Vol. 50, Issue No.2, July 2017 Brother Fred Staton Joppa Lodge#55 Celebrating 102 Years of Life and 57 Years in Masonry Summer 2017 3. Grand Master’s Message M.˙. W.˙. Larry Mitchell (55) 32. Jephthah Lodge # 89 By W.M. Nathaniel B. Daniels (89) 14. Cornerstone Laying First Timothy M. B. Church, Buffalo, New 35. Harry Albro Williamson York, May 21, 2017 Masonic Scholar & Prince Hall Mason Cover Story By R.˙. W.˙. Ludwick Hall 17. Brother Fred Staton 40. What should I do when Celebrating 102 Years of Life and visiting Lodges outside 57 Years in Masonry By R.˙. W.˙. John J. Phillips, (55) my jurisdiction? & Brother Christopher Wright, (55) By Brother Guillermo “Bill” J. M. Thorne, Sr., 20. Club 454 43. Pentecost Consistory # 98 Open for business 23rd Annual Breakfast By R.˙. W.˙. Robert B. Hansley (93) By SGIG Leonard W. LaRue 33° 22. Boyer Lodge # 1 History of the mother Prince Hall lodge in the state of New York 2. Editorial By W. M. John Isaac (1) By R.˙. W.˙. Robert B. Hansley (93) 24. John Edward Bruce 4. Grand Cabinet Early member of the Harlem Renaissance. He was also a mentor to Arthur Scomburg 5. Grand Trustees By R.˙. W.˙. Ludwick Hall 6. Appointed Grand Lodge 26. Adelphic Union # 14 Officers Over 150 years of Masonic history By R.˙. W.˙. Kevin Wardally (14) 10. Worshipful Masters 29 . George William 12. Worthy Matrons & Patrons Augustus Murray 16. P.H. Eastern Star in the News Civil War Veteran & Prince Hall Mason Past Matron Mikki E. Ealey (67) just By R.˙. W.˙. Ludwick Hall published her first book. The Prince Hall Sentinel is the official publication of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of the state of New York. However, all articles appearing in this publication express the view and opinion of the author or interviewee, and do not, unless specially stated, express the views and opinions or become official pronouncements of the Grand Master or Grand Lodge. All rights reserved. July 2017 Prince Hall Sentinel Page | 1 THE PRINCE HALL SENTINEL Official Publication of The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F&AM, State of New York Elected Grand Lodge Officers M.˙. W.˙. Larry Mitchell From The Editor’s Desk Grand Master R.˙. W.˙. Walter C. King Although many of our Brothers are very Deputy Grand Master good in reciting the ritual during our R.˙. W.˙. Gregory R. Smith Jr. various ceremonies, it is also true that Grand Senior Warden many don’t know the meaning of the R.W. Darren M. Morton Grand Junior Warden words they recite. The following are just a few of the words used in our ancient R.˙. W.˙. Jean E. Apollon Sr. Grand Treasurer and honorable fraternity. R.˙. W.˙. Pete Rivera-Bey ACCEPTED Grand Secretary In Operative Masonry members were admitted through course of time, and when Grand Trustees the Craft had begun to decay, gentlemen who had no intention of doing builders' work but were interested in the Craft for social, or perhaps for antiquarian R.˙. W.˙. Norman R. Gipson Chairman reasons, were accepted" into membership; to distinguish these gentlemen R.˙. W.˙. Kevin P. Wardally Masons from the Operatives in the membership they were called the "Accepted." After 1717, when the whole Craft was revolutionized into a Fraternity, all R.˙. W.˙. James Smith members became non-Operatives, hence our use of the word in such phrases as R.˙. W.˙. Keith Smith McNeil "Free and Accepted Masons." R.˙. W.˙. Percy J. Perdue ALARM R.˙. W.˙. Matthew Teah Wulah The English "alarm" means "to arms, signifying that something has happened of R.˙. W.˙. Jimmie Chaple possible danger. A knock at the Lodge door is so named because it calls for R.˙. W.˙. Oswaldo Mestre Jr. alertness, lest the wrong man be permitted to enter. R.˙. W.˙. Thomas G. McKnight ALLEGORY This is the speaking about one thing in the terms of something else. In Masonry, Editorial Staff we have the allegory of Solomon's Temple, of a journey, of the legend of a martyr M.˙. W.˙. Larry Mitchell Publisher builder, etc., in each case the acting and describing of one thing being intended to refer to some other thing. For example, the building of Solomon's Temple is R.˙. W.˙. Robert B. Hansley Editor described, not for the purpose of telling how that structure was erected, but to R.˙. W.˙. Gregory R. Smith Jr. suggest how men may work together in brotherhood at a common task. Business Manager ALTAR R.˙. W.˙. Raymond N. Freeman Jr. Literally meaning a "high place." In primitive religion, it was a common practice Grand Photographer to make sacrifices, or conduct worship, on the top of a hill, or high platform, so R.˙. W.˙. Ezekiel M. Bey that "altar" came to be applied to any stone, post, platform, or other elevation Grand Historian used for such purposes. In. the Lodge the altar is the most holy place. Contributors in this issue: SGIG Leonard W. LaRue 33° ASHLAR Bro. Guillermo “Bill” J. M. Thorne Sr., (79) In early English it was spelled asheler and was used to denote a stone in the R.˙. W.˙. Kevin Wardally (14) rough as it came from the quarries. The Operative Masons called such a stone a R.˙. W.˙. Ludwick S. Hall "rough ashlar," and when it had been shaped and finished for its place in the R.˙. W.˙. John J. Phillips (55) wall they called it a "perfect ashlar." An Apprentice is a rough ashlar, because Bro. Christopher Wright (55) unfinished, whereas a Master Mason is a perfect ashlar, because he has been W.M. John Isaac (1) shaped for his place in the organization of the Craft. W.M. Nathaniel E. Daniels (89) July 2017 Prince Hall Sentinel Page | 2 By the time you read this edition of the Sentinel, we will most likely be in the mist of, or just completed the 172nd Annual Grand Communication of the MWPHGL of the State of New York. This year, as in the past each Grand Session demands more from its leadership and more importantly from each of us as individuals. This requires the Craft to take on one of the great laws of nature, either “Grow or Die”. As you are aware, my credo is “Promote the Brand and Protect the Legacy.” I continue to promote this maxim and pray that you too support me in this regard. I certainly consider it an honor and a privilege to serve as the 57th Grand Master to this august body, and I look forward to continuing leading us in the ensuing year. During the past several years, both in my professional and Masonic life, I have had the opportunity of listening to many outstanding, inspirational, and dynamic, speakers and contributors to the Craft including, the likes of Vincent E. Best, William J. Richardson and the often imitated but never duplicated, SGC Solomon Wallace, all of whom served as Grand Masters of this grand body. These men along with many others have taught me that “Masonry does things inside the individual Mason”. Most Masons feel a need for continued growth and development as individuals. We feel we may not be as honest or as charitable or as compassionate or as loving or as trusting as we ought to be. Honor and integrity are essential to life. Life, without honor and integrity, is without meaning. Masonry reminds us over and over again of the importance of these qualities. It lets men associate with other men of honor and integrity who believe that things like honesty and compassion and love and trust are important. In some ways, Masonry is a support group for men who are trying to make the right decisions. It's easier to practice these virtues when you know that those around you think they are important, too. Each Mason must take responsibility for his own life and actions. Neither wealth nor poverty, education nor ignorance, health nor sickness excuses any Mason from doing the best he can do or being the best Mason possible under the circumstances. Each Mason must learn and practice self-control. “A man who cannot control his desires will never leave a legacy.” And ask themselves, “What did we come here to do?” It has been stated that, “Freemasonry is relevant as much as the actions of Freemasons are meaningful and the strength of Freemasonry is in its loyalty to each other.” We are very fortunate in our Craft. We have many talented and knowledgeable Brethren, who could do great service in the administration of the Craft. But we don't always get the right people doing it. Sometimes we hang onto prerequisites by placing Brothers in positions and not holding them accountable for their actions. I could go on with that topic for days; but I conclude by saying, never before in the history of the Craft has there been a greater need for leadership. July 2017 Prince Hall Sentinel Page | 3 I also submit Brethren, that never before in the history of Freemasonry has there been a greater need for effective, dynamic, honest, trustworthy, prestigious leadership. This is so true at this time when we have Freemasons staying away in droves from our Lodge meetings or Brothers who have violated their obligation not to cheat nor defraud a Lodge or Brother to the value of anything…etc. I'm saddened by the fact that we are having more and more of this in the Craft. As leaders it is your duty and your responsibility to model the way for others. After all each of us joined Freemasonry because of an outstanding model in our lives.