Prince Hall Masonry

Prince Hall - not a title – is the name of an African-American raised as a Master Mason on MAR 6, 1775, along with 24 other African-Americans.  On 30 JUN 1784, 9 years later, Brother Prince Hall requested a warrant which was granted in APR 1787 by the Modern Grand Lodge in London.  Prince Hall was named as the first Worshipful Master. In 1827, the Lodge found itself without a Grand Lodge–and thus declared themselves independent of any Masonic authority.  Eventually, these brothers formed the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts (named in honor of its first WM).

Today, there are 42 Prince Hall Affiliated (PHA) Grand Lodges in the U.S. with Scottish Rite, York Rite, Order of the Eastern Star, Shriners, and more.   [Scottish Rite Journal, JAN-FEB 2007]. Members of the PHA include Thurgood Marshall; Booker T. Washington (founder of the Tuskegee Institute); and Nat King Cole.

Recognition between PHA and mainstream Grand Lodges began in 1989 in Connecticut.   Now, there is mutual recognition in 40 states–the most recent state is TEXAS, in 2006.

Sam Tish, E.H.P.

0 comments - Posted by Sam Tish at 4:37 PM - Categories: Masonic Education

Jacques DeMolay

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR
  by Susie Hodges

 "The Knights Templar was the most powerful military religious order of the Middle Ages, originally founded.....in 1118 A.D., to protect Christian pilgrims in the Holy Lands....

Over time, the Order became powerful and respected. Yet, in less than 200 years after it had formed, it fell spectacularly from grace." At the beginning of the 14^th Century (1300's), the Templars were put on trial for blasphemy. A great deal of documentation and solid evidence were destroyed after their demise. The Templars’ primary duty was to kill for Christ to eliminate evil.

Jacques de Molay was the last and best known GM of the KT during the 200 years of existence (1118 - 1314). He was elected GM in 1293 when he was 49–and served as such for the rest of his life (until 1314). Jacques served as a Knights Templar from about the age of 20. The Knights Templar were originally known as "Knights of Christ." Most GM’s and most of the Templars were French. France and the French Kings often influenced the choice of GMs. Templars used both Cavalry, skilled in archery on horseback; and Infantry, skilled in the use of axes and spears.

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Posted by Sam Tish at 1:06 PM - Categories: 3.Commandery | Masonic Education