According to the existing records, the first warranted Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons among Men of Color in Pennsylvania, was erected by the Right Worshipful Grand Master Prince Hall, assisted by the Grand Wardens Cyrus Forbes and George Middleton of the African Grand Lodge of Massachusetts on September 22, 1797, in Philadelphia. This Lodge was known as the African Lodge No. 459 of Philadelphia. Minutes are recorded HERE.
Prince Hall Reverend Absalom Jones Bishop Richard Allen
This action came as the result of a communication, dated March 2, 1797, from Peter Matore of Philadelphia to Freemasons of color residing In the city of Philadelphia.
The Reverend Absalom Jones of the African Church of Philadelphia was elected Worshipful Master and Bishop Richard Allen, founder and first Bishop of the A.M.E. Church, was elected the first Treasurer. The pioneering spirit which led to the establishment of these great institutions of responsibility and service to the black community of yesteryear was fostered in the organization of the Free African Society, a beneficial and moral reform society among free blacks, on April 12, 1787, in Philadelphia. The first insurance beneficial society among free blacks also came as a result of the activities of the Free African Society, as well as the movement for the establishment of schools for the education of free black children. The success of the latter movement is owed largely to the generous aid and support given by the Society of Friends (Quaker) community in the city of Philadelphia.
The laudable activities of the brethren of African Lodge of Philadelphia spurred a keen interest in the affairs of Freemasonry to the extent that more lodges were erected in Philadelphia by the Massachusetts Grand Body, i.e., Union Lodge (1810), Laurel Lodge No. 5 (1811), and Phoenix Lodge No. 6 (1814). Acting in accordance with Masonic custom and tradition, the Past Masters of these four lodges met in solemn session on December 27, 1815, in the city of Philadelphia with the unanimous consent of the brethren and erected the "First African Independent Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, for and in the Jurisdiction of North America," with the following Grand Lodge Officers elected:
Rev. Absalom Jones, Right Worshipful Grand Master
Peter Richmond, Deputy Grand Master
Alexander Logan, Senior Grand Warden
Matthew Black, Junior Grand Warden
Anthony Clain, Grand Treasurer
William Coleman, Grand Secretary
On November 21, 2016, Dr. (Bro) Elvin J. Parker, III received permission from Most Wishful Union Grand Lodge (MWUGL) of Florida for Under Dispensation (UD) to seek interests in the Riviera Beach, FL area. The new lodge would be under the name Bishop Richard Allen Masonic Lodge #11.
On April 8, 2017, the MWUGL of Florida under The Honorable Walter Gulley, Jr., the 18th Most Worshipful Grand Master; Right Worshipful Jeffrey Jones, Deputy Grand Master; Right Worshipful Gus Harris, Jr., Senior Grand Warden; Right Worshipful Phillip Robinson, Grand Secretary; and Right Worshipful Melvin Wright, Grand Treasurer granted a full charter to Bishop Richard Allen Masonic Lodge #11 of Riviera Beach, FL.
CHARTERED MEMBERS:
Brother Elvin J. Parker III, D. Min Worshipful Master
Brother George L. Lockhart, Ed.D Senior Warden
Brother James Patterson Junior Warden
Brother Joseph D. Anderson Secretary
Brother Alexander L. Cox Treasurer
Brother Solomon A. Burgess Senior Deacon
Brother Joel H. Simmons, Elder Junior Deacon
Brother Emmanuel G. Garrett Senior Steward
Brother Harold A. Taylor Junior Steward
Brother Benjamin Crawford, P.hD Marshall
Brother Robert L. Smith Tyler
Brother James E. Lamons, Th.D Chaplain
Brother Charles D. Rawls, Sr. (2019) 3rd Year Trustee
Brother Henry Taylor (2018) 2nd Year Trustee
Brother (2017) 1st Year Trustee
Brother Clarence D. Williams III Craft
2017 First Class of Candidates Class Anthony T. Stafford, KYCH
Brother Alex D. Freeman
Brother Demetri O. Dale
Brother Clarence E. Bess
Brother Darryl L. Wright
Brother Sean A. Horne
Brother Jeffrey D. West, Jr.
