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Ohio Commander of The Rite Gives Donation to St. Paul
Missionary Baptist Church
By Rev. James H. Willis,
Sr. DMin
Special to The Truth
Each year the Ohio Council
of Deliberation Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of
Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliation Northern Jurisdiction,
U.S.A., Inc. holds its Annual Session in a city in Ohio. The
city is usually the home of the State Grand Loyal Lady
Ruler, who are the counterpart of the men, called the Order
of the Golden Circle. The State Grand Loyal Lady Ruler this
year is Loyal Lady Pamela D. Hopkins and she resides in
Toledo. The Ohio Commander of The Rite of the Ohio Council
of Deliberation holds their annual meeting during the same
time of the Annual Session. This year, Toledo was the host,
however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Annual Meeting
was virtual.
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Grand Inspector General Jan Scotland, Loyal Lady Pamela D.
Hopkins, Grand Inspector General James G. Hopkins, Advisor
Sis. Pamela Clark, Sis. Yvonne Gayle, Pastor James H.
Willis, Sr. |
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The Council of
Deliberation is led by the Illustrious Deputy of the Orient
of Ohio, Sovereign Grand Inspector General Carl A. Williams
of Cleveland, Ohio. The President of The Ohio Commander of
the Rite for the state is Sovereign Grand Inspector General
Gregory S. Snead of Warren, Ohio. Throughout the state,
there are five local Commander of the Rite Chapters and the
head of the chapter is called the Vice-President. The local
Vice-President of the Toledo Chapter is Grand Inspector
General James G. Hopkins, the husband of the State Grand
Loyal Lady Ruler, Pamela D. Hopkins.
At each Annual Session of
the Commanders of The-Rite, a donation is made to an
organization of its choice, and this year it was St. Paul
Missionary Baptist Church Youth Department. A donation of
$500.00 was given to the Youth Department under the
leadership of Advisor Sister Pamela Clark. The Chairperson
of the Christian Board of Education is Sister Yvonne Gayle
and the Youth Director is Grand Inspector General Jan
Scotland.
St. Paul Missionary
Baptist Church has a vibrant youth and children’s program
that includes a yearly Vacation Bible School and a Friday
Christian Education Program. This Friday night program
includes Bible study, social activities, intellectual
speakers, Black History celebration, field trips, a
Christmas craft show, a harvest festival and much more. The
youth have not been able to meet since March due to
COVID-19, however, St Paul is in the process of providing
the children and youth with an at-home survivor and learning
kit to use, keeping them focused on trusting God. This kit
will include Christmas studies, Christian hands-on
activities, games, puzzles, art, gift cards for essential
items, Christian literature and other appropriate grade
level books for reading.
Obviously, this cannot
take the place of the fact-to-face teaching and learning but
it will let the children know that the village cares. Rev.
James Willis, Sr., D.Min, is the Senior Pastor of St. Paul
Missionary Baptist Church and he is the Chaplain of St.
Matthews Consistory No. 24 Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of
Freemasonry as well as the Associate Grand Prior of the
United Supreme Council Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of
Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliation Northern Jurisdiction,
U.S.A., Inc.
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