Royal and Select/Ladies of the Circle of Perfection

Click links to:
1 – The Grand Council of Royal & Select Masters of Ohio, PHA, USA and the Bahamas https://gcgcrsmpha.org/
2 – The General Conference Grand Court of Ladies of the Circle of Perfection, PHA, USA and the Bahamas
https://gcgclocop.com/

Roy Ward Jr. Council #33

Royal and Select Masters

History of Roy Ward Jr. Council #33

Royal and Select Masters

PHA

On a snowy Saturday morning, April 23, 2016, 23 Royal Arch Masons were initiated as Royal and Select Masters in Aurora, Colorado. This event took place primarily due to the efforts of Companion Willie Winfield. Companion Winfield had a vision of bringing Royal and Select Masters to the jurisdiction of Colorado. Numerous masons in Colorado expressed their desire to establish a Royal and Select Council in the state.

Companion Winfield contacted the Most Eminent Grand Commander, Colorado Grand Commander of Knights Templar, PHA, Stefon Atmore and discussed the wishes of Colorado masons to form a council in the state. MEGC Atmore discussed the idea of forming a Royal and Select Council in Colorado with the Most Excellent Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Leroy Wright. They were both in agreement that forming a council would be beneficial to masons in Colorado.

Companion Winfield contacted the Most Illustrious Grand Council of Ohio and discussed forming a council in Colorado. Companion Winfield and the Thrice Illustrious Grand Master, Michael H. Jordon spoke about the demographics and population of Prince Hall masons in Colorado. It was then agreed upon to start a study club in the state. Companion Winfield in turn, discussed the matter with the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah, Honorable Charlie L. Flowers. MWGM Flowers verbally granted permission to form a council in Colorado. A formal request was then submitted to MWGM Flowers and permission was granted.

Letters from the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Colorado, the Most Excellent Prince Hall Grand Chapter, Holy Royal Arch Masons, and the Most Eminent Grand Commandery, Knights Templar, PHA were provided to the Most Illustrious Prince Hall Grand Council, Royal and Select Masters of Ohio. The Most Illustrious Prince Hall Grand Council, Royal and Select Masters of Ohio granted permission to form a study club in Colorado. Potential candidates were contacted and issued an application for membership.

It was agreed upon that four Royal and Select Companions from Ohio would travel to Colorado and administer the several degrees associated with Cryptic Masonry along with companions currently residing in the state. Companion Winfield coordinated the logistical plans of the degree team traveling from Ohio. The degree team consisted of: DGTIM Melvin Russell, deceased (Ohio), PGTIM Reginald A. Blake, deceased (Ohio), PTIM Roderick A. McCully (Ohio), PTIM Paul L. Hunt (Ohio), Illustrious Companion Willie Winfield (Colorado), Illustrious Companion Claude W. Gray Sr., deceased (Colorado), Illustrious Companion Adrian Dixon (Louisiana).

The degree team initiated: Stefon Atmore, Stanley H. Brooks Jr., Edward Brown, Jeffery Bryant, George Coleman, Miguel Cruz-Barnes, Arturo V. Delos Reyes, Terrell Hale, Jon Hamilton, Christopher Hollins, Joseph Jackson, George Love (RIP), Eric Nelson, Thomas Powell, Bernard Prioleau Sr., Nathanial Richardson, Calvin Somerville, Mark Stewart, Gary B. Thomas, William Turner, Leonard Ware, Bruce Williams, and Leroy Wright. The degree team provided instructions to the newly initiated companions. The new members were assigned to Adoniram Council # 1, Cleveland, Ohio. Companion Winfield was named the Grand Lecturer by GTIM Russell.

A meeting was convened on April 30, 2016, the officers were elected and the name of the study club was selected. The elected officers are: Claude W. Gray Sr., Thrice Illustrious Master, Deputy Master, Stefon Atmore, Principal Conductor of the Work, Stanley H. Brooks Jr., Treasurer, Calvin Somerville, Recorder, Mark Stewart, Chaplain, Thomas Powell, Captain of the Guard, Jon Hamilton, Conductor of the Council, Eric D. Nelson, Marshall, Joseph Jackson, Stewart, Jeffrey Bryant, Lecturer, Arturo V. De Los Reyes, Sentinel, Bruce Williams. The study club selected Roy Ward Jr. as its name. Roy Ward Jr. championed the cause of York Rite Masonry in Colorado. The widow of Roy Ward Jr. was petitioned to use his name. She agreed with the name selection and thanked the study club for choosing her husband.

The Roy Ward Jr. Study Club petitioned the Most Illustrious Prince Hall Grand Council of Royal and Select Masons to be placed under dispensation. On 07/25/2016, the Most Illustrious Prince Hall Grand Council of Royal and Select Masons granted Roy Ward Jr. Study Club a dispensation to function as an independent entity. Roy Ward Council U.D. hosted a wine sip in honor of MWGM Charlie L. Flowers and GWM Freddie Cooper (OES) at the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge session on August 7, 2016.

During the 97th Grand Assembly in Independence, Ohio.  Grand Lecturer Willie Winfield and Deputy Master Stanley Brooks were given the Charter, designating Roy Ward Jr. (UD) to Roy Ward Jr. Council #33.

97th Grand Assembly

Most Illustrious Prince Hall Grand Council

Royal and Select Masters

Independence , Ohio

Thrice Illustrious Master

Garrett Robinson

Marshall

PTIM Calvin Somerville

 Grand Lecturer/Sentinel 

PGTIM Willie Winfield

Lecturer

PGTIM Stanley H. Brooks Jr. 

PAST THRICE ILLUSTRIOUS MASTERS

HONORARY PAST GRAND THRICE ILLUSTRIOUS MASTERS

(1) Charter Member
(2) Deceased

Prince Hall Grand Court Ladies of the Circle of Perfection
of Ohio and Jurisdiction

Establishment of Mary Jane Neal Study Club
(Denver, Colorado)

Chartered
Mary Jane Neal Court No. 8
Ladies of the Circle of Perfection
(Double Tree Hotel at Westlake, Ohio)

Stated Meeting
Mary Jane Neal Court No. 8
Ladies of the Circle of Perfection
(Colorado Springs, Colorado)

PAST PERFECT ROYAL PERFECT MATRONS

PAST ROYAL CHIEF ADVISORS

HONORARY PAST ROYAL PERFECT MATRONS

ROYAL GRAND OFFICERS

(1) Charter Member
(2) Deceased