Boom Bust: Prince Hall Masonry in Nebraska During the 1920S

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Article Title: Boom Bust: Prince Hall Masonry in Nebraska During the 1920s

Full Citation: Dennis N Mihelich, “Boom Bust: Prince Hall Masonry in Nebraska During the 1920s,” Nebraska History 79 (1998): 74-84.

URL of article: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/history/full-text/NH1998Boom_Bust.pdf Date: 3/2/2011

Article Summary: Prince Hall Masonry is an African American fraternal organization that arose because blacks were excluded from white Masonic lodges. During the 1920s Prince Hall Masonry in Nebraska experienced a brief boom, but by the middle of the decade a bust ensued. The 1924-25 industrial slump combined with the downturn in the agricultural sector curbed the influx of African American Americans to the state. At the onset of the Great Depression, Prince Hall Masonry was a weakened but viable and vital institution among the limited number of African Americans in Nebraska.

Cataloging Information:

Names: Trago T McWilliams, Ed P Smith, Nathaniel Hunter, D M Ansberry, James C Dahlman, Joseph Koutsky, N A Kemmish, Ben J Sallows, M W Jenkins, Craig Morris, Arthur J Weaver, Christian A Sorenson, W R Colly, Luther Allen, John A Singleton, E W Killingsowrth, Warren G Harding, Richard H Young, Harry Buford, Tom Dennison, F L Barnett, E Y Clarke, F L Barnett, William Tucker, George Flippin, Nathaniel Hunter, C T Denton, Charles W Dickerson, Walter W Seals, Nathaniel Hunter, Alfred F Peoples, Charles C Dudley, R H Young, Edward Fletcher, W P Wade, Verne Hedge, John Andrew Singleton, James Finley Wilson, Scott Lewis

Place Names: Omaha, Nebraska; Lincoln, Nebraska; Grand Island, Nebraska;

Keywords: Prince Hall Masonry; Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Nebraska (PHGLN); Ku Klux Klan; The Whip [Omaha]; The Review [Lincoln]; The Monitor [Omaha]; The New Era [Omaha]; The Omaha Guide [Omaha]; Rough Ashler #1; Excelsior #2; Rescue #4; Marvin #5; Alliance #7, Platte Valley #8, Omaha #9; Arbor #11; Omaha Colored Commercial Club; Dyer anti-lynching bill; True American #6; Lebanon #3; St John’s #11; King Solomon Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted York Masons of Kansas and Jurisdiction; Grand Relief Secretary; Prince Hall Building Association; Grand Court of the Heroines of Jericho; Amaranthus Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star

Photographs / Images: Dr John Andrew Singleton; Luther Allen and his wife, Ida; hall on North Twenty-sixth Street in Omaha which was purchased by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge in 1927; a Masonic banquet in the early 1930s; Grand Tyler William Tucker, 1923; Prince Hall Mason Blue Lodges, 1920s [chart]

By Dennis N Mihelich

During th e 19205 Prince Hall Masonry in and towns that had blue lodges. Befit tant copies exist on ly from 1932. With Nebraska experienced a brief boom in ting a proud new institution , it staged two notabl e excepti ons, infrequ ent , the wake of the Great Migration, but by grand public recepti ons prior to th e re terse stories in the white press about th e th e middle of the decade a bust ensued. stricted busi ness sessions of th e frater public reception associated with th e an Prosperity made the 19205 "roar," but nity. Also sign ifyin g the stature of th e so nual communica ti on augmen ted th e th e good times did not blanket th e ciety, slat e and local politicians at sparse coverage in the black press. co untry. Pockets of economic problems tend ed th e events and extended off icial In 1920 Mayor Ed P. Sm ith of Omaha mut ed the roar in some economic sec welcomes to th e delegates. A symbolic welcomed th e delegates to the second tors and locales. In one instance, the re gesture, noneth eless it conveyed an en ann ual communication at a public re covery of European agriculture from the co uragin g civil message in an age of de ception held at th e mee ting place of th e dislocations of World War I contributed te ri oratin g race relations and lllay indi Omaha lodges at Twenty-second and to hard times for staple farm ers on th e ca te the limits of influence of th e Ku Cuming. Th e evening also included an Great Plains. Agricultural suppliers, pro Klux Klan in Nebraska in th e 1920s. array of lit eral)' and musical perfor cesso rs, and shippers suffered immedi White politicians, especially outside of mances . Once th e formal session ate repercussions and mu ch of th e Ne Omaha, had little reason to court black opened, however, Grand Master braska economy stagnated well before voters who remained insignifican t in Nathan iel Hunter sou nd ed several dis th e onse t of th e industrial depress ion of number and held no balance of power co rd ant notes. His un harmonious re the 19305. Without the pull factor of eas position. Thus , it is difficult to envision marks indica ted that th e new institution ily obtainable jobs, large-sca le black mi a truly politi cally powerful Klan and suffered from grow in g pains. He reo gration to the state came to an abrupt wh ite politic ians who would court its ire ported having to deal with the transgres halt, significantly affecting insti tutions by publicly showi ng res pect for a black sions of th e worshipful masters of three created by th e Great Migration, such as social group. Omaha lodges and he berated "some th e Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ne Newspaper coverage of Prince Hall Masons, even Masters and Pas t Masters" braska (PHGLN). Nonetheless, Prince activity expanded somewhat, but re who would "go th e full length of tlleir Hall Masonry survived the dislocations mained brief and infrequent. Four new tow cable to stab a brotller in the back." of th e decade, althou gh it lost many of black weeklies appeared durin g the Besides unbrotherly malice, Hunter and its blue-collar members. On the other 19205, but 110 copies exist for two of the Grand Lecturer both explai ned that hand, it continued to attract th e elite of th em that had brief runs-7iIe Whip in th ey refrained from making thei r annual black society, and thus, th e strong corre Omaha and The Review in Lincoln. In visits to all the lodges in the jurisdi ct ion lation between comm unity leadership Oc tober 1920 Trago T. McWilliams sold because those locate d in th e small and Prince Hall Masonry rema ined The Review to The Monitor (Omaha), towns with small memb ersh ips cou ld throughou t the decade. which subsequently included a full not afford the costs of subsidizing th e of Before the PHGLN purchased a build page of Lin coln news in its edition. Four ficial sojourn. Moreover, Hunter com ing in Omaha in 1927, it held its annual months late r, however, the "Lin co ln De plained that poor bookkee ping and com munications in th e va ri ous cities partment" disappeared and only inter business practices jeopardized th e fi mittently th erea fter the paper printed a nances of several lodges and made th e few parag raphs of news about th e Afri reporting 01 Grand Lodge finance and Dennis N. Mihelich is an associate professor of histOlY at Creighton University. In/wa previous ca n Ameri ca n community in th e state membership figures unreliable. These articles in Nebraska History, he has w tillen capi tal. Th e New Era published in co mplaints, along with constant criti aboullhe orig ins ofPrince Hall MasofJlY in Omaha be tween 1922 and 1926, but ca r cism of shoddy performance of ritual, Nebraska. and the creation of the Prince Hall ried little masonic news, and th e Omaha became the standard bill of fare of of Gmnd Lodge. Guide began operation in 1927, but ex ficer reports for ensuing decades.

74 Prince Hall Masonry in the 19208

On the other hand, masonic frater character, The Monitor ran a special edi lows of the Alliance newspaper for his nity radiated from the decision to loan tion prior to the annual communication coverage.6 money to a brother to hire an attorney that featured a full page of pictures of Positive news coverage of African to defend him in a criminal suit. Reflect the officers and news about the upcom Americans by the white press was a rare ing the mood of the times-within a ing event. While most of the white event and well appreciated by black year of the Omaha riot that contributed owned papers blared headlines of Ne community leaders. Thus, typically, to the Red Summer of 1919-Hunter de gro crime-much of it committed in back in Lincoln for the 1925 annual fended the decision explaining: "With other cities-The Lincoln Star disdained communication, again only The Lincoln the prejudice that exists in this country those stories in favor of daily coverage Star briefly covered the session that met today against the Negro, if he is sent to of the Prince Hall Mason meeting.3 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. While no jail, whether he is guilty or not, his life The 1922 conclave in Grand Island representative of the city or the state is in danger."! received no notice in the white or black gave an official greeting, the delegates The delegates also passed a resolu press. Nonetheless, the mayor wel did tour the State CapitoJ.1 tion designating The Review as the "offi comed the visitors at a gathering at the The next year in Grand Island, Mayor cial organ" of the Grand Lodge. Unfortu lodge hall of True American #() on East M. W. Jenkins welcomed the delegates nately for masonic scholars, the pub Third Street.4 ln 1923 the annual com at a public program and this time the lisher, a Prince Hall Mason, could not munication returned to Omaha. It met Grand Island Daily Independent recog establish sound finances for the African American weekly in Lincoln. Thus, widespread coverage of black masonry did not materialize. The Monitor, how "With the prejudice that exists ever, did report the embarrassing end to the 1920 annual communication. The in this country today against public was invited to a closing cer emony and dance at the Columbia Hall. the Negro, if he is sent to jail, The meeting ran long, however, and young people in attendance demanded whether he is guilty or not, the dancing begin. Subsequently, the program committee entered with the his life is in danger." idea of beginning the formal program. Protests from the youngsters led to older people leaving and to canceling the August 15-17 at the new meeting hall of nized the gathering held at the GAR grand march and program. Apologizing the city's lodges at Twenty-fourth and Hall.s The 1927 convention in Omaha re in print in The Monitor, officers ex Parker. The Proceedings stated that ceived no notice in the white or black plained that they decided to go with the Mayor James C. Dahlman saluted the press and the 1928 gathering in Lincoln "majority" in order to preserve "peace group at a public reception at Cleaves at Lebanon #,3's meeting hall at 1133 M and harmony."2 Temple C.M.E., but The New Era and the Street merited only a brief note in the In 1921 the PHGLN held its annual Omaha World-Herald reported that his "Lincoln News" section of The Monitor. communication at the McKinley Audito honor was out of town and that Com The Nebraska State Journal (Lincoln), rium in Lincoln August 17-19 (the con missioner Joseph Koutsky, the acting however, joined The Lincoln Star in cov stitution mandated an annual meeting mayor, paid the city's respects.s ering the event. Mayor Verne Hedge during the third week of August). It be "Out of sight, out of mind" must have welcomed the group that met simulta gan with a public reception at the been the policy of The New Era and The neously with the OES annual communi A.M.E. church that included a welcome Monitor as they again failed to cover an cation. The two societies then held a address from D. M. Amsberry, Nebraska out-of-town annual communication. In joint closing banquet at Mt. Zion Secretary of State. Rain washed out a 1924 the fraternity traversed the state to Church.9 The official business portion of picnic planned to take place at the State the railroad town of Alliance situated in the annual communication concluded Fair Grounds, but a concluding dance at the Nebraska Panhandle. City Manager with the election of officers. During the Germania Hall went well. Also, the ad N. A. Kemmish hailed the more than 1920s the PHGLN established a tradition venturous could supplement the seri one hundred delegates and the Alliance of short terms and frequent turnover of ousness of the formal meetings by hop Times and Herald ran two long, front grand lodge officers. This stands in stark ping aboard the sponsored plane rides page articles covering the event. In turn, contrast to other African American fra to view the capital city. Quite out of The Monitor praised editor Ben J. Sal ternities and to some other Prince Hall

75 Nebraska History - Summer 1998 jurisd icti ons. Historian David Fahey ar nity church. Affiliated groups such as black migrat ion to Nebraska during the gued th at "charismatic leaders domi the va ri ous Sco tt ish Rit e socie ties , th e int erwar era. Th e mi d-d ecad e industrial nated the scene" and ci ted among oth Shrin ers, and th e Order of the Eastern slump and the onset of agri cultural de ers James Finl ey Wilson, wh o served as Sta r (OES) held similar regu larly sc hed pression for Great Plains staple farm ers Grand Exalted Ru ler o f th e black Elks uled ritu alistic ce leb rati ons. severely constricted the migratory pu II for thi rty yearsW More remarkably, th e One of the most cherished pu blic of economi c opportunity for sou th ern Lew is family estab lished a dynasty in ceremoni es was th e laying of a co rn er blacks. Thus, th e size of the African the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Louisi stone. Those particu lar events also dem Am erican co mmunity in Nebraska ana. John G. Lewis Sr. became grand onstrated the impact of th e Great Migra towns and cities stabi li zed and th e ex mas ter in 1903 and served until his tion that expanded and enriched estab- pansion of racial institutions ceased . death in 1931. His son , Scott, succeeded Pr ince Hall Masons played promi to th e office and held it for ten years un nent rol es in other commu nity activi ti es til his untimely death. John Jr. replaced such as th e Omaha Colored Commer his brother and mainta ined th e position cial Club. In 1922 three o f the four club for thirty-e ight years, 194 1-79." offi ce rs were members of th e frater Only one Grand Master of the PHGLN nity- Nathaniel Hunter, preside nt , served more than five years and his de Rough AshI er; Dr. Crai g Morris, secre cade of leadership en ded in scandal in tary , Rou gh Ashi er; and Dan Desdunes, 1955. Except for the business-related of treasurer, Excelsi or. fi ces of grand secretary and grand trea Sim il arly, fraternal members played surer, wh ich both had a se ri es of long a sign ifi cant rot e in th e failed attempt to se rving individuals, the oth er grand of get th e YMCA to establish a facility in fi ces routin ely turn ed ove r. In part this Omaha for black males. In January 192 1 was due to th e rotat ion of the top offi ce Dr. John A. Singleton, Rough As hler # I , and individuals wh o secu red elec ti on to pres ided over an organ iza tional mee ting a succession of offices, moving up th e . and was elec ted chairman of an execu chain of co mmand-for exa mpl e, se rv tive comm ittee fo rm ed to nego ti ate with ing first as juni or grand warden, then se Y offi cials. Six of nin e committee mem nior grand warden, Ihen deputy grand bers identified by the Monitor belonged master, and ult imately grand master. to either Rough Ashier or Excelsior. Sub During th e 1920s Lebanon 113 in Li ncoln seq uently in 1926, in an alypical ap contri buted th e most grand offi cers, proach, the Pri nce Hall Masons as an or more than twice its nearest co mpetitors, ganization took a direct ro le in the ef Rough Ash ler " I , Excelsior#2, and Res fo rt. Na thaniel Hunler, in behalf of the cue 114. Thus, not surprisin gly, long Dr. John Andrew Singleton, Rough Ashier organiza ti on, appl ied to have Ihe YWCA slanding members from th e oldest # 1, Omaha, was elected to the Nebraska (which did have a facility for blacks) do legislature in 1926. NSHS-RG21 4t-2028 lodges controlled th e PH GLN during its a community study to assess the needs first decade of existence . of the Afri can Am eri ca n co mmu nity. While the annu al co mmuni ca ti on Iished church es, as well as crea ted new Th e YW co nvened a meeting to ad dress high li gh ted th e masoni c year, oth er ce r ones. On Oc tober 8, 1922, the Prince the issue, but the YM did not establish a emo ni al ac ti vi ti es punctuated the rout in e Hall Masons laid th e corn erstone of Mt. fac ility in the area of predominan t black 13 fl ow of stan da rd even ts. For example, th e Zion Baptist Ch urch in Linco ln . Two se ttl ement at th at time. Grand Lodge was asked to se nd a repre month s later, on December 3, th ey held The effort to obtain a black YMCA, sen tati ve to Port-au-Prin ce on th e fourth similar rites for Beth el A.M .E. and St. however, did contribut e to th e crea ti on Sunday in January 1924 10 parti cipate in John 's A.M.E. in Omaha. Then at th e of an Urban Leagu e affiliate in Omaha th e ce lebration of th e ce nt ennial of Hai end of Apri l 1923, Mayor Dahlman ad th e following year. Dr. Craig Morris, lian independence. It respeclfully de dresse d th e assembled and th e Prince Rough Ashler " I , spea rh eaded that clined Ihe offer du e to Ihe costs involved. Hall Masons laid th e co rn erstone for drive and two of his lodge brothers, Prin ce Hall Masons remained visible in Cleave Te mple, C. M. E. in Omaha." No Na th aniel Hunter and Milton Hu nter, the co mmun ity through an nual obse rva oth er references to this acti vity ap joined him on th e cha rte r executive ti ons such as St. John 's Day in whi ch th ey pea red during th e remainder of the de board of th e Omaha Urban League. I~ co ngregated in full rega lia and paraded cad e. This highl ights anoth er one of th e At th e end of Ihe decade several to a se rvi ce and ce remony at a commu eff ects of the temporary end of sizeab le Prin ce Hall Mason s again ca me to the

76 Prince Hall Masonry in the 19205

ship was barred at th e lodge door. Yet, th e Prince Hall Masons acted polit ica lly in th e area of civil rights. Gran d Master Nath aniel Hunter's address at the an nu al commu nicati on in 192 1 reiterated a tradi ti onal posi tion, advisi ng personal character developmen t, racial upli ft , and the militant pursui t of equal rights:

While the World War brought to our people many lau rels, it also added Ameri can prejudice, malice and hate. But thank God, the Negro as never before is demand· ing his rig hts, I am pleading to my people, however, to be hones t to you rself and to you r fellow man, regardless of race or col or: be upright, sober, industrious and economical. but with it all demand your rights. Let us be manly, trust in God and continue to be loyal law·abiding citizens; get some of th e world's wealth, beautify your homes, estab lish and main tain a business, and learn to trust each othe r as we do the other ra ce . In this great work of racial uplift let Maso nl)' play well its pa rt. 16

Taking th e Grand Master's words to hea rt , St. John 's 10dge"ll of South Omaha sent a cable to President Warren G. Harding aski ng him to urge in his an nual message to Congress the passage of th e Dyer an ti -lynching bill. " Despi te the fa il ure of the legislat ion the PHGLN in 1923 published a full-page picture of Harding and a sti rring poetic eulogy in its Proceedings of the annual communi ca tion. That same yea r Grand Master Ri chard H. Young, Lebanon #3, praised Luther Allen and hi s wife, Ida. Allen, of l ebanon #3 in lincoln, was one at the promine nt th e work of th e NAACP: block leaders who met with state officials following the North Platte racial incident in 1929. NSHS-RG2301 -9 Of all the agencies thJ t grapple wi th the various socia l, political and economical defense of thei r race. On July 13, 1929, belonged to Prince Hall lodges- W. R. problems which affect the cou ntry and in North Platte a black man killed a po Colly, Luther Allen, and the Rev. Trago our ra ce, I kn ow of no ot her organization, fraternal or otherwise, that has done more lice office r. Shortly thereafter the assail McWill iams of Lebanon "3, Dr. John A. toward solving or relievi ng these various ant was also dead-possibly by su icide, Singleton and E. W. Ki ll ingsworth of con ditions than th e National Association but probably by pol ice gunfi re. Th reats Rough As hier It l , and Harrison J. Pinkett for the Advan ceme nt of Colored Peop le. and fear led most blacks to leave town of Excelsior lt2. Aga in, this type of high Un like the church or fralernal organiza immediately. Quick action on th e part pro fil e acti vity th aI res ulted in newspa tions the work of this assoc iation is not hJmpered by creeds or trad itions from go· of local an d state offi cials prevented fur per coverage demonstrates th at Prin ce ing the full lim it for the protect ion and ad· ther violence and most Af ri can Ameri Hall Masonry attracted a goodly per va ncement of our people: and as far as it cans return ed to th e ci ty. Two days after centage of prominent blacks, but this has available resources, it has left no th e incident a group of prom inent impress ionist ic ev idence of th e mem stone unturned. [t is indeed reg rettab le that the good and effective service this or· blacks from Omaha and Li ncoln met bership shoul d no t distort the true mult i ganization is rendering our group, pa rlicu· with Govern or Arthur J. Weaver and class compos ition of th e PHGLN.1 5 lariy in the south [sic], does not receive Sta te Attorney General Christian A. In compari so n to ceremonial and mo re appreciat ion and support from the Sorensen. One half of th e delegation community activities, political partisa n race as a whole,l s

77 Nebraska History - Summer 1998

The meeting responded to his ap pea l. The PHGLN beca me a member of the NAACP, although the original pro posal to purchase a $25 national mem bership was amended to buy a $ IO loca l membersh ip an d donate $15. The word ing in th e Proceedings does not make it clear if the donation we nt to th e na tional office or to th e local chapter." Moreover, despite the ban on politics in th e lodge hall, loca l electioneering swi rl ed around th e edges of Prince Hall Mason!), in Nebraska. Individual contact points abounded and members un dou btedly were affec ted by personal and fratern al associa ti ons. While th ese assoc iation s influ enced their political loyalties, the lodge hall itse lf probably re main ed free of political discussion. Within that context lay th e significance of Har!), Buford, Ex ce lsior "2, an Omaha policeman who for a time served as th e chauffeur for politica l boss Tom Den ni son . He was one of four individu This hall on North Twenty-sixth Street in Omaha was purchased by the Prince Hatl als frequently identified as "ward heel Grand lodge 0' Nebraska in 1927. From the Bostwick-Frohordt Collection owned by ers" for the "Den niso n Machine" in the KMN and on permanent loon to the Durham Western Heritage Museum, Omaha. black community. The other three oper ated sa loons at var ious tim es and thus auxilia!)"2 Seem ingly, th e KKK in borer, however, did not fa re as well. could not become Prince Hall Masons'· Omaha served as a convenient scape Th e econom ic opportuniti es of the first Obviously Buford could influence his goa t for the Dennison Machine, but not two decades of th e twenti eth centu!), fraternal brothers without playing poli as a powe rful political co mpetitor. drew signi fi cant numbers of African tics at lodge meetings. The second new legislator, F. L. Ame ri ca n comm on laborers and domes In 1926 for th e first time since the Barne tt , had been born in Selma, Ala ti c workers to Nebraska, es pecially to end of the nineteenth ce ntu!)" two Afri bama, migrat ed first to Cleveland, Ohio, Omaha. Rec ruits from those grou ps ca n America ns gai ned election to the and then to Omaha in 1887. Two yea rs swelled the rosters of Prince Hall Ma lower house of the Nebraska Legislature later he established th e first black news sonry an d provided th e critical mass (it became a unica meral body in 1937). pape r, The Progress , whi ch lasted seven necessary for th e creati on of an inde Both were Prin ce Hall Masons: Dr. John tee n years. Subsequen tly he held sev pendent grand lodge. Subsequ ently, in A. Singleton, Rou gh Ashler#I, and F. L. eral patronage jobs with the city and at th e brief boom of the ea rly I 920s SI. Barnett, Rescue 1t4 . Sin gleton was born th e tim e of hi s elec ti on was se rvin g as John's " II in South Omaha mush in Omaha in 1895, gra duated from Cen head janitor at th e city jaiL" roomed on th e strengt h of packing tral High School and Howard University, While a represe ntative proportion of house workers. It succu mbed just as and served the comm unity as a dentist. th e noteworthy in th e African American quickly as a res ult of the econom ic co n He actively supported Dennison's com munity rema in ed active in Prince strain ts posed by the 192 1-22 strike and Square Seven licket, stoopin g to partici Hall Masonry in th e int erwar yea rs, blue th e 1924 recession. Thus, membersh ip pate in fake KKK cross-b urnings to collar membership shrank significan tly. by blue-collar workers diminished, al smear opponents of th e machin e. 21 Th e The relative economic sec uri ty of the thou gh it rema ined a sig nifican t propo r KKK was active in th e city, but its actual profess ional elite, th e en trepreneurial ti on of th e PHGLN . histori cal impact in Nebraska remains to and civil-servant middle class, an d the Membership analysis by differen t be determ ined. In 192 1a newspaper re semiskilled and sk illed workers with se scholars for differen t locales of Prince ported that E. Y. Clarke of Atlanta vis niori ty better allowed th em to wea th er Hall Mason!), has produce d conflicting ited Omaha, claiming 750 members the economic vagar ies of the decade. stati st ica l interpretation s. Writin g about th ere and plans to organize a women's The newly hired and th e unskilled la- th e Chicago black community, Allan H.

78 Prince Hall Masonry in the 19205

grew from eight chap ters to "over three sco r e.~2 9 Next door in Ind iana, Darrel E. Bigham's resea rch on Evansville led him to asse rt that black frat ernities flour ished through th e 1920s, but then largely disappeared by 1941." More generally, E. Franklin Frazier, conceding that reliabl e figures did not ex ist, argued that among blacks all fra ternities save the Elks declined after mass migration to the cities [the Great Migration of World War 1'1. He provided no spe cific da te, but in one insta nce ar gued that "during th e period foll owing the Civil War and the first decade of the present century the Negro sec ret societ ies had their greatest growth." Subse quently, wit hout isolating on any par ticu lar fra tern ity, and com bining rural and urban associations, he claim ed th at "t he urban environment has caused th e older fraterna l orga ni za ti ons to lose much of th eir appeaL"" Will iam A. A Masonic banquet in the north Twenty-sixth Street hall, early 19305. From the Bostwick Mu raski n, however, documen ted that Frohordt Collection owned by KMN and on permanent loan to the Durham Western the Prince Hall Masons, at least, should Heritage Museum, Omaha. also have been excluded from th at sweeping generalization. He provided Spear argued that fraternal societies be depleted membershi p. None of th e stud fig ures that support ed an ex pl osion of gan to decline at th e beginning of the ies provided memb ership statistics par membership from 1900 to 1930. Texas, twentieth century. He cited the number ticular to Prince Hall Masonry. In Ohio for ex ample, mushroomed from 2,000 of existing lod ges of various orders in David A. Gerber reported that newer or members in 1903 to 20,000 in 192 7 and the 1880s, but gave no membership fig ders cut into masonic membership and Ca lilorn ia followed th e patt ern , enlarg ures for pre- or post-1900. 24 In compari that during the I890s th e Prince Hall Ma ing from a mere 157 Prince I-Iall Masons son, a st udy prompted by th e Chicago son rosters in that sta te declined 50 per in 1900 to 2,400 in 1929. 32 Prosperity, mi rac e riot of 1919 claimed that member ce nt , to just under 1,000 members. 27 grat ion to sou th ern towns, the Great Mi ship was "la rge" and interest "stron g" in Whi le Gerber did not follow th e order gration to north ern and weste rn cities, black fraternal organiza tions. 25 into th e twenti eth ce ntury, Kenneth and the attraction of th e traditional pres Without discussing Prin ce HaJJ Ma Kusmer, addressing th e situation in ti ge of maso nry obvioll sly contributed sonry in particular, SI. Clair Drake and Cleveland, contended th at in general the to th e rapid growth. Horace Cayton in Black Metropolis as frate rn ities "decl in ed in both numbers Nebraska, with a caveat, followed th e se rted that "lodges" lost most of their in and significance" afte r World Wa r 1. 28 Ca lifornia model. As Lawrence De Graaf fluence after World War I. Yet, in 1940 In comparison, Charl es H. Wes ley, poi nted out , a strong ec onomy and a in a Works Projects Administration sur a historian of Prince Hall Masonry in good climate contributed to the dou vey, Drake, while acknowledging th e Ohio, reported that in 1904, forty-lour bling of Los Angeles's population during impact o f the Great Depress ion, asserted lodges existed with 1,173 members. th e I 920s. African Americans kept pace, that "all 'old line' lodges [which would Those numbers demonstrat ed are· increasing th eir number from 15,579 to include Prince Hall Masonryl and sev bound lrom th e effects of th e economi 38,898. 33 In comparison, th e total popu eral smaller groups are still strong. "26 cally depressed 1890s that actually con lation for the entire stat e of Nebraska in The above schola rship analyzed fraterni tinu ed for two more decades. Oh io creased by only 24 ,261 during the 1920s ti es and/or Usec ret socie ti es" in terms of Prince Hall rosters swelled to lilty lodges and th e black population of Omaha, "influence," which may have re ferred to with 1,983 members in 19 14 and eventu the only sizeable industrial city, inched less prestige for th e fraterniti es in th e ally to sixty-seven lodges with 3,463 forward by a mere 708" In Nebraska wake of the Great Migration and not to members in 1925 . Similarly, the OES the economic stagnation stifl ed migra

79 Nebraska History - Summer 1998 lion and th e weak economy com bin ed rounded by farm land an d paslure, and wilh Ihe lack of migranls 10 pul Prince of Ihe "ri ol" of 1929. Despile Ihe inilial I-Iall Mason membership in a lailspin al mid-decade in terest, th e declini ng popu mid-decade_ lalion foreslalled Ihe crealion of a lodge. A Iypewrillen PH GLN documenl dis Fin ally, in 19281he number of lodges re Iribuled in 1940 claimed Ihal ils mem bounded wilh Ihe charlering of Ihe short bership peaked in 1923 wilh eleven lived Arbor #1 1 in Nebraska Cily, which lodges conlaining a lolal of 800 brolh subsequenlly mel ils demise ea rly in Ihe ers. Olher official slalislics of Ihe grand Grea t Depression .4o sec retary, however, revealed a summit The spread of "clandesline" black of 742 members in 1922 and Ihal by Ihe masonry also affec ted th e membershi p end of March 1923 Ihe figure had of Ihe PHGLN. In masonic parlance shrunk 10 669. Grand MaSl er Young ex "clandesline" referred 10 a lodge claim pla ined Ihallhe decrease resulled from in g maso nic affiliat ion that was not a losses in Ihe Omaha lodges, while Leba member of Ihe PHGLN. Several compel i non #3 in Lincoln gained members and live Nalional Compaci lodges exisled in Ihose in cenl ral and weslern Nebraska Lincoln and Omaha Ihal were associ held sleady. He refused 10 granl a dis aled wilh Ihe King Solomon Gran d pensa ti on to an unnamed lodge to con Lodge of Free and Accepled York Ma duc t a membership drive because it sons of Ka nsas and Jurisd iction.11 Th e was "u n-Mason ic to sol icit prospec ti ve Nalional Compaci was a riva l group Ihal members. " Inst ead he commended th e claimed a masonic herilage Ihe PHGLN Omaha aClion as good, "namely Ihe re did nol recognize as legilimale, Grand moval of dead weigh!."" Aclually, il was Grand Tyler William Tucker. Proceedings Masler Nalhan iel Hunler ball led vigor Ihe opening sa lvo in a bailie 10 main lain of the Fifth Annual Communication. ous ly against th is riva l organ izat ion , viab ilily. PHGLN. 1923, PHM MSS convin cing th e Nebraska Secretary of In 19221he PHGLN had increased 10 Stal e not to issue it arti cles of incorpora $40 and $20 the max imum and mini members of Lebanon '13 applied for a tion . Moreover, Hiram loclge 4t lO began mum fees for initiating, passi ng, and dispe nsa tion to start a new lodge in Lin wilh Iwelve "healed clandeslines" (ihal raisi ng a candidale. In 1924 il resc inded coln . Lebanon , howeve r, exe rcised its is, Ihey dropped Iheir affiliation wilh Ihe Ihal action, lowering Ihe rales 10 $25 consliluliona l privilege and refused 10 Nalional Compaci and formed a Prince and $15. ln 1927 Grand MaslerCharies endorse th e movement; no further at I-Iall blue lodge) including ils firsl wor W. Dickerson issued a dispensa tion al tempts were made. J7 In th e nex t year in shipful masler, Cha rl es H. Bradford." lowing individual lodges 10 initiale, Omaha Iwo new lodges did appear Apparenlly Ihe compelilion became pass, and raise ca ndidates for less than Hiram # \0 and St. John's # 11. Howeve r, less decorous in 1923. In th at yea r th e an th e constitut ional fees and to reinstate in th e same yea r, Grand Master Hunter nual com muni cat ion voted to commend "members who had been suspended for revoked Ihe charter of Pl alle Va lley #8 Grand Tyler William Tu cker, who pre non-paymenl of dues, for a period of al 5collsbluff.38 5ubsequenlly, a slrike in ven led Ihe Compacl Masons from "break Ihree years, or less, for a fee of $5.00: Ihe mealpacking induslry in 192 1-22 and ing Ihrough" Ihe line of march du rin g Ihe I-I e did Ihis "10 slimulale inleresl , and 10 Ihe recession of 1924 look a loll on Ihe 51. Joh n's Day parade." The Nalional injecl new life in our lodges, and 10 help membership in Omaha in general and in Com pacllodges conlinued 10 presenl suspended brothers, who have been un 1926 led specifically 10 Ihe demise of 51. mea ningful co mpe tit ion throughout the able 10 keep sleady employmenl: De John's #11. Allhe sa me lime Dr. George remainder of Ihe decade. In 1927 1h e an sp it e thirty-one new initiates and seven Flippin of True American "6 of Grand Is nu al com muni cation debated the issue re instatements, sixty-five members were land received a dispensat ion to form a of suing th em for "encroac hm ent of suspended in 1927, dropping Ihe grand lodge in North Pialie. Th e cily, however, ri ghls." Grand Masler Dickerson resisled lodge rosier 10 a 10lal of SIS" The was home 10 less Ihan fifty black males Ihe move, arguing Ihal il only gave ma PHG LN ended Ihe "prosperily decade" allhe lime-forly-Ihree according 10 Ihe so nry a "bad name. n4~ with the same number of members as 1920 census and on ly nineleen lisled in While th e economic stagnation con when il began. Ihe 1930 census. " Th ose fi gures demon Iribuled 10 membership deplelion, Ihal In a conlorled manner Ih e PHGLN did strat e th e impact of th e economi c down scenario obviously also res ult ed in a close the decade with th e maximum turn on black workers res iding in this precarious fiscal oUllook. The PHGLN number of eleven lodges. In 1920 Ihree western Nebraska railroad town su r began as a jurisdict ion in a stat e with

80 Prince Hall Masonry in the 19205

relatively few African American resi misappropriation of funds by blue lodge Charles W. Dickerson $50 for his ser dents and because of that it remained a officers exacerbated the situation and vice.50 Limited grants of charity to com relatively poor one. In its first year of op caused painful embarrassment to a soci munity groups also continued. For ex eration the grand lodge received $3,096 ety based on moral uprightness.46 ample, the Omaha lodges jointly cel and disbursed $1,142, leaving a balance The battle over the office of Grand ebrated St. John's Day at Zion Baptist of $1,953. Following the brief boom in Relief Secretary highlighted the delicate Church. The money raised through the membership the balance almost qua financial situation that ensued by mid collection plate was donated to church drupled in two years to $7,291 in 1922, decade. In 1925 the grand lecturer re auxiliaries and the Old Folks Home. The but then grew slowly to $10,672 by the ported that he "thought it best not to minister who conducted the service, end of 1927. By comparison, in 1920 the visit many of the lodges because of however, was offended and berated the chairman of the committee on foreign working conditions among the brothers, lodges in a newspaper article because correspondence (Le., news from other many of whom were idle, and that my he personally usually received $10 from masonic jurisdictions) reported that the visits might embarrass the lodge's trea a single lodge and the six Omaha lodges Georgia Prince Hall Grand Lodge surers to a certain extent. "47 Two years paid him only $5. The lodge officers owned $70,000 worth of property and later several lodges stood in arrears and claimed it was a misunderstanding not had $123,821.47 cash in hand.45 in 1928 the PHGLN voted not to print a privation.51 The limited funds and the down proceedings of the annual communica spiraling membership caused immedi tion (for the next twenty years only brief ate financial problems. At the 1922 an handwritten or typewritten "minutes" Prince Hall Mason nual communication a committee that were produced).48 Blue Lodges, 1920s studied the operation of other grand Seemingly, the financial challenges Rough Ashier #1 Omaha lodges recommended the creation of stimulated some lodges to undertake the office of Grand Relief Secretary. The fundraising events once again. The Excelsior #2 Omaha PHGLN accepted the recommendation women's auxiliary, the Order of the East Lebanon #3 Lincoln and elected C. T. Denton, Lebanon #3, ern Star, had always held more public Rescue #4 Omaha to the post. The creation of the new of fundraisers, but even the infrequent pre Marvin#S Hastings fice coincided with a dues increase World War I lodge advertisements for that caused dissension, especially from socials disappeared from the press after True American #6 Grand Island the smaller lodges. In fact, in 1923 True the formation of the grand lodge. Possi Alliance #7 Alliance American #6 voted not to remit its relief bly the boom created economic secu Platte Valley #8 Scottsbluff and burial assessments because it felt rity for the individual blue lodges. If so, Omaha #9 Omaha that the position was not established le the bust reintroduced economic con St. John's #11 gally. Grand Master Young lectured the cern. In 1927 Lebanon #3 held a Omaha lodge about the supremacy of the grand chicken dinner at Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Arbor#11 Nebraska City lodge, defended the office which could The brothers reported that "our white devote full time to an arduous task, and friends were largely in evidence."49 This True American relented. The very next was two years before the North Platte The PHGLN also maintained its year, however, Young removed the of incident; and it points out the range of NAACP membership as well as making ficer because of dereliction of duty and race relations in Nebraska during the $25 donations to the Old Folks Home of opponents succeeded in eliminating the 1920s in terms of individual attitudes, Lincoln in 1925 and the Federation of office as an unnecessary expense neighborhood circumstances, and Colored Women's Clubs of Lincoln in (grand lodge officers received compen peaceful or confrontational intergroup 1927.52 "Charity" was reserved for frater sation and transportation and per diem contact at any particular time or place. nal brothers, but on occasion the for annual communications). The cost The unstable finances brought con PHGLN made donations outside the fra of one extra officer was minimal, but cern but not destitution. Perquisites for ternity. While the PHGLN decided with the rapid descent in membership grand lodge officers continued apace. against building its own masonic home after 1922, all expenses became greater In 1923 the grand lodge voted to expand because of the high cost and the mini as fewer and fewer individuals paid the list of officers granted per diems and mal need-an estimated $6,000 to pur dues. Moreover, most members were railroad fares for the annual communi chase the land and erect the facility and blue-collar workers with limited discre cation. Two years later it authorized the few elderly members-it did establish a tionary family funds. Generally, they did purchase of ceremonial jewels for grand Prince Hall Building Association in 1920 not appreciate increases in assessments. lodge officers and as late as 1928 it de in order to work towards the purchase Unfortunately, on several occasions the cided to compensate Grand Master of a meeting hall. Rented space for the

81 Nebraska History - Summer 1998 meetings of the Omaha lodges, first at Grand Master, Charles W. Dickerson, revised constitution specified that work, Twenty-second and Cuming and then at Rescue #4, assembled the grand lodge and "strictly" forbade "all innovations Twenty-fourth and Parker, proved insuf officers residing in Omaha to discuss the or changes in said work or lectures."56 ficient. In 1927 the PHGLN purchased a conditions of the craft in the city. The Besides ritual, the revised constitution building at Twenty-sixth and Biondo for group met twice a week until February of also addressed revenue problems. First it $7,500 and spent $3,300 to remodel it. It the following year. Nerves must have hiked the annual relief tax from the origi used $6,000 from its savings account for frayed; egos must have bruised. At the nal $4 to $6.20, collected quarterly at the the first payment and assessed each annual communication Dickerson con rate of $1.55 per Master Mason. Second, member $5 to partially reimburse the fessed that the year had its "unpleasant" for any lodge that failed to make those treasury.53 Thus, the grand lodge ended moments, but that he held no "enmity or monetary returns for six months it stipu the decade in a precarious financial malice" towards anyone. Yet, he com lated the automatic suspension from situation. It had an already declining plained of poorly attended lodge meet benefits until it paid in full. Furthermore, membership, a substantial proportion of ings and incompetent lodge officers. any lodge that fell a year into arrears which was immediately susceptible to During a general discussion of condi would have to forfeit its charter. Finally, economic slowdowns. Now, besides tions, W. P. Wade, Rescue #4, asserted the revised constitution mandated that looking after the standard relief and that the brothers needed more instruc each subordinate lodge maintain two burial responsibilities, it was in debt and tion in order to represent the organiza standing committees-finance to over had property to maintain. tion. Similarly, Edward Fletcher, who see the books and charity to bestow up In another area of concern, the early joined Omaha #9 in 1921, asked that past to $5 on a brother in distress. membership boom created opportuni masters stop criticizing current masters.55 The document also confronted the ties as well as caused problems. In The comments, perhaps, revealed class question of membership, revealing creased membership promised moder conflict, or senior member-new initiate, problems beyond declining rosters. ate dues and generous benefits. The or established resident-recent migrant Addressing the quality of candidates, pace of the growth in the first four years stress associated with a new confedera the revised general laws specified that (1919-22), however, also caused chaos tion. Previously the blue lodges related the qualifications for an initiate in in terms of record keeping, lodge stabil as Nebraska entities submerged in the cluded: ity, fraternal behavior, and the quality of Iowa or Missouri jurisdictions. Now they Faith in God, Hope in immortality, charity membership. Then, the rapidly ensuing had to relate to each other in terms of (love) towards mankind. An applicant fur bust exacerbated the existing difficulties operating their own jurisdiction that ob ther shall have attained to the age of and presented new concerns, especially viously magnified squabbles. twenty-one years, be free-born, be under tongue of good report, and except as oth Despite the rancor the constitutional in regard to finances. Thus, in 1925 erwise provided by law, shall have resided Grand Master Young appointed a com committee completed its work and the for the space of one year within the juris mittee to revise the six-year-old constitu delegates to the annual communication diction of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska, tion and general laws. Geographic prac gave the document their approval. Prob and six months in the jurisdiction of the ticality resulted in a group from Omaha ably in response to the challenge from particular lodge. and Lincoln; distance and travel time clandestine groups, the revised constitu Each lodge had a territory within probably precluded regular participa tion claimed "sole jurisdiction" over which its members had to reside. "Invad tion by members of the central and "symbolic masonry" in the state, as well ing" another lodge's territory for initiates western Nebraska lodges. The commit as recognizing the affiliation of the was forbidden. Furthermore, members tee consisted of Walter L. Seals, chair Grand Court of the Heroines of Jericho could not simultaneously belong to man; Nathaniel Hunter, Alfred F. and the Amaranthus Grand Chapter of more than one blue lodge. A candidate Peoples, and Charles C. Dudley, all of the Order of the Eastern Star. Also, it rejected by one lodge could not be initi Rough Ashler#l; Grand Master R. H. tried to curtail an ongoing battle over ated into another lodge without the Young and Trago T. McWilliams of the form of ritual. One group, led by unanimous concurrence of the first Lebanon #3; and Edward Fletcher of Nathaniel Hunter, wished to devise a lodge. All rejected petitioners had to a;. Omaha #9, the only one of the group ritual specific to the PHGLN. A second wait six months before reapplying. These I who was not a charter member of the group headed by Edward Fletcher, W. P. stipulations suggest that unscrupUlous I PHGLN. Thus, obviously, the committee Wade, and A. B. Matthews (Rescue #4) candidates, competitive lodges, and represented prestigious longterm mem wanted to replace the Duncan ritual, be hasty decisions abounded during the diz bers of Prince Hall Masonry.54 cause it could not keep the secrets of zying boom-bust infancy of the PHGLN. ~ The committee worked while the fra masonry "inviolable," with the "Look to Besides candidates, officers also ternity grappled with the weaknesses of the East" ritual. The Duncanites, how caused problems that needed constitu human nature. In October 1926 the new ever, prevailed over both groups as the tional remedy. At the 1927 annual com- I ! 82 Prince Hall Masonry in the 19208 munication the committee on jurispru nity that was simultaneously "conserva PHGLN. 1923, PHM MSS; The New Era, Aug. 24, dence refused to endorse Grand Master tive" and "liberal"; that is, it supported 1923; Omaha World-Herald, Aug. 16.1923. clipping file. Historical Society of Douglas County. Dickerson's dispensation relative to re both accommodation and uplift as well instating suspended members at a nomi as vociferously pushing for civil rights 6 Proceedings ofthe Sixth Annual Communica nal fee. Seemingly members in good and equal treatment. For this group the tion, PHGLN, 1924. PHM MSS;Alliance Times and Herald, Aug. 19 and 22, 1924; The Monitor, Aug. 29, standing did not want suspended mem positions were not mutually exclusive. 1924. bers in arrears having their debts erased They were different strategies to be ap 7 The Lincoln Star, Aug. 20 and 21, 1925. and reentered at costs less than new ini plied in different situations. tiates. The revised constitution added a Economically. the multiclass frater 8 Grand Island Daily Independent, Aug. 19, 1926. While the Proceedings for 1927 claim that three section directing that petitions for de nity mirrored the plight of the black hundred copies of the Proceedings ofthe Eighth grees or membership could only be re community in general that did not reap Annual Communication were published, none is ceived at regular communications and extensive benefits from the "roaring included in the PHM MSS. that "no prerogative of the Grand Master twenties." The decade opened with a 9 The Monitor, Aug. 24. 1928; Minutes ofthe Tenth can avail to defeat this provision." It fur sharp increase in membership in the Annual Communication, PHGLN, PHM MSS. No ther curbed the power of the grand mas wake of the Great Migration. However, Proceedings were published between 1928 and ter by prohibiting him and the deputy 1959. The lincoln Star, Aug. 16 and 17. 1928; the 1924-25 industrial slump combined Nebraska State Journal, Aug. 16 and 17, 1928. grand master from serving simulta with the downturn in the agricultural 10 David Fahey, The Black Lodge in White neously as the worshipful master of a sector to stifle economic growth in Ne America: "True Reformer" Browne and His Eco blue lodge. Past grand officers, how braska. thus curbing the influx of African nomic Strategy (Dayton. Ohio: Wright State Univer ever, could serve as officers of subordi Americans to the state. The economic sity Press, 1994).8. 57 nate lodges. woes did not merely arrest growth; the II Joseph A. Walkes Jr., Jno. G. Lewis, Jr.-End of Not only officers behaved unmason PHGLN rapidly lost members. demon an Era: The History ofthe Prince Hall Grand Lodge ically. The revised general laws pertain strating the economic vulnerability of ofLouisiana. 1842-1979. (United States: Joseph A. ing to behavior now listed the blue-collar and service-sector blacks. WalkesJr., 1986), 162-63. 185,295. commission of a felony as the first of The fraternity immediately experienced 12 Proceedings ofthe Fihh Annual Communica fense subject to expUlsion. Specifically, financial problems that severely limited tion, PHGLN. 1923, PHM MSS; The Monitor. May 4, 1923; The New Era. May 4, 1923. "selling liquor" (it was the era of prohi its program. illustrating in turn the pre bition) received a separate section. carious nature of black institutions in ar 13 Edwin W. Pierce. general secretary of the Omaha YWCA to Nathaniel Hunter, June 22. 1926, Atheism-remember the earlier article eas of sparse settlement. Despite the correspondence. PHM MSS; The Monitor. Jan. 20, on the candidate qualifications losses. the record of the PHGLN supports 1921; Mar. 10. 1922. resulted in expulsion, although the pun the interpretations that stress the contin 14 Craig Morris to L Hollingsworth Wood, presi ishment for drunkenness and profanity ued prestige and growth of Prince Hall dent of the National Urban League. Dec. 3, 1926. depended on the extent and "publicity" Masonry, at least in the West, after World Series V. National Urban League Manuscripts, li of the incident. Finally, the catch-all War I. At the onset of the Great Depres brary of Congress, Washington, D.C.; Annual Re "unMasonic conduct" section defined port ofthe Omaha Urban League, 1929, Ibid.• sion. Prince Hall Masonry was a weak SeriesV. an offense as "the doing of any act, or ened but viable and vital institution the neglect of any duty, contrary to or in among the limited number of African 15 David G. Dales, "North Platte Racial Incident: Black-White Confrontation. 1929," Nebraska His violation of the obligations or teachings Americans in Nebraska. tory, 60 (Fall 1979),432. of the institution which would impair its 16 Proceedings ofthe Third Annual Communica usefulness or degrade it in the estima Notes tion, PHGLN. 1921, PHM MSS. tion of good people. "58 17 The Monitor. Dec. 8. 1921. The constitutional revisions re I Proceedings ofthe Second Annual Communica tion, PHGLN, 1920, Prince Hall Mason Manu sponded to and capped off the roller 18 Proceedings ofthe Fihh Annual Communica scripts, microfilm at Nebraska State Historical So tion. PHGLN, 1923, PHM MSS. coaster ride of the PHGLN during the ciety and Historical Society of Douglas County 19 Ibid. 1920s. The institution served as a socio (hereafter cited as PHM MSS). 20 Orville D. Menard. Political Bossism in Mid economic microcosm of the lightly 2 The Monitor, Aug. 12 and 20, 1920. populated urban African American America: Tom Dennison's Omaha. 190~/933 3 The lincoln Star, Aug. 17, 18,21,1921; The (New York: University Press of America. 1989). communities in Nebraska. Socially, at Monitor, Aug. 4 and 25, 1921; Proceedings ofthe 168, 172-3.228. times the fraternity was favored with Third Annual Communication, PHGLN, 1921, PHM 21 Ibid., 163; The Monitor, Nov. 5. 1926. deference and dignity. On other occa MSS. 22 Nebraska Stale Journal, Aug. 20, 1921, 5. sions it was ignored or treated poorly. 4 Proceedings ofthe Fourth Annual Communica Also, the activities of the PHGLN in the tion, PHGLN, 1922, PHM MSS. 23 The Monitor. Nov. 5, 1926. area of race relations revealed a frater 5 Proceedings ofthe Fifth Annual Communication, 24 Allan H. Spear, Black Chicago: The Making of

83 Nebraska History - Summer 1998

a Negro Ghetto, 1890-1920 (Chicago: University of 34 u.s. Department of Commerce. Bureau of the broke away from the Kansas jurisdiction to estab Chicago Press, 1967), 107-9. Census. Negroes in the United States, 1920-32 lish a separate grand lodge at that time. (Washington. D.C.: GPO. 1935).9.55. 2S The Chicago Commission on Race Relations, 45 Proceedings ofthe Second Annual Communica The Negro in Chicago: A Study of Race Relations 3S Proceedings ofthe Filth Annual Communica tion, PHGLN. 1920; Proceedings ofthe Fourth An and a Race Riot (Chicago: University of Chicago tion, PHGLN, 1923; Proceedings ofthe Fourth An nual Communication, PHGLN, 1922; Proceedings Press. 1922). 141. nual Communication. PHGLN, 1922; Untitled typed oftile Sixth Annual Communication, PHGLN, 1924, document presented at the Twenty-second Annual PHM MSS. 26 St. Clair Drake, Churches and Voluntary Asso Communication, 1940. PHM MSS. ciations in the Chicago Negro Community, Works 46 Proceedings ofthe Fourth Annual Communica Project Administration Official Project 465-54-386. 36 Proceedings ofthe Ninth Annual Communica tion, PHGLN, 1922; Proceedings ofthe Fifth Annual District 3, Chicago. 1940. 211. tion. PHGLN, 1927; Proceedings ofthe Fourth An Communication. PHGLN, 1923; Proceedings ofthe nual Communication. PHGLN. 1922; Proceedings of Sixth Annual Communication. PHGLN, 1924. PHM 27 David A. Gerber, Black Ohio and the Color MSS. Line. 1860-1915 (Urbana: University of Illinois the Sixth Annual Communication. PHGLN, 1924, PHM MSS. Press. 1976). 160-61. 47 Proceedings ofthe Seventh Annual Communi 37 Proceedings ofthe Second Annual Communica cation, PHGLN, 1925.PHM MSS. 28 Kenneth Kusmer. A Ghetto Takes Shape: Black Cleveland. 1870-1930 (Urbana: University of Illi tion, PHGLN, 1920. PHM MSS. 48 Proceedings ofthe Ninth Annual Communica tion, PHGLN. 1927; Minutes ofthe Tenth Annual nois Press, 1976).206. 38 Proceedings ofthe Third Annual Communica tion, PHGLN. 1921. PHM MSS; The Monitor. Mar. Communication, PHGLN, 1928, PHM MSS. 29 Charles H. Wesley. The History ofthe Prince Hall Grand Lodge ofFree and Accepted Masons of 17, Sept. 22.1921. 49 The Monitor. May 13, 1927. the State ofOhio. 1849-1960 (Wilberforce. OH: 39 Proceedings ofthe Filth Annual Communica so Proceedings ofthe Fiftll Annual Communication, Central States College Press. 1961).211.218. tion. PHGLN. 1923; Proceedings ofthe Seventh An PHGLN. 1923; Proceedings of the Seventh Annual

30 Darrel E. Bigham, We Ask Only a Fair Trial: nual Communication, PHGLN, 1925. PHM MSS; Communication. PHGLN, 1925; Minutes ofthe Tenth A History ofthe Black Community ofEvansville. Thirteenth Census ofthe United States. 1920, Vol. Annual Communication, PHGLN, 1928, PHM MSS. Ill, Population. 604; Fifteenth Census ofthe United Indiana (Bloomington: Indiana Unive(Sity Press. 51 The New Era, June 27. 1924. 1987). 182-85. States. 1930. Vol. Ill. Pt. 2, Population. 82. 52 Proceedings ofthe Seventh Annual Communi 31 E. Franklin Frazier. The Negro in the United 40 Proceedings ofthe Tenth Annual Communica cation, PHGLN, 1925; Proceedings oftile Ninth An States (New York: 1957).374.378-79; 379 n. 34. tion. PHGLN. 1928. PHM MSS; The Monitor, July 13. nual Communication. PHGLN, 1927. PHM MSS. 1928. Arbor #1 I was cited last in the Minutes to the 32 William A. Muraskin. Middle-Class Blacks in a Twelfth Annual Communication. PHGLN, 1930, 53 Proceedings ofthe Third Annual Communication, White Society: Prince Hall Freemasonry in America PHM MSS. PHGLN, 1921; Proceedings ofthe Filtl, Annual Com (Berkeley: University of California Press. 1975).29. munication, PHGLN, 1923; Proceedings ofthe Ninth His figures compare to those for white masonry 41 The Monitor, June I, 1918; May 31, Aug. 7, Annual Communication. PHGLN, 1927, PHM MSS. presented by Lynn Dumenil. Freemasonry and Sept. 11. 1919; Jan. 22, Sept. 2. 1920; Nov. 24,1921. 54 Revised Constitution and General Laws, J927, American Culture, 1880-1930 (Princeton. N.J.: 42 Proceedings ofthe Third Annual Communica PHM MSS. Princeton University Press, 1984). lSI. 225. tion, PHGLN, 1921, PHM MSS; The Monitor, Mar. Muraskin's and Dumenil's data also contradict the 17, Aug. 25,1921. 55 Proceedings ofthe Ninth Annual Communica interpretation presented in Jeffrey A. Clark. Service tion, PHGLN, 1927; Minutes oftile Ninth Annual Clubs in American Society: Rotary. Kiwanis, and li 43 Proceedings ofthe Fifth Annual Communica Communication, PHGLN, 1927, PHM MSS. ons (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1993). He tion, PHGLN, 1923. PHM MSS. 56 Proceedings ofthe Fourth Annual Communica argued that after 1900, and especially after World « Proceedings ofthe Ninth Annual Communica tion, PHGLN, 1922; Proceedings ofthe Sixth Annual War I, service clubs replaced fraternities (11-32). tion, PHGLN, 1927, PHM MSS. For a general history Communication. PHGLN, 1924; Proceedings ofthe Yet he claimed 400,000 members for the three ser of the National Compact see Matthew Brock, His Ninth Annual Communications, PHGLN, 1927; Re vice clubs by the end of the 1920s (45; 173 n. 36) tory oftile National Grand Lodge (Columbus, Ohio: vised Constitution. J927, PHM MSS. while Dumenil reported that the white Masons Matthew Brock, 1980). Brock discusses litigation grew by over one million during the decade. Fur 57 Revised Constitution, 1927; Proceedings ofthe but shows no case from Nebraska. He did not ana Nintll Annual Communication, 1927, PHGLN, PHM thermore, all three service clubs barred blacks un lyze the organization in terms of individual states. MSS. til after World War II; therefore, his analysis does Thus, he shed no light on its development in Ne not easily transfer to an analysis of black fraterni braska. His list of grand masters for 1978 did not 58 Revised Constitution, 1927, PHM MSS. ties and clubs. include one from Nebraska. but his roster of grand 33 Lawrence De Graaf, MThe City of Black Angels; lodges for 1980 listed St. Stephens for the state. Emergence of the Los Angeles Ghetto, 1890-1930," Seemingly, if National Compact blue lodges con Pacific Historical Quarterly, 39 (1970), 328-50. tinued to exist in Nebraska after the 19205, they I "

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