"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : REV. THOMAS W. STRINGER

Even though many Black People in Monroe, Louisiana know about "The Prince-Hall Masons," few seem know about the "forgotten" Black organization that was known as "The Naomi Colored Knights of Pythias." It was a Chapter of The Colored Knights of Pythias.The Colored Knights of Pythias was formed because the White Knights of Pythias Organization refused to accept Colored People.Therefore, Rev. Thomas W. Stringer of Mississippi, a Colored man who also founded the "Prince-Hall Mason Lodge"( the T.W. Stringer Lodge ) in Vicksburg, Mississippi, came up with a plan to learn the rituals of the White Knights of Pythias. After learning their rituals and how the organization was ran, he formed what was officially named The Supreme Lodge of Knights of Pythias of North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceanica; it was most commonly called the Colored Knights of Pythias.The only mention of the Monroe Chapter that I was able to find online had to do with the shooting of Mayor Forsythe that occured in Monroe, Louisiana back in 1909. Well, on the heels of the shooting, it is rumored that White Citizens of Monroe, Louisiana set fire to "The Naomi Colored Knights of Pythias Hall" which was located on Desiard Street, near the Old Monroe Cemetery in Monroe. So far, I haven't been able to find any relatives of any of the former members of The Monroe Chapter of The Naomi Colored Knights who could provide an account of the fire that took place at the KOP Hall in 1909. Additionally, I haven't been able to find any information online as to when the Monroe Chapter of The Colored Knights of Pythias began or when it ended. Now on to this week's Black Pioneer. Rev. Thomas W. Stringer was born in Maryland, in 1815. However, he was raised in North Buxton, a settlement of "Black Canadians" in Ontario Canada. Thomas was known as "The Father of Black Masonry in the South!" He became a Mason in 1836 at the Hiram Lodge in Pennsylvania. When Thomas moved to Ohio, he helped organize the first Grand Lodge of Ohio, and he became it's first Grand Master in 1849. Why, he even had a Lodge in New Orleans, Louisiana named after him! Furthermore, when he moved to Vicksburg, Mississippi, after the American Civil War, Thomas founded the first Prince Hall Lodge in Vicksburg, in 1867. Additionally, he helped organize Mississippi 's Grand Lodge, and he was elected the first Grand Master in 1875. Thomas went on to become a 33rd degree Mason and worked hard establishing Lodges in Natchez, Vicksburg, and other parts of Mississippi. Also, Thomas is credited with founding The Colored Knights of Pythias, although the organization's official name was The Supreme Lodge of Knights of Pythias of North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceanica. The name of the first Lodge of The Colored Knights of Pythias in Vicksburg was Lightfoot Lodge No. 1. The organization provided benefits such as life and burial insurance. Other interesting things about Thomas included, he helped build schools and churches throughout the state of Mississippi, during reconstruction, he was elected Mississippi's first Black State Legislator, and being the founder of the BME (British Methodist Episcopal) Churches in Chatham and Buxton. In 1893, after establishing schools, churches, and Prince-Hall Lodges, Thomas W. Stringer was laid to rest at the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg. By the way, to this Day, fellow Prince-Hall Masons gather to honor Thomas W. Stringer on National Founders Day.