History - Martin Luther King Consistory #86

Martin Luther King, Jr. Consistory No. 86

Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry

Prince Hall Affiliation Northern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., Inc.

Valley of Ambler, Pennsylvania

301 Lindenwold Avenue

Ambler, Pennsylvania 19002

Historical Synopsis

Martin Luther King, Jr. Consistory No. 86

HISTORY: A CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF PAST EVENTS OF A PERIOD OF THE LIFE AND DEVELOPMENT OF A PEOPLE, AN INSTITUTION OR A PLACE.

HISTORY, THE PAST, TIME GONE BY, OLDEN TIMES, RECORDS, STORIES, AND NARRATIONS, ACCOUNTS, AND ANNALS. THESE ENTIRE EVENTS WE HOPE TO COVEY ABOUT MARTIN LUTHER JR. CONSISTORY NO. 86, VALLEY OF AMBLER, PENNSYLVANIA.

SYNOPISIS: TO EXPRESS, PUT INTO WORDS, PASS ON, AND COMMUNICATE. THESE EVENTS WE AGAIN SHALL ATTEMPT TO ACCOMPLISH.

WE BEGIN THIS TRAIL OF THE HISTORY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING. JR., CONSISTORY IN THE SUMMER OF 1969. THE LATE SOVEREIGN GRAND INSPECTOR GENERAL A. WILLIAM HILL JR., DEPUTY FOR THE ORIENT OF PENNSYLVANIA, WANTED TO ESTABLISH A CONSISTORY IN THE FOURTH MASONIC DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SEVERAL ILLUSTRIOUS SIRS ASSISTED S.G.I.G. HILL IN THE EFFORT TO FORM A NEW CONSISTORY AND THEY WERE: S.G.I.G. WILLIAM H. GRASTY OF CHARLES E. GORDON CONSISTORY NO. 65, S.G.I.G. EMMETT BAILEY FROM

DE MOLAY CONSISTORY NO. 1 AND GRAND INSPECTOR GENERAL GEORGE TENELLE OF CHARLES E. GORDON CONSISTORY NO. 65. THESE ILLUSTRIOUS SIRS ORGANIZED THE PROCESS OF MEMBERSHIP BUT IT WELL KNOWN THAT THE LEAD BROTHER WHO TIRELESSLY RECURITED MASTER MASONS IN THE FOURTH MASONIC DISTRICT WAS GEORGE ERVIN DEANS FROM AMBLER LODGE IN THE FOURTH MASONIC DISTRICT.

THIS RECURITING EFFORT LEAD TO A MEETING OF BROTHERS IN THE FOURTH MASONIC DISTRICT IN THE SUMMER AT JAMES BELL LODGE IN THE FOURTH MASONIC DISTRICT. AFTER SEVERAL MEETINGS AT JAMES BELL LODGE, OFFICERS WERE ELECTED AND THE FIRST OFFICERS WERE:

CLASS PRESIDENT BRO. GEORGE E. DEANS
VICE PRESIDENT BRO. CLARK YOUNGER
SECETARY BRO. RUSSELL NELSON
TREASURER BRO. SAGE GLEN

THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS WAS TO SELECT A NAME FOR THE CONSISTORY. AFTER SEVERAL NAMES WERE SUGGESTED, THE NAME CHOSEN WAS MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WHAT A POWERFUL NAME IT WAS SINCE THE TIME OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CONSISTORY FOLLOWED THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA AND THE ASSINATION OF DR. KING. THE ORGANIZERS WERE SAID TO HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED BY DR. KING’S FAMOUS I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH, A 17 MINUTE PUBLIC SPEECH DELIVERED ON AUGUST 28, 1963, IN WHICH HE CALLED FOR RACIAL EQUALITY AND AN END TO DISCRIMINATION. FROM THIS, THE ORGANIZATION WAS NAMED MARTIN LUTHR KING JR, CONSISTORY N0. 86 U. D.

THE ELECTED OFFICERS AND FOLLOWING BROTHERS SET THE PATH FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., CONSISTORY NO. 86 U.D. THEY OPERATED FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS UNDER DISPENSATION. THE FOLLOWING FIFTY BROTHERS LISTED BELOW WERE ELEVATED TO 32ND DEGREE MASONS, ON MAY 3, 1971 AT DEMOLAY CONSISTORY NO. 1 IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Charter members of Martin Luther King, Jr Consistory No. 86

William Blackman

Willie Boyd, Jr.

James Bradshaw

Theodore Byrd, Sr.

David T. Carter

John B. Clary

Noah P. Cotton

Carl Mervil Cousins

Willie Darden

Robert J. Davenport

George E. Deans

George F. Deans

Leamon E. Deans

Willard A. Dennis

Russell Douglas

William L. Finney

Clyde Foster

Alphonso Freeman

Sage Glen

Lloyd W. Harvey

Perry C. Haney

Arnett Holloway

Stanley L. Johnson

Albert W. Jones

Edward Keith

Kendall Lee

Charles L. Mason

Henry Mayers

Earl E. Morris

Albert T. Morgan

Wilbur L. Myers

Russell Lee Nelson

Victor Northrup, Sr.

George T. Perry

Alfred B. Quarles

John P. Ramsey, Jr.

Edward H. Robinson

Daniel W. Smith

Walter G. Smith

Harvey D. Spenser, Jr.

Murphy Stewart

George M. Taliaferro

Frank W. Thomas, Sr.

John E. Vause

Alfred Washington

Horace Williams

Fred Williamson

John R. Winters

Clark M. Younger

William H. Watkins

THE ORGANIZATION WAS OPERATED IN UNDER DISPENSATION STATUS AND THEIR CHARTERS WERE ISSUED AS FOLLOWS:

Charters

Presented on the 4^th day of May 1971

Signed on June 28^th 1971

Martin Luther King, Jr. Consistory No. 86
Clark M. Younger…...Illustrious Commander-In-Chief

George E. Deans…....Illustrious First Lieutenant Commander

Albert M. Jones…...Illustrious Second Lieutenant Commander

Delaware Valley Chapter of Rose of Croix

Stanley L. Johnson………….Most Wise and Perfect Master

Alfred B. Quarles…...Perfect Knight Senior Warden

William L. Finney…...Perfect Knight Junior Warden

St. John’s Lodge of Perfection

Walter G. Smith…………….Thrice Potent Master

John E. Vance……Deputy Master, Hiram King of Tyre

Albert T. Morgan…...Venerable Senior Warden

Leamon E. Deans…...Venerable Junior Warden

THE NAME DELAWARE VALLEY CHAPTER OF ROSE OF CROIX WAS AGREED UPON, BECAUSE THE CONSISTORY’S MEETING PLACE WAS LOCATED IN DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

THE NAME FOR THE ST. JOHN LODGE OF PREFECTION WAS AGREED UPON BY THE MEMBERS BECAUSE JOHN IS A GREAT NAME IN THE BIBLE.

AS MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CONSISTORY WAS MOVING ON THIS HISTORICAL ACCOUNTING, THEY REMEMBERED THIS SCRIPTURE:

How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live in harmony!

For harmony is as precious as thefragrant anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head , and ran down onto his beard and onto border of his robe .

Harmony is as the dew on the Mount Hermon, on the mountain of Israel.

And God has pronounced this eternal blessing on Jerusalem, even life forevermore.

Our Commanders-In-Chief

1975 Clark M. Younger

1976 Albert W. Jones

1977 Albert W. Jones

1978 James L. Bradshaw

1979 James L. Bradshaw

1980 John T. Smith

1981 John T. Smith

1982 John T. Smith

1983 Andrew E. Morris

1984 Andrew E. Morris

1985 Armstead W. Joyner

1986 Armstead W. Joyner

1987 Albert R. Robbins

1988 Albert R. Robbins

1989 Lawrence L. Valentine

1990 Lawrence L. Valentine

1991 Otis J. Guinyard

1992 Otis J. Guinyard

1993 Herman M. Fredrick

1994 Herman M. Fredrick

1995 Eugene I. Bearden

1996 Eugene I. Bearden

1997 Ronald H. Trower, Sr.

1998 Ronald H. Trower, Sr.

1999 Raynard W. Hughes

2000 Raynard W. Hughes

2001 Daniel W. Smith

2002 John P. Goss

2003 John P. Goss

2004 Steven O. Wells

2005 Steven O. Wells

2006 Byron L. Crudup

2007 Otis L. Hightower, Jr.

2008 Benjamin R. Robinson, Jr.

2009 Benjamin R. Robinson, Jr.

2010 Tyrone M. Rice

2011 Elmer M. Evans

2012 Elmer M. Evans

2013 Sean R. Snead
2014 Sean R. Snead

2015 Quinton O. Mason

2016 Brian J. Warren

2017 Brian J. Warren

2018 LaShawn E.Braxton
2019 LaShawn E. Braxton
2020 James N. Lloyd

Our Grand Inspector Generals

1977 Clark M. Younger*

1979 Albert W. Jones*

1980 Russell L. Nelson*

1983 Robert Davenport*

1984 John T. Smith* Horace Williams*

1986 Andrew E. Morris*

1987 Armstead W. Joyner*, Horace A. Davenport*

1988 Albert R. Robbins*, Oscar P. Vance, Jr., Walter G. Smith, John Ramsey

1989 Horace Williams

1990 Thomas A. Jackmon, Jr.

1991 Kendell Lee*, Lawrence L. Valentine

1992 James L. Bradshaw*, George W. Conyer*

1993 Otis J. Guinyard, Melvin Morris, Sr.*

1994 Theodore C. Scott*

1995 Jeffrey N. Leath

1997 Eugene I. Bearden, Robert L. Keller*

1998 Herman M. Fredrick

1999 Willie Boyd, Jr.*

2000 George M. Taliaferro*

2001 Daniel W. Smith*, Ronald H. Trower, Sr.

2002 George H. Dixon, Jr.

2003 Robert B. Groce, Raynard W. Hughes

2004 John P. Goss, Charles H. Dowling*

2005 Whalen R. Braxton*, Steven O. Wells

2006 Isaac B. Andrews, Donald X. Campbell

2007 Byron Lee Crudup, Howard E. Dade*

2008 Brain I. Austin, Joseph L. Dorn, Otis L. Hightower*, Jr., Joseph F. Norman, III

2009 Robert E. Cody*, Clifford E. DeBaptiste, Benjamin R. Robinson, Jr.

2010 Benjamin C. Braxton, Samuel Staten, Sr*, Richard L.West

2011          Warren S. Montague, Karl H. Radford, Tyrone M. Rice
2012          Juan Bacote, Leonard D. Craig
2013          Elmer M. Evans
2014          Aaron E. Ervin, Sr.*, Clifton Milligan, Albertus Shaw, Sean R. Snead
2015          Abraham Shaw, Charles E. White III*
2016          Tahir Isaac, Earl L. Johnson, Tyrone C. Tate
2017          Albert C. Blair*, Mark C. Burford, Gerald Hunley, Sr., Steven Lawrence
2018 Darryl R. Braxton, Quinton O. Mason, Brian J. Warren, Donald Williams
2019 Milton U. Oates, Jr., Gary Stepps, Curtis Thomas, Robert L. Ximines, Jr.

William Odom* –Demitted from the Southern Jurisdiction

*Denotes Deceased

Our Sovereign Grand Inspector Generals
S.G.I.G. Andrew E. Morris, 33° *
S.G.I.G. Albert R. Robbins, 33° *
S.G.I.G. Raynard W. Hughes, 33°
S.G.I.G. Brian I. Austin, 33°
S.G.I.G. Otis L. Hightower, Jr., 33° *
S.G.I.G. Clifford E. DeBaptiste, 33°
S.G.I.G. Elmer M. Evans, 33°
S.G.I.G. Walter G. Smith, 33°
S.G.I.G. Steven O. Wells, 33°
S.G.I.G. Otis J. Guinyard, 33°
S.G.I.G. Sean R. Snead, 33°

*Denotes Deceased
Note: Andrew E. Morris was our first Sovereign Grand Inspector General

The United Supreme Council

The following members of Martin Luther King, Jr. Consistory No. 86 have been elected and appointed to the United Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliation, Northern Jurisdiction. U.S.A., Incorporated:

S.G.I.G. Andrew E. “Jack” Morris is an Active and has served as Grand Seneschal for over twenty years. He is the first in our Consistory to receive an appointed position in United Supreme Council.
Illustrious Morris received acknowledgements from the Illustrious Joseph A. Walkes, Jr., Author, History of The United Supreme Council of Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliation, Northern Jurisdiction. Illustrious Andrew E. “Jack” Morris is noted by the author for contributing to the effort to write the history by unearthing many historical documents, all of which are recorded in the history book.
S.G.I.G. Albert R. Robbins was the second appointment to the United Supreme Council and served as Grand Keeper of the Seal and Archives.
G.I.G. Armstead W. Joyner was the third appointment to the United Supreme Council from Martin Luther King, Jr. Consistory. G.I.G. Armstead W. Joyner served as Grand Captain of the Guard.
S.G.I.G. Raynard W. Hughes was appointed and served as Transportation Chairman and then was elected as Cathedral Secretary of the Holy Empire. He is Martin Luther King Jr. Consistory’s first elected officer of the United Supreme Council.
Ill. Hughes is a recipient of the Gold Medal of Distinguished Service and Achievement Award by the United Supreme Council.

S.G.I.G. Otis J. Guinyard serves as the Assistant to The Robe Master for the United Supreme Council.

S.G.I.G. Otis L. Hightower, Jr. was appointed to Assistant to the Deputy of Pennsylvania in 2013.

S.G.I.G. Elmer M. Evans was appointed as Chairman of Convention Committee - Seating in 2013. In 2015, he was appointed as Director of Refection.

S.G.I.G. Steven O. Wells served as Grand Sentinel from 2007 to 2012 and was appointed as Grand Marshall in 2013.

S.G.I.G. Sean R. Snead was appointed as the Assistant Grand Seneschal in 2014. In 2017, he was also appointed to the Ritualistic Committee. In 2019, Ill. Snead was awarded the Gold Medal of Distinguished Service and Achievement Award by the United Supreme Council.

G.I.G. Armstead W. Joyner was the first president of a class from Martin Luther King, Jr. Consistory, the Robert W. Gwaltney Class of 1987. S.G.I.G. Raynard W. Hughes was the second president of a class from Martin Luther King, Jr., the Russell Davies Class of 2003.

Pennsylvania Council of Deliberation

Several members of Martin Luther King, Jr. Consistory are now serving or have served the Pennsylvania Council of Deliberation:

G.I.G. Sean R. Snead serves as Illustrious 1st Lieutenant Commander
G.I.G. Warren Montague serves as Marshall and Chairman of Education
S.G.I.G. Elmer M. Evans serves on the Convention Committee.

The following Grand Inspectors General have served the Pennsylvania Council of Deliberation:

G.I.G. Armstead W. Joyner served on the Awards Committee and as Grand Hospitaler

G.I.G. Walter G. Smith served as Recording Secretary
S.G.I.G. Albert R. Robbins served as Standard Bearer and Marshall
G.I.G. Charles H. Dowling served as Marshall
G.I.G. Ronald H. Trower, Sr., served as Grand Engineer and Architect
S.G.I.G. Elmer M. Evans served as Illustrious 2nd Lieutenant Commander
G.I.G. Charles E. White served as Standard Bearer
S.G.I.G. Otis L. Hightower, Jr. served as the Illustrious Treasurer
S.G.I.G. Otis J. Guinyard served as Education Chairman
S.G.I.G. Sean R. Snead served as Illustrious First Lieutenant Commander

Pennsylvania Commanders of the Rite

S.G.I.G. Steven O. Wells serves as the President of the Pennsylvania Commanders of the Rite.

Overseers of the Valley of Ambler

S.G.I.G. Andrew E. "Jack" Morris, 33°
S.G.I.G. Raynard W. Hughes, 33°
S.G.I.G. Otis L. Hightower, Jr., 33°
S.G.I.G. Elmer M. Evans, 33°

We cannot forget our Executive Meetings for they are part of our history. These monthly meetings were held at the home of members and the home cooked meals were outstanding. All members were asked to serve as hosts. The attendance was great and these meetings were open to the entire membership. G.I.G. Albert Jones was famous for his roast beef and G.I.G. Armstead Joyner was famous for his New Year’s meal.

Our Consistory picnics were held at the home of the late Sublime Prince Perry C. Haney. The picnics were memorable and were greatly anticipated by the membership. The picnics then moved to home of the late G.I.G. George M. Taliaferro in Willow Grove, PA.

Over the years, Martin Luther King, Jr. Consistory No. 86 has strived to improve the quality of life for those in need. For many years, effort was taken, led by G.I.G. George M. Taliaferro, to provide holiday food baskets to the less fortunate families in the community. As many as 25 baskets have been provided to families from the Philadelphia area to as far away as Allentown, PA through this charitable activity.

Each year, Martin Luther King, Jr. Consistory No. 86 has provided educational assistance to our youth to assist them in attending schools of higher education and prepare themselves to be positive contributors to our world. Through the annual Scholarship and Awards Program, the Consistory has been able to provide assistance to as many as three students a year.

Our historical accomplishments continue each and every day. It is an ever living and enduring testament to the faith, planning and work of our illustrious leadership that we stand today, on the Fortieth Anniversary of our Consistory. We are united in Peace, Love and Unity. Fiat Lux!

We are climbing Jacob’s ladder

Soldiers of the cross

Every round goes higher, higher

Soldiers of the cross