Say Brother; Black Fraternal Organizations; 612

Fraternal organizations have been a part of black life in America from the time Prince Hall and 14 other black men were initiated into the Fraternal Order of Masons and 1776. The many fraternal organizations have been founded primarily for their social benefits. There are also some who are making positive changes in the communities in which they exist. Tonight on say brother we will be exploring the history and the role of fraternal organizations in black life. The Masonic Order originated with the building of King Solomon's temple in anxious Egypt. The order was rooted in the timeless principles of architectural construction. Masonic tradition required the strict upholding of the laws regulations and moral character. Philosophically the object of Masonry was search for truth and the understanding of the God who was considered the master builder of the universe. The centuries passed and masonry spread into Europe as the wisdom of Africa traveled north by way of Greece and Rome by the mid 16:00 site. Paul's Lodge of York

England was established and Masonry was on the verge of travelling to the new world. When Prince Hall was initiated into Freemasonry on March 6 1775 it signaled the beginning of the development of masonry among black people in the United States. In its early days. White Masons challenge the authenticity of Prince Hall's African lodge number for 59. However they have never been able to deny that the African had a warrant from the Grand Lodge of England dated September 29 17 84. Following Prince Hall's death the name of the African Grand Lodge changed to Prince Paul Grand Lodge in memory of the man who served to advance the principles of masonry among black Americans. Black masonry in the United States today is comprised of twenty eight Grand Lodges. All of these different lodges derive from the original African Grand Lodge founded by Prince

Hall. In Boston there are three black Masonic organizations. The Prince Hall Grand Lodge the George Washington Carver Grand Lodge and Hiram Grand Lodge the organization remains one created by and for the benefit of Masons. This is not to say that Masons are not active in their communities as individuals and function outside the realm of their fraternity and their position influence and Masonic ties make them very important and effective individuals. I'm Carmen feels your guest host this on so brother this evening and with me in the studio is Mr. Arthur Frederick who is he tells me a 30 second degree Mason and we'll find out what that means. And he's also author of Negro masonry in the United States. Welcome to say brother Mr. Fredericks. Nice to be with you. Tell me how many Masons black Masons are there in the United States yesterday or

today. Well that's a very difficult question to answer because of all the Grand Lodges that there are nationally the membership. Is not a published thing nor is it any one place where you could go to make a list of the members. However it has been stated that there are somewhere between 200 and fifty thousand three hundred and fifty thousand black men who are members of masonry nationally. Let's go back a little bit. To the historical time when Prince Hall received the charter and began recruiting Masons in the 18th century. What did it mean for. A black person to be a Mason in those days or what was the advantage. Well what it meant for a black man was that as you said in the title free and accepted it meant that a black man had a free

mind a free will that he was not a slave. When he was in the in his May sonic Lalage because there were no slaves there were no men on the bondage there. They were only free men who were able to think freely control their own actions freely and do the things that they really wanted to do with the old feeling as if they were cumbered by anything. Now we understand there are white Masons and there are black Masons. And at first the Prince Hall lodge was challenge his not being authentic. What is the status today or the Prince Hall Masons recognized as Masons are all over the country or are they are we still separate. Well common today it really doesn't make any difference whether they're recognized or not. Because the Prince Hall affiliation they do have the charter. That's a recognized fact everyone understands that. And that's

sort of like beating a dead horse. The talk about the child 1976. Well I guess what I would like to ask to is different national conventions or their meetings are they interracial or do the Prince Hall Masons have a conclave in Philadelphia and the white Masons. Well I don't know what the white Masons do I'm not affiliated with I'm not associated with them. They do have a publication that they put out this they say that they do not discriminate according to race color creed national origin or sex. And I know we don't discriminate. However you do have to make out an application and there are ways of doing something. But. We have never knowingly discriminate and I guess the way Mesa's I don't know what they do. You have to get in touch with them. Many of us think of Masons or at least when I think of Masons I remember

during my childhood the parades men with huge box hats tassels friendship and go medallions I think of women in white dresses with with box hats and we hear whispered about the first degree and second degree and excess what While all of the paraphernalia you what do these symbols mean. Comment The brothers here you refer to those beautiful faces box heads would be too pleased with you. Those are the faces that are worn by the Shriners. And which ever the national convention of the shrine is hailed then they do have the street parade where the various shrine units have an opportunity to go out in the street and the public has an opportunity to see the beautiful black men in the various cadences and the various drill teams do you. The motorcycle units the

motor patrols the horses and all of that type of thing. The Masons you would only normally see would be on St. John's day when they would parade from some particular place to a church. And that is usually led by by the Grand Master. And then you would see the masons in line behind them. Usually by and large or by jurisdiction in that particular Grand Lodge jurisdiction. The way it's a grandmaster if I can and the Grand Master of the Prince Hall affiliation of which I am a member is James E.. Tail I mean what is his duties that over all its chairman that he is the authority for the Prince Hall Mason mean in this jurisdiction. He is the authority the Grand Master is the supreme authority. Go ahead.

So on St. John's day then you get an opportunity to see the man out. The degrees they are. The level of attainment. That a brother would have acquired so that. You mean like first degree means beginning my first degree would be a beginning second degree would be a little above that third degree would be a little above that. The third degree that would make you a Master Mason indeed you would go on up the ladder to an alternate degree thirty thirty thirty third and thirty third degree is the highest degree. And how is it determined when you're ready to move from one degree to the next. It's by the proficient see that you obtain in Masonry. And this is a taint by primarily word of mouth or in the oral tradition of learning where one person tells it to another.

It's not written there is no book anywhere. Anyone could buy that would really tell them what Masonry is. It must be told by another mason and this is one of the things that sort of keeps the masonry a closed house if it's in Brid. It's not outgoing in the sense we don't ask anyone generally for anything. You have to see Mason you know once you are a Mason then you have to seek knowledge and you have to seek it from those who know. But it is not the responsibility of those who know the come to you and say well I know this now won't tell it to you that's that's not what Masonry is all about. OK we have a free man who through masonry have received a new sense of self worth.

How is that translated to to the communities what does it mean for Boston or for Roxbury to have three organizations units of Masons there. What is your impact within the community. Well to be a Mason. Makes you a little better black man. Then what of the black man might be. When a black man says that he is a Mason then we should be able to assume that he is living a certain moral life that he understands certain qualities in that you can expect him to do certain things that that you may not be able to expect from other men. Just simply speaking if. You left your wallet someplace and there were a group of Masons there you should be able to expect those Masons to return that wallet to you as if you were in a group of some other black men then you might not be able to expect

that. The. Greek letter organizations got their start in the United States with the founding of 5 beta kappa fraternity at the College of William and Mary in 1776. Fraternities were first conceived to enrich the social and intellectual aspects of life in college. Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity was established in 19 0 7 as the first fraternity for black college man in America. The purpose of the organization was to be educational and for the mutual uplift of its members. Five years later Omega Psi Phi became the second black fraternity. It was founded at Howard University in 1911. Black college women were not to be denied the benefits of several organizations. So at Howard University Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority was founded in 19 0 8. The philosophy of the sorority was to encourage high school lastic and ethical standards. The history of black Americans dictated that the fraternities and sororities members

not only make a commitment to improve and events themselves but also attempt to make a positive impact on the quality of life of all black people. Greek letter organizations were active on supporting the early civil rights and voting rights efforts in the 30s. They also supported health programs college scholarships and high school educational programs. In the studio with me now for the second segment of say brother on fraternal organizations are Mrs. Mary Stewart Spence who is a mediocre cochairman Delta Sigma Theta Sorority the Boston alumni chapter. And Mr. Edward R. ryd who was a bass solos or president of a major side five fraternity I owed a chapter you know I'm sorry eight of five chapter of Boston Massachusetts. Most of the fraternal organizations were founded on the

black campuses the black fraternal organizations and for many years thrived only in this way. But we see today that many of these organizations I'll say are organizations because I'm a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority are growing and expanding into white campus life. Do you have any idea why they are still growing and thriving. Well I think it's a real need I think. People of similar attainments and like backgrounds to get together. I think on a large some of the larger white campuses you don't have this. That's less necessary to get together in some type of fraternal group with a feeling of camaraderie. Now historically black fraternities were started because it was a real me out of this physical safety. If you lived in New York and you wanted to visit somebody saying Atlanta you know that once you left New York you had a safe place to go. In Atlanta and there were things you could share and enjoy together. So it was camaraderie that I guess we got to believe that while we are

being admitted to white campuses it campuses in large numbers. There is perhaps some sense of isolation that. It makes students seek out the friendships and mutual interests of the sororities. Yes historically as it is said I don't think the situation has changed a great deal. Women sought the company of other women on the Blackcaps just because there was nowhere for them to go and socialize off the campus and that was expected true in our black at our black colleges that were located in predominately white communities. That has not changed a great deal. Today we can look at institutions in this city and make I think the same analogies with that they're open about the fact that there's there are now public service needs are being met that the sororities and fraternities I think still answer the same social function that they did historically at their founding. As I think you know it's a great historical significance Gneisenau when you can point to your family and say My father

was It'll make a man my grandfather was no make a man right. And my son's going to be an Omega Man so it's a healthy tradition that that's continuing. Well these traditions. That we speak with we think back a little bit to the 1960s when the black power movement. Came into full blossom a noticeable blossoming. The fraternities and sororities became the target of a lot of challenges that they were not relevant. They were not meeting any needs of Adana gathering of people socializing together. How would you answer someone that would say that your organization is an elitist club. Well statements like that would obviously come from somebody not familiar with fraternities or sororities and I think that people just misconstrued what fraternal is was all about. They thought it was an elitist group made up of just college people and they would proffer their own selfish needs. And all they did was get together and

party and drink. Well that's never been the case with black fraternities or sororities they've always gotten together and addressed themselves to real and relevant needs of the community. Voter registration drives just recently now in Boston I think will be for the first time in a long time getting involved actively in the political scene. I think speaking just for myself during the time of the 60s there was a lot of criticism and I think one positive thing that happened was that. It caused the sorority at least to reexamine exactly what they were doing and seek ways to either really emphasize the positive or take that opportunity to expand. Many of the present programs that were were being used. Now I understand that Delta Sigma Theta is involved in what sounds to be a very exciting and new project in the life of all Greek letter organizations the production of Countdown and it is a new right.

I think before I elaborate on that though Carmen I would like to say that even during the period of the 60s there was still a need that needs to not do not go away for socializing and for interaction expression with a barrage of black movement period and people and sororities and fraternities did fulfill that need again. Regarding count on it to see me of course we are very pleased to have been able to underwrite with the Columbia motion picture company the production of this movie and our intent in doing so was to fulfill one of our five point program efforts which is to develop community and international relations. And so in doing so we thought that producing a film underwriting of such a film in conjunction with Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee in Nigeria would set the background for fulfilling that kind of social commitment that is primary important to our sorority. We had a tremendous premiere on April the 6th I believe you attended in a rig it read attended and

very pleased at this point in time the progress of count on it proceeded. How much did such a project cost. I don't have the exact figures but I know each sorority each chapter and there are 500 in the states and 85000 women there are also chapters in Liberia and Haiti underwrote a minimum of a thousand dollar contribution each additional In addition each member had an option to underwrite a $500 share. So if you could multiply that by the number that would give you a rough estimate of our contribution to the production of. What. Will the film be distributed exclusively through Delta Sigma Theta I notice that the Boston chapter of course premiered the showing of the movie and I've read recently and git that other cities other chapters throughout the United States are also sponsoring the movie in their particular city. Is the movie

only available through Delta Sigma Theta. Well the movie is a it's a Columbia production. It is at this point being distributed through the sorority chapters because of a number and the means to do so so be distributed through New York through the delta chapter there obviously was done here through the delta chapter and the DC and Detroit and other cities through Delta Jefferson. We have a clip from countdown at Cassini starring Ossie Davis Greg Morris and Ruby Dee and will share some of the glimpses of that movie with you now. Really I want to talk to you what makes you think that you can just slip in and out of mine. I'm sorry Sarah I didn't know that you were here for you this little deception has to sort out. And thank you for coming.

And nothing of it. Oh but I do think something of it and that's why I asked many times a month to set up this little meeting between us. Mr. Salta you are an American and Afro-American Yeah it is very important. Mr. sorter it is absolutely essential that you in America get to know us and Africa and that we in Africa get to know you in America. Do you understand what I'm trying to say Mr. Salter. Yeah I think so that you understand no matter what our shortcomings just what it is the revolution is really trying to accomplish. Now there must be many things that are strange about us and the way we do things in Africa might perhaps be a big disappointment to you way to me. Order right there. A musician I

think I'm obese to judge anything my dear. I came over here to play my music. I dig down. You try anything above that is all in my head. You might even say that it's out of my keep. I think one of the exciting aspects of Sorority Life is the reach channeling of funds and projects geared directly to helping those same race. I'm particularly pleased to announce that for example Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority celebrated its 50th anniversary at least the Boston chapter and that was a benefit for the United Negro College Fund and nationally the sorority is seeking to raise a half million dollars by July 76. The idea being that most of the sororities were born on the black campus and as many

of you know there's quite a campus crises in terms of funds. So we're looking forward to that making a big difference. But I know too that the political realm. Has been something that all blacks have been concerned about the fact that not as many people in the Boston area of color are elected to the various acting bodies. And I understand that Omega Psi saw I was very instrumental in organizing the campaign of John O'Bryant recently why did Omega How did they pick that project I understand John O'Brien is not a member of the fraternity yet the fraternity was responsible for a lot of the groundwork and legwork that went with that campaign. Well prior to John's campaign two years before that we honored John as Omega Man of the year which we want to give it every year. We thought he was a qualified man for the job he had been involved in the school system for more than 15 years so we took it upon ourselves to actively get

involved in his campaign to raise money and raise funds and to manage the campaign from the top to the bottom. It is these type of efforts. The fact that you gave a significant amount of money to the black you know the United Negro College Fund the fact that the Deltas put together a major film countdown Concini the fact that we ran John O'Brien's campaign these are the type of things that black fraternal and so sororities are doing all across the nation. And people just don't hear about it. Mary a lot of people think clean they think of sororities and fraternities they think of a campus setting. Yet the commitment goes into your other years in later life. Why do you think that commitment is a lifelong one. Well first of all the sorority is due to begin on major campuses undergraduate chapters and we have a undergraduate chapter here in Boston with which is a compilation of several universities and we begin

there instilling in women the ideal public service and a scholarship and social service. And those are things that should continue throughout life and the sorority working with women who are interested in similar kinds of things and with the same kinds of professional backgrounds and also with very diverse interest is a continuation of that of that mechanism and so on a graduate level from I guess from my date to even older stars so we can become closely involved in these factors and they're important. Then it's a training ground for continued commitment throughout our lives. Will.

Think. The thing. With.