MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND MASTER
of
The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge
Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania
CHARLES A BISHOP #112
Charles A. Bishop was born in Philadelphia, Pa., the third son of Kenneth Carl Bishop and Catherine L. Parrant-Bishop. He acquired his education in the Philadelphia school system, attending Northeast High School, later transferring and graduating from Simon Gratz High School in June 1959.
Charles became a member of Ionic Lodge No.112 in September 1970, and chaired several committees within his Lodge. Elected as Worshipful Master in September 1977, he served as Treasurer of his Lodge from September 1979, until September 1985, where he was instrumental in reorganizing the financial and budget operations of the Lodge.
Appointed as Worshipful District Lecturer by Grand Master Thomas Scipio in November 1979, he served faithfully in that capacity until his successful election as Right Worshipful Assistant Grand Secretary in October 1987. Charles was elected Right Worshipful Grand Secretary in October 1995, where he served until his successful election in October 2002 as Right Worshipful Junior Grand Warden, and Right Worshipful Senior Grand Warden in October 2004, from his election in October 2006 he was the second constitutional officer in Pennsylvania, serving as the Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master. On October 14,2008 He was elected as the 99th Most Worshipful Grand Master of all Prince Hall Masons for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Other Masonic affiliations are: Past High Priest, William Cooper No. 6 HRAM; Past President Eastern Capitular District; Member Philadelphia Council No. 1 Royal and Select Masters; St. George No. 2 Knights Templar 32o; DeMolay Consistory No. 1 AASRM; Pyramid Temple No.1 AEAONMS; Herbert E. Millen No. 8 Knights of Pythagoras; Past Patron Louisa S. Rumford No. 15 OES; Elevated to the Honorary 33o of Masonry on May 29, 1989 in the United Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite; (P.H.A.) Northern Jurisdiction , and the Commanders of the rite of Pennsylvania 33o. He is also a member of O.V. Catto Lodge No. 20 I.B.P.O.E. of W.
Charles was employed for 311/2 years as a License Stationary Engineer for Novartis Pharmaceuticals, (formally Rohn-Poulec Rorer.) Where he was part of a QPIC team that designed a trash to steam boiler that eliminated several costly trash compactor pick ups, which freed up the operation of a 350 horse power boiler that provided steam and domestic hot water for the entire facility resulting in $30,000.00 savings annually. He was also responsible for the quality analysis of all new purified water systems, to assure that the Pharmaceuticals gpm’s and sop’s were in compliance with all of the FDA requirements, He was also instrumental in the redesign of the chlorine injection of the manufactured piping system, obtaining safety awards from OSHA. After that facility closed in November 1998 He was recruited by GE Betz (formally Betz-Dearborn) in December 1998 to service all of the water treatment for the Boilers and Air Conditioning equipment at the Glaxo-Smith Kline facility in Upper Merion Township where he retired from on March 31, 2004.
Charles attended Philadelphia Wireless Technical Institute for 2 years completing
his study in Heating and Air Condition Engineering. He also attended Philadelphia
Textile Institute, Honeywell and several trade schools for pneumatic and instrumentation
controls. He received his Journeyman’s certificate from the State of
Pennsylvania after satisfying a Power Plant Operators Course at Spring Garden
College.
He also received certifications from Philadelphia Community College in Real
Estate Law and Practice and a certificate from the Philadelphia Housing Authority
in Property Management.
Charles received his early Christian training at St. Paul’s Baptist Church and Thankful Baptist Church. He was active in his neighborhood town watch and community activities, and had worked closely with the youth of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of West Oak Lane. He is currently serving as secretary on the Deacon Board of Wayland Temple Baptist Church, where he was ordained as a Deacon in March 1996. He believes that if you extend yourself to Mankind in all phases of life you would be a better person because of it.
He is Secretary on the Board of the Absalom Jones Foundation a 501(C)3 Economic Development agency in Pennsylvania; He also severs on the board of the Children and Youth organization as Secretary, and the Philadelphia Million More Movement.
Charles is united in marriage to the former Jacqueline Bostic also a member and Past Matron of Louisa S. Rumford No.15 OES. From this union they became the proud parents of Garry, a West Point Graduate, now assigned to the Pentagon, after completing a tour of duty in Baghdad as a Battalion Commander. Garry currently holds the rank of Colonel serving an Armored Tank Division; Michael also a License Stationary Engineer, he received his preliminary training at Philadelphia Community College; Lisa a middle school teacher for emotionally disturbed children, and a administrator for a after school program for children, a graduate of Temple University in Criminal Justice, She received her Masters Degree in Special Education at Montclair State College and has recently completed a work shop with the Lutheran youth of America in Cape Town, South Africa on AIDS understanding; Derrick Watts a Maintenance Mechanic at a Medical Center in Lancaster, PA.
Charles is also the proud Grand Father (Pop-Pop) of Christopher, Jonathan, Camryn, Malik and Iyannah.