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Article Title: From the Depths: Prince Hall Masonry in Nebraska, 1930 - 1960
Full Citation: Dennis N Mihelich, “From the Depths: Prince Hall Masonry in Nebraska, 1930 – 1960,” Nebraska History 89 (2008): 14-25.
URL of article: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/history/full-text/NH2008Pr_Hall_1930.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. The Prince Hall Mason Grand Lodge of Nebraska (PHGLN) nearly died out in the 1930s and then soared to new heights during the 1950s. This article details the turbulent thirty years between the onset of the Great Depression and the dawn of the 1960s.
Part three of a series: see also “Boom-Bust: Prince Hall Masonry in Nebraska during the 1920s” (Summer 1998) and “World War I, the Great Migration, and the Formation of the Grand Bodies of Prince Hall Masonry (Spring 1997). See also, “The Origins of the Prince Hall Mason Grand Lodge of Nebraska” (Spring 1995)
Cataloging Information:
Names: Edward R Fletcher, I B Smith, J Noah Thomas, W B Bryant, Nathaniel Hunter
Place Names: Omaha, Nebraska; Hastings, Nebraska; Lincoln, Nebraska; Douglas County, Nebraska; Alliance, Nebraska; South Sioux City, Nebraska
Keywords: Robert Henry Huckles Consistory; H A Wolfe Company; Nebraska Veteran Freemasons; Prince Hall Supreme Council of Scottish Rite Masonry; Council of Deliberation; Centralized Commonwealth Civic Club (the 4C); Negro Chamber of Commerce; LB504; Victory Tea; Victory Celebration; Works Progress Administration (WPA); First Mortgage Real Estate Coupon Bond; Masonic Improvement Club; Progressive Lodge #12 [Nat Hunter #12]; Anchor #14; Marvin #5; Loving Star #16; Father of Negro Masonry; John-Esther Day; Grand Island Daily Independent; Daughters of Isis; Jubilee Service; Gala Days; Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Nebraska; Masters and Wardens Council; Grand Treasurer
Photographs / Images: Special dispensation issued by the Grand Master; Grand Master Edward R Fletcher; Officers and Rosters sheet 1933; the Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, affiliate of the PHGLN, 1939; small inset photo of Grand Master Nathaniel Hunter; Nathaniel Hunter photograph in the early 1920s; the Omaha temple during the 1930s
HE PR INCE HALL MASON GRAND LODGE of Nebraska (PHGLN) enlered the Great 1Depression in a vulnernable posilion.The stagnant Nebraska economy of the late 1920s had already increased unemployment among black residents and stined African American migrati on to • the state.The Grand Lodge had a sound budget, but its membership was in decl in e. 1The disastro us economic downtu rn of the 1930s nearly destroyed the organ ization-it losl more than two-thirds of its membership, several blue lodges and auxiliaries ceased to exist,and financial obligations went PRINCE HALL unmet. World War II ignited economic recovery and job opportunities thai sparked renewed Afri can American migration 10 Nebraska. Prince Hall MASONRY Maso nry's membership increased, new lodges were formed,and finances stabilized. Subsequently, the IN NEBRASKA institution soared to new heights during the relative prosperity of the 1950s, mimicking th e halcyon days of the early 1920s.Thus, in a thirty-year period, the vicissitudes of the American economy plunged the PHGLN to the brink of bankruptcy, helped it recover, and propelled il to its zenith.
The stock market crash in 1929 delivered a dev astating blow to an already suffering agricultural BY D EN N I S N, M I H EL I C H economy in Nebraska. Low crop prices denated to extremely meager levels. Pe rsistent drought added a vicious burden that affected even farmers who ca rried no debt. In turn, the urban economy directly related to agriculture-finance, transporta tion and processing-suffered immediately,a nd all oth ers even tually, as consumer spending declined. In an era permeated with racial prejudice, blacks usually were the last hired and the first fired. An already disproportionally high unemployment rate among African Ameri cans skyrocketed. For someone trying to make ends meet, lodge dues became a frivolous expense. The PHGLN entered the decade with approximately five hun dred members. That number declined drast ically and rapidl)"n 1931, for example, the Grand Lodge lost forty-six members,only fourteen by death. By 1937 membership had slipped to 190 and remained we ll below 200 for the balance of the decade.' M. W. GRAN'D LODCE OF
~ ~h:rnilh Itlt1k ' Jts3hu:iS1kidilllt "lWW" "lWwP
BY V IRTU E O F THE AUTHORITY IN M E VESTED.
I, Nathaniel Hunter Gra,nd, Ma~ter 0/ M aS01UJ 0/ eM State of N ebraska and its Jurisdiotion, do ehis day " rallt this ~ Special Dispensation enpowering
A)lj6D~odgA No 7. To r einstate all menbers droped from their roll for
~ non- oavment of dues for the sum not 18S8 than $3.00, , -in colllormitll with the usages of eM Order and r6(l,~lation 8 01 t/~ Al. lV. GTa1ul Ladue of Nebra ska.
1'I/.ja lJispensation is granted. at the request of--.G..J:..E1IldJl.B.o.st'"e"r'______~-----
a.1l1i,:' "utst be returned 'with a complete report ttJithin ~).LQ______tlay8. Six months. during which ti~e there will be no resteration fee oharged by the Grnnd Master. Fee, $ ......
Omalw, Neb.,--Aug.... ~_____19~ GRANO MASTER
Th ose who main tained membership in th e press operators, and bu tchers (at the Armour Special dispensations fraternity represe nted the economically fortu nate Com pany pa cking plant),' issued by the Grand Master authorized subordinate who had provided we ll for th eir retirement, or TIle PH GLN went to extraordinary lengths to lodges to reinstate mem· those who fortui tously clung to employment. reverse th e membersh ip decline. In 1934 th e Grand bers by discounting dues Grand Lodge rosters do not exist for the mid,1 930s, Master issued a "free dispensation ... to bring or forgiving debts. NSH 4 1 but offi cer lists are extan t. Wh ile officers may not back to our folds [sic] those that were lost due to exemplify a lodge's membersh ip, their occupations the past conditions and are now desirous of return· nonetheless give some indication of employment ing."Th e special exemption would have al lowed opport unities for Pri nce Hall Masons du ri ng the former frat ern ity broth ers to return without paying nad ir of the Great Depress ion, Of the twenty-nine debts or initiation fees. At the same time,other officers of the Gra nd Lodge and the five blue dispensations granted the conferring of degrees lodges who listed th emselves in th e 1935 Omaha at discount prices, TI,e Grand Lodge desperately City Directory,only four were entrepreneurs-two struggled to acquire dues'paying members to auto mechanics, a pool hall operator, and a tailor. rega in solvency, at one point ignoring its bylaws to Seven worked as janitors, three as porte rs in retail induct underage applicants. Un fortunately, the establishments, three as laborers (one"common" membership descent continued as the blue lodges and two ca r wash ers, the latter at th e Union Pacific usua lly returned unused the several dispensati ons Railroad and Peterson Baking Company, respec, issued during th e decade, resu iting in th e demise of tively),ancl two each of civil servants, printing indivicluallodges."
SPRING 2008 • 15 -. • By 1933 True American had only eight members , , -, -- , - , , and ceased to hold monthly meetings because it , , , could not afford to rent a hall. Moreove r, its long "' -, , " serving Worshipful Master had died and the lodge , , , had stopped forwarding reports to th e Grand : , , , , , , " • Lodge because it co uld not entice anyone to se rve , , , " " as secretary Th erefore, Grand Master Edward , , , , ..,.~ Fletcher encou raged Tru e American to unite with , Marvin Lodge. After a year of negotiations, Deputy • Dist rict Grand Master I. B. Smith proclaimed that , , , "small town jealousy and personal animosity" had , , , , , , scuttled the proposed merger. Thus, in July 1934 , because most of the brothers had no jobs, Tru e , , •. , , • , , , , , , American surrendered its wa rrant and ceased to , , .. exist.Attempts to rev ive it in the better economic times of 1939 floundered because of small num , , , , , , I bers and the advanced age of fo rmer members.' , , , :., • Despite Lincoln's far larger black population, Prince Hall Masonry there also slipped to a term , , " , " , inallevel. Auxiliary bodies,such as the Islam , , .. , • . , Temple No.65 Shrine and the Robert Henry ells tbe sto of e P.rince Hall rand of Huckles Consistory disappeared.Although Lebanon Lodge NO.3 began the depress ion era with forty-five brothers in good standing, it quickly suspended seven for nonpayment of dues during the last six months of 1932. Th e lodge changed its "., ., I' • " meeting place to a less expensive hall and und er , I ' " , 'f , took hostin g"seasonal en tertain ments" to raise place it in histoT/cal context. funds. Yet by I 934 Grand Master Fletcher threat ened to revoke its warrant because of unacceptably high indebtedness.The records do not revea l how The sma ll town lodges of central and western Lebanon staved off the injunction, but eventually Nebraska felt the strain of hard times immediately Fl etcher's successor, Grand Master Nathaniel Lodge No.7 in Alliance entered the decade with Hu nter,arrested its warrant in August 1938, reorga seven teen members, none of whom remained nized the lodge with new officers, and forgave its "square" on their blue lodge dues. It maintained its debt. It took until December 20 before the lodge roster by not suspending indebted members and could muster a quorum from its eleven members by falling in arrears to the Grand Lodge.Alliance to hold a meeting. Six months later Lebanon was su rvived by filling a bare minimum of functions, agai n in debt and disarray' inducting twenty-year-olds, and dribbling small Even Omaha lodges suffered significant stress. payments to th e PHGLN.ln the late 1930s,two The youngest, Hiram No. 10 with twenty-eight lormer members who had migrated to Chicago members in 1930, began merger discussions three returned, and a Civilian Conserva ti on Corps yea rs later. Its roste r halved, it approached worke r at a nearby project joined,guaranteeing the Excelsior No.2 and Omaha NO.9 to discuss lodge's momentary salvati on. s consolidati on. Grand Master Fletcher thought the In comparison, Marvin Lodge NO.5 at Hastings move was premature, but agreed not to prevent it. entered the 1930s with ten paid-up members. In Omaha No.9 (eleven members) accepted the Grand Master Edward R. 1933, how€ve r, it return ed a dispensation for proposal as long as Hi ram was not in arrears to th e Fletche r presided over th e Prince Hall Grand lodge reduced-rate initiations because it could not att ract Grand Lodge. Ultimately indebtedness forestalled of Nebra sk a from 1933 to any applicants,although it did reinstate two former the unification; by functioning at a minimally 1938. as it struggled to sur members from the town of Holdrege. By 1938 it acceptable level. those Omaha lodges persevered. vive the Great Depression. NSHS RG4244 dung to life with only six members; a trip to Grand Th e fiscal struggles of th e bl ue lodges and th e Island to recruit form er mem bers of the defunct seve rely diminished membership, however, created True American Lodge No.6 had failed. a monumental financial crisis for the PHGLN. 8
16 • NEBRASKA history OFFICERS AND ROSTER Most 'W"orshipful Grand Lodge the Grand Lodge to obtain A.F'. & A. M. credit, but it also deepened the 01 Nebraska fina ncial crisis because the ('P ,.;nce H all A f filiation ) building failed to se rve as a StJIIOItulNATE I.QDGES dependable source of revenue. I:.I..'..~ "1<'1 ' 1...... Orand 11."., W. M• • I.. ~. " '.....n ••,,,1 s..,' •••• I• • r... 1933 . II . I ~ ...... "_ ••••.I ..... u,/(;...d!>l••I<. W!l!.m "~11I . 11lI . :-,>. 1_,"".\11.< Newly renovated just before the fI."",,~ ~ "''''''' ...... I\o~l<>r ll. o
ul:~ ..'1a:, S(). • _ 01l.1lI'\ lI.., . "h'l T'I", 1\·o,lI... blue lodges and auxiliary OI $1'IIIC'I' 1l1C1'lfn ' CR"~U ~ l li Sl'f. l tS ."J ooL.,. l:.I m.ad Kt"l . :IO L~ I 'I"~"'" >iI...... W."bll'to/ 1I• • '" P) •• rk.S... , ...... 1'. 1I. J ~" ~ I • • UIr, ..d T ...... ~ ...... """.u, W,"'... organizations cut their meeting 11'. ..., ..., ...... """,«, S~. ~.. • ...... '-<>,.., U. ' :'-••• I'. J u"l~; ", . N ~ J . II . •Ii., ... ' ...... Su,'. r,.b Ill. ""'! S ... 3 ...... 1. 11. ~"'lrh * ...... ;..,...... , schedules because they could lI" " ' ·'S. SO. 1'> _ 1I .1t!T,SU" 1I,.,' . l'ltol UU'.~H not afford to rent the hall from ( ~ 1'. 11111 •• ...... \\·~... I ~r."l ),I . ..., J.w.. M'..' ...... ;...... u'u. "'oN." the Grand Lodge . L" . , u'~ •...... h ..' • • W • • J ... T" I:~ T. U,·"'lULoon• .•• :. . I. I....., , ~ \;...... II A. ll0. No . ...",'"~ 11«,...... W,,,., 1.. _1.,...... 0 ..... T lI lh: .U": II1I;.\. SO. ,....;ItA ~·1> I~I ... SI' When the Trustee Board,
lI' ",,~ J ...... ~.~: ~. ~':..: ••:~.'~:~•• W""'; J~ I" I !II..... wh ich managed the facility, GUliNU TlttJ:rrf.t: UOAUU,,\lU lIInt s I.. I.. J • • "...... ,,, . "'"J,. \\'. 1I . I...... ' " ...... hu'• • W ..d ." began renting to non·Masonic If.' d " "~c ,.u" ...... V"""'" Jub" 1I . ~...... _ ...... ,''''Ic' ll. I; ..IF " ...von.b. AI. I.l ...W':I~ SO. • _ .u.'.,ASC/: W , 1I. W.""'...... I ~.....I" groups, Grand Master Fletcher 1","1• .II""~~'.'''~~''~ ."d """rlh ~~~'~~:::IJt"1 !II .., • •. warn ed the board not to "com CO )I ~ 1I1 ·rF.t:S A"'O t;IIA1HMt:N ~~!-:~\:;!~~~. ::::::::l::·::: ~.~:~~~:.::~;; mercialize on the building." <.IlI .III.'. SO. G-<)lIAn.1 ...... ",..1 GO,' Tb"d TOu."'.,. Yet subseq uently the board ...... :r"." T. lIdl·ml " ... II",."" ~"'II'. :",..., nO ,""'." iii..... W . "~'PI" )1... .. I.. t·. Mol ."... , ...... LW"'u. "'" . ,"" I'II,n« • ...... W.U~. I.. 1\001. W. ),I . " ..."Io'K...... Jutll•• Wo.d.·" refused a request from the S,!,ol." ...... 1 .... Il. n. Ilh",I• • 1' ...1 II'. ~" . "I •• " n~ L·.loh••1I ~ , ...... _ ..,.,. Matrons' Council of the Order ~;~i!!;;:·.i."d SJ ~'.~~: I " '~" J.,...... II...... HUlI'~ 1II 11.11l . 110, HI_O~" " " ~..... F. ... . "'T.wP,Id.'" ll<'om. ul ~.b.nll.". I ....J ~...... W. "'. 111 ...... ' II. C'. ~ 1 . " . tI ...... W ...M~ ~"•• of th e Eastern Star (OES) r:,,-.L lI. ....·...~d"'...... A. II. (10.>.11." .' , Y , t'lO"n'..n .. •• 110010' W..,)." .....,i ...... 1,.'" "W.. , ••b ~'b :;i.!':t ·;.~:~: ':.~~~~ ~ ~~'~:'::;; because the established rental .... J~ ' ''''. 1lr...... W.ll.. l,.1jo. 1...... ':..:: .: fee would not cover the cost of coa l and ligh ting used during When th is roster was printed in 1933, several of the subordinate lodges the meeting. A balance see m were teetering on the brink of financial insolvency. NSHS RG4244 ingly emerged when Prince Th e Great Depression began its assault on a Hall Masons gained the right to rent the building fratern ity that was collecting about $5,000 and for other groups with which they we re associated. disbu rsing about $2,500 annually. In the late 1920s For example, the Protective Order of Dining Ca r it had paid cash fo r a $7,500 building and $3,300 Wa iters, Local No. 465, held a confe rence there. worth of renovati ons,and st ill ma intained an Ultimately, most lodges remained in arrears for annual budget ba lance of more th an $ IO,OOO:I",n hall renta l,although the Trustee Board fi nally years later (1939) it was mustering income of less broke even for 1938'° than $2,000 annually; it had not paid death benefits The perilous financial position obviously in more than two yea rs; and it was $4,000 in debt. resulted from the high unemployment that slashed It had mortgaged the bu ilding and did not have the th e blue lodge rosters, Bank failu res and malfea· Dennis N. Mihelich is ability to pay on the principal; by that time it had sance exacerbated the situation. For example, university historian at invested more than $12,000 in a structure th en Marvin No.Slost its savings and checking account Creighton University in assessed for property taxes at only about 54,000. money when the First National Bank of Hast ings Omaha. Unfor t u n atel)~ the dismal circumstance mirrored we nt under,and Alliance NO.7 suffered th e same the situation of many other Prince Hall grand consequences when its local bank failed . Alliance lodges. Luckily, th e PHGLN owned its building out lost another $22,50 when its secretary absconded right; th e Acacia Grand Lodge of Washington , D. C, with th e money Over th e decade several oth er was locked ou t of its temple by the insu rance com blue lodges experienced similar disheartening pany propri etor because it could not keep up on episodes that kept the grand masters busy "arrest· the rent.9 ing jewels;'that is, relieving fiduciary offi ce rs of The PHGLN temple was an asset tha t allowed th eir positions. In 1933 the Grand Lodge began
SPRI NG 2008 • 17 ('\D . ' {\ ~ J f j
The Grand Chapter, Order bonding blue lodge offi cers (each lodge paid $7.50 recently adopted Twentieth Amendment to th e U. S. of the Eastern Star, affiliate per annum for $1,000 coverage) and in 1937 it Constitution, which moved the President's of the PHGlN, was photo graphed during its Annual purchased a $10,000 bond to cover Grand Lodge inauguration from March to January.12 Communication, about offi cers.The bond was purchased through the H.A. The most consequential budget modification 1939. NSHS RG4244 Wolfe Company, which employed the Grand Mas came in the area of"relief;' that is, death benefits, ter and two other Prin ce Hall masons as janitors.1! which consisted of a $75 stipend paid directly to To combat the dwindling funds, the PHGLN a funeral director and a $200 bequest to a benefi undertook cost cutting initiatives. Publication ciaryWith steeply declining income, the PHGLN of the proceedings of the Annual Communications rapidly depleted its sav ings and, in 1931 , instituted ceased in 1929,and within five years, th e official the guideline that it would pay claims only to record of the Grand Lodge meeting had deterio those who were "square;' that is, paid-up members. rated from a glossy, fifty-page pamphlet to a few It quickly applied th e new policy to the ailing Tru e pages of handwritten notes titled "m inutes:' American Lodge, suspending all burial and relief Correspondence increased significantly because benefits, which unfortunately caused further gri ef telephone and rai lroad travel became unaffordable. among elderly members who had paid dues for By the early I 930s the Grand Master communi years or decades but now found themselves unem cated on outdated stationery It seemed wasteful ployed and in arrears. Even those not in debt soon for each new Grand Master to dispose of a useable sustained a penaltyThe fraternity experienced commod ity and order new letterhead. By the fourteen deaths during 193 1,the highest in its mid-1930s many letters went out on plain paper. history forcing it to begi n making only partial Frugality was further demonstrated when the na relief payments and establishing a list to deal with tice for the "Annual Communication for 1936" the claims in chronological order. The anguish co nsisted of a two·year-old an nouncemen t with became universal th e following year, when the new names and dates written in by hand. Grand Lodge instituted a one-year moratorium on The Annua l Commu ni cat ions th emselves were relief.When partial payments resumed, they ca me abbreviated from three to two days, and other at a reduced maximum benefit of $100. " traditional functions atrophied,such as the Annual Th e situation produced a steady flow of pleas Visit by the Grand Master. Most blue lodges could from anxious widows. Indicating the depth of the not afford to host the ritual evenLThe Annual emergency and the absence of cronyism,the Communication in 1936 shifted from the third Grand Matron of the OES petitioned: week in August to the third week in July. While I am writing to you concerning my Endow the change did not cut costs, it eliminated an ment .... 1am very disappoint ed as I am in awkward, month-long, lame duck period for Grand dire need of money. I kept my husbands dues Lodge offi cers and obviously was modeled on th e so if the worst happened, I would have some
18 • NEBRASKA history thing to tide my many expenses over.I can get suspending the co nsti tit ut ional provisi ons on relief no roomers during this awful depress ion; as for a yea r, whereby th e Gra nd Loelge wou lel pay men are not workin g. Th ere is little travelin g. $75 to the be nefic iary.A second reso luti on autho· [During the era of seg regati on few hotels rized the temple to be used as collateral for catered to blacks, who had to stay in rooming another loan to pay the re lief debts and as keel houses J. .. Now if I could get enough of my members to subscribe to"ce rti fi cates of pa rti cipa En dowmen t to buy my coal for win te r and pay on my taxes, I would be grateful to you for tion"sold in $10 increments. In 1939 the Grand inte rceding for me. It has been a yea r and 4 Master proud ly proclaimeel that th e PHGLN months since I lost my husband and to have to disbursed $900 to widows after two yea rs of no worry so about the End owment is wreckin g my distri buti ons,'1 nerves. Please answer this and explain why I Be nefit payments were just one indication th at am neglected. I'\ th e PH GLN hael survived the Great Depression and By co mparison ,at the same time another widow had regained a semblance of financial stability had just received a second payment of $25; In 1938 it installed a te lephone at the temple. Th e eventually, after three years,she received the final following year it compiled a list of all fifty-yea r payment. IS members and purchased a jewel to be worn by the Ultimately th e stress led to th e courts in the mid brother with the longest membership:1l1is led to I 930s, which had th e unintended conseq uence of the creation of th e Nebraska Ve teran Free masons a fu rt her two-year moratori um on reli ef payments. Associa ti on, whi ch gave thirty-year members of the J. Noah Th omas, a retired police se rgeant, master various lodges an opportunity to co ngregate semi of Excelsior No.2, and chairman of the Trustee annua lly. Board, refused to forward lodge dues an d hall Other Masonic organizations also began to re ntal money to the Grand Lodge treasurer and exh ibit new life. In 1939 the Prince I-Iall Supreme initiated two lawsu its. In the first TIlOmas charged Council of Scott ish Rite Masonry began to encou l' that a cl ique controlled th e d istri bution of Grand age a rev ival of the Nebraska affi liate. Grand Master Lodge offices (he had twice lost electi ons for Hunter explained that the previous two grand Grand Master); he sought a rest raining order to masters had not joined the Scottish Ri te:nley preven t the current officers from presiding at the "were not inclined to show them [t he Scottish upcoming Annual Communication. In the second Ri te] much cons id eration"and -would throw cold he claimed that the officers had unconstitutionally water on eve ry eHort we put forward to help build transfe rred money from the re lief fund to the up" the organization. Obviously th e adeled general fund,and used it to purchase the te mple. expenses of initiation fees for passing deg rees four Th e Grand Master, who could not "tolerate the teen through thirty-two, plus an nual dues to other continual propoundi ng of re bell ious propaganda ; units, limited Scottish Ril e membership du ring th e expelled Thomas from Prince Hall Masonry. I930s. Hunter did belong, ga ined appointment as Th omas recanted and agreed to drop the suits if he the Ill ustrious Commander and Chief of Nebraska. gained reinstatement. Eventually he abandoned and with better lim es on the horizon,convened only the first lawsuit ( the restraining order) and a Council of Deliberation on Ma rch 12 , 1939. the PHGLN sued Th omas for the dues and ren tal TIlirteen new "S ublime Princes-join ed in 1940, money he had impounded. Recriminations and annual ga therings ensued. Subsequently the abounded for two yea rs until the Grand Lodge pre Robert H. Huckles Consistory No. 32 in Lin coln vailed in court. In response to legal fees reaching reorganized in the mid-1940s.Similarly, Hunter $300 and rising, the Annual Communication in accepted appointment as the Prince Hall Imperial 1938 elected W B. Brya nt to the newly created Deputy fo r th e Omaha Oasis of th e Sh rine and office of Grand Attorn ey. It was assumed that a began to reju ve nate that auxiliary While th e order fraternal brot her wou ld charge a lower retai ner.16 grew slowly, by the end of the 1940s it had estab When the court decided the Thomas case in lished an annual beauty pageant and dance. wi th favor of the PHGLN, th e Grand Lodge undertook to the money raised going to the Tuberculos is and clear th e backlog of"3Q.odd" relief claims,some Cancer Fun d. lt also had inaugu rated a Christmas consist in g of only small amou nts th at remained on chari ty event; in 1949 it hosted a party and distrib peti tions pending fo r as long as a decade. Arguing uted gifts at the Oak View Farm for homeless the impossibility of th e blue lodges paying indebt ch il dren regardless of race or religion.l f! ed ness and curre nt ob li gations simu ltaneously, the Grand Master Hun ter provided decisive lea der 1939 Annual Commu ni cation passed a resolu ti on shi p in ot her areas as welL In 1934, with Lebanon
SPill NG 2008 • 19 Lodge No.3 in Li ncoln in disarray, it undertook "Victory Ce lebration: Hunter arranged for Prince joint fu ndraising errorts with local Eastern Star Hall Scottish Rite Masons from neighboring states chapters. TI,en Grand Master Fletcher counseled to attend th e event th at began on Su nday,ApriI21 , aga inst "entangling alliances" with th e OES. with a public recept ion,speeches and songs,and Hu nter, in 1939, promoted closer contacts with th e a Victory Tea ( fifteen ce nts per perso n) .TI,e next OES and,atthe suggesti on of Brother J. Scott ,a day th ey burned the mortgage in the afternoon, combined St.John the Baptist [feast day) and followed by an eve ning banquet ( fifty cents per Esth er Ce lebration ensued. Before he left office in person) and a "frolic" hosted by the Prince Hall Ju ly I 938, however, Fl etcher had also demonstrated Shriners. 2! futuristic lead ership when he spearheaded th e Lat er that year the Trustee Board purchased creati on of a credit union. He chaired a Masoni c an inexpensive piano for the temple. It added a committee that decided to recru it the Cen tralized musica l dimension to special occasions ,such as Commonwea lth Civic Club (the 4C) to administer th e depression-delayed laying of th e building's th e instituti on and to establi sh a policy limiting the cornerstone on May 18, 1941. Fo r the event each maximum number of shares per person to twenty. member was responsibl e for a minimum $4 dona He th en headed a group of eighteen Pri nce Hall tion; $1 had to be a persona l contribution, which Masons who subsc ribed for th e upper limit and he all owed him to sign a slip that was inserted into joined the board of directors of th e credit union the cornerstone.The affair also marked the kickoff located at 200 I Lake Street in Omaha. " of a $1,000 fundraiser.The campaign, however, That so rt of vigorous leadership and th e tradi demonstrated the diffi culties associated with the ti ona l prestige of Prin ce Hall Maso nry made its economic trans it ion from New Deal public works suppo rt a valuabl e commod ity in the Afri ca n to wartime fu ll employment. A few Prince Hall American community. Wh en the Omaha Urban Masons lost their jobs because of cutbacks by the League needed a new execu ti ve secretary, two Wo rks Progress Administration (yVPA) and several local candidates petitioned Hunter for his support. widows became unemployed when the agency Subsequently th e new execu tive secretary enlisted terminated a sewing project in Omaha. This set the aid of th e PHGLN in a new public housi ng back rapidly depleted the Grand Lodge charity initiative that the league pu rsued in I 940.TI,e 4C,a budget an d th e fund drive garnered only $235. Although the PHGLN pur chased its Omaha temple new Community Clearing Coullcil,and the Omaha Similarly,in 1940 the Trustee Board paid all in 1927, the depression Negro Chamber of Co mm erce each so ught and expenses, made several repa irs to th e temple, stolled laying the co rn e r ~ rec eived support. Moreover, th e Grand Lodge donated $120 to th e general fu nd,and maintained stone until May 18, 194 1, when Grand Masler ba cked a twenty-on e-g roup civil righ ts effort aimed a positive balance. Receipts th en plummeted for Nathaniel Hunter presided. at the passage of LB504 prohibiting discriminatory the next three years until wartime employment NSHS RG4244 coll ective bargaining agreem ents. Hunter stron gly stabilized th e situation. Obviously blacks in general encouraged the revital ized Grand Lodge and its and Prince Hall Masons specifically, su ffered from affiliates to take an active ro le in commun ity histori c job disc ri mination and felt the strain of th e affairs. 20 evolution from New Dea l jobs programs to th e war For his fratern al communit y; Hunter had th e ind uced economic boom (effective enforcement pleasure of burning the mortgage to the temple. of th e federal fair employment mandate did not First, he discove red that th e Trustee Board had occur in Nebraska until 1943) 22 paid more than $400 in pl at e-gla ss insurance in the 1lle impact of the conversion also con tributed eight yea rs th e PH GLN owned th e building.The to the failure of a revived bond drive.fn 1933 win dows stretched ac ross the fro nt of th e first s lOI); Grand Master Fl etcher had originated the First wh ich formerly housed retail establishments. In Mortgage Real Estate Coupon Bond, paying three 1938 he ordered the windows removed and bricked perc ent interest ,th e revenue pledged toward th e in at a cost of $200,argu in g that th e renovation lien on the tem ple.See mingly,he made the only saved on insurance and heatin g costs, as well as purchase. In 1940 Hunter tried the same device, improving th e ve ntilation and the appearance of hoping to se ll three hundred bonds at $10 each, the struc ture. Moreover, he launched a redecora bearing no interest , to raise $3,000.Again, how tion of the audi torium and enco uraged its rental ever, few buyers availed th emselves of th e offer. by non-Masonic organizations to increase revenu e. The next yea r he presented a three-pronged plan Subsequently th e PHGLN made its last payment on to clear all indebtedness to widows in two yea rs. th e depression-induced equity loan in January It included 100 percent collection of obligations 1940 and began preparations for a two-day from all lodges, hosting one or two entertainments
20 • NEBRASKA history per yea r, and a penny meal-card system, whereby migrants, increasing the membership pool. Only a each mason deposited a penny in a bowl for each handful of lodge rosters exist for th e 1940s, but they mea l he ate for sixty days. While a Masonic provide a glimpse at th e type of jobs that th e retu rn Improvement Club formed to host fun draising of prosperity opened to blacks. Wa iters, parties, the overall scheme failed to attain the porters, custod ians ,mu sicians, and Pullman desired success. Therefore, th e provision that had porters abounded, mirroring th e traditional areas of lowered the death benefit to $75 continued, and black employment. Industrial jobs remained a dispensation fo r red uced rate ini tiati ons and reinstatements was renewed.23 Thus,at the close of 1943, the Grand Lodge ca rried a balance of only $1,300 and still owed $2,950 in widows' claims and $650 in mortgage bonds sold to the membership. By th e end of the decade, however, it had paid all claims an d bonds, increased the death benefit to $150, created a reserve fund to aid members in need,and made su bstantial renovati ons on the te mple. Annual receipts stood at almost $4,000,th e balance topped $7,000,and th e PHGLN resumed paying the railroad fare and a per diem to th ose attending the Annual Communication as well as "donati ng $ 100 to th e Grand Master for his service:'The turnaround resulted from the wa r-induced oppor tunities that virtually eliminated unemployment and once again enticed Africa n Ameri can migrants to Nebraska. Membership climbed rapidly. dues and assessments arrived punctually. fundraisers succeeded,and Masonic and non-Masonic groups rented th e temple, producing extra revenue." In 1940 PHGLN membership hovered around two hundred. It climbed to 288 four years later, despite major problems outside of Douglas County Marvin No.5 in Hastings had only four members, fewer than needed for a quorum to open a lodge. Accordingly. it lost its charter th e following year and the temporary influx of six hundred black sailors stationed at the Hastings Naval Ammunition Depot did not rejuvenate it (the depot closed in October 1945).Similarly,Alliance No.7 scraped by with eight members, although it did not meet regularly.A reorganizati on attempt in 1949 failed; Nathaniel Hunter, photographed during a previous subsequently a few months later it surrendered its term as Grand Moster of the PHGLN in the early charter. Le banon No.3 in Lincoln had to endure a 1920s. NSHS RG4244 second restructuring in a decade. It fell into arrears largely unattainable for blacks, with the important in 194 1,and met irregularly because only fi ve exception of work in the meatpacking plants that members actu ally lived in th e city In July of that burgeoned during World War II and th e postwar year Grand Master Hunter traveled to Lincoln to era. Existing lodges expanded by reinstating reord er th e lodge, initiating new members, reinstat reemployed suspended members and by initiating ing suspended ones (nineteen total),electing new black migrants looking for camaraderie and officers, and ultimately saving th e capita l city prestigious co mmuni ty co nnecti ons. For example, lodge" Omaha No.9 increased from fifty-five members in By comparison Omaha experienced a steady 194 1 to ninety-four in 194 7. growth because of enhanced employment oppor New lodges also formed .On December I , 194 1, tun iti es that, in turn, attracted African American a combined mee ting of Omaha lodges initiated
SPRING 200 8 21 twenty-seven candidates who, five days later, vidually (no record of the response).Throughout established Progressive Lodge No. 12.The next year the decade Grand Lodge officers frequently the lodge changed its name to Nat Hunter No. 12 addressed the topic, demanding recognition for in honor of the recently deceased Grand Master. the valorous service of blacks during World War II, By 1944 it had forty-eight members, and even with equal voting rights, and support for the NAACp'28 that substantial growth,yet another 10dge,Anchor Obviously the monetary support for the NAACP No. 14,formed in 1945 (superstitiously, the PHGLN was an indication of the general prosperity of the avoided using the number thirteen).Anchor No. 14 era. Another manifestation was the reorganization was located in the South Omaha neighborhood and of defunct lodges, the organization of a new lodge, comprised mostly packinghouse workers. By the and the overall increase in blue lodge member decade's end, total Grand Lodge membership had ship.On March 19, 1950,U.D.No.15 ("under doubled, but with some disturbing consequences dispensation," terminology used until a name was relating to the quality of members. The Grand Mas allotted) formed in Grand Island and subsequently ter complained that the lodges did not properly received its former designation as True American prepare candidates, who then did not know the ritu No. 6.Two years later Marvin Lodge No.5 in al and who exhibited "un-Masonic" behavior such as Hastings had its charter restored. It could not main profanity and "gossiping:'26 tain a sufficient membership, however, and in 1953 The 1950s brought spectacular gains and losses, merged with its neighbor in Grand Island. In the reminiscent of the "roaring twenties:'The fraternity meantime Prince Hall Masons in the South Sioux mirrored major characteristics of the decade-pros City area established a new lodge, U. D. No. 16, perity, the anti-communism and civil rights causes, briefly named Loving Star. Ultimately it entered the and a propensity for scandal. In 1950 the national PHGLN on September 4, 1950,as St.John No. 15. Grand Masters' Conference resolved that Prince Hall The area, however, did not attract many African Masonry had to fight the spread of communism American migrants, the lodge could not lure a sus among blacks. It proclaimed January 22 as Ameri taining membership, and its charter was revoked can Day, and encouraged each of the thirty-eight in 1958.29 Grand Lodges to fashion an appropriate celebration. The total membership of the PHGLN demon While reports of a Nebraska commemoration are strated a similar volatility. In 1950 it added 101 lacking, Grand Master Clayton Lewis did speak out new members, although just three blue lodges in publicly, urging "communism be fought diligently Omaha (Rough Ashier No.l;Omaha No.9 and wherever it appears~27 Nat Hunter No. 12) each recruited more than The civil rights crusade was another fight that twenty apprentices. While the annual figures exhibited an increased intensity. Prince Hall presented by various officers did not always tally Masonry had always endeavored to promote racial equal totals, the following two years the Grand equality.The Great Depression, however, stifled the Lodge added 54 and 23 new recruits to reach a ability of the PHGLN to support civil rights maximum enrollment of approximately 650. Once organizations financially.Yet even in the worst again, only a few blue lodge rosters exist for the of times individual Prince Hall Masons acted 1950s.They indicate general expansion of tradi assertively. For example, D.A. Horton, treasurer tional jobs, especially in meatpacking and a of Marvin No.5 in Hastings, petitioned the police significant increase in professionals. The total chief, the mayor, and the city council for the African American popUlation in Omaha had removal of"insulting and discriminatory"signs reached a level that could support a few more displayed at several restaurants and saloons. physicians, lawyers, and entrepreneurs. By the end Rebuffed, he then approached the county attorney, of the decade, however, the total Grand Lodge who ordered the sheriff to remove the odious signs, membership retreated to 515 and the Grand Master which read "Colored Trade Not Solicited."World War issued a special dispensation to all lodges to II invigorated the civil rights movement and pros initiate apprentices at less than the standard fee. perity funded it. The national Grand The recession of the late 1950s obviously contrib Masters' Conference urged support for the National uted to the decrease.30 Association for the Advancement of Colored People The instability caused concern,yet the total (NAACP) and the PHGLN eagerly complied. It membership remained large enough to keep purchased a lifetime membership in the organiza Grand Lodge finances sound. Malfeasance reared tion, and Grand Master Robert Harris asked each its ugly head again, but the PHGLN entered and Nebraska Prince Hall Mason to donate $100 indi exited the decade with a surplus. In between time,
22 0 NEBRASKA history The Omaha temple was heavily mortgaged during the 1930s. The mortgage burning on April 21 , 1940, signaled that the PHGlN was recovering from the financial hardships brought on by the depression. From the Bostwick-Frohordt Collection, owned by KMTV and on permanent loan to The Durham Museum, .... Omaha
it expended generous sums on the temple, install held outside Omaha. In 1954 Lebanon No.3 ing new gutters, awnings, and wi ndow air hosted the event in Li ncoln,and the following conditi oners, and converting to gas heat. At the year,the business meeti ngs took place in the same time it initiated a fundraising campaign to Municipal Auditorium in Grand Island.Of particu constru ct a new $200,000 bu ilding that would lar note, the two-day affair received generous press include recreation facilities. It also began paying coverage from the Grand Island Daily Independent. the Grand Master between $200 and $600 annually Moreover, Prince Hall Shriner activity mush for his services,and sending him and other officers roomed.While the annual beauty pageant to the national Grand Masters' Conference. In 1954 continued, the female auxiliary, the Daughters of the Grand Lodge annually began celebrati ng Isis,introduced a Miss Popu larity contest,and the Prince Hall Day on September 12, the birthday of two groups jointly began to sponsor a youth the "F'ath er of Negro Masonry."Three years later, festiva l that chose a king and queen and their th e ceremony included presenting awards to the courl.The Sh ri ne began to hold an annual dance, pub li c for citizensi1 ip,service,a nd achi evement. commemorate a Jubilee Service, and participate Oth er new outreach en deavors included becom in Gala Days.The Jubilee, held yearly on June 3, ing involved in charity efforts in behalf of non honored the U.S. Supreme Court decision rendered Masons,such as support for the March of Dimes. on that date in 1929, which established the legality Similarly, in 1950 the Grand Lodge awarded its first of th e Prince Hall alfil iated Shrine. Gala Days college scholarship fo r $50.The scholarship was brought together black Shriners from states be not issued an nually, bu t by 1959, it granted one for tween the Mississippi River and Rocky Mountains $150." for two days of parades, banquets, dances, and Th e burgeoning membership and the general religious services. Fi nally, in 1957 the Shrine prosperity also contributed to more elaborate and initi ated an annual Christmas party, the first one we ll-attended public ceremonies.The 1952 SI. entertaining ninety-five children, twelve and John-Esther Day celebrati on included a breakfast younger, with games, movies,and giftS. 32 and lunch, with 920 Masons and Eastern Star The roller coaster ride from the depths of the members participating.Th e Annual Communica Great Depression to the heights of the prosperous tions attracted increased attendance and, for the 1950s left the constitution and bylaws of the first time since acquiring the temple, they were PHGLN in disarrayAs early as 1933 the Grand
SPRING 2008 23 Lodge declared all blue lodge bylaws null and Harris explained in 1959: void ,and ordered them rewritten ,but the records Once agai n I must reiterate Ihal once do not reveal compliance. A decade later,a everything was dark and our very existence lawyer informed the Grand Master that the several was in doubt- th e picture is now changed depress ion'era changes to the relief and bu rial and everything is rosy.We have restored fu nd defied legality. Noneth eless, even more confidence in the managing and ad min changes ensued during th e late I 940s and ea rly istration of you r finance. TIle books, bank I950s. Following th e lead of oth er grand lodges, in stalements,etc. are open for yo ur inspection 195 I the fraternity changed its name to th e Most at all times.. .. AIl extravaga nce has been Worshipful Prince Hal! Grand Lodge of Neb raska. eliminated. In 1944 , on a recommendation from th e national That same year th e PHGLN amended its constitu· Grand Masters' Conference, it had dropped tion to provide for th e election of even more grand "Ancient" from "A ncien t Free & Accepted Masons: officers and to limit the tenure of the Grand Master and now it deleted the other terms. to four yea rs.34 Finally, in 1956,after several failed attempts, the Th e thirty years between the onset of th e Great Grand Lodge appointed a constitutional revision Depression and the dawn of th e 1960s was a committee chaired by Past Grand Master Edward turbulent era for the PHGLN.1t survived the worst Fletcher.The Constitution of 1957 did not reinven t economic debacle in American history,and the wheel; it retained most of th e provisions from weathered the theft of funds by desperate, unem· its 1927 predecessor,and incorporated thirty yea rs ployed officers and th e squandering of funds by of amendments.Th e significant changes included unethical officers in prosperous times. It witnessed lessening the powers of the Grand Master by re record low then record high membership.The ducing th e number of his com mitt ee ass ignments chan ging economic cl imate buffeted it about. and his powers of appointment. It toughened the When good times provided jobs, they esse ntially amendment process, demanding a two-thirds vote. came in traditional areas determin ed by th e rules Finally, it revised th e system of relief taxes and of de facto segregation. Des pite th e frustrating payments. Quarterly payments were eliminated in tri bulations, the PHGLN ended th e era with its size favor of a $1 donation by each brother upon and stature intact. Th e seg regated fraternity con· notification of the death of a brother; and the tinued to se rve importa nt functions in the African st ratified system of bequest payments was replaced Ameri can community. It provided a philosophy by a terse statement,"there may be donated a sum that many members embraced as th e source of the not to exceed 5300:33 bas ic va lues of a moral life. It offered camaraderi e, The ink had hardly dried on the document entertai nment, and social presti ge (many eve nts before a major scandal required its amendment. included parades in fu ll regalia). It extended death As early as 1953 the Masters and Wardens Cou ncil benefits and welfare (usually) in times of need. In introduced a resolution at the Annu al Communica the post·World War I! era it began to bestow tion contesting th e expenses of th e Grand Master cha rity to non·members. Finally, it acted as a major regarding his trip to th e national Grand Masters' promoter of an integrationist civil ri ghts philoso Conference. That same year ot her resolutions phy. However, just as the state of the economy demanding itemized reports from the Grand during the past three decades had determined the Treasurer and th e Trustee Board failed to ca rry. fraternity's vitality, th e new cultural attitudes of the In his report the Grand Treasu rer cajoled the I 960s stood poised to present radical new chal· members to ignore"idle gossip about his office:' lenges that would test the viability of th e PHGLN. Controversy simmered until both grand offi cers lost ree lection bids in 1956,and th e depths of the N OTES malfeasance surfaced. In contrast to the financia l report of the Grand Treasurer, which showed a l See my previous article,-Boom·Bust: Pri nce Hall Masonry in Nebraska During the 1920s~ Nebraska History 79 (Summer 1998): surplus, the PHGLN actually stood approximately 74-84. 514,000 in debt,including almost $6,000 in unpaid 1 r.,·linutes of the Annual Communication. 193 1:Grand death benefits. Three offending officers were ban· Secretary's Report . 1937; Nathaniel Hunter to John C. Ellis,May 17, ished and subsequent lawsuits recovered a portion 1918.all in Prince Hall Mason Manuscripts. microfilm at the of th e missing funds. Fortunately prosperity and Nebraska State Historical Society (hereafter cited as PHM MSS). the sizeable membership allowed th e Grand Lodge 3 Minutes of the Annual Communication , 1932. 1933. 1934 .and 1936,PHM MSS. to recuperate quickly.As Grand Master Robert
24 • NEB HASKA histo ry ~ D.A.I-Iorton to Edwilrd Fletche r. May 7, 1933; Lewis Mau pin cellany.Consti tution of Veteran Freemasons Associiltion to Fletcher. May 17,1933; Fletcher to Maupin, May 23. 1933; [n.d. 1940); D. Kelley Consistory. PHM MSS: The Voice (Li ncoln). Fletcher memorandum to alllodges.Apr.1. 1934.PHM MSS. Mar. 7. 194 7; Omaha Star, May 1'1.1948, January 6. 1950.
S Minutes of the Annual Communication. roster of lodges 19 Evans to Fletch er. May 5. 1934: Russell E. Reese to Hunter. [n.d., 1930]: Maupin to Fletcher. May 17, 1933: Fletcher to Aug. 19. 1939:Cred it Union Com mittee minutes.iI-·lay 17 and Maupin,May 23. 1933;Sollie Woods to Hunter,Sept. 14.1938; June 2, 1938. PHM MSS. John Glass to Hunter. Feb. 20.1939: Hunter to Glass. Mar.3. ".?Il LWestbrook McPherson to Dear Si r. May 8. 1939:1'rago 1: 1939;PHM MSS. McWilliams to Hunter.May 15.1 939: Raymond R.Browll to 6 Minutes of the Annual Communication, roster of lodges Deil r Friend [n.d. Feb. 1940 J;Sayben C. Hanger.et al. to {n.d., 1930J;Dick Blancha rd to Fletcher.Jan.14 , 1933; Bru ce Hunter. Mar. 13. 1940: Fletcher to Dea r Member. Mar.29. 1940; Johnson to Fletcher.Apr. 10. 1933; Fletcher to I. B.SmHh ,Apr. Membership 1etler,Mar.ll , 1941,PHM MSS: Omaha Star.Mily:3 25,1933; Johnson to Fletcher,June 15, 1933; Horton to Fletcher: 0.194 1 July 7. 1933;Smith to Fletcher.Apr.29, 1934 ;Johnson to tl Miscellany, Grand Master's Report,Jan. 15, 1939; Hunter Fletcher,July 4, 1934; Horton to Hunter. Nov. 20, 1938; Horton memorandum [n.d . 1940J; Hunter to Smi th .Jan. 25 1940; Build to 1!K1aC Trice. r-,·tar. 30, 1939:Trice to Hunter, May 5, 1939, PHM ing file, 1940,PHM MSS. MSS. :n Financial Records,V 2,Trustee Board , I 933--55; Grand 1 Minutes of the Annual Communication. roster of lodges Masters Report. 1941; Harris to Deil r Friend. Apr. 1941 ; Hunter {n.d .. 1930] :George B. Eva ns to F[etcher, Feb. IS and Nm" 10. to Evans. May 26. 1941 ; Proclamation No. 3. Apr. 15, 1941 ,PHM 1933; Fletcher to Evans, May 21. 1934; Evans to Fletcher.Aug. MSS. 10,1934; unsigned memorandum,Aug. 14, 1939; Evans to Hunter.Sept.23 and Dec. 24 , 1935; Evans to Hunter,lune 29. n Legill Documenl<;, 1933. 1940; Proclamation No. I, Dec. I , 1939; Hunter to WT. ibole,July 2S, 1941 .PHM MSS. 19'10; Proclamation No.2. Oct. 15, 1941; Hunter to Evans {n.d .. 1942},PHM MSS;Omaha Star,Aug. 13, 1943. 8 Minutes of th e An nual Communication. roster of lodges {n.d., 1930] R.C.5tewartto Fletcher,Apr. S, 1931; Fletcher to 11 Proclamation No. I,Aug. I . 1941 ; Minutes of the Annuill 5tewart,Apr.21, 1933; Herman Smith to Fletcher. Oct. 20, 1933; Communication,Grand Master's Address, 1949; PHM MSS; Burial and Relief Report,Apr. 15. 193S. PHM MSS. Omaha Cllide.Aug.24 and Sept. 14. 1946.
9 Proceedings of the Ninth Annual Communication, 1927; 25 Hunter to Smith, May 27, 1940: Evans to Hunter,Jan. 31 and Grand Secretary's Report. 1937: Fred Armburst to P H.Jenkins, May 25. 194 I; Horton to Hunter, Feb. 6, 1941; Ben Nelson to Feb. '1. 1938:typed statement [n.d.. 1939],PHM MSS; Omaha Hunter,July 2. 1941; Evans to Harris. July 1.1941; Evans to Guide.June 3, 1933. Hunter,Jan.23, 1942;Jenkins to Grand Lodge,Sept. 14 .1942; Minutes of the Annual Communication, Grand Master's Address, 10 Stewa rt to Fletcher.Jan.S. 1932; Fletcher to Walter Seals, 1949 and 1950, PHM MSS; Dorothy Creigh,Adarns COIlTlty: A June 21. 1934; L. EMclntosh to president of the Matrons' Story oftile Great Plains (Hastings. Neb r. :Adams County Cou ncil. Sept. 21.1937: memorandum. Protective Order of Hastings Centennial Commission, 1972).212,227. Din ing Ca r Waiters. Oct. 25-28, 1937; BOilrd of Trustees Report, July 5. 1938, PHM MSS. 2r. Minutes of the Annua l Communication, Grand Master's Address. 1949; Hunter memomndum, Dec. I, 1941 ; Lodge files, 11 M 14 Lulu B.Alexander 10 Fletcher. Oct. 14 . 1933, PHM MSS. and 1953; Proceedings of the Annual Commun ication, 1959: Rosters. PHM MSS; Omalla City Directory, 1959. 15 Robert Harris to Mrs.Ed Hill,Feb.6, 1936, PHM MSS. 31 Stewart,et al. memorandum,July 19,1950; Minutes of the 16 Marer to L Noah Thomas,Aug.21. 1935; Marer to Fletcher. Annual Communication. 1950 and 1952; Proceedings of tbe Apr. 21. 1936; Marer to Ray Williams, May 2, 1936:Seals to Annuill Commu nication. 1959, PHM MSS;Omaha Star, Jan. 12. TIlOmas.Jan. II, 1937; Marer to Donald S. Krause, Nov. 9, 1937; 195 1. May IS, 1953,June 1I. Aug.27. 1954,Sep t. 13, 1957; Seals to Mrs. Narcisissus Bu rch. Nov. IS , 1937; Marer to Seals, Omalia Cllide.Apr.2, 1954,Sept.2, 1955: Omaha World-Herald, Nov. 26,1937; Marer to A R.Goodlett,June 6, 1935,PHM MSS; Apr. 23. 1955,clipping fi le, DCI-1S. Omaha World-Herald.July 16, 1937, Feb. I , 1935.clipping file, 32 Omalia Star. Feb. 17 and Nov. 24 . 1950, May 31 and Nov: 30, Douglas County Historical Society; 01110110 Guide,Oct. 15. 1935. 195 1, June 20, 1952,June 5, 1953. May 21 and July 16. 1954,)an. IT Hunter to Amaranthus Grand Chapter. Aug. IS, 1935: Procl 11.1 957,Sept.26 and Dec. 26, 1955. May 22, 1959; Grand Island amation No. I ,Aug.4 , 1939; Hunter to Sumner A. Furniss, Oct. Daily Independenr,July 16. 1955. 16, 1939; Miscellan}~ Grand Masters Report. Jan. 15, 1939, PH~'I :II Herman Smith memorandum to alllodges,Oct.2S, 1933; MSS. H.L Pinkett to Fletcher, [n.d., 1943J: Minutes of the Annual 18 Proclamation No.2,Aug.25, 1939: Hunter to Furniss.Oct. Com munication, 1950 and 1951: Constitution and Bylaws. 1957. 16,1939; Hunter to Raymond E.J SPRING 2008 • 25