ESTHER GRAND COURT #1

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ESTHER GRAND COURT

LADIES OF THE CIRCLE OF PERFECTI0N

PRINCE HALL AFFILIATED

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
PHILADELPHIA COURT #1
THE BEGINNING

ANNUAL GRAND COURT SESSION

Daniel Baldwin

Royal Grand Chief Advisor

Rheba D. Burnside

Royal Grand Perfect Matron

The late Phelmon E. Johnson (well known in the Prince Hall family of Pennsylvania) was a member of the Royal and Select Masters of New York. His involvement soon caused him to be elevated to the position of leadership.

In 1958 under the Jurisdiction of New York Grand Council of Royal & Select Masters, Past Right Grand Thrice Illustrious Masters Gerry Bigler, Owen H. Thompson, Phelmon E. Johnson, Avery Slade and a few others, Organized the Ladies of the Circle of Perfection in the state of New York.

The founders of the Circle of Perfection were well versed in workings of the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Ritual opening was comprised and the story of Esther was chosen as the basis for the degree work for the Ladies of the Circle of Perfection.

For years Illustrious Companion Johnson had been a member of the Royal and Select Masters Council of New York. Finally, Philadelphia Council #3 of Royal and Select Masters was organized in Philadelphia Pennsylvania under the jurisdiction of the Grand Council of New York and Phelmon was elected Thrice Illustrious Master of this Council.

On Sunday, April 12, 1964 in the Prince Hall Masonic Temple, New York City, nine officers of Prince Hall Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters, State of New York, headed by Thrice Illustrious Grand Master Emmett J. Avery obligated a constitutional number of Loyal Ladies for the Royal Order and Royal Companions from Royal and Select Masters, Alpha Council No. 1 and Philadelphia Council No. 3. Eighteen (18) males received the proper obligation.

This was the beginning of the Grand Court Ladies of the Circle of Perfection of the State of New York.

In December 1964, Phelmon E. Johnson called members of Philadelphia Council #3 and their wives to a meeting at the Masonic Temple on 17th & Diamond Streets, in Philadelphia. He explained the connection and work of the Ladies of the Circle of Perfection. The ladies agreed to be a part and were organized as Philadelphia Court #2 under New York Grand Court, Ladies of the Circle of Perfection. The officers elected were:

We shall be forever grateful to the late Right Grand Thrice Illustrious Master, Phelmon E. Johnson.

For some time, Philadelphia Court was the only Court in Pennsylvania. During the tenure of Naomi Y. Taswell as Royal Perfect Matron, after the Illustrious Companions broke from New York, to become a Grand Council. they unfortunately caused Philadelphia Court #2, to remove themselves from the Grand Court of New York. In 1980, the ladies were re-chartered under Prince Hall Grand Council of Pennsylvania and became Philadelphia Court #1, and operated as such until 1990.

The Royal Perfect Matrons crown [of New York] posed a problem because it had an emblem of the Square and Compass placed on the front, which was inappropriate for females in the Prince Hall family in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Mozelle Alston McKay, a Past Royal Perfect Matron of Philadelphia Court #1 an outstanding leader and organizer, had the desire of having a Grand Court of the Ladies of the Circle of Perfection in Pennsylvania. She had several meetings with some interested ladies at her home and formed "Club Faith and Fidelity", with Constance B. Dade, being the first President and eventually the first Royal Perfect Matron of Faith and Fidelity Court #2.

Soon after, Phelmon E. Johnson's club was formed, the membership grew so rapidly that it became large enough to be divided and create another Court. The results became Prince Eleazar Court #3 and Phelmon E. Johnson Court #4 in Ambler, PA.

Having the constitutional number of four (4) courts, which were chartered under the Prince Hall Grand Council Royal and Select Masters of Pennsylvania, Dr. McKay petitioned the Grand Council for permission to form a Grand Court of the Ladies of the Circle of Perfection.

This petition was granted under the administration of Right Grand Thrice Illustrious Master Edwin Mobley.

Right Grand Thrice Illustrious Master Charles Johnson, had appointed Howard Lennon as the Royal Grand Chief Advisor to the Ladies of the Circle of Perfection.

In September 1989 Mozelle asked Past Royal Chief Advisor Walter A. Carter to draft two (2) things for her. 1. A constitution for the still unnamed Grand Court and, 2. A unique logo or emblem. Illustrious Companion Carter not being able to refuse, soon turned both items over to Mozelle. After several meetings at the home of Companion Carter for editing, and while Edwin Mobley was in office as Right Grand Thrice Illustrious Master, the first constitution was completed. The committee: Mozelle A. McKay #1, Constance B. Dade #2, Mary L. Gregory #3, Carole A. Robbins #4, Esther M. Evans #1 and Companion Carter #1. [the logo at top of page 1]

Among the many decisions that had to be made in November, 1989, when the Grand Club was organized, was what name should we chose. I offered the fact that many of the lessons learned from the Biblical Heroine Esther were utilized and adopted.

Esther had the attributes which I prayed would be the bedrock and foundation of our infant Grand Court. She had COURAGE, FAITH, AND FORTITUDE. These aforementioned attributes were what I had perceived in the officers who were selected to help to make the Grand Court a reality.

Like Esther, we hoped to use our knowledge of human nature to advance our noble cause, to disregard self and give our all for the good of the Grand Court, value the worth of each of our members, to go forth, as Esther, Boldly and In State to confront any person or thing that was placed as a stumbling block in our path, willing to understand that "If I Perish, I Perish" in the effort to make this venture a beautiful success, but most of all, to seek the guidance of the Heavenly Father before attempting any endeavor, ever believing that HE will not allow HIS people to Perish.

Dr. McKay than petitioned Bernal V. Ford Grand Court, Ladies of the Circle of Perfection, State of New Jersey to set Esther Grand Court apart with a Warrant of Constitution. This too was granted and on June 9, 1990, a large contingency of officers and members went to New Jersey to witness Esther Grand Court receiving her Warrant Of Constitution, making them sovereign from all other jurisdictions. Also on June 9, 1990 Esther was properly and officially adopted, with a Warrant of Adoption from the Prince Hall Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters, Prince Hall Affiliated, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

October of that same year, saw the Most Worshipful Grand Master Herbert N. Gibbons, present Esther Grand Court Ladies of the Circle of Perfection with a Certificate of Recognition from the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. All was then complete Dr. Mozelle A. McKay became the first Royal Grand Perfect Matron and is certainly to be given full praise and credit for the birth of Esther Grand Court. Howard Lennon was re-appointed and became the first Royal Grand Chief Advisor of Esther Grand Court under Right Grand Thrice Illustrious Master Edwin Mobley.

Esther Grand continued to grow with Princess Electra #5 and Zerubbabel #6 in Chester, PA.

Most Worshipful Grand Master Vernon D. Dobbs, relaxed the membership requirement for the female Bodies in the Prince Hall family, to allow those females from outside the ranks of the Masonic family to become members. During that time the Circle of Perfect added: Prudence #7, Queen of Sheba #8, Adoniram #9, Princess Irene #10, Princess Rahab #11, Temperance #12, Joshua #13, Princess Cyrene #14, and King Solomon #15, making a total of fifteen (15) subordinate Courts.

Under Royal Grand Perfect Matron, Elsie J. Queenan, there were three (3) more courts under U.D.: One in Washington, DC. #16, Two in South Carolina, #17 and #18.

A multitude of thanks is to be given for the efficient well prepared, untiring leadership of Past Royal Grand Perfect Matrons Dr. Mozelle A. McKay, Constance B. Dade, Elsie J. Queenan and Mary L. Gregory, Past Royal Grand Chief Advisors Howard Lennon, Walter A. Carter, Benjamin H. Burgis, James A. Wells, Jr. and Herbert C. Scott.

At the June 1997 Session of Esther Grand Court the members voted unanimously to change the Grand Court’s name to that of Mozelle A. McKay who had died on Mothers Day 1997.

Our Esther Has Gone From The Transitory To The Celestial
		Mozelle A. McKay Past Royal Grand Perfect Matron