M.W. CHARLES D. STUBBLEFIELD

MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND MASTER

Greetings:

Through the infinite mercy and unlimited grace of the Supreme Architect of the Universe we are assembled in this the 81st Annual Communication in the City of Seattle, Washington. We join cur predecessors in this act of accounting and appraisal.

This very act has sent us to the pages of our past, because we have learned to respect the noble tradition which imposes accountability on every man, even those of us who have been raised to this high pinnacle of power as Grand Master.

Brothers, I need not remind you that this Grand Lodge can only be successful if each and every one of us do and play his part. This world in which we live is but the stage upon which we perform life’s work, and we, as craftsmen, must play our parts well in our community and in life itself.

We have paid our private homage to the Grand Architect day after day, but as I stand before you today, I feel as naked and alone as a young E.A. upon his first admission, and I have no pride which prevents me from acknowledging here and now, in the presence of this company, my continued reliance upon Divine Providence as I move from step to step along the unchartered path of life from danger to danger unseen and uncharted.

I have had a most rewarding experience during the Masonic year now closing. I feel highly honored to have been elected Grand Master of this Great Most Worshipful Grand Lodge. I am truly grateful for your cooperation during this Masonic year.

NECROLOGY

It is with much sadness and regret that I report to you the Grim Reaper has taken its toll on 17 of our members during the year. But there is one wonderful thought which we must never forget: When Brothers die, God takes them into another world, more wonderful and more beautiful than this one.

No death can hurt our brothers, or any of God’s children. For death is just a door that leads into God’s other wonderful world.

If I can help somebody as I pass along,

                                                       If I can cheer somebody with a word or song,

Then my living shall not be in vain.

                                                       If I can help somebody as I pass along.

Then my living shall not have been in vain.

STATE OF THE CRAFT

I am pleased to report to you that I have traveled throughout the Jurisdiction, and I found the Craft to be healthy and stable in most areas.

There is a laxity on the part of most local lodges in regard to going out and getting available men in their community and make masons of them. Brothers, we need new Brothers to make our Order grow as in the past.

FRATERNAL RELATIONS

We are pleased to announce that nothing but harmony reigns between all bodies, male and female, active in this Jurisdiction. The relationship between this office and that of the Grand Matron and Most Ancient Grand Matron has been as cordial as one would expect. We have been extended every courtesy by them and their staff, and have given them the benefit of our best counsel when such counsel was sought.

NON-PRINCE HALL MASONS

They are still in this state and many other states. Our only problem is, and will be, our complacency. When we get that feeling that just because we are Prince Hall Masons and we are secure arid need not tell the whole Prince Hall story, then the roof will cave in, So, sy Brothers, live as Prince Hall Masons should and publicize our deeds o~ what we do for all to see, and you will draw them to you.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.         Headquarters Lodge U.D. request for a Charter be granted and given a number.

2.         That the office of C.C.F.C be put back in the status of appointment by the Grand Master and not an office of the Grand Secretary.

3.         That the Royal Arch Masons be accepted as a body of this Grand Jurisdiction.

4.         That Herman E. Bradley Military Lodge U.D. request for a charter be granted and given a number,

5.         I am pleased to recommend to this Grand Lodge Bro. James Washington, as Prince Hall Jurisdiction State’s Outstanding Grand Lodge Master Mason of the Year, 1984. This recognition of Bro. Washington is because of his outstanding contributions to the field of Humanities and Art. Both locally and nationally.

To recognize Bro. Washington in an appropriate manner, and to provide the community the opportunity to participate, I recommend that a Banquet in his honor he sponsored by this Grand Lodge. Further, I recommend that the Banquet be held not less than 120 days from the closing of this Grand Session.

Fraternally,

/s/Charles D. Stubblefield

CHARLES D. STUBBLEFIELD

M.W. Grand Master Prince Hall Grand