The Beginnings of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge Free & Accepted Masons in Illinois
By M.W. Bro. Obed E. Vanderburg, Past Grand Master

 

Pursuant to a call of three warranted Lodges, namely:

North Star Lodge No. 12 of Chicago, now North Star Lodge No. 1
G. T. Watson Lodge No. 16 of Alton
Central Lodge No. 19 of Springfield, now Central Lodge No. 3

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:

• That the Subordinate Lodges of A. F. & Young Masons of the State of Illinois, viz., North Star Lodge No. 12, Chicago, G. T. Watson Lodge No. 16, Alton, and Central Lodge No. 19, of Springfield, working under the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ohio, this day dissolve all connections with said Grand Lodge.
• That we do immediately return our Warrants of Constitution to the Grand Lodge of Ohio with dues to date, and that we notify the Grand Master of Said Grand Lodge of such return and that we respectfully ask his recommendation to the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge so that we may obtain a Warrant and Constitution for the establishment of a Grand Lodge for the State of Illinois. (It will be observed by this resolution that here was in existence what was called "The Most Worshipful National Grand lodge of North America." From this Supreme head in Masonry all Grand Lodges received their authority to organize Grand Lodges of Colored Masons in the United States at that time.)

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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:

• B. F. Rogers, Most Worshipful Grand Master
• H. D. King, Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master
• W. L. Darrow, Right Worshipful Grand Senior Warden
• L. A. Coleman, Right Worshipful Grand Junior Warden
• I. H. Kelly, Right Worshipful Grand Treasurer C. L. Thomas, Right Worshipful Grand Secretary

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.

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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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