Grand Lodge History, First 50 Years - MW Prince Hall GL of Ohio

GRAND LODGE HISTORY - TIMELINE:
Complied by Brother David L. Gray, PM #21

YEAR	DAY	EVENT
1641	December	Massachusetts becomes the first colony to give statutory recognition to slavery.
1775	March 6^th	Probably around this date Prince Hall and 14 other men of color were made Freemasons in a 'Traveling Lodge'. The records of African Lodge and Prince Hall make no mention of the name of the lodge, nor the officers. The commonly accepted story is that on this day WM John Batt made the following men Freemasons: Prince Hall, Cyrus Johbus, Peter Best, Cuff Bufform, John Carter, Peter Freeman, Forten Howard, Prince Rees, Thomas Sanderson, Boston Smith, Cato Spears, Prince Taylor, Benjamin Tiber, and Richard Tilley in British Military Lodge No. 441 working under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Ireland. Again, there is no documentation to support any of these details.
1775	July 3^rd	African Lodge #1 (Boston, Mass) formed by "PERMIT. Another commonly accepted story is that WM John Batt from Lodge #441 left them a warrant before he left, but Prince Hall never made that claim. This tale was first told by William H. Upton.
1776	July 4^th	The Declaration of Independence was adopted this day. A section denouncing the slave trade was deleted.
1777	July 2^nd	Vermont becomes the first colony to abolish slavery.
1784	June 30^th	Under the signature of WM Prince Hall and attested by Secretary Brother Cato Underwood – African Lodge No. 1 dispatches a letter of application for a warrant to the Grand Lodge of England through William Moody, the WM of Brotherly Love Lodge #55 of London, England.
1784	September 29th	Grand Lodge of England issues a Charter to African Lodge No.1, and assigning the number 459 thereto.
1787	April 12^th	Richard Allen and Absalom Jones organize Philadelphia’s Free African Society, which W.E.B. Dubois called "the first wavering step of a people toward a more organized social life."
1787	April 29^th – May 6th	The Warrant/Charter finally reaches African Lodge No. 1 (Boston, Mass), and African Lodge No. 459 is organized with Prince Hall as the Worshipful Master.
1787	July 13^th	Continental Congress excluded slavery from the Northwest Territory.
1787	September 17^th	U.S. Constitution approved at Philadelphia convention with three clauses protecting slavery.
1787	October 17^th	Boston Blacks, led by Prince Hall, petition legislation for equal school facilities.
1787	November 1^st	First free school in New York City, the African Free School, opened.
1797		Boston Masons, led by Prince Hall, establish first black interstate organization by creation lodge in Philadelphia and Providence, Rhode Island.
1804	January 5^th	Ohio legislature passed the first of a succession of North Black Laws which restricted the rights and movement of free blacks in the North. Most Northern states passed Black Laws. Constitutions of three states (Illinois, Indiana and Oregon) barred black settlers.
1807	March 2^nd	Congress banned the slave trade, prohibiting "the importation of slaves into the United States or the territories thereof" after January 1, 1808.
1807	December 4^th	Prince Hall, activist and Masonic leader dies.
1829	August 10^th	A Race riot takes place in Cincinnati on this day. Resulting in more than one thousand Blacks left the city for Canada.
1830	January 21th	In Portsmouth, Ohio - Blacks are forcibly deported by order of city officials.
1847	March 3^rd	William Darnes, John Johnson, Joseph C. King, Shelton Morris, George Peterson, Asbury Young and L. C. Fluellen leave Cincinnati, Ohio in route to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The first three mentioned men, being already made Master Masons sought out Brother Richard Gleaves as a contact to prepare for the four later mentioned men to be made Master Masons at St. Cyprian Lodge.
1847	March 5^th	St. Cyprian Lodge held a meeting with Martin R. Delaney as Worshipful Master, George B. Vashon as Senior Warden, H. Nicholson as Junior Warden, Halson Vashon as Secretary, Alex Ferguson as Treasurer, S. L. Collins as Senior Deacon, F. Robinson as Junior Deacon and A. Williams as Tyler. That day the petitions of Shelton Morris, George Peterson, Asbury Young and L. C. Fluellen were received, balloted on, and there were made Entered Apprentices and raised as Master Masons.
1847	March 26^th	St. Cyprian received a petition from Brothers Joseph King, William Darnes, George Peterson, Shelton Morris, L. C. Fluellen, Asbury Young, John Johnson and William Brown of Cincinnati, presenting a recommendation for a lodge in their city.
1847	April 11^th	St. Cyprian Lodge approved this recommendation and the warrant was issued by the First Independent Grand Lodge of North America (Pennsylvania – The First Prince Hall Grand Lodge).
1847	June 24^th	In mimic of the 1843 Conferences held by the White/Mainstream Grand Lodges of North America in Baltimore, Maryland – Delegates from the First Independent Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, the Hiram Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts meet and unanimously adopt a resolution to organize a National Grand Lodge under the title "The Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of Fee and Accepted Ancient York Masons of the United States of North America and the Masonic Jurisdiction thereunto Belonging."
1848	January 16^th	Corinthian Lodge No. 17 was duly constituted with the follow officers: Joseph C. King, WM; John Gazaway SW; William Darnes, JW; Alex Hunter, Secy.; George Peterson, Treas.; Samuel Wilson, SD; Shelton Morris, JD; and Asbury Young, Tyler.
1848	March 18^th	Brother Richard H. Gleaves, working under the authority of the First Independent African Grand Lodge, discovers that a second Lodge in Cincinnati which had received their warrant from the rival Grand Lodge in Pennsylvania (Hiram Grand Lodge), and claimed to received a charter from the white Grand Lodge of Ohio, had been bamboozled. This Lodge was constituted and established on March 18^th, 1848 as True American Lodge No. 26 with twenty-seven members under a warrant issued by the First African Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.
1848	May 20^th	A third lodge was organized and established by Grand Master Gleaves in Cincinnati under the authority of the First Independent African Grand Lodge. This lodge would be known as St. Johns Lodge No. 27.
1848		Prince Hall Freemasons of Ohio, first attempt to secure recognition from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge (white) of the State of Ohio. This seemed to be a desirable goal at the time.
1849	May 3^rd	The representatives of the three Masonic Lodges in Cincinnati (Corinthian No. 17, later No. 1, True American No. 26, later No. 2, and St. John’s No. 27, later No. 3) on the upper story of a building leased for the purposes of their meetings and proceeded to organize "The Grand Lodge for the State of Ohio". The officers for this Grand Lodge were: Thomas W. Stringer, Grand Master; Richard H. Gleaves, Deputy Grand Master; Joseph C. King, Grand Senior Warden; Ephraim Bancroft, Grand Junior Warden; Own T. Barton Nickens, Grand Secretary.
1849-1859		Between these years there were twenty-one lodges warranted by the Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio (Black), with five of them being expansions to other states. Ohio would go on to establish one or more lodges in West Virginia, Mississippi, Indiana, Louisiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Kansas, Alabama and Michigan.
1850	June 24^th	The National Grand Lodge issues a warrant to Ohio’s Prince Hall Grand Lodge.
1850		The First Independent African Grand Chapter of Ohio (Royal Arch Masons) was organized in Cincinnati, Ohio with Anderson B. Lewis as the first Grand High Priest.
1852		Prince Hall Freemasonry expands to Columbus, Ohio in the name of St. Marks Lodge No. 7.
1856	June 20^th	The Warrant from the National Grand Lodge was read for the first time at a Grand Lodge session.
1856	August	The first lodge for black Americans in Cleveland was established as Eureka Lodge #14. Eureka Lodge would later withdraw from the Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio (Black) over some "differences" and sought to be under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, but in the next year Eureka was re-warranted as Eureka No. 52 by the Grand Lodge of Ohio (Black).
1857	June	At the Grand Lodge, held in the city of Columbus, on the third day of the session a "resolution of withdrawal from the jurisdiction of the National Grand Lodge was taken up, and after being fully discussed, a vote was had thereon which resulted in a tie, whereupon the Grand Master, John Parsons, gave the casting vote for withdrawal." On the last day of the session, four days after the passage of the resolution, the matter was reconsidered and instead of withdrawal it was resolved "that the different subordinate lodges under this jurisdiction be instructed through their delegates and representatives to consider the importance of withdrawing from the jurisdiction of the N.G.L. of North America and express their opinion and wishes through their representatives to this Grand Lodge at its next annual communication.
1856	August 30^th	Wilberforce University founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in Wilberforce, Ohio.
1858	June 25^th	After Grand Session closed in Cincinnati on Tuesday, June 22, 1858 – Members were summoned to reconvene in special session on Friday evening, the 25^th of June, 1858 to receive the Most Worshipful National Grand Secretary, R. W. Brother S. W. Chase of Baltimore, MD. Brother Chase would urge Ohio not to consider withdrawal from the N.G.L of North America.
1859		Prince Hall Freemasonry reaches the Miami Valley area of Ohio with the establishment of Wilberforce Lodge No. 21 in Xenia, Ohio.
1860		Black/Colored Population at 36,673 in Ohio.
1860		United States population: 31,443,790. Black Population: 4,441,830 (14.1 percent).
1860	November 6^th	The stage is set for the Civil War as South Carolina, on this day, declares itself as an "independent commonwealth."
1863	January 1^st	President Abraham Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in rebel states with exception of thirteen parishes.
1864	February 19^th	Knights of Pythias established.
1864	June 24^th	Prince Hall Freemasonry reaches Toledo, Ohio via Boyd Lodge #4 by the order of the Grand Lodge of Ohio in session at Xenia, Ohio.
1867	August 16^th	The First Independent African Grand Chapter of Ohio (RAM) being dormant for many years, was reorganized in Columbus, Ohio with John R. Blackburn as the Grand High Priest. Expansions outside of Ohio included Michigan, Alabama, Indianapolis, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, and West Virginia.
1868	September 21^st	After over a decade of being seduced by the N.G.L of North America by elevating Past Grand Masters of Ohio to National Grand Master, Past Deputy Grand Master to National Deputy Grand Masters and Past Grand Secretaries to National Grand Secretaries – The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio finally, at a special session held in Lebanon, withdrew from the National Grand Lodge and retained absolute sovereignty in its’ jurisdiction. This resolution was brought by the committee on Grand Master’s address of which Brother William T. Boyd was chairman. The Grand Master was William D. Goff.
1869	October 4^th	Under the signature of Grand Master William T. Boyd and attested to by Grand Secretary John R. Blackburn, a petition is sent to the White/Mainstream Grand Lodge of Ohio seeking full and ample recognition.
1870		Black/Colored Population at 63,213 in Ohio.
1872		A convention was held in Springfield, Ohio with the organization of the Grand Commandery of Knight Templar for the State of Ohio, with Sir Knight William M. Wilson as the first Grand Commander. This commander charter Commanderies not only in Ohio, but also in Michigan, Louisiana, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, West Virginia, and Catham, Ontario, Canada.
1875	May 16^th	The German Grand Lodge League extends recognition to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio.
1875	June 13^th	The Grand Orient of Peru extends fraternal recognition to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio.
1875	June 24^th	The Grand Lodge of Hamburg completed its recognition by the selection of its representative, at its session of June 24^th, 1875.
1875	August 17^th	The Grand National Orient of the Dominican Republic extends recognition to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio.
1876	April 8^th	The Grand Orient of France extends fraternal recognition to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio.
1876	July 7^th	The Grand Orient of Italy unanimously voted and recognized the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio as a regular Masonic power.
1876	October 18^th	The White/Mainstream Grand Lodge of Ohio, on the second day of their Grand Session, holds a vote to recognize the Colored Grand Lodge of Ohio as legitimate on the condition that it changes its name to "The African Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Ohio." This resolution was voted down, by the members of that Grand Lodge in attendance.
1877	March 4^th	The Grand Orient of Hungary formally recognized the colored Grand Lodge of Ohio as a legally organized Grand Lodge.
1887	August 3^rd	The Grand Chapter, Order of Eastern Star for Ohio and Jurisdiction was organized. It would later change it’s name to the Amaranth Grand Chapter, Order of Eastern Star of Ohio.
1885	January 24^th	Martin R. Delaney, politician, black nationalist and Prince Hall Mason dies at the age of 72 in Wilberforce, Ohio.
1886		Most Worshipful Grand Master Samuel W. Clark of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio publishes his, "Negro Mason in Equity" – This was published in the 1886 Proceedings and later was issued as a pamphlet. This publication was a please for the recognition of Negro Masonry.
1904		Charles E. Nichols, Worshipful Master of Wilberforce Lodge #21, officiates the laying of the cornerstone of the Carnegie Library at Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio. Other participating lodges were Champion No. 15, White Sulfur No. 10, Fountain Lodge No. 35, Ancient Square Lodge No. 40, Silver Urn Lodge No. 29, and Norfolk Lodge No. 54. This was the highlight of 1904.
1904		1,173 Members and 44 Lodges
1906	August 3^rd	Grand Historiographer Jeremiah A. Brown made a report that 1,000 copies of the first Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio (1849 to 1904) had been printed. This history was begun by PGM Samuel W. Clack, continued by PGM William H. Parham and completed by PGM Jeremiah A. Brown.
1906	August 3^rd	Grand Master Clemens reported that the Prince Hall Ohio Grand Lodge was the first, outside of Massachusetts to pay tribute to Prince Hall.
1907	November	Past Grand Master of Pennsylvania and Ohio and National Past Grand Master, Richard Howell Gleaves passed to his reward. He was regarded as the pioneer Mason from St. Cyprian Lodge of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who initiated the work for the foundation of the Grand Lodge for Ohio and its’ Jurisdiction. He established lodges in different parts of the country.
1912	August 20^th	The Ideal Masonic Mutual Benefit Associate presented its report showing total receipts of $540.50 and total expenses of $399.50, with a balance on hand of $141.00
1913	November 18^th	The first Masonic School was inaugurated by St. Marks Lodge No. 7 of Columbus, Ohio. The establishment of Masonic School in each of Ohio’s larger cities was an ambition of Grand Master Cory Adams.
1914		1,983 Members and 50 Lodges
1916	February 1^st	The National Compact Masons (National Grand Lodge) brought suit to deny the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio the right to use the name "Masons," the signs, emblems, ceremonies, and insignia of the Order. The court decided in June of 1916 that the National Grand Lodge of F&AAYM had not showN that it was a descendant under the warrant to Prince Hall. The National Grand Lodge would continue to make amendments and take the Prince Hall Ohio Grand Lodge to court in Hamilton County until 1921, but to no avail.
1917	April 6^th	The United States of America enters World War I
1918	July 1^st	The 69^th Annual Communication postponed by Grand Master Howard T. Greer, because of War Time travel restrictions.
1919	July 21^st	Past Grand Master William T. Boyd bequeathed the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio his Masonic Library in his Will.
1923	January 6^th	The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio, purchases a house in Urbana, Ohio for $10,000.00 to be used for a "Masonic Home".
1915	August 18^th-19^th	At the 76^th Grand Lodge assembled in Canton, OH – The resolution to have the Order of the Eastern Star of the State of Ohio to hold its annual Grand Convocations at the same time and in the same city in which the Grand Lodge convened was passed.
1925		3,463 Members and 67 Lodges.
1926		William T. Boyd Masonic Library Association created by the action of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio.
1927	August 14^th	Through cooperation with the Order of the Eastern Stars of Ohio, the cornerstone was laid by the Grand Lodge for the new women’s and orphans’ building on the Masonic Home grounds at Urbana, Ohio.
1934		1,285 Members – Decline contributed to the Great Depression.
1935	August 19^th – 20^th	86^th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, the issuance of bonds to pay off the Masonic Home Mortgage was approved.
1939	January 19^th	Grand Master Alfred Alford severed, repealed and revoked the adoption and fraternal relations with the Amaranth Grand Chapter of Ohio. The cause of this edict was a result over the Amaranth Grand Chapter not paying on the budget of the Masonic Home for three years, and their position that they were independent of the Grand Lodge, because they were an incorporated organization of Ohio. Prior to this the Amaranth Grand Chapter filed a civil suit in the courts of Champaign County. On June 23^rd of the same year the court Judge recommended that these two bodies form a conference, because if the case went on, both bodies might lose. On June 26^th of the same year, decisions were reached by this committee to final resolved this old and tense issue between the Amaranth Grand Chapter of Ohio and the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio. Although, the feeling of the Amaranth Grand Chapter that they were independent of the Grand Lodge had not passed.
1940	October 15^th	Grand Master Casterman issues a decree to the Royal Grand Matron, Royal Patron, officers and members of the Amaranth Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Stars informing them that he had revoked the suspension of the Amaranth Grand Chapter.
1943		1,806 Members
1944	January	International Conference of Grand Masters and Grand Secretaries held its session at Hot Springs, Arkansas. One of the results of this communication was to ask all Grand Lodge to become incorporated under the name and title of "Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F&AM of _____________(state).
1944		2,396 Members
1944	August 13^th – 15th	At the Ninety-fifth Grand Session in Columbus, Ohio, Brother Dr. Charles H. Wesley, then President of Wilberforce University and later of President of Central State University, addressed the Grand Lodge and then extended an invitation to it to hold it next convention on the campus of the College. This invitation was received with hearty applause and was accepted. The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio would hold its Grand Session at Central State University for eighteen years.
1944	October 23^rd	Supreme Council of the Order of Pythagorans was organized and approved by the Grand Lodge.
1947	August 10^th-12^th	"Prince Hall Masonic Informer" becomes the Grand Lodges Official Organ.
1949	November 19^th	The Grand Lodge purchases a three-story building at 50 Hamilton PK, in Columbus, Ohio to be used as the headquarters of the M.W.P.H.G.L. of Ohio. The purchase price was $40,000.
1954		Grand Master Louis B. Henderson severs all fraternal relations with the Ancient Egyptian Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of North and South America and its Jurisdictions, Inc. This would last until 1955, with the election of the new Imperial Potentate.
1955		The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio issues an official ritual. This would make the Ohio Grand Lodge the first of all Prince Hall Grand Lodges to use a coded ritual.
1958		"The Lamp" becomes the Grand Lodges new Official Organ.
1958		6,063 Members
1960		"The History of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the state of Ohio" - 1848-1960 by Charles H. Wesley had been completed and published.
1963	December 31^st	The Prince Hall Ohio Masonic Home in Urbana, Ohio was closed.
1964	August 9^th – 11^th	The Prince Hall Grand Lodge and Amaranth Grand Chapter of Ohio hold their first Grand Communication in a Hotel at Toledo, OH.
1968	August 15^th	After Grand Session, representatives assembled in Dayton for the ground breaking of the housing project. This was a 1.2 million dollar project under the Federal Housing Authority. Similar projects were constructed in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Springfield.
1972	August 6^th – 8^th	The Ohio Grand Commandery of Knights Templar joins the Prince Hall Grand Lodge and Amaranth Grand Chapter for Grand Session. They would hold a tri-lateral Grand Session for one more year in 1973.
1973	September 21^st	A milestone in Prince Hall Masonry was set this day when Prince Hall Masons of Philadelphia, PA participated in the opening ceremonies of the first school in America named after hour Honored Founder, Prince Hall. A bust and portrait were unveiled during the ceremonial program.
1974	April 3^rd	A tornado struck Xenia, Ohio this day, causing millions of dollars in property loss and damage, with 35 or more deaths. Wilberforce Lodge No. 21 Lodge Hall was damage beyond repair. Several Lodge members’ homes were damaged, one destroyed, but none of the members were seriously hurt. The Grand Lodge gave some financial aid.
1978		7,084 Members
1982		The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio charters its' first Military and Colligiate Lodge in Edward Dugger Jr. Military Lodge #123 (Fairborn, OH) and Centralforce Lodge #124 (Wilberforce, OH) respectively.
1992		Grand Master Heywood Pullen, Sr severs relations with the A.E.A.O.N.M.S of North and South American and its’ Jurisdiction. This would last for several months mainly over an issue in Dayton, Ohio.
1993-1995		Under the leadership of Grand Master Steven Reece Sr., a network of Credit Unions are joined by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio to service its constituted Lodges, also a banking plan and a Prince Hall Ohio Credit Card are offered by Star Bank Corp. of Ohio.
1995	October 20^th	The Grand Lodge of Ohio (predominately white) grants recognition to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio and enters into joint visitation.
1997	June 11^th	The United Grand Lodge of England approved recognition of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio.
1997		4,430 Members
1998		The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio holds its first degree competition amongst its seven districts in the Entered Apprentice Degree. The Fourth Masonic District places first.
1999	Aprl 30 - May 1	Celebrated the 150^th Anniversary of the M.W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio in Cincinnati, Ohio
2000	March 18^th	The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio establishes an internet website at http://www.phaohio.org
2000		The seven district degree competitions continue with the Fellow Craft Degree being presented. The Third Masonic District places first.
2000	October 18	Established the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio Youth Enrichment Fund with The Cleveland Foundation.
2002	May 1	The 153 ^rd Annual Grand Lodge Communication was moved from Cincinnati, Ohio to Columbus, Ohio because of the Cincinnati Boycott.
2002	August 12	Extended Fraternal Recognition to Alpha Priory #1 of the York Cross of Honor, PHA; Recognition, Visitation and Amity with the Following Grand Lodgees: South Australia and the Northern Territory, New South Wales and ACT, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland and New Zealand.
		David L. Gray, PM #21 - Commissioned as Exchange Representative of the Grand Lodges of Australia and New Zealand by MWGM Sidney D. Broadnax Jr.
2002		4,239 Members
2003	April	Participated in the 1st Re-Opening and Re-Enactment of African Lodge No. 459 (Boston, Mass).
2003	May 5 - July 31	Opened bloodline (any female) petitioning for membership into the Eastern Star Chapters of Amaranth Grand Chapter OES of Ohio, PHA. Inc (Edict-SDB-2003).
2003		The seven district degree competitions continue with the Master Mason Degree being presented. The Third Masonic District places first.
2003	November 22	First Joint "Brotherhood Night" with the Brethren of Gothic Lodge No. 122 PHA and Mariemont Lodge No. 707 of the Grand Lodge of Ohio in Cincinnati, Ohio.