MOST ANCIENT PRINCE HALL GRAND COURT- HEROINES OF JERICHO

 Prince White Court #1 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Most Ancient Matron, Heroine Doris J. Jones
Most Worthy Joshua, Knight Reginald Murray 

 Cuyahoga Court #2 (Cleveland, Ohio)
Most Ancient Matron, Heroine Lucille Sherrill                     

Most Worthy Joshua, Knight Edward Miles 

 Burning Bush Court #3 (Dayton, Ohio)
Most Ancient Matron, Heroine M. Francine Washington
Most Worthy Joshua, Knight Keith Clark 

 Rollin F. Kelley Sr. Court #4 (Columbus, Ohio)
Most Ancient Matron, Heroine Deniesha Newby
Most Worthy Joshua, Knight Robert Lynch 

 El Zerubbabel Court #5 (Akron, Ohio)
Most Ancient Matron, Anna Davis
Most Worthy Joshua, Paul Miller
 

 Ruth Court #6 (Toledo, Ohio)

Most Ancient Matron, Heroine Janece Wooley

Most Worthy Joshua, Knight Clarence Jones  

 Floyd C. Churchwell Court #8 (Sandusky, Ohio)
Most Ancient Matron, Heroine Idajeanne R. Brown
Most Worthy Joshua, Knight Ted Brown 

Masonic history informs us that the Order of Heroines of Jericho is believed to be as old as ancient craft Masonry. Historically there is evidence in Ohio in the early part of the 20th century. In the proceedings of 1908 there were six Courts listed, as being inexistence, in Ohio namely Vashti Court No. 1 in Cincinnati, Heroine Court No. 2 in Nelsonville, Ruth Court No. 5 in Toledo, Sarah Court No. 6 in Cambridge, Esther Court #9 in Zanesville, and Valley Court No. 23 in Rendville. The Grand Court consisted of Courts in Pennsylvania and Ohio. There more modern era of Heroines of Jericho in Ohio began in 1971.

At the 103rd Grand Convocation of the Most Excellent Prince Hall Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons, Most Excellent Grand High Priest Paul L. Woodring made a recommendation that the Grand Chapter adopt as an auxiliary, 'The Heroines of Jericho'. This matter was brought to the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio and Grand Master Samuel Brogdon Jr. granted permission for the Order of Heroines of Jericho to be organized. In October 1971, Most Excellent Grand High Priest Michael R. Wilson appointed Past Grand High Priest Wooding, Grand Coordinator for the Heroines of Jericho. Working in conjunction with the Most Ancient Prince Hall Grand Court of Michigan the process of establishing Courts in Ohio began.

The first club organized was Prince White in Cincinnati, Ohio on December 1212, 1971. This court was inaugurated on January 14th1973 as Prince White Court No. 8 operating under the jurisdiction of Michigan, with Heroine Soprhonia Ellis as Most Ancient Matron and Knight Nathaniel Reip as Most Worthy Joshua.

Cuyahoga club was organized in Cleveland, Ohio on February 27th, 1972. This court was inaugurated on February 18th, 1973 as Cuyahoga Court No. 9, which also operated under the jurisdiction of Michigan with Heroine Donester Barksdale serving as Most Ancient Matron and Knight Donald Alexander as Most Worthy Joshua.

On April 10th, 1972 a club was formed in Dayton, Ohio with Elizabeth Russell serving as President and Harold Moon 1st Vice President. On October 1st they were granted a dispensation to operate as Burning Bush UD under the jurisdiction of Michigan.

July 9th, 1972 a club, named "Club 77: was organized in Akron, Ohio, and on April 1st, 1973 this club became El Zerubabble Court UD, also operating under the jurisdiction of Michigan.

On the 24th day of February 1974, the Most Ancient Prince Hall Grand Court of Michigan journeyed to the Fort Hayes Hotel in Columbus, Ohio, were Burning Bush No. 10 (Heroine Elizabeth Russell, Most Ancient Matron and Knight Harold Moon, Most Worthy Joshua), Rollin F. Kelley Court No. 11 (Heroine Alice V. Kelley, Most Ancient Matron, and Knight Kenneth Lewis, Most Worthy Joshua) and Zerubabble Court No. 12 (Heroines Florean McGadney, Most Ancient Matron and Knight Leonard Robertson Sr., Most Worthy Joshua) were constituted. Heroine Birdie Stallworth, Most Ancient Grand Matron and Knight Leon Gay, Most Worthy Grand Joshua were presiding.

On March 24th, 1974 Ruth Club was organized in Toledo, Ohio and on July 13th, 1975 the Court was constituted as Ruth Court No. 13 with Gladys Mitchell presiding as Most Ancient Matron and Knight William Long as Most Worthy Joshua. They also began their work under the jurisdiction of Michigan.

The first meeting to discuss the formation of a Grand Court in the state of Ohio was held on September 14th, 1974. On Sunday, September 21st the Grand Court of Michigan, under the leadership of Elizabeth Morse, Most Ancient Grand Matron and Charles Whitfield, Most Worthy Grand Joshua journeyed to Toledo, Ohio to Constitute and Inaugurate the Most Ancient Prince Hall Grand Court, Heroines of Jericho in and for the state of Ohio.

At this time MW Brother Robert L. Alston was presiding as the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio, Companion Jesse L. Russell was presiding as Most Excellent Grand High Priest of the ME Grand Chapter of Ohio Royal Arch Masons, Sister Alice V. Kelley was serving as Grand Worthy Matron of the Amaranth Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star - State of Ohio.

The Charter Courts of the Most Ancient Prince Hall Grand Court of Ohio were designated:

Prince White Court #1

Cincinnati, Ohio

Cuyahoga Court #2

Cleveland, Ohio

Burning Bush Court #3

Dayton, Ohio

Rollin F. Kelley Sr. Court #4

Columbus, Ohio

El Zerubbabel Court #5

Akron, Ohio

Ruth Court #6

Toledo, Ohio

The following officers were installed:

Most Ancient Grand Matron

Donester G. Barksdale

Most Worthy Grand Joshua

Kenneth E. Lewis

Vice Ancient Grand Matron

Martha Thompson

Deputy Grand Joshua

Leonard Robertson Sr.

Grand Treasurer

Eugene Morton

Grand Secretary

Jacqueline Young

Grand Senior Attendant

Elizabeth Russell

Grand Junior Attendant

Alice V. Kelley

Grand Chaplain

Donald Alexander

1st Grand Court Director

William Long (special election 9/20/1975)

2nd Grand Court Director

Major Hamilton

3rd Grand Court Director

Edward Towell Jr.

APPOINTED:

Northeast Ark Bearer

Gladys Mitchell

Northwest Ark Bearer

Cora L. Lounds

Southeast Ark Bearer

Ruth Travis

Southwest Ark Bearer

Mable Chandler

Inner Gate Keeper

Creaggan Hearld

Outer Gate Keeper

Daisy Lewis

Grand Lecturer, Northern

Jacqueline Young

Grand Lecturer, Southern

Daisy L. Lewis

Grand Organist

Eugenia Wilson

Assistant Grand Organist

Sue Day

Assistant Grand Secretary

Beatrice Peterson

On March 13th a club was formed in Youngstown, Ohio, Excelsior Court UD was established on May 2nd, 1976 (this was the first court established by the Grand Court of Ohio, Donester Barksdale, Most Ancient Grand Matron and Kenneth Lewis, Most Worthy Grand Joshua). September 27th, 1977 Excelsior Court No. 7 at Youngstown, Ohio was constituted and inauguarted. Jane Shipp was installed as Most Ancient Matron and Prostelle Thomas as Most Worthy Joshua. Most Ancient Grand Matron Elizabeth Russell and Most Worthy Grand Joshua Donald Alexander were presiding.

Floyd C. Churchwell Court No. 8, was the last court to be constituted. They were duly constituted on December 3rd, 1988 with Heroine Francine Newell being installed as Most Ancient Matron and Knight Lawson Wood as Most Worthy Joshua. Most Ancient Grand Matron was Heroine Fern C. Ragland and Most Worthy Grand Joshua was Knight Nathaniel Olden.

Past Grand Officers of the Most Ancient Prince Hall Grand Court, Heroines of Jericho are as follows:

DATE

MAGM

MWGJ

Grand Secretary

1975

Donester Barksdale, #2

Kenneth E. Lewis, #4

Jacqueline Young, #2

1976

Donester Barksdale, #2

Kenneth E. Lewis, #4

Ruth Travis, #5

1976-77

Martha Thompson #1

Leonard Robertson Sr., #5

1977-78

Elizabeth Russell, #3

Donald Alexander, #2

Donester Barksdale, #2

1978-80

Alice V. Kelley, #4

Major Hamilton, #1

Donester Barksdale

1980-81

Florean McGadney, #5

Foster Stringer, #2

Donester Barksdale

1981-82

Jacqueline Young, #2

Edward Towell Jr., #3

Donester Barksdale

1982-83

Daisy L. Lewis, #4

Theodore Jackson, #2

Donester Barksdale

1983-84

Mary Taylor, #2

Oakley Hopkins #6

Donester Barksdale

1984-85

Karen Boyd, #6

John McGadney, #5

Donester Barksdale

1985-86

Catherine Bray, #1

William Horton, #3

Donester Barksdale

1986-87

Myllicent Russel, #7

Curtis C. Carter, #4

Donester Barksdale

1987-88

Mary Culver #5

Charles Mitchell, #6

Helen Cotton, #6

1988-89

Fern Ragland, #3

Nathaniel Olden, #2

Helen Cotton

1989-90

Minnie Jackson, #1

Frederick Kelley, #4

Helen Cotton

1990-91

Ruth Travis

Frank Gindraw, #5

Helen Cotton

1991-93

Barbara King, #3

Booker T. Webster, #3

Helen Cotton

1993-95

Arlene Bolden, #2

Stewart Smith, #1

Helen Cotton

1995-97

Geraldine Kelley, #4

Embie R. Bostic, #2

Helen Cotton

1997-98

Betty Butler, #3

John A. James, #4

Helen Cotton

1998-99

Francine Newell, #8

George King, #3

Helen Cotton

1999-00

Hazel Webster, #3

Charles Eaves #5

Helen Cotton

2000-2001

Edith Barkley-Gulley, #6

Emerson Ballard, #6

Helen Cotton

2001-2002

Geraldine Durroh, #4

Joseph Toliver, #3

Helen Cotton

For outstanding contributions to the order and their efforts in laying the ground work for the establishment of the Grand Court of Ohio the degree of Honorary Past Most Ancient Grand Matron and Honorary Past Most Worthy Grand Joshua was bestowed upon the following members:

Past Most Ancient Grand Matrons:

Past Most Ancient Worthy Grand Joshuas:

Bernice Neal, #3

Paul Woodring Sr., #2

Amanda Transue, #3

Michael R. Wilson, #3

Gladys Mitchell #6

Jesse L. Russell, #3

Lillian Robinson, #1

Robert B. Oglesby, #2

Eugene Moron, #4

The Grand Court of Ohio has been privileged to have two of its officers ascend to the highest office in the General Grand Conference of Heroines of Jericho. Knight Foster Stringer served as General Grand Conference Most Worthy Grand Joshua (1991-93) and Heroine Arlene Bolden (2001-2002) serving as General Grand Conference Most Ancient Grand Matron.