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The Society's membership was composed of regular Freemasons throughout the world. Their subjects of study and research also cover a wide range of interest and issues. The Society's core research discipline is focused on analyzing, researching and solving key issues in Freemasonry and can be applied to the Prince Hall Masonic Order.
The Society was Established with Three Aims:
The Dr. Charles H.
Wesley Masonic Research Society truly stands on the shoulders of our
research ancestors. Many have laid the foundation upon which we now find
ourselves standing upon. The need for good and wholesome research into
Prince Hall Freemasonry was first delved into by Bro. Martin Delany with
The ‘Origin and Objects of Ancient Freemasonry; Its Introduction into
the United States and Legitimacy Among Colored Men’, which was
published in 1853. Bro. Samuel Clark of the M.W.P.H.G.L. of Ohio,
published his ‘Negro Mason in Equity’, which was included in the
Grand Lodge proceedings in 1866. This was later put into pamphlet form
and distributed throughout the country. Then we have Bro. William
Upton's book and Bro. William H. Grimshaw's ‘Official History of
Freemasonry Among the Colored People in North America’. At the time
this book was published, it was believed to be the true and accurate
history of Prince Hall Freemasonry in America. Many books that were
published concerning Prince Hall Freemasonry after this book, quoted
from Grimshaw's work. As we now know, there were many errors in this
book and thus many others that relied on this inaccurate research. Several Prince Hall
Grand Lodges placed their history in book form. Bro. William H. Parham
and Bro. Jeremiah A. Brown wrote ‘An Official History of the Most
Worshipful Grand Lodge Free & Accepted Masons for the State of Ohio in
1906’. In 1957, ‘Footprints of Prince Hall Masonry in New Jersey’
was written by Bro. Aldrage B. Cooper. Dr. Charles H. Wesley wrote, ‘The
History of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of
the State of Ohio 1849-1971’. Books were not the only way Prince Hall Masons
shared their research with the Masonic world. In 1943, Prince Hall
Freemasonry had its first Lodge of Research formed in the jurisdiction
of New York. Bro. Harry A. Williamson along with others formed this
Lodge of Research, which was called "PHLORONY." Thirty years later, Bro.
Joseph A. Walkes, Jr. along with active and retired U.S. Military
Personnel formed the Phylaxis Society. This Research society would for
years be the leading voice in Prince Hall Freemasonry and would help
start the process of Masonic recognition of Prince Hall Freemasonry. We now find ourselves in a new age of Prince Hall
Research. The Majority of books that were published concerning the
Craft, dealt with the legitimacy of Prince Hall Freemasonry. We now find
Brothers researching other subjects relating to universal Masonry. With
the advent of the Internet and e-mail, we now have many online Masonic
Research lists that continue to spread the Light. Our research
forefathers would be welled pleased. Teach Masonry! I remain, Fraternally Yours
Antonio O. Caffey President - Dr. Charles H. Wesley Masonic
Research Society
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The Editor’s Desk
The Mouth to Ear EDUCATION:
The Secretary/Editor’s Desk
Welcome to the first issue of the Masonic Voice
Magazine for 2002! We were
happy to discover and excited to announce that we are boasting nearly a
99% return on Affiliate Research Members who receive this magazine. I
hope that means our members are enjoying their publication here and not
simply pandering to us as this years charity case, but that would also
be acceptable Over the next two issue’s the ‘Wesley Room’ will
feature the results of a poll taken online with a population of
Freemasons who fit into the so-called ‘Generation X’ box. We asked them many questions concerning their expectations
of Freemasonry.
This is the type of feedback we need to hear so we can better fit
our institution for the future.
Dr. Brock H. Winters and myself completed the work on this piece. I’d like to thank everyone who
submitted original research to this issue, especially Associate Research
Member Daniel L. Matthews, who presents to us a wonderful biography of a
Brother whom many have never heard of. If you would like to receive back
issues of the magazine to distribute and promote at your meetings,
please contact me and I’ll mail them to you - at no cost. We have issues Two and Four of 2001 available for
promotion. Enjoy! David L. Gray, Editor
The Mouth To Ear
Due, in great part, to the hard work and vision of Most Worshipful Grand
Master Sidney D. Broadnax Sr. (MWPHGL of Ohio) and Right Worshipful Bro
Murray L. Yaxley, PDGM; GMOH of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania, as of late
February 2002, the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio is in full amity
and recognition with all seven regular Grand Lodge in Australia and New
Zealand. According to the
research complied at
http://www.bessel.org/pha.htm, this would be the first PH Grand
Lodge to accomplish the feat of entering into fraternal relations with
all seven. In the Second Quarter Masonic
Voice of 2001, we published an article by Tony Pope that was entitled,
‘Why Bother with Overseas Recognition’. We hope other Prince Hall Grand
Masters also read that article and be encouraged to allow their members
the opportunity to travel as a regular Freemasons and be able to be
received as such anywhere in the world, and to also empower their lodges
to have the privilege of welcoming into their Lodge Halls, Brothers from
all regular Masonic jurisdictions.
In a historic precedent set by a Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Most
Worshipful Grand Master Sidney D. Broadnax Jr. of Ohio, announced that
due to ‘uncertain economic and environmental conditions’, that the Ohio
Prince Hall Grand Lodge will NOT hold it’s annual session in the city of
Cincinnati, Ohio in August of 2002 as scheduled. Various local groups have issued
an economic boycott on the city of Cincinnati stemming from the killing
of an unarmed Black male by a police officer in 2001, which lead to
riots, curfews and increased racial tension in the southwest Ohio city. Grand Master Broadnax made it
clear that his Grand Lodge was not under any circumstances honoring or
supporting any boycotts, but only respecting the interest and welfare of
the nearly 5,000 Freemasons under his jurisdiction. The Annual Session has been relocated to be held in the
Capitol city of Columbus, Ohio.
The Annual Meeting of the Dr. Charles H. Wesley
Masonic Research Society was held March 9th, 2002 in the City
of Columbus, Ohio. All
officers were re-elected for another term and Jimmie E. Johnson (RM10)
was appointed as Associate Editor.
Dr. William A Gasper {ARM17} (New Mexico) and Emanuel J. Stanley
{ARM18} (Maryland) were accepted as new Associate Research Members of
the society. You heard it here first! Word has it that Prince Hall Freemasonry will have its
FIRST
and ONLY Lodge of Research in nearly half a century sometime this
summer. The Dr. Charles H.
Wesley Masonic Research Society wishes you all our best and will aid and
assist you however we can!
We can’t wait to announce your coming out! | |||||||||