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Bethal Lodge #1284 and Lehigh Temple #930

by Lou64JLL | Aug 12, 2022 | Organizations

Front: L-R Harry McKnight, George Miller, William Walton, Rev. Edward Johnson, William Calloway Middle:L-R Roy Jones, Fred Davis, George? Back: L-R Walter “Chinny” Penn, Mr. Webb,? Robert Robinson, Sr., William Gunn Jr., Sampson Taylor

L-R: ?, David Groves, John Baker,
Essielee Starks

Front: L-R Mack Freeman, ? Brandon, Barbara Eggleston, David Groves
2nd Row: L-R Pauline Grant, ?
Back Row: ?, ?, Audrine Perry

L-R: ?, Pauline Grant, David Groves,
Mary Williams

Bethal Lodge #1284 has been in existence for 69 years (as of 2022)

We give thanks and honor to Benjamin F. Howard, Frank Hunter, and Arthur Riggs who are considered our founders.

Early in 1948, thirty young men from the Lehigh Valley decided to join the thousands of antler herd who comprised the order. They named their lodge, Bethal Lodge #1284 with George Miller serving as the first exalted ruler.

The Charter was issued on December 31, 1948, by Grand Exalted Ruler Finley Wilson. Needing a place to assemble, the brothers met at their first meeting place, a room on the second floor of 318 Brodhead Ave., Bethlehem, PA Exalted Ruler Miller resigned after six months and Brother William Walton was elected Exalted Ruler.

During the mid-fifties the “brothers” purchased 316 Brodhead Ave. This building remains the home of Bethal Lodge #1284. Brother Walton resigned in the mid-sixties and the following brothers have taken on the task: George Miller, William Walton, Fred Davis, Wilson Walker, Saul Brantley, William Apple, David J. Groves, Walter Penn, John Scipio, William Eggleston, Donald Gunn, John T. Baker, Tyrone Beasley, James Claiborne, Michael O. Young, William Alexander, and current Exalted Ruler, Donald Williams.

With numerous community projects and activities to their credit, Bethal Lodge has hosted the largest attended state parade during the May 1971 State Convention, plus several other conventions over the years. In 1971 the “Social Room” was moved to the first floor for the convention, where it remains today.

It is for us, the living, to be worthy of the great cause and good heritage which these founding father have
bequeathed to us. This is our challenge from them… Keep Elkdom Alive.

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Lehigh Temple #930

Lehigh Temple #930 was organized as a club on June 5, 1949. This club became a subordinate temple of the Grand Temple and auxiliary to Bethal Lodge #1284. This group of women were called Daughter of the
I. B. P. O. E. of W.

Their first location was on Broad & Main Streets in Bethlehem. They later moved to 316 Brodhead Avenue, Bethlehem. Lehigh Temple #930 received its charter on June 5, 1949 under Grand Daughter Ruler, Elizabeth R. Gordon, Grand Exalted Ruler, J. Finley Wilson and Grand Secretary’s Buena V. Kelley and James E. Kelley.

Charter Member Photos (l. to r.) Lavinia Lane Lee, Charlotte Jay, Dorothy Gunn Dominick, Catherine Richardson, Eleanor Penn (not pictured)

First Officers: Martina Peachy, Daughter Ruler; Lavinia Taylor, Vice Daughter
Ruler, Lavinia Lane Lee, Assistant Daughter Ruler; Dorothy White, Financial Secretary; Ruth Mayo, Treasurer; Getha Jones, Recorder; Pearl Dennis, Doorkeeper; Florence Dennis, Gatekeeper; Charlotte Jay, Mistress of Sessions; Eddie May Bell, Chaplain; Sue Marr, Organist; Kathryn Richardson, Escort; Trustees: Drucilla Austin, Mary Finney, Grace Smith.

Members: Gertrude Cousins, Annie Groone, Mildred Armstrong, Lillian Taylor, Maria Walton, Carrie Johnston, Thelma Dennis, Mary Robinson, Janet Warner, Cora Benjamin, Eleanor Davis, Adelaide Clark, Dorothy Gunn, Isabelle Anderson, Esther Bragg, Dorothy Johnston, Margaret Brown, Menard Wilson, Rose Sykes, Pearl Green, Dorothy White, Beatrice Perry, Organizer.

There were twenty-four Daughter Rulers to lead us to practice the “Cardinal Principals of Elkdom.” Lehigh Temple #930 has had long term and short term “daughter rulers,” but all have done an outstanding job.

Past Presiding Daughter Rulers: Martina Peachy, Dorothy White, Dorothy Johnson, Lillian Taylor, Mary Davis, JoAnn Johnson, Jackie Brantley, Barbara Taylor, Ruth Avery, Josephine Carter, Lizzy Brandon, Irene Groves, Pauline Grant, Dora Small, Lillie Brown, Adrena Perry, Stella Scipio, Barbara Eggleston, Faye Flynn, Betty Ann Claiborne, Sara Davis, Willette Walker, Cynthia Jackson, Judith Alexander, Estella D. McRae, and current Daughter Ruler, Sarah Davis.

Along with Bethal Lodge #1284 we have hosted mid-year conventions, state conventions and education
department regionals.

The objective of the I. B. P. O. E. of W. is equal opportunity regardless of race, creed or color.
We thank God for keeping us together, lo, these many years. We pray that we have many more years to come.

A special thank you to the late Daughter Ruler, Barbara Eggleston, PGDR, for the history of Lehigh Temple #930.

Can Any Good Thing Come From Northampton Heights?

by Lou64JLL | Jul 28, 2022 | Articles

Can Any Good Thing Come From Northampton Heights?
By Dr. Ernest H. Smith (2010)

The Northampton Heights section of Bethlehem was considered to be the roughest and most out of order section of town. It contained the poorest of citizens who were from the various countries of Europe, such as Russia, Ukraine, Yugoslavia, and Greece. The African-Americans came from states ranging from Maryland through to Texas. Washington Jr. High School was considered the worst school without any data to support that concept.

Yet, when one considers the scientists of the Scholarship club, Calvin and Oliver Wallace became engineers, William Brown became a chemist at Fort Dietrich, Maryland, Ernest Smith be-came a Pediatric Cardiologist, Geneva Smith a Masters Degree nurse, Ada Brady, Dorothy Brown, Isaiah Smith, Dorothy Lewis, Otelia Devilson, all teachers; James Smith, college professor, Pedro Boone, JD, Richard Jay, JD from Yale, and became principal at Freedom HS, David Jay, the Chief Administrator of Allentown State Hospital. Delores Williams Blue was assigned as a Secretary at the White House during Lyndon Johnson’s Administration.

These scientists, teachers, lawyers, administrators, professors, of the J. F. G. Scholarship Club were products of the Heights and Washington Junior High School. They proved the adage “it is not where you are, but who you are.”

In 1935, the J. F. G. Scholarship Club was ahead of its time. The students from the Heights were ahead of their time. Now is the time for the African-American students of today to follow those same footsteps and academic challenges of those children born during the worst economic depression and greatest social migration that the African-American has ever experienced in his sojourn from American slavery.
Could Any Good Thing Come From Northampton Heights?

Hiram Bradley

by Lou64JLL | Jul 28, 2022 | People

Interview with Herbert Bradley, Hiram Bradley’s great grandson.

Herbert Bradley shares that his great-grandfather, Hiram Bradley (1814-1881), was the first Black person to arrive in Bethlehem in 1860, from Powhattan County, Virginia. He was an indentured servant to Tinsley Jeter, one of South Bethlehem’s leading entrepreneurs.

He wed Rachel Emma Walsh on June 25, 1862, at a Presbyterian Church on the outskirts of Lehigh, Pennsylvania. They had eight children all who were baptized at the Pro Cathedral Church of the Nativity. In fact, Alfred Tinsley and Mary Jeter, the Bradley’s first children, were the fourth and fifth persons baptized in the newly consecrated Church of the Nativity, in 1865.

Hiram was himself baptized in 1877, with Tinsley Jeter standing as sponsor. Many of the children of these early Black families of Nativity later left Bethlehem to follow education and work in other places; others were instrumental in the founding of St. John African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, at 718 Pawnee Street, Bethlehem, PA, where they could worship and exercise leadership uninhibited; others, such as the descendants of Abram and Clara Lane, are now multi-generational parishioners of the Cathedral. Hiram also worked for Bethlehem Steel.

Herbert Bradley’s father’s name is Herbert Frank Bradley and worked at Bethlehem Steel and the Bethlehem Hotel. His mother’s name is Leila, from Easton, Pa.

Vivian Butts

by Lou64JLL | Jul 28, 2022 | Articles, Bethlehem Firsts, People

Vivian Williams Butts is the daughter of the late Wendell Curtis Williams and the late Catherine Lily Spruill Williams; born in Fentress, VA. Vivian joined the Bethlehem Police Department in 1964, becoming the city’s first female officer. Promoted to sergeant in 1980, she retired in 1989 after 25 years of service.

Ada Brady

by Lou64JLL | Jul 26, 2022 | People

Ada Pauline Brady, 90, of Bethlehem, PA, was born in Newport News, VA, in 1922. Ada was the daughter of the late Redmond Brady and Julia (Jones) Brady-Williams. Ada was reared in Bethlehem and is a graduate of Liberty High School. She received her Bachelors Degree in Social Work from Hampton University and a K-3 Teaching Certificate from Bank Street College of Education. She worked as a Social Worker in New York City and was an elementary teacher in the Bethlehem School District for 21 years.

Ada was a community activist, serving with South Bethlehem Neighborhood Center, Bethlehem Branch NAACP and Church Women United. A devout Christian and active member of St. John A.M.E. Zion Church, she served as organist and Minister of Music, Class Leader, Trustee, Missionary and sang in two church choirs. She also served as the Local Life Members Chair of the Women’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society.