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The
first Scottish Rite Mason of record in the now Southern Jurisdiction was
Illustrious Edward M. Thomas 33°, Washington, D.C., a member of the
Mother Supreme Council at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who petitioned to
form a Supreme Council for Washington D.C.
On Monday, May 5,
1856, seven Sovereign Grand Inspectors General from Philadelphia
conferred degrees upon Bros. John A. Gray (1), Joseph Smallwood (1),
John T. Costin (3), Henry H. Dade (4), Adolphus Hall (4) and Alfred Lee
(4).A Supreme Council was not organized that day.
A constitutional
number of Illustrious Peers, under the authority granted Ill.
Edward M. Thomas and seven Sovereign Grand Inspectors General from
Philadelphia, Penn., formed the second Supreme Council for Colored men
in the United States of America designated The United Supreme Council
33° for the Southern and Western Jurisdiction, Grand East at Washington
D.C., on Tuesday, April 5, 1869 with the following table of
Organization.
Ill. William H.
Thomas .......................Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander
Ill. William H. Edinborough................Puissant
Lt. Grand Commander
Ill. John A.
Gray...................................Grand Minister of State
Ill. Henry H.
Dade.................................Grand Treasurer General, H.E.
Ill. John T. Costin.................................Grand
Secretary-General, H.E.
Ill. Adolphus
Hall..................................Grand Auditor General, H.E.
Ill. John W.
Freeman...........................Grand Master of Ceremonies
Ill. John B.
Washington......................Grand Herald
Ill. Joseph
Smallwood...........................Grand Tiler
Ill. Alfred Lee
Ill. Edward M. Thomas
The Star of
Bethlehem Supreme Council, Grand East at Baltimore, Maryland, came into
existence after the conferral of the degree by Baron Hugo Auguste de
Bulow, a member of the Grand Orient of France upon Bro. Lemuel G.
Griffin and six others from as many states in 1862, Ill. Griffin in 1870
as Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander. Among the early Peers were
Ill. Rev. Bro. James A. Handy, Hiram Watty.
In 1871, Bro.
Joshua D. Kelly and six others from Pennsylvania received the degrees
from Ill. Lemuel G. Griffin, MPSGC. From these auspicious beginnings,
King Fredrick Supreme Council of Philadelphia reportedly became extant
in 1879.
The dissolution of
the National Grand Lodge in 1877 guaranteed the appreciable alternative
to union suggested in1881. The condition of the five Supreme Councils in
the United States of America prompted a conference call by those in
authority in each Supreme council to determine the question of
amalgamation. A Council of Deliberation met in New York, New York,
Monday, January 31, 1881, determined two Supreme Councils for the U.S.A.
and adopted and signed The Articles of Union, thus launching the new
Northern Jurisdiction on its career of service to God, country and
mankind.
In Session held in
Washington, D.C., Friday, September 17, 1886, Ill. Thorton A. Jackson,
and in Baltimore, Maryland, Ill. Rev. James A. Handy, Most Puissant
Sovereign Grand Commanders, respectively, in compliance with the ruling
of the Council of Deliberation of January 31, 1881, named the following
Commissioners, viz.
The Washington Supreme Council
The Baltimore Supreme Council
Ill. Thornton A. Jackson
Ill. James A. Handy
Ill. James Dean
Ill. Lemuel G. Griffin
Ill. Richard Howell Gleaves
Ill. A. Webb Tancil
Ill. John N. Dorster
Ill. Richard H. Freeman
Ill. Henry H. Dade
Ill. Hiram Watty
Ill. John W. Freeman
Ill. Joseph H. Lee
Ill. Jerome A. Johnson
Ill. William H. Mitchell
Thus the year 1886
can be considered the "ne plus ultra" phase in our founding in
which ALL the designs were laid on the trestleboard for January 27,
1887. On Thursday, January 27, 1887, the the fourteen Commissioners met
in Washington D.C. (the Grand Lodge building, 308 eleventh Street, N.W.)
in Senate Chambers, in Council of Union Amalgamation, set up a temporary
organization; Ill. JAmes A. Handy, 33° presiding, Ill. James Dean, 33°,
secretary, A. Webb Tancil, 33° , assistant secretary, John B. Hutchins,
33°, Captain of the Guard and Peter W. Bryant, 33°, Seneschal.
The Articles of
Agreement between the two separate entities were read in their entirety
and unanimously adopted; the presiding officer then proclaiming The
United Supreme Council of the Thirty-third and last degree, Ancient and
Accepted Scottish Rite for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United
states of America duly and permanently established, abolished the
temporary organization, filled all stations and places and called Ill.
Thornton A. Jackson to the Throne to open The United Supreme Grand
Council.
The election produced
the following results:
Ill. James a. Handy,
33°.....................Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander
Ill. Thornton A. Jackson,
33°............Puissant Lt. Grand Commander
Ill. Joseph H. Lee,
33°..........................Ill. Grand Prior
Ill. Richard Howell Gleaves,
33°.......Ill. Grand Chancellor
Ill. A. Webb Tancil,
33°......................Ill. Grand Minister of State
Ill. James Dean,
33°............................Ill. Grand Secretary-General, H.E.
Ill. Henry H. Dade,
33°.......................Ill. Grand Treasurer-General, H.E.
Ill. Hiram Watty,
33°..........................Ill. Grand Almoner
Ill. Jerome A. Johnson,
33°...............Ill. Grand Auditor
The following nine officers were
appointed:
Ill. John N.
Dorster............................Ill. Grand Master of Ceremonies
Ill. Richard H, Freeman,
33°............Ill. Grand Chamberlain
Ill. Peter W. Bryant,
33°..................Ill. First grand Equerry
Ill. James Lewis,
33°.........................Second Grand Equerry
Ill. John W. Freeman,
33°................Grand Standard Bearer
Ill. Lemuel G. Griffin,
33°................Grand Sword Bearer
Ill. Richard T. Greener,
33°.............Grand Herald
Ill. Theodore H. Green,
33°...............Grand Organist
Ill. William H. Mitchell,
33°............Grand Tiler
Ill. Lemuel G.
Griffin, Past MPSGC, answered the call to the throne; the
Secretary-General designate again read The Articles of Union for this
Supreme Council, demanded and was given the necessary pledges and was
administered the oath of allegiance and fealty to all present. Ill. Rev.
James A. Handy invoked the aid of Diety upon the works. Ill. Lemuel G.
Griffin declared the United Supreme Council of the Sovereign Grand
Inspectors General of the 33rd and last degree of Ancient and Accepted
Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United
States of America, duly constituted, inaugurated and consecrated and
thereon, duly installed all officers with appropriate ceremonies.
Other valleys came
into existence that day , viz; Ill. Illinois, Nebraska and Florida. The
Committee on Constitution (Ill. Sirs Thornton A. Jackson, Hiram Watty,
Jerome A. Johnson and Richard A. Freeman) made its report which was
received and adopted.
After other
unfinished business, The Supreme Council called from labor to rest,
whence it reconvened March 25, 1887; Ill. Sirs John G. Jones and
Frederick C. Revels were introduced and inducted into membership.
Rosters of the former Supreme Councils were place on file. Ill. Sirs
John G. Jones E.R. Overall and James E. Francis became active members
that day. Ill. Sirs Handy, Jackson and Dean became members of the
commission to treat with the Northern Jurisdiction respecting
boundaries. Other standing committees were appointed. There being no
further business, The Supreme Council ajourned.
Ill. John G.
Jones, when PLGC, and provoked at not being elected again at that
station or being elected MPSGC (1883), initiated a schism which caused
his suspension on November 6, 1895 and what later had become his
permanent suspension at the annual session of October 22, 1896 held at
Washington, D.C. embarked upon a program of establishing clandestine
Masonic organizations nationwide that continue to plague Prince Hall to
this day.
In the early years
of this new century, The Supreme Council housed itself in its own
commodious building 1633 Eleventh Street, N.W., which it occupied until
the 1960s when the law of eminent domain forced vacating the building.
Growth
accelerated after the Second World War, The Supreme Council commencing
many charitable endeavors, among them, the acquisition of housing units
in the several states as a means of relieving conditions endemic among
the Negro populace (The Supreme Council headquarters are located at 33K
Street, N.W. one of our Housing Units and the instituting of The
Charitable Foundation and becoming a stabilizing community influence.
Here
is an Infinitely brief account of our seven Sovereign Grand Commanders.
Ill. James A. Handy, 33°
(1887-1888), and the Supreme Council concerned themselves with
organization birth pangs.
Ill. Thornton A. Jackson, 33°
(1888-1904) continued the organizational trends, contended with the
Jones-Seville faction, kept the "Ship of State" on an even keel and
expanded Scottish Rite masonry wherever.
Ill. Joseph L. H. Smith, 33°
(1904-1911) secured the rental of 1633 Eleventh Street, N.W. In
1906, the association brought the property. In 1907, boundary line were
agreed by the two Supreme Councils
Ill. Robert L. Pendleton, 33°
(1912-1929) continued the great work of his predecessors under the
additional burden of recessional times.
Ill. Dr. Willard W. Allen, 33°
(1929-1961) advocated in the strongest terms, the establishing excellent
rapport with the Grand Masters; he further repaired the Cathedral and
finally burned the mortgage in Atlanta, Georgia March 1944.
Ill. Dr. John G. Lewis, 33°
(1961-1979) under whose incumbency the Cathedral had been abandoned as
disclosed in a proceeding* paragraph. Indeed Dr. Lewis was one of the
outstanding masons of all times. A forthcoming publication, "Jno. G.
Lewis-An end of an era: history of Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Louisiana
1842-1979 speaks of many of the accomplishments nationwide.
Ill. Dr. I. H. Clayborne, 33°
(1979 to 1994) as his predecessor, greatly enhanced Scottish Rite
masonry, gave increased scope to The Charitable Foundation, realized
increased memberships. As his hand is always in God's hand, HE WILL
ESTABLISH A CATHEDRAL FOR THIS SOUTHERN JURISDICTION!!
Ill. Dr. S. J. Bennett, 33° (1994 to
1999)
Ill. Edgar Bridges, 33° (1999
to 2003
All of the
above nine SGCs have greatly added to the prestige of our institution
and with the continued help of the Sovereign Grand Commander of the
Universe, we will continue our triumphs and affirm the indomitability of
Prince Hall Scottish Rite Freemasonry.
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