), The Prince Hall Primer (1925). American Negro in

Freemasonry," "Caucasian Masonry vs. the Negro", "Origin of Freemasonry Among Negroes in America", "Prince Hall Masonry," "Shall Negro Masons be Recognized", and "The Truth about Negro Masonry." July 2017 Prince Hall Sentinel Page | 37

He was the editor of the Freemasonry of Brooklyn, New York and an associate editor, of the Masonic Quarterly Review which was at one time, the official publication of the Grand Lodge. He was also a contributing editor of The National Fraternal Review, and a Columnist for ‘The New York Age” Newspaper. In addition to his books and articles on Masonry, in 1914 he published “The Adoptive Rite Ritual” for the use by the members of Eureka Grand Chapter, and in 1915 he published “The Adoptive Rite, Before Queen Esther Chapter No. 9”, which was a short history of Eureka Grand Chapter. During his Masonic career, Williamson was elected an Honorary Deputy Grand Master of the M.W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge of West Virginia (1920), and an honorary member of numerous Lodges in various Jurisdictions, and in six American Masonic Societies. He was also a member of

Five (5) Foreign Masonic Research Societies, between 1915 and 1932.

On November 17, 1931, Lewis Hayden Lodge No. 69 established a library named in Williamson’s honor at the th former Grand Lodge building, 235 -37 West 120 Street, Manhattan. In 1954, he was presented with a “Merit” for Service, Fidelity and Leadership, by the M.W.P.H., G.L. of Pennsylvania at its 140th Annual Session. In 1955, the M.W.P.H., G.L. of Michigan presented him with a Citation and Medal as its “Mason of Distinction” for the year. Because of his extensive knowledge in the history and development of Masonry, Williamson was on many occasions subpoenaed to testify or give depositions on the subject of Masonry in many courts throughout the country. In addition to his membership in Carthaginian Lodge No. 47, he was a member of Mount Moriah Chapter No.3, Holy Royal Arch Masons, and also a Thirty-Second-degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a member of King David Consistory No. 3. He also found time to belong to, and serve as a Worthy Patron of Queen Esther Chapter No. 9. Outside of his membership in the various Prince Hall Fraternal organizations, Williamson was a member of the Grand United Order of the Odd Fellows.

In addition to his membership in the various fraternal organizations, he was a member of Six Intellectual

Societies, among them was the “American Negro Academy. The American Negro Academy, or ANA was founded by Alexander Crummell in New York City in 1897. It was the first organization in the United States to support African-American academic scholarship. and encouraged classical academic studies and liberal arts. It was formed in opposition to Booker T. Washington's approach to education. Washington’s Tuskegee Institute emphasized vocational and industrial training for southern blacks, as he thought this was more practical for the livelihood of most Blacks, who at the time, lived in rural areas in the segregated South.

In the 1920’s Williamson, John Edward Bruce and Arthur Schomburg had three of the largest known collections of literature on Masonry and the African experience in the American diaspora up to that time. In that same period the United Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Jurisdiction was erecting a permanent headquarters (Cathedral) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The intended purpose was to hold their annual convocations, and to maintain their archives. The committee assigned to building and furnishing the building was also soliciting Masonic literature to be placed in the library in the new Cathedral. When approached, Williamson agreed to donate his collection of Masonic Literature and memorabilia to the Cathedral’s Library and its archives.

In 1926 led by Ferdinand L. Washington who was eventually to become the first Commander-In-Chief of Long Island Consistory No. 61, and other members of King David Consistory who were members of Lodges in the Second and Fourth Masonic Districts, the idea of establishing a Consistory in Brooklyn and naming it after Dr. Peter Ray, the first member of the Jurisdiction to serve as the Sovereign Grand Commander of the only Scottish Rite Supreme Council that was established in the State of New York. Williamson, a distant relative by marriage of Dr. Ray, hoping to be one of the charter members of the proposed Consistory, submitted his name to Ill. David W. Parker, the Deputy of the Orient of New York at the time, requesting a demit to the proposed new Consistory.

Parker rejected the committee’s application to form the new Consistory, and denied the Williamson’s request for a demission to the proposed Consistory, stating Williamson was ineligible because he lived in Manhattan at the time, and was not a resident of the suggested geographical area of the proposed Consistory

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Williamson appealed Parker’s decision to Ill. Sumner A. Furniss, the Sovereign Grand Commander of the United Supreme Council, AASR, NJ at the time. Ill. Furniss refused to overturn Parker’s decision, and it further alienated

Williamson. Consequently, Williamson retaliated by revoking his agreement to donate his collection of Masonic Literature and memorabilia to the Library and archives of the Scottish Rite Cathedral that was then being built in Philadelphia. According to Joseph Walkes in his book: “The History of the United Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, N.J., U.S.A, 1881 to1998”, had Williamson donated his collection to the Cathedral, it would have contained the largest collection of literature and memorabilia on African American Masonry in the world at the time.1 Instead Williamson donated his collection to the 136th Street Branch of the New York Public Library. The bulk of his Collection consisted of extensive research materials and published materials documenting his efforts to legitimize the position of African Americans in Freemasonry. The collection is currently maintained at the Schomburg Center for Research in African American Studies.

In 1932, Bertram Baker a member and Junior Warden of Carthaginian Lodge who was also a columnist for “The New York Age”, a large African American newspaper of the time, was suspended as a result of information he printed in one of his weekly columns in that newspaper, about a dispute between Carthaginian Lodge and the then District Deputy Grand Master of the Second Masonic District, R.W. William Rawlins (11). Baker, joined by Williamson became involved in one of the most contentious affairs in the Prince Hall fraternity in the State of New York. Known at the time as “The Baker Case”, they were suspended by the then Grand Master, Edward T. Sherwood (14) for what Sherwood termed “Un-masonic Conduct”. The incident also resulted in the arrest of the Lodge’s Charter by Sherwood, and in addition to his suspension of Williamson and Baker, Sherwood suspended four other Past Masters of Carthaginian Lodge, all of whom were vocal supporters of Baker’s First Amendment right as a reporter to publish the information in his weekly newspaper column1. The other four Past Masters who were suspended by Sherwood were: Louis Jeppe’. the first Worshipful Master, and father of the Lodge who received a suspension of Three (3) years, Ferdinand L. Washington (served as Master in 1909), who was suspended for One (1) year, John W. Helps (served as Master in1922) was suspended for One (1) Year and James Yearwood (served as Master in1930) was suspended for One (1) Year. Williamson the most vocal supporter of Baker received the harshest suspension, he was suspended for Fifteen years. The charter was subsequently returned to the Lodge at the April 1933 communication.1

The incident, and his support of Baker also resulted in the end of the Masonic career of Arthur Schomburg, the famed bibliophile and member of Prince Hall Lodge No.38, of whom the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is named. Schomburg who was also a supporter of Baker’s First Amendment right as a reporter to report on the incident, was also suspended by Sherwood. Subsequently, after the charter had been restored most of the members of the Lodge (Jeppe’, Williamson, Washington, Yearwood and Helps) who were suspended pursuant to this incident, either served the terms of their suspension or pursuant to the Grand Lodge Constitution, applied for, and were reinstated (Jeppe’ and Williamson, applied for reinstatement, and were reinstated within three years). Schomburg however, never appealed his suspension, nor did he resume his career in Masonry at the expiration of the term of his suspension.

Because of the many incidents by the various Masonic administrators which up to that time Williamson perceived had negatively affected him, and what he thought to be an undercurrent of jealousy by the leadership of the Grand Lodge of his Masonic knowledge and expertise, he developed an anti-leadership persona, and as the Masonic Editor of the “The New York Age” newspaper, he waged a negative media blitz against both the leadership of the Grand Lodge and its Grand Masters during his suspension.

He did not stop his negative campaign in the paper against the leadership of the Grand Lodge after his restoration, and in 1937 when Alice Campbell, his sister-in-law and then Grand Matron of Eureka Grand Chapter became involved in a bitter power struggle with Grand Master, George Marshall, he eagerly took on the role as her main advisor.

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In spite of all of his travails, and the ill feelings between Williamson and the power structure of both the various administrations of the Grand Lodge in New York, and also the Prince Hall General Conference of Grand Masters, in 1958 at the One Hundred and Thirteenth Grand Session of the M.W.P.H.,G.L. of New York, pursuant to the recommendation of M.W. William L. Jordan, Grand Master at the time presiding, Williamson was accorded the honor of being named an Honorary Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge.1 He was the first known member of the Second Masonic District of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New York to be so honored.

In July 1959, Williamson’s wife Blanche became gravely ill and was hospitalized. Never recovering from her illness, she passed away in February of 1960. Her death drove him into a deep depression ultimately causing him to eventually become physically ill himself. Subsequently when he became unable to physically take care of himself, he was taken in by a cousin, Clarice Budd.1 His deteriorating physical condition eventually lead to his having to be hospitalized, Williamson died on January 3, 1965 in St John’s Hospital (now Interfaith Hospital) in Brooklyn, after having been ill for several years. He is buried in the Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn, N.Y.

1 Peterson, Carla, “Black Gotham, A Family History of African Americans in Nineteenth Century New York City” (Family Tree) 1 “A Guide to the Harry A. Williamson Papers”, Pg. 1, The New York Public Library, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture 1 “The Phylaxis”, magazine, Vol. X, No. 4, Pg. 61 1 “A Guide to the Harry A. Williamson Papers”, Pg. 1, The New York Public Library, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture 1 “A Guide to the Harry Williamson Papers”. Pg. 1, ibid 1 “A Guide to the Harry A. Williamson Papers”, Pg. 1, ibid 1 Walkes, Joseph, “History of the United Supreme Council, A.A.S.R., F.M., N.J. 1881-1998”, Pg. 150 1 “The New York Age” newspaper, Article by Bertram Baker, April 25, 1936 1 Walkes, Joseph, “History of the Shrine, A.E.A.O.N.M.S. P.H.A., A Pillar of Black Society, 1893-1993”, Pg. 226 1 Roundtree, Alton, “Conference of Grand Masters, Conference History, 1887-2012”, Pg. 108 1 Walkes, Joseph, “History of the United Supreme Council A.A.S.R., F.M., N.J.1881-1998” Pgs. 92-93 1 “The New York Age” December 5, 1931, ibid 1 Williamson, Harry “The Story of Carthaginian, 1904 to 1949”, Pg. 21 1 Walkes, Joseph, ibid, Pg. 172 1 “The Phylaxis”, magazine ibid, Pg. 61

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WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN VISITING LODGES OUTSIDE OF MY JURISDICTION?

Brother Guillermo “Bill” J. M. Thorne, Sr., Member Tappan Zee Lodge No. 79, F. & A. M. (PH) Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New York and its Jurisdictions

Remember that when you leave the boundaries of your state, generally, you have left your Grand Lodge’s jurisdiction. There are circumstances where a Grand Lodge has jurisdiction that extend beyond the political, geographical boundaries of its state; as in the case of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New York; its jurisdictions extend to the Caribbean – Barbados, and Canada. This is also true in the case of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington. Its jurisdictions extend to the East of Washington State – Korea, Japan, and is carried by the men of the United States Armed Forces in that region; to the West it extends to Europe – Germany, and a number of other countries and is carried by the men of the United States Armed Forces; to the South it extends through portions of North, Central and South America, as it is carried by the men of the United States Armed Forces. Similar examples exist with other Grand Lodges, such at the Grand Lodge of New York.

A review of the agreement of the protocol for recognition of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas; the United Grand Lodge of England; the Grand Lodge of Ireland; and the Grand Lodge of Scotland; shows that the parameters established are the universal parameters for recognition and visitation among all grand lodges.

Often, due to laxness, on the part of Brothers/Brethren, many of the requirements of these protocols are overlooked or just not practiced. Some see them as cumbersome, or even unnecessary; however, if practiced there is never any fear of the introduction of those not qualified, or misrepresenting themselves. There are a number of historical references in which the general and acceptable means of identification was not adhered to and it has resulted in centuries of controversies.

A Brother, who enters a Lodge for the first time, must introduce himself with full detail, his Dues Card being the most important document he MUST have in his possession, further, as required in accordance with the general protocol: his rank (title), name, position (within his Grand Lodge/Lodge, if he holds one), name of his Grand Lodge, Name of his Lodge and number, name of Grand Master, name of Worship Master, the name of the state represented by his Grand Lodge, county/city of his Lodge. Should the Brother speaking, be the senior of other members of his Lodge present, he must also introduce each Brother of this party by name, title, and position.

The salutation to the Lodge should be as follows: Worshipful Master, Grand Lodge Officers – present or past; if any are present (because as a first-time visitor, chances are, you’ll not have enough knowledge to know whether or not Grand Lodge Officers are present), Wardens, Past Masters, Visiting Brethren, Brethren all, good evening (Morning – Afternoon as appropriate) . . . Standing at the position of Fidelity await the address of the Worshipful Master. Listen and follow his instructions, as given. If you are already in the Lodge and it is Tiled, when called upon to be recognized: stand (if protocol has been established – begin by saying; “Worshipful Master, proper protocol having been established – Good evening (afternoon or morning).” Give your name, title, position, Name of you Grand Lodge and jurisdiction, name of your Lodge, number, and county/city, the name of your Grand Master and the name of Worshipful Master. Should you happen to be traveling with other members of your Lodge (when the WM called for remarks from visiting Brethren, all should stand) you MUST introduce each member by name, rank, title and position – they are not to speak, you speak for everyone . . . as each is introduced he, nods to the Worshipful Master and takes his seat. July 2017 Prince Hall Sentinel Page | 41

Individuals should keep in mind that their comportment while in foreign jurisdictions is a reflection on their mother jurisdiction. Each of us when in a foreign jurisdiction, as a Master Mason, falls under the Grand Master of that jurisdiction and is governed by the Rules, Edicts, Constitution, Bylaws, Statutes, and all other governing regulations. As a Master Mason within that jurisdiction you are entitled to the same Rite(s) and Privileges as all Master Masons of the jurisdiction; with the exception of the Rite to Vote. Understanding the rules are important because, violating them can result in a great deal of embarrassment for you and your jurisdiction. A Master Mason who is observed misbehaving and is reported; is subject to charges being brought against him in the Lodge nearest is home, place where he is staying or employment. The charges will generally be resolved in the manner in which Masonic Charges are handled in the jurisdiction. Generally, Worshipful Masters and Grand Lodge Officers cannot be tried by a Master Mason Lodge in most jurisdictions. The goal of every Master Mason should be to behave as an upright man and Mason, at all times, especially when away from home and in public.

It is also important to keep in mind that the way things are done in your home jurisdiction is of no relevance when in a foreign jurisdiction. The way things are done in that jurisdiction should be your only valid concern. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. We have all been taught that it is acceptable to respond to situations, generally, I the manner acceptable I your jurisdiction; here a little room for judgment exist.

I have often heard it said that the way things are being done by the Grand Master is wrong. I have asked why a Brother feels that way, and have been told the Act, Rule, or whatever is being deemed unconstitutional goes against the democratic way of doing things. My respond that is, Freemason Grand Lodges by their own nature, are not democratic organizations; and to expect to have a democratic voice is an unreasonable expectation; Brothers have looked at me as if I have lost my mind. These organizations are by their nature Autocratic and governed by a Constitution and a set of Bylaws that give all powers to the Grand Master.

If your Grand Master gives you an opportunity to voice your opinion and he goes along with what you have to say, consider yourself lucky . . . this fraternity is and as always been an autocratic body. The Grand Master is the Titular Head and he is empowered by its Constitutions, Statutes, and Bylaws; The Grand Master also has the POWER to issue Edicts and Proclamations; these become new Rules and remain in effect, unless rescinded or superseded by another such document and declaration.

The membership gets to exercise one democratic function – vote to determine who will lead the organization. Beyond the Rite to exercise the Ballot, there is no other democratic Rite. Since time immemorial, members have exercised the Rite to Vote in accepting new members, determining how the Lodge’s monies should be spent, who should lead the Lodge (WM/SW/JW/T/S), and beyond the Lodge; delegates (WM/SW/JW/T/S/PM) are sent on the membership’s behalf to determine who should lead the Grand Lodge. This process is a tried and proven one, and is exercised universally.

To be in a foreign jurisdiction and believe you are entitled to anything other than what all Master Masons in that jurisdiction are entitled to, can prove to be a grave error.

Understanding these protocols can only lead to you having an enjoyable visit in any jurisdiction in which you may find yourself. Keep in mind, although the example below is universal, some jurisdiction may have slightly different variations as its rules. Therefore, it is important to communicate with your Lodge Secretary, Grand Lodge Secretary, and Chairman Committee on Foreign Correspondence, who are better equipped to guide you.

My personal experience in traveling has being to treat each jurisdiction, as if I came to visit your home, with dignity and respect. If, at any time, I have not done so, I am reasonably certain that I would not be invited back. For me that is the key to visitation.

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REQUIREMENTS FOR OFFICIAL VISITATION:

~ DUE NOTICE SHALL BE GIVEN IN WRITING ONE (1) MONTH PRIOR TO THE PLANNED

VISIT

~ THE NUMBER OF BRETHREN VISITING SHALL BE COMMUNICATED ONE (1) WEEK BEFORE THE VISIT BY THE MOST CONVENIENT MEANS (TELEPHONE, EMAIL OR

LETTER)

~ PROPER RECOGNITION OF WHO IS ENTERING THE LODGE, DISTRICT GRAND LODGE, OR GRAND LODGE SHALL BE GIVEN IN EACH CASE TO INCLUDE THE BROTHER/BRETHREN’S NAME, RANK, LODGE, AND LODGE NUMBER.

~ LODGES SHALL MAINTAIN BLANK CARDS WITH THESE DETAILS OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR OF THE LODGE WITH THE TYLER (The card when completed is given to the Senior Deacon for his introduction of the visitor)

~ A BROTHER WISHING TO VISIT A LODGE MAY REQUIRE A LETTER OF INTRODUCTION SIGNED BY THE SECRETARY OF HIS LODGE, PARTICULARLY

WHERE HE MAY NOT BE KNOWN TO THE LODGE THAT HE IS VISITING.

*** - HE SHOULD ENSURE THAT UPON HIS ARRIVAL, AT THE LODGE, HE IS IN POSSESSION OF HIS MEMBERSHIP CARD AND/OR MASTER MASON’S CERTIFICATE

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Pentecost Consistory No. 98 Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Northern Jurisdiction, Prince Hall Affiliation

38th year Anniversary By SGIG Leonard W. LaRue 33°

Sunday, September 25, 2016, Pentecost Consistory No 98 held its 23rd Annual Breakfast at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple, 245 South 11th Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY (Home of Progressive Lodge No. 64 F. & A.M.) Celebrating their 38th Year Anniversary

of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Freemasonry.

Loyal Lady Ruler Arretta Prashad and the Loyal Ladies of Pentecost Assembly No.86, Order of the Golden Circle were in attendance along with other distinguished guest.

Commander in Chief Fabian Yearwood 32° Honored the following Fraters for their years of dedicated and faithful service to Pentecost Consistory and Scottish Rite Freemasonry, by presenting each recipient with the GIG Thomas F. Jessamy 33° (1932-2014) Meritorious Service Award in Honor of the First

Commander in Chief of Pentecost Consistory No. 98. GIG Thomas F. Jessamy 33°, who was also a Past

Most Worshipful Grand Master (1997-1998) of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge New York.

The recipients receiving this honor were, SGIG Leonard W. LaRue 33°, SGIG Henry Rowlett 33°, SGIG Alan F. Hendrix 33°, SGIG Clarence High lll 33°, GIG Timothy B. McKnight 33°, GIG Carlton Garrett 33°, and Sublime Prince, Charles Parker 32°. The Commander in Chief also presented each recipient with a

Pentecost Consistory No. 98, 38th Year Anniversary Memory Coin.

Sister Marietta Jessamy (18), widow of GIG Thomas F. Jessamy, was presented with the First Meritorious Service Award and the First 38th year Anniversary Memory coin both were displayed in a beautiful walnut wood case when presented to her. July 2017 Prince Hall Sentinel Page | 44

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