2024-2025 Elected Officers
"Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It's about keeping your team focused on a goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it, especially when the stakes are high and the consequences really matter. It is about laying the groundwork or others' success, and then standing back and letting them shine" - Chris Hadfield
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2024-2025 Appointed Officers
Duty. Leadership. Passion.
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MWPGME Shelton Dennis Redden
October 17, 1936 - February 21, 2015
Most Worshipful Past Grand Master Emeritus (MWPGME) Shelton Dennis Redden was born in Cleveland, Ohio to the loving couple of Marian E. Jackson and John Redden. At a young age his parents relocated to Toledo, Ohio where he received his formal education. After graduating from Libby High School, GME Redden decided to enter the US Air Force where he remained for 28 years. He retired from the US Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant, the highest enlisted grade achievable. During his Air Force career, he obtained his Associates of Arts degree in Information Services from the Community College of the Air Force. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Digital Processing from Golden Gate University in 1976. During his Air Force career, GM Redden was assigned to Korea, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, England, and was involved in the TET offensive in Vietnam (1967-68). For his combat service in the TET, he was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor. GM Redden was shown the light in Prince Hall Military Lodge #103 in Lancaster, CA and was raised a Master Mason on May 16, 1970. He learned the beauty of Masonry under the watchful guidance and well-informed direction of the late Joseph A. Meekins, a revered Master Mason in Southern California. Continuing his ascension, GM Redden advanced to the 33rd degree in Kansas City, Missouri in October 1988 when the late Dr. I.H. Clayburn, the Sovereign Grand Commander at the time, appointed him Deputy for the Supreme Council, Orient and State of Maryland.
He was elected Grand Minister of State of the United Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemansonry, Prince Hall Affiliation, Southern Jurisdiction, USA in October of 1991. He served as the 1st Lt. Grand Commander as well as President of the Grand Masters Council for Prince Hall Masons. He also served as the Worshipful Master of Donald E. Jones Lodge #121, as the DDGM of the 13th Masonic District in the United Kingdom, and as the Grand Junior Warden of the MWPHGL of Maryland and Jurisdiction. He was elected to the office of Junior Grand Warden in August of 1993 and to the office of Deputy Grand Master in August 1996. On August 10, 1998, he was elected to the most prestigious position in Prince Hall Masonry in Maryland, that of the Grand Master. He is a member and Past Master of King Solomon Lodge #7, Past Commander-in-Chief of James A. Mingo Consistory #334, and Past Potentate of MISR Temple #213, all of which are in the Jurisdiction of Maryland. In the spring of 1997, he was the recipient of the Gold Medal Achievement Award. MWPGME Emeritus Redden stepped down in December 2010, handing over the reins of leadership to MWPGM Melvin M. Thorpe. MWPGME Redden was called from labor to reward on February 21, 2015. He was married, had 5 children and 3 grandchildren.
History of Shelton D. Redden Lodge #139
The MW Samuel T. Daniels, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Maryland and its Jurisdictions granted Shelton D. Redden Lodge #139 a charter in Oxfordshire, England on July 1981. The initial principle officers of the fledgling lodge were LeRoy White as the Worshipful Master, Robert E. Burruss as the Senior Warden, and Robert M. Long as the Junior Warden.
Many members were shipped to other assignments or stations due to their military careers and the lodge was later disbanded. The charter was then sent back to the Grand Lodge. Nearly ten years later in 1992 Gerald Black, James Jones, and others formed the Hyattsville Study Club with the necessary number of Masons. brother Black made a request for the chapter to MW Samuel T. Daniels, Grand Master. The charter was granted December 11, 1992 at the Second Constituent Lodge Workshop meeting and reissued with Gerald Black as Worshipful Master, James Jones as Senior Warden, and Ronald Raiford as Junior Warden. They were then installed as the Lodge's primary officers and the charter was activated on January 1, 1993.
Meetings were held at Bright Light Baptist Church in Takoma Park, MD. The fledgling lodge initially met in one of the conference rooms until church restructuring forced them to meet in a storage room. Further discomfort was added when washers and dryers were installed in the small room. Due to space limitations, lack of security, and the increasing discontent of certain members of the church at sharing that storage area with the lodge, the decision was made to move to Fairmount Lodge #92 for meetings.
During the administration of WM Charles B. Clark, RW Walter W. Brown was appointed as the District Deputy Grand Master for the Fourth Masonic District of Maryland. RW Brown wanted the lodge to move back into Hyattsville area. Therefore, the lodge moved again and began to meet at New Dawn Baptist Church in West Hyattsville, MD. Under the leadership of WM Northern, the Lodge was able to move to a more comfortable location, Rollingcrest Commons, also in West Hyattsville and it is there that they currently hold their meetings.
The lodge listed many successes among their early accomplishments. A few of these projects were the creation of their own staffs and columns, the purchase of new collars, the replacement of borrowed jewel adornments, the acquisition of administrative supplies, and the establishment of a purchase plan for covers at the principal stations. Shelton D. Redden Lodge #139 has grown and matured significantly since then and despite the early trying times it has faced since its humble beginnings, the lodge has had several successful classes and has raised over fifty-five brothers. Shelton D. Redden Lodge #139 may remain small in numbers but the charity from our hearts is large and is displayed through the charitable work done throughout our community.