Washington State and the Charge Against Clandestine Freemasonry pt. 5

The Masonic Community Monitor, April 1999, front page 

We continue this series of articles with the years 1990-1999. I will begin this by citing a quote from part 4:"Beginning in 1986, we find that Past Grand Master, MW Charles Stubblefield prophetic, in that we discover, in the 1986-89 Proceedings, no significant entry by the Committee on Non-Prince Hall masons. There was a report given in 1986, but orally. From 1987-99, we find NO REPORT, and NO COMMITTEE."[1]

According to the 1989 Proceedings of the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington, in the  listing of Official Correspondences of Past Grand Master, MW Kenneth Swannigan, written January 31, 1989:

"To: P.G.M. James W. Davis (Non-Prince Hall Commission); Re-directing the commission focus on attempts to resolve the issue(s) between Prince Hall Masons and the Sons-of-Haiti."[2]

So, we are surprised to find that there is no references to the Commission on Non-Prince Hall Masons, and no other reports concerning any activities of Clandestine Masonry but the report of the Grand Master (Kenneth Swannigan) on the Conference of Grand Masters, 1990, which he stated:

"There appears to be some concerns expressed that we, Prince Hall Masons, should be making more progress towards bringing Afro-American Non-Prince Hall Masons into the fold. While I support the concept of total fraternal relationship and brotherhood, it is clear that the wounds that separate us as Prince Hall and Non-Prince Hall Masons are deeper, infectious and will require more time to heal."[3]

In 1991 we still find no reference to the Commission or any report of the Commission. Yet in 1992, we find Past Grand Historian, WB Clemon L. Modisett presenting the following:

pg. 79, 1992 Grand Historian Report, MWPHGL of WA[4]

pg. 80, 1992 Grand Historian Report, MWPHGL of Wa

There were no other reports until the year 1997, where we find the full report on the Sons-of-Haiti[5], and the beginning of the process to absorb the group that had been since the 60's:

pg.113, 1997 Proceedings,  Report on Sons-of-Haiti

pg. 114, 1997 Proceedings,  Report on Sons-of-Haiti

pg. 115, 1997 Proceedings,  Report on Sons-of-Haiti

pg. 116, 1997 Proceedings,  Report on Sons-of-Haiti

Even without the 1998 Proceedings we still find significant activity for the year in the form of the Official Correspondence of the Grand Master, begin with a December 8th letter written from MW William C. Rheubottom to Bro. Russell Smith, regarding a proposal to absorb the Sons-of-Haiti[6]. This continues with more correspondence proposing actions to finalize a process that seemed to take  almost 30 years to complete:

"Feb. 3 (1998) To All Past Most Worshipful Grand Masters, re: Notification of healing ceremony for the former Sons-of-Haiti organization.[7]"

This was followed up by a February 27th Correspondence to the Jurisdiction that announced a "healing ceremony of the former Sons-of-Haiti.[8]" We know that ALL of the members of the Sons-of-Haiti members were healed based on the March 23rd letter sent to "The Skeleton Group of Sons of Haiti" that warned them about illegally operating as Sons-of Haiti Grand Lodge in Washington.[9] There were also 1999 Correspondences of January 30th, placing the former Sons-of-Haiti into Headquarters Lodge #75[10]. April 19th an Edict went out declaring the healing of the Sons-of-Haiti. Those members that were healed became a Lodge under dispensation designated as "Perseverance Lodge U.D." under the supervision of  DAL Kenneth Anthony, who visited, advised and monitored the newly healed lodge for 60 days.[11]This mentorship proved valuable, it was in the 1999 Annual Communication that Perseverance Lodge UD received its charter, and was now Perseverance lodge #103[12]:

 pg. 81, 1999 Proceedings of MWPHGL of WA

pg. 82, 1999 Proceedings of MWPHGL of Wa

Perseverance Lodge gained all the rights and privileges of all regular and recognized lodges worldwide. Perseverance Lodge #103 is still operating and in good standing to this day. Later in the 1999 Proceedings we find the full report on the Sons-of-Haiti[13]:

pg. 85, 1999 Proceedings report on the Sons-of-Haiti

pg. 86, 1999 Proceedings report on the Sons-of-Haiti

So, 1999 ends with a strong lodge being added to the fold, and the Jurisdiction ridding itself of another clandestine group. We will continue the next part going from 2000-the present. be sure to check out the other 4 parts to this series. And be sure to subscribe to receive notifications of new posts to the blog.

End notes:

1. Washington State and the Charge Against Clandestine Masonry Pt. 4, Honorable John L. Hairston, May 24th, 2013 entry.

2. Proceedings of the 86th Annual Communication of the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington and Jurisdiction, 1989, Official Correspondences of the Grand Master, pg. 17 

3. Proceedings of the 87th Annual Communication of the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington and Jurisdiction, 1990, Grand Master's Address, pg. 6

4. Proceedings of the 89th Annual Communication of the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington and Jurisdiction, 1992, Grand Historian's Report, pg. 79-80

5. Proceedings of the 94th Annual Communication of the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington and Jurisdiction, 1997, Annual Report of the Special Commission on the Sons-of-Haiti, pg. 113-116

6. Proceedings of the 96th Annual Communication of the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington and Jurisdiction, 1999, Official Correspondences of the Grand Master, pg. 23

7. Ibid., pg. 24

8. Ibid., pg. 24

9. Ibid., pg. 25

10. Ibid., pg. 28

11. Ibid., pg. 27

12. Ibid., pg. 81-82

13. Ibid., pg. 85-86