The Golden Age of Prince Hall Freemasonry in Ohio
by Bro. Antonio Caffey
The legacy of Prince Hall was twofold and widespread. This legacy was one that was limited and
fixed for a small time but it was to grow, to expand and to be conserved.
-Charles H. Wesley
Prince Hall Life and Legacy
Between the years of 1906 and 1917, there was tremendous growth within in Prince Hall
Freemasonry in Ohio. The Brethren of this period, were determined to not only maintain, but add on
to the traditions given them. In just a short span of eleven years, Masons in Ohio raised the
consciences of its members. The Grand Lodge also would permanently establish itself as one of the
leaders in Freemasonry, throughout the United States.
Already having built an effective and solid structure, the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge
of Ohio found itself in a new century full of hopes and ideas. The idea of preserving the history of the
Jurisdiction and embarking on new endeavors began with the publication of a history of the Grand
Lodge. Written by Bro. William Parham and Bro. Jeremiah Brown, this publication was the first
history book of a Prince Hall Jurisdiction. Published in 1906, it detailed the early years of the
jurisdiction, and chronicled the life of our early pioneers.
The Grand Lodge began focusing on making sure that each member had a deeper understanding of
Freemasonry. During the year of 1907 and under the leadership of Grand Master William Clemens,
the Grand Lodge stressed the observance of St. John’s Day. This was in accordance to ancient
custom, and was practiced by Prince Hall and the Brethren of African 459. In addition, during this
time Past Grand Master William T. Boyd originated the plan to honor our founder and first Grand
Master, Prince Hall. This tribute was stressed not only in the jurisdiction of Ohio, but throughout the
Prince Hall solidarity. Since that time, each Prince Hall Jurisdiction pays tribute, every year to our
founder during Prince Hall Day programs throughout the country.
Also in 1907 another plan to form a National Masonic Conference began to surface. Having
experienced the negative effects of the National Compact movement and not wanting to re-visit that
time in our history, the Grand Lodge refused to participate.
In 1907, there were 1,317 Master Masons in the Jurisdiction of Ohio with 46 Lodges. The
leadership during this time urged Lodges to purchase their own Lodge Halls and not be satisfied with
renting space. The mentality of depending on someone for something that you could do for yourself
was something that the Grand Lodge was trying to change. It created an endowment fund for the
widows and orphans of Masons, because insurance for African-Americans during that time was hard
to obtain. Likewise, the thought for a Masonic home for the elderly had its foundation during these
years. The ages of the members of the Grand Lodge were increasing with each year and the need for
a suitable place for them to reside was needed.
The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio took pride in the fact that it was a lawfully
constituted Grand Lodge. During these years, it attempted to combat bogus Masonry by any means it
could find. The Grand Lodge issued the following resolution concerning bogus Masonry:
“Whereas, the territory of this Masonic Jurisdiction is being frequently invaded by imposters
peddling spurious Masonry, conferring the degrees and organizing Masonic bodies without legal
warrant of authority and,
“Whereas these fraudulent acts by irresponsible parties have a tendency to retard the growth of
legitimate Masonry, of which this Grand Lodge is the exponent, therefore be it,
“Resolved that this Grand Lodge forbids the display of the jewels, or use of the due guards, signs
and passwords, recognized by this Grand Lodge before any organization or individual claiming to be
Masons not in fraternal relation with this Grand Lodge.�
One way the Grand Lodge chose to combat spurious Masonry, was to make sure every Mason had a
firm understanding of Freemasonry. The leadership urged each Mason in the Jurisdiction to own a
copy of its code and constitution. This would give the Craft a foundation on which it could add more
Masonic light.
The effort was made to continue to consolidate and regulate the Grand Lodge’s business
practices. The Grand Lodge Trustees made sure that each Lodge used the same practices and urged
them to select better Worshipful Masters, Treasures and Secretaries.
Bro. Cory Adams was elected Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1912. He once stated:
“I firmly believe that if the Craft in general had a better knowledge of what Freemasonry really is
and what it stands for, and what it means to be a Mason, they would come to realize a sense of their
condition and wake up to a sense of their opportunities.�
During his tenure as Most Worshipful Grad Master, Bro. Adams concentrated on Masonic
education. He wanted each member to have a thorough knowledge of Freemasonry. He instituted
Masonic Schools of Instructions, where Masons could be taught the principles of the Fraternity.
Continuing the work of previous administrations, he attempted to move the Grand Lodge towards the
use of one ritual. Within the Jurisdiction before this time period, Lodges used various Masonic rituals
to confer the three degrees. The Grand Lodge saw this as an abomination upon the principles of
Freemasonry, and acted to rectify this. Bro. Adams wanted the Grand Lodge to stop using exposes
and publish its own ritual. Around 1915, P.G.M. Adams succeeded, and the Most Worshipful Prince
Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio became one of the first Grand Lodges to publish its own ritual. This was
such a monumental event that the International Conference of Grand Masters (later the Prince Hall
Conference of Grand Masters) made Bro. Cory Adams chairmen of a committee to standardize the
ritual. The committee was charged with gathering each jurisdiction’s ritual and consolidating them
into one. The committee did complete its duties and developed one ritual that was to be used by all
Prince Hall Grand Lodges.
The Grand Lodge also felt that better Masonic education and an adherence to the ideals of
Freemasonry would help Prince Hall Masons gain recognition. The Grand Master took a stance
against members of the Craft who were not following the principles Masons outside the Lodge.
The Grand Lodge also defeated the National Grand Lodge in Court, after they had sued the M.W.P.H.
G.L. of Ohio. They claimed that we were not a legitimate body of Masons and wanted our rights to
refer to ourselves as such taken away. This claim was easily defeated in court. Bro. Adams made
sure that the Grand Lodge continued to grow during World War I and made a lasting impression upon
the history of our Fraternity.
This was truly the golden era of Prince Hall Freemasonry in Ohio. Ten new Lodges were warranted
during this time and the membership continued to grow. This short period of time established many
of the customs, protocol and formalities that we practice today. The practices of Freemasonry were
entrenched into every member’s mind and the Grand Lodge truly made the connection between
practice and principle.
__________________________________________________
Works Cited:
Charles H. Wesley, The History of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio 1849-1971 (Washington, D.C. The
Associated Publishers for The Assocation for the Study of Negro Life and History, 1972)
by Bro. Antonio Caffey
The legacy of Prince Hall was twofold and widespread. This legacy was one that was limited and
fixed for a small time but it was to grow, to expand and to be conserved.
-Charles H. Wesley
Prince Hall Life and Legacy
Between the years of 1906 and 1917, there was tremendous growth within in Prince Hall
Freemasonry in Ohio. The Brethren of this period, were determined to not only maintain, but add on
to the traditions given them. In just a short span of eleven years, Masons in Ohio raised the
consciences of its members. The Grand Lodge also would permanently establish itself as one of the
leaders in Freemasonry, throughout the United States.
Already having built an effective and solid structure, the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge
of Ohio found itself in a new century full of hopes and ideas. The idea of preserving the history of the
Jurisdiction and embarking on new endeavors began with the publication of a history of the Grand
Lodge. Written by Bro. William Parham and Bro. Jeremiah Brown, this publication was the first
history book of a Prince Hall Jurisdiction. Published in 1906, it detailed the early years of the
jurisdiction, and chronicled the life of our early pioneers.
The Grand Lodge began focusing on making sure that each member had a deeper understanding of
Freemasonry. During the year of 1907 and under the leadership of Grand Master William Clemens,
the Grand Lodge stressed the observance of St. John’s Day. This was in accordance to ancient
custom, and was practiced by Prince Hall and the Brethren of African 459. In addition, during this
time Past Grand Master William T. Boyd originated the plan to honor our founder and first Grand
Master, Prince Hall. This tribute was stressed not only in the jurisdiction of Ohio, but throughout the
Prince Hall solidarity. Since that time, each Prince Hall Jurisdiction pays tribute, every year to our
founder during Prince Hall Day programs throughout the country.
Also in 1907 another plan to form a National Masonic Conference began to surface. Having
experienced the negative effects of the National Compact movement and not wanting to re-visit that
time in our history, the Grand Lodge refused to participate.
In 1907, there were 1,317 Master Masons in the Jurisdiction of Ohio with 46 Lodges. The
leadership during this time urged Lodges to purchase their own Lodge Halls and not be satisfied with
renting space. The mentality of depending on someone for something that you could do for yourself
was something that the Grand Lodge was trying to change. It created an endowment fund for the
widows and orphans of Masons, because insurance for African-Americans during that time was hard
to obtain. Likewise, the thought for a Masonic home for the elderly had its foundation during these
years. The ages of the members of the Grand Lodge were increasing with each year and the need for
a suitable place for them to reside was needed.
The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio took pride in the fact that it was a lawfully
constituted Grand Lodge. During these years, it attempted to combat bogus Masonry by any means it
could find. The Grand Lodge issued the following resolution concerning bogus Masonry:
“Whereas, the territory of this Masonic Jurisdiction is being frequently invaded by imposters
peddling spurious Masonry, conferring the degrees and organizing Masonic bodies without legal
warrant of authority and,
“Whereas these fraudulent acts by irresponsible parties have a tendency to retard the growth of
legitimate Masonry, of which this Grand Lodge is the exponent, therefore be it,
“Resolved that this Grand Lodge forbids the display of the jewels, or use of the due guards, signs
and passwords, recognized by this Grand Lodge before any organization or individual claiming to be
Masons not in fraternal relation with this Grand Lodge.�
One way the Grand Lodge chose to combat spurious Masonry, was to make sure every Mason had a
firm understanding of Freemasonry. The leadership urged each Mason in the Jurisdiction to own a
copy of its code and constitution. This would give the Craft a foundation on which it could add more
Masonic light.
The effort was made to continue to consolidate and regulate the Grand Lodge’s business
practices. The Grand Lodge Trustees made sure that each Lodge used the same practices and urged
them to select better Worshipful Masters, Treasures and Secretaries.
Bro. Cory Adams was elected Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1912. He once stated:
“I firmly believe that if the Craft in general had a better knowledge of what Freemasonry really is
and what it stands for, and what it means to be a Mason, they would come to realize a sense of their
condition and wake up to a sense of their opportunities.�
During his tenure as Most Worshipful Grad Master, Bro. Adams concentrated on Masonic
education. He wanted each member to have a thorough knowledge of Freemasonry. He instituted
Masonic Schools of Instructions, where Masons could be taught the principles of the Fraternity.
Continuing the work of previous administrations, he attempted to move the Grand Lodge towards the
use of one ritual. Within the Jurisdiction before this time period, Lodges used various Masonic rituals
to confer the three degrees. The Grand Lodge saw this as an abomination upon the principles of
Freemasonry, and acted to rectify this. Bro. Adams wanted the Grand Lodge to stop using exposes
and publish its own ritual. Around 1915, P.G.M. Adams succeeded, and the Most Worshipful Prince
Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio became one of the first Grand Lodges to publish its own ritual. This was
such a monumental event that the International Conference of Grand Masters (later the Prince Hall
Conference of Grand Masters) made Bro. Cory Adams chairmen of a committee to standardize the
ritual. The committee was charged with gathering each jurisdiction’s ritual and consolidating them
into one. The committee did complete its duties and developed one ritual that was to be used by all
Prince Hall Grand Lodges.
The Grand Lodge also felt that better Masonic education and an adherence to the ideals of
Freemasonry would help Prince Hall Masons gain recognition. The Grand Master took a stance
against members of the Craft who were not following the principles Masons outside the Lodge.
The Grand Lodge also defeated the National Grand Lodge in Court, after they had sued the M.W.P.H.
G.L. of Ohio. They claimed that we were not a legitimate body of Masons and wanted our rights to
refer to ourselves as such taken away. This claim was easily defeated in court. Bro. Adams made
sure that the Grand Lodge continued to grow during World War I and made a lasting impression upon
the history of our Fraternity.
This was truly the golden era of Prince Hall Freemasonry in Ohio. Ten new Lodges were warranted
during this time and the membership continued to grow. This short period of time established many
of the customs, protocol and formalities that we practice today. The practices of Freemasonry were
entrenched into every member’s mind and the Grand Lodge truly made the connection between
practice and principle.
__________________________________________________
Works Cited:
Charles H. Wesley, The History of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio 1849-1971 (Washington, D.C. The
Associated Publishers for The Assocation for the Study of Negro Life and History, 1972)