me, “ What is it that you want to be in Masonry? ” And I fired back and said, “ I want to be Grand Master ” He laughed, but ultimately, I got the last laugh. Just as I told Bro. Wahab that night, it just depends on how you set your priorities and how you win friends and influence people along the way. You don't have to go around bragging about nothing. Just do what needs to be done and it'll be observed and noticed, and people will want to help. And that, in my estimation, is how I got in line to becoming Grand Master. I also did many other jobs over the years in support of Masonry as a whole. Not all received a lot of recognition, but they were integral to the success of the organization. But you must start somewhere and work your way to the top. I'm aware of today that there are Grand Masters that never served as senior Grand Lodge officers or the Deputy Grand Master. Is that true? You know might have a better the answer for that question than I do. SGIG Matthews : Yes, Sir; that is true. So, I think you hit it from the very beginning and that is, that you worked your way through [the Grand Lodge elected offices], but sometimes it comes from the floor. SGIG Blue : I spent three years in each position. Except, I only did two years as Grand Junior Steward, but all the rest were three - year terms. And that wore me out. You've got to learn to subdue your passions! SGIG Matthews : Who would you say was the most impactful person in your life? SGIG Blue : With respect to my Masonic Journey? Well, I'll have to say Marnell Kinnison, especially while I was his Grand Senior Deacon. That Brother was sharp. He did over 20 years in the Navy. He saw something in me that I don't believe I really understood at the time. I ’ ll give an example. He put me in charge of a new committee that had not existed in the Grand Lodge previously. Today it's called the Prince Hall Memorial Education Scholarship Fund. He wanted this Grand Lodge to do something for kids and the young people in our community. So, he made me the first chairman. And I asked myself, “ why would they make me a chairman of something that technically doesn't even exist and something that the Grand Lodge never done? ” Even though there were no Brothers on the committee yet, he explained the mission of the committee to me in a detailed letter. He instructed me to se- lect my own people and we built a non - profit from the ground up. Which as I mentioned before, eventually became the Prince Hall Memorial Education Scholarship Fund. We give away a minimum of eleven $1,000 scholarships per year and Brothers can donate through United Way and federal donations. And we do aim to take care of the members of the Prince Hall family with our scholarship program. Here is a picture that I would like you to see. SGIG Matthews: I see the thinking man on the cover. SGIG Blue : Yeah. This was developed during my Administration from 2001 to 2004. it ’ s a publication and it's called The Prince Hall Masonic Study Guide for the State of California. It was the only completed study guided ever published in the California Jurisdiction at the time. “ Wisdom dwells in contemplation there we must seek her. ” The Brother that wrote this was in my Lodge and he was Grand Master of the California Jurisdiction from 1995 to 1998. Now, you mentioned earlier that you are a history buff. SGIG Matthews : I don't know about a buff, but I do appreciate and like it. SGIG Blue : Well at any rate my point is that John Nicholas was one who also appreciated history and had an excellent memory. Part of our purpose as leaders in Masonry is to teach Brothers to think critically on any Masonic subject, be an esoteric and speak on that subject with clarity and intelligence to fellow Ma- sons and non - Masons alike. This enables brethren to discern the truth from falsehoods, the real from the unreal, and fact from fiction. It is hoped and expected by a strict and comprehensive study of Freemasonry, a Prince Hall Mason's life will be uplifted and enriched as he prepares for his rightful place in his Lodge, Grand Lodge, and in society. My point is that Brother Nicholas as influential as any person that I have ever known based on his educational background and he was a great cook and could make excellent lemon pies. And he was a mentor to our current Grand Master, David San Juan. And GM David had his widow come
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