During the period in which Masonry had its rise among colored people in Cincinnati, they had made such progress that Carter G. Woodson in writing of them in The Journal of Negro History noted that "they deserved to be ranked among the most progressive people of the world." This advancement was said to be due to be due to two forces, the development of the steamboat as a factor in transportation and the rise of the colored mechanic. They were employed in the steamboat and shipping industry as skilled laborers. The amassed wealth and property and were interested in education and in their churches. By the end of the first half of the nineteenth century they were in position to become organizers of community endeavors. One of the outstanding evidences of this development was in Freemasonry. It's organization and expansion or unique factors in the progress of this city, the state, and other states of the nation.
The State of Ohio was preeminently the Mother of Lodges. This out-home-state interest was due in part to the fact that fugitive slaves had comes into Ohio from other states throughout the nineteenth century. For more than three decades, the Underground movement to aid slaves to escape to freedom went on in Ohio in spite of the fact that Ohio began in 1829 the expulsion of colored persons who had entered the state as fugitives and ten years later enacted The Ohio Fugitive Slave Law. There were more than, 2,000 operators on the more then 3,000 miles of this railroad to freedom in Ohio, which assisted from forty to fifty thousand Negroes to free territory.
Some of these migrants remained in the state. AS the leaders became more efficient in their concealment and guidance of fugitive slaves, and the Justice of the Peace became less cooperative in their return to their homes in the slave states, it was almost impossible to return fugitives to slavery. The Fugitive Slave Act in 1850, made some slight changes in the situation, again and again, the sentiment of the people declined to support affirmative decisions to return the fugitives to the South. Some remained hidden in the state and others went to Canada. Still others purchased their freedom from their master or his agents.
In 1835 there were in Cincinnati four hundred and thirty-five colored persons who were reported to have purchased their freedom for $215,000.00. There were increasing numbers of them who were granted their freedom by their masters and were settled in the State. One of these kindly in Pittsburgh County Virginia, settled seventy freemen in Lawerence County Ohio settlements were made at Wilberforce in Greene County, and in Mercer County. The whites especially from Virginia and Kentucky increased in the State, while the colored population increased more slowly. By 1840, the latter were 1.1 per cent of the population; 1850, they were 1.3 per cent and in 1860, 1.6 per cent. By 1850, Ohio ranked sixth among the states in the number of free colored persons.
The migratory colored population came into Ohio through several routes of the Underground Railroad. There was one route from the southern part of the estate through Marion County Sandusky. Another went from Marseilles to Williamstown, Arlington, Findlay, Bowling Green and Perrysburg, , thence to Toledo, Sylvania and Canada. Another was from the south of Ohio by several ways from Marion and Mt. Gilead, to the lake region. There were more underground stations in Ohio than in any other state.
Many migrants who acquired the recognition of their freedom, began to make permanent places for themselves within the states. Many lived useful and productive lives. Small numbers acquired farms and some obtained economic independence. They performed the unskilled work made available to them and some few were able to secure skilled work. Ohio's river boats employed many and there were those who took advantage of this opportunity to guide and bring other fugitives across the river to freedom. There were 2,255 in Cincinnati who accumulated during this period, 1835 to 1840, more than $209,000 worth of property, real and personal, and three churches with a value of $19,000.
Some of these settlers were mechanics and artisans and it was said that "white mechanics not only worked with colored men but often associated with them, patronized the same barbershop and went to the same places of amusement." The Cincinnati Gazette stated that while there were those who were imprudent and improvident, "many of these are peaceable and industrious, raising respectable families and acquiring property." They engaged in work on the docks, railway terminals, hotels and barbershops. Some of these workers made provision for the education of their children since they were denied admission to the public schools provided for white children. They established private schools. In Cincinnati in 1844, there were six schools of this type. In the same year, Nicholas Longworth helped to establish an orphan asylum and built a school building for colored youth in 1858. He leased it to them with the privilege of purchasing it within four years, an achievement which was accomplished by them. In 1848, the legislature approved a provision that colored people be taxed to support their own schools in communities where there were twenty or more children. Religious institutions, churches and Sunday Schools were established by them to insure adequate attention to the religious welfare of themselves and their children.
The organizational life of the colored population in Ohio included not only church and school activities, but also fraternal ones. Following the lead of Pennsylvania, they took the first step in Ohio toward the membership requirements of Masonry. A large number of them had acquired education, property and personal culture, which were the bases for fellowship among themselves with others.
The beginnings in Masonry among colored men in Ohio have direct connections with Masonry for the same group in Pennsylvania. Following the stabilization of the work of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge as has been noted previously, three lodges were warranted in Philadelphia. They were Union Lodge No. 2, in 1810; Laurel Lodge No. 5 in 1810, and Phoenix Lodge No. 6 in 1814. These lodges in Philadelphia, on December 27, 1815, formed the First African Independent Grand Lodge of North America with Absalom Jones as Grand Master. It was this lodge which gave authority to Brother Richard Howell Gleaves to establish a Masonic lodge in the State of Ohio.
There were two streams of influence at work in accomplishing this goal. One of these grew out of the initiative of men in the city of Cincinnati and the second arose in Pennsylvania with Brother Gleaves as its agent. On March 3, 1847, seven men who were residents of Cincinnati left their city for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They were seeking contact with Masons to the east of them, for they had learned of its values and traditions from three of the seven who had been Master Masons in St. Cyprian Lodge. These three were William Darnes, John Johnson, and Joseph C. King, who with Shelton Morris, George Peterson, Asbury Young and L. C. Fluellen constituted the first original members of Corinthian Lodge No. 1 in Cincinnati.
After two days in Pittsburgh, on March 5, 1847, St. Cyprian Lodge held a meeting with Martin B. Delaney as Worshipful Master; George B. Vashon as Senior Warden, H. Nicholson as Junior Warden; Hal son Vashon as Secretary; Alex Ferguson as Treasurer; S. L. Collins as Senior Deacon; F. Robinson as Junior Deacon, and A. Williams as Tyler. The members who were present were Brothers B. H. Gleaves, A. Johns, William Dames, John Thompson, T. Boswell and B. Richards. When the petitions of Shelton Morris, George Peterson, Asbury Young and L. C. Fluellen from Cincinnati, praying admission were received, they were elected by ballot as Entered Apprentices and raised as Master Masons. These seven Masons returned to Cincinnati with glowing accounts of their visit and their experience with men of Masonic life.
Shortly thereafter, on March 26, 1847, St. Cyprian Lodge received a petition from Brothers Joseph King, William Dames, George Peterson, Shelton Morris, L. C. Fluellen, Asbury Young, John Johnson and William Brown of Cincinnati, presenting a recommendation for a lodge in their city. On April 11, 1847, St. Cyprian Lodge approved this recommendation and the warrant was issued by the First Independent Grand Lodge of North America. On January 16, 1848, Corinthian Lodge, No. 17, was duly constituted with the following officers: Joseph C. King, Worshipful Master; John Gazaway, Senior Warden; William Dames, Junior Warden; Alex Hunter, Secretary; George Peterson, Treasurer; Samuel Wilson, Deacon; Shelton Morris, Junior Deacon, and Asbury Young, Tyler. After the Grand Lodge for Ohio was established, a new charter was issued for Corinthian Lodge No. 1 in 1849, with the following officers: Griffin Taylor Warren, W. M., Lewis Rayno, S. W., and George B. Williams, J. W.
In the meantime, and before Corinthian Lodge was warranted, there were several men in Cincinnati who had been Masons and were led by Rev. H. Galbraith of the Zion Methodist Episcopal Church. They organized a lodge and received a warrant from Hiram Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania which had been formed by action of three subordinate lodges in 1837 as a rival Grand Lodge. Two of these lodges, Union Lodge No. 4 and Harmony Lodge No. 5 were expelled by the First African Independent Grand Lodge. These two lodges then met and organized the Hiram Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. For more than a decade, the strife was continued between these two grand lodges, The First African Grand Lodge of North America for Pennsylvania and the Hiram Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.
This second lodge in Cincinnati also claimed that it had been issued a charter of authority from a white grand lodge of Masons in Ohio. It was said that this warrant was granted during the session held in Chillicothe, Ohio. When Brother Richard Howell Gleaves, who was acting under the authority of the First Independent African Grand Lodge of North America, arrived in Cincinnati, he learned of these two lodges. He called the representatives of these lodges to a meeting. After an examination of the official papers of each, he determined that the Grand Lodge of Ohio had not met in Chillicothe. He also found that the white Grand Lodge had never granted a charter, warrant or dispensation to Negroes. He concluded that the warrant issued was a forgery, that the lodge established under Rev. Galbraith was a bogus one and without authority to operate as a freemasonic lodge. In fact, the warrant was proved to be a forgery which was sold to them for one hundred and twenty-five dollars. These men then agreed to give up their warrant and requested Brother Gleaves to constitute them as a regular lodge.
They were constituted and established on March 18, 1848 as True American Lodge No. 26 with twenty-seven members under a warrant issued by the First African Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. Dr. J. G. Gould Bias, Dr. Jonathan Davis of Philadelphia and Brother Gleaves, W. M., of St. Cyprian Lodge composed the committee who came to Cincinnati to engage in the final agreement to settle this issue. A third lodge was organized and established by Brother Gleaves in Cincinnati under the authority of the First Independent African Grand Lodge. This lodge was known as St. John's Lodge No. 3 and was established as St. John's Lodge No. 27 on May 20, 1848 with Richard Howell Gleaves as the Grand Master. One of the results of this organization was the establishment of enough lodges to organize a Grand Lodge for the State of Ohio.
During these events an endeavor had been made to secure recognition from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge (white) of the State of Ohio. Such recognition by the Masonic body of the State composed of white Masons seemed to be a desirable goal. A petition was prepared by A. C. Gay and C. Brown, both colored Masons, seeking to be initiated into Ohio Freemasonry. Their petition was sent to Columbia Lodge No. 44 and was considered on October W, 1847, by the Grand Lodge. Columbia Lodge requested the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio in session at Zanesville to answer the question, whether it would be practical in Ohio, to receive colored men into their lodges, and would the Grand Lodge grant a charter to a lodge of colored persons if the requisite number would apply.
This dual question was referred to a Special Committee. Its report was: "The select committee to whom was referred a communication from several colored gentlemen, ask for instruction for the following questions: First, Is the Grand Lodge prepared to recognize any real or pretended Lodge existing within her jurisdiction, or even others previous to the recognition of the Grand Lodge under whose jurisdiction the said real or pretended lodge is chartered? Second, Will the Grand Lodge allow other so-called Grand Lodge to establish lodges within its jurisdiction and is it ready to recognize Lodges so established? Third, Does this Grand Lodge recognize the right of holding communication or conversation on subjects appertaining to Masonry, with clandestine Masons, when their illegitimacy is acknowledged by themselves?"
Subsequently, during the same session, the following resolution was adopted by the Grand Lodge as an expression of its views: "RESOLVED, that in the opinion of this Grand Lodge, it would be inexpedient, and tend to mar the present harmony of the fraternity to admit any of the persons of color so called into the fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons within this jurisdiction."
This was the first effort of colored Masons in Ohio to secure admission or recognition from white Masons and their Grand Lodge. There were individuals among them who were reported to be members of lodges, in which their racial origins were not detected, but there were few formal relationships of an official character. Masonry, just as many organized relationships in American life, was split in twain by the god of color worshipped by white America. In the same way that colored Americans have met these situations in other aspects of life, they met it in Masonry. They organized themselves, not because they wanted to be separate and to themselves, but because this was the only way that they could organize and maintain themselves as Masons.
The representatives of the three Masonic lodges in Cincinnati, Corinthian Lodge No. 17, later No. 1, True American Lodge No. 26, later No. 2, and St. John's Lodge No. 27, later No. 3, met on May 3, 1849, in the upper story of a building leased for purposes of their meetings and proceeded to organize "The Grand Lodge for the State of Ohio," with the following resolution: "WIIEREAS, The delegates of Corinthian Lodge No. 17, True American Lodge No. 26, and St. John's Lodge No. 27 of Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons, subordinate to The Grand Lodge for the State of Pennsylvania, in convention assembled in the city of Cincinnati, State of Ohio, May 3rd, A. D., 1849, A. L. 5849 ceased working under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge for the State of Pennsylvania and organized and established a Grand Lodge to be known and styled The Grand Lodge for the State of Ohio."
The officers for the Grand Lodge for 1849 were: Thomas W. Stringer, Grand Master; Richard H. Gleaves, Deputy Grand Master; Joseph C. King, Grand Senior Warden; Ephraim Bancroft, Grand Junior Warden; Owen T. Barton Nickens, Grand Secretary.
The Grand Lodge for the State of Ohio had been organized and the foundation had been laid for Masonry among colored Americans in Ohio. It was the generous fraternal spirit of their brothers in the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania which led to the establishment of the Fraternity in the State of Ohio.
The Pittsburgh Lodge, St. Cyprian, conferred the first degrees in its own lodge upon the first Ohioans to receive these degrees. Richard Howell Gleaves, Deputy Grand Organizer from Pennsylvania who became the first Worshipful Master of St. John's Lodge in Cincinnati and later a Grand Master of Ohio, and Thomas W. Stringer who was the first Grand Master of the State of Ohio, were the leaders in this great Masonic achievement.
Prior to this historic event, the colored Masons of Western Pennsylvania had been having difficulties with the Governor of the state and other state officers, concerning their Masonic organization, and they were hesitant even to hold meetings. In defiance of this opposition, Brother Gleaves went to Pittsburgh and established St. Cyprian Lodge No. 13, in the middle of November, 1846, and became its first Grand Master. This was the lodge to which the seven original members of Corinthian Lodge No. 1 of Cincinnati were to go several months later to receive their Masonic degrees. In this respect, it was a mother lodge of Masonry for colored Americans in Ohio, and as the farthest of the lodges west of the Alleghenies, this was one of its inevitable accomplishments as the nation moved westward.
The pioneer organizer, Brother Gleaves, gave the impetus to a movement which spread the Masonic spirit over the state of Ohio and beyond its borders. Between 1849 and 1859, there were twenty-one lodges warranted by the Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio. Only seven were within the state. They were: Corinthian Lodge No. 1 at Cincinnati in 1849, True American Lodge No. 2 at Cincinnati in 1848; St. John's Lodge No. 3 at Cincinnati in 1849; St. Mark's Lodge No. 7 at Columbus in 1852; Cannon Lodge No. 8 at Zanesville in 1853; Eureka Lodge No. 14 at Cleveland in 1855; and Wilberforce Lodge No. 21 at Xenia in 1859. The lodge members were consecutive for only the first three lodges. This was caused by the fact that lodges in other states were warranted by the Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio.
The first lodge warranted beyond the State was Richmond Lodge, No. 4 at New Orleans, Louisiana in 1850. The following jurisdictions were established in other states between 1850 and 1859; Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 6 at Louisville, Kentucky in 1852; Union Lodge No. 5 at Indianapolis, Indiana in 1850; King Solomon Lodge No. 8 at Madison, Indiana in 1852; Prince Hall Lodge No. 10 at St. Louis, Missouri in 1853; Stringer Lodge No. 11 at New Orleans, Louisiana in 1854; North Star Lodge No. 12 at Chicago, Illinois in 1855; Britton Lodge No. 13 at Richmond, Indiana in 1856; R. Phillips Lodge, No. 17 at Carthage, Indiana in 1856: Parsons Lodge No. 18 at New Orleans, Louisiana in 1857; Central Lodge No. 19 at Springfield, Illinois in 1857; and St. Thomas Lodge No. 20 at Louisville, Kentucky in 1858.
It will be noticed that these expansions were to the states of Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri and Illinois. After the Civil War, Ohio was to extend its interest in Masonry into several states of the South. In a definite sense, Ohio was the mother of Prince Hall Masonry for many states, for it was through the interests and motivations of its leaders that these expansions to other states and cities took place. At later periods, the subordinate lodges in these states withdrew from the Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio and formed their own state jurisdictions.
Expansion occurred also in the additions of Masonic work beyond the work of the Master Mason. Brother R. H. Gleaves organized Royal Arch Masonry and Commandaries of Knights Templars. In Cincinnati he organized Zerubbabel Chapter in 1849, in which he was the first High Priest. This Chapter was chartered by the First Independent Grand Chapter of North America in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Other chapters were organized in several parts of the state. A general convention of Royal Arch Masons was held in Cincinnati, Ohio and organized in 1850 the First Independent African Grand Chapter of Ohio. The three chapters Zerubbabel, Corinthian and Franklin met at this time and elected Anderson B. Lewis as first Grand High Priest; William Dames as Deputy High Priest; John Johnson as Grand King; Shelton Morris as Grand Scribe; Charles A. Roxborough as Grand Secretary; and Milton Franklin as Grand Treasurer. There was no permanent continuance of this organization but on August 16, 1867, representatives of chapters from Cincinnati, Xenia and Columbus met and reorganized the Grand Chapter with John R. Blackburn as Grand High Priest.
In 1849, a Commandery of Knights Templars was organized in Cincinnati under a charter issued on June 1 by the first Independent African Grand Encampment of North America of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, whose Grand Officers were: James Henderson, Jonathan Davis, Enos Hall, James Richmond, Jr., and Dr. Kennard. Other Commandaries were constituted and chartered in other cities of the state and in 1872, a convention was held in Springfield, Ohio with the organization of a Grand Commandery of Knights Templars for the State of Ohio. Sir Knight William M. Wilson was elected as its first Grand Commander. This Grand Commandery chartered Commanderies not only in Ohio but also in Michigan, Louisiana, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, West Virginia, and Catham, Ontario, Canada.
The motivations for these expansions came from outstanding Masonic leaders. The first of these historical figures has been referred to in the work of Masonic organization in Ohio. This was Richard Howell Gleaves, who was described in 1903 by William Henry Grimshaw as "The most distinguished colored Mason in the United States now living." He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1819, the son of a Haitian father and an English mother. His early education was received in Philadelphia and in New Orleans, Louisiana. The latter accounts for his interest in the organization of a Masonic lodge in that city, for he knew of the character of the men there.
After receiving the degrees of Master Mason and Past Master, and his, appointment as District Deputy Grand Master of Pennsylvania for the districts west and south of the Allegheny Mountains, he came to Ohio. St. Cyprian Lodge No. 13 which he organized in 1846 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and of which he became the first Worshipful Master was the first outpost of the west in the process of expansion. After he received the Royal Arch degree in 1848, and the Knights Templar degree in Philadelphia, he, with Brothers James Henderson, William Davis, Enos Hall, James Richmond and Dr. Kennard, as noted, organized Zerubbabel Chapter and the Commandery. He was the first High Priest of the Chapter and the first Captain General of the Commandery. His issuance of dispensations for lodges in various areas, his assistance and cooperation with special deputies and committees and his personal activity in the plans of organization were responsible for the developments west of the Alleghenies. He was deputized for this purpose and he carried out the mandate in successful ways. During his Mastership, white Masons were welcomed to the lodge sessions. He was fifth Grand Master, elected first in 1857 and was re-elected, serving until 1860.
At later periods, he became a Scottish Rite Mason of the Thirty-third degree and filled the office of Grand Chancellor and served in national offices. He was the first of the pioneer expansionists, but withal, he was careful in his selection of places and of men as candidates for Masonry. His leadership and hard work for Prince Hall Masonry were exemplary.
The second of these Masonic historical personages was Thomas W. Stringer, who was elected at the general assembly of the Craft for the purpose of forming a Grand Lodge, as its Most Worshipful Grand Master. He served in this capacity from 1849 to 1850. A lodge, Stringer Lodge No. 11, on the Ohio roster, was named for him in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1854. He lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was a member of True American Lodge. He was appointed District Deputy Grand Master of the territory west of Pittsburgh. The degrees of the Chapter and the Commandery were conferred upon him. After his final re-election, he left Ohio for Canada where he located serving as a minister of the gospel. Following the Civil War he returned and located in Mississippi, where he was elected Grand Master of the state and held this position until his death.
Another Grand Master, Griffin T. Watson who served in 1851, was a successful man of business. He worked as a steward on a steamboat and as a farmer. In the latter occupation, he had marked success. His Masonic leadership was not as effective in the way of the expansion of the fraternity, but he built well from within its walls, as he insisted upon merit and character for membership and compiled a good Masonic library in a period when this accomplishment was unusual.
More contributions were made by the third Grand Master of this state, William Dames, toward the expansion of the Craft. He was one of the original seven who were the founders of Corinthian Lodge No. 1 the pioneer lodge of Ohio. As Grand Master, from 1852 to 1855, he issued dispensations for Stringer Lodge in New Orleans, Louisiana; North Star Lodge in Chicago, Illinois; Briton Lodge in Richmond, Indiana; Eureka Lodge in Cleveland, Ohio; St. Mark's Lodge at Columbus, Ohio; Dames Lodge at Terre Haute, Indiana; G. T. Watson Lodge at Alton, Illinois; Central Lodge at Springfield, Illinois and T. Phillips Lodge at Carthage, Indiana.
Parham and Brown in their Official History write of him, "Brother Dames was held in high esteem by the local lodges and the members of the Grand Lodge. He seems to have been ever ready to serve the brethren in any capacity he could; and whenever the fraternity was confronted with any difficult or perplexing problem they invariably turned to Brother Dames for counsel and advice."
The Grand Mastership of John Parsons was not of great importance in the expansion of the fraternity, except that after serving one term in Ohio he became interested in the National Grand Lodge, although he cast the deciding vote for Ohio's withdrawal from it. In 1863, Brother Parsons went to Louisiana, where he was elected its first Grand Master. In this way, Ohio's influence in Louisiana was continued through his service, as was the result in Mississippi with Brother Stringer as Grand Master.
During the next decade, 1859-1869, under successive Grand Masters Richard Howell Gleaves, 1857-1861; Henry W. P. Spencer, 1861-1863; Edward A. Fulton, 1863-1865; John Jones, 1865-1867; William Goff, 1867-1869, and William Theodore Boyd, 1869-1875, the process of expansion was continued. Each administration in its way continued in the motivation of new lodges and increased membership. In 1860, there was only one lodge established. This was Lone Star Lodge No. 22 at St. Louis, Missouri.
The first lodge for colored Americans in Cleveland was Eureka Lodge, warranted as No. 14 in August, 1856. As a result of differences, Eureka Lodge withdrew from the Grand Lodge of Ohio in 1869, and sought to be under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, but in the next year, Eureka was re-warranted as Eureka No. 52 by the Grand Lodge of Ohio and continued over the years to be one of the outstanding lodges of the jurisdiction.
The immediate years which followed were years of war. In 1861, 1862 and 1863, there was no establishment of new lodges. The controversy over slavery and the continuance of the union of states were dominating issues in which not only white men but colored men were actively interested. Ohio contributed its soldiers and the services of its people to the settlement of these issues between North and South.
When the Civil War began, colored Americans in Ohio began early to seek to have a part in it. Rev. William Waring, Pastor of Toledo's Negro Baptist Church declared, "from the hour of the uprising, the Negro was a new man." In Cleveland, they resolved that "today, as in the times of '76 and in the days of 1812, we are ready to go forth and do battle in the common cause of our country." At Albany, a military company was organized and took the name "Attucks Guards" after Crispus Attucks, who was one of the first martyrs of the American Revolution. Within a week after the fall of Fort Sumter, hundreds were drilling in various places and offering to volunteer. Others in southern Ohio, and particularly at Cincinnati, were engaged in the digging of trenches and the manual part of defense.
In spite of these evidences of loyalty, the State Attorney-General, H. B. Carrington informed the colored citizens of Ohio that the Ohio Constitution did not permit him to issue an order for their enlistment. Colored men in Ohio had never been called upon officially by the state to perform military service, but Ohio had been recruiting grounds for the Massachusetts Fifty-fifth Regiment, the first of the colored regiments. Nevertheless, they wanted to serve in this war for freedom. One man in Toledo wrote to the "Toledo Blade" stating that he was willing to serve "as cook, waiter or in any other way." They were as ready to fight for freedom as was one soldier who said that it mattered not where he fought, "if only my boy may stand in the street equal to the white boy, when the war is over." Colored Masons were continuously among those recruited.
Ohio began the recruiting of colored troops in 1863. John Mercer Langston was one of the recruiting agents. He was the father of Charles M. Langston, one of the organizers and first Worshipful Master of St. Mark's Lodge No. 7, Columbus, Ohio. The Fifth United States Colored Troop, with Colonel G. W. Shurtliffe commanding was recruited almost exclusively from Ohio. Governor David Todd and his predecessor in office Governor William Dennison, were chief speakers at the flag presentation ceremonies for this company. It was reported that there were 5,092 colored troops from Ohio who were credited to other states. From the records, it would seem that the number enlisted in the Union armies was greater than their percentage in the total population.
There was a considerable increase in the colored population in Ohio during the decade of the Civil War. The 1860 figure of 36,673 was increased in 1870 to 63,213. This increase and the use of colored workers as strikebreakers resulted in riots and disturbances in Cincinnati and Cleveland. However, adjustments continued to be made to the expanding opportunities of the state, despite discrimination segregation. The Legislature of 1866 postponed a decision upon suffrage until 1867. The Fourteenth Amendment defining and granting citizenship was ratified, but the state constitution had to be amended to extend voting privileges.
This question led to intense debate. The conservatives in the Ohio House of Representatives proposed to disfranchise those persons who had borne arms against the Government or had fled to escape the draft, deserted the service, or had been dishonorably discharged. It was planned that the disfranchisement of deserters and draft dodgers would overcome among conservatives the opposition to the extension of the suffrage. However, it was found that Ohio had 27,178 persons as deserters but that a fourth of this number deserted after the Battle of Appomattox. Agreement was then reached to remove from classification as deserters those who had deserted after April 19, 1865.
In the election of 1868, the suffrage was an issue of much discussion. One group denounced "race equality" and the other declared that "honest black men were preferable to white traitors." The suffrage amendment was defeated by a vote of 216,987 to 255,340. Many Ohioans could not understand how the Republicans in Congress could favor suffrage for the South, and others in Ohio were opposed to it for their own state. The suffrage question was finally settled in Ohio by the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment, which forbade any state from denying or abridging the right to vote on account of race or previous conditions of servitude.
The Fifteenth Amendment was submitted to the state for ratification in 1869. After bitter debate, the issue was decided by the narrow margin of one vote in the Senate and two in the House. There had been five years of debate over the suffrage. Finally, the decision was made and the colored man began to vote, with neither heaven coming down nor hell erupting. It is of interest to observe that this extension of suffrage in the state was denied by one vote in 1802, and was gained by one vote in 1869. Nevertheless, this one vote was as important as a great majority. With citizenship gained, colored Americans began to demonstrate their capacities, as Ohio came of age, following the Civil War and its aftermath.
Before the end of the war, Masonic expansion was again undertaken. In 1864, Boyd Lodge No. 4 at Toledo, Ohio was established by order of the Grand Lodge of Ohio in session at Xenia, June 24, 1864. The charter was issued by Grand Master Edward A. Fulton to John J. Hall, Worshipful Master; Joseph Garrett, Senior Warden and Levi Griffin, Junior Warden. McGee Alexander Lodge No. 8 was also established in St. Louis, Missouri in 1864. During the next year, Fulton Lodge No. 9 was set up at Memphis, Tennessee. Excelsior Lodge No. 11 was warranted in 1865. The warrant of constitution was issued by the Grand Lodge of Ohio, under the administration of Grand Master John Jones. Its first Worshipful Master was Brother William T. Boyd, who later became Grand Master of the State of Ohio.
In 1866, in Kentucky, Merriweather Lodge No. 13, was constituted at Louisville; David Smith Lodge No. 15 at Lexington and in Tennessee, Rock City Lodge No. 17 at Nashville; in Illinois, Morning Star Lodge No. 26 at Galesburg; Lincoln Lodge No. 27 at Cairo, and Fremont Lodge No. 30 at Shawnee-town. During this year, in Ohio, Union Lodge No. 18 was organized at Piqua, on June 18, 1866, under the administration of Grand Master John Jones. Golden Square Lodge No. 23, at first Goff Lodge, was organized at Urbana, Ohio in 1866, and received its charter in 1867 under the administration of Grand Master John Jones. Its first officers were George W. Guy, Worshipful Master, Lemuel King, Senior Warden, and David Jackson, Junior Warden.
There were six lodges established in Ohio
in 1867, under the administration of Grand Master W. D. Goff,
with W. T. Boyd, Deputy Grand Master; George Fields, Grand Senior
Warden, and Donald Decker, Grand Junior Warden. One of these was
White Sulphur Lodge No. 10 at Delaware, whose officers were J.
J. Williamson, Worshipful Master; Thomas Mendenhall, Senior Deacon
and Benjamin Alston, Junior Deacon. The other Lodges were: St.
James Lodge No. 8 at Circleville; Friendship Lodge No. 12 and
Liberty Lodge No. 12 at Tampico; and David's Temple No. 15 at
Springfield was also organized in this year but its name was changed
to Champion Lodge No. 15, by action of the Grand Lodge of 1877.
There was only one out-of-state lodge constituted in 1867. This
was Olive Branch Lodge No. 6 at Mobile, Alabama. In 1868, two
lodges in Ohio and one in Illinois were established. The two in
Ohio were Ira Aldridge Lodge No. 16 at Steubenville and Enterprise
Lodge No. 13 at Lebanon. The out-of-state lodge was Evening Star
No. 25 at Bloomington, Illinois.
During the following year, six lodges were organized in Ohio and three lodges as out-of-state lodges. The six in Ohio were: Cedar Grove No. 17 at Greenfield, which was organized October 13, 1869, although the warrant of constitution was not issued until the Grand Lodge session in 1871. The charter members and officers were Willis Hackley, Worshipful Master; D. A. Green, Senior Warden; H. T. Gray, Junior Warden; Wesley Raines, Samuel Sloan, Scott Parker, R. B. Nash, James Hargo and Anthony Keys. Toussaint Lodge No. 19, was organized on June 23, 1869 at Hamilton. The first officers were Alfred Anderson, Worshipful Master; Benjamin Carson, Senior Warden, and Lorenzo Hazzard, Junior Warden. Silver Urn Lodge No. 29 was organized at London, Ohio, on August 6, 1869 under the authority of Grand Master William T. Boyd and Grand Secretary John R. Blackburn. The officers were James H. Cain, Worshipful Master; Edward Mumford, Senior Warden; George White, Junior Warden; Robert Cain, Treasurer; John H. Cain, Secretary; A. Thomas, Senior Deacon, and Thomas Pleasant, Tyler.
Other lodges established in Ohio in 1869 were Tossport No. 22 at Ripley; St. Peter's No. 25 at Barnesville, and St. Paul No. 26 at Columbus. Lodges outside of the state of Ohio were East Star No. 20 at Nashville, Tennessee; Strangers Lodge No. 27 and Hiram Lodge No. 28 at Mobile, Alabama.
To the State of Ohio belongs the credit
for the establishment of Freemasonry during these years in Kentucky,
Indiana, Illinois, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri. Other
states were added later to this list but the two decades from
1849 to 1869, periods of slavery, freedom and citizenship, were
times during which this expansion was most active. At the same
time the organization of lodges was proceeding at an even more
rapid rate within the State. Ohio was thus engaged under its able
leaders, in organizing the selective, well-qualified few among
colored Americans and instituting lodges, many of which have continued
to work diligently for the advancement of the Grand Lodge and
Masonic endeavors within the State and other states.
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