Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1947-04-25
Masonic Grand Masters
Name Indianan President;
Claim White Recognition

TULSA, Okla. 49, Grand Master
Cornelius X. Richardson Of Indi-
ana was elected president Of the
Grand Masters Conference Of
Prince Hall Masons last Thursday
at the closing session Of a three-day
meeting here. Grand Master Rich
ardson had been serving as acting
president since the death last Au-
gust Of Grand Master John l.. Webb
Of Arkansas.
The conference which met here
as the guest Of Grand Master Amos
7. Hall Of Oklahoma, second vice
president, voted to change Its name
from the International Conference
Of Grand Masters, Grand Seere-
taries, and so forth. TO the Grand
Masters Conference Of Prince Hall
Masons, This change was made TO
establish definitely its identity with
Prince Hall MRsons, and out Of
Difference TO the recent victory Of
the Most Worshipful Prince Hall
Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts,.
Massachusetts, White MasOns
Recognize Group
This recent recognition Of the
Prince Hall Grand Lodge Of Mas
sachusetts by the Grand Lodge Of
Massachusetts, (white) definitely
establishes all Prince Hall Masons
as the only legitimate Masons
among colored people in the United
States.
Grand Master J. Wesley Dobbs
Of Georgia, conference secretary,
reported the following grand lodges
represented:
States Represented
Arkansas, Delaware, District Of
Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indi-
ana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massa-
chusetts. Mississippi, Missouri,
New Jersey, New Mexico, New
York, North Carolina, Oklahoma,
Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia,
West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Included In this representation
were 10 grand masters, deputy
grand masters, grand secretaries,
grand treasurerS. grand lecturers,
and foreign correspondence com
mittee ehairmen, also past officers
in each Of the various positions,
More than 100 delegates represent
ing q Of the 27 grand lodges. mem.
bera Of the conference, were In at.
tendance. There are only 30 Prince
Hall Masonic grand lodges In the
United States and Canada.
Attempt UniAeAtiOn
Much work was done by the con
ference in unifying the program
Of Prince Hall MasOnE In the
United States and Canada. Grand
Master Hall Of Oklahoma, chair
man Of the committee on elandes-
tine Masonry reviewed what legal
steps had been taken 10 bar clandes-
tine Masonry from the Jurisdic-
ton Of Oklahoma and suggested
what could be done In other states.
A legal committee, made up Of
attorney members Of the confer.
ence, was established 70 assist other
Jurisdictions in their fight on DO
gus" Masonry.
The conference closed last Thurs.
day afternoon, 10 meet In Wash
ington, d. C., for its 1913 session,
a. guest Of the Most Worshipful
Prince Hall Grand Lodge 81 the
District Of Columbia. The invitation
was extended by DIR. Melvin J. Key,
grand master Of the District Of
Columbia, on behalf Of the grand
lodge which il meeting next year
in It's centennial communication.
Other officers Of the conference
are: Amos T. Hall, grand master
Of Oklahoma, first vice president:
Morris J. Hicks, grand master Of
Massachusetts, second vice prssI-
dent; J. Wesley Dobbs, grand
master Of Georgia. secretary; DIR.
G. b. Key, grand secretary Of
North Carolina, chaplain: II. Stew.
ard Mann. grand master Of New
Jersey, SsrReant-at-arms; George
W. Smith, deputy grand master Of
Georgia, eh0ristsT. and Rudolf
johnson, past grand lecturer Of
Illinois. director Of publicity.