M.W.
WILLIAM C. RHEUBOTTOM
MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND
MASTER
TO: The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of
Washington and Jurisdiction
Greetings:
I would first like to
extend to each and every one of you a very warm welcome. I am particularly
pleased to welcome our distinguished guests, who are visiting from other
Grand Lodges and Jurisdictions. We are honored that you have made it your
priority to be with us on this auspicious occasion. We appreciate the
opportunity to return the hospitality and friendship our representatives
have received while visiting your Grand Jurisdiction.
To the Brethren of Prince
Hall Lodges in the Jurisdiction of Washington, I am particularly pleased to
see you here. We are at the crossroads of a new era. What we do during the
next three days will have a serious effect on the direction this Grand Lodge
will take as we approach the twenty-first century.
Brethren, in this 92nd
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 were
accomplished this 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. I say thanks to the great staff of officers, both elected and
appointed, who gave their time, effort, finances, and advice to help sustain
the program of this administration. There have been many sacrifices by most
of our staff in the performance of 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 accounting 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 everyday life. This protects me from
being robbed of my self-dignity, skills, mental, physical and economic
resources by wolves in sheep’s clothing. I wish to thank my wife and family
for the support they gave me this past year. When the real test came, the
bible and prayer were there to give spiritual and physical strength to carry
me through.
NECROLOGY
Grand Architect of the
Universe, creator of all mankind, grant us thy peace at this moment. Bless
us in thy holy name. We mourn not for our departed brothers but for us who
remain behind and shall not see them for a while.
Our hearts are filled by
the memory of those whom God in His infinite wisdom has taken on the journey
to eternal rest. Let us pause for a moment in tribute to those brothers who
have departed this troubled earthly world, who are now
with the Grand Master of the Universe.
DEATHS 1994 - 1995
Alton Magee
Harold
P. Augustine
Hercules Lodge #17
Abiff
Lodge #37
July 17, 1994
January
20, 1995
Wilbon B. Haygood
O’Neal
Tigner
Headquarters Lodge
#75
Harmony
Lodge #2
(Formerly Mabuhay Lodge
#59)
February 2, 1995
July 27, 1994
Charles P. Huey, Jr.
Samuel
F. Brown, Jr.
Abiff Lodge #37
Cassia
Lodge #5
August 3, 1994
February
11, 1995
David T. Lewis, Sr.
Lewis
(Frank) J. Ward
Hamma Hamma Lodge #35
Cassia Lodge #5
August 24, 1994
February
25, 1995
Charles M. Jackson
Alvin
O. Burrell
Hercules Lodge #17
Cassia
Lodge #5
August 29, 1994
April
12, 1995
Sylvester Cann, Sr.
Will
McCoy Jr.
Union Lodge #43
Lee
Grant Rogers Lodge #61
September 6, 1994
April
14, 1995
William Hall
James
Prather Jr.
Abiff Lodge #37
Inland
Empire Lodge #3
September 11, 1994
April21,
1995
Chester Arthur Wilder
Samuel
Winn
Egyptian Lodge #44
Cassia
Lodge #5
September 28, 1994
April
23, 1995
Ernest Rowe, Sr.
Russell
Thomas
Egyptian Lodge #44
Mozart Lodge #69
October 22, 1994
May,
1995
Ernest Davis
Lewis
H. Page
Harmony Lodge #2
Union
Lodge #43
November 12, 1994
May
2, 1995
Robert J. Avery
Herman P. Lewis
Lee Grant Rogers Lodge #61
Union Lodge #43
November 13, 1994
May
2, 1995
Morris Degrate
Robert
D. Washington
Abiff Lodge #37
Hamma Hamma Lodge #35
November 13, 1994
May
27, 1995
James W. Davis
Harmony Lodge #2
January 12, 1995
STATE OF THE CRAFT
All things considered, I
am pleased to say, for the most part, all of the lodges are doing well. As
most of you are aware, we continue to experience a negative impact on our
lodges in Europe, resulting from the draw-down of our military forces. The
military structure in Europe has drastically decreased since the end of the
cold war. As a result, there are more communities scheduled to close down
completely by the end of 1995, affecting New Light Lodge #67, Karlsruhe,
Germany; St. John’s Lodge #79, Frankfurt, Germany; Jacob Lodge #86, Berlin,
Germany; and Perfect Square Lodge #88, Worms, Germany. D.D.G.M. Andrew Morgan is
in the process of targeting areas to relocate these lodges at other NATO
bases within Europe.
D.D.G.M.
Morgan also reported to me that he has moved
Joseph E. Staton Lodge #71 to Iceland. We must continue to monitor the
situation. In the meantime, we must also continue to look for other areas
for growth.
During our visit in the
Far East we found our lodges to be fairly stable. While District #9 in
Europe is experiencing a draw-down, I find that there is a slight build-up
in District #10, located in South Korea.
D.D.G.M.
Kenneth Brown is doing an
excellent job in promoting and expanding Washington State Masonry in that
area. We presently have four lodges and one U.D. Lodge operating in that
District.
We also attended the
official Far East District’s meeting for Districts #6, #7, #8 and #10. I
found that District Deputies Bellanger, Boyd and Brown are doing an
excellent
job in overseeing their
districts. Toni Lodge #46, in Okinawa, will host the official Far East
District meeting in 1996.
I would like to welcome
the Worshipful Master of the re-chartered Mabuhay Lodge #59, WM Carter.
I am happy to report that
our state-side lodges, located on the west side of the state, are
experiencing an increase in membership resulting from the reassignment of
those effected by the European Military draw-down, and a build-up of
military strength in the State of Washington.
Those lodges located in
central and eastern Washington are maintaining their strength; this is due
to the tireless efforts of
D.D.G.M.
Edward T. Crumb. The lodge located in Yakima
is not active or functioning as a lodge should. We anticipate that with the
military buildup at Fort Lewis many more military people will be permanently
stationed at the Yakima Firing Center. We are watching this situation very
closely.
I am very pleased to
report that True Resolution Lodge #16 in District #5 is doing an excellent
job in pursuing Masonry in its truest sense, both in ritualistic work and
community outreach programs.
Nevertheless, the progress
we have under these harsh realities is encouraging. Our plight is no
different than any other big business going through a recession of
downsizing and/or cutbacks. We just have to make the necessary adjustments
while we maintain our high standards. Achieving these goals does not require
a massive expenditure of energy. Instead, it essentially requires that we
work smarter, work together, set goals and objectives, prioritize, and most
importantly, each member must carry out their assigned and inherent duties.
We have, in the Jurisdiction, a total of 58 lodges, with a membership of
2,640. We also have two U.D. Lodges, which will be recommended for a charter
during this Address. They are Western Corridor Tri-Step U.D., located in
South Korea, and James W. Davis U.D., located in Puyallup, Washington.
STATE OF THE NATION
The more I think of the
condition of our country, the more I appreciate our Masonic order. Our
country is engaged in a wrenching debate about who we are, what we believe
in, where we are going, and the role of government (local, regional, state
or federal) in keeping our children and our nation healthy. Our streets and
jails are teeming with children and young people that nobody wants.
The rates of sexually
transmitted diseases continue to grow. We cannot stand by as parents,
leaders, teachers and stewards (good Masons are all of these) of our
children’s’ well-being and let them slip away because of ignorance or a
failure of courage or commitment.
Southern Baptists offer an apology:
The Southern Baptist
Convention on Tuesday, June 20, 1995 repudiated slavery and racism and
apologized to African-Americans for the demoralization of segregationists
past.
The Resolution read in
part: “Be it resolved that we unwaveringly denounce racism, in all its
forms, as a deplorable sin; and that we lament and repudiate historic acts
of evil such as slavery, from which we continue to reap a bitten harvest.
“We apologize to all
African-Americans for condoning and/or perpetuating individual and
systematic racism...
“We ask for forgiveness
from our African-American brothers and sisters.
We hereby commit ourselves to eradicate racism in all its
forms from Southern Baptist life and ministry.”
- DeFoster
FAME AND FATE WHEN ROLE MODELS FAIL
Should we have as our role
models the likes of Mike Tyson, Darryl Strawberry, and some Rap artist whose
songs espouse violence. The poet James Weldon Johnson once said: “Every race
and every nation should be judged by the best it has been able to produce,
not by the worst.”
If it is role models we
thirst for, then it should be our school teachers and bus drivers. Our
grandmothers and grandfathers. Our police officers and postal workers. Our
doctors, lawyers and yes, our Mayors.
With the state of our
nation as it appears today, there is even a greater need for our Masonic
Order to open its doors and become more visible. While much progress has and
is being made, racism is still around and doing well. There is much to
concern ourselves with today.
To list a few.
• Attack on Affirmative Action programs.
• Attack on Doctor Foster.
• Rising visibility of hate groups.
• Pursuing a quick fix on the welfare system.
• Voting and redistricting issues.
• Health care.
• Social security benefits.
• Housing
And the list goes on...
We cannot and must not
become complacent; we must wake up and involve ourselves. We must take
responsibility for our own destiny, no one is going to do it for us. We must
remember our forefathers and the sacrifices they made in an effort to make
things better for us. What about our future generations? Let us together
make America a better America for all of its citizens!
SIGNIFICANT GRAND LODGE PROGRAMS
Medical Seminars
A series of informational
seminars were designed, sponsored and coordinated by Dr. Clarence Larry of
the Grand Lodge staff. The objective of this program was to disseminate to
our membership and the community at large regarding changes or pending
changes in their medical coverage, particularly Medicaid and Medicare. The
information also included medical doctors and dentists of color who are
available to address their medical needs. Dr. Larry will render a report
later.
Roslyn Cemetery Restoration
This Committee, chaired by
PM Berry has done a remarkable job in restoring the Mt. Olive Cemetery, the
resting place for our pioneers. PM Berry will render his report later.
Membership Committee
This Committee was chaired
by our Deputy Grand Master, James B. Sloan, whose mission was to: Claim,
reclaim and maintain our members. The Committee, within a short span of
time, has accomplished a Herculean task. Please pay attention to the Deputy
Grand Master’s report.
Increased/Expanded Community Relations
Our role in this area has
really expanded. Grand Senior Warden Miller will discuss this program in his
report.
Open House/Official Visitations
During my official visits
for Districts #1, #2, and #11, we invited the families of our membership and
the community to attend this session. There they observed the host Lodge
receiving (the altar disarranged) the Grand Lodge officers and the Grand
Master (and giving them public grand honors only). A short program followed,
with the Grand Lodge Officers introducing themselves and briefing the
audience on Masonic history, the structure of this Grand Lodge and some of
its programs.
Education (Scholarship - U.N.C.F.)
This is Grand Junior
Warden Troutt’s area of responsibility. He has performed his duties in an
outstanding manner.
Handicap Accessibility
We are in the process of
evaluating bids submitted by several companies to make the Grand East and
our building in Tacoma easily accessible for the handicapped. This is a
Capital Improvement Project. The Building Chairman’s report will reflect
this.
Scholarship Investment Committee
This Committee, chaired by PM Parker, has performed its duties in a
professional, deliberate, and business-like manner. Wait until you hear
their report.
Masonic Education
This is a subject that
must be on-going and ever-present if we are to increase and expand the
Masonic education of our membership. Grand Senior Warden Miller and Grand
Lecturer Anthony have done an excellent job in administering these programs.
Further details will be provided in the Grand Senior Warden and Grand
Lecturer reports.
Properties
Your Trustees have had a very busy and productive year. I am extremely proud
of their accomplishments. Please listen intensely to their annual report.
Expanded Fraternal Relations
We have petitioned the United Grand Lodge England for Recognition status.
More information will be provided in a section of this report.
Youth Enhancement
Progress in this area will be presented in Grand Junior Warden Troutt’s
report.
THE CONFERENCE OF PRINCE HALL GRAND MASTERS
I attended the 1995 Prince
Hall Grand Masters’ Conference in Milwaukee and it was a whopping success;
the members of the Wisconsin Jurisdiction, Grand Master Marshall E. Tharpe
and certainly the Buick (car) Company, went all out to insure our comfort
was at its best, and it was!
The Buick people opened up
a new area for us as they sponsored Jerry Butler, the Iceman, and his
troupe, and did they put on a show! Especially after a very scrumptious meal
of barbecue and fish. Bro. Butler is serving as Master of North Star Lodge
#1 in Chicago.
The Conference voted to
adopt P.G.M. John Howard’s recommendation to print Prince Hall Masonic
Directories every three (3) years and sell them for $10.00 each. The next
printing will be this year, 1995.
NAACP and Legal Defense
Fund. Letters were sent out to both organizations inviting them to our
Session. The Legal Defense Fund responded and Ms. Elaine Jones, Director
Counsel, was present and spoke at the General Session and in the Grand
Master’s meeting. She was very dynamic. She also gave us a transcribed copy
of the press conference that Thurgood Marshall held on May 12, 1956,
thanking the Prince Hall Masons for donating $100,000 for the past five
years.
The N.A.A.C.P. did not respond.
The Conference of Grand Masters directed the chairperson, M.W.G.M. Woods, to
send a letter to the Special Projects Board to voice our concern and,
hopefully, the relationship we once knew can be re-established again.
The Milwaukee Conference
gave the chairman of the Steering Committee (M.W.G.M.
Howard Woods, of Arkansas)
the authority to speak on behalf of the Conference on matters for the common
good of Freemasonry and the good of people in general, as long as they are
non-controversial statements.
I was asked by Grand
Master Woods to make a “How Is It Going” presentation to the Conference,
regarding mutual recognition that exists between the Most Worshipful Prince
Hall Grand Lodge of Washington (P.H.A.) and the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge
of Washington, F. & A.M. My briefing document, used for the presentation,
was prepared by our hard-working Grand Senior Warden, Jesse Miller. The
presentation was well received.
Following my presentation
the Conference Committee on Recognition made the following recommendations:
1. Make a strong statement
that Prince Hall lodges are sovereign and legitimate within themselves.
2. If a Prince Hall Grand
Lodge is proposing to discuss recognition with their counterpart, they
should
seek not to give up anything, be sure that the benefits are
equal on both sides.
3. No Master Mason of any
jurisdiction should enter into any agreement and/or contract which could
result in Masonic recognition;
4. Benefits -- the ability
to negotiate together on a common project to the benefit of both, such as
IRS.
I was present when our
Grand Junior Warden, James Troutt, gave his excellent report to the
Conference of the Knights of Pythagoras. He received a standing ovation.
Congratulations RW Troutt, for a job well done. RW Troutt was accompanied by
PM Harris.
FRATERNAL RELATIONS
We have established a very
good relationship with most of our sister jurisdictions throughout 45 Prince
Hall families. Our ties to these bodies and my personal relationship with
Grand Masters have been a wonderful experience for me. I have gained
personal friends whom I feel I can call on at any time, to assist this Grand
Lodge in any worthwhile endeavor.
I am pleased to report
that relations within the Washington jurisdiction are good; all bodies are
working together harmoniously. I have enjoyed working with Grand Worthy
Matron Dorothy Archibald and Most Ancient Grand Matron Jeannette Jackson.
I have had an enjoyable
working relationship with the now deceased Deputy of the Orient, Ill. James
W. Davis. I am now experiencing an excellent working relationship with Ill.
Deputy of the Orient Frank Russell. I also have similar working
relationships with the Deputy of the Desert, Billy V. Morris, and Most
Excellent Grand High Priest Cleophus Chatman, of the Holy Royal Arch Masons.
The Most Worshipful Prince
Hall Grand Lodge of Washington and Jurisdiction now shares and enjoys a
harmonious and productive relationship with the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge
of Washington, F. & A.M. Contrary to some beliefs and/or perceptions, Prince
Hall Masonry has maintained its uniqueness, customs, traditions and its
proud heritage. There has not been any attempt from either Grand Body to
merge, change, or infringe upon each other’s sovereignty and I seriously
doubt that there ever will be. We are also enjoying a harmonious working
relationship with the Grand Lodge of Idaho, who, in my view, are
trailblazers in their own right.
(RECOGNITION (UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND)
On December 14, 1994, the
United Grand Lodge of England approved the Board of General Purposes’
recommendation that notwithstanding its usual formation, the “Prince Hall”
Grand Lodge of Massachusetts should now be accepted as regular and be
recognized. The recognition applies only to the “Prince Hall Grand Lodge of
Massachusetts.” Applications for the recognition of other “Prince Hall”
Grand Lodges may follow and each must be considered on its merits.
On April 5, 1995, I sent a
letter to the United Grand Lodge of England, Attention M.B.S. Higham, Grand
Secretary, formally requesting recognition of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of
Washington from the United Grand Lodge of England. On or about June 8, 1995
the External Relations Committee of the United Grand Lodge of England Board
of General Purpose met and considered my application/request for
recognition.
On June 16, 1995 I
received a letter from the Grand Secretary of the United Grand Lodge of
England stating that the Board of General Purpose felt that it was “. . .
undesirable to recommend to Grand Lodge that recognition be granted to your
Grand Lodge until such time as applications have been received and
considered from the Prince Hall Grand Lodges from which you descend.” The
letter further stated:
‘There is sadness about
this, as we too are anxious to make further process, but anything you can do
to encourage the Grand Lodges from which you descend, to apply to us for
recognition, will of course help to speed the process.”
I will turn the matter over to the Prince Hall Commission for their analysis
and recommended course of action.
HOLY ROYAL ARCH MASONS
I appointed a special
committee to review and recommend to me a course of action in response to
the Resolution, dated June 20, 1994, submitted by members of the Holy Royal
Arch Masons, operating within the Jurisdiction of Washington.
The Committee completed
its assignment and made specific recommendations regarding administrative
matters that needed to be addressed, prior to my final decision. As of the
date of this report, I have not received the requested information.
MASONS ON SIGHT
On April 26, 1995,, while
visiting District #6 in Yokota Air Force Base, I made two candidates Master
Masons on Sight. Additionally, on May 21, 1995 in Seattle, Washington, I
made ten (10) candidates Master Masons on Sight. This was performed
consistent with, my authority as stated in Landmark Number Eight in our
Masonic Code Book.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I recommend the following:
1.
Northern Corridor Tri-Step Lodge, F. & A.M.,
U.D.’s request for a charter be granted and given a number.
2.
James W. Davis Lodge, F. & A.M., U.D.’s request
for a charter be granted and given a number.
3.
That the 1995 third-year audit of the Grand
Lodge’s financial records by an outside group (C.P.A.) be rescheduled until
1996. Outside audits conducted in the past only included the Secretary’s and
Treasurer’s records. It is my firm belief that in order to get a
comprehensive look at this Grand Lodge’s financial integrity, the scope of
the audit must be expanded to include the records of: the Grand Secretary
and Grand Treasurer, the Grand Entertainment Committee, Management Boards of
the Building Projects, and any/all committee raising funds for any causes
using the Grand Lodge’s tax identification number.
4.
The adoption of a membership committee and that
this committee be added to the list of standing committees.
5.
Adoption of a Grand Lodge Short- and Long-Range
Planning Committee, whose task is to conduct feasibility studies regarding
our properties for development, renovations, maintenance, and purchase.
6.
That the Grand Lodge be primarily responsible for
the maintenance of the Roslyn Cemetery Project, effective the close of the
92nd Annual Session.
7.
That the Grand Lodge authorize the Grand Master to
form a committee to review the Grand Entertainment Committee’s financial
records for the past seven (7) to ten (10) years. With these records the
committee would be able to study and analyze past and present record-keeping
procedures and practices, in order to prepare a set of standing operating
procedures that would 1) cover all phases of the Grand Entertainment
Committee’s operations and 2) be used perpetually by the Grand Entertainment
Committee.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, I would
like to again say ‘Thank you” to a fine staff of officers who have worked
diligently throughout the year. To the Executive Staff members of the Grand
Cabinet and the Special and District Deputy Grand Masters, your loyalty and
support throughout the year has been immeasurable. I compliment each of you
for giving unwaveringly of your time, money and dedication.
Masons are taught to
divide their time properly, to labor cheerfully, to make generous provisions
for their families, to cultivate order and to labor for peace, to strive for
justice, to oppose usurpation by the church or state, to respect others’
opinions as assiduously as they hold to their own and never begin any great
undertaking without invoking the aid of the deity. And so, we say, without
reservation and with enthusiasm, Freemasonry is a teacher of tolerance.
God bless Freemasonry everywhere and make all Masons what Masons ought to be
— Good men and true, tolerant of the opinions of others, lovers of their
families, loyal to their country and faithful to their fellowrnan. So shall
their white lambskin aprons remain ever unvarnished to the end.
My brothers, the power in
which you entrusted and turned over to me at the close of our 91st
Session, I now return to you.
Thank you for allowing me
to serve you.
Fraternally Submitted
/s/WILLIAM C. RHEUBOTTOM
Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons
