Our purpose is to provide moral, financial, benevolent, and charitable leadership to serve this present age. This fraternal organization was incorporated and charted in August of 1950 in Detroit, Michigan. This charter empowered International Masons to practice Freemasonry and operate as a Masonic Order throughout the United States, it's possessions and territories. This American issued charter empowers International Masons to the same right as those charters issued directly from the Grand Lodge of England or the Grand Orient of France. Dr. Banks and his host of friends established a National Jurisdiction. Through their diligent efforts, the same year, three states were incorporated: Ohio, New York, and Illinois. International Masons was founded upon Christian principles that denied no person the right to fraternalism, regardless of race, color, or creed. There are over 350,000 members enrolled, with an additional count of youth courts.
Youth chapters were added with authority vested similar to that in the adult constitution. Their purpose is to provide an apprentice workshop for the young children and adolescents in the charitable work of the Masonic body, to inculate certain moral principles, as exemplified by the Holy Bible and other moral sciences, which is highly regarded by our Masonic Order.
The cardinal priciples of this organization are to appeal to it's membership in such a manner as to:
1. Promote better understanding and coordination.
2. To improve such fields of thought which tend to ensure sound judgement.
3. To instill in the minds of youth the necessity of intellectual progress.
4. To regard all that tends to develop character and wholesome personality traits.
5. To establish only such assets or liabillites which are within the financial range of the membership.
International Free & Accepted Modern Masons, Inc., and Order of Eastern Star, extends from coast to coast; from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, on the Bahama Islands and Alaska.
Under the administration of our present leader, Supreme President and Chief Executive Officer, Illustrious, George Mathews, who took office in 1986, International Masons and OES has reached a higher plateau and has grown to be one of the largest Fraternal Orders in the worldOur institutions of Freemasonry across the nation swell with pride at the great progress our organization has achieved in this century. A large measurer of credits must be given to the well-known reputation that Freemasonry enjoys throughout our nation and around the world.
Our purchase and empolyment of the first black owned broadcasting facilities of radio (WGPR 107.5 FM) and television stations, along with the Universal Barber College, the International School of Cosmetology, and the Industrial College puts us in the position to render unbridled service far beyond that of any other Order. These medians of service, coupled with other modern services such as monetary benefits and those of prestige and enjoyment brings Freemasonry to a new level and where no one can doubt that International Free & Accepted Modern Masons, Inc., and Order of Eastern Star, render services not duplicated by any other Organization.
Because of our beliefs in the Holy Bible and Christian principles, we teach charity service to all mankind and we try to induce an ethical way of life which brings about those improvements necessary to the construction of good, clean, respected citizenship.
Dr. Mathews has implemented higher goals for the officers and members:
Improved leadership, not only by teaching, but also by demonstration.
Extending a helping hand to the needs in our communities, by showing Christianity and Charitable deeds.
Broadening our Scholarship Fund to enable the Youth to own businesses or have the skills to work in top ranking positions and take part of in our government with strong voices, full of honesty.
Havings a helping hand in teaching people to to have repect, dignity, and most of all, love for themselves and mankind.
Approaching Dr. Mathews' tenure of over 20 years, he has created ways and means of financially supporting other National Organizations and private sectors with the same concepts as our own, "Love, Care, and Share".
This organization owes our continued constructive success to Illustrious Dr. George Mathews, a man with strong convictions and forethought. A man with goals and objectives. A man who is family oriented. A man who stands on principles of truth, fairness and honesty. A man that gives God the praise for who he is, and what he is. A man that never ceases to pray for divine guidance.
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