wILBERFORCE Lodge No. 21

Under the authority of Honorable Grand Master Richard Howell Gleaves at Grand Lodge Session held in Xenia on the day and year of June 21, 1859 – Wilberforce Lodge #21 was Chartered. In 1903, Brother William Harry Grimshaw called Brother R.H. Gleaves as, "The Most Distinguished colored Mason in the United States." At the time when Brother Richard H. Gleaves chartered Wilberforce Lodge #21, he was sitting as the 5^th Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, and also as the National Junior Grand Warden of the National Grand Lodge of Colored Masons – In 1965 he would become the National Grand Master. A seat which he would hold until the death of the National Compact. It has always been the distinguished honor of Wilberforce Lodge #21 to have been chartered by such a fine man and Mason.

Wilberforce Ohio, on the campus of Central State University. In 1904, the High Point of the Grand Lodge was its’ opportunity to lay the Conerstone at Carnegie Library on the campus of Wilberforce University. Brother Clemmens who was the Grand Master at that time appointed Worshipful Master Charles E. Nichols of Wilberforce Lodge #21 to officiate that event. That Library is still currently standing on the old campus of Wilberforce University, right next to the African American Museum.

Even in the early years, Wilberforce Lodge was situated near two of the oldest Historically Black Universities in the country. Because of that, their early membership mainly consisted of scholars and educators. Many of these fine fellows went on to help the Grand Lodge in its development during the early years. Some of the most significant men are listed below.

Brother John R. Blackburn, was initiated, passed and raised in 1864 in Wilberforce Lodge #21. In 1865 he was elected Secretary of the Lodge; 1866 elected to Senior Warden and in 1867 duly elected and installed as Worshipful Master. Excellent Companion Blackburn was the first High Priest of Lincoln Chapter #2 RAM, in Xenia, and the first M.E. Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Ohio PHA. He was instrumental as Grand High priest in the reformation of the Grand Chapter to its current form. He served as Grand Chapter Secretary for seven years after his terms as Grand High Priest and served as Grand Lodge Secretary from 1865-79. Brother Charles E. Nichols, was raised to the sublime degree on June 5, 1880 and became Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 1884. Between the years of 1884 and 1898 he served as Worshipful Master seven times. He was chosen Deputy Grand Master in 1891-92. He was a member of Lincoln Chapter #2 RAM, and was instrumental in establishing Xenia Commandery #8 Knights Templar in 1883, and as was its first Eminent Commander – serving until 1887. Honorable Brother Cambell L. Maxwell, was also a Past Master and Secretary of Wilberforce Lodge #21. He served as Grand Lodge secretary from 1879 to 1880 and again from 1889 to 1892. From the pictures on file Past Master Maxwell seems to have been of the white race. He was undeniably one of the finest lawyers of his day. Brother John Cousins, was Worshipful Master of Wilberforce Lodge from 1862 to 1863. Elected Junior Grand Warden in 1863, and was elected Grand Treasurer in 1865, being the fourth in succession, serving seven consecutive years, dying in office October 2, 1872, at Xenia, Ohio. Honorable Brother John Jones, was not raised in Wilberforce Lodge #21, but he demitted to it in January of 1866, while in office as the Eighth Grand Master of Ohio. There is not enough space to write about what this Brother has done for the Order of Freemasonry, but it would do all Masons good to read upon his record. Brother William H. Dickson, began his Masonic career in 1866, at which time he was initiated, passed and raised in Wilberforce Lodge #21. He would later demit to David’s Temple Lodge #15 (currently known as Champion Lodge #15). Brother Dickson would go on to serve in several stations of David’s Temple, and was elected Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Ohio F&AM in August of 1881 and was re-elected for five consecutive terms.

THE 1970’s, proved themselves trying times for Wilberforce Lodge #21, as its Temple was destroyed by the 1974 Tornado. With loans from the Grand Lodge they rebuilt the Lodge Hall, but due to a lack of planning, never restructured the membership dues and therefore found themselves unable to repay the loans to the Grand Lodge. Currently the M.W.P.H.G.L. of Ohio owns that land and building at 436 E. Main Street in Xenia Ohio. Wilberforce Lodge #21 had always prided themselves by the VERY high standards on which they judged applicants for degrees, and THE 1980’s revealed that those standards may have been too high – That and the lack of interest that the profane showed towards Freemasonry in the 1970’s proved to make difficult terms for the Worshipful Masters in the 1980’s. THE 1990’s have proved to be prosperous for Wilberforce Lodge #21. In 1992 Centralforce Lodge #124 which consisted of college students, alumni, and faculty from Central State U. and Wilberforce U., had it’s charter revoked and the members demitted into Wilberforce Lodge, and as it was in the beginning the Lodge again consisted of fine men of Greene County and scholars and educators of the local Universities. Industry continues to shape the future of Wilberforce Lodge #21.

Compiled by Past Master David L. Gray - 1999

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