Masonic Traveler 1 Apr 10

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THE MASONIC TRAVELERTraveling upon the Level of Time

www.parmermasonictraveler.com

San Antonio, Texas

April 1, 2010

Prince Hall Masons attend historical commemora-

tion of 19th Century Black Legislators of TexasStory and photos by:Bro. Burrell ParmerSan Antonio Lodge No. 1MWPHGL of Texas

AUSTIN Men in black suitsdonning Masonic regalia, whitegloves and aprons along withstate senators, house representa-

tives, families and friends gath-ered together on a beautiful sunnymorning at the Texas State Ceme-tery, March 30. Their purposewas not to mourn the departure ofa loved one or provide condo-lences, it was to honor and com-memorate 52 African Americanmen who served in the Texas Leg-islature and as Constitution Con-vention Delegates during the 19thCentury, 1868 - 1900.

The ceremony began with theBexar County Buffalo Soldiers ofSan Antonio, marching on andposting the Colors which con-sisted of the U.S. and Texas StateFlags.

The unveiling was an effort thatwas started 12 years ago by LarryA. Thomas, the monuments pro-

ject director, whose vision was tohave a monument to rememberthe forgotten, to reconnect a dis-connect, and to relight an histori-cal path that once blazed beforethe men that were honored.

Thomas was not alone in hisvision; it took others like HarryBradley of the Texas State Ceme-tery, Representatives DawnnaDukes, Dennis Bonnen, SenatorRodney Ellis and project commit-

tee members to see Thomas vi-sion come to fruition.Scott Sayers, Chairman of theTexas State Cemetery Committeespoke regarding the cemetery.

Every aspect of Texas cultureand history is represented at thecemetery; this is the final restingplace of heroes of the Texas revo-lution, for signing of the TexasDeclaration of Independence, forgovernors, legislators, judges,Texas Rangers, educators, writersand even athletes.

This cemetery today is soproud to honor the 19th CenturyBlack Legislators who will now becelebrated right alongside

Stephen F. Austin, GovernorJames P. Henderson, Congress-woman Barbara Jordan and oth-ers, said Sayers.

Sayers went on to say that 19thCentury Texas Black Legislatorswere the early civil rights pioneersoften times overlooked in our his-tory books but they were just ascourageous as todays civil rightsleaders.

Dr. Alwyn Barr, ProfessorEmeritus of History at Texas TechUniversity informed those presentthat today was the 140th Anniver-sary of the official end of Recon-struction. He provided a brief his-tory lesson.

Pictured from Lt. to Rt.: Walter M. Burton, George Thompson Ruby, Allen

W. Wilder, John Mitchell and Nathan H. Haller. These and 47 other BlackLegislators and Constitutional Convention Delegates of Texas were honored

at the Texas State Cemetery March 30 on the 140th Anniversary of the end of

Reconstruction. Photo courtesy of the Texas State Library and Archives.

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The significance of March 30,1870 becomes clear when wecompare the status and roles ofAfrican Americans in Texas onthat date with their status androles five years earlier at the endof the Civil War. In 1865, Unionvictory over the Confederacy al-

lowed Black Texans to throw offthe bonds of slavery yet theyfound themselves with few legalrights to control their economic-political perception status in1865.

Barr continued, In the monthsfollowing, African Americans inTexas and across the South ap-pealed to the U.S. Congress forgreater equality and sometimesthat was a dangerous thing to do

in those days, Congress re-sponded in 1867 with the Recon-struction Act that required newstate constitutions in Texas andother southern states and grantedcivil rights and voting rights to Afri-can Americans for the first timethat opened the way for nine black

leaders in Texas to win electionsas delegates to a new constitu-tional convention that met in 1868and in 1869. Those black dele-gates worked to authorize throughthe new Texas Constitution a statepublic school system that wouldinclude black as well as white stu-

dents for the first time.The Honorable Joe Straus,

Speaker of the Texas House ofRepresentatives attended the his-toric event and addressed those inthe audience.

It is fitting that we are gatheredon a crucial day on the history ofthe 15th Amendment which wasratified on Feb. 3, 1870. It was notuntil March 30th that the secretaryof state issued a proclamation cer-

tifying ratification by the states.So today, 140 year later, we re-member these 52 men for theirservice to our state as they taketheir rightful place in history to behonored for generations to come.

As I reflect upon their servicetwo words come to mind, courage

and sacrifice, each one of thesemen overcame the shameful leg-acy of slavery to become famers,businessmen, teachers, ministers,and they served our state coura-geously under the most difficultcircumstances, they sacrificedtime with their family, their busi-nesses, their safety and theystood for their beliefs and leavinga legacy of leadership that en-riches our lives today. The mem-bers of the Texas Legislators joinme in honoring the service ofthese men. Standing here in thissolemn and historic place, I knowthat this monument is long over-due, now it proudly stands as a

reminder of the past and a markerfor future generations.

The Honorable Dawnna Dukesof the Texas House of Represen-tatives provided House sponsor-ship and brought to the forefrontthe awareness that these men de-served. When the project directorasked for support, Dukes led theeffort to help secure funding tomake the commemoration possi-ble.

When Larry came to me a fewyears ago concerning a monu-ment for the cemetery it reallyseemed like a no brainer, but onehad to question why did it take somuch effort to have these bravemen recognized, said Dukes.

According to Dukes, one of themen honored today was EdwardPatton, who in 1890 was the lastAfrican American to be elected tothe Texas State Legislature, who

stood up in 1891 and arguedagainst the Poll Tax, in 1893 theTax was approved and in 1892 thecounty sheriff fired a shot at Pat-ton in order to deter him from re-election. Patton had to leave thestate of Texas in fear of his life.

Patton left behind a wife and

The Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives

attended the historic event and addressed those in the audience.

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two children and one of his chil-dren bared him a granddaughterand some 100 years later in 1965when civil rights were taken up inAmerica, it was finally made possi-ble that African Americans wouldbe able to vote again without aPoll Tax and that woman knewthat by having the ability to organ-ize African Americans in 5th WardHouston she would have thechance of becoming the first Afri-can American to serve in the Sen-ate, and even though the pictureof Patton may be in the bottom ofthe Capitol, the picture of hisgranddaughter, Barbara Jordan isin the Texas Senate. This is a

very special day.Another champion in the efforts

to recognize these men is theHonorable Rodney Ellis of theState Senate, who over the yearsvoiced his support and stayed inclose contact with the project di-rector on the progress on findingsupport for the monument.

Its always good to see you allin a graveyard and I always lookforward to visiting, I dont want tostay, said Ellis jokingly.

I think it is important to notethat when this graveyard was es-tablished obviously people of colorcould not be buried in this greatcemetery as others, now we allhave a spot, I picked mine, Ill beright over on Confederate Hill be-cause we all have learned that

regardless on which side of thewar you were on, the right sidewon. I look forward to restingthere but before I rest I hope thatthere are a lot of young peoplethat will fill my shoes and theshoes of these fine Black Legisla-tors.

Ellis thanked the project directorfor standing fast and pushing himand others to get this done. Healso exclaimed his satisfaction tosee that many descendants wereable to make it to Austin for thecommemoration.

Announcement of the unveilingwas conducted by the HonorableWilbert M. Curtis, Grand Master ofthe Most Worshipful Prince HallGrand Lodge of Texas and Juris-

diction, who gave orders to theGrand Marshal, to demand orderfor the unveiling of the monument.Grand Master Curtis then gaveorders to the Right WorshipfulGrand Senior Warden.

Having accepted the invitationto assist in unveiling of the monu-

ment commemorating the 19thCentury Texas Black Legislators,we have assembled the Craft forthat purpose and it is my wish and

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The Honorable Dawnna Dukes of the Texas House of Representatives pro-

vided House sponsorship and brought to the forefront the awareness thatthese men deserved.

Senator Rodney Ellis

The Grand Marshal delivers Grand

Master Wilbert M. Curtis order at

the historic event.


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my will that the Brothers give theirattention and assistance in thework to be done. Please commu-nicate this order to the Right Wor-shipful Grand Junior Warden andhe to the Brethren present thathaving due and timely noticethereof they may govern them-selves accordingly.

His orders were relayed andobeyed.

Descendants of the 52 menhonored took their places in frontof the monument with anticipationof its unveiling. A representativeof each family assisted in the au-gust event, one such person wasBrother Danny M. Pryor of Sunny-

side, TX, who is a descendent ofSen. Walter Moses Burton.

Burton, who was born into slav-ery circa 1829 in North Carolina,served in the 14th -17th StateLegislatures.

It is a great feeling having afamily member recognized in sucha fashion, said Bro. Pryor, 48,who is a member of Lone Star

Lodge No. 85. This was only asmall piece of what Blacks haveaccomplished.

Larry A. Thomas, project direc-tor of the 19th Century TexasBlack Legislators Monument Pro-

ject received a standing ovationafter the unveiling.

This was 12 years in the mak-

ing. Something that God has ledme to do, said Thomas.

Thomas remarked about theimportance of research.

Take the time to do the home-work; this applies to adults as wellas students. I encourage all tovisit the Forever Free Exhibit inthe State Capitol. There are sixfamilies of the 52 men we honorhere today; there is still much re-

search to be done.Thomas said that the project

was not without criticism.The monument looks good, it

turned out great. There was a lotof support from people for this pro-

ject and there were some who didnot. Some asked why not do it inFebruary during Black HistoryMonth, but it had to be today fortoday has significance. It is the140th Anniversary of the end of

Reconstruction.The last speaker of the day was

the Honorable Frank D. Jackson,Mayor of the City of Prairie View,who also serves as the WorshipfulGrand Historian for the Most Wor-shipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge ofTexas.

Project Director Larry A. Thomas delivers mementos to Bro. Danny M. Pryor

and other descendents after the unveiling of the 19th Century Black Legisla-tors and Constitutional Delegates monument at the Texas State Cemetery.

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Mayor Jackson provided an his-torical account of when StephenF. Austin came into Texas to takeup a land grant. When doing soAustin lobbied the Mexican Gov-ernment to bring in Negro slavesinto Texas. Austin said that with-out the Negro Texas would fail asan enterprise. He was grantedthat concession.

Jackson said that one of theincentives for the first original 300settlers were for each Negro slavethey brought into Texas theywould receive an additional 80acres of land. One such personaccumulated over 44,000 acres ofland by bringing in 110 enslaved

African men, women, and childrenand that persons descendantsaccumulated land as well. Someof these slaved men are honoredhere today.

Looking back into Texas his-tory, there was a man name NorrisWright Cuney who after beingborn on a plantation and going toFreemason-ran school for Negroboys in Pittsburgh, and after the

war came back into Texas, startedwhat we now know as a very quietrevolution. It was Cuney that metwith a gentleman by the name ofWilliam D. Matthews, who madeCuney a Deputy Grand Master ofthe State of Kansas. There was

also Richard Allen, an honoreetoday, who was Cuneys DistrictDeputy Grand Master and thosegentlemen formed and becamethe first two Grand Masters of theGrand Lodge of Prince Hall Ma-sons of the State of Texas. It wasin those lodge halls that many ofthese men formed policies andfound security because it was avery hostile region then, they usedthose enduring institutions to

grow, and it was in those lodgehalls, that we find men like WilliamH. Holland, who is known as thefather of Prairie View.

It was men like Holland andanother Freemason by the nameof Walter Burton who served in theTexas Senate to get legislation

carried to create Alta Vista Col-lege for Colored Youths.

Jackson, who is serving his 4thterm as mayor continued.

We honor those men here to-day because we stand on theirshoulders. We would be remised

if we did not say to the people ofTexas that we have a great legacyhere in Texas and we understandthat after that war, the great ques-tion became what now do we dowith these newly freed people,how do you transition them frombeing slaves to being wage earn-ers. And in part that question wasone that all have asked becausethe Civil War had turn mood froma battlefield with troops into the

classroom. So education then be-came that technique for socialcontrol and became the new bat-tlefield. Prairie View Universitywas created to answer that ques-tion.

These men dared to take achance, dared to start public edu-

The Honorable Frank D. Jackson, Mayor of the City of Prairie View, whoalso serves as the Grand Historian for the Most Worshipful Prince HallGrand Lodge of Texas, provided remarks towards the conclusion of the cere-

mony.

Richard Allen, one of the 52 men

honored, served as the 2nd GrandMaster of the Most Worshipful

Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas.

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cation, dared to start a universityof higher education, even knowingthat it would not be equal to itssister college at College Station,which was established for white

males from 18761963, thosegentlemen dared to take achance, we honor them today.

Jackson said that Prince HallMasons can trace our lineageback to the Grand Lodge of Eng-land which places Prince Hall Ma-sons on equal standings with ourAnglo Brothers.

These were dangerous times.It took courage for men to step upand run for office and once

elected to speak the power oftruth. Our story has not been toldfully, this was a start. We areproud of Bro. Pryor and Sen. Wal-ter Burton. It is time that hereceives the honor and recognitionso well deserved. Prairie ViewA&M exists today largely in part

because of the work of Sen.Burton.

Prince Hall Masons help to adddepth to this historic event andoccasion. We were behind the

scenes working the communitiesgetting people to the polls to votethat were afraid. We helped themto save their money and buildschools, churches and busi-nesses. We raised money to helpsend their children to college dur-ing a time when most family mem-bers signed their names with an X.What you see today is only asmall reflection of the enormousentity that Prince Hall Masonry

was during this era. Millions ofAfrican Americans trusted Masonsto be men of honor that wouldserve and protect them even whenthey were abandoned by the Gov-ernment. Today we made an in-stallment on our story.

Information on the Forever Free

Exhibit, which displays the 19thCentury Black Legislators andConstitutional Convention Dele-gates of Texas, can be found atwww.tsl .state. tx.us/exhib i ts/

forever/index.html.

This article is a representation of my personal observations and opinions and does

not imply endorsement by any Masonic, federal or private organization. For anycomments, I can be contacted at [email protected].

Freemasons of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas and Jurisdiction traveled from all parts of

Texas to honor and pay tribute to 52 Nineteenth Century Black Legislators and Constitutional Convention Delegatesof Texas who served from 18681900.
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/exhibits/forever/index.htmlhttp://www.tsl.state.tx.us/exhibits/forever/index.htmlhttp://www.tsl.state.tx.us/exhibits/forever/index.htmlhttp://www.tsl.state.tx.us/exhibits/forever/index.htmlhttp://www.tsl.state.tx.us/exhibits/forever/index.html

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