MWPHGLMD THE LIGHT
R.W. Seymour E. Chambers, Grand Historian PRINCE HALL MASONRY— OUR PAST, OUR PRESENT AND OUR FUTURE
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o all assembled, good afternoon. I am deeply humbled and honored to have been asked by the Junior Grand Warden to serve as the speaker for this occasion. When asked to deliver the remarks for Prince Hall Americanism Day, many themes and topics to discuss entered my mind. But first, I was curious as to why we call it Prince Hall Americanism Day. In consultation with two learned Prince Hall historians and authors, Brothers Alton G. Roundtree and Tehuti Evans, I learned this tidbit of history. At the 1948, Prince Hall Conference of Grand Masters meeting it was unanimously adopted that the Grand Lodges set aside a “Prince Hall Day” on September 12th or Sunday nearest thereto, each year, to honor the life and legacy of Prince Hall. Prior to 1948, some Grand Lodges were already observing Prince Hall Day, but on varying dates. Here is the interesting part which speaks to the word “Americanism.” At the 1950 Prince Hall Conference of Grand Masters meeting, “Americanism” was added to Prince Hall Day. Why you may ask? It was during the 1950’s that U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy rose to power on the platform of fighting communism, and labeling those who were considered enemies of the government. This time period from 1947 to 1957, was called the second red scare. The leaders of Prince Hall masonry were concerned that we would be targeted as un-American, especially as many Prince Hall masons were involved in the early stages of the
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Civil Rights movement; decided to add the term “Americanism” to show that Prince Hall Freemasonry was patriotic. Isn’t that interesting? Brothers and Sisters, we assemble in this sacred place to reflect on the life of our visionary founder, Prince Hall, and contemplate our responsibility in perpetuating his legacy. More importantly,
we should take this time to assess and recalibrate our commitment to improving the conditions of the communities we serve, and strengthening the mystic tie that binds us to one another. Prince Hall masonry is unique not only because we are the oldest organization established by free Black men in North America. We are unique, if not singular among fraternal organizations in that we have been at the helm for the liberation, education and
self-determination of our people for over 240 years. For more than two centuries we have been the leaders, advocates, and defenders of the Black community. Prince Hall masons like Medgar Evers, Thurgood Marshall, John H. Murphy, W.E.B. DuBois, Richard Allen, and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. have been the movers and shakers of this nation to ensure that the words, “We, the People,” in fact included our people. We should not only be proud of this history, but we should honor it by our daily walk and talk as men assembled serving on noble standards—MASONS! As the Grand Historian, it is my duty to chronicle the history of this Jurisdiction, so that we know from whence we came, and know where we need to go. To paraphrase the great John Henrick Clarke, “history is a clock that people use to tell their political and cultural time of day. History is also a compass that people use to find themselves on the map of human geography.” History tells a people where they have been, where they still must go, and what they still must be. If I were to correlate this in a masonic sense I would say that as masons, we should ask ourselves these three foundational questions: Who comes here? What come you here to do? And whither are you traveling? For in answering these questions you should surmise the very purpose of why you call yourself a Prince Hall mason. These questions require us to examine what we have done, what are we doing now, and what are our plans for the future. As we study the great heroes and sheroes of the craft and the order, we ought to be inspired to not only live up to
