PRINCE HALL #57 HISTORY.
REFLECT UPON THE NAME OUR FOREFATHERS HAVE CHOSEN TO CALL OUR LODGE, “PRINCE HALL.” THE VERY PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR BLACKS BEING ABLE TO PRACTICE FREEMANSONRY TODAY. IT IS THE DUTY OF EVERY MEMBER TO DO HIS VERY BEST TO UPLIFT AND BEAR THAT NAME WITH THE DIGNITY, RESPECT AND HONOR DUE.
In the fall months of the year 1900 several companions formed themselves into a distinguished group of fellows. They formed Prince Hall Lodge U.D. (Under Dispensations), on December 10th, 1900. This lodge, working under dispensation for several months, with James E. Thompson as Worshipful Master, James Baptist as Senior Warden and J.W. Plummer as Junior Warden, filed a petition for a warrant of constitution which was accompanied with the usual fee of $25.
In January 1901, the lodge was chartered by the district. After several months of successful operation under the laws, rules, and regulations of the Grand Lodge, the Lodge was constituted and presented with it’s warrant on April 29th, 1901.
In the early years, meetings were held at a brother’s house, usually the secretary’s, on the first and third Monday of the Month. The first recorded address found was No. 3 Kitchen Street in Roxborough, PA.
The Lodge later moved into a large room on the second floor of an Acme store on Main Street above Button Street. Later, W.D.D.G.M. Thos. Coates dedicated the first hall used by the lodge. It was located on Main Street near Green Lane. It was here that brothers voted to purchase their own building. Each brother pledged $140 “If Possible.” In 1935, the building at 126 Carsen Street, the northwest corner of Carson and Cresson Street was purchased. The lodge met here for a number of years before being forced to move due to city planning. The lodge moved and met in several places in North Philadelphia: such as, 24th Street and Montgomery Avenue; Fisher Hall; and 22nd and Oxford Streets.
Finally, we moved to our present location of 200 Levering Street in Roxborough. Originally, the building was a residence with a fully equipped barbershop on the first floor. The Late Brother Enoch Johnson, P.M. along with Brother Douglas Malcolm, P.M. renovated the building a total of two times, thus putting it in its present configuration. On July 2nd, 1942, the Lodge building was purchased. The brotherhood stayed at 200 Levering Street for fifty-nine (59) years under the leadership of forty-five (45) different Worshipful Masters. On December 20,2001 Prince Hall Lodge # 57 purchased a new Lodge Bulding, located 45 Maplewood Mall, in Historic Section of Germantown under the leadership of Worshipful Master Deanthonis Edwards.
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