Defense Fund Thanks Prince Hall Masons

Press Release
May 29, 1965

Defense Fund Thanks Prince Hall Masons preview

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  • Press Releases, Volume 2. Defense Fund Thanks Prince Hall Masons, 1965. dcb393fe-b592-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/d5a02d65-4a0a-497f-9481-f48d3157e2fa/defense-fund-thanks-prince-hall-masons. Accessed July 10, 2025.

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    10 Columbus Circle 
New York, N.Y. 10019 14 
JUdson 6-8397 : 

NAACP 

Legal Defense and Educational Fund 
PRESS RELEASE***" 

y President 
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if "Dr. Ailsa Kiiight Chalmers FOR RELEASE 

: Director ol Saturday, 

Jac eenberg May 29, 1965 ° 

DEFENSE FUND THANKS 
PRINCE HALL MASONS 

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PHILADELPHIA, PA.---The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational 9 

announced the presentation of the "Thurgood Marshal] Award" toy the 

Grand Masters of the Prince Hall Masons of America for~financ 31 

contributions mounting to over $300,000 during’ the past fourteen 

years. 4 : 

The award was created especially to recognize the sustaining 

support Bana from the Masons. ‘ 

Speaking before the Conference of Grand Masters, Dr. John Ww. 

Davis, Sppetal Director, Teacher Information and’ ‘Security, sald: 

"No organization can take away from the Masons the prestige an 

honor which rightly belong to Masons for these Years of conetiuc 

tive cooperation. 

"We pledge," Dr. Davis continued, "with your continuing 

assistance, our best efforts to bring into being’a society based 

upon equal justice under law for black and white alike." Fe: 

The award was named in honor of Judge Thurgood Matsha11, U. ies 

Court of Appeals, and former Director-Counsel of the Legal Defense 

Fund. ’ 

During his address to Grand Masters from all over the United 

States and foreign countries, Dr. Davis, a 32 degree Mason himself, 

spoke proudly of Prince Hall, the founder of the order, as the 

"Pioneer of Protest". 

In referring to the "platform of our founder and leader who 
x 

F ) before Appomattox", Dr. Davis emphasized the 

close ceation pees Prince Hall's fight against racial 

inequality and the Masons’ continuing struggle for racial justice. 

(more) 

Jesse DeVore, Jr., Director of Public Information—Night Number 212 Riverside 9-8487 coe 



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Defense Fund Thanks a2ahe May 29, 1965 
Prince Hall Masons 

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In a surprise visit to the conference, NAACP Legal Defense 

Fund director-counsel Jack Greenberg was greeted by a standing 

Byation. At the close of his remarks, again, the Grand Masters 

rose to their feet. 

Mr. Greenberg concluded by telling the group: "We can only 

rejoice when virtue is not merely its own reward, but the reward 

for each and every one of us, and the country as a whole. » 

The Conference of Grand Masters was planned by Amos T. Hall, 

Oklahoma; Executive Secretary, Samuel T. Daniels, Maryland; 

Conference Chairman and Grand Masters John G, Lewis, Louisiana; 

Henry G, Fort, Illinois; Clement F, Isaacs, Massachusetts, ; 

Chalmer L. Lawson, Minnesota and Walter C. Taylor, California. 

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