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The Beginnings of the Most
Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge Free & Accepted Masons in Illinois Pursuant to a
call of three warranted Lodges, namely:
working under warrants of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge
of Ohio, met in convention in Springfield, Illinois, February 15, 1867, for
the purpose of organizing a Grand Lodge for the State of Illinois. Those
present at this convention were Brothers H. D. King of Chicago, L. A. Coleman
of Springfield, J. A. Crisup of Chicago, W. L.
Darrow of Chicago, T. Strothers of Chicago, I. H.
Kelly of Alton, E. White of Chicago, B. F. Rogers of Springfield, and J. S.
D. Lee of Springfield. The convention was called to order by Brother H. D.
King of Chicago. Brother L. A. Coleman of Springfield was chosen Chairman;
Brother W. L. Darrow, Chicago, Secretary. Brother I. H. Kelly of Alton, L. A.
Coleman of Chicago, Brother John A. Crisup of
Chicago were appointed on a Committee of Credentials, which reported three
Lodges stated above represented with proper credentials, after which the
following resolutions were presented and passed:
A Community
drafted the first Constitution and By-Laws for the Most Worshipful Grand
Lodge. The Constitution as reported by the Committee was in part, a draft
from the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Ohio. The Constitution was
adopted. The First
Committee to nominate officers for the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge named for
the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brother B. F. Rogers, Springfield; Right
Worshipful Deputy Grand Master, H. D. King of Chicago; Right Worshipful Grand
Senior Warden, E. White, Alto; Right Worshipful Grand Junior Warden, W. L.
Darrow, Chicago; Right Worshipful Grand Treasurer, I. H. Kelly, Alton; Right
Worshipful Grand Secretary, C. L. Thomas, Chicago. The Convention proceeded
to ballot for the above named officers who were duly elected. The Convention
adjourned to meet in Springfield, May 6, 1867. May 6, 1867,
Brother John Jones, Acting Deputy National Grand Master, opened a lodge of
Master Masons in the Hall of Central Lodge ,
Springfield. Authority and Constitution having been received from M. W. Grand
Master, Brother R. H. Gleaves. Brother Jones
installed the officers elected at the Convention previously held, with
Brother L. Coleman, Grand Chaplin; Brother S. Weatherspoon,
Grand Senior Deacon, Brother W. K. Donogan, Grand
Junior Deacon; Brother E. R. Williams, Grand Lecturer; Brother H. Hicklin, Grand Pursuivant;
Brother J. S. D. Lee, Grand Tyler. The Grand Master
opened his Grand Lodge in due form to transact such business as deemed
necessary. It was agreed that the first Annual Communication should meet in
Chicago, 20th day of June 1867. From this date it was established as the
Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge instead of May 6, which date the
Grand Lodge was organized. June 20, 1867,
the first Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge was held in Chicago,
Illinois with the following officers: Grand Master, B. F. Rodgers; Right
Worshipful Grand Senior Warden (Pro-tem), S. McCracken; Right Worshipful
Grand Junior Warden, W. L. Darrow; Right Worshipful Grand Treasurer (Pro-tem)
R. C. Waring; Right Worshipful Grand Secretary, C.
L. Thomas; Right Worshipful Grand Lecturer, E. R. Williams; Right Worshipful
Grand Chaplin (Pro-tem), W. Graves; Right Worshipful Grand Senior Deacon, J.
Hudson; Right Worshipful Grand Junior Deacon, J. J. Bird; Right Worshipful
Grand Senior Stewart, S.W. Scott; Right Worshipful Grand Junior Stewart., J.
Wheatley; Right Worshipful Grand Marshall, R. M. Hancock; Right Worshipful
Grand Pursuivant, S. Weatherspoon;
Grand Master of Ceremonies, A. Carney; G. Tyler, J. S. D. Lee. Grand Master B.
F. Rogers, after opening of the Grand Lodge submitted the first Annual
Address to Negro Masons in the State of Illinois. North Star Lodge No. 1 had
a membership of 56. G. T. Watson Lodge No. 2, had 28 members and Central
#Lodge No. 3, had 26 members. A total of 110 members. The first elected
officers in the Grand Lodge under its Constitution, June 1867, were:
The Sixth Annual
Communication of the Grand Lodge meeting at Galesburg, a resolution was
presented to absolve all relations and connections whatever with the Most
Worshipful National Grand Lodge, and call a convention to organize an
Independent Grand Lodge for the State of Illinois. This resolution was
referred to a committee to be reported on at the next Annual Grand
Communication. This caused much discussion for several Annual Communications
until the Tenth Annual Communication held at Decatur, Illinois, June 21,
1876. A report was adopted to sever all connections with the Most Worshipful
National Grand Lodge. The Grand Secretary was instructed transmit whatever
dues may be due and return the Warrant obtained from said body. This same
annual communication changed the time of the Grand Lodge Annual
Communications to October. 1883, 17th Annual
Communication, held at Springfield. At the second day’s session, Brother J.
Henry Webb, Grand Master of the Bahamas Islands and Deputy Grand Master to
His Royal Highness, The Prince of Whales; Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of
England, visited the Grand Lodge and was received with all the honor due his
high and exalted position. He remained during the entire session. The Grand
Chapter, O.E.S. was organized April 18, 1890. They presented a prayer to the
Grand Lodge asking that they be recognized as the Adoptive Rite of the
Masonic Order. The petition was signed by Sisters R. D. Boone, Past Worthy
Grand Matron; Francis Lewis, Associate Grand Matron; Laura Joiner, Grand
Secretary; and Brother R. E. Moore, Worthy Grand Patron. The Petition was
approved. In 1891, under
Grand Master Thomas Smith, our first Masonic and O. E. S. Home was located in
the rear of Brother Matt Hewlett’s home, 2730 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago,
Illinois. Talma Chapter No. 2 furnished the first
Matron. In 1896 the Home
was located at 3227 Armour Avenue, Chicago,
Illinois. In 1898, under
Grand Master Henry E. Burriss, the Home was
constructed by Black Contractors, financed by the Victory Life Insurance
Company, paid for by Black men and women. August 24, 1944 the final
indebtedness was paid. In 1909 the Grand
Lodge was incorporated - Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge A. F. &
A. M. of Illinois. First incorporated May 16, 1882. In 1922 the name
was changed to the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F. & A. M.,
State of Illinois. March 21st, 1953,
Grand Master Ashby B. Carter and the Trustees of the Grand Lodge contracted
to purchase the present Masonic Temple located on the southwest corner 42nd
Place and Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, September 8, 1959 the
final payment on the mortgage was made and the mortgage burning ceremony was
held during the 93rd Annual Grand Communication. The Order of the
Junior Craftsman was organized by Brother Jay E. Powers, under the authority
of Grand Master John C. Ellis. The building of this project was slow until
1956. Grand Master O. E. Vanderburg appointed
Brother Henry G. Fort, Past Master of Harmony Lodge No. 88, as Grand
Director. Under his guidance the response and growth was tremendous. 35
Councils of more than 600 boys were established throughout the State and a
camp program on the Home Grounds at Rock Island was developed. October, 1960,
the Grand Lodge adopted a Relief Fund to assist in the burial of all members
of the Craft. Prince Hall Grand
Lodge organized Lodges in Wisconsin, South Dakota, Minnesota, Oregon, and
Washington. These Lodges afterwards took part and became constituent lodges
in the formation of the Grand Lodges of their states. |
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