History of the Masonic Digest

The Prince Hall Masonic Digest was started in 1969 under the guidance of Most Worshipful Past Grand Master S. Matthew Hendershott (1969-1970). The Masonic Digest was an instant hit in this and other jurisdictions, and over the years, it has become the cutting edge of Masonic journals published within the Prince Hall Sodality. Some say that the Prince Hall Masonic Digest is one of the best publications in all Freemasonry.

When we launched the paper 40 years ago MWPGM Hendershott said that we have deep roots in the past and strong commitments to the future. Much work has been accomplished over the years but the task has not been completed.

Following MWPGM Hendershott, every Grand Master has been a solid supporter of the Digest and have made sure that the publication grew in size, circulation, and more importantly, in editorial excellence. Most Worshipful Grand Master David McWilliams is committed to the continued excellence and improvement of the Prince Hall Masonic Digest.

The dissemination of information is one of the strongest weapons in the arsenal of the whole humanity. When. When Logan Pearsall Smith wrote that the “Pen is mightier than the Sword,” he know whereof he spoke. Nothing can ward off the enemies of Freemasonry faster or more effective than the spread of factual information – the constant role of the Prince Hall Masonic Digest. At the same time, nothing can bind a jurisdiction together more effectively than Masonic education.

The jurisdiction is in debt to all of those who had the foresight and wisdom to start the Digest. Historians tell us that the current Digest was not the first journal published in this jurisdiction but it certainly has endured longer than any of its predecessors. That fact alone is a tribute to those stalwart visionaries who have given support to the paper in the past four decades.

To be sure, others made significant contributions to this jurisdiction via the Masonic Digest. Foremost among them has been the late Grafton J. Daniels. He served the paper for many years, sometimes under adverse circumstances, and helped to set the editorial style and format that has continued to the present day. Also included is the late Roscoe L. Ayers, who served the paper for a quarter-century and whose imprimatur will guide the Digest long into the future. The same may be said of Louise L. Hopkins, the Fraternal Editor, who also served the Digest for a quarter-century. Alton G. Roundtree currently serves as editor of the Digest. Alton has been with the Prince Hall Masonic Digest since 1992.

When the Digest was first published, there were few other Masonic publications in circulation. More and more, other Prince Hall jurisdictions are beginning to publish journals – many of them clearly adopting the style of our Digest. Still the Digest remains a favorite among Craftsmen from coast to coast. That, too, is a testimony to editorial excellence of the paper that we have come to regard as the best in the business.