Modern Free History
Modem Free and Accepted Masons of the World Inc. is a Benevolent Patriotic Society established to promote friendship and brotherly love among its members and to carry on benevolent works for the relief of the needy and helpless in our communities.
Our Masonic order was organized in November 1917, in Opelika , Alabama and initially entitled the Free and Accepted Colored Masons of America Alabama , Mississippi and Georgia Phoenix City , Alabama Lincoln
The Free and Accepted Colored Masons of America , was incorporated as an independent Masonic order on December 3, 1921 in Jefferson County Alabama
In 1924, Brother Baldwin, was elected the first Supreme Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Colored Masons of America
By 1927, the Royal Palm Lodge #3-A was chartered in Columbus Georgia America America
The Free and Accepted Colored Masons of America Opelika , Alabama Smithfield
Sis. Poole became an Eastern Star at the age of eighteen and joined the Free and Accepted Color Masons in 1940. Between 1940-1960 she dedicated herself to organizing chapters and lodges and formed the first junior courts. She was committed to improving the quality of life for all people. She was the "organizer" and a "driver' before joining the Free and Accepted Colored Masons. In 1930 she formed the United Women Workers of America America
Other Stars who joined the Free and Accepted Colored Masons in the 1940's include, Sis. Fannie Rushings of Hoyts Pride Chapter #195, our Longest serving Worthy Matron and Sis. Alma Patterson of Tennie Wilson Chapter #174. In February 1945, the Free and Accepted Colored Masons of America authorized their four principle officers: J.B. Baldwin, Supreme Grand Master, N. A. Nall, Supreme Grand Deputy Master, C.S.G. Boom, Supreme Grand Junior 'warden, to amend the certificate of incorporation, changing the organization's name to the Supreme Grand Lodge, Modern Free and Accepted Colored Masons of the World. The word "Modern" reflects the members' belief that while the ritualistic and symbolic aspects of Freemasonry are important, it is more important to practice in daily life, the Eternal Truth and Universal Themes underlying the rituals and symbols.
Ten years later; on April 4, 1955, the certificate of incorporation was amended. This third amendment changed the name of our order to its' present one, Supreme Grand Lodge, Modern Free and Accepted Masons of the World, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. As the name indicated this amendment established our affiliation with the Scottish Rite. This affiliation was set up by the merger of Modern Free with the United Supreme Council Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, 33rd and Last Degree, Southern and Western Jurisdiction, United States of America, Grand Orient of Washington District of Columbia.
The merger was executed by brother J. B. Baldwin, Supreme Grand Master and Brother J. M. McMath Supreme Grand Treasurer of Modern Free, along with James A. MacDonald the Sovereign Grand Commander of the United Supreme Council. The United Supreme Council, first organized in 1895, and reorganized in 1918, had jurisdiction for the United States
The consolidation with this organization empowered Modern Free to establish Scottish Rite Consistories and to confer degrees from the fourth through the thirty-third and last degree. The merger also meant that Modern Free was a part of those Masonic orders linked to the First Council of the Ancient & and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry organized in Paris, France in 1758. The Illustrious Stephen Mourin, of Paris had been commissioned and empowered to establish the Scottish Rite in the United States and this degree was conferred upon David Leary, a prominent "colored Mason",in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1850.
Leary was granted, by the Supreme Council of France, a patent of power and authority and directed to establish a Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite among "colored Masons" in the United States. Two Supreme Councils were created; one with its See at the Grand Orient of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the other with its See at the Grand Orient of Washington in the District of Columbia. These were the only two regular and legal Supreme Council of the thirty-third and last degree among "colored Masons" in the United States
The new authorities and powers secured by the merger helped Modern Free strengthen its effectiveness and increase its membership. Two additional Grand Lodges and additional Grand Chapter were established in 1955 in Georgia; Joppa Temple, the Ill. W. R. Waters, Grand Master, Luxor Temple the Ill. Miles B. Austin, Grand Master, and Electa Grand Chapter, Sis. C. B. Carter, Grand Matron.
The 1960's were the years of change for Modern Free. Growth in national membership continued, the establishment of international lodges and Chapters began, and major changes in Modern Free national leadership occurred. Membership increased when Tennessee was organized in 1962, under the direction of the Ill. Edward Emory and two Grand Chapters were established, Elizabeth Grand Chapter Mississippi, 1962, Sis. Willie Barnes Grand Matron and Morning Star Grand Chapter Florida Poole organized the first Junior Courts in 1968: Paal #68, Modernique #67 and Emulators #68. These courts are no longer in service, but at one time Modern Free had 50 Junior Courts in the United States and twelve in the Bahamas
The government of Fraternal Order, underwent what was in 1967, a drastic change as the first Eastern Stars were placed on the Supreme Grand Council. Sis. Pole and other members had worked diligently to implement this change.
Other significant changes in Modern Free's National leadership occurred in 1967. The Ill. Columbus ,Georgia
After Brother Baldwin's Resignation, the Ill. Mississippi , North Carolina , South Carolina , Florida and the Bahamas
Reaching the Bahamas Mecca Grand Lodge was established in Nassau , Bahamas
Brother Frank Wooten resigned and the Ill. Ill.
Sis. Poole, the first Supreme Grand Matron died in 1971, and in 1971 another very accomplished Star, Sis. Maragret Belcher, became the Second Supreme Grand Matron.
Under the leadership of Brother Williams Modern Free focused on moving to a higher plane of fraternalism, leadership and economics. Brother Williams who was a builder by profession built more than structures of brick and mortar . He worked assiduously with Modern Free members and leaders to build an organization that would 'Serve the Present Age'.
In the 1970's our motto, "We Serve The Present Age", was fulfilled in the establishment of five additional Grand Lodges and four additional Grand Chapters:
· Markham Grand Lodge, Mississippi , 1971
Ill. Hosea Tyler
· B'Natural Grand Lodge, South Carolina
1976, Rev. Levan Johnson, Grand Master.
· Progressive Grand Lodge, Illinois , 1977,
Ill.
· Tombs of Solomon Grand Lodge, Florida
1973, Rev. Thomas C. Jones, Grand Master.
· Cornerstone Grand Lodge, New York
· Ruth Grand Chapter, South Carolina
Sis. Ruth Boyd Grand Matron.
· Crown and Scepter Grand Chapter, North Carolina
Sis. Josephine Davis, Grand Matron.
· Elizabeth Grand Chapter, Illinois
Sis. Shirley Williams, Grand Matron.
· Esther Grand Chapter, New York
In the 1980's international expansion increased and between 1983 and 1985 two Lodges and three Eastern Star Chapters were organized in Toronto and Ontario , Canada Canada , Modern Free international has extended to Germany , West and North Africa, and as far East as Korea
The current Supreme Grand Master Sov/ILL Gregory McClain 33° was elected June 28, 2003. The other elected officers are: Supreme Deputy Grand Master, Sov/ILL Melvin Cooper, 33°; Supreme Grand Senior Warden, Sov/Ill Anthony Carter, 33°; Supreme Grand Junior Warden, Gr/ILL. Gene Linton 33°, Supreme Grand Secretary, ILL. Billy Gaddis; Supreme Grand Treasurer, Sov/ILL. Larry Dixon, 33°. Grand Master Sov/ILL Gregory McClain 33° now leads the entire organization World Wide. To find out more information about the history and current updates about Modern Free & Accepted Masons of the World, Incorporated, please visit our website - http://modernfree.com.
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