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	Family Tree Fraternal Orders		North Bay Black fraternal Orders By Sharon McGriff-Payne North Bay Black fraternal orders made their during early 1900s In the early 1900s, Vallejo's African American community earnestly began to form social, religious and fraternal organizations bent on uplifting the race. Such movements were taking place across the nation. John Hope Franklin, author of From Slavery to Freedom said Black communities nationwide found the binding together of such organizations “desirable...for social and cultural uplift, economic advantage, and mutual relief.” In Vallejo, this desire among African Americans to organize was manifested in the founding of a chapter for Spanish American War Veterans and the building of a lodge hall at 1209 Georgia Street for the veterans. The lodge hall, which was built in 1916, still stands today. Vallejo ‘s African American community also founded other religious, fraternal, civil rights and social organizations during the early years of the 20th Century, including Second Baptist and Kyles Temple AME Zion churches, the NAACP, and fraternal orders such as the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows and its women's auxiliary, the Household of Ruth, and the Knights of Pythias. According to local masonic history, in 1913 a “club was formed for the purpose of becoming a masonic lodge, but that organization ‘drifted,' becoming the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in 1917.” On June 5, 1918, led by L J. Williams, Alex Taylor and J. E. Berry, Prince Hall Masons, Firma Lodge No. 27 was constituted in Vallejo. The lodge's name, Firma Lodge, was more than appropriate, members believed. This new lodge with its determined leadership, was established on a “firm foundation.” Firma Lodge No. 27 was a pioneer of the masonic family in Vallejo. Out of Firma Lodge other lodges and chapters formed, including Fidelus Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, 1923; Amicus Lodge No. 48 and Harmony Court, both organized in 1944; George W. Posey Lodge No. 77, in 1953 and Oriental Chapter in 1953. During its earliest years, Firma Lodge was one of Vallejo's most influential African American organizations. Some of its members helped found Vallejo's early Black churches. Firma lodge members also held some of the highest positions within the state's masonic Grand Lodge. Many of its members were also instrumental in the formation of the Vallejo branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which also organized within weeks of Firma Lodge. Membership in fraternal and benevolent organizations was nothing new to North Bay residents, however. Local African Americans residents were active in Prince Hall Mason lodges as far back as the 1800s. No known African American fraternal lodges existed in the North Bay in the 19th Century, many were no doubt members of fraternal organizations from their home states. Black men who lived in Solano and Napa counties were members of masonic lodges in San Francisco and Marysville during the 1870s on through the 20th Century. Vallejoans like Thomas Moore Grove and John R. Landeway were active in Wethington Lodge No. 8 and Victoria Lodge No. 3. In 1884, Jamaica-born Grove served as deputy grand master for Prince Hall Grand Lodge. In 1887 and 1888, Landeway served as Worshipful Master of Victoria Lodge No. 3. Napa residents Edward and Joseph S. Hatton were also active Prince Hall Masons. Early records indicate that the Hattons (Edward was Joseph's father) belonged to lodges in San Francisco and Marysville. In 1902 and 1903 Joseph Hatton achieved the highest office within the state's Prince Hall Masons Grand Lodge having been selected Grand Master. In 1907 through 1909, Vallejo's Charles H. Tinsley became the Grand Lodges grand master. In 1923, L. J. William of Vallejo was selected grand lecturer of the state's Grand Lodge. Other Vallejo residents, A.B. Caviel and John L. Malone were affiliated with Hannibal Lodge No. 1 and Firma Lodge No. 27 in the early 1900s.

North Bay Black fraternal Orders

By Sharon McGriff-Payne

North Bay Black fraternal orders made their during early 1900s In the early 1900s, Vallejo's African American community earnestly began to form social, religious and fraternal organizations bent on uplifting the race. Such movements were taking place across the nation.

John Hope Franklin, author of From Slavery to Freedom said Black communities nationwide found the binding together of such organizations “desirable...for social and cultural uplift, economic advantage, and mutual relief.”

In Vallejo, this desire among African Americans to organize was manifested in the founding of a chapter for Spanish American War Veterans and the building of a lodge hall at 1209 Georgia Street for the veterans. The lodge hall, which was built in 1916, still stands today. Vallejo ‘s African American community also founded other religious, fraternal, civil rights and social organizations during the early years of the 20th Century, including Second Baptist and Kyles Temple AME Zion churches, the NAACP, and fraternal orders such as the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows and its women's auxiliary, the Household of Ruth, and the Knights of Pythias.

According to local masonic history, in 1913 a “club was formed for the purpose of becoming a masonic lodge, but that organization ‘drifted,' becoming the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in 1917.”

On June 5, 1918, led by L J. Williams, Alex Taylor and J. E. Berry, Prince Hall Masons, Firma Lodge No. 27 was constituted in Vallejo. The lodge's name, Firma Lodge, was more than appropriate, members believed. This new lodge with its determined leadership, was established on a “firm foundation.”

Firma Lodge No. 27 was a pioneer of the masonic family in Vallejo. Out of Firma Lodge other lodges and chapters formed, including Fidelus Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, 1923; Amicus Lodge No. 48 and Harmony Court, both organized in 1944; George W. Posey Lodge No. 77, in 1953 and Oriental Chapter in 1953.

During its earliest years, Firma Lodge was one of Vallejo's most influential African American organizations. Some of its members helped found Vallejo's early Black churches. Firma lodge members also held some of the highest positions within the state's masonic Grand Lodge. Many of its members were also instrumental in the formation of the Vallejo branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which also organized within weeks of Firma Lodge.

Membership in fraternal and benevolent organizations was nothing new to North Bay residents, however.

Local African Americans residents were active in Prince Hall Mason lodges as far back as the 1800s. No known African American fraternal lodges existed in the North Bay in the 19th Century, many were no doubt members of fraternal organizations from their home states. Black men who lived in Solano and Napa counties were members of masonic lodges in San Francisco and Marysville during the 1870s on through the 20th Century.

Vallejoans like Thomas Moore Grove and John R. Landeway were active in Wethington Lodge No. 8 and Victoria Lodge No. 3. In 1884, Jamaica-born Grove served as deputy grand master for Prince Hall Grand Lodge. In 1887 and 1888, Landeway served as Worshipful Master of Victoria Lodge No. 3.

Napa residents Edward and Joseph S. Hatton were also active Prince Hall Masons. Early records indicate that the Hattons (Edward was Joseph's father) belonged to lodges in San Francisco and Marysville. In 1902 and 1903 Joseph Hatton achieved the highest office within the state's Prince Hall Masons Grand Lodge having been selected Grand Master. In 1907 through 1909, Vallejo's Charles H. Tinsley became the Grand Lodges grand master. In 1923, L. J. William of Vallejo was selected grand lecturer of the state's Grand Lodge. Other Vallejo residents, A.B. Caviel and John L. Malone were affiliated with Hannibal Lodge No. 1 and Firma Lodge No. 27 in the early 1900s.