An auxiliary of the Consistory, Bezaleel Assembly No. 19, Order of the Golden Circle, was chartered on May 14, 1928, during the 47th Annual Session held in the Valley of Philadelphia, Orient Pennsylvania. However, the body was dormant until May 7, 1931, when Illustrious Gordon (serving in his second stint as Deputy) issued a dispensation to reactivate and reorganize Check their history add assembly history pics the Assembly. The Assembly has been operational ever since.
Included in the Class of 36 men Elevated in May 1930 during the 49th Annual Session were two stalwarts of Cleveland Prince Hall freemasonry in general and Prince Hall Scottish Rite freemasonry in particular—Leland D. (Dickerson) French and Harry E. (Edward) Davis.
Leland D. (Dickerson) French
Harry E. (Edward) Davis
At the very next Annual Session in May 1931, the 50th, in the Valley of Cleveland, Illustrious French was reclassified to the grade of Sovereign Grand Inspector General and Crowned as an Active member—a feat that is rarely achieved in a such a condensed timeframe. In addition to that Illustrious French was the chairman of the general committee.
In May 1932, during the 51st Annual Session held in the Valley of Philadelphia, Illustrious French was appointed as the Illustrious Grand Standard Bearer and served in that position until May 1935. Thus began his upward climb in the USC NJ.
Bezaleel’s first life member, G.I.G. William T. Anderson 33°, passed in July 1934.
Charles F. (Franks) Casterman
Commander-in-Chief 32°
In April 1935, the Consistory, under the leadership of Illustrious Commander-in-Chief Charles F. (Franks) Casterman 32°, conferred the degree of Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret upon Morris Fox, Perry B. (Brooks) Jackson, and others. These men would loom large in later years.
Despite only progressing as far as Master of Ceremonies of King Solomon Lodge of Perfection and 1st Lieutenant Commander of Bezaleel Consistory, Illustrious French was appointed to serve as 4th Most Illustrious Deputy for the Orient of Ohio in May 1935. Illustrious Gordon was battling a serious illness.
The very next month, on June 15 after 78 years of life, Illustrious Charles E. Gordon 33° passed.
Upon his death Illustrious Gordon bequeathed certain real estate to the United Supreme Council that was subsequently sold. Those funds were applied to eliminate past due interest debt that accrued on the loan used to finance construction of our Cathedral. Prior to his passing, he was a frequent and generous donor to the United Supreme Council registering a number of $10 yearly donations in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
So great of an impression did Illustrious Gordon leave upon the Fraters of the United Supreme Council several in the outer Philadelphia are banded together to form a new body named in his honor—Charles E. Gordon Consistory No. 65 in the Valley of Chester, Orient of Pennsylvania in December 1935.
Owing to the tremendous respect had for Illustrious Gordon the Class of 1936 named in his honor and the first time a member of Bezaleel Consistory was selected.
The previous information is, but a snippet of the greatness that is Bezaleel Consistory.
Bezaleel, by far, has the greatest territorial area of any Consistory in the Orient of Ohio. It extends as far west as Sandusky; as far east as the state border with Pennsylvania; as far south as Mansfield; and as far southeast as Steubenville. To further illustrate the vast territory, all the Lodges of the 5th, 6th, and 7th Masonic Districts of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio (with the exception of three) compose the membership of Bezaleel Consistory.
Bezaleel Consistory has hosted the annual Council of Deliberation numerous times to include 1957, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1981, 1992, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2012, and 2017. The annual session will again be held in Cleveland in October 2023.
The Valley of Cleveland has hosted the annual session of United Supreme Council, Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, P.H.A., Northern Jurisdiction, USA, Inc. four times:
- the 40th Annual Session held in May 1921;
- the 50th Annual Session held in May 1931;
- the 74th Annual Session held in May 1955; and
- the 113th Annual Session held in May 1994.