PHYLAXIS NOTES

One of the most shocking news, within the 2,000 plus pages of Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience by Kwarne Anthony Appiah and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., there is no mention of Prince Hag. While it was inspired by the dream of the late Prince Hall Freemason, Dr. W. E. DuBois, there is no mention of the first African‑American interstate organization, Prince Hall Freemasonry, or its role in the building of Black America. The book itself is loaded with biographies of Prince Hall Freemasons. KC150 (celebrating the 150th anniversary of Kansas City, Missouri) presented Harmony Grand Chapter OES, Jurisdiction of Missouri, PHA, a grant of $3,000 toward the purchase of the book Black Square and Compass. 200 Years of Prince Hall Freemasonry by Joseph A. Walkes, Jr. FPS. On the 8th of April at Kansas City Gala of the Grandees for Past & Present Officers of the Midwest Region, copies of the book was presented to the Kansas City Library, Mid-Continent Library, Arrowhead Foundation, Black Archives of Kansas City by Grand Worthy. Matron Eve". B. Topps with copies made available to the large gathering in attendance. Remarks were made by the author, Bro. Walkes. Jet Magazine reports in "This Week In Black History" on Harold Washington who became the first Black elected Mayor of Chicago April 12, 1983. The election of Washington was a major political event for both the city of Chicago and the country. He won the Democratic primary and the general election. His victory encouraged Blacks throughout the country to register to vote. Washington attended Roosevelt University and earned his law degree at Northwestern University. He had a solid political background, serving 16 years in the Illinois legislature and two years in the United States House of Representatives. During the four years and seven months that he served as mayor he left a record of appointing Blacks to top city government positions ‑ appointments to post which Blacks never held before in any administration. Harold Washington was born in Chicago on April 15, 1922. He died November 25, 1987. He was made a Mason on Sight by the Grand Master of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois, a procedure described as the eighth landmark of the Order.

 Prince Hall Art Commission

 Director Lamont Dixon FPS, with the assistance of the art teacher Ms. Mary Citrino, was able to bring 22 water paintings from the 4th and 5th graders of the Prince Hall Elementary School, Philadelphia, PA to be judged at the 27th annual session of the Phylaxis Society session held in Kansas City, Missouri. The winners were (1) Malik Niblack, 4th grade; (2) Nafis Alexander, 5th grade; (3) Khalif Parker, 5th grade and a 3 way tie) Aja Hooks, 4th grade and (4) Ashley Frazier 4th grade. The paintings were sent to St. Louis, Missouri to be displayed at the Prince Hall Family Support Center, operated by the Missouri Department of Social Services. The judging of the paintings by the Phylaxis Society is an annual event, and the children receive U.S. Savings Bonds for their efforts. The paintings depict the fife and times of Prince Hall. 

Grand Lodge of England

Notice of the 4th quarterly communication, 8 March 2000 concerning Prince Hall Masonry, item, 5.16: "The Board has considered the additional visiting restrictions placed for the past nine years on Brethren of the English Constitution visiting certain Masonic Jurisdictions in North America. In brief members of our Constitution could not visit Lodges under Grand Lodges in North America which had recognized Prince Hall Grand Lodges that the United Grand Lodge of England had yet to recognize. It considers that these additional visiting restriction should now be lifted and that Brethren visiting North America be subject to the same guidelines as apply when visiting elsewhere in the world, namely that it is their duty not to associate masonically with members of unrecognized constitutions." 

Masonic Leadership Course

 For a number of years in the past, the Phylaxis Society presented at its annual session, a Prince Hall Masonic Leadership and Development Course: Blueprint for Survival workshop over several days for a total of 8 hours. The overall theme being "There can be no dedication without education ". The First Presidency recently decided to change it into a correspondence course. A new unit was organized, called the Educational System under the leadership of Dr. William 0. Jones, Grand Master of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Alabama as President of the Educational System; Hon. Paul V. Best FPS, Coordinator at Greensboro, NC and Hon. George E. Jones UPS Administrator at Durham, NC. The course was published in a 79-page booklet, with 109 questions, for a total of 93 pages. This course is part one of three parts to be developed by the Educational System. Part two will be the History of Prince Hall Freemasonry and Part three the Prince Hall Masonic Hall of Fame. Part I "The Leadership Course!' is $65 payable in cash or credit card; send to the Phylaxis Society Public Affairs Office; Post Office Box 35481; Kansas City, MO. 64134‑5481 or e-mail, phylaxispa@aol.com

100+ Most Influential Prince Hall Freemasons

Each year the Phylaxis Society publishes its listing of the 100 + Most influential Prince Hall Freemasons in the country. Once again, the Society* is seeking your help. If you know of any Mayors, Congressman, State Legislature members or VIP's that should be listed, please send us their names, titles and Lodges if possible. Three Prince Hall Freemasons were recently honored in Ohio at an African American History Celebration. They were

Bro Blackwell received the "Dr. Ralph Bunch Distinguished Political Achievement Award" for being elected the 51st Secretary of State of Ohio, the first African-American to hold this distinguished position. First elected to public office in 1977, Bro. Blackwell served as a member of the Cincinnati City Council and later as vice mayor. In 1980 he was elected mayor of Cincinnati. In 1991 President Bush appointed him ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. In 1993, he received the U.S. State Department's Superior Honor Award for leadership in human rights. Secretary Blackwell was appointed and subsequently elected to Statewide office in 1994. Dr. Charles C. Pryor II, a Past Grand Master of the M.W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio, was awarded the 'U. Maurice Robb Distinguished Medical Achievement Award." Dr. Pryor has a long fist of "first," which includes first Black intern in a private Cincinnati hospital, first Black Ophthalmologist in Cincinnati, first Black certified by The American Board of Ophthalmologist in Ohio, first Black Treasurer of the Academy of Medicine in Cincinnati, and the first Black President of the Cincinnati Eye Society. He is currently a member of the medical staff at Bethesda Christ, Deaconess, Children's University and The Jewish Hospitals. Bro. Frederick T. Suggs, Sr. was awarded the "John H. Johnson Outstanding Publisher Award." Bro Suggs is the dean of African American publishing in Cincinnati, enjoying a publishing career that spans nearly 50 years. From his News in Pictures magazine (NIP), one of the first magazine in the nation owned by Blacks, to his current publication Tri‑State Talk Magazine, he has been a significant part of Black journalism in Cincinnati for the second half of the 20th Century. Bro. Suggs became a tireless worker for the advancement of local African‑American business development, community affairs, civil rights and education for which he received many awards,

Things a Master Should Know
Part I
by Harry A. Williamson

Through observations during the past score years, I live become convinced that very few of the Brethren who now attain the East in Our Lodges are properly qualified to preside therein In my opinion, this situation is due to the fact that when a Brother becomes the Junior Warden of his Lodge, he makes little or no effort to properly prepare himself for future advancement

I would feel safe to wager that 90% of our Brethren who become Wardens, have never read a single volume pertaining to the history of Freemasonry; few can narrate any of the facts concerning the origins of the present Grand Lodge system and its varied structure in different portions of the Masonic world. How many of then Brethren can even discuss in an understanding manner, the origins and subsequent progress of Prince Hall Masonry?

How many have ever read, or, even heard about the several volumes pertaining to law and procedure which have been compiled by various writers both here and in foreign countries? It is very apparent the only volume my Brethren have read, has been "Masonic Jurisprudence by Albert G. Mackey, and, having done so, they labor under the impression his work bears the character of "fundamental" law.