SECRET AND FRATERNAL ORGANS Helpful Boosts.
Reading edition
In time of need they give full aid To those whose fees are fully paid: They also loan with gleeful pride Tame goats a child could easily ride. —Harrison.
IN 1784 a Boston Negro, Prince Hall, was granted a warrant from England to establish the African Lodge, No. 459 of the Masons; and in 1843 Peter Ogden, a Colored organizer in New York, secured a charter from England to set up the Philomathean Lodge No. 646 of the Odd Fellows. Since then the Knights of Pythias, the True Reformers, The Elks, the Grand United Order of Galilean Fishermen, the National Order of Mosaic Templars, the Independent Order of St. Luke and the Grand United Order of Tents (which last named order is one of the best managed and most progressive societies organized and run entirely by women) have been established and become nationally known. The following is quoted from Work’s Negro Year Book, 1918-1919 edition, page 457:
“There are over sixty secret and fraternal organizations among Negroes in the United States of a more or less national scope. It is estimated that they have a total membership of about 2,000,000. Large sums of money have come into the treasuries of the various secret organizations. The Knights of Pythias have collected over $1,000,000 for endowment. There is over $50,000 in the Grand Lodge treasury. A considerable part of the money collected by the orders has been permanently invested. It is estimated that the Masons have about $1,000,000 worth of property; the Odd Fellows $2,000,000; and the Pythians $2,500,000. It is probable that altogether the Negro secret societies in the United States own $20,000,000 worth of property. The Odd Fellows have in New Orleans, a building that cost $36,000, and in Atlanta and Philadelphia, buildings that have cost $100,000 each. In Indianapolis, New Orleans and Chicago, Knights of Pythias own buildings each worth from $30,000 to $100,000. The Negro secret societies are paying attention to the improving of the health of their members. The Supreme Lodge of the Knights of Pythias has erected a sanitarium at Hot Springs, Arkansas; the Mosaic Templars and other societies have established health bureaus.”
Some of the leaders in the most prominent and best known of these organs are as follows:
MASONS
Imperial Potentate, C. R. Blake, Charlotte, N. C. Imperial Chief Rabban, R. E. Monroe, Chicago, Ill. Imperial High Priest and Prophet, R. F. Husley, Wheeling, W. Va. Imperial Treasurer, C. A. Freeman, Washington, D.C. Imperial Recorder, Levi Williams, Jersey City, N. J. National Grand Commander, Bishop J. W. Alstork, Montgomery, Ala. National Deputy Grand Commander, Dr. A. R. Robinson, Phila., Pa. National Grand Secretary, R. J. Simmons, Atlanta, Ga.
ODD FELLOWS
Grand Master, E. H. Morris, Chicago, Ill. Grand Master, J. S. Noel, Charleston, W. V. Deputy Grand Master, I. L. Roberts, Boston, Mass. Deputy Grand Master, W. T. Francis, St. Paul, Minn. Grand Secretary, Jas. F. Needham, Phila., Pa. Grand Secretary, R. J. Nelson, Harrisburg, Pa. Grand Treasurer, C. Colbourne, Wilmington, Del.
PYTHIANS
Supreme Chancellor, S. W. Green, New Orleans, La. Supreme Chancellor, W. Ashbie Hawkins, Baltimore, Md. Supreme Vice Chancellor, E. C. Tidrington, Indianapolis, Ind. Supreme Vice Chancellor, W. H. Willis, New York City, N. Y. Supreme Master of Exchequer, J. H. Young, Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Supreme Master of Exchequer, J. C. Anderson, Crewe, Va. Supreme Keeper of Records and Seals, Dr. E. E. Underwood, Frankfort, Ky. Supreme Keeper of Records and Seals, G. E. Gordan, Chelsea, Mass.
MOSAIC TEMPLARS
National Grand Master, S. J. Elliot, Little Rock, Arkansas. National Grand Secretary, C. E. Bush, Little Rock, Arkansas. National Grand Treasurer, J. A. Davis, Little Rock, Arkansas.
ORDER OF ELKS
Grand Exalted Ruler, G. W. F. McMechen, Baltimore, Md. Grand Esteemed Leading Knight, W. C. Trueheart, Atlantic City, N. J. Grand Secretary, G. E. Bates, Jersey City, N. J. Grand Treasurer, J. T. Carter, Richmond, Va.
ORDER OF ST. LUKE
Right Worthy Grand Chief, Mrs. Minnie L. Banks, Macon, Ga. Right Worthy Vice Chief, Dr. H. L. Harris, Richmond, Va. R. W. G. Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. Maggie L. Walker, Richmond, Va.
TRUE REFORMERS
Grand Worthy Master, S. S. Morris, Richmond, Va. Grand Worthy Secretary, Maurice Rouselle, Richmond, Va. Grand Worthy Treasurer, Dr. W. H. Smith, Richmond, Va.
GALILEAN FISHERMAN
National Grand Ruler, Joseph P. Evans, Baltimore, Md. Vice Grand Ruler, G. W. V. Grey, Norfolk, Va. Grand Treasurer, J. F. Henry, Cambridge, Md.
ORDER OF TENTS
Supreme Matron, Mrs. C. A. Gilpin, Richmond, Va. Deputy Matron, Mrs. A. J. Valentine, Chester, Pa. Grand Secretary, Miss Adeline M. Ward, Norfolk, Va.
(Extracts from Work’s Negro Year Book, 1918-1919 edition, pgs. 457-8-9-60).