WHO WAS JAMES EDWARD COWAN, 33rd DEGREE MASON, SHRINER?
Biographical Sketch: James Edward Cowan 1892-1962, was a 33rd Degree Mason and Shriner. In 1937, he obtained a charter from the Grand Lodge of France, for the (African-American) "Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite (A.A.S.R.) Masons of the World," and he filed Articles of Incorporation January 30, 1945, in the state of North Carolina. The A.A.S.R. Masons later merged with the National Supreme Council A.A.S.R. Masons.
In North Carolina to this day, the (white) Scottish Rite Masons, do not recognize African-Americans in their membership. As late as 2005, the (white) Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons of the Southern Jurisdiction voted to not admit African-Americans into their membership in North Carolina.
Also, there is no documentation on the Internet of the (African-American) Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons of the Central Jurisdiction, which is an affiliate of the National Supreme Council located in Detroit, Michigan(http://www.nationalsupremecouncil.com/home.html). The aforementioned web site has been posted on the Internet only within the last 3 years .
The (white) Scottish Rite Mason's National Heritage Museum located in Lexington, MA does not recognize African-American A.A.S.R. masonic orders.
James Edward Cowan established a help system for widows and children, during the time of racial segregation and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, the "Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of the A.A.S.R. Masons of the World." Later it merged with the National Supreme Council A.A.S.R Masons. Assistance to widows and children is a mission statement of the (African-American) A.A.S.R. Masons.
Research on James Edward Cowan was partially successful only. Good written records were not a forte of Scottish Rites Masons of the Central Jurisdiction. In the 1980s a fire at the home of W.W. Hoover destroyed all records of the (African-American) Ancient Accepted Scottish Rites Masons of the Central Jurisdiction, according to ILL. Louis Christian, 33 Lieutenant Sovereign Grand Commander .
Information was mostly by "word of mouth" from James Edward Cowan's two eldest daughters Catherine Cowan Ross and Thelma Cowan Teamer. Later in his life, Lillian Cowan Pulliam, youngest daughter of James Edward Cowan, did some secretarial work for him at some meetings, but she does not talk about this, because the masons are a clandestine (secretive) organization. Also, Lillian Cowan Pulliam joined the Eastern Stars , which is the female companion of the all male masons. She attended some conventions. Her mother, Sadie Carr Cowan wife of James Edward Cowan, was a member of the Eastern Stars for years.
It is believed that the Guy Lofton, Sr. (deceased) family had some information on the masons. However, when interviewed, Mrs. Lofton, was uncooperative. Charter members were Nate Brown, Guy Lofton, Sr., Charles Willett, Robert H. Cowan, Onsolow Holt, E. V. Taggart, W.W. Hoover, Sherrill Cowan, Joe Gaston, Will Miller, R. E. Davis, Sweet White, A. Z. McCombs, W. H. Henderson, Ernest Johnson, Albert Reed, M. R. Ellis, and Dock Mingo were other men instrumental in the Scottish Rites Masons. Guy Lofton, Sr., was the secretary of the Salisbury, N. C. Eureka Lodge Number 45 of the Rising Sun Grand Council of the Carolinas, which is now named the King Solomon Lodge.
The former Grand Master is 81 y/o Robert Chambers . Robert Chambers is a life long family friend of the Cowan family and can verify the information contained herein.
James Edward Cowan was mentored by a man by the name of Prof. W. F. Fitzpatrick in his founding and organizing activities. James Edward Cowan met Prof. Fitzpatrick in Washington, D.C. when he worked on the construction of the "famous 14th street bridge.
James Edward Cowan traveled up and down the East Coast on trains by using Masonic Distress Signals to board the trains and ride the trains to his destinations. The engineers on the trains were white, who were white Scottish Rites masons who recognized the secret Masonic Distress Signals.
Below is specific info on James Edward Cowan:
1.) Elder & Superintendent of Sunday School, and Member of the Session of the Church Street Presbyterian Church for over 30 years.
2.) Incorporated the (African-American) "Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge A.A.S.R. Masons of theWorld, now named the National Supreme Council in 1945.
3.) He was the State Deputy of the (African-American) Scottish Rites Masons of the Central Jurisdiction (which is the highest ranking member at lodge meetings) in the states of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia for 30 years), until his death. He established lodges in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia. The James E. Cowans Grand Council of Deliberations State of Virginia is named after him.
4.) He was married to Sadie Carr Cowan and the father of 11 children.
As indicated above, all Records of the (African-American) Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons of the Central Jurisdiction were destroyed in a house fire at the home of W. W. Hoover in the 1980s. Documents on file at the Rowan Public Library Local History Room in Salisbury, North Carolina are:
REFERENCES:
1.) Charter from the Grand Lodge of France of the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of the A.A.S.R. Masons of the World.
2.) Copy of the July 2, 1987 Banquet Program, "The First Jubilee of the Rising Sun Grand Council of the Carolinas and the James E. Cowan Grand Council of Deliberations, State of Virginia of the (African-American) Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons of the Central Jurisdiction," Honoring James E. Cowan held in Elizabeth City, North Carolina at the Holiday Inn.
3.) Biographical Sketch of James Edward Cowan by Robert E. Fisher, MSW, Eldest Grandchild of James E. Cowan dated February 20, 2006.
4.) The 59 page transcript of the North Carolina Supreme Court ruling in 1945 dismissing a complaint by the Prince Hall Masons challenging the legitimacy of the James E. Cowan Eureka Lodge No. 45 of Salisbury, Rowan County North Carolina of the (African-American) Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons, retrieved from G.B.Witt, Rowan Public Library, and the North Carolina Dept. of Archives. Stahle Linn and H. Lee Wright were the attorneys for the defendants, A.A.S.R. Masons. The answer to the complaint was signed by J. E. Cowan and Guy Lofton, Sr., keepers of the Seal.
5.)Family Tree of Alexander and Charlotte Cowan with family photos.
6.) The Salisbury Post newspaper obituary for James Edward Cowan.
cc: G. B. Witt, Rowan County Public Library
G. Potts, USGenWeb Archives
Google
The National Supreme Council A.A.S.R. Masons
ILL. Louis Christian, Lt Sovereign Grand Commander Central Jurisdiction A.A.S.R. Masons
Robert Chambers, Former Grand Master of the (African-American) King Solomon Lodge #2 A.A.S.R. Masons
Catherine Cowan Ross
Lillian Cowan Pulliam
Barbara A. Wilder
In North Carolina to this day, the (white) Scottish Rite Masons, do not recognize African-Americans in their membership. As late as 2005, the (white) Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons of the Southern Jurisdiction voted to not admit African-Americans into their membership in North Carolina.
Also, there is no documentation on the Internet of the (African-American) Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons of the Central Jurisdiction, which is an affiliate of the National Supreme Council located in Detroit, Michigan(http://www.nationalsupremecouncil.com/home.html). The aforementioned web site has been posted on the Internet only within the last 3 years .
The (white) Scottish Rite Mason's National Heritage Museum located in Lexington, MA does not recognize African-American A.A.S.R. masonic orders.
James Edward Cowan established a help system for widows and children, during the time of racial segregation and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, the "Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of the A.A.S.R. Masons of the World." Later it merged with the National Supreme Council A.A.S.R Masons. Assistance to widows and children is a mission statement of the (African-American) A.A.S.R. Masons.
Research on James Edward Cowan was partially successful only. Good written records were not a forte of Scottish Rites Masons of the Central Jurisdiction. In the 1980s a fire at the home of W.W. Hoover destroyed all records of the (African-American) Ancient Accepted Scottish Rites Masons of the Central Jurisdiction, according to ILL. Louis Christian, 33 Lieutenant Sovereign Grand Commander .
Information was mostly by "word of mouth" from James Edward Cowan's two eldest daughters Catherine Cowan Ross and Thelma Cowan Teamer. Later in his life, Lillian Cowan Pulliam, youngest daughter of James Edward Cowan, did some secretarial work for him at some meetings, but she does not talk about this, because the masons are a clandestine (secretive) organization. Also, Lillian Cowan Pulliam joined the Eastern Stars , which is the female companion of the all male masons. She attended some conventions. Her mother, Sadie Carr Cowan wife of James Edward Cowan, was a member of the Eastern Stars for years.
It is believed that the Guy Lofton, Sr. (deceased) family had some information on the masons. However, when interviewed, Mrs. Lofton, was uncooperative. Charter members were Nate Brown, Guy Lofton, Sr., Charles Willett, Robert H. Cowan, Onsolow Holt, E. V. Taggart, W.W. Hoover, Sherrill Cowan, Joe Gaston, Will Miller, R. E. Davis, Sweet White, A. Z. McCombs, W. H. Henderson, Ernest Johnson, Albert Reed, M. R. Ellis, and Dock Mingo were other men instrumental in the Scottish Rites Masons. Guy Lofton, Sr., was the secretary of the Salisbury, N. C. Eureka Lodge Number 45 of the Rising Sun Grand Council of the Carolinas, which is now named the King Solomon Lodge.
The former Grand Master is 81 y/o Robert Chambers . Robert Chambers is a life long family friend of the Cowan family and can verify the information contained herein.
James Edward Cowan was mentored by a man by the name of Prof. W. F. Fitzpatrick in his founding and organizing activities. James Edward Cowan met Prof. Fitzpatrick in Washington, D.C. when he worked on the construction of the "famous 14th street bridge.
James Edward Cowan traveled up and down the East Coast on trains by using Masonic Distress Signals to board the trains and ride the trains to his destinations. The engineers on the trains were white, who were white Scottish Rites masons who recognized the secret Masonic Distress Signals.
Below is specific info on James Edward Cowan:
1.) Elder & Superintendent of Sunday School, and Member of the Session of the Church Street Presbyterian Church for over 30 years.
2.) Incorporated the (African-American) "Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge A.A.S.R. Masons of theWorld, now named the National Supreme Council in 1945.
3.) He was the State Deputy of the (African-American) Scottish Rites Masons of the Central Jurisdiction (which is the highest ranking member at lodge meetings) in the states of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia for 30 years), until his death. He established lodges in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia. The James E. Cowans Grand Council of Deliberations State of Virginia is named after him.
4.) He was married to Sadie Carr Cowan and the father of 11 children.
As indicated above, all Records of the (African-American) Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons of the Central Jurisdiction were destroyed in a house fire at the home of W. W. Hoover in the 1980s. Documents on file at the Rowan Public Library Local History Room in Salisbury, North Carolina are:
REFERENCES:
1.) Charter from the Grand Lodge of France of the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of the A.A.S.R. Masons of the World.
2.) Copy of the July 2, 1987 Banquet Program, "The First Jubilee of the Rising Sun Grand Council of the Carolinas and the James E. Cowan Grand Council of Deliberations, State of Virginia of the (African-American) Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons of the Central Jurisdiction," Honoring James E. Cowan held in Elizabeth City, North Carolina at the Holiday Inn.
3.) Biographical Sketch of James Edward Cowan by Robert E. Fisher, MSW, Eldest Grandchild of James E. Cowan dated February 20, 2006.
4.) The 59 page transcript of the North Carolina Supreme Court ruling in 1945 dismissing a complaint by the Prince Hall Masons challenging the legitimacy of the James E. Cowan Eureka Lodge No. 45 of Salisbury, Rowan County North Carolina of the (African-American) Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons, retrieved from G.B.Witt, Rowan Public Library, and the North Carolina Dept. of Archives. Stahle Linn and H. Lee Wright were the attorneys for the defendants, A.A.S.R. Masons. The answer to the complaint was signed by J. E. Cowan and Guy Lofton, Sr., keepers of the Seal.
5.)Family Tree of Alexander and Charlotte Cowan with family photos.
6.) The Salisbury Post newspaper obituary for James Edward Cowan.
cc: G. B. Witt, Rowan County Public Library
G. Potts, USGenWeb Archives
The National Supreme Council A.A.S.R. Masons
ILL. Louis Christian, Lt Sovereign Grand Commander Central Jurisdiction A.A.S.R. Masons
Robert Chambers, Former Grand Master of the (African-American) King Solomon Lodge #2 A.A.S.R. Masons
Catherine Cowan Ross
Lillian Cowan Pulliam
Barbara A. Wilder
posted by Robert E. Fisher at 3:27 AM
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