In the historic town of Boston,
Massachusetts, there was instituted the first lodge of Prince Hall Free
and Accepted Masons among colored men in America, with Prince Hall
commonly styled the founder of the Negro Masonry, and its Worshipful
Master. About 100 years
later 1875 at our National Capital, our own Brother Thornton A. Jackson,
realized the fact that Wives, Daughters, Sisters, Mothers and Widows of
the Free Masons of our group should have the privileges of the Adoptive
Rite. He procured the degrees himself from Brother Robert Macoy, the
present Patron of the Supreme Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star and
instituted Queen Esther No. 1 in the District of Columbia. This became
the first chapter of the Order of Eastern Star among African-Americans
in America. In 1895 Cecelia
Dunlap Grand Chapter was instituted.
It has been
determined by the previously mentioned persons and sources that a letter
from Brother W. H. Ballard, Historian of Prince Hall Grand Lodge,
written to Sis. Blanche W. Lewis, July 11, 1893 contained a declaration
from Grand Master Charles Steele, made in Georgetown, Kentucky stating:
“We believe a more
generous diffusion of the Adoptive Rite among Wives,
Daughters, Sisters, Mothers and Widows of Master Masons would
greatly
Enhance the interest of the Craft throughout the jurisdiction,
and recognize the
lawfully existing Courts and Chapters.”