The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-10-09
Fifty Years
of Masonry
BY Joe e. Herrlford, p. M.
Chapter a.

that the M. w. Grand Lodge was to
hold a session in their midst. For
several years Wilkerson lodge No. 26
had encouraged its ambitions toward
this end, and during one whole year
had worked to make the event one
worthy of its Importance.
1t was on Tuesday, Aug. 81, 1877,
at 10 a. M, that the Grand Lodge
was opened in room at the corner
of Second and Felix streets, with
Grand Master Alexander Clark presid-
ing. The Grand Master must have
felt great deal of pleasure in well
coming such large delegation at sat
before him upon this occasion. He
had seen the institution grow from
very small beginning to one not ex-
celled in. number and influence by any
organized body of Negroes in the coun-
try. Most of all, it had record of
most positive devotion to the pure and
undefiled tenets of Free Masonry.
With Grand Master Clark the institu-
tion was a ruling passion. He was
man of unusual judgment, energy and
devotion. He was a remarkable man
as viewed from all personal attributes,
real Christian, real leader and a
real friend. The personal friendship
and confidence which mutually exist
ed between him and Moses Dickson
and the unselfish manner in which
they worked together for the good of
the craft has set a fine example for
all time, and will never be surpassed
even if equaled in our records:
Nor should we fail to note the high
character of manhood and scholar
ship of Grand Secretary Willis N.
Brent, who was at all times a strong
pillar of strength to the Grand Mas
ter and the Grand Lodge. If the
Grand Lodge of Missouri has ever had
the services of a better Grand Secre-
tary and more profound and scholar
ly Masonic reviewer than was Broth
er Brent, the records do not reveal
it. He was peculiarly gifted with
those personal graces which made
him valuable man and those per
feet attainments which made him an
indispensable factor in the work of
the institution. Not only the Grand
Lodge of Missouri but the entire body
of Masonry will ever owe to him
debt of gratitude for services, the
value of which can never be meas.
ured.
At this meeting there also came the
ever faithful Brother H. H. Jones, still
wi xurifh fn61u n1 x1rnr
There came Brother George w. Du-
pee, then Junior Grand Warden, now
hoary with years and with a record
of untarnished Masonic valor; there
was Brother P. A. Hubbard, real
Christian Mason, who afterwards rose
high in his church and was cut down
at the height of his ambition. There
was Brother James A. Abbey not so
conspicuous, but none the less hon
ored and jealous.
Brother Tom Coleman, whom we all
know, was acting as Grand Tyler.
There were 81 accredited representa-
tives.
The old proxy system was then at
its "high meridian" and the Grand
Master not only held thirty-six votes
delegated from lodges, but twenty-one
assigned by past masters. These, with
his own four votes for grand stations,
gave him total of 81 votes in the
Grand Lodge. In this manner he was
closely followed by Brothers Brent,
Stokes, Ricketts, and H. H. Jones.
The Grand Masters address came
on the second day, and was fine pro-
duction, even if quite similar to pre-
vious efforts. That was the Clark
brand of individuality, even to the
point of for the third time in success
sion submitting the same list of rec
concentrations. 1t seemed that the
Grand Lodge could never get around
to the point of giving these fraternal
offerings positive treatment and time
only increased the confidence which
the Grand Master had in his own
judgment Alexander Clark was no
gutter.
With wise foresight the Grand Mas
ter measured the evils of intemperance
and kindred weaknesses and he did
not hesitate to speak of these in most
forcible terms. He feared, too, that
the greed for numbers might weaken
the institution by the infusion of i'm
proper material. There was no law
at that time governing the discipline
of those who refused to pay dues in
subordinate lodges, and the Grand
Master again discussed the need of
such legislation. 1t was pointed out
that many Masons in the jurisdiction
owed as much as $50 each and stead
fastly refused to pay any part of the
same, evidently claiming that Mason
ry, like salvation. should be free.
The Grand Master had handled $5O4
during the year in his official ca
pacity, but it took over SIC more to
meet the expense account he sub
mitted..
1t appears that when the Grand
Lodge decided to leave the National
Grand Lodge, the lodge at Weston.
No. 4S, refused to go, and surrendered
its warrant. Though indebted to the
Missouri body, it went over to the
Matthews King Solomon Grand Lodge
in Gansas. Matthews had been flirt-
ing with his old friends in Missouri
and had gotten a sort of recognition
in spite Of the fact that our Grand
Lodge had also recognized the inde-