Day 2

Day 2 – GRAND SESSION OF PRINCE HALL ARKANSAS, FEBRUARY 26, 2010

Grand Lodge Session of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Arkansas convened at 9:00 AM. I remained in the Grand Masters office and connecting offices with my Texas state delegation including my Grand Master, the Honorable Wilbert M. Curtis, waiting to be formally presented.  With me were delegations from Missouri, Washington D.C., Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Indiana, Nevada, Tennessee and Mississippi. Most delegations were headed by their Grand Master but a few were led by a Deputy Grand Master or a Past Grand Master. It was a unique opportunity to converse with such leaders and share stories and concerns.   Sometimes there is more Masonry in an informal setting than there is in the formality of the tyled Lodge room. It was almost two hours before Texas was introduced so like the two hours of casual time the day before with the Grand Master in his private office this was two hours of solid fraternal sharing.

After lunch The Grand Lodge started to hear committee reports.  It was transacting the business of the Grand Lodge.  I noted that Grand Master Wilson ran his Grand Lodge like a well respected Judge.  He speaks often from the heart and with humor. Often times he would interject into the middle of a report being given some words of wisdom.  His soliloquies could last a number of minutes after which he would declare, “I’m done, continue.”

One committee report consisted of a recommendation for immediate prayer for a beloved Brother dying from cancer.  After a motion was entertained for acceptance of the report and it was duly seconded, and approved  one of the Grand Chaplains immediately headed for the altar and what ensued was one of the most beautiful prayers I have heard in many a moon.  It touched the heart of everyone present.

At times the Grand Master delegated the running of the business of the Grand Lodge to his most capable Deputy Grand Master Edward L. Briggs.   The two were a bit different but were obviously in tune with each other.  I likened them to Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon.

Grand Lodge adjourned at 4:00 PM.  I returned to my motel room to change clothes and freshen up and then join the Grand Master for dinner.  The Grand Master had invited his visiting dignitaries and his Grand Lodge officers and OES Grand officers and some spouses and me out to dinner on him and we left the Grand Lodge with a convoy of autos to all descend on a restaurant that specialized in fried catfish.  A catfish dinner it was with some more great fellow-shipping.  When we had finished the Grand Master gathered us all together and he asked us to introduce ourselves individually.  He wanted us all to know how much he enjoyed our presence and how binding moments like these were – heart to heart always trusting in God an outpouring of love.  It was a great way to end a great day.