Evening Star Lodge NO. 6.

BRIEF HISTORY OF EVENING STAR LODGE NO. 6

The history of Evening Star Lodge No. 6 dates back to the late 1860s. It is known that Black Masonry in Alabama came into existence about the year 1867, just two years after the close of the Civil War. As early as 1869, there were known to be in the State of Alabama eight or ten properly and traditionally recognized local lodges of masonry.
Research indicates that Evening Star Lodge No. 6 was one of these lodges. These lodges operated under charters issued by the States of Ohio, Tennessee, and Missouri because at the time there was no Grand Lodge in the State of Alabama. Evening Star Lodge No. 6 was chartered by and operated under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee until 1874 when there was formed in the northern part of the State of Alabama the National Compact Grand Lodge of the State of Alabama.
Earlier in 1870, there had been organized the first Black Grand Lodge in the State of Alabama. That Grand Lodge was the Independent Most Worshipful Grand Lodge A.F.&.A.M. of Alabama. That Grand Lodge served local lodges in South Alabama. These two Grand Lodges operated independently of the State of Alabama until August, 1878. On the second Tuesday in August (August 13, 1878} in answer to a call addressed to each and all of the subordinate warranted lodges in the State of Alabama, having the genuine work of masons and working under warrants of the National Compact Grand Lodge, of which No. 6 was a member, and the Independent Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, Colored, of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons for the State of Alabama, a solemn Masonic convention was held through which convention the two Grand Lodges consolidated to form what is the present Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Alabama. Representatives of Evening Star Lodge No. 6 were present at the convention.
Pursuant to the work of the convention, all local lodges present and participating became members of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge. The charter date of Evening Star Lodge No. 6 by the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge is August 14, 1878. It is interesting to note that during its long and colorful history, Evening Star Lodge No. 6 has rarely missed having a meeting.

In 1892, Evening Star Lodge No. 6's building temporarily housed William Hooper Councill School. The Rev. J. F. Humphrey, pastor of the Colored Cumberland Church, Church Street North, became the principal of Councill School in 1892. The school was moved to the first floor of the Masonic Hall of Evening Star Lodge No. 6 located then on Barnett Street, in a section known as Davis Grove. The new school was completed in 1892. Both the new building and the first floor of the Masonic Hall were used until six new classrooms were added to the school building.
Evening Star Lodge No. 6 has given our Grand Lodge two Most Worshipful Grand Masters: namely, Henry C. Binford, Sr., who was Grand Master from 1901 to 1910 and Charles V. Hendley, who served from 1936 to 1967.
Evening Star Lodge No. 6 has contributed other Grand Officers to the Grand Lodge as follows: One Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master, Charles V. Hendley, 1932-1936; two Right Worshipful Senior Grand Wardens, David Hall, 1883, and H. C. Binford, Sr., 1889; one Right Worshipful Junior Grand Warden, Dr. William H. Councill, 1880; three Right Worshipful Grand Secretaries, Charles Hendley, 1884-1888, Henry C. Binford, Sr. 1900-1901, and Henry C. Binford, Jr., 1902-1905. The Lodge has also contributed many minor officers to the Grand Lodge, including Rev. John D. Ewing, who served as Grand Pursuivant.
Past Worshipful Masters of Evening Star Lodge No. 6 include, but are not limited to: Nelson Hendley, Master in 1878 when the Lodge was chartered by the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge; Dr. William H. Councill, founder and first president of what is now Alabama A&M University; H. C. Binford, Sr.; H. C. Binford, Jr.; Dr. Claxton.

P. Binford; Charles V. Hendley; Dean Robert A. Carter; Professor Jessie Campbell; Rev. Elmer Binford; and Columbus Gilsper. Recent Worshipful Masters have included the late Rev. John Ewing and Perry 0. Ward.