M.W.
LOUIS R. SOLOMON
MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND
MASTER
To the Right Worshipful and Worshipful Grand Lodge Officers,
Past Grand Masters, Worshipful Masters, Past Masters,
Wardens and Brothers of the M. W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge,
F. & A, M. of the State of Washington & Jurisdiction,
Visiting Dignitaries and Visiting Brothers,
Greetings:
We most sincerely, cordially and fraternally welcome you to this our
sixty-fourth annual grand communication, and again hoping that here we shall
spread the cement of Brotherly Love and Affection, whereby, that when our
deliberations are concluded each of us may express our sincere pleasure for
having been here.
We shall take this opportunity, on behalf of our Grand Lodge, to thank our
host lodge, Egyptian Lodge #44, F. & A. M. and our Grand Entertainment
Committee, whose collective attendance to responsibility has worked
diligently on our behalf, to make our stay here pleasant and memorable.
Sixty-four (64) years ago a courageous, visionary and dedicated small group
of Master Masons met in assembly in the City of Seattle, Washington, fully
realizing that Prince Hall Masonry in this state was standing at the cross
roads. The number and magnitude of their problems demanded that decisions
and actions were necessary then, if Prince Hall Masonry was to flourish and
progress in this state and jurisdiction, and without making these decisions
and taking these actions, Prince Hall Masonry in this state surely would
long ago have floundered on the rocks of despair. Out of this assembly our
Grand Lodge was born. The fruits of their decisions and actions that we
inherited gave to us the privilege and the right to meet in this convention
today.
Now today, sixty-four (64) years later, we are again standing at the cross
roads. The magnitude of our problems is as great as were our founders. We
sincerely believe that this group of intelligent Prince Hall Masons is
prepared and willing to make the necessary decisions and to implement them
with action, so that our great fraternity may continue to progress and
flourish in our Jurisdiction. We admonish you to listen attentively to the
several reports and recommendations, whereby you may be able to make
intelligent decisions. I am fully convinced that should our deliberations
produce outstanding decisions we shall experience an unprecedented growth
and prosperity in the years ahead in this jurisdiction.
NECROLOGY
“As we are born, that moment, also we begin to die.” In conformity to
ancient Masonic usage, we here are assembled in the character of Master
Masons with deep heart-felt sincerity and affection, to recall the passing
of many brothers with whom we have labored and loved in the pursuit of our
avocation.
Although we have assigned each in his turn to the grave, in truth we realize
that in the spring time of the early morning beyond this veil of tears
surely we shall meet again.
The Supreme Grand Master has with care selected nine of our faithful
and beloved brothers to drop forever the working tools of life, since our
last annual communication. We shall now call upon our Grand Chaplain to
offer up prayer for the living in solemn memory of our departed
brothers…AMEN. I want to express my thanks to the Grand Chaplain. The prayer
was needed.
STATE OF THE CRAFT
It has been our distinct pleasure and honor to have served as your Grand
Master for another year. There have been many problems to face, many
decisions to make and a tremendous amount of time spent in travel and
trying to do the many things that are required of this office. We are
pleased and happy to report that the true spirit of Prince Hall Freemasonry
prevails throughout this Grand Jurisdiction. Lodges in all areas of our
jurisdiction have shown very definite progress in spite of the many problems
that have faced them, with the exception of our British Columbia and Montana
lodges. Atlas Lodge No. 21 of Victoria, B. C. had declined in membership
and interest to the point where the Worshipful Master. R.W. Brother A.E.
Pendray informed this office that the said lodge was unable to meet and to
transact its business. He also requested that we pick up the charter. After
exploring the situation at length we complied with the request and on
December 10, 1966, closed that lodge forever. We issued Grand Lodge
Dispensations to all the remaining members with special instructions. True
Resolution Lodge No. 16, F. & A. M., Vancouver, B. C., appears to have more
than its share of problems. This lodge seems to be at a standstill. No real
efforts are made to really take any definite steps toward improvement or
progress. Electric City Lodge 448, F. & A. M., Great Falls, Montana: As you
know this is a military lodge and a great number of its members have been
transferred to other areas. However, the Worshipful Master and the remaining
brothers are doing as good a job as possible under the circumstances.
Alaska Lodges:
Our lodges in the State of Alaska are making a very prominent and decisive
record for Prince Hall Masonry in that developing state. They have, without
doubt, become the force for motivation in their several areas. The devoted
and proven leadership of R.W. Richard W. Watts. District Deputy Grand
Master, has been the source of inspiration and development in the entire
Prince Hall Family in this district.
Japan and the Far East:
These lodges have long since developed into the pride of our jurisdiction.
Their acts of benevolence, practices of brotherhood and their great desire
to perpetuate Prince Hall Masonry in that area leaves little to be desired.
Under the brilliant and dynamic leadership of R.W. Brother .John E.
Peterson, D.D.G.M. this district continues to remain worthy of emulation.
Districts No. 1 & No. 2
During this Masonic year these two districts, under the capable and willing
leadership of R.W. James W. Davis and R.W. Harold Bond, District
Deputies, respectively, have made some remarkable progress. Many new
programs and innovations have been planned and executed which have proven
once again that brothers who are working together can accomplish great
things. These two districts have been the prime movers in most of our Grand
Lodges participation programs this year. Our hat is off to the Prince Hall
Masons of these two districts.
Districts No. 3 & 4:
R. W. Brother McKinley Yates and R. W. Brother Charles L. Bridges, D.D.G.M.
respectively have acted with decorum and ability that has been a guiding
beacon to the Prince Hall Masons in their districts. These two districts
have joined forces in several programs and activities that have and will
prove of great importance to this jurisdiction and to Prince Hall Masonry in
general.
In summary, we believe that a large majority of our brothers in all areas of
our jurisdiction are beginning to awaken to the many great tasks that lie
ahead of us and will now begin to make great strides to keep us in the main
stream of progress in our rapidly moving times.
FRATERNAL RELATIONS
We are very pleased to report to you that our relationship with all other
Prince Hall Grand Lodges is at its highest point in our long history. We
have had the pleasure and the opportunity of meeting and conversing with
most of the other Prince Hall Grand Masters. Further evidence of our good
relations can be ascertained by the large volume of communications that has
been exchanged between our Grand Lodge and the other Prince Hall Grand
Lodges.
INTER-FRATERNAL RELATIONS
We sincerely believe that we have reached the acme of relationship with our
Adoptive Rite, concordant and appendage bodies. We are now enjoying that due
respect and honor that a beloved father expects from his devoted family.
This, too, can be determined by the many invitations that we received and by
the great many requests for advice and council that came from all parts of
our Masonic family.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
We have expended a vast number of hours working with and for many of our
community, civic and civil rights organizations. We firmly believe that in
these fields of public relations we are now enjoying a place of honor and
respect. However, there is one segment of our community life where there is
some misunderstanding, viz., the central area of Seattle churches. We are
working diligently to clear up this misunderstanding. I shall not attempt to
cover public relations or church relations in this message. The Director of
Public Relations will cover that field in his report and a special committee
will cover our church relations.
CONFERENCES - HONORS - AFFAIRS
August 14, 1966:
Our R. W. Deputy Grand Master, Frank Russell, and I met in conference with
M. W. Grand Master E. Haskell Johns, Deputy Grand Master Audley Mchaffety
and Past Grand Master George Bovington of the M.W. Grand Lodge of Free and
Accepted Masons of the State of Washington (white) to discuss our request
for full recognition and intervisitation.
September 2, 1966:
I had the distinct honor of being invited to attend and appear as guest
speaker for Cascadian Consistory No. 75 on its very wonderful Ladies Nite
Affair.
October 7, 1966:
We were most pleasantly honored by the Grand High Court of the Heroines of
Jericho of the State of California, who awarded to us the honorary degree of
the Heroines of Jericho. These honorary degrees were conferred upon us by
Sarah Dupree Court No. 19, Heroines of Jericho, Seattle, Washington.
October 16, 1967:
We were again honored and pleasingly surprised by the action of the Council
of Deliberations for the State of Washington, Ancient, Accepted Scottish
Rite of Freemasonry, Northern-Jurisdiction, U.S.A. We were elected to
receive the 33rd. and last degree of Masonry.
February 11, 1966:
We attended by invitation from our Grand Worthy Matron. Sister Dorothy J.
Foster, a banquet sponsored by Prince Hall Grand Chapter, O. E. S. honoring
their recent life members.
May 7, 1967:
Attended the 86th Annual Meeting of the United Supreme Council, A.A.S.R. of
Freemasonry, Northern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., held at the City of Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. At this meeting the 33rd. Degree was conferred upon me.
May 11, 1967:
I enjoyed the pleasure of attending the Conference of Grand Masters of
Prince Hall Masons of America. This conference was exceptionally well
attended by the Grand Masters of our sister jurisdictions. The conference
theme was “Whither Are We Traveling?” Many programs and problems that are
common to most of our jurisdictions were discussed, among these were:
1.
“Building and retaining membership in our lodges”.
2.
“Full Recognition”.
3.
“Our place in the Civil Rights Movement”.
4.
“The Prince Hall Mason’s duties and
responsibilities to his community, his race and his government”,
All the subject matter was very well handled and a great wealth of
information and inspiration was obtained by all that were in attendance.
June 25, 1966:
Once again we enjoyed the good fellowship and the opportunity to visiting
our sister jurisdiction in its seventh annual communication, the M. W.
Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F. & A. M. of Oregon. It convened in its annual
meeting, Monday, June 26, 1966 in the City of Portland, Oregon at 9:00 A.M.
with the M.W. Grand Master Arvel W. Denton presiding. We are very pleased to
note that this grand lodge is moving rapidly ahead in all of its endeavors.
SPECIAL AFFAIRS
In the latter part of August a committee was appointed, with R. W. Frank
Russell as chairman, to make plans to arrange a suitable banquet or affair,
whereby we might present W. Brother James E. Claxton his life membership
certificate, which had been granted during our last annual communication. On
November 12, 1966 this affair was held in the Tacoma Motor Hotel, Tacoma,
Washington. It will long be remembered for the tremendous success that it
was. Ill. Brother Russell S. Gideon was the speaker of the evening.
If we were called upon to make a choice as to the most successful,
entertaining and pleasing affair that was held by our grand lodge this
Masonic year, our choice by a wide margin would be the Northwest Conference
of Prince Hall Masons. This conference was held March 11, 1967, Hyatt House
Hotel, Seattle, Washington. This affair was generated from ideas offered by
our D.D.G.M. #1, R.W. James W. Davis. More than thirty-five individual
brothers, divided into seven groups, spent a considerable amount of time in
planning and research to bring to us the most informative, inspirational
and educational information that has ever been displayed in our jurisdiction
at any one time in our long history. Brothers from almost every section of
our jurisdiction were in attendance and our lodges that found it impossible
to attend did their share in participation, particularly our overseas lodges
and Alaska lodges. R.W. Bro. Davis, Chairman and R.W. Bro, Harold Bond,
Co-Chairman, produced the lion’s share of work. Our esteem gratitude goes
to those two brothers and I shall say—”Well done Brothers, Well done”.
SPECIAL SESSIONS
We convened our Grand Lodge in special session on the following occasions:
July 31, 1966:
For the purpose of laying a cornerstone at Mt. Zion Baptist Church,
Bremerton, Washington. We were invited to perform this service by the Rev.
Brother C. J. Walker, pastor of the said church. All preparation and
arrangements were made by Hamma Hamma Lodge #35, under the guidance of W.M.
E.J. Mouton.
October 14, 1966:
An occasional Grand Lodge was opened in Tokyo, Japan by R.W. John E.
Peterson, D.D.G.M., in our behalf to consecrate, dedicate, constitute
and install the officers of O'Misawa Lodge #54. Misawa, Japan.
December 10. 1966:
We had the sad duty of convening our Grand Lodge for the purpose of
performing the last rites for our departed R.W. Grand Trustee. R.W. Bro. Lee
Grant Rogers.
March 16, 1967:
We again had the sad duty of convening our Grand Lodge for the purpose of
performing the last rites for our departed M. W. Brother Hilliard H. Hood,
PGM,
June 4, 1967:
For the purpose of laying a cornerstone at the Tabernacle Missionary
Baptist Church, Seattle, Washington. We were invited to perform this service
by the Rev. B. A. Taylor, Pastor of the church. Our Public Relations
Department under the direction of M.W. Brother Johnny Allen did a
magnificent job in making this occasion one of the best public affairs in
the annals of our Grand Lodge.
GRAND LODGE OFFICERS
We shall take this opportunity and privilege to extend our gratitude and
personal thanks to all of our Grand Lodge Officers for the wonderful spirit
of cooperation that they have displayed this year. They have been called
upon many many times and they have responded to the best of their abilities.
We are proud to have had the pleasure of working with such a wonderful
staff.
BUILDING FUND
At our last annual communication we brought before you a plan whereby a
building fund would be established in our Grand Lodge to assist our
constituent lodges in their building efforts. This program was designed to
be strictly voluntary. We had anticipated that a large number of our
brothers would participate in this effort, knowing full well that our
brothers were fully aware of the condition of our temples, halls and meeting
places and the acute need to build, remodel or renovate for our own personal
pride and use, also for our physical image in our several communities. The
building program committee has worked very very hard this year trying to
awaken the brothers to this need. We have discussed and lectured in every
area of our jurisdiction on this subject and at this date only a very few of
our brothers have responded to our pleas. To those brothers that responded
by donating the $100.00 that was requested, we extend our most sincere
thanks and to those of you to whom our pleas fell upon deaf ears, we ask you
to re-examine your conscience as to your place in our Prince Hall Family.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I offer the following recommendations for your consideration:
1.
That this Grand Lodge assesses every brother in
this jurisdiction the sum of $100.00 for building purposes. (Details by
special committee).
2.
That we organize a lodge of Research and Education
and that this lodge be chartered by this Grand Lodge at the proper time, and
that the express purpose of this lodge will be to acquire, study and
evaluate all Masonic periodicals, books and other information, as well as to
prepare in printed form reports at least twice a year and mail the same to
our several lodges for their education and information.
3.
That the Grand Lodge donates the sum of $120.00 to
the Conference of Grand Masters for the year 1967-68.
4.
That this Grand Lodge donate the sum of $50.00 to
the Legal Research Fund 1967-68.
5.
That this Grand Lodge authorize our Grand Trustee
Board and our Finance Committee to develop plans for and to purchase a
certain piece of real property, located in the City of Fairbanks, Alaska, to
be used by Midnight Sun Lodge #51, of Fairbanks, Alaska.
6.
That this Grand Lodge authorize the Grand Master
and the staff of Grand Lodge officers to utilize the necessary finances and
to use the good offices of this Grand Lodge for the purposes of developing
plans and to project us into the sponsored public housing development under
the Federal Housing Authority.
7.
That this Grand Lodge grant the authority to the
Grand Master, the Finance Committee and the staff of grand officers to
prepare and float a 25 year 2-]/2<~ bond issue (if necessary) for a sum up
to and including $50,000.00 for the purpose of acquiring stocks now owned by
several lodges in certain buildings, whereby we may be able to rebuild,
remodel or renovate some of the buildings that our lodges are now using.
Humbly and fraternally submitted,
Louis R. Solomon
Grand Master of Masons
