OUR HISTORY:

Masonic history informs us that the Order of Heroines of Jericho is believed to be as old as ancient craft Masonry. Historically there is evidence in Ohio in the early part of the 20^th century. In the proceedings of 1908 there were six Courts listed, as being inexistence, in Ohio namely Vashti Court No. 1 in Cincinnati, Heroine Court No. 2 in Nelsonville, Ruth Court No. 5 in Toledo, Sarah Court No. 6 in Cambridge, Esther Court #9 in Zanesville, and Valley Court No. 23 in Rendville. The Grand Court consisted of Courts in Pennsylvania and Ohio. There more modern era of Heroines of Jericho in Ohio began in 1971.

At the 103^rd Grand Convocation of the Most Excellent Prince Hall Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons, Most Excellent Grand High Priest Paul L. Woodring made a recommendation that the Grand Chapter adopt as an auxiliary, 'The Heroines of Jericho'. This matter was brought to the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio and Grand Master Samuel Brogdon Jr. granted permission for the Order of Heroines of Jericho to be organized. In October 1971, Most Excellent Grand High Priest Michael R. Wilson appointed Past Grand High Priest Wooding, Grand Coordinator for the Heroines of Jericho. Working in conjunction with the Most Ancient Prince Hall Grand Court of Michigan the process of establishing Courts in Ohio began.

The first club organized was Prince White in Cincinnati, Ohio on December 12¹², 1971. This court was inaugurated on January 14^th 1973 as Prince White Court No. 8 operating under the jurisdiction of Michigan, with Heroine Soprhonia Ellis as Most Ancient Matron and Knight Nathaniel Reip as Most Worthy Joshua.

Cuyahoga club was organized in Cleveland, Ohio on February 27^th, 1972. This court was inaugurated on February 18^th, 1973 as Cuyahoga Court No. 9, which also operated under the jurisdiction of Michigan with Heroine Donester Barksdale serving as Most Ancient Matron and Knight Donald Alexander as Most Worthy Joshua.

On April 10^th, 1972 a club was formed in Dayton, Ohio with Elizabeth Russell serving as President and Harold Moon 1^st Vice President. On October 1^st they were granted a dispensation to operate as Burning Bush UD under the jurisdiction of Michigan.

July 9^th, 1972 a club, named "Club 77: was organized in Akron, Ohio, and on April 1^st, 1973 this club became El Zerubabble Court UD, also operating under the jurisdiction of Michigan.

On the 24^th day of February 1974, the Most Ancient Prince Hall Grand Court of Michigan journeyed to the Fort Hayes Hotel in Columbus, Ohio, were Burning Bush No. 10 (Heroine Elizabeth Russell, Most Ancient Matron and Knight Harold Moon, Most Worthy Joshua), Rollin F. Kelley Court No. 11 (Heroine Alice V. Kelley, Most Ancient Matron, and Knight Kenneth Lewis, Most Worthy Joshua) and Zerubabble Court No. 12 (Heroines Florean McGadney, Most Ancient Matron and Knight Leonard Robertson Sr., Most Worthy Joshua) were constituted. Heroine Birdie Stallworth, Most Ancient Grand Matron and Knight Leon Gay, Most Worthy Grand Joshua were presiding.

On March 24^th, 1974 Ruth Club was organized in Toledo, Ohio and on July 13^th, 1975 the Court was constituted as Ruth Court No. 13 with Gladys Mitchell presiding as Most Ancient Matron and Knight William Long as Most Worthy Joshua. They also began their work under the jurisdiction of Michigan.

The first meeting to discuss the formation of a Grand Court in the state of Ohio was held on September 14^th, 1974. On Sunday, September 21^st the Grand Court of Michigan, under the leadership of Elizabeth Morse, Most Ancient Grand Matron and Charles Whitfield, Most Worthy Grand Joshua journeyed to Toledo, Ohio to Constitute and Inaugurate the Most Ancient Prince Hall Grand Court, Heroines of Jericho in and for the state of Ohio.

At this time MW Brother Robert L. Alston was presiding as the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio, Companion Jesse L. Russell was presiding as Most Excellent Grand High Priest of the ME Grand Chapter of Ohio Royal Arch Masons, Sister Alice V. Kelley was serving as Grand Worthy Matron of the Amaranth Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star - State of Ohio.

The Charter Courts of the Most Ancient Prince Hall Grand Court of Ohio were designated:

Prince White Court #1	Cincinnati, Ohio
Cuyahoga Court #2	Cleveland, Ohio
Burning Bush Court #3	Dayton, Ohio
Rollin F. Kelley Sr. Court #4	Columbus, Ohio
El Zerubbabel Court #5	Akron, Ohio
Ruth Court #6	Toledo, Ohio

The following officers were installed:

Most Ancient Grand Matron	Donester G. Barksdale
Most Worthy Grand Joshua	Kenneth E. Lewis
Vice Ancient Grand Matron	Martha Thompson
Deputy Grand Joshua	Leonard Robertson Sr.
Grand Treasurer	Eugene Morton
Grand Secretary	Jacqueline Young
Grand Senior Attendant	Elizabeth Russell
Grand Junior Attendant	Alice V. Kelley
Grand Chaplain	Donald Alexander
1st Grand Court Director	William Long (special election 9/20/1975)
2nd Grand Court Director	Major Hamilton
3rd Grand Court Director	Edward Towell Jr.
APPOINTED:
Northeast Ark Bearer	Gladys Mitchell
Northwest Ark Bearer	Cora L. Lounds
Southeast Ark Bearer	Ruth Travis
Southwest Ark Bearer	Mable Chandler
Inner Gate Keeper	Creaggan Hearld
Outer Gate Keeper	Daisy Lewis
Grand Lecturer, Northern	Jacqueline Young
Grand Lecturer, Southern	Daisy L. Lewis
Grand Organist	Eugenia Wilson
Assistant Grand Organist	Sue Day
Assistant Grand Secretary	Beatrice Peterson

On March 13^th a club was formed in Youngstown, Ohio, Excelsior Court UD was established on May 2^nd, 1976 (this was the first court established by the Grand Court of Ohio, Donester Barksdale, Most Ancient Grand Matron and Kenneth Lewis, Most Worthy Grand Joshua). September 27^th, 1977 Excelsior Court No. 7 at Youngstown, Ohio was constituted and inauguarted. Jane Shipp was installed as Most Ancient Matron and Prostelle Thomas as Most Worthy Joshua. Most Ancient Grand Matron Elizabeth Russell and Most Worthy Grand Joshua Donald Alexander were presiding.

Floyd C. Churchwell Court No. 8, was the last court to be constituted. They were duly constituted on December 3^rd, 1988 with Heroine Francine Newell being installed as Most Ancient Matron and Knight Lawson Wood as Most Worthy Joshua. Most Ancient Grand Matron was Heroine Fern C. Ragland and Most Worthy Grand Joshua was Knight Nathaniel Olden.

Past Grand Officers of the Most Ancient Prince Hall Grand Court, Heroines of Jericho are as follows:

DATE	MAGM	MWGJ	Grand Secretary
1975	Donester Barksdale, #2	Kenneth E. Lewis, #4	Jacqueline Young, #2
1976	Donester Barksdale, #2	Kenneth E. Lewis, #4	Ruth Travis, #5
1976-77	Martha Thompson #1	Leonard Robertson Sr., #5
1977-78	Elizabeth Russell, #3	Donald Alexander, #2	Donester Barksdale, #2
1978-80	Alice V. Kelley, #4	Major Hamilton, #1	Donester Barksdale
1980-81	Florean McGadney, #5	Foster Stringer, #2	Donester Barksdale
1981-82	Jacqueline Young, #2	Edward Towell Jr., #3	Donester Barksdale
1982-83	Daisy L. Lewis, #4	Theodore Jackson, #2	Donester Barksdale
1983-84	Mary Taylor, #2	Oakley Hopkins #6	Donester Barksdale
1984-85	Karen Boyd, #6	John McGadney, #5	Donester Barksdale
1985-86	Catherine Bray, #1	William Horton, #3	Donester Barksdale
1986-87	Myllicent Russel, #7	Curtis C. Carter, #4	Donester Barksdale
1987-88	Mary Culver #5	Charles Mitchell, #6	Helen Cotton, #6
1988-89	Fern Ragland, #3	Nathaniel Olden, #2	Helen Cotton
1989-90	Minnie Jackson, #1	Frederick Kelley, #4	Helen Cotton
1990-91	Ruth Travis	Frank Gindraw, #5	Helen Cotton
1991-93	Barbara King, #3	Booker T. Webster, #3	Helen Cotton
1993-95	Arlene Bolden, #2	Stewart Smith, #1	Helen Cotton
1995-97	Geraldine Kelley, #4	Embie R. Bostic, #2	Helen Cotton
1997-98	Betty Butler, #3	John A. James, #4	Helen Cotton
1998-99	Francine Newell, #8	George King, #3	Helen Cotton
1999-00	Hazel Webster, #3	Charles Eaves #5	Helen Cotton
00-01	Edith Barkley-Gulley, #6	Emerson Ballard, #6	Helen Cotton
01-02	Geraldine Durroh, #4	Joseph Toliver, #3	Helen Cotton

For outstanding contributions tot he order and their efforts i laying the ground work for the establishment of the Grand Court of Ohio the degree of Honorary Past Most Ancient Grand Matron and Honorary Past Most Worthy Grand Joshua was bestowed upon the following members:

Past Most Ancient Grand Matrons:	Past Most Ancient Worthy Grand Joshuas:
Bernice Neal, #3	Paul Woodring Sr., #2
Amanda Transue, #3	Michael R. Wilson, #3
Gladys Mitchell #6	Jesse L. Russell, #3
Lillian Robinson, #1	Robert B. Oglesby, #2
	Eugene Moron, #4

The Grand Court of Ohio has been privileged to have two of its officers ascend to the highest office in the General Grand Conference of Heroines of Jericho. Knight Foster Stringer served as General Grand Conference Most Worthy Grand Joshua (1991-93) and Heroine Arlene Bolden (2001-2002) serving as General Grand Conference Most Ancient Grand Matron.