Most Illustrious Prince Hall Grand Council Royal & Select Master State of Illinois


OFFICERS

Grand Thrice Illustrious Master

M.I.C. Joseph L. Williams

 

Grand Deputy Master

R.I.C. Robert Q. Gary, Sr.

 

Grand Principal Conductor of Work

R.I.C. Philip L.W. Patton, Jr.

 

Grand Recorder

M.I.C. George Balentine Jr.

 

Grand Treasurer

R.I.C. Richard Berry

 

Grand Lecturer

R.I.C. Raymond Kimbrough

 

Grand Trustees

R.I.C Ronald Hill (3yr)

R.I.C. Donardo Jones (2yr)

R.I.C. Kenneth Baldwin (1yr)

 

Appointed Officers

 

Financial Advisor

M.I.C. David Thomas, HPGTIM

 

Assistant Grand Recorder

I.C. Roderick Thompson, PTIM

 

Grand Chaplain

R.I.C. Donardo Jones, GT

 

Assistant Grand Lecturers

I.C. Brian T. Kendrick, PTIM

I.C. Ivan C. James, IV, PTIM 

R.I.C. Donardo Jones, GT

I.C. Brian L. Beatty, PTIM

I.C. Hernando Brown, PTIM

I.C. Christopher Cummings, Sr., PTIM

 

Grand Captain of the Guard

I.C. Robert Wilson, PTIM

 

Grand Conductor of the Council

I.C. Michael G. Harper, PTIM

 

Grand Marshal

I.C. Troy Graves, PTIM

 

Grand Steward

I.C. Dennis Jones, PTIM

 

Grand Sentinel

I.C. Gibran Johnson, PTIM

 

Grand Historian

M.I.C. James A. Mitchell, PGTIM

 

Grand CCFC

M.I.C. Gordon L. Brewer, Jr. PGTIM

 

Grand Web Masters

I.C. Charles Fountain, PTIM

I.C. Brian Easter, PTIM

 

Inspector General

I.C. Hernando Brown, PTIM

 

Assistant Inspector General

I.C. Terrell Ervin, PTIM

 

Deputy for Illinois, GC of GC, USA

M.I.C. Gordon L. Brewer, Jr. PGTIM

 

Grand Recorder GC of GC, USA

M.I.C. Charles Holiday Jr., Jr. HPGTIM

Royal and Select Masters in the State of Illinois

Biblical students and archaeologists know of the vaults or crypts beneath King Solomon’s Temple. Masonic Degrees were probably not actually conferred in these vaults. However, such a legend does persist throughout Freemasonry. The legends, conveyed in this system of degrees form a beautiful allegory or story. The Masonic author, Albert G. Mackey, writing of the vault, says: “The vault was, therefore, in the ancient mysteries, symbolic of the grave; for initiation was symbolic of death, where alone Divine Truth is to be found. Freemasons have adopted the same idea. They teach that death is but the beginning of Life; that if the first, or evanescent Temple of our transitory life be on the surface, we must descend into the secret vault of death before we can find that sacred deposit of Truth, which is to adorn our second Temple pf Eternal Life.” This teaching is not unusual in Freemasonry since as was stated previously the requirements for membership include a professed belief in God and one’s eternal life.

M.I.C. Joseph L. Williams

GRAND THRICE ILLUSTRIOUS MASTER

HISTORY

The root of Cryptic Masonry in the state of Illinois began with the formation of Prince Hall Council #8, Royal and Select Masters from the Ohio jurisdiction in 1923. From 1923 to 1984 additional Councils were formed in Peoria (Peoria Council #28) and Centreville (Ellis T. Moore Council #29) and during the early 1980s the three Councils took the necessary steps to organize themselves into a Grand Council for the state of Illinois. Illustrious Companion Josephus Cason was instrumental in the formation of the Grand Council. The Grand Council was established in the same form and fashion of the organization of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois (MWPHGL) did in 1867, the three Councils proceeded accordingly in the city of Peoria in September of 1984: Surrendered their charters to the Prince Hall Affiliated Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Ohio; Organized the Most Illustrious Prince Hall Grand Council, Royal and Select Masters (MIPHGC); Elected new leadership

The first set of Elected Grand Council Officers (Chartered Officers) were:

Grand Thrice Illustrious Master:
Most Illustrious Companion James F. Clarke, Sr.

Grand Deputy Master:
Right Illustrious Companion William S. Brooks, II

Grand Principal Conductor of Works:
Right Illustrious Companion Eugene A. Williams

Grand Treasurer:
Right Illustrious Companion Thomas Wilson, Jr.

Grand Recorder:
Right Illustrious Companion John W. Thompson, Jr.

Past Grand Thrice Illustrious Masters

    • 1984-1989 James F. Clarke Sr.
    • 1989-1992 Eugene Williams
    • 1992-1995 Jerome Abner
    • 1995-1998 Charles M Jones,Jr.
    • 1998-2000 Leroy R Gary
    • 2000-2002 Elmer S Redd
    • 2002-2004 James A Mitchell
    • 2004-2006 Tommy Simms
    • 2006-2008 Clyde L Jenkins
    • 2008-2010 Enoch Clarke-Bey
    • 2010-2011 Raymond T. Tucker
    • 2011-2014 Damon P. Anderson Sr.
    • 2014-2016 Gordon L. Brewer Jr.
    • 2016-2018 DuWayne H. Portis, Sr.
    • 2018-2020 James R. Jones II*
    • 2020-2021 Eugene Daniel

Prince Hall Council # 1
2nd Thursday 7:30 P.M.
809 E. 42nd Place Chicago, IL

Ellis T. Moore Council # 3
2nd Saturday 3:00 P.M.
1611 Ohio Avenue East St. Louis, IL

James E. Anderson Council # 4
4th Tuesday at 8:00 P.M.
11300 S. Vincennes Ave. Chicago,

Robert Williams Council # 6
2nd Saturday at 1:30 P.M.
809 E. 42nd Place Chicago, IL

John W. Davis Council # 8
1st Saturday at 12:15 P.M.
234 Marietta Street Decatur, IL

Levi H. Morris Council # 9
2nd Saturday at 3:00 P.M.
921 S. Ninth Ave. Maywood, IL

Levi L. Rose Council # 10
2nd Saturday at 3:00 P.M.
729 S. McLean Blvd Elgin, IL

Holy City Council # 17
1st Saturday at 2:00 P.M.
7545 S. Cottage Grove Chicago, IL

Joe Shoto Council # 18
2nd Tuesday at 8:00 P.M.
809 E. 42nd Place Chicago, IL