Our True History - Prince Hall A.F. & A.M. of Florida

Inscription on the Headstone

Hon Charles C. Manigault 33°, Oct. 8, 1869 - Nov 17, 1940. Founder organizer & First Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F&AM of Florida, Inc. Acting under and by the authority of a facsimile charter granted to Prince Hall by the Grand Lodge of England in 1784 Organized the M.W.P.H.G.L. in 1909 Re-affirmed in August 1910 Served as Grand Master 1911-1913 State Chartered Sept. 15, 1925 AF&AM Chartered Nov. 4, 1936 Erected Jan. 19, 1986 by the M.W.P.H.G.L., AF&AM Roland D Baker Jr Grand Master. See: Charles C. Manigualt's Original Grave

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A Time for Change - How It Started

In 1909, Prince Hall freemasonry in Florida was undergoing strenuous times at the realms of something that pegged as, “Dickersonism”. Dickersonism was a reflection of Grand Master John Henry Dickerson’s bossism and lynch law leadership. Our Illustrious Brother C.C. Manigault, the Masonic Benevolence Associate Secretary, Deputy Grand Master Solomon G. Baker and several other Grand Lodge officer withdrew from the Most Worshipful Union Grand Lodge and formed the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F & AM of Florida.

As John Dickerson began loosely spending the Masonic Benevolent Association Funds, Charles C. Manigualt and several other Grand Lodge officers challenged him on his careless spending. Dickerson became outraged began suspending and expelling hundreds masons and sisters.

His heavy handed rule soon led to the idea of forming a new Grand Lodge in Florida which is known the schism of 1909. This effort was led by Charles C. Manigualt with several other Key Grand Lodge Officers and subordinate lodges to withdraw from the Most Worshipful Union Grand Lodge.

In 1909, Dickerson attempted to expel John R. Scott and threaten MAGM Sallie King to follow the Grand Lodge. After her refusal in 1910, he withdrew recognition from the Most Worshipful Union Grand Court and Sallie L. King, Most Ancient Grand Matron, expelling John R. Scott, Jr. Grand Venerable Patron who later became the United Grand Court that affiliated with the new Grand Lodge Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F&AM, Inc. in 1909 by the Fathers in years passed and gone.

As Dickerson became more engulfed in czar like leadership a schism was created in Bethlehem Grand Chapter and disgruntled Sister pled with the new Grand Lodge to organize a an OES Grand Chapter so Manigault convened a several chapters in Tampa, Florida on June 11, 1911 and established the Royal Grand Chapter OES; Dickerson was successful in erecting the Grand East in 1912 but the jurisdiction was at an all new low.

The Grand Lodge was initially organized the M.W.P.H.G.L. in 1909 and re-affirmed its existence in August in 1910. C.C. Manigault served as the Grand Master of the new body from 1911-1913. The Grand Lodge became Incorporated with the State of Florida in 1925 and received recognition from the John G. Jones General Masonic Congress on November 4, 1936.

 

The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Florida, Incorporated was founded in October 1909 in Jacksonville, Florida. At the confiscation of a facsimile copy of the Prince Hall Charter granted by the Grand Lodge of England in 1784 from the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. The facsimile charter was given to the Prince Hall Masons of Florida under the Most Worshipful Union Grand Lodge, F&AM after the merger of 1878 of the Most Worshipful Sovereign Grand Lodge of 1870 and Union Grand Lodge of National Compact in 1875 which formed the Most Worshipful Union Grand Lodge of Florida F&AM.

Brother Manigault was elected the first 1st Grand Master of the Florida Inc. Upon the organizing of the Grand Lodge, Grand Master Manigault extended recognition to several of the affiliated bodies and auxiliaries’. The administration guaranteed free rights to the bodies to run their own departments and a chance to practice the adoptive rite as sovereign organization.

Among the female bodies the Union Grand Court Most Ancient Grand Matron Sallie L. King and Grand Venerable Patron John R. Scott, Jr., and the entire Grand Court joined ranks with the new Grand Lodge. The Grand Court changed its name to United Grand Court to cut ties with Dickerson.

The Official Schism - Resolution

On Friday June 3rd, 1910, Grand Master J.H. Dickerson had Brother W.A. Glover to read such parts of the annual proceedings of A.D. 1909 as related to the Heroines of Jericho Court, showing the relation to the Most Worshipful Union Grand Lodge of Florida. The Grand Master appointed Brothers W.A. Glover, George W. Parker, John Tillman, R.T. Gordon and David Daniel Powell and Rueben B. Brooke as a committee to draft a suitable resolution declaring the office of Grand Venerable Patron of the Grand Court of Florida vacant. The said committee retired and the Grand Lodge engaged in discussion on the matter. The committee soon returned and reported the following resolution:

Whereas, the officers of the present Grand Court of Heroines of Jericho in the persons of Mrs. Sally L. King, Most Ancient Grand Matron, and Brother John R. Scott, Jr. Grand Venerable Patron, have acted out of harmony in open defiance of the authority of this Grand Lodge and of the Grand Master as the representative head of our Grand Lodge;

Therefore be it Resolved, that the office now held by Brother John R. Scott, be declared vacant and that the Rev. S.J. Patterson be and is hereby appointed and confirmed by the Grand Lodge as Grand Venerable Patron of the Heroines of Jericho of Florida. And we recommend that a copy of the laws and regulations held by this Grand Lodge insuring the fraternal and friendly relations of the Grand Lodge for the Grand Court of the Heroines of Jericho be sent to Mrs. Sally King for her guidance in this matter, and the support of this Grand Lodge be given her and the Grand Court of the Heroines of Jericho; provided she is willing to submit to the authority of this Grand Lodge and cooperate with Rev. Samuel Joseph Patterson as Grand Venerable Patron. If not, she is to be succeeded by an appointment of the Grand Master.

Resolved, that we hereby sustain the former actions of the Grand Master in his dealings with Brother John R. Scott, Jr. and the suspension by the Grand Master be sustained. Resolved, that each Deputy and Worshipful Master, cooperate with Rev. S.J. Patterson in keeping courts tyled against him (John R. Scott).

Committee---- W.A. Glover chairman, R.B. Brooke George secretary, G. W. Parker, D.D. Powell, W.M. Taylor, John Tillman, R.P. Pougue, R.T. Gordon; Brother E.W. Larkin moved its adoption. The motion was seconded by Brother W.D. Thomas. The Grand Master put the question and called for a rising vote, which was unanimously carried and the Grand Master declared the resolution unanimously adopted.

Upon refusing to sign the oath of fealty to the M.W.U.G.L., MAGM Sallie King and the entire cabinet Union Grand Court and many courts withdrew from under the protection of the Most Worshipful Union Grand Lodge and aligned with the newly established Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge in 1910 as the United Grand Court. Needless to say, Grand Master Dickerson expelled her cabinet appointing an entirely new cabinet for Union Grand Court and proceeded with business as usual.

This Landmark is of utter importance as many prominent Masonic authors have written numerous subjects on the ancient customs of recognizing another brother mason upon strict trial and due examination or either lawful information. We cannot deny a brother who is often tried, never denied, and willing to be tried again; only will he be denied if he has not been made in due form in a regularly constituted lodge.

Since the days of old, recognition is unwritten in our Landmarks because it is a permanent fixture of our fraternity, universal, and of considerable antiquity. It is by this law that the universal chain of brotherhood extends from the earth to the heavens. In that, we recognize all masonic brothers that have entered the doors of freemasonry in search of light and we deny them not the benefits of our illustrious companionship as brethren of the craft.