St. Mark's Lodge No. 7 Prince Hall Free & Accepted Masons
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St. Mark’s Lodge No. 7 Prince Hall Free & Accepted Masons is a Masonic Lodge in Columbus, Ohio, under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio. St. Mark’s was the first Prince Hall Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, formed in the city of Columbus and the fourth oldest Prince Hall Lodge founded in the state of Ohio (the lodge numbers were consecutive for only the first three lodges due to other lodges being warranted outside the State by the Grand Lodge of Ohio).
History
The first stated communication (meeting) of St. Mark’s Lodge No. 7 was held on January 16, 1852. The first officers of St. Mark’s were; Charles M. Langston, Worshipful Master, David Jenkins, Senior Warden and Hanson Johnson, Junior Warden. Bro. Langston and Bro. Jenkins were both involved in the early abolitionist movement in Ohio.
St. Mark's Temple
St. Mark’s currently meets at St. Mark’s Temple located at 988 East Long St. Columbus, Ohio. Before being based in its present building, the Brethren met on the second and third floors of the building then located at 247 N. 4th St. In 1919, the Brethren began the process to build and own our own structure. The building was completed and the Lodge room was dedicated on Jan 15, 1927, 75 years after our Lodge was founded. At the time of its construction, our Lodge hall was the first newly constructed Masonic temple in Ohio.
Notable members
Bro. David Jenkins- Born in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1811. At various times in his life he was a farmer, barber, paperhanger and painter, as well as an energetic operator in the local Underground Railroad. Bro. Jenkins was a recruiter for the 127th Ohio Infantry during the Civil War and was then appointed to the Freedmen's Bureau in Mississippi. He came to Columbus in 1837 where he became a leading participant in local civil rights activities. Bro. Jenkins served as President of the Black State convention held in Columbus, Ohio in 1851.
Bro. Charles Langston- Born in Louisa County, Virginia in 1817. Bro. Charles Langston in 1836 established a school in Chillicothe, Ohio for African-American children. He was a member of the Liberty Party and the Ohio Anti-Slavery Society. Bro. Langston was appointed principal of the Columbus Colored School in 1856. He was also a conductor on the Underground Railroad and in 1858.
Bro. J.J. Lee - One of the first Blacks elected to a public office in Columbus, Ohio.
Bro. James Poindexter - The first African-American to serve on the Columbus Board of Education.
Current officers
Worshipful Master- Wor. Bro. Eugene W. Greenfield
Senior Warden- Bro. Julian Harper
Junior Warden- Bro. Kenneth Rhynehardt
Treasuer- Wor. Bro. Clarence W. Davis, P.M.
Secretary - Wor. Bro. David W. Murray, P.M.
Asst. Secretary- Wor. Bro. Antonio O. Caffey, P.M.
Senior Deacon- Bro. Jerry Minter
Junior Deacon- Bro. Marlon Hayles
Senior Steward- Bro. David Phillips
Junior Steward- Bro. Kevin Rankins
Chaplain- Bro. Douglas Fowler
Marshall- Bro. Oyauma Garrison
Tyler- Bro. Art Franklin