PRESERVING OUR LEGACY!

On November 20, 2021, at Morgan State University, in Baltimore, Maryland, the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F.& A.M. of Maryland & It’s Jurisdiction, Inc., made history by signing a memorandum of understanding with the University to house its artifacts in the Beulah M. Davis Special Collections Department at the Earl S. Richardson Library. This event was the culmination of a three year collaboration between the Grand Lodge’s Committee on Archives, Chaired by R.W. Lewis Williams, Jr. and the University Archivist, Dr. Ida Jones. The Committee consisted of R.W. David Johnson (photographer at the event), R.W. Lawrence N. Gray, R.W. Albert Queen, R.W. Nathaniel McFadden, PWM Gloria Porter, and R.W. Seymour E. Chambers.

After a brief program, M.W.G.M. Stanley signed the formal memorandum and presented the Grand Lodge’s original charter, along with the charters of Friendship Lodge No.1, St. James Lodge No. 2 and Enterprise Lodge No. 3, to Dr. Jones to deposit in the University’s archives. By providing these documents and other artifacts to Maryland’s flagship HBCU, future generations and researchers will be able to review and learn about the history, contributions and significance of Prince Hall masonry in the state of Maryland.

A guided tour was provided for the attendees to review some of the items that will be deposited, to include the book Maryland Men of Masonry: The Most Worshipful United Grand Lodge 1825-1925, which celebrates the Grand Lodge’s first 100 years. On loan from Baltimore’s Great Black in Wax Museum were wax figures of M.W.P.G.M. Willard W. Allen and M.W.P.G.M. Samuel Daniels (Pictured below).

We gathered on that day not only to recognize and deposit artifacts from our Grand Lodge, but to commemorate a relationship between two institutions that have long served as a guiding light in the lives of Black Marylanders for close to 200 years. The historical relationship between Maryland Prince Hall masons, and Morgan State in 1867. Fundamentally, our Grand Lodge and the University are inextricably linked in the struggle for the liberation, education and self-determination of our community.

University is a story worthy of our understanding and appreciation. It should be noted that only 22 years separate the establishment of the First Colored Grand Lodge of Maryland, A.F. & A.M. in 1845, and the establishment of the Centenary Biblical Institute quia is magnist, nossenda pratet qui volestr upicienim aut maximusamet opta quis sam vollabor auditatempor abo.

Some may ask, “why should our Grand Lodge deposit some of our treasures in Morgan’s vaults?” let me highlight for you the relationship. Morgan’s first Black President, Dwight Oliver Wendell Holmes is the son of Rev. John A. Holmes, for whom we have a lodge named in his honor. Rev. Holmes pastored the Sharp Street Methodist Church in Baltimore, the very church that held the first classes of the Centenary Biblical Institute that would become Morgan State University. At least 11 buildings on the campus are named in honor of noted Maryland Prince Hall Masons, and at least eight (8) buildings had the cornerstone dedication ceremonies presided over by the Grand Lodge, with Baldwin Hall being the first in 1929. Furthermore, Maryland Prince Hall Masons have been at the helm of leadership at Morgan, with brothers Carl J. Murphy, the Hon. Judge Harry Cole, and the Hon. Kwiesi Mfume all serving as chairmen of the University’s governing board, along with the Hon. Elijah Cummings, and M.W.P.G.M. Willard W. Allen, serving on the board as well.

PICTURED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT HOLDING THE ORIGINAL CHARTER

DEPUTY GRAND MASTER, M.W. EMMANUEL J. STANLEY, AND R.W. LEWIS

FLANKED BY R.W. KEVIN L. BARNEY, SR. GRAND WARDEN, R.W. WILLIAM

VAUGHAN, GRAND SECRETARY (BACKGROUND) AND R.W. SEYMOUR

CHARTER FOR THE GRAND LODGE: R.W. NOEL C. OSBORNE, SR, LEWIS WILLIAMS, JR., CHAIRMAN OF THE ARCHIVES COMMITTEE

WILLIAM DAVISON III, JR. GRAND WARDEN, R.W. JAMES L.

SEYMOUR E. CHAMBERS, GRAND HISTORIAN