By Michael T. Anderson, Rt. W. Grand Senior Warden
Grand Master Robert E. Connor, Jr., has tasked Grand Senior Warden Michael T. Anderson to chair a special committee, comprised of the Grand Historian Frank D. Jackson, District Historians and Historians from each Local Lodge. The District Deputies and Worshipful Masters will appoint the District Historians and Local Lodge Historians respectfully.
The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas Museum and Archival Library will be located on the unfinished section of the second floor in the Grand Temple – Ft Worth, Texas and will serve as an archival library and museum depicting the rich cultural legacy of Prince Hall Masonry in Texas and Jurisdictions.
Each District and Local Lodge Historian will be tasked to compile the history of his district and/or local lodge. These historical accounts will be placed in a Grand Lodge History Book that will be available for viewing by all who visit the Grand Temple Museum and Archival Library either in person or experience a virtual tour via the Internet. The History Book’s layout will be so that periodic updates can be easily made so that the historical record can remain current.
The Grand Lodge is also very sensitive to the need to recapture and preserve the histories of the Local Lodges that have been consolidated or are no longer in existence. The Local Lodge Historian will be responsible for researching and compiling the historical record of the Lodges consolidated into their Local Lodge and the District Historian will do the research work for the non-existent Lodges within his jurisdiction.
Each Historical Account should include but not be limited to the following information:
By who and where was the local lodge formed and chartered?
What is the effective date of the Charter?
Who were the first officers and what is the successive line of officers to date?
What are the names of the line of Worshipful Masters and what were their most significant programs / projects?
What has been the impact of these programs on the local community?
Once these histories are compiled, the local lodge should retain a copy in their local archives so that future generations of Master Masons will know from whence they have come.
We are also looking for old paraphernalia, aprons, pictures collars, staffs, and etc. that can be put on exhibit in the museum. Each District Deputy should look through the items that have been collected from the consolidated/non-existent local lodges and see if there is something that you would like to contribute to this endeavor.
In the very near future, our committee will distribute a survey that will serve as a vehicle for each brother to comment and share your thoughts on what you would like to see housed in the Museum or what useful information you think the archival library should collect. The Grand Master has expressed a great desire for the brotherhood to help shape the direction of this project. Brothers having questions, concerns or comments about the Museum and Library Project, should feel free to contact Brother Jackson or myself and when the full committee is stood up, brothers will be able to work through the Local Lodge and District Historians to provide input.
This project will not be an overnight event, and will take hard work, perseverance, time and teamwork to bring it through to fruition. “The journey of a thousand miles begin with the first step” and the establishment of this museum and archival library has the great capacity to one day become one of our greatest assets. It is a proven way to leave a viable historical record, which is our legacy, for our children’s children, our posterity. It will be a place for us to clearly demonstrate who we are and what we are about. Remember “Working Together Works.” God Bless!