The guardian., 1951-07-14

AHCleut ACcepL6ur tScOtllSn Kite
Degrees. Illustrious Bro. Jean
Baptiste P. Desable soon after
ward left the island of Santa
Domingo and emigrated to the
United States.
He landed in Chicago, July
4, 1779. Bro. Desable was a man
Of considerable wealth. This
colored man was the first colored
mason Of the Ancient Accepted
Scottish Rite in the u. S. A. He
was also the first colored man
to settle in the City of Chicago
(Read the Masonic History Of
Illinois by J. Blainey). / have in
my possession a note from the
Chicago Public Library estab.
fishing Bro. Desable's residence
there. The patent Of authority
that was in the possession of
Illustrious Jean Baptist P.
Desable, as received from the
Supreme Council of France. was
placed in the possession Of Illus
trious John G. Jones. Sss of
Chicago Illinois, who was Scv-
ereign Grand Commander Of the
United Supreme Council. An.
cient Accepted Scottish Rite
Masons, in the United States OF
America. Through that author
ity Illustrious John G. Jones was
recognized to be the Masonic
head Of the legitimate and law
ful Ancient Accepted Scottish
Rite as practised in this country
by Masons Of the Colored race.
We have in our records much
printed data to bear out the fact
that the said III. John G. Jones
So, did attend the world Ma
sonic Congress in Luxembourg
In 1912, and not only did he at
tend the Congress, he was seated
as delegate representing the
Colored A. F. & A. M. Masons
in the U. S. A.
we have in our possession the
record Of a communication from
lie Sup, Cons. du Grand Duchy
de Luxembourgh," properly
dated, a portion which reads as
follows; This is to certify that
we authorize Brother James r.
Small, general Grand Secretary
to treat and settle for us all oues-
tons T.. in order to regulate
the organization of the coaored
Masonry in the United States
and its dependencies, so as to
create a unity like that which is
in the Masonry among white
brethren. Brother James r.
Small, the brother who was Sc
lected by the brethren in Luxem-
boursh for that important assign
ment, was the first Grand Secre-
tary Of M. w. Alpha Grand Lodge
from which this Grand
Lodge has originated.
Upon these facts and other
pertinent ones, too numerous to
be included in a limited time
rests our foundation. As q re-
suit of these facts, we possess a
rich heritage. We shall de-
fend this heritage; not with |
but with sobriety. Not
with malice, but with love. The
love of God in the. hearts of
man; that love which passeth all
understanding; that love which
is the bedrock Of Freemasonry:
that love which had inspired the
Ancient Brethren and gave them
the wisdom by which, and
through which, they transplant
ed their Rites and Customs. first
on Continental France that Love
which motivated the Supreme
Council of France-that beloved
country - to spread the Ancient /
Rites on the face of the globe.
God was in the heart of the
men of that Supreme Council. II
was He who gave them the wis
dom to commission Inspector
General Stephen Norm and en-
power him to spread the Ancient |
Accepted Scottish to the ends of |
the world. God was in the heart ]
Of Brother NORM, who, by the /
power vested in him by his Su- |
preme Council, conferred the |
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite |
degrees upon Brother Jean Bap- |
tiste p. Desable and obtained for
him Brother Desable) the same
right and authority that was
given to Brother NORM in con-
ferring the Ancient Degrees. It
was the Providence of that same
never-failing Jehovah. by whose
grace III. Jones G. Jones of Chi
cago, H., came into possession of
that original authoritative pat
ent, handed down by the Su-
preme Council of France.
God was in the hearts of the
early brethren here in Massa-
chusetts who. refusing to be
daunted. sought out III. John C.
Jones. Grand Master Of NJ. W.
ST. John Grand Lodge Of Illinois.
who headed and set right
M. w Alpha GranI Lodge. now,
as Of July. 1949, and from hence
forth, M. w. Hiram Grand Lodge.
A. F. & A. NJ, Inc. It was that
same neverfailing Omnipotent
Jehovah who preserved this
Grand Jurisdiction through its
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