The
Most Worshipful St. James Grand Lodge
Ancient Free & Accepted Masons
State of Illinois
The M.W.
St. James Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M., (after the death of the Ill. John G.
Jones, many fractions sprung up as John G. Jones Affiliates) reorganized on
September 30, 1936 under the leadership of Walter Shaffner, as Grand Master, at
10 West 4th Street in Chicago, IL. In
1937, Brother William Moody was elected Grand Master and served until November
1948, upon his death. Brother Moody was
responsible for the acquisition of the property at 5444 South Wentworth. Rev.,
Bro. Charles I. Miller was elected in December 1948 and fulfilled the dream of
Grand Master Moody, by paying off the mortgage of the property at 5444 South
Wentworth. Grand Master P.M. Carter, who served one term, succeeded Grand
Master Miller. In December 1953, Grand
Master C.H Cole succeeded Grand Master Carter in office. He was attributed with purchasing the
property at 6902 South Normal and remained in office until 1963. Brother Evin Dials was then elected Grand
Master in December 1963 and served well for two terms. Later, in December 1965, Brother Clarence
Redfield was elected Grand Master and also served two terms.
In
December 1967, Brother John D. Means was elected Grand Master and served until
December 1980. During his leadership,
he purchased the present realty property at 8220 South Western Avenue. In
December 1981, Brother Barnett McWhorter was elected Grand Master and served
one term. In December 1982, Brother John D. Means was reelected becoming the
first Past Grand Master to do so. He served
until December 1983, when he went on to become elected President of the General
Grand Masonic Congress of America.
Brother James Foster was elected in December 1983 and served one
term. In December 1984, Brother Barnett
McWhorter became the 2nd Past Grand Master to be reelected. He served three terms. In December 1987, Brother George P. Henry
was elected Grand Master and served until 1994. Brother Henry was noted for
many events, which enhanced the organization’s recognition and status in the
community, including cotillions that provided college scholarships to
participants. It was also during his leadership that St. James extended the
hand of fellowship to King David Grand Lodge and Queen Naomi Grand Chapter who
later merged into the jurisdiction.
In December 1994, Brother Raymond Pryor was elected Grand Master
and served until his death in August 1996.
In December, 1997, Brother Larry D. Spires, Sr. was elected Grand
Master. Under his leadership knowledge,
charity, and community involvement have been emphasized. He introduced the executive cabinet retreat,
the “Bowling for Widows & Orphans” fundraiser, reinstated the “Family &
Friends Day”, and organized the “Gospel
Extravaganza”. With major gospel
recording artists, the latter event brought significant recognition to the
Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter as a viable charitable organization in the
Chicago land area. With his assistance Charters were issued to several new
Lodges and a few Lodges were revived in the jurisdiction of Illinois. Brother Spires helped plan and host the 2002
Bi-Annual Session of the General Grand Masonic Congress with hundreds of delegates
from many states. This event was successful and done in Grand style. During
Brother Spires terms he was steadfast and faced all challenges head-on.
In December of 2002 Brother Thomas E. Lawrence was elected as the
Grand Master and currently serves.
Since 1936, the Most Worshipful
St. James Grand Lodge has contributed much to the poor and distressed and much
more could be enumerated. All of this
success was done through the splendid cooperation that has existed between the
craftsmen and leadership.