026: An Evening with Bro. "Iceman"

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Back in November I had the opportunity to sit down with M.W. Bro. Jerry Butler. Bro Butler is one of the founding members of the Impressions, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, A Past Grandmaster of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge in Illinois, and a Cook County Board Commissioner. He is also a wise, compassionate and wickedly funny guy.

I went to see him to learn more about how Prince Hall Masonry differs from my own. What I found is that we many more similarities than differences. Special thanks to Bro. Butler, to Bro. Ryan Priester, To the guys of North Star Lodge No. 1 and to Arc Music for granting permission to play some of Jerry's Music. If you'd like to explore, it can be found on the iTunes Music Store

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Comments

[Jeff Dye]

Eric I love the show and enjoy your zeal for the craft. This episode was a great one. Prince Hall has always interested me. Maybe it is because my Grand Lodge the MW Grand Lodge of Connecticut and The MW Grand Lodge of Prince Hall Connecticut were the first to recognize each other the year before I was made a Mason. When I was raised the MW Grand Master PHA was there one of my employees at the time was high up in Prince Hall York Rite and brought him to my raised. Have enjoyed my meetings with PHA Masons and have been to their Lodges many times.

Now to my comments on the formation of PHA while I will not argue that there was a fair amount of racism evolved there was also quite a bit of Masonic Law and Jurisprudence. At the formation of the United States there were as in England competing Grand Lodges they did not recognized each other and there was a great amount of enmity among them. At the end of the American Revolution the Masons in each State started to form there own Grand Lodges. The Mother Grand Lodges in Europe encouraged there American Lodge to join the American Grand Lodges but many did allow Lodges to remain loyal to the European Grand Lodges. Now Price Hall was not made to feel welcome in the Mass GL so he stayed with England. Now the fun starts PH stopped paying dues to England so England Dropped them from there rolls. So now PH belongs to no GL and are thus clandestine. They could have stayed with the GL of E and we would have recognized them since we recognized the GLofE or at least parts of it. The Unified Grand Lodge of England did not come about I think until the 18teens. In Connecticut we did not get it all worked out completely until the late 1800's. So at the formation of PHA there was a great deal of confusion in Masonry as to who was and was not clandestine. All European Masons did not even get along. So while there was racism African Lodge did not have to go it alone, they could have stayed under the GLofE.

Fraternally,

Bro. Jeffrey E. Dyer PM
Orange Lodge #143 A.F.&A.M.
MWGL of CT

[A.C.]

Bro. Dyer you are so SEVERELY wrong about the history of African Lodge #459. After 1813, when the Modern and Antient Grand Lodges of England united, ALL of the remaining US lodges under their jurisdictions were dropped. So don't single out African Lodge #459. I guess the lodges that helped start the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, AF&AM were clandestine because they were dropped too huh? No. It was customary of those times for the lodges on US soil to help start other lodges and form Grand Lodges.

Please read "Who Are These Prince Hall Masons?" by noted Masonic Author Allen E. Roberts. He dispels some of the old myths that have been passed down through the years.

at
http://www.indianafreemasons.com/imomiddle/prince.html

Thank You,

Bro. Adrian Cooley
Union Lodge U.D.
MWPHGL of IL

[Aaron G. Brown]

It should also be noted in this discussion that there was miscommunication between African Lodge #459 and the UGLE because of the Napoleonic Wars, no Lodge could get there correspondence through to the UGLE and yes, ALL lodges were dropped from the rolls. Additionally, Prince Hall Masonry holds the only American Charter given by the United Grand of England by his Majesty the Prince of Wales etc. I have read many falsehoods and misperceptions concerning Prince Hall Masonic History and I urge those persons to educate themselves on this great institution.

Brother Aaron G. Brown
Alpha and Omega Lodge #121
MWPHGL of Illinois

[Bro. Wilson]

Why do Prince Hall masons attack John g. Jones masons? John g. Jones had left Prince Hall masonry 8 years before he was supposedly expelled. How can you fire someone who has found another job 8 years before?