A Short but Long Travel Home
by Shahaada A.A. Jihaad
Feeling like most men, who as they mature develop a sense of community and the need to contribute to the betterment of our world, I decided to seek the assistance of like minded men, hoping to fulfill the concerns of my own heart and mind. Little did I know that my journey to fulfill that need would be so long and tumultuous, but nevertheless, educational.
Being a veteran of the Navy, I have had the opportunity to travel our terrestrial house quite a bit. And in my travels I have seen many things of beauty that have caused me to reflect upon my own life as a man, a father, a son, and husband. But one of the things of beauty that truly caught my attention was, while still in the Navy and stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, I witnessed the constant display of unity shown by and reverential respect shown to a tightly knit group of sharp men. The thing I noticed most was that they always seemed to be together all the time and enjoyed each others company. Plus, when they announced any type of function they were sponsoring, it created a big buzz around the base, with everyone almost in sheer anticipation on attending or in some why contributing to its success.
After observing these men for some time, I knew I wanted to be a part of them and experience the same joy, respect, and camaraderie that they gave each other when I saw them. After more thought, I finally gained the courage to ask. I noticed one of the groups that usually hung together leaving the chow hall (Dining Facility). I stopped them, introduced myself and told them that I had been checking them out for quite some time and that I wanted to join their “men’s group”. Needless to say, they all echoed Men’s Group! and in good spirit, laughed at me for calling them such.
However, one of them with patience proceeded to inform me that they were not just some type of “men’s group”, but that they were in fact Masons. I said okay, and inquired as to what did I have to do to become a one. The first question he asked me was how long did I have left on station (in Stuttgart)? I informed him that I only had two months left on station and that I was leaving the Navy once I left there. He told me that I didn’t have enough time left on station to complete the required work, but that he would sit down and talk with me anyway and give me potential contacts in the area that I was going once I left Stuttgart.
Well, this is where my Masonic nightmare begins. Upon my arrival in Atlanta, I asked my then barber, who proclaimed to be a mason, about becoming a member of the lodge he was a member of. He informed me that I was right on time, because “they” were starting a new lodge in that area and were gathering petitions. Stupidly, I assumed two things about this Masonic barber. One: Since he was black that he was a Prince Hall Mason and Two: that this new lodge was going to be a properly constituted and chartered lodge within a Prince Hall Grand Lodge jurisdiction. However, as I later found out, both my assumptions only made an “ass” out of me. But, I must continue by saying that at this point, lodge and jurisdictional legitimacy was all scrambled eggs to me and meant nothing. My desire was to be a Mason and to emulate what I saw displayed in Germany amongst those Masons there.
After receiving the petition Bro. Ruffian, the Masonic barber told me to return the petition to him with a $180 dollar money order so they could vote on it and arrange an investigation. He told me to make the money order out to Nehemiah Lodge #033, Sons of St. Joseph Grand Lodge of Georgia, which prompt me to ask him, where do I have to put Prince Hall’s name?
Well Bro. Ruffian went on to explain that we weren’t going to be a part of Prince Hall; since Prince Hall wasn’t really a legitimate body, but that this new lodge and jurisdiction would be under the authority of the United Supreme Council of the World, who’s location was out in California, which was ran by S.G.I.G Dr. J.P. Jeckyll (not real name). He went on to state that our Grand Lodge was going to be Sons of St. Joseph Grand Lodge of Georgia and it’s Grand Master Bro. Billy D. Ceever, 33rd (not real name).
He further said that it didn’t matter whose lodge I became a part of because we were all the same, because we all took the same oath and obligation. Well like a true novice, I took Bro. Ruffian’s word for gospel and proceeded to become a Mason. Shortly thereafter, I was investigated and told to keep my calendar open for the next week, because they could call me at any time and tell me where to meet them for initiation. Well, true to form, that’s exactly what happened. One Saturday evening, I received a phone call and the other person on the phone told me to meet Bro. Ruffian and four other candidates at a Ramada Inn Hotel to be initiated that night. The first thing I can remember thinking was, “I thought Masons met in a lodge like the guys in Germany did, but oh well.” I was subsequently, Passed in that same hotel room as well, but Raised, in a church nearby. At my Raising, is where I had the opportunity to meet the man who was self-appointed or selected to be our first Grand Master Bro. Billy D. Ceever, 33rd.
Bro. Billy D. Ceever later told us that he had been a member of the Prince Hall family for more than 20 years and was supposedly headed to take a prominent leadership station within the jurisdiction of Delaware. However, due to “other” ill wishing Brothers within that jurisdiction he was “cast” out and black balled, “for some reason.” And that the same Brothers with far reaching hands, informed the Masonic leadership in Atlanta of his whereabouts, so they would know to look out for him and cast him a cold shoulder as well.
Again, I took every word that came out of this knowledgeable man’s mouth as true gospel. Because I knew that there was no way under heaven that such a man would lie to me or to any of us (Yeah Right!!!).
As time went on I became the jurisdictions most ardent student. I read everything I could get my hands on and took on every challenge and challenger that came near me. Those opposed to Masonry I was willing to crush or die trying, all I needed was an excuse for me to attack you and I didn’t care. Little old church going ladies included. Say something anti-Masonic and they would let their pitbull loose (me), and if my attacking you led to blood shed then so be it, I loved Masonry too much to see it injured by anybody.
I was finally a Mason and proud of it. I had a job to do. I had to assist these Brothers with building a jurisdiction, so I went about my duties with all the zeal my body could muster. I would leave my regular day job and 4:30pm, get home and kiss my wife and baby daughter Hello and Good-bye at the same time, grab me a sandwich, go down to the new Grand Lodge office and work there until 9:30pm or 10:30pm at night. Go to sleep and proceed with the same routine the next day and the day after that. The feeling of being proud of my Fraternity kept me going. However, that feeling of pride also made me stupid and covered me with a thick coat of ignorance.
Nehemiah Lodge #033 began to get noticed. Bro. Ruffian, became the sitting Worshipful Master and I was elected Senior Warden. We participated in charity events for the homeless, provided shelter for abused women and participated in a major Senior Citizens event that was sponsored by the Mayor’s office in Atlanta. From the outside we looked like that tightly knit group of men that I first saw in Germany, however from the inside we began to smell like over run sewage. As we began to receive more coverage for our charity work, Bro. Ruffian’s name would appear in different media outlets and be credited with being the “leader” of our lodge.
Needless to say, our Grand Master Bro. B. D. Ceever, 33rd, became increasingly jealous at the exposure Bro. Ruffian and the lodge were receiving. He (the GM) felt that if anyone should get any exposure at all, it should be him, because he was the one who started the jurisdiction in the first place and the only reason that we were Masons was because “he” had put “his” seal of approval on it. If it weren’t for him none, of us would belong to the Fraternity!… as he later screamed at us. The shock and pain I felt within the inner chambers of my heart were paralyzing, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, but I didn’t have a lot of time to hurt, because there was more to come.
Bro. Billy D. Ceever, 33rd, told us that in order to build a strong jurisdiction, we had to move into other areas and spread our fraternal philosophy to others that might not otherwise receive it, without our help. He recommended that we start in his hometown of Blakley, Georgia, which would be the ideal place to introduce the people there to the greatest philosophy the world has known. And, that since Blakley was such a small town, we would be the first “legitimate” Masonic lodge in that area, because there was no other Masons there. (Liar!!!)
So on a rainy Saturday morning and like Black Knights in shiny silver armor. At least fifteen of us packed into ours hoopties and melted the pavement, determined to initiate, pass, and raise (all in one day) those poor souls who had no knowledge of what Masonry was. We were hell bent on giving them the correct version before anyone else got hold of them, especially members of Prince Hall.
The plan was that when we got to town and since he and his family had mega clout there (in Blakley) we would first stop and get breakfast and then proceed down to the town hall and begin our work. After the degree work was completed we would conduct a lodge of instruction, and then the “town” would host a fish fry for us, that had been planned by the new Brothers and his family. Well, that was plan A. And, as far as I can remember, we didn’t have a plan B. In fact we felt that we didn’t need a plan B, because no one was going to dare disturb his plans or interrupt what we had come to Blakley, Georgia, too do.
Well, when we drove into town we decided to stop at a fast food restaurant to get breakfast and relax for a moment. Bro. Ceever, 33rd, said he would continue on into town to make sure that everything was in place and ready to go. As we were sitting there, dressed in traditional Masonic dress, we could hear people beginning to whisper at the sight of the new strangers that were in town. We felt proud, good even, that we were being noticed by the towns people, and plus, our egos even told us we looked good and we were there to introduce Freemasonry to that little ole’ town. However, as we wallowed in the slop of our egos, what initially escaped us was the fact that we weren’t the only men proclaiming to be Masons in that restaurant that morning.
One of the Brothers, whispered out and said, “Hey man! Check out that old man sitting in the corner, look at his hands.” As we turned to look at the old man in the corner, who was eating his breakfast slowly, silently, and with observation, the first thing that caught all of our attention was the beautiful square and compass that engulfed the ring that sat on his right had ring finger. At that point the old man noticed that we were watching him, finished his breakfast and left the restaurant peacefully.
About twenty minutes thereafter, Bro. Billy D. Ceever, 33rd returned to the restaurant looking a bit bewildered. All of us noticed the confused look on his face and immediately asked what was wrong. He began to tell us that there would be some changes to our previous plan. He went on to explain, that there were some Prince Hall Masons that had “recently” moved into town, started a lodge and was now in cohorts with the local Caucasian lodge there to run us out of town. (All this had supposedly happened the same morning)
Once again, pure shock! What! Prince Hall Masons! Where? I thought we were the “first” Masons in this town. What do you mean Caucasian Lodge? Since when did they start talking to “us”? He went on to tell us, that we weren’t going to be able to complete our degree work in the town hall meeting room, because “those” other Masons had closed that off to us. And the “town” fish fry? Not!! The guy that owned the restaurant that was going to sponsor the event, suddenly had to close his shop for inventory. Bro. Ceever, 33rd went on to say that he had went by the local recreational facility, in hopes to secure a room there, the guy there said flat out, NO! He later informed us that, the guy was a member of the local Caucasian lodge and didn’t think too highly of outsiders invading their “shared” territory.
Undeterred, he finally found, what I believed to be one sympathizer who let us “rent” his church basement to initiate, pass, and raise our new Brothers for a fee, which we had to reach in our pockets and pay him, right then and there. I couldn’t believe what had happened to us. There was a bright future for us in that town, well at least until we met that quiet old man sitting in the corner of that restaurant minding his business, eating his breakfast and with a watchful eye, closely observing us in our egotistical filth, but as I know now, that wouldn’t be the last Mike Tyson blow to my mug.
At a fundraiser we were sponsoring, there were some Brothers from Smooth Ashler Grand Lodge, Prince Hall (O)riginated that were in attendance. As we were standing around talking with each other, another Brother from their jurisdiction walked up and joined in the conversation. To this day, I don’t know what prompted the Brother to ask, but he did. He looked at our appointed Deputy Grand Master Bro. B. Gullible II, 32nd, and ask, “Exactly, where did you guys receive you charter, and if you got it from the United Supreme Council of The World, just where did they originate and get their authority from?”
At that point, I was self assured that our Deputy Grand Master knew all he needed to know and was going to rip a mud hole in that Brother just for questioning such a thing. Well, after thinking about it a second or two, my Deputy Grand Master, our Deputy Grand Master, shook his head and said, “I don’t know”. Again, pain rushed through my body and literally paralyzed me once again. My mouth dried and I couldn’t talk. I realized that in street language, we had just been “punked out” by someone from another jurisdiction. What’s even more appalling is the fact that I didn’t know either, nor did any other Brother at that fish fry. We were all put to shame, but for the better.
From that moment on, Brothers began to immediately ask questions. Questions, our Grand Master couldn’t answer and didn’t want to answer, so instead of accounting for the obvious he in turn started turning one Brother against the other. Needlessly, stabbing Brothers in the back, circulating bad rumors to wives and loved ones, and emptying bank accounts.
Subsequently, we all left the lodge and jurisdiction all together and the lodges within the jurisdiction eventually folded. Some Brothers, saw the light sooner than others, and made there exit long before Grand Master Billy D. Ceever, started on his path of destruction. And from what I have been told by Bro. Ruffian, who remains a good friend of mine to this day, our former Grand Master, lost his wife, his job, his house and eventually went to jail for some reason or the other, but most of all he lost sincere Brotherly Love.
Thereafter, my wife (she’s active duty Army) received orders to Naples, Italy and while not fully recovered from my shock, disappointment and heart-break, I started to see the image of that group of guys again that I had observed and met in Germany. Most of all, I loved Masonry too much just to sit on my laurels (a$$) and watch others do the work, I knew I was commissioned to contribute too and participate in.
After a period of observation, I once again approached a group of men who identified themselves as being Prince Hall Masons (this time I made damn sure!) and members of the local lodge there in Naples. Immediately, I knew I was HOME!!!
In April of 1999, I petitioned and became a member of Mediterranean Lodge #149, Free and Accepted Masons, Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Jurisdiction of Oklahoma. In 2000 I sat the seat of Worshipful Master. In 2001 I was made a Past Master.
Because of the many blessings that I have received and my appreciation for the Brothers that fight arduously to keep Prince Hall Freemasonry untainted, pure, and true to form, is the reason I had to share my story. In my Masonic travels I have met too many good men who’s ambition and enthusiasm to serve humanity through Prince Hall Freemasonry, have been taken advantage of and met the same fate as my aspirations did early in my so-called Masonic career. I have vowed to rid our honorable Fraternity of such people, men and women both.