Prince Hall Masons lodge marks 107th anniversary | Opinion
The C.C. Russell Lodge No. 262 of the Prince Hall Masons of East Tennessee celebrated its 107th anniversary with an awards dinner and dance at Buddy's Banquet Hall on Aug. 19. The lodge and its sister organization, the Wheeler Leona Chapter No. 232 of the Order of the Eastern Star, have a long history of recognizing civic responsibility. At the dinner they paid tribute to Knoxville News Sentinel journalist Angela Dennis, Clarence Swearengen of Real Talk Mentoring, Beck Cultural Exchange Center President Rene Kesler; and me.
Named for the Rev. C.C. Russell, who was pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church here in Knoxville from 1882 to 1902, the lodge was chartered Aug. 11, 1916. Through the years members have rendered support to Knoxville College, Project Grad, the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, the Knoxville Area Urban League, several Knox County schools and other organizations. They continue to adhere to the civic work of their first Grand Master, Prince Hall (1738-1807).
The first Black Masonic lodge, Meridian No. 4, was organized in Knoxville in 1870 by the Rev. George Washington LeVere, who pastored Shiloh Presbyterian Church from 1866 to 1884. He and 10 other prominent men who chartered it were named in the Daily Chronicle of Nov. 27, 1870. They were William Howell, Dr. J.B. Young, William Nelson, William F. Yardley, Edward Livingston, William L. Brooks, Charles Scott, Alexander Sterricks, John Johnson and George W. Johnson. Young was one of Knoxville's first two Black physicians, who came here in 1869.
The Chronicle of July 27, 1877, reported, "Dr. LeVere, in retiring from the Tennessee Grand Master's chair, made a few remarks at the Opera House appropriate to the occasion. The Dr. has filled the position of Grand Master five successive times, and had just been elected Most Worshipful Grand Master of the order in the United States, which is the highest office attainable. The session was witnessed by a large select crowd of our colored fellow citizens. The lodge formed a procession about six o'clock in the afternoon and marched through principal streets of the city headed by the Drum Corps of the McGhee Guards."
In announcing his death, the Knoxville Journal of Oct. 17, 1886, said, "The news of the sudden death of the Rev. G.W. LeVere, former pastor of Shiloh Presbyterian Church, was shocking to all who knew him. Numbers could not realize that it was true. But when the news came that the remains would arrive here, the reality ceased to be doubted. He died in Summerville, S.C.
"He was born in Brooklyn, New York, October 2, 1829. He was founder of the Shiloh Presbyterian Church here and was pastor for seventeen years. Internment will be in Daughters of Zion Cemetery."
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The year LeVere died also welcomed the Grand Masonic Lodge of Tennessee back to Knoxville. The Knoxville Journal of July 13, 1886, said, "A special train of eleven coaches bearing members of different lodges from all over the state and their families arrived in this city yesterday evening. The party numbered some six hundred people and will be augmented today by another large crowd from different directions. There were a number of entertainments throughout the city last night."
The public activities were held at Mount Zion Baptist Church and Logan Temple A.M.E. Zion Church. The entertainment included concerts, drill teams and baseball games.
Robert J. Booker is a freelance writer and former executive director of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center. He may be reached at 865-546-1576.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Opinion: Prince Hall Masons lodge marks 107th anniversary
