Chokmah - May 2023 | Issue 2

Timeline To History

BEFORE THE BIG BANG

Written By SGIG Eric Konohia, 33°

Since my appointment as Deputy for the Orient of the District of Columbia by SGC Dr., Corey D. Hawkins, Sr., 33⁰ in May 2021, I knew that I had to turn things around for this historic Orient and that the District of Columbia was rife with possibilities that would bring it back to its original respect and luster.

I decided that for our annual Council of Deliberation Annual Sessions, I wanted to change how we used to operate. In the past, we would finish our degrees on Friday so that our new class would be advanced on Friday, and the new Fraters would enter the A.A.S.R. at COD. I wanted this Orient to be a desired Orient to visit every 4th weekend of April, so in my mind, “Friday had to be the draw.” That was the plan as we advance. As a result of that, our 2022 Annual Session commenced on Friday, April 22, 2022, at the Tomb of the Unknowns with SGC Hawkins and me laying a wreath at the tomb with the other 3 regular/ recognized Supreme Councils in attendance. This was a historical moment for the District of Columbia, the USC-SJ, and those in attendance.

A month later, I represented our SGC at the first Grand Commander’s Summit at the House of the Temple (HOTT), Headquarters of the Supreme Council “Mother Council of the World,” 1733 16th Street, N.W. Washington DC. Out of this meeting was birthed the “Statement of Unity” signing of September 7, 2022. Also, at this Summit, during a break on day 2, when I was speaking privately with Grand Commander Cole, 33⁰ he mentioned in passing that no Prince Hall Mason has ever sounded the gavel in the Temple Room of the HOTT. Immediately, “DING, DING, DING” was the sound I heard in my mind.

I could hardly concentrate for the rest of the day. The first annual Summit was a success and we are all witnesses to the Statement of Unity signing. However, in my mind, there was one more piece of unfinished business.

I scheduled a meeting with Grand Commander Cole for November 8, 2022, at the HOTT for the sole purpose of asking the question, “Can I open my 2023 LWRSRCOD Annual Session in the Temple Room?” I sat in his office with him in the corner where he had 2 beautiful Victorian Parlor chairs. These are the same 2 chairs that SGC Hawkins and SGC Cole agreed on regarding the KCCH investiture for members of the USC-SJ. I ushered the nerve to revisit his previous comment about the Temple Room and asked him if he would “consider” me opening my session in the sacred room.

SGC Cole’s eyes beamed at me with the same look, “DING, DING, DING” that I had previously experienced. Without hesitation, he agreed but I immediately knew that this moment was a continuation of his work for recognition and unity.

He turned towards the door of his private office that leads back into the reception area and called his Chief of staff, Office manager, Gatekeeper, et al, “Elizabeth, come in here with your notepad and listen to this.”

We briefly discussed how that day would transpire, knowing that I would have a specific plan for that day in the new year.

2 weeks before our Annual Session I scheduled a final walkthrough with Elizabeth Sizemore along with Knight Commanders, Mark Fair, Kevin Moultrie, Darryl Green, and Phillip Harrigan. Each Knight Commander was assigned to oversee a specific portion of that historic day. Our meeting was a success, and we were ready to go.

THE HISTORIC DAY

At 6:00 a.m. the officers and members of the Council of Deliberation boarded the bus at our host hotel and headed to the HOTT. KCCH Phillip Harrigan, who I assigned as the Lead Site Frater, informed us that Elizabeth and Daniel Matsumoto had opened the building and were awaiting our arrival.

We arrived at approximately 6:45 a.m. and entered the main doors on 16th Street which places you in the hall where the Statement of Unity was signed. As you enter you cannot help but read “Salve Frater” (Welcome Brother) on the leg of the marble desk where the famous document was signed by the 4 Sovereign Grand Commanders.

We took the main staircase up to the Temple Room, each step taken slowly with deliberate intentions while absorbing every inch of this magnificent palace. As we entered the Temple Room, I could tell that the breadth of the sacred room was overtaking some of the fraters who just entered it for the first time. I have been in it several times, but it is breathtaking each time.

As the fraters took pictures with the cell phones, I was handed the gavel Grand Commander asked me to use. At 6:55, I sat in the Grand East alone and watched the Council of Deliberation line up across the Temple from south to north. “Time check?” One of the fraters responded, “6:59.” Then the unforgiving minute snuck up on me as I was thinking about my ancestors. “7 o’clock Dep.” I stood, grabbed the gavel, and took in the room, “To God be the Glory, for Prince Hall and all those Prince Hall Masons before us and those after us. In honor of the United Supreme Council, 33⁰ of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliation. I sound the gavel for the very first time of any Prince Hall Masonry. For us, those like us and doggone few!”

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