DURING THE 1950’S AND 60’S MORGAN STUDENTS PROTESTED THE SEGREGATED NORTHWOOD SHOPPING CENTER ACROSS FROM THE CAMPUS.

Many students were jailed, and could not afford the bail money for their release.

M.W.G.M. Emeritus Sam Daniels pledged and provided the bail money for any student that wanted the assistance. Those brave students met to strategize their protest at the University’s Chapel, then called the Christian Center. In the mid 1990’s, Past Grand Chaplin Marion Curtis Bascum, served as the Director of the Center, and it was during that time, the Grand Lodge provided $80,000.00 towards the renovations of the Chapel, so that students could continue to have a spiritual home on the campus.

IIn further supporting the University’s educational mission, for over two decades, the Grand Lodge has sponsored a youth day during one of the home football games, bringing hundreds of young people to the campus, feeding them and providing scholarships to the University’s athletic department, totaling over $250,000.00 to date. So, to respond to the question “why should we house our artifacts at Morgan?” we should respond by saying, why not? The fact that the signing event took place in the Clarence Blount (former MD State Senate President Pro-Temp) room, at the Earl S. Richardson (former President of the University) Library, both prominent Maryland Prince Hall Masons is further evidence of the importance of the relationship, and our joint commitment for the progress of our community.

The warrior-scholar, and Master Teacher John Henrick Clarke said, “History is a clock that people use to tell their political and cultural time of day. It is also a compass that people use to find themselves on the map of human geography. History tells a people where the still must go, and what they still must Be.” Through to telling of our history, we leave a perpetual trestle board of what we have done, and what we still must achieve. Prince Hall Freemasonry has a deep and rich history that we must rediscover/reclaim as an homage of the courage of our forefathers of African Lodge No. 459. We, in this day, are heirs to that legacy. Not only must we reclaim that history, but we must proclaim it. We must share with our Brothers, and Sisters and our communities the history and significance of our works and contributions. It is our duty to write the narrative of ‘our’ story so that generations to come will take pride in the legacy we leave for them to inherit, just as those who have gone before us. This joint collaboration between the Grand Lodge, and Morgan State University should serve a model for other jurisdictions to work with historically Black colleges and universities in their states to preserve not only masonic history, but Black history.

Submitted by:

R.W. Seymour E. Chambers, MPS Grand Historian

Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge

F. & A.M. of Maryland and It’s Jurisdiction