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PHS Organization Has Long and Colorful History.  Organized 1893.

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[[caption]] The Imperial Council divan, 1979.  Noble Eugene Dickerson, Jr., imperial potentate from Mecca Temple 10, Washington, D.C. (3rd from right to left, seated) will preside. [[/caption]]

The Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrines of North and South America and its jurisdiction, incorporated, Prince Hall Shrinres, has had a long and colorful history in the annals of PH freemasonry ever since the fraternal order was established as an Imperial Council of PH Shriners in Chicago, Ill. on June 3, 1893.

On June 1, 1893, 13 black men, under the leadership of Attorney John George Jones, met in Apollo Hall on State Street in Chicago and organized the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.  On June 3, 1893, Jones and his associates established Palestine Temple with headquarters in the windy city.

Twelve men were present to assist in organizing the temple.  They were James Barber, J. H. Blount, Dillard W. Dempsey, John W. Dunmore, John B. Foster, Benjamin Kersey, Payton Randolph, Joseph Shieve, Charles F. Thompson, Isaac Tolbert, Elijah Totten and Joseph Winn.  Jones, a practicing attorney and a member of the Illinois State Legislature, was also a high ranking officer in the United Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, USA, PH affiliated.

On June 10, 1893, Jones and his associates organized the Imperial Council of PH Shriners.  He (Jones) was named Imperial Grand Potentate.  He immediately went about organizing PH shrine temples in Los Angeles, CALIF; Washington, D.C.; Jacksonville, FLA; Indianapolis, IND; Baltimore, MD; Kansas City and St. Louis, MO; New York City, N.Y.; Cleveland, OHIO; Pittsburgh, PENNA; Providence, R.I.; Alexandria and Richmond, VA.

In 1895, discord, disunity and division developed within the ranks of the Imperial Grand Council, which culminated in the expulsion of Imperial Grand Potentate Jones from shrinedom and his later expulsion from symbolic masonry by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois.  From the date of his expulsion through August of 1899, the history of shrinedom in America is vague and uncertain.  There are no known records available to show what transactions or meetings that took place.

In September of 1899, Isaac. L. W. Holland, illustrious potentate of Pyramid Temple in Philadelphia, Penna., sent out a call to members of PH shrine temples within the nation to meet with him for the purpose of reorganizing the Imperial Grand Council.  This meeting was held on Dec. 12, 1900 in Philadelphia, Penna., with officers and members attending from PH shrine temples in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Penna., and from Alexandria, Va.

Many outstanding PH masons have served this fraternal order as its Imperial Potentate.  This elite group includes some of the best known civic leaders in America.  Since 1900, the following have served the oriental chair in the East as IMPERIAL POTENTATE:

ISAAC L. W. HOLLAND, Pyramid Temple 1, Phila., Pa.;
HIRAM W. WATTY, Jerusalem Temple 4, Baltimore, Md.;
JACOBS F. WRIGHT, Mocha 7, Richmond, Va.;
EUGENE PHILLIPS, Medina 19, New York City, N.Y.;
JOHN H. MURPHY, SR., Jerusalem 4, Baltimore, Md.;
GEORGE W. McKOIN, Medinah 39, St. Louis, Mo.;
CLARENCE DUNLAP, Persian 46, Indianapolis, Ind.;
JORDAN M. MORRIS, Fezzan 26, Minneapolis, Minn.;
CAESAR R. BLAKE, JR., Rameses 51, Charlotte, N.C.;
HARRY WRIGHT, Medina 19, New York City, N.Y.;
JOHN H. MURPHY, JR., Jerusalem 4, Baltimore, Md.;
RAYMOND E. JACKSON, Hadji 61, Buffalo, N.Y.; AND
BOOKER T. ALEXANDER, Marracci 13, Detroit, Mich.

ALSO serving as the Imperial Potentate in years gone past were

GENOA WASHINGTON, Arabic 44, Chicago, Ill.;
THOMAS F. POAG, Sethos 170, Winston Salem, N.C.;
ROSCOE C. WASHINGTON, Egyptian 5, Los Angeles, Calif.;
DR. JOHN HENRY HESTER, Azure 38, Atlantic City, N.J.;
CHARLES A. DARGIN, Medina 19, New York City, N.Y.;
WILLIAM H. HOWE, Pyramid 1, Phila., Pa.;
JOHN W. EDGHILL, Aby-Bekr 91, Brooklyn, N.Y.;
MARSHALL S. JOHNSON, Sahara 2, Pittsburgh, Pa.;
DR. L. L. MELTON, Nafud 80, Beaumont, Texas;
AND
EUGENE DICKERSON, Mecca 10, Washington, D.C.

All have served the PH shrine order with credit and dignity to the members of the craft.

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