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New Beginning Lodge No. 970 of the
Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Alabama
F. & A. M. was organized September 29, 1999 and
chartered July 26, 2000 with the consent of Grand
Master William O. Jones and the unanimous vote of
the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Alabama,
by 20 brothers intent upon making a major positive
impact on freemasonry in the Birmingham area.
During the summer of 1999
the concept of a new lodge was mentioned at several
gatherings of these brothers both in small informal
unorganized groups and at certain watering holes.
Each brother and potential candidate had high ideals
and lofty goals for the new lodge, yet they were without
any true organization. Brother Dwight Coleman of Greenwillow
Lodge No. 329 called District 14 Grand District Deputy
Charlie Pierce to find out the procedures on how to
organize a new lodge. Deputy Pierce called upon his
Assistant Grand District Deputy Henry Patterson to
assist Brother Coleman in this task. Brother Coleman
also sought further assistance from other local Prince
Hall Masons. Contact was made with Brother Tyrone
Webb, Secretary of Tuxedo Lodge No. 431. Brother Webb
put Brother Coleman in contact with his Worshipful
Master (WM) Jerome Kirk. WM Kirk approved of the group
meeting at Tuxedo Lodge for an initial meeting to
organize the new lodge. After several meetings and
conversations with Grand Master Jones and Grand District
Deputy Pierce a dispensation was granted by Grand
Master Jones to organize the new lodge.
On September 29, 1999
at 6:05 pm, the 1st organizational meeting was called
to order at Tuxedo Lodge in Fairfield, Alabama. WM
Jerome Kirk of Tuxedo Lodge led the meeting with a
prayer, and Brother Dwight Coleman presided over the
meeting. At the meeting suggestions were given for
a name for the new lodge. Several names of the names
recommended were Pride of the West, S.J. Bennett,
Phoenix, House of Job, Alpha, New Horizon, New Beginning,
Shinning Light, Coleman's Pride, Solomon's Temple,
and Cornerstone. The name New Beginning was suggested
by Bro. Erroll Brantley, the 1st Junior Warden, because
of what it truly represented to all the brothers present,
along with that name sprang forth another name synonymous
with what New Beginning was about to embark upon.
The 1st officers of New
Beginning were Worshipful Master - Dwight Coleman,
Senior Warden - Cornelius Harris, Junior Warden -
Erroll Brantley Sr., Secretary - Gerald Banks, Treasurer
- Charles Ely Jr., Recording Secretary - Emory Mauldin,
Senior Deacon - George Mauldin, Junior Deacon - Michael
Howard, Tyler - Donald Walton.
The Brothers voted to
make the 2nd and 4th Sunday at 6pm their meeting times
and to meet at Tuxedo Lodge in Fairfield. The brothers
also choose to have a class start right away to add
to their ranks and numbers, but the process to initiate
new Brothers would be taken with caution, care and
concern.
Under the council of the Grand
District Deputy Pierce and his assistant Bro. Henry
Patterson, New Beginning Lodge #UD began the
process of initiating its charter class of men. Ten
petitioners embarked upon the journey to become the
1st initiates of the new lodge. On October 10,
1999 nine were raised to the sublime degree of a Master
Mason. They were Paris Rutledge, Jessie James McConnico,
Tyrone Reed, Greg Johnson, Dedric Johnson, Lutheran
Harris, Edward Oneal Williams, James Durden, and Shecoska
(Tony) Lang. Several prominent brothers from the area
visited the lodge to observe the degree work and to
lend a hearty welcome to the brothers of New Beginning
Lodge such as Henry Patterson of Triple Tau Lodge
No. 104, Past Grand Senior Deacon and Past Master
of Tuxedo Lodge No. 431 John Caldwell. Worshipful
Master A. Derrick Bowman of Dothan Lodge No. 112,
who also attended the meeting, conducted the installation
of the first officers of New Beginning Lodge
No. UD (Under Dispensation).
Charity was one of the
founding principles of New Beginning's foundation,
it was sought from the beginning that to give back
to the community was very important to the brothers.
As a result a Thanksgiving Project was put forth as
a worthwhile endeavor. During the Thanksgiving project
the Brothers of New Beginning delivered several food
baskets to needy families in the Birmingham metro
area and donated can goods to a local radio station's
food drive. Feeding upon this energy, at the suggestion
of Brother Charles Ely Jr., New Beginning began to
work with Interfaith Hospitality House during the
Christmas Holidays. The brothers did a successful
coat drive for Interfaith Hospitality House. Brother
Erroll Brantley solicited a local dry cleaner to assist
with the project, their contribution included the
cleaning of all the coats at no charge.
In the following years
to come New Beginning Lodge would work on several
projects in conjunction with Interfaith Hospitality
House that would foster a great relationship. New
Beginning also began to work with corporate sponsorship
to assist in providing aid to those in need of assistance
in the Birmingham area.
During Spring 2000 a
new class was made and raised to the sublime degree
of a master mason the brothers that made that journey
are known in the lodge's history as "The Four
Horsemen of Genesis." Several brothers from visiting
lodges participated and witnessed New Beginning's
raising. Visiting brothers from as far away as Illinois
and Texas brought greetings to the brothers of New
Beginning. During this occasion a bond was formed
between the brothers of Elijah S. Betts Lodge of Bloomington,
Illinois and the brothers of New Beginning that would
last through the years. It is important to mention
that during this time several of the brothers were
made Turtles and introduced this delightful organization
to other brothers in the Birmingham area.
In the summer of 2000
New Beginning brothers celebrated St. John's Day in
late June with the brothers of Tuxedo Lodge No. 431
at 1st Baptist Church Fairfield. In July several of
the brothers made the trip to the 2000 Grand Lodge
Session in Mobile, Alabama. By unanimous vote New
Beginning Lodge was accepted to receive its charter
and given its number 970 on July 26, 2000. The attendees
had a splendid time and thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality
shown by the Mobile brothers, the Ely family, and
friends.
During the next couple
of years New Beginning Lodge No. 970 participated
in more charity and continued to grow in ranks future
classes that have made impacts on the lodge were "Four
Corners of Genesis" raised during the fall of
2001, "Three Wise Men Traveling to the East in
Search of Knowledge" spring of 2002, and "Two
Pillars of Society" during the spring of 2003.
These classes have brought some of the best and brightest
masons the Birmingham metro area has known. Each brother
brought with him his own unique perspective yet worked
within the lodge to produce a greater good.
Along with these newly
made masons, several brothers demitted to New Beginning.
Among these was Brother Greg Moore who hailed from
the Most Worshipful Stringer Grand Lodge in Mississippi,
Bro. Moore brought several great ideas to fruition.
After serving the lodge as a Senior Warden the brothers
elected Brother Moore to the seat of Worshipful Master
for the year 2003-2004. Bro. Erroll Brantley became
the immediate Past Master and was given a Past Master
collar and jewel as a token of the brothers' appreciation
for time of service in the chair during the years
2001-2003. Bro. Dwight Coleman WM during the years
1999-2001 was presented a personalized Past Master
apron in appreciation for his tireless efforts and
dedication to the lodge during its founding and years
thereafter.
During the summer of 2003
the subject of adopting an Order of the Eastern Star
(OES) chapter was mentioned. Although previously
this had been an unsuccessful topic this time it was
different. It should be noted here that the
brothers did work in conjunction with several local
OES chapters such as House of Electa on various projects
and events. The sisters of House of Electa always
supported New Beginning from the start. The brothers
began to seriously look at two options: 1. find an
already active chapter and working with the Mizpah
Grand Chapter to adopt one or 2. to find women interested
in starting an OES chapter entirely from scratch under
the umbrella of the Mizpah Grand Chapter. The latter
was decided to be the way in which New Beginning would
have an OES chapter adopted under their care.
After approaching Grand
District Deputy Alberta Weeden of District No.13 about
the novel idea of starting a new chapter, she was
more than delighted to help start the chapter. On
November 9, 2003 Agape Chapter No. UD was organized
and initiated its first group of sisters and appointed
its officers under the care, council and authority
of Grand District Deputy Alberta Weeden. Sister Sharon
Sanders was selected to be the 1st Worthy Matron and
Brother Dwight Coleman the Worthy Patron. This was
to be District Deputy Weeden's 1st chapter organized
and chartered during her tenure in office. It is to
be noted that New Beginning was Grand Master William
Jones first lodge to be organized and chartered during
his tenure as Grand Master. Thus the two organizations
are bonded in a rich and growing history together.
Also it should be mentioned that during this time
several OES sisters were made Turtles.
And so the history of
this lodge and its OES chapter are a constantly evolving
story that will be recorded for future generations
to enjoy. Fiat Lux!
Humbly submitted,
Bro. Dwight Coleman PM
New Beginning Lodge No. 970
Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Alabama
F. & A.M.
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