M.W.
JOHNNY ALLEN
MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND
MASTER
GREETINGS:
Brethren, in this 80th Annual Grand Communication another page must be added
in our history book and new dimensions in the development and expansion of
Prince Hall Masonry, wherever disbursed around the globe, are due to the
successes that far exceed the failures we have made during this Masonic
year. The symbolic melting pot has brought together the great minds of our
jurisdiction to plan together through the various committees, boards,
departments, and offices to give many new directions in which to improve
upon what we have inherited from our forefathers. We say thanks to the great
staff of officers present and past who gave of their time, finances, and
advise to help sustain us under this administration. There have been many
sacrifices by most of our staff in trying to perform their duties; they gave
the best of what they had to offer and we say thanks many, many times.
It is indeed a pleasure for me to stand here today before you, with much
humility, and render to you an account of my stewardship. First, I must say
thanks to God for allowing me to serve you, my brethren, as your chief
executive officer. The Bible has always been my guide in my every day life.
This protects me from being robbed of my self dignity, skills, mental and
economic resources by wolves in sheep’s clothing. When the real test came,
the Bible and prayer were there to give spiritual and physical strength to
carry me through.
NECROLOGY
The Prince Hall Masonic Family’s numerical strength has been reduced by the
Grand Architect of the Universe during this Masonic year. Each of us, too,
will be removed from the active roster of our lodge upon the call of the
Supreme Grand Master. We should be reminded to keep our house in order each
time we bid a brother farewell. Brethren, we must review our obligations and
be ever ready to fulfill our duties to families of our departed brothers.
TRANSITION OF OFFICERS
Upon assuming office July, 1982, one of my first official acts was to
summons the Trustee Board to handle the transition of office between
officers and departments, including that of the Grand Master’s Office. This
act by the Grand Master, in getting the Trustees involved in inventory and
transition between officers and officers, uncovered the first attack upon
the right of the Grand Lodge to elect its officers annually according to its
constitution. We witnessed the destruction of Grand Lodge property and
files.
We are very proud to say, however, that all other transitions went very well
and the Trustees now have an inventory of properties of the Grand Lodge in
their possession.
COMPTROLLERS BOARD
We would like to report here that the chairman of the Comptrollers Board,
prior to the reorganization of the Board on August 21, 1982, requested a
special appointment with the Grand Master to present a package from the
Comptrollers Board and to explain in detail the operation of the
Comptrollers Board. The chairman further explained the budget of the Grand
Master and each officer and how the officers are to apply for their budgets.
We further were informed of the total financial operation of the Grand Lodge
and the chairman informed the Grand Master that the Board’s policy has been
to cooperate fully with the Grand Master in keeping him informed of all
matters that come before the Board. The Comptroller Board, through their
chairman, pledged full support in the Grand Lodge programs for the best
interest of our jurisdiction and stand ready oncall to meet with the Grand
Master to discuss any matter that he feels is necessary.
We repeat, again, herein that our Comptroller Board has one of the best
structured and one of the best set of qualified brothers to do the job that
is expected of any Board of Directors. We find that there is one major
concern among the Grand Lodge membership, as well as a concern of the Grand
Master, and that is: We feel that a majority of the Board members should be
elected. These concerns are raised due to the latitude and longitude granted
the Comptroller Board in the handling of the Grand Lodge’s personal and real
properties, to which their decisions are practically absolute.
These concerns have also been raised due to the fact that the Grand Master
selects and nominates the persons, while the Grand Lodge is required to
confirm; yet, if there is no previous background information on the person,
in the future this could lead to collusion between chief officers and
appointees. Therefore, it is necessary that this be given serious
consideration,
TRUSTEE BOARD
We have four of the most dedicated brothers on the Grand Trustee Board and
without a doubt they perform beyond the call of duty. Four of the members
are active on the Board, on the Management Boards, in their Masonic lodges
by regular visit, in other organizations within the community, support the
Grand Lodge programs--by traveling at their own expense, and support the
programs of other concordant bodies. We have had to, however, request the
resignation of one of our Trustees who did not support the program during
the year, as required of an elected or appointed officer. This also saved
the Grand Lodge approximately $260 in expense to an officer who did not even
attend his own lodge meeting, or the mid-year staff meeting just a few
blocks from his home, or the Grand Assembly meeting, or the Life Membership
ceremony of his own Past Master of his lodge, and many other areas in which
he failed to perform his duties.
YOUTH DEPARTMENT
We have tried and failed to mobilize the Youth Department this Masonic year.
I must admit that the problem cannot be solved as presently established. The
Knights of Pythagoras has not met since about May or ~June of 1982 in
District #1 to any successful degree. We have in District #2 an active
council according to the information the Grand Master has received during
this Masonic year; however, it is small and has a problem of trying to
survive on the dedication of a few brethren. It is unfortunate that more
persons are not concerned about the youth of today, who must take our place
in the years to come. We need to remove the youth department from the Grand
Junior Warden’s office and return it to a separate and independent
department of the Grand Lodge.
We have sought in vain many times this year to get the records and finances
of the Knights of Pythagoras into the proper place in the Grand Lodge; we
have been unable to locate the amount of funds. We demanded that a report he
made to the Grand Master indicating where the funds are, belonging to the
Knights of Pythagoras; how much the funds are. To date we have not received
that report.
SCHOLARSHIP
We have recommendations coming from the chairman of the Scholarship
Committee, which is composed of all Worshipful Masters and other officers.
The chairman informed the Grand Master that it had been a practice to select
the scholarship recipients prior to Grand Lodge and to announce the names at
the Grand Lodge Session.
After discussion it was agreed that each recipient should have their name in
the paper, with the name of the lodge, in the district where the recipient
lives; also we would encourage that this be one of the requirements for our
scholarships: To be announced in the paper in some type of presentation made
by the lodge recommending the recipient.
DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND MASTERS - SPECIAL DEPUTIES
We have had one of the most aggressive, dedicated and active set of District
Deputies and Special Deputies that the Grand Lodge has ever had, during this
Masonic year. We have delegated more responsibility to those officers, who
in turn have worked with their Worshipful Masters and the Past Masters in
their various lodges and in their Districts to stimulate more interest from
the Grand Lodge level in cooperating with the Worshipful Masters and the
Wardens and brothers in the lodges. We are proud to say our Grand Lodge now
has practiced this year a new type of system intended to get more
participation by the membership of the jurisdiction rather than
concentrating only on the executive heads. The Grand Master has enjoyed more
of an input from his Deputies; they were able to make suggestions and
contribute to the administration of the Grand Lodge.
We can underscore the progress made during this Masonic year by pointing to
the two Grand Lodge Workshops held August 28, and November 6, 1982, where
participation and interest was very high--the first of its kind in this
Grand Jurisdiction, where the Deputies, Special Deputies, Worshipful
Masters, and Past Masters were totally in charge of their own workshop.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
In reviewing the operation of all departments, one of the departments that
had a very critical review--like the Youth Department is that of the
Public Relations Department. We have been in phone conferences and private
meetings with the director of this department that is in one of the elected
offices. We find the very same handicap here that has plagued our
jurisdiction over the years, with a locker-in appointment that prevents the
Grand Master from restructuring and reorganizing a department. We found that
hundreds of Masonic newspapers had been printed and sitting in the Grand
Lodge office--many boxes of papers were thrown away because there is no
program to distribute them to the membership. We found that a very small
percentage of our brothers were receiving the paper because the lodges
refused to repackage, stamp, and mail out to individual members. We found
that a bulk mailing would save much stress and strain upon the secretaries
of the lodges providing each lodge send in its roster and therefore we did
not permit the printing of the paper in October, according to the law, since
we had recently destroyed approximately 1,000 papers from the headquarters
office. We now have a bulk mailing system.
GRAND ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE
We found in this Grand Entertainment Committee of our Jurisdiction many
discrepancies in its operation and we have made an effort to proceed to a
reorganization of the Grand Entertainment Committee. It is one of the vital
entities of this Grand Lodge and should be organized under a very strict and
regulated system. There have been many decisions made by the chief executive
in the past that affected the two concordant Grand Bodies that meet with the
Grand Lodge, in violation of Masonic practices in handling of the finances.
We have tried to encourage the Grand Entertainment Committee to draw up and
present a set of guidelines to the Grand Master for review and presentation
to the Grand Lodge whereby there would be more control over the financial
affairs of the Grand Entertainment Committee. To this date, we have not
received any proposal from the inside of the Grand Entertainment Committee
and we were totally unable to get all the books to audit for either the
Grand Lodge auditor or the special auditing committee.
Here again the Grand Master is shackled with the supervision of this Grand
Entertainment Committee by an elected officer of the Grand Lodge.
We did remove the negotiation for the hotel or site of the Grand Bodies
Annual Communication from the Grand Entertainment Committee and appointed a
Conventions Director to handle all negotiations with the facility, with
public officials, convention bureau, Chamber of Commerce’s and others to
derive from the city hosting our Grand Session more consideration,
financially or otherwise, for the best interest of the total Prince Hall
Masonic family.
It is very sad to report here that the Grand Master has been offered a
weekend at no expense at hotels for he and his wife in order to persuade our
convention to come to their city. We feel that this amount of money has been
going some place; therefore, the convention director has done research and
brought almost a mandatory change in our structure, where those
considerations offered to a few can be the benefit for all concerned. We are
recommending again to you that this department be moved from an elected
officer so that the Grand Master may appoint the entire Grand Entertainment
Committee. We understand, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the Grand Master
makes the final decision and approval of all appointees. We want to report
to you that the appointment of the officers and members of the Grand
Entertainment Committee were not done by the Grand Master this year,
nor is there any report or recommendation submitted to the Grand Master for
the appointments. The budget, as set by the Grand Entertainment
Committee for each individual member officer who gets a budget, did not come
before the Grand Master for approval; neither did the Grand Master know
about it. Therefore, it is necessary that this be placed outside of politics
so that the Grand Master may execute the law, supervise the business, and
bring things above the table.
AFFILIATED AND CONCORDANT BODIES
We have moved in the direction of reviewing our past practices and
establishing a different kind of approach to working harmoniously with our
other bodies in the Prince Hall Masonic family. We have attempted to
interpret the law and the relationship that exists between each group and
the Grand Lodge. We have encouraged the support of all of the Prince Hall
Masonic family programs and activities and have made much progress in this
area. We have made it very clear that each Masonic group is responsible for
the supervision of its consistorial bodies, the Imperial Council of Shriners
is responsible for the supervision of their own temples, and we have shown
each group our best respect and have received from each group the same
respect. We have a pledge on the national level of full support for the
Grand Lodge of Washington and its jurisdiction and have been asked to report
to the Sovereign Grand Commander and his Deputy any problem that may arise
within the consistorial bodies that affect the Grand Lodge. We have had the
same request from the Imperial Potentate to report to him any problems
arising from the nobility within our jurisdiction that affects the Grand
Lodge.
We have had perfect working relationships with the consistorial bodies, the
Sovereign Grand Commander, arid his Deputy in our area.
We congratulate them on doing a very fine job in promoting Prince Hall
Masonry around the world. Unfortunately we gave our full support to the
Deputy of the Desert (Shriners) and without our knowledge the Deputy had
signed a grievance against the Grand Master because tie Grand Master refused
to allow his lodge to elect the Senior Warden to the office of Worshipful
Master of his lodge while the Senior Warden was on business in the state of
California. The Deputy of the Desert joined ten other brothers in filing
such a complaint against the Grand Master after the Grand Master had given
full support to the Deputy. This has created strained relationships with
the Grand Lodge of Washington and its members, as 95% have complained that
the effectiveness of the Deputy has shrank to zero, thereby hurting Shriners
in this area. We have reported this matter to the Imperial Potentate, who we
believe will rectify the problem in due time.
The Order of Eastern Stars in our Grand Jurisdiction has a major problem and
we are trying to resolve it; however, the Grand Lodge has knowledge of a
two-year discord within the Grand Chapter and did sustain the activity of
the Grand Matron while refusing to give support to the Grand Patron in
resolving the matter. This has created a potentially dangerous situation for
the entire Prince Hall Masonic Family, State of Washington and its
Jurisdiction. We are very sad at our findings after reviewing more than
sixty documents in which there were items that could be classified as fraud
and that would tarnish our image forever. The problem that exists here
today, which carry’s major complications, started July, 1980 and, if you
recall my brethren, those who were present at the time, the committee
brought the Grand Patron before the Grand Lodge and asked the Grand Lodge to
give the Grand Patron a vote of confidence and their backing to allow him to
resolve the matter in the Grind Chapter. That could have been accomplished;
however, the Grand Master did not allow the vote and said he would handle
the matter.
Brethren, from 1980 until 1983, today, the matter is more dangerous than
ever before because the sister concerned has asked for complete removal of
all the things that were present at the time. We do not want to deal with
details here; however, we want you to know that the documents all placed in
the hands of a committee, who his met throughout the year to review all of
these charges, countercharges, bind documents, and are ready to make a
report on the matter. We further want to inform you that our Iegal advisor
has also reviewed the documents over a period of more than six months and is
standing by as a member of this Grand Lodge and the Grand Master’s legal
advisor to assist the committee appointed by the Grand Lodge to review this
matter and make a report at this Grand Session.
Finally, the documents show that attorneys for both sides have indicated
probable litigation in the matter that could involve a very expensive court
case. The documents further reveal that the Grand Master was kept informed
throughout the entire two year period and failed to issue one order with the
Seal of Office that could have resolved the case. To date the party
involved has spent money in the thousands in defending against accusations,
according to the documents.
Peace prevails with the Grand Worthy Matron, Grand Patron, Most Ancient
Grand Matron, and Grand Joshua of this jurisdiction and Grand Master, with
perfect cooperation and peace and harmony that we are all extremely proud
of. We pledge that there will be no discord in the Masonic family created by
anybody and this has been a promise the benefit of this Grand Masonic family
of the State of Washington and its Jurisdiction.
We have had to prepare a document that was not issued in 1969 to the Grand
High Court. The Grand Lodge established the Grand High Court but failed to
issue its executives the necessary warrant certifying them as a Grand Body,
even though they are legitimately operating in the jurisdiction with all
rights and privileges but without a warrant that we have now prepared and
will ask the then Grand Master and Grand Secretary to sign. Our
Grand Joshua must be commended for his research and cooperation with the
Joshuas and Patrons Committee in bringing this matter to a final conclusion.
STATUS OF GRAND LODGE CORPORATION
We are naturally concerned about our Grand Lodge Corporation and want to
know that we are in good standing with all governmental laws in every
respect. We began to attempt to obtain copies of our corporate structure so
that our Dr. William Hall might review our structure to determine if there
are any irregularities that need to be rectified. We found that the
necessary documents that should be available at all times and even displayed
for the membership were not available. This has created a period from
August, 1982 until today when we are still attempting at the writing of this
Address to finalize correcting what is recorded as an incomplete document
under which our Grand Lodge is operating. We found that our Grand Lodge is
not listed on the IRS register as a non-profit corporation. We have found
further, to our surprise, that Prince Hall Grand Chapter, Order of Eastern
Star, has their house in order better than Prince Hall Grand Lodge in that
they are on the register in the Internal Revenue office and we are not. This
could be an error in the Internal Revenue records; however, it is not their
job to see that we are in order, it is our responsibility to pursue the code
until we are properly listed. Much credit must be given to the Grand Auditor
and Dr. Hall for pursuing this matter.
Dr. Hall has reviewed our structure throughout Olympia, King County, the
City of Seattle, and the Federal government. We must be grateful for his
dedication in this matter because it is one of the most important matters
for us to be 100% sure we are right.
BUILDING COMMITTEE
We are able to report to you that the Building Committee chairman is well
qualified and has done an outstanding job in working with the management
boards. We did find that the Management Boards did not have the guidelines
to spell out their duties and responsibilities but were ready, able, and
willing when requested to draw up bylaws and regulations to govern
themselves in the management of the various projects.
We must compliment the working group in our jurisdiction whose
responsibility it is to maintain our buildings under the new set of bylaws
for projects 1, 2, 4, and 5, that is now well established and ready to take
over the responsibility of maintaining their buildings.
When the vacancy was created on the Trustee Board, we appointed the Building
chairman to the Trustee Board to fill out the unexpired term and we would
like to report to you that this is a major savings of expense to the Grand
Lodge. The savings for this Masonic year is approximately $250.00; however,
the significance of this appointment should be noted that the law does not
keep any member on the Trustee Board from being chairman of the Building
Committee. Therefore, such a combined operation will give the Trustees
inside information into the operation of the Building Committee.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSIGNMENTS
There have been many suggestions, recommendations, proposals, and other
efforts to establish some kind of evaluating and analyzing program for
potential heads of our Masonic order. The need for qualified masters and
officers of our lodges is very prevalent throughout the jurisdiction and all
the fault lies within the Grand Lodge itself in enforcing the law that
requires a brother to be so qualified. Living in a political society to
where persons who are seeking to be elected by their constituents has
retarded the enforcement of our laws from the executive branch, as well as
those in the Masonic lodge.
This is a very bad practice and has resulted in some very poor leadership
that has tarnished the image of our organization in the various communities.
We have made a step during this year to let you know that we were willing to
do things that will make us lose votes rather than fail to keep our
obligation at the altar. The appointment of the three chief officers
of our Grand Lodge on a rotating system within the Grand Jurisdiction was
made to allow you, the constituents of the jurisdiction, the opportunity to
evaluate those persons as they seek to advance to higher office. I would
like to make a personal statement here, in which I will say that no brother
WHO IS HOLDING AN OFFICE SHOULD HAVE TO CAMPAIGN, NEITHER IN THE LODGE
NOR THE GRAND LODGE because his work should elect, re-elect, or
advance that person to a higher position.
There are criticisms about the assignment of these officers; however, we are
not concerned about the criticisms because we feel that this is the best
method for the officers to serve, to visit the various Worshipful Masters,
lodges, and District Deputies in their districts; to get acquainted and to
have the opportunity of learning as well as carrying the Grand Lodge
program. We called upon our Special Deputy, as well as Legal Advisor and
Medical Advisor, Dr. Hall, to draw up an organizational plan by which these
executive officers would rotate in the various districts. The plan was so
acceptable to the Grand Master that he forwarded it to all Grand Lodge
officers, Worshipful Masters, and District Deputies and directed the chief
executive officers to proceed on their assignments as outlined in the plan.
This gave each executive officer of this Grand Lodge an opportunity to
assist the Grand Master in a top level position.
A further report to you, members of this Grand Lodge, is that the
accomplishments made in this short period of one year in this area was far
beyond expectations and we feel that if the Grand Lodge inserts this in its
overall master plan, our leadership from the executive branch of our Prince
Hall Masonic Family in the State of Washington will be better qualified to
resolve problems and to cement the working relationship within our
jurisdiction. You will note that the Grand Master did more communication
through the District Deputies, Special Deputies, Deputies-at-Large, the
Deputy Grand Master, Grand Senior Warden, and Grand Junior Warden on their
rotating basis within the districts rather than make personal visits. We
further wish to announce to you that if the Grand Lodge gets a full-time
secretary in the office or a full part-time secretary in the office, greater
interest can be aroused in the jurisdiction and it will more than pay for
the added cost because the interest is very high this year and the
compliments are coming from every direction that: “We now know what’s going
on in our Grand Lodge.”
We have attempted this year to give a more Masonic, professional service to
the Grand Lodge and especially to be in a position to give immediate advise
to our Deputies and lodges through the assignment of Past Grand Masters as
consultants throughout the Grand Jurisdiction.
You may recall that the assignments were as follows: P.G.M. Jimmy Simmons,
Consultant, District #1, P.G.M. Frank Russell, Consultant, District #2, P.G.M.
Sylvester J. Lake, Consultant, District #3, 4, and 5; P.G.M. James W. Davis,
Consultant, District #6, 7, 8 and 9; P.G.M. Louis R. Solomon, General
Consultant. The Grand Master herein informs the Grand Lodge that these Past
Grand Masters performed their duties well. We had the knowledge and
experience and services of these Most Worshipful Brothers that reduced the
responsibility of the chief executive, in that all matters went to the
District Deputies and Special Deputies before arriving at the Consultant for
the specific district, and very few matters ever reached the Office of Grand
Master because of this assignment.
We especially would like to inform this Grand Lodge that neither of these
Past Grand Masters has ever worked in a political arena; all of their
performances were done based upon the skills they have that are much needed
throughout our jurisdiction.
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL
We have established a Business and Professional Committee to improve the
economic conditions of our Prince Hall Masonic family. We have been lax over
the years in trying to find areas where the Prince Hall Masonic family may
benefit from being members, but have found our organization becoming just
another social group in the community. We’ve found ourselves making members
without expressing the importance of being a member, since it is our duty to
be concerned about helping you to live, not preparing you to die. We were
fortunate enough to have one project this year that many of you should have
attended; subject: “How to negotiate for Money”, and we wish to inform you
that you missed an education that each of you should have.
We find that the major problem that hurts the Prince Hall Masonic family is
that we are constantly trying to raise money to give to other charitable
groups in the community instead of living by the secrets of Masonry that
help you, as a man, to find employment to support yourself, your family, and
your home and to contribute to the widows and orphans. While we are trying
to help everybody else’s thing, we are letting the homefront go down and
this creates a system of making and dropping Masons, because we are failing
to tell Masons why they are in Masonry and we are failing to exchange
investment ideas, purchases of homes, and those things that will help
maintain a strong economic base.
We, again, are grateful to the members of this Committee for an outstanding
job and hope that the Grand Lodge will place it upon its master plans, where
the Committee may accomplish its goal in the future.
EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE
This is another area where our Prince Hall Masonic family has failed over
the years to even give any consideration to; yet, we are required to seek
employment to maintain our families and to survive in a depressed economy as
exists today. We were very fortunate to get a retired executive of the State
Employment Commission to take over the chairmanship of this committee. He is
also a former executive of this Grand Lodge who refused to accept any other
position and even retired from the one that he had.
We have failed to utilize the resources within our Masonic family that could
contribute much to the progress of our Masons and their families. We found
great surprises and in a short time, as you read the committee reports, you
will find that we have opened new doors to our own people that heretofore
were closed. The progress made over the last few months was very
unpredictable and it is hard to believe than we have been a sleeping giant
so long. This move on the part of the Grand Lodge to establish an
Employment Division brought out of retirement and those in hiding
both young professionals and old professionals with college backgrounds and
vocational training, and placing those skills into a melting pot and thus
resulting in helping the unemployed, underemployed, and the employed.
Again we express our appreciation for the job well done and encourage you to
read their report so the Grand Lodge will get dawn to basics and get off
cloud nine.
SENIOR CITIZENS & RETIREMENT DIVISION
The question here was raised by one of our Past Grand Masters who is
concerned about our not having a system or a process to deal with creating
interest among those persons who have served our organization over the many
years. Therefore, he suggested a committee of some type to organize a
program to get those persons involved. We appointed the Past Grand Master
chairman of this Committee and the program has been put together over a
period of months. However, a Past Grand Master, at this writing, will be
retiring and has agreed to take over and become jurisdiction chairman after
June 29. The consulting Past Grand Master, whose idea from whence it
originated, has agreed that he would be the consultant until such program
has been completed and established.
The senior citizens would be given the use of the Masonic Temples on certain
days during the week or within the month; members would be encouraged to
bring donations to meetings and a storage room would he established. The
Senior Citizens & Retirees Division would handle the distribution to help
persons in need in the community.
MISINTERPRETATION OF MASONIC LAW
The misinterpretation of Masonic law has led us into an area of possibly
great danger. It has been said by many of our well-meaning chief executives
that THE GRAND MASTER IS THE GRAND LODGE WHEN THE GRAND LODGE IS NOT
IN SESSION. This is false information and we have tried to
reinterpret the law to let each know that the Grand Master is the Grand
Master of Masons and not Grand Master of the Grand Lodge. Let me give you an
example of why we have a serious problem facing us that we are praying can
be resolved with this Grand Session due to this interpretation and misuse of
a power in another one of our bodies. If the Grand Master was the Grand
Lodge when the Grand Lodge was not in session, then he could change the
Code, the constitution (or any part of it) which would be contrary to our
law, which states that the constitution cannot be changed except by a
resolution being presented in writing 45 days prior to the setting of the
Grand Lodge and must pass the Grand Lodge by unanimous vote to become
effective at that Grand Session. Now, we’re not speaking about bylaw changes
here; we are speaking about the constitution, which is the foundation of the
Grand Lodge law.
This I have read in documents in the case at hand and find that the chief
executive officer actually violated detailed laws adopted and approved and
that have been in practice for 40 years, and changed the law and caused the
aforementioned problem we have at this Grand Session. We have interpreted
the Grand Lodge law to place the chief executive in the proper prospective
and restraint in the proper position as follows:
Number One:
The Grand Lodge is the Corporation; the Worshipful Masters, Wardens, Past
Masters.
Number Two:
As its second division is its Boards. Departments, Committee Structure, and
other subdivisions.
Number Three:
The officers, elected and appointed, the Department heads, the Committee
chairman, Committee members. Here we are talking about the persons who
execute the functions of the Grand Lodge.
Number Four:
The Grand Master, the chief executive officer/administrator, and his
Deputies are responsible to execute the laws of the Grand Lodge according to
the Code. The Grand Master is charged with making rulings, rendering
decisions, interpreting the law, and finding solutions in areas (because of
his Masonic Knowledge) that are not covered by the Grand Lodge. His
authority is darn neigh absolute because he is acting under the constitution
that has been adopted by the Grand lodge itself.
He does not have the right nor the authority granted to
him by any election, appointment, or otherwise, to declare himself
to be the Grand Lodge, superior and supreme, to deliberately violate its’
constitution and laws. He makes decisions in areas where there are
controversy or inactivity in any department, changes or additional
appointments to carry out the functions of the Grand Lodge where the officer
or officers cry not be performing.
The Grand Master has unlimited authority to enforce the moral law upon any
master Mason, as we are yet to get ourselves involved in anything that will
tarnish the image of the organization.
CLANDESTINE MASONS
We have discovered during this term of office that our Grand Lodge has
totally allowed the reorganization of Clandestine lodges within the State of
Washington and now we are being embarrassed beyond our control. While we
were performing and laying a cornerstone at a church in one arc they were
laying a cornerstone in another area; all because we have been unconcerned
over the years about protecting the good image of Masonry. We did appoint a
committee this year to look into the possibility of using the persuasive
tool that could eliminate and avoid court battles; however, we find that
this may not work and another solution may have to be found.
We found at the Grand Masters’ Council that this was a major concern and,
yet, they have not taken the proper stops to organize a national program for
resolving this matter. We find that the Clandestines have been incorporated
in the State of Washington, now for approximately 22 years, with persons
named in the original lawsuit involved in the establishment of the
now-functioning groups. We find that it is impossible to communicate with
persons who feel they are right yet all the laws of the land sac they are
wrong. Yet and still, they feel we are clandestine. It is no more standing
back and saying that we do not want to be fighting our own black people and
having white folks contribute to it because the violent crime rate and
homicides in our communities--upon each other, black or black--is the
highest rate in America. We cannot give our own people a license to do wrong
while trying to obtain equal status in the eyes of the American public.
We further find that we do not have a legitimate Clandestine Commission
working on this issue, and we have not had; we have only had a person in
name only on our program, without any direction. Therefore, it is necessary
that a commission be established and given the same direction that we have
in our files, which cannot be made public here in this address.
Brethren, this sad thing has happened to a well established, find Masonic
family, here as a Grand Lodge for a period of 80 years, because we have
drifted so far from basics that we have eliminated those persons with the
experience and background in this matter. We are faced with a task that
could cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars in litigation.
I might ask you the question: With our sisters and brothers saying to us why
are we letting them get away with it when we won the lawsuit, what would be
your answer to that type ad question? We were offered assistance by the
white Grand Lodge to prevent the re -establishment of lodges here that are
now embarrassing to our own black lodges, who have been here more than 80
years.
We have taken a very close look at our property; we are so proud that we
have Masonic homes for some of our lodges. But brethren, let me inform you
that we are potentially facing a crisis unless some master plan comes
forward for maintaining these structures as we have tried to establish in
the Management Boards; namely, working manuals called bylaws, in cur present
four projects. Hopefully the fifth project will come into the picture in the
very near future (Yakima).
We have looked at the mortgages that exist on the buildings, the needed
repairs, the overhead to operate the buildings, and the potential income to
cover the costs. We are sorry to inform you that while we think we are
enjoying such fine temples, we cannot maintain these temples at the present
level. Yes, we voted for this without taking into consideration the
liability that would sooner or later be standing at our door. We need more
than just a $3.00 or $5.00-a-month dues. We need memorials; we need higher
dues structures; we need more fund raising programs; we need more assuming
liability for the maintenance of projects within the city by those persons
that are using the buildings; we need to think more about leaving a monument
to ourselves since no one has ever been concerned about our history over the
years, and it’s time we start thinking about our history and leaving
something to our sons and daughters and our families to look to with pride
and say “My forefathers built that temple”.
Some of the persons who hold offices and have held offices over the years,
and enjoyed expense accounts and other gratuities as well as serving the
highest office in their organization, have not left anything to it to help
carry the load that their successors would assume. Brethren, talk is cheap
and we find that we have been doing too much talk and too much proposing;
we have been rocking the boat this year because all kinds of
recommendations and proposals have been presented to the Grand Lodge,
including a ten-year plan, but nothing is being done about it and,
therefore, we cannot take care of our temples on promises our committee
meetings without some results or some follow-up in activities that would
raise funds to do the job.
SPECIAL TRIBUTE
We have appointed a special committee this year to find and recommend an
outstanding tribute that can be paid to one of our own, the Sovereign Grand
Commander Russell S. Gideon (of the United Supreme Council of the Ancient
and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, 33rd and last Degree, Northern
Jurisdiction, Incorporated, P.H.A.) who was recently re-elected at the 102nd
Annual Session in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Having worked his way from
Deputy of the Orient of Washington to become the first Sovereign Grand
Commander of the Northern Jurisdiction west of the Mississippi, in its more
than 100 year history, is quite an honor; not only for Dr. Gideon,
but having him from our state makes it quite an honor for the Jurisdiction
of Washington as well.
We believe that the Grand Lodge has a moral responsibility to honor that
person with something other than a banquet that can soon be forgotten or a
small plaque to hang on the wall; therefore, we gave to the committee the
opportunity of making a selection for something of real value and now have
approved the recommendation of the committee, which you will find in the
report of the Comptroller Board as well as the report of the Special
Committee.
We might further add here that this is a very significant tribute to our
Grand Jurisdiction because the two on his staff, as Deputies from the
Jurisdiction of Washington, have both won the national Deputy of the Year
Award; PGM Davis, winning in 1981 and 1982, and now in 1983 the Ill. Deputy
Levi Townsend.
SPECIAL EVENTS
This Masonic year has brought many special events and we are proud of the
things that the staff and Worshipful Masters and lodges have tried to do
during this Masonic year. The support given to the first and foremost
outstanding event of the year was the joint cornerstone laying ceremony at
the Tacoma Mini-Dome Stadium on October 2, 1982, the first recorded in the
nation to be held by the legitimate white Grand Lodge and a Prince Hall
Grand Lodge. Here we recognize an unexplored area in relationship between
the world’s top giants in universal brotherhood, the world’s oldest
fraternal organization both black and white, legitimate. The Grand Master
and members of the white Grand Lodge must be complimented for taking such a
step in this modern age. We must pay a special tribute to our P.G.M. Carlton B.
Tucker and the members of our Masonic family and the black citizens and
community organizations in the city of Tacoma, Washington, who had the clout
to encourage the Mayor to suggest and recommend such an event.
We further commend Mayor Sutherland and the City officials and citizens of
Pierce County and the City of Tacoma for their warm reception and attendance
with other groups at that history-making ceremony.
We must commend the committee, chaired by P.G.M. Tucker, and members P.G.M. Frank
Russell, and our own Deputy Grand Master Stubblefield, for a job well done.
We must commend the Comptroller Board, who went on record making available
the necessary funds outside of the Grand Lodge budget, to aid and assist our
brothers who turned out by the hundreds to help make history in an area
where all civil rights groups have been struggling over the years to obtain
this kind of recognition.
We must herein give a special recognition to our own brothers who came
Masonically uniform dressed with their dark suits, white shirts, white
gloves, black shoes, black socks, black ties; who shocked our white brethren
who were dressed in every color, from sport jackets and slacks to black
suits; who generated comments from the news media about how beautiful the
Prince Hall Grand Lodge looked. We herein thank our Grand Master Thomas 3.
Brown, of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Oregon and ins Jurisdiction, for
traveling with members of his Masonic family to join us in this worthwhile
event.
ADDITIONAL EVENTS
Our Grand Lodge appointed a Special Deputy-at-Large to attend the Grand
Lodge of Alabama and represent the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington and
its Jurisdiction, The Honorable Sovereign Grand Commander, Dr. Russell S.
Gideon. Dr. Gideon was the one to carry the printed news of the cornerstone
laying to the Southern Supreme Council meeting, to the Imperial Potentate,
and to spread the good news around the country wherever he traveled.
The Life Membership, which we accorded to our own brothers, Gerald Baldwin
and Isiah Simon, for their long service to our jurisdiction, to Masonry, and
to other bodies within the Prince Hall Grand Lodge family.
We honored two of our most outstanding citizens, with a banquet in their
honor on April 2, 1983: Mrs. Jeri Ware (a non-member) -- who has been one of
the most outstanding and active women in our community; fighting for the
rights of her people, for education, and all the other amenities that we so
rightfully deserve. Our second honoree was the Honorable Samuel J. Smith
(one of our high ranking Masons, 33rd Degree), Councilman in the city of
Seattle and active member of Hercules Lodge #l7, F. &. A.M.
During this Masonic year we were also invited and laid the cornerstone at
the Ebenezer AME Zion Church at 23rd and East Olive Street, November 14,
1982, where more than 100 of our brothers showed up and participated along
with the officers of our jurisdiction; the church was well pleased.
The Grand Lodge received an invitation to share i a honoring one of our
outstanding citizens in the community and one of the nationally known black
leaders in the country, who serves on the National OIC Board of Directors as
well as being President of the SOIC Board of Directors in Seattle. The
invitation came from Mt. Zion Baptist Church and Prince Hall Masons were
guests at the 25th anniversary honoring Dr. Samuel B. McKinney for his
service to the church. We sat in groups and the Grand Worthy Matron and
Grand Worthy Patron joined the Grand Lodge in that honor given by Mt. Zion
Church. We also appeared at the Community Night Tribute to Dr. McKinney
where we reserved two tables at a banquet that was attended by approximately
600 people. We are proud of Dr. McKinney who, like Ill. Sam Smith, serves
upon several Grand Lodge committees and is a 33rd Degree Mason.
We were proud to attend and participate on programs in an anniversary of the
New Hope Baptist Church, honoring their Pastor, Dr. C.E. Williams, for 33
years of faithful service to the church. Dr. Williams has been a member of
Harmony Lodge #2 for more than 33 years and the Grand Lodge presented him
with a
Certificate of Recognition while also honoring him for 15 years as a Grand
Chaplain of Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F. &. A.M.
STATE OF THE CRAFT
We’re happy to inform you that the State of the Craft is in a very sound
position, both financially and harmoniously. We have administered the
affairs of the executive office without malice and we have rocked the boat
where necessary; we have issued directives for the good of the craft.
We have not enforced the law against persons whose attitudes
required suspension from office; we have taken the abuses and have prayed
for and worked with the abusers. We have used the bible as our guide and
have forgiven as God has directed us to forgive. We have brought back to
this 80th Annual Communication the gavel of authority and the crown of power
and the position you have entrusted us with 12 months ago, untarnished
before God and man.
We have walked upright in the community, we have lived the kind of life you
would expect of a leader--to prevent embarrassment to the Masonic family.
The strain of the Office of Grand Master is far beyond the imagination of
many who seek to hold such office. We are astonished by persons seeking to
hold the office of Grand Master because they feel it is an honor; the errors
we have made over the years, as our records will show, and the advancement
of Clandestine masonry within our jurisdiction prove that we have only been
concerned many times with the honor rather than trying to perform the
service. Now this is not due to persons not doing the best they could do,
but the load of the Grand Master’s office is extremely hard on anyone who
has to work without adequate budget to hire the necessary clerical staff to
do the job that must be done to stimulate and maintain interest in the
Masonic family.
In reviewing our past we find that we have been making two steps forward and
two steps backward, which means we make a number of Masons and we drop a
number of Masons and in the end our progress has been very, very slow. We
have attacked the moral conduct of our Order this year and have created some
boat-rocking--which we are sorry about--but would be ready to do the same
thing over and over and over again until Masons go back to basics and
practice what they learned at the altar. We immediately issued orders to
refrain from drinking parties after lodge meetings since a lodge meeting had
ten members at lodge meeting and 40 at the drinking party afterwards,
downstairs. We have directed and enforced what is already in the Code: That
the first five lodge officers must have four books and these should he owned
by the officer before either one is elected--the Grand Lodge Code, the
bylaws of his lodge, the Ritual, and the Washington Monitor; as a result, we
have been selling many of these books.
We are very much concerned in the Grand Lodge Code where the last word in
the book says you may use Mackey’s Jurisprudence for reference only. We are
concerned about the work “only” because it leaves the door open for
violation of Masonic law that each of us must find someplace, somewhere, in
some Masonic book since we are obligated to carry on and to uphold the
principles of the Order as our predecessors did. I do recommend that that
word be deleted from our Code so that a Master, Grand Master, or anyone in a
position of trying to execute Masonic law would do research through Masonic
law before he makes a decision; and then make a decision based upon some
Masonic authority where our law does not cover, rather than saying that he
may use it or he may not use it, and then make such rulings that have
created many of our major problems.
The State of the Craft should be reviewed more closely in the future and we
should take a review of a lot of past recommendations that have gone by the
wayside, presented by those leaders--our predecessors--which would have
enhanced our jurisdiction further than where we are today.
It is no need to stand at the altar and give a beautiful speech, to have it
go into a book and then into the wastepaper basket as years come and go, or
into some archives, never to be retrieved again. We are looking forward to
the completion of the library that was started this year--which should have
been listed under Special Events--for, as the program comes together, it
will help the Craft to expand more Masonically and recognized the importance
of being a Mason or a member of the Prince Hall Masonic family anywhere
around the globe.
We have not kept up with inflation and the increase in the economy and,
therefore, we are not as sound as we should be; however, we have ample
operating funds but must continue special projects to increase those funds.
We must take another look at our Grand Entertainment Committee because this
year we found that a better hotel in Seattle would have been approximately
$9.00 per night cheaper than what we’re paying for in the city of Spokane.
The Convention Director should be selected as the business manager for the
Grand Lodge in negotiating contracts for the Annual Communication and any
other area because we found that we had contracts for three cities this year
and could face litigation because we did not cancel. The Grand Entertainment
Committee should be under the supervision of the Convention Director.
The Craft must be, through the District Deputies, encouraged and demanded
more Masonic education in the lodges, better systems of doing their
business, and more participation in the community in which they live; to
assist in keeping a community together and let the community know the affect
of Prince Hall Masons upon the community by their conduct. We must be more
concerned about our public conduct and the people we select for leaders.
Within the Prince Hall Masonic family we have found that persons are
advancing to the chair that should not have been accepted at the ballot box.
The Craft must go back, must return to basics. It has been brought to my
attention and I have witnessed that alcoholics are advancing to the chairs
within the Masonic family and have tarnished the image of Masonry. This has
happened because of the absence of Masonic teaching of our members at
meetings, and because we are not strict enough in our demands
that our leaders not get involved in low, gutter-street-type concerns. We
must not rely on liquor selling at our banquets and affairs in order to make
a profit, but must be concerned about the standards of our organization by
our own character. We must take another look at persons who turn their back
on our youth groups, who fail to vote in our community, who fail to
contribute to educational programs and those persons who never show up at
our social events or help support with the tickets, but want to run for all
the offices without sacrifice within the community among those with whom
they live. We must take another look at persons so active in all the things
in the community that they only show up at our affairs once in a great
while; we must think about the persons who are not bringing in members to
our Order, because the State of the Craft shows that there is a gap that
needs bridging with dedicated members of our Grand Lodge.
In conclusion: Brethren, if there has been progress, no one person can
claim the credit for the success. There has been team work and team players;
likewise, there have been others who were reluctant, but we must continue
the progress we have made and I am grateful for your support. There have
been those who have been extremely loyal to me, while there are others who
criticize. However, it took all working together to remind us at all times
that the Grand Lodge belongs to no one person.
We are very proud of the great cooperation given by our Grand Matron and
Grand Patron, our Most Ancient Grand Matron and Grand Joshua, and now are
very sad that our Most Ancient Grand Matron has fallen very, very ill at the
writing of this Annual Report. We are grateful that the Deputy Ancient Grand
Matron has been a team worker and a team player and we pray for her as she
attempts to lead the Grand High Court through this session without having
assumed the responsibility early enough to plan the Grand Session.
Let us not worry about the dissenters because they will always be with us.
Let us use our critics to help educate and give us the test that sends us
back to the altar periodically. Let us forgive those who misunderstand us
because many are concerned and want to help, and feel they are helping. Let
us not look back on the things unpleasant, because there is a lot to gain as
we dream about tomorrow. We cannot live in yesterday, nor can we bring
yesterday back; but we must learn that we are living today and dream that we
will live tomorrow. Let us not look at anything as bad, because all thin a
are good under God. Let us not get up in the morning if the rain is pouring
down and call it a bad day; let us think of those who cannot get up in the
morning or who have been denied the right to be here. Let us look at the
fact that. we are living in a luxurious world with amenities in this great
country, the United States of America, that many around the world are
denied.
I would like to repeat a statement made to me by the Honorable E. A.
Douglas, whom I respect (he and his wife) as two of the most traveled Masons
in our jurisdiction--who drove around the U. S. over many years to visit
lodges and churches from coast to coast.
Upon his return one day, after many years of traveling and when he slowed
down, Honorable E. A. Douglas, a Past Grand Master who has informed me that
he will be 90 years old in January, 1984 and whose wife, a Past Grand
Matron, is now in a state where he has to be with her and miss this Grand
Session (the first in many years), said to me: I traveled as a Mason and I
traveled as a deacon of the church of which I’ve been a member for more than
50 years. When I travel and visit a city, I would always visit a large
church when I had the opportunity because I wanted to see what they would
do. The church would welcome me and would have me stand at the door; they
would shake hands and they would invite us to return and fellowship with
them; they would pass the plate and take up collection, and they would say
good-bye.
But, whenever I’d visit a Masonic lodge and my wife would visit an Eastern
Star Chapter, or we would visit together, they were happy to have us and
they always would say: ‘Can we take you to dinner’, ‘Can we do anything for
you’, ‘Do you have a place to stay’; and they would always say if you are
traveling, in what direction--they would always give us a name of a lodge or
someone who would help us if we had trouble.”
This is what the Masonic family is all about. This, my Brethren, is what we
must return to basics--because when we entrust our brothers, or candidates,
with the traveling tools of this great organization, we must be sure that
they are not clowns, hot-heads, that their character--both morally and
spiritually--is something that we can point to with pride. In God’s grace it
has been a pleasure to serve you as Grand Master and it is my prayer that we
have turned much of your thinking around so that persons coming into the
Order will not be looking for a social club, but will be looking for an
organization that is dedicated to the principles, the ethics, the moral
practices, to the community, to the government, to the family and to an
Order that has existed for beyond man’s knowledge; and that they will be
ready to carry on as our predecessors handed down to us over a period of
time.
God bless you and keep you and guide you throughout your lives, and bless
your families and loved ones; and may this Grand Session leave with you
something that can help you through life.
CIVIL - SOCIAL - FRATERNAL
We have enjoyed representing the Prince Hall Masonic family on many
occasions throughout this Masonic year. The activities of my Office included
the kinds of functions that it is expected of a Grand Master to perform. We
have appeared upon many programs by invitation on your behalf. The Grand
Master attended the Grand Masters’ Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, then
traveled to the United Supreme Council, A.A.S.R. of F.M.N.J, Inc., P.H.A. in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where a special honor was received from the
S.G.C. Dr. Russell S. Gideon for the history-making event in which the two
Grand Lodges, State of Washington performed jointly in a public ceremony.
Many thanks to all who paid respect to our Grand Lodge by extending
invitations to attend their many functions, for the complimentary tickets
and many other warm receptions like the Far East 14th District Sessions and
the visit in Tokyo, Japan. We were treated royally on all occasions; and,
again, we deeply express our appreciation.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I recommend the following:
1.
Daniel N. Chappie James Lodge, F. &. A.M., U.D. request for a charter be
granted and given a number.
2.
Arthur Ury Lodge, F. 6. A.M., U.D. request for a charter be granted and
given a number.
3.
That no Masonic real or personal property be named after any living person
who is less than 70 years of age.
4.
That all requests to name any real or personal property after a living or
deceased person must be submitted to the Grand Lodge office 30 days prior to
the setting of an Annual Grand Session.
5.
That the C.C.F.C office be combined with the Office of Grand Secretary.
6.
That the delayed warrant of Prince Hall Grand High Court, Heroines of
Jericho, be signed by PGM Frank Russell (ten Grand Master) and Past Grand
Secretary Harold Bond (then Grand Secretary)--should have been issued in
1969.
7.
That Title 211, Page 88, Section 211.03 be amended to read:
All matters of Masonic Jurisprudence that this work remains completely
silent on “Mackey’s Jurisprudence of Free Masonry”, may be used as a
reference; the Grand Master or the Grand Lodge resolves all questions.
NOTE: The word “only” has been deleted.
8.
Title 12, Section 12.01, Part 12, Page 5 be amended to read:
This Grand Lodge has the power to send to the Grand Chapter, O.E.S. and the
Grand High Court, H. of J. qualified Past Masters to he elected as Grand
Patron and Grand Joshua, respectively, as may be provided for by
regulations. NOTE: This is a constitutional change. The only change is
from the words ‘Past Master Masons”.
9.
That a permanent registration book be made available at each Annual Grand
Session for each delegate to register, giving his name, address, zip code,
lodge number, title, phone number, and area code. Any Master Mason present
may register also.
10.
The Credentials Committee shall be in full charge of the registration book
at each Annual Session of the Grand Lodge.
11.
The registration book shall be stored in the Grand Secretary’s office during
the interim of the Grand Lodge.
12.
That Title 54, Page 18, Section 54.01, Page 18, be amended as follows:
Delete the last sentence, subject: He shall also supervise the
Grand Entertainment Committee. This conflicts with Title 13, Part 3, 12,
and 16 of the Grand Lodge Constitution. After deleting the last sentence
(4th line), the remainder of Title 54, Section 54.01 shall remain unchanged.
13.
That Title 54, Page 18, Section 54.02 be amended to read as follows:
The Senior Grand Warden: It shall be the duty of the Senior Grand Warden to
be an assistant chief administrative officer. All of his duties shall be
assigned by the Grand Master.
14.
That Title 54, Page 18, Section 54.03 be amended to read as follows:
The Grand Junior Warden: It shall be the duty of the Grand Junior Warden to
be an assistant administrative officer. All of his administrative duties
shall be assigned by the Grand Master.
15.
That more consideration be given to host members to the Annual Sessions in
host cities where the Annual Conventions are to be held by adding local
members on the Grand Lodge Entertainment Committee.
16.
That should there be any profits derived from the Grand Entertainment
Committee projects, said profits should he divided on a pre-capitol basis
only between the Grand Lodge, Grand Chapter and Grand High Court within 30
days after the close of each Grand Session.
17.
The Comptroller Board prepare a complete operating budget for the Grand
Entertainment Committee.
18.
That no Grand Lodge officer, Grand Chapter officer, or Grand High Court
officer be allowed to have two budgets at the same time.
19.
That the recommendations submitted by the Grand Entertainment Committee
auditors be complied with and enforced.
20.
That the Grand Lodge approve the position of Convention Director.
21.
That the Grand Entertainment Committee be under the general supervision of
Convention Director.
22.
That the Grand Lodge have a complete outside audit by a C.P.A. every three
(3) years and this requirement be placed in the Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F.
6. A. M. Code Book.
23.
That Title 62, Page 26, Section 62.01 be amended to read:
The Grand Master shall appoint, prior to the Annual convening of the Grand
Lodge, brothers to serve on all regular committees; he shall designate the
chairman and forward to each brother selected a certificate of appointment
who shall serve on the following committees (as listed in the Code book).
24.
That Title 61, Page 24, Section 61.02, Subsection 3, Page 25 be amended to
read an follows:
The entire Board shall meet once every ninety (90 days or four (4) times a
year to review Comptroller Board actions during the interim period and
transact other business of the Grand Lodge that shall come before the
Comptroller Board. A quorum shall be a minimum of four (4) members to
certify each Comptroller Board meeting. The staff shall be required to
perform the regular day-to-day routine business. The stiff hereinafter shall
be designated as the chairman or, in his absence, the vice-chairman, Grand
Trustee/Grand Secretary. Special and emergency meetings may be called at
the request of the Grand Master and/or the chairman. All members may attend
special or emergency call meetings.
25.
That a minimum of five of the Comptroller Board members shall he elected by
the Grand Lodge.
26.
That Title 21, page 12, Section 21.02 be amended to read:
The two (2) appointed members of the Board shall be proposed by the Grand
Master to the Grand Lodge for confirmation by the Grand Lodge before the
annual installation of the officers.
27.
That Title 61, Page 24, Section 61.01 be amended to read as follows:
The Comptroller’s Board shall consist of the Grand Treasurer, Grand
Secretary and five (5) other Past Masters. The Grand Treasurer shall be the
Treasurer of the Board and the Grand Secretary shall be the Secretary of the
Board. One of the five (5) members shall be chairman of the Board and one
shall be vice-chairman of the Board. The chairman and vice-chairman shall he
elected by the Board within forty (40) days after the close of each regular
communication of the Grand Lodge. The terms of office for the two (2)
appointed officers shall be: one shall he appointed for a term of one (1)
year, one for a term of two (2) years. Each re-appointed officer thereafter
or a successor shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years. The terms of
the three (3 elected Comptroller Board members (exclusive of the Grand
Treasurer/Grand Secretary) shall he: one (1) for a term of one (1) year; one
(1) for a term of two (2) years; and one for a term of three (3) years. The
term of each member elected to the Comptroller Board thereafter shall be for
three (3) years. The Grand Lodge must confirm the two (2) members appointed.
The Comptroller’s Board shall hereinafter be referred to as the Comptroller
Board.
28.
That compensation for staff expenses be set by Comptroller Board in a
regular meeting, to compensate for monthly staff performance.
29.
The Grand Lodge employ a full part-time clerk typist for regulated office
hours in the Grand Secretary’s office at the Grand Lodge Headquarters, 306 -
24th Avenue South, Seattle, Washington 98144. Must be a minimum of 70 wpm.
30.
That the office hires a part-time employee to be required to work a minimum
of four (4) hours on Saturdays, three (3) Saturdays per month.
31.
That the employee must he bondable and give bond in an amount comparable
with all other bonded persons.
32.
The Grand Lodge authorize the Comptroller Board to draw from its reserve
fund $11,000 to be used to pay the employee(s), a maximum of $500.00 per
month; $1,200 employment tax; $800.00 to install additional security
systems; $800.00 for additional supplies and stock; $1,200.00 for
additional office equipment; $300.00 for additional mailing, etc; $1,000.00
for emergency extra help; and $500.00 for a contingency fund.
33.
The full part-time employee is to be hired for a period not to exceed twelve
(12) months (as a trial period only, for the program) on a month-to-month
basis, subject to cancellation upon a thirty (30) day notice.
34.
The Tribute Committee’s recommendation for S.G.C Dr. Russell S. Gideon be
adopted and complied with.
35.
That a major Raffle be planned for March or April, 1984, to be coordinated
with the Workshop and all other groups in the Prince Hall Masonic Family
required to not sponsor any similar affairs during the one hundred-twenty
(120) days period starting 1/1/84 through 4/50/84 without the expressed
permission of the Grand Lodge.
I further recommend:
36.
The adoption of an Employment Committee and that it be added to the list of
standing committees.
37.
The adoption of a Business/Professional Committee and that it be added to
the list of standing committees.
38.
The name “Carlton B. Tucker Hall” be removed from the Prince Hall Masonic
Temple, also known as: PROJECT NUMBER ONE in the City of Tacoma, County of
Pierce, State of Washington, because the name was not voted upon and
approved by’ this Grand Lodge.
39.
The Grand Lodge establish a long range investment planning committee whose
duties should include a review of the present assets (real and personal) and
to propose recommendations to expand our investing in other areas, other
than Masonic Temples, that could produce a profit. These duties should be
assigned to the Business and Professional Committee.
40.
The Grand Lodge include in its long-range planning the following list of
projects and encourage endowments, memorials, donations, and a percentage of
its income go towards the purchasing or building a:
a.
A Masonic Home.
b.
A Masonic Library.
c.
A multi purpose center attached to the Masonic Home.
d.
A hotel.
e.
A Prince Hall Masonic Family Summer or Summer/Winter resort.
Submitted by;
/s/ Johnny Allen
JOHNNY ALLEN, Grand Master
Prince Hall Grand Lodge
State of Washington & Jurisdiction
