Keystone Lodge #15

03/17/2026

♠️♦️MARCH 28th ♥️♣️

Grab a Spades partner and come have a good time with the Men of the Craftsman’s Club!

Doors open at 5
Games start at 6

To sign up, simply send us a message or reach out to PM Hanif Morris at (630)430-8937!

03/11/2026

🥞APRIL 11th, 2026🥞

The long-awaited, highly anticipated Annual Past Masters Breakfast is BACK and even BETTER as we partner with the Past Matrons of Western Light #77!

Come on out and have a good time with the Brothers of Keystone Lodge #15 and Sisters of Western Light #77. Don’t forget to bring your appetite! 🍽️

Time: 7am until supplies are gone
Price: $15 per plate

See you there!

03/09/2026

🚲It’s that time of year again!🚲

Sunday, March 8th,
The Brothers of Keystone Lodge #15 got together to assemble bikes for our 19th annual “Reading For Rides” reading initiative! Bike have already started being dropped off at schools!

The process is pretty simple: For every book a child reads, they get an entry into the end of the year drawing for a new bike. Six schools across the Aurora area will be provided a new girls and boys bike to be displayed somewhere in the school until the drawing. The goal is to continue to motivate more children to read.

02/11/2026

PHA Black History Month Series;
Day 11: PGM John Wesley Dobbs

Born March 26, 1882, on farm a few miles north of Marietta, Georgia. He attended Savannah High School and Morehouse College before leaving to take care of his ailing mother. PGM Dobbs then began his career as a railway clerk, where he eventually retired after 32 years of service in the 1930s. Active in politics and voters rights, he founded Atlanta Civic and Political League, as well as the Georgia Voters League that help register over 20,000 black voters from 1936-1946. Because of this, he convinced the mayor of Atlanta to integrate the city police force in 1948 with the hiring of the first 8 black police officers. He also influenced the installation of lights on Auburn Avenue, which served as the backbone of the black community. That same year he helped publicly expose Jim Crow in the south by guiding journalist Ray Sprigle, disguised as a black man, on a 30 day trip throughout the south. Shocking the nation and sparking the legitimacy of segregation in the United StatesHe even made speeches for then President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was a former vice chairman of the Republican State Central Committee, a trustee of First Congregational Church, and director of the Citizen Trust Company. PGM also served as National Vice President of the NAACP. His leadership dubbed him the “unofficial Mayor of Sweet Auburn”. His Masonic career began in 1911 when he was raised to the degree of Master Mason. He was a member of H. R. Butler Lodge #23, Gate City Chapter #9 HRAM, St. John Commandery #4 KT, Atlanta Consistory #24, and Rabban Temple #27/Nabbar Temple #123. He served in the higher offices of Deputy of the Orient of Georgia, as well as Grand Minister of State for the USC SJ PHA, and Deputy of the Desert of Georgia. He was elected to the position of Grand Master of the MWPHGL of Georgia in 1932, where he served the unprecedented 29 years old until 1961. He also served as President of the Prince Hall COGM and was instrumental in suggesting the name change of grand lodges adding “Prince Hall Grand Lodge” and starting the pilgrimage to Prince Hall’s grave in 1950.

PGM Dobbs passed away on August 30, 1961.

Special thanks to Grand Historian Dave Gillarm of the MWPHGL of Georgia for helping with the search for information on PGM Dobbs.

Honorable Bryson Taylor, MPS

02/10/2026

PHA Black History Month Series;
Day 10: PGM John Jones

Born about November 3, 1816 in Greene County, North Carolina to a free mother and a German father. He apprenticed at a young age to a tailor, becoming an indentured servant. He then moved to Fayette County, Tennessee and then later to Memphis. It was around this time he courted and married his wife Mary Richardson. They then moved to Alton, Illinois to comply with Tennessee’s laws against African American marriage. Once coming to Chicago, he became a prominent member of society, his home becoming a "rendezvous" for abolitionists, both black and white, doing all he could with “tongue and pen to help in the up lift of his race”. As an abolitionist, his home became a station on the Underground Railroad, where he served as station master. He fought vigorously to end the Black Codes, rejecting blacks from migrating into Illinois to gain freedom. He owned many properties in Chicago and became one of the first African Americans chosen by the Republican Party to be a Cook County Commissioner after the Chicago Fire. He served from 1871-1875. In 1870, he was the first black serve on a grand jury in the state of Illinois. Through his successful tailor business he became one of Chicago’s most wealthiest men. He was elected to the position of Grand Master of the MWPHGL of Ohio from 1865-1867 He is the namesake of John Jones Lodge #7 of the MWPHGL of Illinois, where he served as the first Worshipful Master.

PGM Jones passed away May 21, 1879.

Honorable Bryson Taylor, MPS

02/09/2026

02/09/2026

PHA Black History Month Series;
Day 9: 1LT Peter Vogelsang

Born on August 21,1815 in New York, not much is known about his early life. Though he did come from a family of activists. His father was a founding member of both the African Society for Mutual Relief, of which he would later become a member of, and St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. He married into another prominent black family when he wed Theodocia DeGrasse, the daughter of George and Maria DeGrasse. At the age of 44 years old, he enlisted in the Union Army, becoming a member of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and was assigned to Company H. During the span of three months, he is promoted from the rank of Quartermaster Sergeant to the rank of First Lieutenant. During the Civil War, at the Second Battle of Fort Wagner on July 18, 1863, Bro. Vogelsang was wounded in a heroic charge on James Island, and survives. He became one of the first black commissioned officers in the American army. In 1863, along with 25-30 other soldiers, Vogelsang became one of the members of the first Prince Hall Military Lodge, under the jurisdiction of what is now known as the MWPHGL of South Carolina. Vogelsang was also a founding member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, New Haven; he was one of 46 black founding members who left Trinity Episcopal Church when the vestry voted to restrict black members to a handful of pews in the back of the church. As clerk of the newly formed St. Luke’s, he worked with Rector Croswell to found the new all black church in New Haven. In New York after the War, he became a member of the local Grand Army of the Republic Post. For many years Vogelsang worked in the Custom House at the Port of New York, but he lost the position in 1886 after Democratic President Grover Cleveland began purging Republican appointees from civil service jobs, including many Black appointees.

Bro. Vogelsang passed away on April 4, 1887.

Honorable Bryson Taylor, MPS

02/08/2026

PHA Black History Month Series;
Day 8: Buffalo Soldiers

After the American Civil War, the U.S. Army formed all-Black regiments known as the Buffalo Soldiers, most notably the 9th and 10th Cavalry, and often the 24th and 25th Infantry. These troops served with distinction in the American West, fighting hostile forces, protecting settlers, building infrastructure, and enduring harsh conditions and segregation. Prince Hall Freemasonry, rooted in principles of freedom, equality, and brotherhood, had a meaningful presence among these soldiers. Many Buffalo Soldiers carried their Masonic faith with them into the military, which helped sustain morale and community bonds. Prince Hall Grand Lodges chartered a number of Military Lodges attached to these units, which served as fraternal gathering places even as soldiers moved between posts. Known lodges include:
Baldwin Lodge #16 – first granted dispensation in 1883 by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas; met at Camp Rice and Fort Davis (Texas), then moved to Arizona and beyond.

Eureka Lodge #135 – chartered by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Missouri; one of the earliest Missouri-chartered Buffalo Soldier lodges.

Adventure Lodge #136 – attached to the 9th Cavalry at Wingate, New Mexico.

Gillispie Lodge #140 – with the 25th Infantry at Fort Missoula, Montana, later with the 9th Cavalry at Fort Duchesne, Utah.

Minnachuduza Military Lodge #135 – dedicated at Niobrara, Nebraska, in 1906.

Manila Military Lodge #63 – chartered March 5, 1906, in the Philippines.

John M. McCarthy Lodge #50 – chartered in 1912 at Honolulu, Hawaii, attached to the 25th Infantry at Schofield Barracks.

Joppa Lodge #150 – served the 9th Cavalry at Fort Walla Walla (Washington), Fort Riley (Kansas), and in the Philippines (only lodge with surviving photographic records).

These military lodges, many chartered by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Missouri, also known as the “Mother Grand Lodge” for Buffalo Soldier units, reflected how widespread Prince Hall Masonry was among Black troops, though many of the records have been lost over time.

Honorable Bryson Taylor, MPS

02/05/2026

PHA Black History Month Series;
Day 5: PGM James E. Gavin

Born on August 6. 1941 in Laurel, MS to Johnny and Lula Gavin, was of great honor and respect to his community and brothers of his jurisdiction. He served many roles at the Greater Northside Missionary Baptist Church including Superintendent of the Sunday School, a member of the Usher Board and Trustee Board. He was an active member and Past Master John C. Ellis Lodge #17, Past Patron of St. Mary’s Chapter #65 Order of Eastern Star, Past Commander-in-Chief of Menelik Consistory #49 USCSR NJ PHA, elevated to Grand Inspector General of the 33 Degree, Past Potentate of Kamar Temple #56 Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine of North & South America & Jurisdiction and served in many roles and offices of the York Rite. He was also a very active member of the NAACP. MWB Gavin was elected to the office of Most Worshipful Grand Master of MWPHGL of Illinois serving from 2001-2003. Before his tenure as Grand Master, he best remembered as being of the instrumental Prince Hall Masons that worked vigorously to establish amity with the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons in 1990s in order to obtain mutual recognition between Prince Hall Affiliated lodges and Ancient Free & Accepted Mason lodges.

PGM Gavin passed away April 27, 2020.

Honorable Bryson Taylor, MPS

02/04/2026

Thank you Hon Sirs for honoring our brother during black history month!

PHA Black History Month Series;
Day 4: Rev. Abram T. Hall

Born on January 17, 1822 to freed parents John and Hannah Hall in Mifflin, Pennsylvania. He spent his early life on a farm in the early frontier of the 1820s. By 1835 he was a barber’s apprentice in Lewistown, Pennsylvania before leaving to establish an AME Church in Erie, Pennsylvania. In 1845, he migrated to Chicago becoming one of the organizers and founders of the still active Quinn Chapel AME Church, Chicago’s first African American congregation. Before the church was built, members met in his barbershop. In 1847, he united in marriage with his wife, Joanna Huss, this union led to children and descendants who would go on to become professionals such as doctors and educators, and also establish Masonic Lodges, Eastern Star Chapters and Urban League Chapters in major cities. While being actively involved in the barber business, he became the first black man to become a licensed preacher in Cook County, Illinois. For many years he was known as “the Father of the Indiana, Illinois and Iowa AME Conferences.” He was also connected with the Underground Railroad in the antebellum days, doing his part to ensure the uplift and progress of his people. In 1872, Rev. Hall was very instrumental in the formation of Keystone Lodge #15 of Aurora, serving as their first chaplain and multiple terms in the role until his passing.

Bro. Hall passed away May 27, 1916.

Honorable Bryson Taylor, MPS

12/14/2025

Congratulations to all of the newly elected and installed brothers for the ensuing year. Look well to your duties brethren! 📐