Our History 

 

On June 4th, 2003 Brother LaDez Ingram, Brother Ron Robinson, and Brother Bernard Bethea
went to the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia and met with Grand Master
Willie L. Williams and District Deputy Grand Master Charles Truitt. In that meeting was
discussed the desire for fourteen brothers to be healed into Prince Hall Masonry. Additionally,
we expressed that after doing our own research of the historical accounts of freemasonry as it
relates to African-American masons, it was discovered that we were apart of an illegitimate
Masonic organization (Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons-National Compact). Thus, we
desired to be legitimate recognized freemasons and requested permission to be healed into Prince Hall Freemasonry. Upon are request being granted by the Most Worshipful Grand Master Willie L Williams we asked for one last request. That request was to have our own lodge since all the officers (excluding the Worshipful Master) and majority of the lodge sought to be healed. Our reasons for the request were as follows:

• First, with the number of brothers being healed we did not want to intrude on an existing lodge
• Secondly, we had a vision in regards to the direction of the lodge
• Thirdly, we strongly believed that our lodge could assist brothers to the truth, the way, and the
light that is Prince Hall Masonry from various bogus Masonic affiliations.

On June 21st, 2003 fourteen brothers (10 Master Masons and 4 Entered Apprentices) from
Burkshire Lodge #664 under the Jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Smooth Ashlar Grand
Lodge-Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons, National Compact, Jurisdiction of Georgia-
Prince Hall Origin uncovered the truth about its so-called legitimacy prompting them to leave the
National Compact and make an EXODUS to the truth, the way, and the light that is Prince Hall
Masonry. These Brothers were as follows: Brother LaDez Ingram, Brother Cliff Walker, Brother
Ron Robinson, Brother Bernard Bethea, Brother Maurice Parks, Brother Isaac Robinson,
Brother Rosbene Shields, Brother Reggie Johnson, Brother Runno Tucker, Brother Nathan
Jackson, Brother Kareem Francis, Brother Anthony Potter, Brother Garrett Lee and Brother
Brandon Odom.

On August 4th, 2003 8 out of 10 Master Masons from Burkshire Lodge #664 were healed into Prince Hall masonry under W.C. Thomas Lodge #112. They are as follows: LaDez Ingram, Ron Robinson, Bernard Bethea, Isaac Robinson, Maurice Parks, Rosbene Sheilds, Reggie Johnson, and Runno Tucker. Worshipful Master Darrell Hobson presided over the healing. Grand Master Willie L. Williams was also present and oversaw the healing process. Additionally, after being healed Brother James Ingram demitted his membership from W.C. Thomas Lodge #112 in order to join the lodge.

On September 6th, 2003 Foundation Lodge # 592 conducted their very first raising at the Most
Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia. On this day permission was granted to have
Brother Clif Walker and Brother Nathan Jackson healed as Master Masons. Worshipful Master
Corey Shackleford (Foundation Lodge #592) presided over the healing. The Honorable GM
Willie L. Williams was in attendance to oversee the healing process once more. Furthermore, on the same day the four Entered Apprentices, Brother Garrett Lee, Brother Anthony Potter, Brother Brandon Odom, and Brother Kareem Francis who had previously been passed to the Degree of Fellow Craft by Gate City Lodge #42 were raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason along with six Fellow Crafts from Foundation Lodge #592.

On September 14th, 2003 was celebrated as Prince Hall day and held in Forsyth, Georgia. On this day the majority of the lodge was present. As the day to commemorate the Honorable GM Prince Hall was led by GM Williams he acknowledged our past, present, and future ambitions in Prince Hall Affiliate. Upon introducing us to the craft for the first time we all were received with a standing ovation from the Brothers and Sisters who attended the event. Here, on this day it was decreed that Exodus Lodge was fully empowered to work and conduct business under a DISPENSATION (UD) by GM Williams. He added that we, the brothers, requested the name Exodus because it symbolized our mass exodus from the bondage of darkness (NO
HISTORY/BOGUSNESS) we endured under Smooth Ashlar Grand Lodge FAAYM-National Compact PHO (Reference Exodus 6:6 in the Bible).

On October 4th, 2003 at 5pm Exodus Lodge UD opened up on the 3rd Degree of Masonry for the first time. The moment was priceless to say the least. Every brother was accounted for and it felt good to open and close our own lodge for the very first time within a regular just and duly constituted lodge. Appointed officers by the Grand Master were as follows: Bernard Bethea- WM, Brother James Ingram-SW, Brother Ron Robinson-JW, Brother LaDez Ingram-SD,
Brother Rosbene Shields-JD, Brother Clif Walker-Tyler, Brother Runno Tucker-Secretary and
Brother Isaac (Ike) Robinson-Treasurer.

On June 22-25th, 2004 Exodus Lodge UD attended the 136th Grand Lodge Session of the
MWPHGL of GA-PHA in Savannah, GA the birthplace of African American masonry. It was
fitting that we were in Savannah during this time because it was to be recommended during this
session and voted by the craft that Exodus Lodge UD receive a charter empowering it to work
freely without a dispensation. On the afternoon of June 25th, 2004 after much anticipation the
Honorable Willie L. Williams GM for the MWPHGL of GA-PHA gave his recommendation
along with the support from the District Deputy Grand Master Charles Truitt (District 3) that
Exodus Lodge UD be granted a charter on this day. After the recommendation from the Grand
Master our prepared bylaws were accepted and turned over to the Chartering committee. After
the report by the Chartering committee WE EXODUS LODGE UD WAS HEREBY AND
HEREON GRANTED A CHARTER EMPOWERING US TO WORK. Thus, on June 25th,
2004 Exodus Lodge UD was now officially Exodus Lodge #593 under the jurisdiction of the
MWPHGL of GA-PHA.

HISTORICAL MENTIONS
Exodus Lodge #593 was the first lodge in Prince Hall History (Georgia) to be healed and charted from the National Compact.