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 Lodge No. 459. In addition, during this time, Past Grand Master
William T. Boyd originated the plan to honor our patron, 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 age 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.” 1
One way the Grand Lodge chose to combat spurious Masonry, was to make sure every Mason had a firm understanding of the 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.” 2
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. However, this was never implemented.
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 of Masonry outside of 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.
____________________________________________________________________
1 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) p. 136
2 Ibid p. 146
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 Lodge No. 459. In addition, during this time, Past Grand Master
William T. Boyd originated the plan to honor our patron, 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 age 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.” 1
One way the Grand Lodge chose to combat spurious Masonry, was to make sure every Mason had a firm understanding of the 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.” 2
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. However, this was never implemented.
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 of Masonry outside of 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.
____________________________________________________________________
1 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) p. 136
2 Ibid p. 146
© 2012 St. Mark's Lodge No. 7 Prince Hall Free & Accepted Masons. All Rights Reserved
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| The Golden Era of Prince Hall Freemasonry in Ohio 1906-1917 by Wor. Bro. Antonio Caffey, PM 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 |