In consequence of the frequent tribal wars between the ASHANTIS in the North and the Coastal Towns in the South, it was considered expedient by the British Government who were then our protectors to station a detachment of the West Indian Regiment at Cape Coast, the then capital of the Gold Coast in the 1870s.
In the year 1879, there was an African by name EDWARD JAMES BELGRAVE among the Regiment who belong to the AURORA Lodge No 810, Nassau in Bahamas, West Indies. He was a Master Tailor by profession attached to the Regiment. He introduced Oddfellowship to the late Mr. Snyper Jones who was a gentleman watch repairer and the late Mr. Edward Riggs Steward a West Indian who had travelled with the Regiment from Jamaica then residing in Cape Coast Castle; They formed an association in consequence of which a Lodge was named after the founder and was instituted as “BELGRAVEAN LODGE No 1977”, the first in West Africa.
For want of proper information regarding the birthday, and until the receipt of the relevant datum on our late Worthy Brother E. J. Belgrave, we are compelled to celebrate our day, “BELGRAVE DAY” on the 8th day of July, the date on which the Belgravean Lodge was instituted or the second Saturday of July each year. This may vary each day from 8th to 14th Day of July.
There were two more Lodges instituted after Belgravean Lodge; namely the DAWNING SUN Lodge No. 2552, Elmina and the STAR OF THE EAST Lodge No. 2553, Accra were instituted in January and June 1884 respectively. An indication that The Premier Lodge of Accra -STAR OF THE EAST operating under the Eastern District Lodge No 2, Accra is over 120 years. Thereafter, the LAND OF THE LIVING Lodge No. 3324, Saltpond and PROVINCE Lodge No. 6453, Sekondi were consecrated and dedicated in 1901 and 1906 respectively and the list goes on and on …..
In passing, may I mention the first Lodge in Nigeria “FAITH LODGE” No 4198,
Lagos was dedicated by a delegation from the Belgravean Lodge. Some Brethren
from the latter Lodges were very instrumental in extending the Light and influence
of Oddfellowship in the North of that great dependency of Nigeria.
FIRST ADMINSTRATION OF BELGRAVEAN LODGE
1. W/Bro. James E. Catline
2. W/Bro. Edwards James Belgrave -
3. W/Bro. Isaac Graves
4. Bro. James Morgue
5. Bro. James S. Walts
6. Bro. James Smith
7. Bro. A. B. Josiah
8. Bro. J. D. Odoom
9. Bro. William S. Jones
10. Bro. G. S. Musgrove
11. Bro. James B. Hagan
12. Bro. Charles W. Mensah
13. Bro. Charles F. McCarthy
In 1939, when Lodges under District Lodge “A“ increased to 25, several petitions
were forwarded to the parent Lodge for the establishment of the FRATERNAL
ANNUAL MOVABLE CONFERENCE (FAMC) and not until 1954 when the
Board of Directors, England granted the permission to the Committee of
Management, Gold Coast with full autonomy of which the first Grand Master,
the late Venerable, Worshipful Brother John Peter Allotey Hammond was installed.
The Grand Household was also instituted in 1974 with Worthy Sister Rosetha Sackeyfio
as its First Most Worthy Grand Superior.
At the moment, there are 102 male Lodges and 92 female Household of Ruth with a total membership of 900. The Most Worshipful Grand Master is the Head of the Committee of Management which is the controlling body of the Order with the Grand Superior as the Head of the Grand Household. The reigning Grand Master is Most Worshipful Bro. Alhaji John Bashiru Yakubu and the Most Worthy Grand Superior is Worthy Sister Beatrice Mwinde Kuuzume.
We now have under the Committee of Management, Ghana and Jurisdiction, The
Grand Household, The Grand Patriarchy and Matriarchy and the following branches
1. 12 Patriarchies
2. 5 Matriarchies
3. 14 Council Masters’ Chapters and Past Most Noble Governors’ Chambers
It is with pride that it is really befitting and highly proper that we always hold reverence to the memory of the men who introduced this rich and priceless heritage to our dear Motherland and those educated brothers who hailed the idea in Cape Coast. Now, our Order finds its footing in the Republic of Togo and throughout the West African Region. We pay much respect with affectionate memory of the founder and all others of our Brotherhood who have transitioned from the imperfect to the perfect, the Glorious and Celestial Grand Lodge above.
