The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1947-07-05


Domingo, and conferred the De-
grees Of the Ancient Accepted
Scottish Rite upon Illustrious
Bro. Jean Baptiste P. Desable,
then, at Santa Domingo, with
authority from the Supreme
Council of France. III. Ste
phen NORM, Deputy for the Su-
preme Council OF France, then
recommended and requested
that body to authorize and EN-
power the III. Bro. Jean Bap-
tiste P. Desable to establish the
order in the USA with the right
to confer the Ancient Accepted
Scottish Degrees. III. Bro. Jean
Baptiste P. Desable soon after
ward left the Island Of Santa
Domingo and emigrated to the
United States.
He landed in the City Of
Chicago, July 4, 1873. Bro. Des-
able was a man of considerable
wealth. This colored man was
THE FIRST COLORED MASON
OF THE ANCIENT ACCEPTED
SCOTTISH RITE in the USA.
:. He was also the first colored
man to settle in the City Of Chi
cago. (Read the Masonic History
of Illinois by J. Blaney).
THE PATENT OF AUTHOR
TTY THAT WAS IN THE POS
SESSION OF ILL. JEAN BAP-
TLSTE P. DESABLE received
from the Supreme Council of
France has been placed in the
possession Of Ill. John G. Jones,
33rd, of Chicago, III. +. who was
Sovereign Grand Commander Of
the United Supreme Council,
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite
Masons, in the United States OF
America. Through that author
ity, III. John G. Jones, is rec
ognized to be the Masonic head
Of the Legitimate and Lawful
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite
Masons in this country"
We have in our possession a
book which sets forth and
|. proves conclusively that Ill. John
G. Jones, 33rd, was the first
han-white or colored-to re-
ceive authority from the Grand
Imperial 'Potentate of the Order
Of the Mystic Shrine in Arabia
where the Order was founded
and inStituted-to institute and
set up Temples of the Order OF
the Mystic Shrine in America
The book makes it clearly
understood that temples insti-
tuted without the authority OF
III, John G. Jones or his success
sors, are spurious and clandes-
tine"
We have seen much printed
data to bear out the fact that
said III. John G. Jones, 33rd., did
attend the world Masonic Cong
ress in Luxembourg in 1912; and
not only did he attend, he was
seated as a delegate represent
ing the colored A. F.&A.M. Ma
sons in the USA.
We have in our records a com
munication from lie. Sup. Gems
du Grand Duche de Luxen-
bourg," properly dated, a part o.
which reads as follows This L
to certify that we authorize Bro
James r, Smal, general granc
secretary, to treat and settle fol-
us all questions in order tt
regulate the organization of the
colored Missionary in the United
States and its dependencies, 5,
as to create a unity like thai
which is in the white Missionary.
Bro. James r. Small, the BIC
who was selected by the Broth
rem in Luxembourg for that i'm.
| portant assignment, was tht
first grand secretary of M. W
Alpha Grand Lodge oul
Grand Lodge.
Upon these facts and Other
pertinent ones rest our founda-
ton. AS a result of these fact
we possess a rich heritage
we shall defend this heritage
not with Dragging, but with Sc.
briefly; not with malice, but witt
love the love OF God in tht
hearts of man; that love whicf
| passeth all understanding; thai
love which is the bedrock o.
Freemasonary; that love whics
inspired the Ancient Brethren
and gave them the wisdom by
which, and through which they
transplanted their Rites anc
Customs first on Continental
France: that love which mott
waited the Supreme Council Of
that beloved country to spread
the AncientS Rites all over the
earth.
God was in the hearts Of the
men of that Supreme Council
| n ufnS Jn who gave them he