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[[image]]
[[caption]] Carl L. Wilson and Dt. Doria H. Bass Wilson]]
Imperial Potentate Carl L. Wilson and First Lady of Prince Hall Shrinedom, Dt. Doria H. Bass Wilson [[/caption]]

DAUGHTERS OF ISIS COURT ORGANIZED IN 1910

The Imperial Court, Daughters of Isis, auxiliary to Prince Hall Shriners, was formally organized at the annual session of the Imperial Council AEAONMS, held in Detroit, Michigan on august 24, 1910.

The establishment of the Imperial Court was the outgrowth of a meeting held the previous year when a group of women representing Daughters of Isis from Maryland, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C., met with a committee of Prince Hall Shriners from the Imperial Council, and requested organization of a grand body for the Daughters.

Although the groups of women in several cities where Prince Hall Shrine temples were located, had been organized as a ladies auxiliary for the females relatives of members of Shrine temples, nothing had been done toward formally organizing these women until the meeting in Detroit.

As of ths year, the total membership in the Order is nearly 16,000. This figure will rise in the months and years to come.

Programs sponsored by the Imperial Court, Daughters of Isis, include but are not limited to, sponsorship of the Youth Isiserettes, two groups of girls 7 to 12, and 13 to 18 years of age; a salute to Outstanding Negro women; presentation of an annual award to the Outstanding Daughter of Isis member for that year; fashion shows; the Egyptian Tea and the annual talent show; plus the Public Relations public service program.

The purpose of the Imperial Court, Daughters of Isis is basic. It tends to united in one common bond of friendship; the relatives of all members of AEAONMS; to practice charity and benevolent; to promote the general welfare, and to inculcate honor and integrity as symbolized in the legend of the Egyptian Queen, the Goddess of Isis.

Like its parent organization, the Imperial Court is a benevolent, charitable and fraternal organization.

Its criteria for membership is very simple. You must be a daughter, mother, sister, widow or wife of a Prince Hall Shriner who is first a Prince Hall Mason.

The order, like its male counterpart, accepts members with no regard to race, creed, or color. Approximately 5 to 10 percent of its present membership is non-black. As of this year, there are courts organized throughout the United States and in overseas countries such as the Bahamas, Canada, England, West Germany, Nassau and Okinawa.

On a national level, the Daughters of Isis annually award a $2,000 to $4,000 (Hines—Botts) foru-year education scholarship to deserving and needy coeds to attend colleges and universities of their choice.

The Imperial Court also assists the Shrine Health and Medical Foundation in its national charitable programs. As of this date, the foundation has awarded millions of dollars to colleges, universities and technical centers for medical research.

HISTORY OF PRINCE HALL SHRINERS

The Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine has a long and colorful history. The Order was established as an imperial Council of Prince Hall Shriners on June 3, 1983, in Chicago, Illinois, by 13 Prince Hall Masons under the leadership of Brother John George Jones. They met in the Apollo Hall on State Street where Palestine Temple was organized.

On June 10, 1983, Jones and his associates organized the Imperial Grand Council of Prince Hall Shriners, Jones, who was an attorney, immediately went about organizing Prince Hall Shrine Temples in Los Angeles, California; Washington, D.C.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Baltimore, Md.; Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo.; New York City, N.Y., Cleveland, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Providence, R.I.; Alexandria and Richmond, Va.

In September 1899, Issac L.W. Holland, Illustrious Potentate of Pyramind Temple in Philadelphia, Pa., sent out a call to members of Prince Hall Shrine Temples within the nation to meet with him for the purpose of reorganizing the Imperial Grand Council.

On December 12, 1900, a meeting was held in Philadelphia, Pa., with officers and members attending from Temples in Philadelphia and Pittsburg, Pa., and from Alexandria, Va.

At the meeting the Imperial Grand Council was reorganized and the Fraternal order adopted a new name, "Imperial Council of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of North and South America and its Jurisdictions,  Incorporated]]."

The first elected officers of the newly organzied council were: Isaac L.W. Holland, Phila., Imperial Potentate; H.T. Hilyard, Phila., Deputy Imperial Potentate Rd. D. Ruffin, Alexandria, VA., Imperial Chief Rabban, C. A. Knox, Pittsburgh, Imperial Assistant Rabban; Hiram Carter, Phila., Imperial High Priest and Prophet; John W. Smothers, West Chester, Pa., Imperial Treasurer; Magnus Robinson, Alexandria Imperial Recorder; E. A. Turpin, Camden, N. J., Imperial Assistant Recorder; J. H. Jones, Alexandria, Imperial Oriental Guide; W. H. Jones, Pittsbrugh, Imperial First Ceremonial Masters; J. E. Loveland, Camden, Imperial Second Ceremonial Master; James Spriggs, Phila., Imperial Outer Guard; W. A. White, address unknown Imperial First Steward; John Stokes, Camden, Imperial Second Steward; and A. F. Carroll, Pittsburgh, Imperial Captain of the Guard.

Prior to the turn of the 20th century, Prince Hall Shrine Temples were listed on the official rolls by name only. The designation of temples by names and numbers came into being when the Imperial Council of Prince Hall Shriners met and were reorganized and incorporated in the city of Washington, D. C. It was at this time, the temples names and numbers began appearing in the official designation of all Prince Hall Shrine Temples and clubs.

The first annual session of the newly organized Imperial Council was held September 25, 1901, in Newark, N. J. It was here that a constiltution was formally adopted, designating the Imperial Council as a charitable, benevolent, fraternal and social organization, dedicated to the welfare and extension of Prince Hall Freemasonry and also decreeing that membership in the fraternal order by confined to regulard freemasons who were members of lodges descended from African Lodge 459, more frequently known as Prince Hall Masons.

[[image]]
[[caption]] "Penny" Robinson (21)
Jacksonville, Florida
Miss Shrine Queen 1984
[[/caption]]

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