In 2015, Charles H. Wesley Lodge No. 147 celebrates its Silver Anniversary, 25 years of being a "Lodge Determined To Make A Difference" within Bowie and its surrounding communities. Please join us throughout the upcoming year as we celebrate this proud and historic milestone in our Lodge’s history.

Charles H. Wesley 25th Silver Anniversary Events (2015)

The Brothers of Charles H. Wesley Lodge No. 147 held their First Annual Worshipful Master's Banquet in celebration of Charles H. Wesley Lodge No. 147’s 25th Silver Anniversary on Saturday, September 19, from 5 PM - 9 PM, at the Sir Walter Raleigh Inn Restaurant in Berwyn Heights, MD.

During the banquet celebration, the 9 charter members of the lodge (Past Master Bro. Silas A. Butler, Jr., Past Master Bro. George T. Austin✝, Past Master Bro. Charles E. Gould✝, Past Master Bro. Charles A. Guilford, II, Right Worshipful Bro. Milton A. Jews, Right Worshipful Bro. Dwight G. Reynolds, Past Master Bro. Robert Ward, Past Master Bro. Walter Turner, and Bro. James Cooper✝), as well as the 2015 Class, Well Recommended, were honored. There were also a few surprises as Worshipful Master Joseph E. Bowe honored 3 surprise honorees by awarding them with the Charles H. Wesley Lodge No. 147's Master Masons of the Year Award. The honorees were Secretary Bro. Deron G. Pittman, Treasurer Bro. Kenneth A. Williams, and Senior Deacon Bro. Bryce A. Gaylor. Congratulations Brothers!

The evening began with a Social Meet and Greet, followed by an Introduction and Welcome by the evening's host, Senior Warden Bro. Robert W. Cooper. Invocational Prayer was offered by Past Master Bro. Willie Savage of Morningstar Lodge No. 10, Laurel, DE. Dinner was then served and afterwards, the program began with a historical perspective of Dr. Charles Harris Wesley and Masonry from Right Worshipful Bro. Kirk Drumming.

Awards presentations were next and the Lodge's 2015 Class, Well Recommended, were awarded their Patent Certificates and Dues Card. Next was the presentation of 2 scholarships in the amount of $1000.00 each to the Lodge's 2 scholarship recipients, Jasmine Tillman (Frederick Douglass High School, Upper Marlboro, MD) and Abraham Kettor (Bladensburg High School, Bladensburg, MD. Congratulations Jasmine and Abramham! Study hard and make us proud! Next was the award presentations for the Lodge's Master Masons of the Year and special recognition for the charter members of the Lodge.

The evening culminated with a surprise drawing for an African American Heritage Bible, and final remarks were presented by District Deputy Grand Master, 4th Masonic District Right Worshipful Bro. Randy Smith, Assistant District Deputy Grand Master, 4th Masonic District Right Worshipful Bro. Willard N. Beach, and finally our very own, Worshipful Master Joseph E. Bowe.

It was an outstanding event and evening and plans are already underway to ensure that it is an even better event next year!

✝ Deceased

On July 27, 2015, the Charles H Wesley Lodge No. 147 members of the Peter Hassell Council No. 6 of The Knights of Pythagoras went on an excursion to Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland, to witness Major League Baseball at its best, as the Baltimore Orioles took on the Detroit Tigers.

Unfortunately the Orioles lost the game 9 to 8; however, an exuberating experience was had by all. Our seats were located in Section 83, which was covered by the upper level. It was very warm night, and after 5 innings it felt as if we were Wal-Mart Rotisserie Chickens; so due to the heat we decided to take a walk in the outfield park. In the outfield park, crowd participants are able to watch pitchers warm up in the bullpen at an arms length away. There were also statues of Oriole Hall of Famers, and bronze baseball sized plaques spotted the pavement and walls marking the furthest homeruns hit within the park. Sir Knight Bryan Simmons also led the youth in discussions about baseball history and stadium etiquette. It was a wonderful evening and the perfect venue for camaraderie and education for our young men of the Knights of Pythagoras.

Congratulations are in order for Brothers Marcus Broadnax, Derk Mattocks, Ronald Gee, Jr., Phillip Ludd, Shon Bowe, and Duron Haynesworth who on Saturday, June 27, 2015, at Fairmount Lodge No. 92, became the newest brothers of Charles H. Wesley Lodge No. 147 to be raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason.

Welcome to Wesley Good Brothers!

First Row (L to R): Senior Deacon Bryce Gaylor, Bro. Marcus Broadnax, Bro. Derk Mattocks, Bro. Ronald Gee, Jr.

Second Row (L to R): Bro. Duron Haynesworth, Bro. Phillip Ludd, Bro. Shon Bowe

The 4th Annual Charles H. Wesley Lodge No. 147 Golf Tournament Fund Raiser was held on June 19, 2015, at the Glenn Dale Golf Club in Glenn Dale, Maryland. A portion of the proceeds from the event were donated to Bowie State University's "Dorothy Holland Student Crisis Emergency Fund," which provides emergency assistance to students in crisis.

The event was a tremendous success as there were 19 teams of 4 (76 golfers) as well as sponsorships from several local businesses and establishments in Bowie and the surrounding communities. A good time was had by all and for a wonderful cause.

Annual Golf Tournament Souviner Journal

• 2015 Souviner Journal

On Saturday, June 6, 2015, Charles H. Wesley Lodge No. 147 participated in Bowiefest at Allen Pond Park, a long-standing tradition in the City bringing the best of Bowie’s civic organizations, entertainers, and businesses to one place for one day. The Lodge’s objectives for the event were to: promote the lodge, conduct the Maryland Prince Hall CHIP Program, sell Grand Lodge Car Raffle Tickets, promote Prince Hall Masonry/MWPHGLMD and the Knights of Pythagoras, and distribute health information on diabetes, sickle cell, high blood pressure, and other health issues that affect our community.

As expected, the event gave Charles. H. Wesley Lodge No. 147 direct communication with the citizens of Bowie and it's surrounding communities. We received extremely positive feedback from the general public, as well as from local government representatives and officials from the City of Bowie. Our committee and brothers who volunteered were committed to making this a successful event.

Within the first fifteen minutes of the official 11 AM start time, our tent had a line of people registering for the Maryland Prince Hall CHIP Program. We had a continuous flow of traffic the entire day, and the parents and kids were extremely patient during the wait. During the wait time, Brothers of Wesley used the time to engage the parents by promoting the lodge's various programs. The continued interest made our tent one of the most active in our section. We ended the CHIP registration at 4:30 PM, and after finishing, confirmed that we registered 104 children into the Maryland Prince Hall CHIP Program, which far exceeded our expectations for the event.

Thanks to all of the brothers who volunteered time and resources. Committee members: Bro. Bryan Simmons, Senior Deacon Bro. Bryce Gaylor, Junior Deacon Bro. Anthony Hill, and Bro. Sean Schwartz; Lodge Members RW Bro. Willard Beach, PM Bro. Stan Jordan, RW Bro. Kirk Drumming, PM Bro. Ronald Crump, Secretary Bro. Deron Pittman, Junior Warden Bro. Raymond Fefee, Senior Stewart Bro. Charles Garner, and Chaplain Bro. Billy Bennett.

Much appreciation is also extended to Maryland Prince Hall CHIP Program coordinators RW Bro. Antonio Sturgis and RW Bro. Carlos Tingle who provided our lodge a very organized training session that we closely followed during the event. Also special recognition is given to Bro. Ismail Faruq of Fairmount Lodge No. 92 who spent a good deal of the day at the park promoting the event to the public.

This was a fun and productive event to add to the Lodge’s 25th Anniversary celebration agenda for the 2014-2015 Masonic Year. We look forward to having this as an annual event for the lodge going forward.

On Saturday, May 9 the Charles H. Wesley Lodge No. 147 Fellowcraft Class of 2015 participated in a community outreach project at Loaves and Fishes, Washington, DC. Loaves and Fishes began as a meals ministry of St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church, but is now sustained by a partnership of 11 churches in the DC metropolitan area. The Loaves and Fishes mission and goal is to feed the hungry in our community and to educate volunteers and community members about hunger and homelessness.

The Fellowcraft Class of 2015 was represented by Marcus Broadnax, Derk Mattocks, Ronald Gee, Phillip Ludd, and Shon Bowe. Duties included preparing spaghetti and meat sauce, cabbage, and baked yams, as well as plating food, serving meals, and washing dishes after lunch was served. Good times were had by all and it was all for a great cause. Great job Brother Fellowcrafts!

On April 19, 2015, at Bowie State University, Wesley presented a Sunday evening of Jazz, featuring The Clarence Knight Orchestra, directed by our very own, Bro. Dr. Clarence E. Knight, Jr., retired Chairman of the Fine and Performing Arts Department at Bowie State University. Proceeds from the event subsidize our community engagement efforts and academic scholarship fund.

The band played several big band numbers as well as some more contemporary jazz sets. The evening got even better as a nice buffet style dinner was served, before finally culminating in a few solo acts taking the stage to display their talents. Of note, the event was also attended by RW Bro. Emmanual Stanley, Deputy Grand Master for the MWPHGLMD.

This year's Annual Prayer Breakfast was held on March 14, 2015, at the West Bowie Village Hall in Bowie, Maryland from 9 AM - 12 PM. The special guest minister was one of our very own, a Past Master of Wesley, The Reverend Bro. Barnabus D. Sewell of St. John Baptist Church, Hurleytown, VA.

This year's Prayer Breakfast was one of the best attended yet and Bro. Reverend Sewell delivered a stirring and inspirational message to all who attended. Also, several African-American Heritage Bibles were raffled off to lucky winners who attended.