Formation of Prince Hall Grand Chapter

As the tide ebbed and flowed twice in twenty-four hours, there were subordinate chapters and Grand Chapters being formed all over the world, in every country, in every state, in every city, and in every town.
 

But the tide neither ebbed nor flowed only in the South, only in the East, nor only in the North but it also flowed in the Great Northwest.  As the tide rose in the Great Puget Sound area and in Seattle the progress of the Masons and Eastern Stars rose accordingly.  The people who worked with the tide and were as faithful and punctual as the tide were brothers and Honorable Gideon S. Bailey, Worshipful Master of Washington Lodge No. 62, Angele, Hawkins, Maney and Collins-likewise the faithful sisters such as Maney, Collins, Angelle, Jackson and Hawkins.  Several of these names are on Mt. Rainier Chapter's Charter as charter members because Brother Judge Bailey was given the Eastern Star degree by a Deputy of Illinois and was granted the power and authority to set up a chapter which was called Mt. Rainier Chapter No. 1, Order of the Eastern Star.  Mt. Rainier Chapter was set up in Seattle, Washington, in 1900, and was the first chapter that was organized in the Pacific Northwest.
 

    As  the tide continued to ebb and flow, and as the years passed, other chapters were later established in Tacoma, Everett, Yakima, Spokane, Portland, Oregon and Canada.  Finally, through many struggles and hardships, and through the changing of Jurisdictions (see explanation following), it was in July of 1913, in the city of Tacoma, The Grand Chapter, O. E. S. of Washington and Jurisdiction was organized with Etta Hawkins, a member of Mt. Rainier Chapter, as Grand Matron, Emmett Holmes, Grand Patron, and Mary Moore, Grand Secretary.

From: Mt. Rainier Chapter No.1 Yearbook 1954

Worthy Matron

Worthy Patron

The membership grew slowly and was small, because only a few were eligible to become members of the Order.  Therefore, to obtain more consideration, Mt. Rainier Chapter No. 1 decided to leave the Illinois Jurisdiction and join a closer jurisdiction.  In 1904, the Chapter began to work under the Jurisdiction of California and continued to work for several years.  However, because of the irregularities and little or no recognition of the Grand Chapter of California, the Chapter decided to return to the Jurisdiction of Illinois, after which, other chapters were established.

In 1912, a convention was held of all the Chapters and with the consent and assistance of the Grand Lodge of Washington and Oregon of Negro Masons, plans were made to organize a Grand Chapter of Washington and Oregon.  Thus, in July of 1913, in the city of Tacoma, the Grand Chapter, O.E.S. of Washington and Jurisdiction was organized with Etta Hawkins, first Grand Matron, Emmitt Holmes, first Grand Patron and Mary Moore Grand Secretary.