Page:Daniel Minort Baxter - Bishop Richard Allen and His Spirit (1923).pdf/60

52 copal Church of which Rev. Absalom Jones was pastor, who was also worshipful master of the African Lodge. This is indeed very interesting to the writer, who is a 33rd degree brother himself from the Southeastern Jurisdiction, hailing from the Most Worshipful Union Grand Lodge of Florida, where our illustrious lamented companion, Charles F. Daily, 33rd degree, organized us in 1867, and we were charted by the Hiram Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania of which he was deputy Grand Master of the South Eastern Jurisdiction. Rev. Charles H. Pierce, one of the first Presiding Elders of the State of Florida, was the first Grand Secretary. This is something worthy of note in these fathers, they never allowed their differences of opinion to stop them from working together for the best interest of the race. Richard Allen and Absalom Jones came out of St. George Methodist Church, but Absalom Jones concluded not to stay with the Methodist so he joined the Episcopal Church and was ordained by the Episcopal Bishop White, and took charge of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Allen did not go with him but did everything in his power to help him build his church and refused the pastorate of