Published Monthly by The
Phylaxis Society Public Affairs Office
and Masonic Information Center
June 1999
By now the world
knows that Bother Rev. Jesse L. Jackson of Harmony Lodge No. 88, Chicago,
Illinois, freed the three U.S. Serviceman held by Yugoslavian President Slobodan
Milosevic. Reciting the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "Free at Last,
free at last," Brother Jackson crossed the border with them to Croatia and
safety after they were held 32 days as prisoners of war.
Their freedom was the
Fruit of Brother Jackson's appeal to President Milosevic for release on moral
grounds. U.S. Congressman William Clay of Albert Holman Lodge No. 179, St.
Louis, Missouri, recently announced that he will not seek re-election to the U.
S. House of Representatives at the end of his term. Clay, elected to the House
of Representatives in 1968, was the first Black to be elected to that body from
the State of Missouri. Throughout his illustrious career, Bro. Clay has
cosponsored 3,403 bills, of which 279 were enacted. Of the 248 bills that he
sponsored, 16 were enacted. Bro. Don King, a Prince Hall Freemason and noted
professional boxing promoter, has been named a member of the board of trustees
at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, a school that has had heavy
involvement by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge throughout its history. Bro. Kweisi
Mfume, Mount Olive Lodge No. 25, Baltimore, Maryland and President of the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), announced
that he won't run for Mayor of the city. Bro. Wellington Webb, a Prince Hall
Freemason and Mayor of Denver, Colorado, hosted the National Conference of Black
Mayors (NCBM) at its 25th annual convention, with more than 2,500 in attendance,
including 200 of the nation's nearly 450 Black Mayors many of them Prince Hall
Freemasons.
"The Law and
You" is a pamphlet developed by the NAACP, the National Organization of
Black Law Enforcement Executives and Allstate Insurance. It offers tips to
members of minority groups on how to deal with law enforcement. Among the
suggestions for traffic stops: Stay in the drivers seat with both hands in sight
on the steering wheel. Do not exit your car unless asked to do so, Getting out
of your car can be perceived as aggressive behavior. Turn on your interior light
if stopped at night. If the officer has "probable cause", your car can
be searched without a warrant. If you do not want your vehicle searched, clearly
inform the officer of your non-consent in a polite manner. Comply with the
officer's request to see your driver's license and/or registration. If they are
in the glove box or under the seat, state that and then retrieve them slowly.
Most officers will not provide specific reasons for the stop until they have
your license and registration in hand. For a copy of "The Law And You"
call the NAACP at (410) 358-8900 or write the NAACP, 4805 Mt. Hope Drive,
Baltimore, Md 21215; or call Andre Howell at Allstate Insurance Co., (847)
402-5618 or write c/o A-Three Services, P.O. Box 3173, Northbrook, IL
60065-3173.
As of February 1999 29 out of a total of 51 white U. S. Grand Lodges have adopted resolutions that say Prince Hall Freemasonry is "regular." Some have adopted "full recognition," in the sense they recognize any other Grand Lodge, some have granted "recognition" to the extent of permitting intervisitation but not dual membership and some have adopted resolutions supporting Prince Hall Masonry but making recognition subject to something such as adoption of similar action by Prince Hall Masonry. We thank Brother Paul M. Bessel, for the following listing. Which is found at http://freemasonry.org/mlc