N.C. white, black Masonic groups reconcile

After years ignoring each other, 'we're brothers again'

By Richard Stradling
richard.stradling@newsobserver.com

Posted: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008

JASON ARTHERS – (RALEIGH) NEWS & OBSERVER PHOTO

Jason Arthurs

RALEIGH Members of the state's two Masonic organizations ended 138 years of official disregard Friday by signing a resolution recognizing each other as brother Masons.

The resolution, signed near the end of a two-hour ceremony full of formality and speeches, ended a vestige of the segregation era, during which the two groups – one white, the other black – spent decades following the ancient tenets and teachings of freemasonry while each pretended the other didn't exist.

“Today's a historic day, because we're here to say we're brothers again,” said David Cash, a Methodist minister from Kannapolis and grand master of the white group, the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina.

Cash and his counterpart, Milton “Toby” Fitch Jr. of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and Its Jurisdictions, signed the document in the old House chambers of the State Capitol. They sat at a table where North Carolina's resolution to secede from the Union was signed 148 years ago.

Both Prince Hall and AF&AM Masonic groups carry on the traditions of a fraternity founded by building craftsmen in medieval Europe. The state's AF&AM organization was founded in 1787, though some of the individual lodges date back earlier. The state's Prince Hall group was founded in 1870.

Despite shared roots and goals, their members did not officially recognize each other as Masons until Friday.

“We are of the same family,” said Dan Blue, a Prince Hall Mason and state legislator from Raleigh. “This is an opportunity to complete a circle.”

The ceremony, which had the feel of a peace treaty signing, was years in the making.

Members of the Prince Hall Masons unanimously passed a resolution recognizing their white counterparts as true Masons at their annual meeting in 2004. But a similar resolution failed several years in a row at AF&AM meetings, despite impassioned pleas from the group's leaders. This year, in September, it passed 642-328, leading to Friday's gathering, which filled not only the old House chamber but also the old Senate, where the overflow watched on a big-screen TV.

Membership in the larger, white lodge has fallen from 73,000 at its peak in 1981 to less than 50,000, even as the state's population has soared. But Friday's ceremony was a reminder of the devotion of many Masons to the organization and the influential people it attracts.

U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge led the pledge of allegiance, and former state Supreme Court justices Henry Frye and James Exum Jr. also spoke.

The resolution signed Friday does not merge the groups in any way.

But it should lead to cooperation between the two Masonic organizations.

Cash, the AF&AM grand master, said representatives of the two groups are meeting to work out visitation issues and protocol. For example, he noted, Prince Hall Masons have a dress code, while the AF&AM does not.

“They are a little bit more formal,” he said.

That formality was on display Friday, as Prince Hall members in particular wore colorful aprons around their waists and medallions around their necks. A color guard of Prince Hall Masons with epaulets on their shoulders, two rows of buttons down their chests and hats covered with white feathers lined the aisle of the old House chamber with raised swords as officers from the two organizations filed in.

Earlier this fall, Fitch and the Prince Hall Masons made Cash an honorary member. Friday, Cash returned the gesture, reading a framed resolution with a preacher's shout before the two men embraced before a shower of flashbulbs and a standing ovation

George Washington’s 256th Masonic Anniversary

George Washington’s 256^th Masonic Anniversary

On November 4^th, 1752, George Washington was initiated into the mysteries of masonry in Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4, Virginia.

According to the lodge records, on March 3^rd, 1753, “Geo. Washington” was “Pass’d Fellowcraft.”

On August 4^th, 1753, he was “rais’d Master Mason”

(Interesting note: George Washington was the Worshipful Master of his lodge, Alexandria Lodge No. 22, the same year he was elected and inaugurated President of the United States)

Lodge #45 Honors 'Andrew Jackson'

On Thursday October 30, 2008, General Andrew Jackson, PMWGM of Tennessee visited Jackson, Tennessee to open an historical exhibit and attend a book signing about his years in the White House. Newsweek editor and author Jon Meacham could have chosen any historical figure to write about. He chose Andrew Jackson because of what he calls "the perfect embodiment of competing influences" in the country's seventh president.

Meacham was in Jackson on Thursday to present a lecture on his book "American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House." The lecture helped kick off the Three Stars of Tennessee exhibition, which opens at The Carnegie on Saturday. This historic Exhibit includes a display of of the replica Grand Master's Apron worn by MWGM Jackson and the original Charter of Jackson Lodge #45 from 1823.

A preview celebration was held Thursday night and included a re-enactment of the evening of Sept. 18, 1825, when Jackson and his wife were wined and dined by the city's residents. The exhibition is a salute to honor the hero of the Battle of New Orleans.

Part of the celebration was the recreation of the Masonic escort that greeted General Jackson when he and his wife Rachael visited Jackson for the first time in 1825. Members of Jackson Lodge #45 provided the honor guard then and now. Jackson Lodge #45 was chartered Oct. 6th, 1823 during the administration of Andrew Jackson as Most Worshipful Grand Master of the State of Tennessee. As it turned out, the actor who portrayed General Jackson is also a Mason from Old Hickory Lodge in Old Hickory, Tennessee and was delighted to don an Apron for the ceremony. As result, the peculiar badge of the Mason was seen by all and will be on CBS Sunday Morning. A great "unintended consequence" of our activities of that evening. Throughout the evening, due to the high profile of Masonry during the opening ceremonies, many questions about Masons and Masonry were asked and answers given by members of Lodge #45 to members of the large crowd in attendance.

Many thanks to all who participated that evening and helped present Masonry and Lodge #45 in a great light. A special thanks to Life Member Brother Tom Lewis by getting this projected started with an email to the event organizer, Libby Murphy and to Brother Jimmy Owen for photographing this historic event for the Lodge.

Lodge #45 members in attendance:

Honor Guard: Bobby Henderson, PMWGM; Marty Amick, PM; Alan Turner, PM; Tera Spencer, PM; Robert Warmath, PM; Derek White, PM; Jeffery McClemore, SW; G. Michael Winslow, Sec; Mike Stanton, JW; and Terry Blackburn.

I Am Freemasonry

I was born in antiquity, in the ancient days when men first dreamed of God. I have been tried through the ages, and found true. The crossroads of the world bear the imprint of my feet, and the cathedrals of all nations mark the skill of my hands. I strive for beauty and for symmetry.

In my heart is wisdom and strength and courage for those who ask. Upon my alters is the Book of Holy Writ, and my prayers are to the One Omnipotent God, my sons work and pray together, without rank or discord, in the public mart and in the inner chamber. By signs and symbols I teach the lessons of life and of death and the relationship of man with God and of man with man.

My arms are widespread to receive those of lawful age and good report who seek me of their own free will. I accept them and teach them to use my tools in the building of men, and thereafter, find direction in their own quest for perfection so much desired and so difficult to attain.

I lift up the fallen and shelter the sick. I hark to the orphans' cry, the widows tears, the pain of the old and destitute. I am not church, nor party, nor school, yet my sons bear a full share of responsibility to God, to country, to neighbor and themselves. They are freemen, tenacious of their liberties and alert to lurking danger. At the end I commit them as each one undertakes the journey beyond the vale into the glory of everlasting life.

I ponder the sand within the glass and think how small is a single life in the eternal universe. Always have I taught immortaility, and even as I raise men from darkness into light, I am a way of life.

I Am Freemasonry.

- Ray V. Denslow

Master Mason Degree - Brian Halliburton

Jackson Lodge #45 held a Called Meeting last night (10/28/08) for the purpose of raising to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason Brother Brian Alan Halliburton.

Visiting Brother and friend of of the candidate, Brother Michael Buchanan from Henderson Lodge #75 conferred Degree and visiting Brother Billy Young, PM from St. John Lodge #332 portrayed King Solomon.

Thanks to all who attended this Master Mason Degree.

Andrew Jackson's ties to this city go as far back as Masonic Lodge

By Jacque Hillman

Published in The Jackson Sun October 26, 2008

Look for members of the Jackson Masonic Lodge No. 45, F&AM - the real ones, not actors - to be dressed in gray cutaways and greeting actors portraying Andrew Jackson and his wife Rachel on Wednesday at the "Three Stars Collation and Frolicking Preview Party" at The Carnegie in downtown Jackson.

After the Food story ran about the upcoming event, I received an e-mail from Tom Lewis, a life member of Jackson Lodge No. 45, about the history behind Jackson's visit to Jackson.

He wrote that Andrew Jackson was grand master of Masons in Tennessee and that Lodge No. 45 was chartered during that time.

He also explained that the local chapter had Jackson's original grand master's apron. "The original, which was given to the Lodge by Jackson, was destroyed in the fire that destroyed the downtown building in the mid-'70s."

He said if I was interested, to call Mike Winslow, the lodge secretary.

So I did, and we had a great conversation about the history of Lodge No. 45.

Winslow, who's semi-retired, works with Jackson Madison County Emergency Management Agency as a project director. He worked with Thompson & Smith Insurance for many years.

Winslow said there's a book written by Lacy Price about the history of Jackson Masonic Lodge No. 45, which was founded on Oct. 6, 1823, he said.

"It was the first Masonic Lodge to be founded west of the Tennessee River, under the administration of Grand Master Andrew Jackson."

"We had feared that the original charter had been lost in the fire of 1979 which destroyed the old lodge off Baltimore Street in downtown Jackson. However, we did find the original charter with some fire damage, but we have it.

The Masonic apron worn by Andrew Jackson was destroyed. The lodge has a replica on display at the lodge and will have both the charter and apron on display Wednesday at the Carnegie Center.

Winslow said that in 1825, the Masons rode out to meet Gen. Jackson and his wife as they approached town in their carriage and to provide an honor escort into the town.

"We're going to meet him (the actor) at the curb at the Carnegie Center in full regalia and escort him into the building," Winslow said.

Because Jackson was running for office in 1823 and out campaigning, he had his deputy grand master sign the charter. In 1823, Jackson was the reigning grand master of the Tennessee Grand Lodge, the lodge over all the local lodges.

Winslow said the lodge has "handwritten minutes going back to the Civil War."

They have an archive room, opened in 2005, and they discovered "piles and piles of documents brought over from the old lodge." After the fire, members removed what they could and took the items to their homes. He speculated that some artifacts are probably still stored in attics around Jackson, that perhaps some members died and their descendants don't know what they have, or threw out some of the recovered items later on.

Winslow said Jack Woods of the Jackson-Madison County Library, in conjunction with the Tennessee Archives and the Genealogical Society of Salt Lake City, Utah, worked on a project to photograph and register the documents in the lodge archive.

"Just about all the founding fathers of Jackson were members of our lodge," Winslow said.

Marty Amick, president of the board of trustees and past master, said the current lodge, "is actually our third building. We had two fires."

Amick said the board of trustees' function is that "we maintain the building, the property and that sort of thing."

He pointed out that the 185-year-old charter hangs on the wall in the lodge.

The Masons hope to have at least eight members, some of the past worshipful masters of the lodge, on hand for the occasion.

Amick said Bobby Henderson of Jackson, past grand master, was actually head of all Masons in the state.

"Brasher's Tuxedo is outfitting us in as close to period as he's got. We'll wear a cutaway gray tuxedo coat that looks similar to what they would have worn in 1825," he said. "We're just glad to have the opportunity to participate."