History #43

According to the existing records, the first warranted Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons among men of color in Pennsylvania (African Lodge No . 459) was erected by the Right Worshipful Grand Master Prince Hall, of African Grand Lodge of Massachusetts on September 22, 1797, in Philadelphia. This lodge was known as the African Lodge No.459 of Philadelphia.

This action came as the result of a communication dated March 2, 1797, from Peter Mantor of Philadelphia to Prince Hall of Boston, Massachusetts, requesting a dispensation to open and hold a lodge among free men of color residing in Philadelphia, Pa.

The Reverend Absalom Jones of the African Church of Philadelphia, was elected Worshipful Master and the Reverend Richard Allen, founder and first Bishop of the A.M.E. Church, was elected the first Treasurer.

The laudable activities of the Brethren of African Lodge No. 459 spurred a keen interest in the affairs of Freemasonry to the extent that more lodges were erected in Philadelphia by the Massachusetts Grand Lodge, 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 Philadelphia, and with unanimous consent of the brethren 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:

Schisms and fractures in the structure of the Masonic institution existent among our number have played a deep and challenging role. After bitter dissension, Union Lodge declared itself independent and in July, 1837, formed Hiram Grand Lodge. However, these two diverging groups re-united in 1847 as -- the Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons of Pennsylvania under the newly organized National Compact of Grand Lodges. Pennsylvania freemasons played a leading role in the establishment the National Grand Lodge. However, dissension again set among the Craft with the establishment of the "COLORED GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA," with Emory Croklin as Grand Master.

Chosen Friends Lodge No. 43, Harrisburg, Pa., was first warranted on October 12,1866, A.D. 5866, A.L., as a subordinate Lodge of the "MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF ANCIENT YORK MASONS OF PENNSYLVANIA" (Hiram Grand Lodge or Compact Grand Lodge). Its Officers were installed by Grand Master Nathaniel L. Durham, assisted by District Deputy Samuel M. Bennett as follows:

During this time there existed two additional symbolic Lodges in Harrisburg, Pa.: (1) PAXTON No. 16 and; (2) GEARY No. 42. These two lodges were operating under the "MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA" (Colored Grand Lodge of Pa.) to wit:

Although the Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons Grand Lodge and the Most Worshipful Grand L of Pa., could trace their legitimacy to African Lodge No. 459 of. Pa. (Prince Hall), the Grand Lodges were separated by a schism then extant in the several jurisdictions of the Craft.

These Grand Bodies, with their subordinate lodges, maintained a coexistent until December 26, 1882, when they were brought together by Grand Master William H. Miller of the Ancient York Masons. They formed a "UNION" under the name of the "UNITED GRAND LODGE F.&A.M. of Pa.," which was later to be known by it's present name the "MOST WORSHIPFUL PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE, F. & A.M. of PENNSYLVANIA". On the very next day, December 17,1882, A.D. -5882, A.L., this Lodge was re-chartered as CHOSEN FRIENDS LODGE NO. 43, F. & A.M., Harrisburg, Pa., subordinate to the "UNITED GRAND LODGE F.&A.M. of Pa.," with the following officers installed:

Time and space will not permit the entire history of Chosen Friends Lodge to be given here, as it would fill volumes to do so, therefore, only the brief highlights from 1866 to 2007 are presented.

Looking back over the years from 1866 to 2007 (One Hundred Forty-one Years) Chosen Friends Lodge can boast of having furnished SIX (6) GRAND MASTERS for the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania. These Honorable Brothers and the year's of their service are stated below:

Throughout the years, Chosen Friends Lodge has been renowned for its very efficient degree and ceremonial teams. Some of the cornerstone layings include the following:

Nov. 11, 1894 -Wesley Union A.M.E. Zion Church, Tanner and South Sts., Harrisburg, Pa.

Apr. 17, 1960 -St. Paul Baptist Church, 18th and Cumberland Sts., Harrisburg, Pa.

Mar. 27, 1966 -Wesley Union A.M.E. Zion Church, 5th and Camp Sts., Harrisburg, Pa.

July 31, 1966 -Mitchell Memorial A.M.E. Church, 4th and Delaware Sts., Harrisburg, Pa.

Esther Chapter No. 1, Order of the Eastern Star, Deborah Grand Chapter, PHA, Harrisburg, Pa., received the "COVERING" of Chosen Friends Lodge No. 43 on February 10, 1921.

During the years, Chosen Friends Lodge has met in various locations of the city, most notable, Market Street, 504 South Street, 812-814 East Street, 1419 N. 6th Street, and the present location 1401 Hanover Street. In the natural course of events, the lodge has had its struggles and hardships, as most other Lodges have experienced in their time. Because of Harrisburg redevelopment, the Lodge was forced to relocate from 1419 N. 6th Street. Through financial obligations and fraternal interest of our brethren, Chosen Friends Lodge was able to erect a new building at 1401 Hanover Street. The building was dedicated on May 27,1963 by the MOST WORSHIPFUL PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA, F.&A.M.

Worshipful Masters serving this Lodge in the early years concentrated their efforts to maintain financial stability within the Lodge. In 1975, a committee was established to liquidate the present building mortgage. Again, through continued good leadership, financial support, and lodge dedication, the mortgage was liquidated in October, 1980.

Worshipful Masters serving since 1980, have concentrated their leadership and efforts in improving the lodge's financial and physical stability. A new project is underway to establish a "Building Fund" for the purpose of renovating our Lodge Home.

Throughout its history, Chosen Friends Lodge has been blessed with good leaders in its Worshipful Masters. The Worshipful Masters serving this great fraternity and Chosen Friends Lodge No. 43 from 1882 through 2003 are as follows:

Jan.1,1882-Dec. 2,1882	1961-1962 William E. Williamson
1882-1883 (Unknown) 1	1962-1963 John B. Moody*
1883-1884 Noah H. Pinkney*	1963-1964 Edward Gray, Jr.
1884-1885 Edward Lowry*	1964-1966 Harold W. Lester
1885-1886 William H. Boud*	1966-1967 Clinton H. Baltimore*
1886-1892 (Unknown) 2	1967-1968 Milford Diggs*
1892-1893 Sylvester Bair*	1968-1969 Benther Burns
1893-1894 George E. Phillips*	1969-1970 Robert A. Ballard*
1894-1895 Jacob Allen*	1970-1972 James Murphy I *
1895-1899 (Unknown) 3 *	1972-1973 John M. Butler*
1899-1900 Charles Williams*	1973-1974 Ulysses Waters
1900-1901 Joseph G. Pope*	1974-1975 Melvin L. Folks*
1901-1902 Nicholas L. Butler*	1975-1976 Charles E. Ashe, Sr.
1902-1903 Frederick Daffow*	1976-1977 Ramon L. Price
1903-1918 (Unknown) 3*	1977-1978 John S. Cade, Sr.*
1918-1919 Percy C. Moore*	1978-1979 John G. Mitchell*
1919-1920 Rueben Davis*	1979-1980 DeWitt A. Butler
1920-1921 James R. Wilson*	1980-1981 James L. Pitts
1921-1922 Marshall Ficklin*	1981-1982 Earnest J. Green*
1922-1923 William B. Spotwood*	1982-1983 Richard A. Crabbe
1923-1925 J. B. Taylor*	1983-1984 Charles M. Finley*
1925-1927 Rufus R. Posey*	1984-1985 Albert J. Davis
1927-1928 Samuel Little*	1985-1986 John W. Bass
1928-1929 Josiah B. Taylor*	1986-1987 Albert Thompson, Jr.
1929-1930 J. Ross Johnson*	1987-1988 Dana R. Wilson
1930-1931 Walter Hill*	1988-1989 Charles E. Tyson
1931-1933 David Hinton*	1989-1990 Melvin W. Wilkerson
1933-1935 Frank Johnson*	1990-1991 Charles T. Hall
1935-1936 James E. Wallace*	1991-1992 Earnest P. Davis
1936-1937 Earl Christopher*	1992-1993 George "Toby" Young, Jr
1937-1940 Benjamin H. Gray*	1993-1994 Elijah Q. Massey
1940-1941 Harold Gray*	1994-1995 Robert E. Pierce, Jr
1941-1942 Alfred P. Banks*	1995-1996 Anthony Watlington
1942-1943 William B. Sullivan*	1996-1997 Charles W. Banks
1943-1945 William M. Taylor*	1997-1998 Robert Stevenson
1945-1946 Elijah Terry*	1998-1999 George W. Sullivan
1946-1947 Julian Dozier*	1999-2000 Roosevelt Floyd
1947-1949 Harold S. Thompson*	2000-2001 Dennis Jenkins
1949-1950 Lee N. Moore*	2001-2002 Dennis Jenkins
1950-1951 Thomas N. Potter*	2002-2003 Johnny Pearce
1951-1952 Louis H. Gray, Jr.*	2003-2004 Larry E. Braxton
1952-1953 Lewis J. Ulen*	2004-2005 Richard Jones
1953-1954 Dewitt Middleton*	2005-2006 Edward Thornton
1954-1955 Paul 0. Irving*	2006-2007 Ira D. Walker
1955-1956 Harold W. Wilson*	2007-2008
1956-1957 Jordan D. Ewell*
1957-1958 Oscar L. Daniels
1958-1959 Oscar Douglas*
1959-1960 Emmitt S. Hill, Jr.
1960-1961 Allie J. Harper, Sr.*

The GRAND appointments bestowed upon members of Chosen Friends Lodge during the years, are too numerous to list in this abridged history. The current Grand Lodge Appointments are:

Although a "low-key" attitude in publicizing its fraternal and civic programs has been maintained, the Lodge has participated in both type activities during the years of its existence. Generous contributions have been made by the Lodge to various social programs, such as. (1) Lifetime membership in the NAACP, (2) the Negro College Fund, (3) local senior citizens programs, etc.

The lodge participated in the Volunteers Income Tax Assistant (VITA) program. The VITA program is designed to provide free assistance to individuals who cannot afford professional tax help. Currently the Lodge is involved in 'Toys For Tots" and Christmas Baskets to the Needy programs.

Chosen Friends Lodge has come this far by GOD's grace. It is by that same grace that the Lodge may continue to move forward with "HIGH HOPES" in its future.

Condensed History compiled by

W.H. Adair	James A. Auter	Sylvester Bair
F.C. Battis	Nicholas L. Butler	Jacob T. Compton
James W. Grant	Francis C. Hill	James H. A. Howard
Edward Lowery	Addision Lucus	(DDGM) Thomas Miller
George F. Moore	B. McCormick	George E. Phillips
Joseph G. Popel	David M. Robinson	John P. Scott
G.W. Thomas	Joseph L. Thomas	(PGM) Walter M. Williams

James M. Auter	J. H. Baker	Sylvester E. Burris
William J. Carter	F. W. Darroy	A. C. Gray
Benjamin H. Gray	James H. A. Howard	C. H. Hunter
W. 0. Jolly	Alexander Lee	George F. Moore
William Patton	George E. Phillips	Joseph G. Popel
John P. Scott (PGM)	Charles White	George W. Johnson