Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God almighty who was, and is, and is to come.

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1 MOST WORSHIPFUL PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS ~ STATE OF ILLINOIS 809 East 42nd Place (Prince Hall Way)~ Chicago, IL PH: (773) ~ FAX: (773) Office of MW Bro. Dwayne A. Smith Grand Master Most Worshipful Brother Dwayne A. Smith, #133 Grand Master, State of Illinois 7701 S. Merrill Chicago, Illinois Phone: (773) dwayne.smith@sbcglobal.net Aubrey K. Barlow, #23 Deputy Grand Master 457 Valley View Circle Bloomington, Illinois Phone: (309) shakey20@juno.com Roland G. Simon, #135 Grand Senior Warden 1928 East 173rd Place South Holland, Illinois Phone: (708) sackman53@yahoo.com Steven R. Coleman, #99 Grand Junior Warden 851 Huntley Woods Drive Crete, Illinois Phone: (773) coleman.steven@sbcglobal.net Daryl L. Andrews, #91 Grand Treasurer darylandrews357@gmail.com Michael D. Ramey Sr. #59 Grand Secretary 809 East 42 nd Place Chicago, Il (773) Grandsecretary809@yahoo.com Tony D. Stafford Sr., #128 Grand Lecturer Mobile: (312) TonyD.stafford@yahoo.com Grand Auditors s James R. Jones, #23 Leroy R. Berry, #98 Keith Roach, #116 Bill Harlan, #1 Grand Trustees s Cordale Brown, #14 John Bobby D Dillard Hewitt Douglass, #3 Jim Brown, #133 Grand CCFC Most Worshipful Brother Otis W. Cromartie Sr., #147 Past Grand Master th Place North Chicago, Illinois April 1, 2018 Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God almighty who was, and is, and is to come. First, giving honor to God who is the Giver of all good things: to Right Worshipful Bother Aubrey K. Barlow, Roland G. Simon Grand Senior Warden, Steven R. Coleman Grand Junior Warden, Past Grand Masters, All Elected and Appointed Grand Lodge Officers, Past Masters, Worshipful Masters, Wardens and Brethren, Fraternal Greetings, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who traveled with me to the State of Kansas for the 46 th Midwest Regional Conference of Grand Masters and Masons. And a special thanks to the Sisters and Brothers who assisted in making our hospitality memorable. The State of Illinois was well represented with 30 plus members in attendance. I am happy to announce that we, once again, received the Traveling Trophy for the most money raised for charitable donations, which was nearly $ Congratulations to our Associated Grand Conductress, Sister Mildred Lloyd, for a job well done. I am also pleased to announce the election of our very own Worthy Grand Matron Sister Lena D. Roberts as the President of the Midwest Regional Conference of Grand Chapters and Eastern Stars. Sister Roberts will surely continue the tradition of greatness set by her predecessors who have held that position from the State of Illinois. The State of Illinois will have the honor of hosting the 2020 Midwest Regional Conference and plans are under way to ensure that it is as successful as it was when we hosted in Anyone interested in becoming part of the planning committee you may contact me directly. The 2019 Conference will take place in Minneapolis, Minnesota March Please mark your calendars and plan to be in attendance and support the jurisdiction of Illinois. As a reminder, the year 2018 marks the 20 th Anniversary of the mutual agreement of recognition between the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Illinois and The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois Free and Accepted Masons. This milestone will be celebrated at a banquet on April 21, 2018 at the Double Tree Suites Hilton in the Esplanade Lakes Ballroom located at 3500 Lacey Road in Downers Grove, IL from 6 pm-10 pm. The ticket donation is $65.00; contact RW Brother Michael D. Ramey, Sr. Grand Secretary for tickets and information at The Mason of the Year Banquet honoring RW Brother Tony D. Stafford, Sr. Grand Lecturer will be held Saturday, April 14, 2018, at the Double Tree by Hilton located at 1909 Spring Road in Oak Brook, IL from 6 pm-12 am. The ticket donation is $60.00; for more information contact Worshipful Brother Clyde W. Cooper, Sr. at

2 Congratulations as well to Keystone Lodge #15 on their successful clothing drive. Brothers, this is how Masons act, inasmuch as we have professed that our charity will always be as large as our wants and weaknesses of our fellow creatures, we must continue these efforts. Donations are still being accepted for the Century Club which allowed us to donate $5,000 to worthy causes at the Mid-Year Banquet. Thank you all who took the time to submit an essay for inclusion in the book, What Free Masonry Means to Me. The first volume is ready to go and will be ready for distribution through the Grand Lodge s website on April 11, The book will also be available for purchase through Amazon.com and through the office of the Grand Secretary. This book is a must have for all Masons, it is meant to provide the readers with a personal view of what Free Masonry means to the authors. While Masons exclusively wrote the essays the book is available for purchase by the public. All proceeds go to the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois Brothers, a stated goal of this administration is to enhance the image of Prince Hall Masonry in the State of Illinois, to that end, the practice of tailgating in our parking lot is to cease immediately. Webster defines image as a general impression that a person, organization or product presents to the public. Prince Hall Masonry in Illinois is what we as Masons, in our interaction with others and through our Lodges and programs, portray to the world as to who we actually are. As Grand Master, I work tirelessly, to ensure both through policy and programs, that our image is aligned with the positive notion of the fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man; my trestle board is wrought with charitable endeavors and I insist that we govern ourselves according to the cardinal virtues of temperance, fortitude, prudence and justice. All these things foster a positive image of who we are. Prince Hall Free Masonry in the State of Illinois is alive and well and, as the conservator of our brand, I will vehemently oppose anyone or anything that attempts to paint a picture to the contrary. Yours in Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth, Brother Dwayne A. Smith Grand Master Quote of the Month We are what we repeatedly do. Excellency then is not an act but a habit. - Wayne Dyer Important Dates: April 16 th : North Star Lodge #1 Blood Drive April 2 nd : Most Ancient Grand Matron s Special Effort April 6 th 9 th : Phylaxis Society, Northbrook Hilton April 16 th : Symposium on Free Masonry, Evanston Masonic Temple, Evanston, Illinois April 9 th : State-wide Initiation, Grand East April23rd: Mason of the Year Banquet, Collinsville, Illinois

3 Fifth Sunday Initiative April 29, 2018, by District 1 st District: 2 nd District Blackwell Israel Samuel AME Zion Church 2 nd Baptist Church 3956 S. Langley Avenue 1280 Summit Street Chicago, IL Elgin, IL Pastor: Rev. Todd Jarrett Service: 10:45am Pastor: Rev. Dr. Nathaniel L. Edmond Service: 10:30am 3 rd District 4 th District New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church Greater New Hope Baptist Church 1429 S. 17 th Street 2240 Missouri Avenue Springfield, IL East Saint Louis, IL Pastor Jerry E. Jones Service: 11:00am Pastor Dr. Rerienza Johnson Service: 10:30am

4 MOST WORSHIPFUL PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS ~ STATE OF ILLINOIS 809 East 42 nd Place (Prince Hall Way) ~ Chicago, IL ~ ~ FAX Office of the Grand Secretary To: Most Worshipful Brother Dwayne A. Smith, Grand Master; Aubrey K. Barlow, Deputy Grand Master; Elected and Appointed Grand Lodge Officers, Worshipful Masters, Past Masters, Wardens and Brethren April 1, 2018 Greetings, It is my sincerest prayer that this communication finds everyone in the very best of health and spirits. Worshipful Masters and Secretaries the month of March 3 rd Quarter Taxes was due into the Office of the Grand Secretary. If your Lodge Taxes have not been turned in, please do so now. IMPORTANT NOTE: It was voted and passed at last year Annual Grand Lodge Session starting this year NO LODGE will be able to sit in Grand Lodge Session if that Lodge owes ANY indebtedness to this Grand Lodge. This will apply for EVERY MEMBER of that particular Lodge. The MWPHGL Printing Department is up and running. We are asking for everyone and anyone who need printing work to be done to utilize our printing department. Our prices are very reasonable compared to other printing facilities. You may contact PM Joseph (708) for your printing needs. Bingo is every Thursday morning at the Temple. If you are not doing anything come out and have some fun playing Bingo. Cost $20.00 to play. The doors open at 10:30am, spread the word to your friends and family to come out to play. Event: 20 th Year Anniversary Masonic Historical Celebration- Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge & Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Illinois (AF&AM) Date: April 21, 2018 Place: Doubletree Invesco Corporate Building 3500 Lacy Road Downers Grove, Illinois Time: 6:00pm 10:00pm Tickets are still available for this event. Contact the Grand Secretary immediately if you need to purchase a ticket. Ticket donations are $65.00 each. If you did not attend the 10 th year anniversary, you do not want to miss this event! To all Worshipful Masters & Secretaries, if you do not have a Grand Lodge communication by the date of your Lodge meeting, I am asking that you give me a call especially if your Lodge does not meet at the Grand East. Keystone Lodge # 15 will be hosting a Child ID event on April 28, 2018 at Bardwell Elementary School 550 S. Lincoln Avenue Aurora, IL From 10:00am -2:00pm. They committee is asking that you bring out Children from ages If your Lodge will like to host a Child ID event, you may contact PM Carl (773) or poledipper1@yahoo.com

5 2018 Unification Early Registration: Early Registration for 2018 Unification will begin April 1 st June 30 th. Online registration will be available for members April 8, Early Registration fee is $ ALL Unification Registrations received after JUNE 30, 2018 will cost $ No exceptions!! Make all checks or money orders payable to MWPHGL and mail to the Office of the Grand Secretary. All returned checks will receive a $30.00 NSF Fee. Online Registration go to click the link 2018 Unification and there you will be able to register. Registrations forms will be available at the Masonic Temple in the office of the Grand Secretary. Dates to Remember: April 7 th - Deputies Meeting Grand East 9:00 am April 2 nd - MWPHGL Law Class Grand East 7:30 pm April 14 th - Mason of the Year Banquet 6:00 pm Double Tree Hotel Oak Brook, IL. April 9 th - MWPHGL Ritualistic Class Grand East 7:30 pm April 19 th MWPHGL Leadership Class Grand East 7:30 pm April 23 rd - MWPHGL Grand Officers Training Class Grand East 7:00 pm April 28 th Keystone Lodge # 15 Child ID event 10:00am 2:00pm Important Note: All Repast food from meetings MUST be taken out of the building after your meeting. If anyone is found leaving food in the building, there will be a $25.00 fine toward your Lodge, Chapter, etc. No Exceptions!!! Happy Birthday or Happy Anniversary to those who will be celebrating them during the month of April. Please feel free to contact me by either telephone at (773) (office), (773) (cell), or by at Grandsecretary809@yahoo.com. In addition, you may also contact your District s Assistant Grand Secretary for any assistance. 1 st District Assistant Grand Secretary WB Woodrow Luckett, #94 (708) nd District Assistant Grand Secretary WB Antonio Terry # 15 (630) rd District Assistant Grand Secretary WB Kenneth L. Page, #3 (217) th District Assistant Grand Secretary WB James Cotton, #142 (618) Fraternally, Michael D. Ramey, Sr. Grand Secretary

6 MOST WORSHIPFUL PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS ~ STATE OF ILLINOIS 809 East 42nd Place (Prince Hall Way)~ Chicago, IL PH: (773) ~ FAX: (773) Office of the Grand Treasurer Most Worshipful Brother Dwayne A. Smith, #133 Grand Master, State of Illinois 7701 S. Merrill Chicago, Illinois Phone: (773) dwayne.smith@sbcglobal.net Aubrey K. Barlow, #23 Deputy Grand Master 457 Valley View Circle Bloomington, Illinois Phone: (309) shakey20@juno.com Roland G. Simon, #135 Grand Senior Warden 1928 East 173rd Place South Holland, Illinois Phone: (708) sackman53@yahoo.com Steven R. Coleman, #99 Grand Junior Warden 851 Huntley Woods Drive Crete, Illinois Phone: (773) coleman.steven@sbcglobal.net Daryl L. Andrews, #91 Grand Treasurer gt@mwphglil.com Michael Ramey #59 Grand Secretary 809 East 42 nd Place Chicago, Il (773) Grandsecretary809@yahoo.com Tony D. Stafford Sr., #128 Grand Lecturer Mobile: (312) TonyD.stafford@yahoo.com Grand Auditors s James R. Jones, #23 Leroy R. Berry, #98 Keith Roach, #116 Bill Harlan, #1 Grand Trustees s Cordale Brown, #14 John Bobby D Dillard, #134 Hewitt Douglass, #3 Jim Brown, #133 Grand CCFC Most Worshipful Brother Otis W. Cromartie Sr., #147 Past Grand Master th Place North Chicago, Illinois April 1, 2018 Greetings In order to prepare for the start of the Masonic Year which officially begins on July 1, 2018, all committees of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois are requested to forward projected operating budgets to the Office of the Grand Treasurer by May 15, Your input is earnestly solicited to ensure that the proper figures are included in the Grand Lodge Budget. Your budget should include projected income and projected expenses. We do realize and understand that some income avenues are covered by Grand Lodge taxes (i.e. Junior Craft, Education, etc.). For those that do not fall into this category, please include projections from revenue-raising events. Thank you in advance. Please be advised that taxes can NOW be paid via submission of a single check with your Grand Lodge Tax Forms instead of multiple checks for tax items. As the details for the distribution are incorporated on the tax forms themselves, the financial officers of the Grand Lodge will separate and apply them accordingly. This is being incorporated based on direct feedback from the Grand Lodge and Mid Year Sessions and should simplify the overall process. Moving forward, we do understand that you may have comments or questions or suggestions for the financial officers. Feel free to submit them anonymously, if you choose, by US Mail to this office courtesy of the Grand East. You may also feel free to submit comments to gt@mwphglil.com. I or my assistant, Past Master Kenny R. Askew of North Star Lodge #1, will review the submissions and respond to inquiries. Ultimately, we want to ensure that the best solutions for our Grand Lodge are implemented and your assistance could help. Thanks in advance! Fraternally Daryl L. Andrews Grand Treasurer

7 The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge Benevolent Fund A Nonprofit 501(c)(3) Organization 809 East 42nd Place, Suite #400 Chicago, Illinois March 30, 2018, Greetings, Prince Hall Family The Benevolent Fund is looking to make a list of High School Students, that will be graduating this year, The Benevolent Fund wants to do a special project benefiting our children. The qualifications are simple. 1) The student must be the dependent of a Prince Hall Master Mason or member of the Eastern Star, throughout the State of Illinois. 2) The student must, presently, be a High School Senior and be able to present proof of acceptance to an accredited university or junior college. 3) The student must be on the approved list by 4/30/18, NO EXCEPTIONS! Now, it is essential that any Brother or Sister, that feels that their dependent is qualified, should contact: Dwain Harris , dpharris56@yahoo.com OR Frank Jarvis , frankmjarvis@gmail.com By 4/30/18. THIS IS A HARD DEADLINE! WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT!! Thank you. Dwain P. Harris MWPHGLIL BENEVOLENT FUND mwphglilbenevolentfund@gmail.com WEB SITE: PLEASE FOLLOW US ON TWITTER FACEBOOK

8 MOST WORSHIPFUL PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS ~ STATE OF ILLINOIS 809 East 42 nd Place (Prince Hall Way) ~ Chicago, ILL ~ FAX Unification 2018 Souvenir Book Contract Chairman R. W. Bro. Damon P. Anderson, Sr. 809 E. 42 nd Place Chicago, Illinois phil2018ab@gmail.com Prices for Ads are as Follows Outside Back: $ W/Picture Full Page: $40.00 W/Picture Inside Back: $ W/Picture Half Page: Inside Front: $ W/Picture No Polaroid, Cell Phone pictures, PDF s, nor copies from prior ad books. Please send your ad in Word or Publisher format Only. The deadline for ads is July 7, 2018, No Exceptions. Please send all ad contract information to: Attention: Unification 2018 Souvenir Book Chairman 809 E. 42 nd Place Chicago, Il and payment to MWPHGL-IL Please send all ad contract information and payments to Souvenir Book Chairman ONLY. Please Print Name: Address: Ad size: Amount enclosed $ City / State / Zip: Ad as you wish it to appear in book: (Please Print Use back if necessary or additional sheet) For Official Use Only Received by: Date: Amount: $ Ck#: Receipt #