Organized- June 27,1847
Re-Organized-
Re-Named- August 9, 1889
Re-Organized-
Re-Named- April 27, 1896
National Grand Masters/M.P. Sov. Grand Commanders
&
PRESIDENT GENERALS
National Grand Lodge of 1847
Hon. John T. Hilton, Boston, MA (1847-1850)
Hon. Enos Hall, Boston, MA (1850-1856)
Hon. William A. Darnes, Ohio (1856-1859)
Hon. William H. Riley, Pennsylvania (1859-1862)
Hon. Paul Drayton, New York (1862-1865)
Hon. Richard H. Gleaves, Ohio (1865-1877) S & W Supreme Council Starts (Re-organized-1870)
Hon. George W. LeVere, Tennessee (1877-1886)
Hon. Capt. William D. Matthews, Kansas (1887-1895) The BIG Split
______________________________Name Changed to National Masonic Congress (A.F. & A.M.) August 9, 1889_________________________
ILL John G. Jones 33°, Chicago, IL (1895-1914)
______________________________________1896 Romanian Warrant Issued to Name Changed G.G.M.C.________________________________________
ILL Boswell Henson Stillyard Wheeling 33°, W. Va. (1914-1916)
ILL Henry Broads Homestead 33°, PA. (1916-1918)
ILL Charles. Mitchell 33°, San Antonio, TX. (1918-1925)
ILL G. C. Williams 33°, Shreveport, LA. (1925-1936)
ILL J. C. Parker 33°, Detroit, MI. (1936-1958)
ILL T. J. Hawkins 33°, Shreveport, LA. (1958-1977)
ILL. Robert L. Johnson 33°, CA. (1977-1987)
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ILL Ollie Spencer Sr. 33°, WA., D.C. (1987-1998)
ILL Jake Thomas 33°, Baltimore, MD. (1998-2010)
ILL Ollie Spencer Sr. 33°, WA, D.C. (2010-2018)
Ill. Michael Billingslea 33°, Atlanta, GA (2018-Present)
Hon. Enos Hall, Boston, MA (1850-1856)
Hon. William A. Darnes, Ohio (1856-1859)
Hon. William H. Riley, Pennsylvania (1859-1862)
Hon. Paul Drayton, New York (1862-1865)
Hon. Richard H. Gleaves, Ohio (1865-1877) S & W Supreme Council Starts (Re-organized-1870)
Hon. George W. LeVere, Tennessee (1877-1886)
Hon. Capt. William D. Matthews, Kansas (1887-1895) The BIG Split
______________________________Name Changed to National Masonic Congress (A.F. & A.M.) August 9, 1889_________________________
ILL John G. Jones 33°, Chicago, IL (1895-1914)
______________________________________1896 Romanian Warrant Issued to Name Changed G.G.M.C.________________________________________
ILL Boswell Henson Stillyard Wheeling 33°, W. Va. (1914-1916)
ILL Henry Broads Homestead 33°, PA. (1916-1918)
ILL Charles. Mitchell 33°, San Antonio, TX. (1918-1925)
ILL G. C. Williams 33°, Shreveport, LA. (1925-1936)
ILL J. C. Parker 33°, Detroit, MI. (1936-1958)
ILL T. J. Hawkins 33°, Shreveport, LA. (1958-1977)
ILL. Robert L. Johnson 33°, CA. (1977-1987)
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ILL Ollie Spencer Sr. 33°, WA., D.C. (1987-1998)
ILL Jake Thomas 33°, Baltimore, MD. (1998-2010)
ILL Ollie Spencer Sr. 33°, WA, D.C. (2010-2018)
Ill. Michael Billingslea 33°, Atlanta, GA (2018-Present)
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OUR LINEAGE
THE RING OF HONOR
BIO'S ON THE BEST OF US... Use side arrow by Name to see the different Bio's on each Historical Member:
ILL. CHARLES. L. MITCHELL 33°
The Hon. C. L. Mitchell 33° was the President General of the G.G.M.C. (1918-1925). He was a well-educated man and an excellent Writer and Historian who is responsible for the Legendary Masonic works known as:
THE EARLY INTRODUCTION OF BOGUS FREEMASONRY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TEXAS AMONG COLORED MASONS. It was Copyrighted February 23, 1909, by Charles. L. Mitchell San Antonio, Texas.
He was the 1st Grand Master of The M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. Jurisdiction of Texas, organized by The Ill. John G. Jones (March 19, 1908) in San Antonio, TX. (Which later became The M. W. Mt. Sinai Grand Lodge Jurisdiction of Texas (A. F. & A. M.) whose Grand Lodge is Now in Houston, TX. est. in 1945 by Ill. Grand Master Jesse Thomas 33rd. The Ill. C. L. Mitchell was also the Grand Auditor General, H. E. of the United Supreme Council of (A. A. S. R.) for the Southern & Western Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America, Grand Deputy of the Imperial Grand Council for the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S.) for North and South America, and Grand Register General of the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine.
His writings are full of legal documents and personal accounts as they related to Masonry in the 19th and 20th Century to serve as proof and evidence to support his claims and writings....In the Preface of his Journal he stated, "In the pleasant labors of compiling this work I have been assisted by one of the brightest stars in the galaxy of brilliant meteors in the Masonic Firmament [John G. Jones], to whom I heartily tender my grateful acknowledgements hoping that the advantages anticipated may be fully realized by my brethren. In my efforts to pull the Mask off of the Clandestine, self-constituted Organizations of Freemasonry Among Colored Men in the state of Massachusetts, under the supervision and control of the self-styled—Illegitimate Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, and the early introduction and irregularity of Clandestine and Bogus Freemasonry in the State of Texas among Colored Men..."
This firsthand account of Masonic History in detail explains what transpired during the late 1800's and early 1900's as it pertains to Colored Masons and White Masons in America. He was responsible as Grand Master of Texas & Pres. Gen. for helping bring other Grand Lodges from other States into the fold like Arkansas to the General Grand Masonic Congress and the United Supreme Council of the Southern & Western Jurisdiction (A.A.S.R.), all who are also affiliated with the M. W. Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C. A.F. & A.M.
The Hon. C. L. Mitchell 33° was the President General of the G.G.M.C. (1918-1925). He was a well-educated man and an excellent Writer and Historian who is responsible for the Legendary Masonic works known as:
THE EARLY INTRODUCTION OF BOGUS FREEMASONRY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TEXAS AMONG COLORED MASONS. It was Copyrighted February 23, 1909, by Charles. L. Mitchell San Antonio, Texas.
He was the 1st Grand Master of The M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. Jurisdiction of Texas, organized by The Ill. John G. Jones (March 19, 1908) in San Antonio, TX. (Which later became The M. W. Mt. Sinai Grand Lodge Jurisdiction of Texas (A. F. & A. M.) whose Grand Lodge is Now in Houston, TX. est. in 1945 by Ill. Grand Master Jesse Thomas 33rd. The Ill. C. L. Mitchell was also the Grand Auditor General, H. E. of the United Supreme Council of (A. A. S. R.) for the Southern & Western Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America, Grand Deputy of the Imperial Grand Council for the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S.) for North and South America, and Grand Register General of the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine.
His writings are full of legal documents and personal accounts as they related to Masonry in the 19th and 20th Century to serve as proof and evidence to support his claims and writings....In the Preface of his Journal he stated, "In the pleasant labors of compiling this work I have been assisted by one of the brightest stars in the galaxy of brilliant meteors in the Masonic Firmament [John G. Jones], to whom I heartily tender my grateful acknowledgements hoping that the advantages anticipated may be fully realized by my brethren. In my efforts to pull the Mask off of the Clandestine, self-constituted Organizations of Freemasonry Among Colored Men in the state of Massachusetts, under the supervision and control of the self-styled—Illegitimate Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, and the early introduction and irregularity of Clandestine and Bogus Freemasonry in the State of Texas among Colored Men..."
This firsthand account of Masonic History in detail explains what transpired during the late 1800's and early 1900's as it pertains to Colored Masons and White Masons in America. He was responsible as Grand Master of Texas & Pres. Gen. for helping bring other Grand Lodges from other States into the fold like Arkansas to the General Grand Masonic Congress and the United Supreme Council of the Southern & Western Jurisdiction (A.A.S.R.), all who are also affiliated with the M. W. Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C. A.F. & A.M.
HON. GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER
C. 1864 TO JAN. 5, 1943
The Hon. George Washington Carver was a self-made man born an African American Slave who later in life became a Mason now memorialized and buried in the North Farminton Colored Masonic Cemetery in Missouri. However, he was more than just a Mason. He was a Self-taught agricultural Scientist who Invented over 100 uses for the peanut and sweet potato. He was a Civil Rights Activist, Scholar, Educator, and Professor at Tuskegee University. He was an Industrial Consultant for Henry Ford, Pres. Roosevelt, and Vice Pres. Coolidge...he was a Musician, Artist, Spokesman, and Proud Member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.
Many Grand and Local Blue Lodges were named after him within the Jurisdiction of the G.G.M.C. to include the Grand Lodge that Ill. J. C. Parker 33 "The Builder" helped organize in Boston, MA. in 1945; The M. W. George Washington Carver Grand Lodge of MA. (A.F. & A. M.) and a Consistory in Houston, Texas was also established in strength and name after him as, The George Washington Carver Consistory, whose members are a part of the United Supreme Council of the Southern & Western Jurisdiction (A.A.S.R.) and are also affiliated with the G.G.M.C. and the M. W. Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C. (A.F. & A.M.).
C. 1864 TO JAN. 5, 1943
The Hon. George Washington Carver was a self-made man born an African American Slave who later in life became a Mason now memorialized and buried in the North Farminton Colored Masonic Cemetery in Missouri. However, he was more than just a Mason. He was a Self-taught agricultural Scientist who Invented over 100 uses for the peanut and sweet potato. He was a Civil Rights Activist, Scholar, Educator, and Professor at Tuskegee University. He was an Industrial Consultant for Henry Ford, Pres. Roosevelt, and Vice Pres. Coolidge...he was a Musician, Artist, Spokesman, and Proud Member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.
Many Grand and Local Blue Lodges were named after him within the Jurisdiction of the G.G.M.C. to include the Grand Lodge that Ill. J. C. Parker 33 "The Builder" helped organize in Boston, MA. in 1945; The M. W. George Washington Carver Grand Lodge of MA. (A.F. & A. M.) and a Consistory in Houston, Texas was also established in strength and name after him as, The George Washington Carver Consistory, whose members are a part of the United Supreme Council of the Southern & Western Jurisdiction (A.A.S.R.) and are also affiliated with the G.G.M.C. and the M. W. Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C. (A.F. & A.M.).
HON. PRINCE HALL
C. 1735 - DEC. 4, 1807
The Hon. Prince Hall was one of the 1st Colored African Americans made a Master Mason in the United States of America and all Colored Masons made in the U.S.A. have him to thank for his bravery and courage to be a Pioneer in the initiate arts at the time of Slavery. There are a lot of controversial unsubstantiated claims regarding Prince Hall's life and accomplishments, so for fact's sake this website will not corroborate them. Nonetheless, what we do know is that he was an Abolitionist, Civics Leader, Caterer, Leather-dresser, and Founder of what would later be called the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of MA. Truth be told, little is known of the life of Prince Hall in official records or documentation, it is mostly hearsay and folklore. He is claimed by the 1910 Grand Master W. H. Grimshaw of the M. W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C., F. & A, M. of being Initiated, Passed, and Raised: March 6, 1775, in Lodge No. 441, Irish Constitution, attached to the 38th Regiment of Foot Solders in the British Army Garrisoned at Castle William (now Fort Independence) Boston Harbor. He is said to be the Founder of African Lodge No. 459, Massachusetts in 1787. It was purported that he was a Grand Master: 1791-1807, (NOT confirmed by The United Grand Lodge of England.)
C. 1735 - DEC. 4, 1807
The Hon. Prince Hall was one of the 1st Colored African Americans made a Master Mason in the United States of America and all Colored Masons made in the U.S.A. have him to thank for his bravery and courage to be a Pioneer in the initiate arts at the time of Slavery. There are a lot of controversial unsubstantiated claims regarding Prince Hall's life and accomplishments, so for fact's sake this website will not corroborate them. Nonetheless, what we do know is that he was an Abolitionist, Civics Leader, Caterer, Leather-dresser, and Founder of what would later be called the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of MA. Truth be told, little is known of the life of Prince Hall in official records or documentation, it is mostly hearsay and folklore. He is claimed by the 1910 Grand Master W. H. Grimshaw of the M. W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C., F. & A, M. of being Initiated, Passed, and Raised: March 6, 1775, in Lodge No. 441, Irish Constitution, attached to the 38th Regiment of Foot Solders in the British Army Garrisoned at Castle William (now Fort Independence) Boston Harbor. He is said to be the Founder of African Lodge No. 459, Massachusetts in 1787. It was purported that he was a Grand Master: 1791-1807, (NOT confirmed by The United Grand Lodge of England.)
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ILL. JOHN G. JONES 33°
C. NOV. 9, 1849 - JUNE 7, 1914 The Hon. Ill. John G. Jones 33rd was more than a Mason. He was a Lawyer, Civil Rights Activist, Politician, and The First and Only Man (Black or White) to Legally bring to the United States of America The Ancient Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S.) in 1893, Chicago, IL. Note: Much more information is available on this site about him and his work. Some of them include The Masonic Body known as the "National Grand Lodge," this organization was Originally Chartered in Boston, MA. in 1847 and revised in 1870. Then the ILL. John G. Jones 33 in Cleveland, OH on Aug. 9, 1889, reorganized it under the name "National Masonic Congress A. F. & A. M. He then resolved to change the name to "The General Grand Masonic Congress of the United States of America and Canada" (G.G.M.C.) on April 27, 1896, in Washington D.C. It was at this time Bro. Jones solidified his affiliation with A.F. & A.M. This organization was later Re-Inc. under Ill. G. C. William 33rd, Nov. 3, 1927 in Washington D.C., and finally Re-Inc. under Ill. J.C. Parker 33d, Aug. 26, 1946, in Washington D.C. This National Body consists of Multiple Grand Lodges under its Jurisdiction that was once Headquartered in New Orleans, LA, but now its Holy See is in Washington, D.C. and it is affiliated with the M. W. Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C., A. F. & A. M. to include the 1896 Warrant of Constitution granted by The Romanian National Grand Lodge of 1880 in Romania. He served as the United Supreme Council's Southern & Western Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander from the years 1895 - 1914 and he was the 1st Grand Imperial Potentate and Founder of the Imperial Grand Council in the United States of America, The Ancient Arabic Order Nobels Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S.). It should be noted that this organization Originally was and is a part of the United Supreme Council of the Southern & Western Jurisdiction (A.A.S.R.) that he was over when they split from the P.H.A. Shriners in 1901 so they had to change their name to the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobels Mystic Shrine (A.E.A.O.N.M.S.) |
ILL. OLLIE SPENCER SR. 33°/98°
PAST PRESIDENT GENERAL (EMERITUS)The Ill. Ollie Spencer Sr. 33°/98° is the Grand Master of The Mother Grand Lodge and Holy See of the General Grand Masonic Congress that received its Warrant of Constitution from the 1880 Romanian National Grand Lodge in 1896, given to H.C. Scott and The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Washington, D. C., (A. F. & A. M.) Bro. Spencer held many positions of leadership in his Blue Lodge, Grand Lodge, and in "John G. Jones Consistory #1" which was originally organized by then Lt. Sovereign Grand Commander Ill. John G. Jones 33° of The Supreme Council Southern and Western Jurisdiction (A.A.S.R.) (April 5, 1869) in Washington D.C., making it The Holy See Grand Orient.
Spencer was also the youngest Grand Master in the General Grand Masonic Congress to server as the President General from (1987-1998). His Successor was the Ill. Jack Thomas 33° of Baltimore, MD. from (1998-2010) The Ill. Ollie Spencer Sr., D.C. was historically reelected to serve again as President General (Emeritus) from (2010-2018) and was succeeded by the current President General Ill. Michael Billingslea 33° GA., (2018-Present).
Spencer is a Historian and Scholar of the Secret Arts and is Internationally known all over the World as a representative of the G.G.M.C. Ill. Ollie Spencer Sr. is currently working with other A.F. & A.M. Masonic Jurisdictions to Unite them under one common Banner affiliate with the G.G.M.C. In that light, he is currently the President of the United General Grand Masonic Congress (U.G.G.M.C.) est. February 26, 2022 with its Holy See in Chicago, IL. He has received numerous awards of recognition like the Masonic Lifetime Achievement Award (2018) and the Coveted and Prestigious International Masonic Award, The Grand-Croix (2017) for his work in ratified treaties with other Masonic Bodies like Romania, Turkey, France, Italy, and Israel... He also holds a High position in the Primitive Rite as the National Hierophant where he earned the 90th to 98th Degree. He currently serves as the Lt. Sovereign Grand Commander of the U. S. C. Southern and Western Jurisdiction (A.A.S.R.) of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, organized April 5, 1869 in Washington, D.C..
PAST PRESIDENT GENERAL (EMERITUS)The Ill. Ollie Spencer Sr. 33°/98° is the Grand Master of The Mother Grand Lodge and Holy See of the General Grand Masonic Congress that received its Warrant of Constitution from the 1880 Romanian National Grand Lodge in 1896, given to H.C. Scott and The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Washington, D. C., (A. F. & A. M.) Bro. Spencer held many positions of leadership in his Blue Lodge, Grand Lodge, and in "John G. Jones Consistory #1" which was originally organized by then Lt. Sovereign Grand Commander Ill. John G. Jones 33° of The Supreme Council Southern and Western Jurisdiction (A.A.S.R.) (April 5, 1869) in Washington D.C., making it The Holy See Grand Orient.
Spencer was also the youngest Grand Master in the General Grand Masonic Congress to server as the President General from (1987-1998). His Successor was the Ill. Jack Thomas 33° of Baltimore, MD. from (1998-2010) The Ill. Ollie Spencer Sr., D.C. was historically reelected to serve again as President General (Emeritus) from (2010-2018) and was succeeded by the current President General Ill. Michael Billingslea 33° GA., (2018-Present).
Spencer is a Historian and Scholar of the Secret Arts and is Internationally known all over the World as a representative of the G.G.M.C. Ill. Ollie Spencer Sr. is currently working with other A.F. & A.M. Masonic Jurisdictions to Unite them under one common Banner affiliate with the G.G.M.C. In that light, he is currently the President of the United General Grand Masonic Congress (U.G.G.M.C.) est. February 26, 2022 with its Holy See in Chicago, IL. He has received numerous awards of recognition like the Masonic Lifetime Achievement Award (2018) and the Coveted and Prestigious International Masonic Award, The Grand-Croix (2017) for his work in ratified treaties with other Masonic Bodies like Romania, Turkey, France, Italy, and Israel... He also holds a High position in the Primitive Rite as the National Hierophant where he earned the 90th to 98th Degree. He currently serves as the Lt. Sovereign Grand Commander of the U. S. C. Southern and Western Jurisdiction (A.A.S.R.) of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, organized April 5, 1869 in Washington, D.C..
ILL. J. C. PARKER 33°
ILL J. C. Parker 33° was not just a Member of the G.G.M.C. he was the President General from Detroit, MI. (1936-1958) He was fondly known as "The Builder" for his many works and years of service to the Craft. He was most especially known for organizing The M. W. George Washington Carver Grand Lodge in Roxbury, MA (June 23, 1945) and the M. W. Mt. Sinai Grand Lodge Jurisdiction of Texas in Houston (Aug. 31, 1945) with Ill. Jesse Thomas 33rd as Grand Master. In the 1930's & 40's Masonry in MA and TX were under extreme duress and turmoil, many Lodges from different Jurisdictions were disbanded and dispersed due to many reasons to include the Great Depression (1929-1933), WWII (1939-1945) and multiple Masonic Splits and Breakups. Under his worthy advice and leadership, both Grand Lodges were reformed, replacing their respective Original Grand Lodges which were The M. W. Alpha Grand Lodge for Colored Masons in MA. and The M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge in San Antonio, TX. under Grand Master C. L. Mitchell. These Original Grand Lodges were 1st Healed and Organized under the G.G.M.C. with the Warrant of Constitution from The 1880 National Grand Lodge of Romania and The M. W. Grand Lodge in the District of Columbia A.F. & A.M. along with other Grand Lodges. For many they were the Only Legal and Regular Grand Lodge in their State for Negro or "Colored" Freemasons with a legitimate background and lineage of A.F. & A.M... He was also the Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander of the U.S.C. Southern and Western Jurisdiction in 1947.
ILL J. C. Parker 33° was not just a Member of the G.G.M.C. he was the President General from Detroit, MI. (1936-1958) He was fondly known as "The Builder" for his many works and years of service to the Craft. He was most especially known for organizing The M. W. George Washington Carver Grand Lodge in Roxbury, MA (June 23, 1945) and the M. W. Mt. Sinai Grand Lodge Jurisdiction of Texas in Houston (Aug. 31, 1945) with Ill. Jesse Thomas 33rd as Grand Master. In the 1930's & 40's Masonry in MA and TX were under extreme duress and turmoil, many Lodges from different Jurisdictions were disbanded and dispersed due to many reasons to include the Great Depression (1929-1933), WWII (1939-1945) and multiple Masonic Splits and Breakups. Under his worthy advice and leadership, both Grand Lodges were reformed, replacing their respective Original Grand Lodges which were The M. W. Alpha Grand Lodge for Colored Masons in MA. and The M. W. King Solomon Grand Lodge in San Antonio, TX. under Grand Master C. L. Mitchell. These Original Grand Lodges were 1st Healed and Organized under the G.G.M.C. with the Warrant of Constitution from The 1880 National Grand Lodge of Romania and The M. W. Grand Lodge in the District of Columbia A.F. & A.M. along with other Grand Lodges. For many they were the Only Legal and Regular Grand Lodge in their State for Negro or "Colored" Freemasons with a legitimate background and lineage of A.F. & A.M... He was also the Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander of the U.S.C. Southern and Western Jurisdiction in 1947.
ILL. HENRY C. SCOTT 33°
The ILL. Henry C. Scott 33° was responsible for going to Romania to get the Renowned Warrant of Constitution from the 1880 National Grand Lodge of Romania in the year 1896 from The Illustrious Grand Master Constantine, who stated, "H. C. Scott was the Only Colored Mason from the United States of America and Canada that was issued a Warrant of Constitutions under their Jurisdiction and authority..." This statement indicates that he was the Only One Mason of Color from the U.S.A. to be Legally recognized along with his Lodge, The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C. (A.F. & A.M.) by the 1880 National Grand Lodge of Romania. H. C. Scott was Officially recognized as the True & Legal Grand Master of The M. W. Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C. in 1910 by Appellate Court No. 2007, where a Judge in the Appellate Court in Washington, D.C. awarded him a Sweeping Victory over the Prince Hall 3 Letter (F.& A.M.) Masons' claim of the same named Grand Lodge in Washington, DC. The Judge Ruled Scott's 4 Letter Scottish Rite Lodge, with its Legal binding documentation from the 1880 National Grand Lodge of Romania to be "The Only Legal and Regular Grand Lodge" for Colored Masons in DC, not Prince Hall Masons. Masonic Law States that a minimum of 3 Lodges are Required to be a Legal and Recognized Grand Body in the United States...Hence, there was Scott's Lodge in D.C., where N. F. Henry was Grand Master, John G. Jones was Grand Master of St. John's Grand Lodge in Illinois, and there was W. T. Grant who was the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana. All 3 Grand Lodges along with others worked together to Re-Organize and Rename what was Originally the 1847 Nation Grand Lodge, to the 1889 National Masonic Congress, to the National Masonic Body known today as the 1896 General Grand Masonic Congress (G.G.M.C.) on April 27, in Washington D.C. All of what he left in his reign of leadership were and still are currently affiliated with the 1880 National Grand Lodge of Romania, the 1896 Warrant & Constitution, The G.G.M.C. and the M. W. Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C. (A.F. & A.M.)
The ILL. Henry C. Scott 33° was responsible for going to Romania to get the Renowned Warrant of Constitution from the 1880 National Grand Lodge of Romania in the year 1896 from The Illustrious Grand Master Constantine, who stated, "H. C. Scott was the Only Colored Mason from the United States of America and Canada that was issued a Warrant of Constitutions under their Jurisdiction and authority..." This statement indicates that he was the Only One Mason of Color from the U.S.A. to be Legally recognized along with his Lodge, The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C. (A.F. & A.M.) by the 1880 National Grand Lodge of Romania. H. C. Scott was Officially recognized as the True & Legal Grand Master of The M. W. Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C. in 1910 by Appellate Court No. 2007, where a Judge in the Appellate Court in Washington, D.C. awarded him a Sweeping Victory over the Prince Hall 3 Letter (F.& A.M.) Masons' claim of the same named Grand Lodge in Washington, DC. The Judge Ruled Scott's 4 Letter Scottish Rite Lodge, with its Legal binding documentation from the 1880 National Grand Lodge of Romania to be "The Only Legal and Regular Grand Lodge" for Colored Masons in DC, not Prince Hall Masons. Masonic Law States that a minimum of 3 Lodges are Required to be a Legal and Recognized Grand Body in the United States...Hence, there was Scott's Lodge in D.C., where N. F. Henry was Grand Master, John G. Jones was Grand Master of St. John's Grand Lodge in Illinois, and there was W. T. Grant who was the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana. All 3 Grand Lodges along with others worked together to Re-Organize and Rename what was Originally the 1847 Nation Grand Lodge, to the 1889 National Masonic Congress, to the National Masonic Body known today as the 1896 General Grand Masonic Congress (G.G.M.C.) on April 27, in Washington D.C. All of what he left in his reign of leadership were and still are currently affiliated with the 1880 National Grand Lodge of Romania, the 1896 Warrant & Constitution, The G.G.M.C. and the M. W. Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C. (A.F. & A.M.)
Ill. Dr. Boswell H. Stillyard 33rd (VA.)
President General from (1914-1916)
A Self-Taught Man:
Boswell Henson Stillyard was born January 1, 1847, in Port Tobacco, Maryland, just outside of Washington, DC. Stillyard was “of slave parentage.” Yet, “He was an ambitious and self-taught man. He would sit up at night in a fireless room wrapped in a quilt that he might learn how to read and write.”
At the age of 29, Stillyard was admitted to Howard University, a historically black college located in Washington, D.C., where he studied from 1876 through 1877. Between 1879 and 1881, he attended Union College in Albany, N.Y. studying with the medical department. He transferred back to Howard University, entering medical college there in 1881. While there, he wrote a paper published in Galliard’s Medical Journal titled, “Hydatids from disease of the chorion.” After graduating from Howard in 1882, Stillyard came to Wheeling, W. VA, which at the time, was still the state capital; Charleston became the capital in 1885. Shortly before Stillyard arrived in Wheeling, the West Virginia Board of Health had just been established by an Act pushed through state legislation by a Dr. James Edmund Reeves.
Passing The Test:
Dr. Reeves was a founding member of the American Public Health Association, and in 1869, he become the city’s first permanent health officer who later in 1882 became the State Board’s first Secretary vested with the power to license medical practices and practitioners to practice medicine in Wheeling. He required Dr. Stillyard to take the newly required medical exams under the fledgling State Board to prove he was competent, coming from an H.B.C.U. It should be noted that Dr. Reeves was a White male that was a registered Democrat and purported Confederate sympathizer, where most men of color were Republicans from the Party of Lincoln. Despite his political leanings and affiliation, Reeves appreciated the fact that Wheeling’s black community needed its own physicians. Stillyard passed the exams and was licensed to practice medicine, June 28, 1882. The Wheeling Register applauded Reeves licensing of Stillyard, reporting: “A Democratic Board was more than willing to give the colored brother a chance.”
The High Degree Mason:
Beyond his practice as a physician, Dr. Stillyard remained active in local and national politics and civic engagement throughout his life. He was a committed Mason, earning the Highest and Last Degrees of the Order (33rd) from the United Supreme Council of the Southern & Western Jurisdiction of the United States (U.S.C.). He first joined the Masonic Order while in Albany in 1875, and after moving to Wheeling, became a founder of the West Virginia Four Letter (A.F.& A.M.) Black Ancient Accepted Scottish Rites Order (A.A.S.R.) located there. However, receiving the 33rd degree was not all he accomplished as a prominent accepted and recognized Mason; he was also the Grand Master of the Colored Masons for the State of West Virginia, and often represented the black organizations at the national level as a delegate or secretary, and as the President General for the General Grand Masonic Congress (G.G.M.C.) from 1914-1916. (Note: He died before he could complete his term). He was frequently a committee member of local Emancipation celebrations and in 1915 was one of twelve West Virginia delegates, along with Mrs. William Turner, wife of Wheeling’s first black policeman to be appointed by the governor to the Exhibition and Celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of the “Emancipation of the Negro” held in Chicago, Illinois from August 22 through September 16. In 1912, Dr. Stillyard was elected to a state office as one of West Virginia’s Committeemen at Large, one of three African American delegates to be chosen from around the state to represent West Virginia at the Republican National Convention that year.
The World of POLITICS:
After Dr. Stillyard establishing his practice as a physician and surgeon, he quickly gained respect in the community, often referenced in the newspapers as a “prominent” or “well-known colored physician of this City.” In 1883, he was one of the leaders of an early civil rights meeting held at the Upper Market House along with Prof. James McHenry Jones (principal of Lincoln School) and Col. Alexander Turner, father of Wheeling’s first African American policeman William Alexander Turner. In 1885, Dr. Stillyard was selected to run for Wheeling’s bicameral, partisan City Council representing the 2nd Ward’s second branch. He was also listed as a candidate for the Republication Delegate to the Convention for the 2nd Ward along with H.B. Clemens. According to the Wheeling Daily Intelligencer newspaper, Stillyard’s run for City Council that year failed; but it should be noted that he lost the race to the only one Democratic candidate who received 12 more votes than he did. A few years later a White woman came to see the Dr. about her headaches, after examining the lady he went in the back office to prepare her medicine; she then reached under her dress and pulled out a hatchet then struck Dr. Stillyard with a glancing blow across the head. Incidentally, the reported delirious woman names Miss Virginia Robinson, of Bridgeport, Ohio committed this gruesome act on Halloween night, October 31, 1893, shortly after 5 pm. She was later heard leaving Dr. Stillyard’s office crying, “Oh, he has poisoned me!” With luck, Dr. Stillyard survived the vicious attack and attempt on his life and continued his practice and civil rights advocacy despite it all. In 1913, Dr. Stillyard again tried to run for Wheeling City Council. This time he was successful, being elected to the Second Branch representing Wheeling’s 2nd Ward. His election made news nationally in the black media. The 1913 Negro Year Book, for example, noted that Stillyard was one of only seven African American men elected to municipal councils all over the US that year. The Cleveland Gazette, a weekly African American newspaper, noted, “…our oldest and leading physician at Wheeling, W. VA. has been elected a member of that city’s Council. The first of the race there to be so honored.”
However, as he became more popular, he was erroneously mentioned in other scandals with other prominent Black Doctors and Civil rights leaders. As more White patients came to Dr. Stillyard for medical procedures the more exposed he was to their scrutiny and schemes to bring him down. Hence, when a young white girl was found bleeding after a surgery in his office that he shares with other Doctors, he along with others was arrested and accused of malpractice. This worried him so much that he fell deathly ill days before his trial date. Hence, Dr. Stillwell was released to his home and confined to his room under a certificate by the county physician showing that the doctor was in bad shape physically and unfit to stand trial mentally. Unfortunately this all cause him to pass away July 17, 1916, before ever going to trial. His death overruled the formal accusations, and upon his death, The Crisis reported, “In his death Wheeling has lost one of her best citizens, the church a pillar of support, and the race a strong helper.
President General from (1914-1916)
A Self-Taught Man:
Boswell Henson Stillyard was born January 1, 1847, in Port Tobacco, Maryland, just outside of Washington, DC. Stillyard was “of slave parentage.” Yet, “He was an ambitious and self-taught man. He would sit up at night in a fireless room wrapped in a quilt that he might learn how to read and write.”
At the age of 29, Stillyard was admitted to Howard University, a historically black college located in Washington, D.C., where he studied from 1876 through 1877. Between 1879 and 1881, he attended Union College in Albany, N.Y. studying with the medical department. He transferred back to Howard University, entering medical college there in 1881. While there, he wrote a paper published in Galliard’s Medical Journal titled, “Hydatids from disease of the chorion.” After graduating from Howard in 1882, Stillyard came to Wheeling, W. VA, which at the time, was still the state capital; Charleston became the capital in 1885. Shortly before Stillyard arrived in Wheeling, the West Virginia Board of Health had just been established by an Act pushed through state legislation by a Dr. James Edmund Reeves.
Passing The Test:
Dr. Reeves was a founding member of the American Public Health Association, and in 1869, he become the city’s first permanent health officer who later in 1882 became the State Board’s first Secretary vested with the power to license medical practices and practitioners to practice medicine in Wheeling. He required Dr. Stillyard to take the newly required medical exams under the fledgling State Board to prove he was competent, coming from an H.B.C.U. It should be noted that Dr. Reeves was a White male that was a registered Democrat and purported Confederate sympathizer, where most men of color were Republicans from the Party of Lincoln. Despite his political leanings and affiliation, Reeves appreciated the fact that Wheeling’s black community needed its own physicians. Stillyard passed the exams and was licensed to practice medicine, June 28, 1882. The Wheeling Register applauded Reeves licensing of Stillyard, reporting: “A Democratic Board was more than willing to give the colored brother a chance.”
The High Degree Mason:
Beyond his practice as a physician, Dr. Stillyard remained active in local and national politics and civic engagement throughout his life. He was a committed Mason, earning the Highest and Last Degrees of the Order (33rd) from the United Supreme Council of the Southern & Western Jurisdiction of the United States (U.S.C.). He first joined the Masonic Order while in Albany in 1875, and after moving to Wheeling, became a founder of the West Virginia Four Letter (A.F.& A.M.) Black Ancient Accepted Scottish Rites Order (A.A.S.R.) located there. However, receiving the 33rd degree was not all he accomplished as a prominent accepted and recognized Mason; he was also the Grand Master of the Colored Masons for the State of West Virginia, and often represented the black organizations at the national level as a delegate or secretary, and as the President General for the General Grand Masonic Congress (G.G.M.C.) from 1914-1916. (Note: He died before he could complete his term). He was frequently a committee member of local Emancipation celebrations and in 1915 was one of twelve West Virginia delegates, along with Mrs. William Turner, wife of Wheeling’s first black policeman to be appointed by the governor to the Exhibition and Celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of the “Emancipation of the Negro” held in Chicago, Illinois from August 22 through September 16. In 1912, Dr. Stillyard was elected to a state office as one of West Virginia’s Committeemen at Large, one of three African American delegates to be chosen from around the state to represent West Virginia at the Republican National Convention that year.
The World of POLITICS:
After Dr. Stillyard establishing his practice as a physician and surgeon, he quickly gained respect in the community, often referenced in the newspapers as a “prominent” or “well-known colored physician of this City.” In 1883, he was one of the leaders of an early civil rights meeting held at the Upper Market House along with Prof. James McHenry Jones (principal of Lincoln School) and Col. Alexander Turner, father of Wheeling’s first African American policeman William Alexander Turner. In 1885, Dr. Stillyard was selected to run for Wheeling’s bicameral, partisan City Council representing the 2nd Ward’s second branch. He was also listed as a candidate for the Republication Delegate to the Convention for the 2nd Ward along with H.B. Clemens. According to the Wheeling Daily Intelligencer newspaper, Stillyard’s run for City Council that year failed; but it should be noted that he lost the race to the only one Democratic candidate who received 12 more votes than he did. A few years later a White woman came to see the Dr. about her headaches, after examining the lady he went in the back office to prepare her medicine; she then reached under her dress and pulled out a hatchet then struck Dr. Stillyard with a glancing blow across the head. Incidentally, the reported delirious woman names Miss Virginia Robinson, of Bridgeport, Ohio committed this gruesome act on Halloween night, October 31, 1893, shortly after 5 pm. She was later heard leaving Dr. Stillyard’s office crying, “Oh, he has poisoned me!” With luck, Dr. Stillyard survived the vicious attack and attempt on his life and continued his practice and civil rights advocacy despite it all. In 1913, Dr. Stillyard again tried to run for Wheeling City Council. This time he was successful, being elected to the Second Branch representing Wheeling’s 2nd Ward. His election made news nationally in the black media. The 1913 Negro Year Book, for example, noted that Stillyard was one of only seven African American men elected to municipal councils all over the US that year. The Cleveland Gazette, a weekly African American newspaper, noted, “…our oldest and leading physician at Wheeling, W. VA. has been elected a member of that city’s Council. The first of the race there to be so honored.”
However, as he became more popular, he was erroneously mentioned in other scandals with other prominent Black Doctors and Civil rights leaders. As more White patients came to Dr. Stillyard for medical procedures the more exposed he was to their scrutiny and schemes to bring him down. Hence, when a young white girl was found bleeding after a surgery in his office that he shares with other Doctors, he along with others was arrested and accused of malpractice. This worried him so much that he fell deathly ill days before his trial date. Hence, Dr. Stillwell was released to his home and confined to his room under a certificate by the county physician showing that the doctor was in bad shape physically and unfit to stand trial mentally. Unfortunately this all cause him to pass away July 17, 1916, before ever going to trial. His death overruled the formal accusations, and upon his death, The Crisis reported, “In his death Wheeling has lost one of her best citizens, the church a pillar of support, and the race a strong helper.