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Black History
Early Black Masonry
and Benevolent Societies in Shreveport
by
Professor Willie Burton-Southern University
The development of black Masonic groups in Shreveport after the civil
war originated out of the needs for them to maintain a level of
cohesiveness, self help, and benevolence. Negro Masonry owes its
beginning to Prince Halls, who founded African Lodge No. 1 in 1776,
after he was denied membership in an American lodge because he was
black. Blacks in Shreveport formed mutual aid or benevolent societies
and Masonic groups not only for fraternal reasons, but also to provide
for some of the needs of the members. Dues and fees were collected,
sometimes invested, to pay sick benefits, properly bury their dead,
care for the families of deceased members, and sometimes, educational
needs.
Shreveport had two general Masonic orders, the Prince Hall Masons and
the Scottish Rite Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Many lodge orders
were organized within these two groups, as were related women
auxiliaries. Other fraternal orders included the Elks, the Odd
fellows, and later the Greek social sororities and fraternities.
The local Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons chapter was started
around the 1920s. Some of the founders included Mr. Lafayette Thomas
(one of the first faculty members of
Central
Colored
High School), William A. Brown, Harvey M. Johnson, and Professor
J.W. Reddix (principal of
Mt. Zion Elementary
School).
Three lodges existed before World War II in the Prince Hall order.
They were the
Mt. Lebanon,
Lilly, and the Zion Hill lodges. After the war, the lodges increased
to eight. Prince Hall’s sister organization is the Order of the Easter
Star.
The Scottish Rite A.F. & A.M. Masonic Order was organized in 1869 in
Washington D.C. One local order of this Masonic group was believed to
have been started by Grover C. Williams who served as M.P. Sovereign
Grand Commander from 1925-26 and 1926-28. However, the local Universal
Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. was organized on March 28, 1922 and
incorporated by
Louisiana
on April 4. The Star of Hope Grand Chapter O.E.S. was incorporated the
same month. James Cornelius was the first Grand Master of the
Universal Grand Lodge.
Investments, assessments, and dues provided many necessary funds for
educational scholarships, buildings, civic projects, and charities.
The fraternal order also owned and operated insurance endowments or
departments organized to take care of the needs of members and their
families.
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