Most Worshipful Brother Allen A. Rivers, Honorary Past Grand Master Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois Birth: Dec. 7, 1902 Cache, Illinois (Alexander County) Death: Nov. 12, 1989 Champaign, Illinois (Champaign County) Gravesite: Mount Hope Cemetery and Mausoleum, 611 E Pennsylvania Ave., Champaign, IL 61820 Professional Affiliations: Champaign Illinois Police Department (FIRST BLACK OFFICER IN CHAMPAIGN) o 8/4/1935 to 8/1/1960 (Sergeant) Clifford Jacobson Forging Company Marine Bank of Champaign Civic and Religious Affiliations: Champaign Park Board Urban League of Champaign-Urbana National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (Trustee) Masonic Affiliations: Subordinate Lodge: o Worshipful Master of Lone Star #18 in 1929 o Worshipful Master of Lone Star #18 in 1930 Concordant Bodies: o Sudan Temple #93, AEAONMS (Past Potentate) o Menelik Consistory #49, AASR (33 rd Degree) Grand Lodge: Grand Master of Ceremonies from 1942 to 1955 Grand Auditor from 1955 to 1982 Honorary Past Grand Master in 1981
Summary: The moniker, Man Among Men, is a mark that is definitely not bestowed upon a common man by individuals or organizations that hold the qualities of dignity and honor in high regard. As we journey through the history of Masons who held allegiance to the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois during their times on this earth, we continue to find men of a high caliber who have not only contributed greatly to the Masonic ranks but have also made great strides in society. Recent historical research efforts have uncovered one more Man Among Men within our ranks. He is none other than Most Worshipful Brother Allen A. Rivers, Honorary Past Grand Master. Born from the union of Henry and Sally (Walker) Rivers, Allen A. Rivers entered this life on December 7, 1902 in the City of Cache, Illinois. Educated in Cache which is located in Alexander County (Southern Illinois), he migrated to the City of Champaign after reaching manhood and marriage to Sally Walker. They had two sons. He joined the Masonic ranks in the 1920s after being entered, passed and raised into Lone Star Lodge #18 of Champaign. His service to the Lodge and leadership abilities earned him a swift elevation to the Office of Worshipful Master in 1929 where he served for multiple terms. His success in this arena combined with his foresight and leadership ability was a sign of things to come. Police Officers are hired to serve and protect the public and maintain the peace as a collective force in locales across the country. Prior to 1935, the racial makeup of the City of Champaign contained less than 5% of an African American presence and did not have a single officer of the black race. It was during this period that a breakthrough was made on the Champaign Police force with the hiring of the First Black Police Officer in 1935. This position was filled by none other than Allen A. Rivers. On August 1, 1935, Rivers became the First Black Police Officer in the modern history of Champaign, Illinois. A beat cop, he walked the streets of Champaign to keep the peace and worked with others to ensure the safety and security of the city. According to the citizens, he was a people person who took time to build relationships with those on his beats. Despite the passing of his first wife in 1949, he continued to move forward in civic and religious circles. He was a long time member of the Champaign Park Board, the Urban League of Champaign-Urbana and a Trustee at Bethel AME Church. He remarried in 1952 and continued on the force. His exemplary service and leadership earned him elevation to the rank of Sergeant years later making him the First Black Sergeant on the Champaign Police force. He retired after 25 years of faithful service on August 1, 1960.Following his service on the police force, he worked and retired from Clifford-Jacobson Forging Company and worked for the Marine Bank of Champaign. His service, accomplishments and qualifications were second to none. An active Prince Hall Mason in Lone Star Lodge #18, he was also active at other levels of the Masonic Order. He was a Past Potentate of Sudan Temple No. 93, AEAONMS of Champaign, a 33rd degree Mason and member of Menelik Consistory No. 49, AASR of Springfield and served the Grand Lodge in multiple offices. He served as Grand Master of Ceremonies for multiple terms. He was first appointed to this office by Most Worshipful Brother Dr. John C. Ellis, Grand Master in 1942 and held the office through 1955 after being re-appointed by Most Worshipful Brothers Nelson Long, Ashby B. Carter and Dr. Frances C. Rogan. At the 90 th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge in 1955, he was elected to the
Office of Grand Auditor. He earned re-election to the office for 26 years until he received the ultimate recognition by the Grand Lodge in 1981. At the 116 th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge in the City of Galesburg, Illinois, he received the style and rank of Honorary Past Grand Master by the consent of the Grand Lodge. At the time of his death on November 12, 1989, Most Worshipful Brother Rivers had built an extensive and historic record relative to his contributions to society and to the Masonic Order. As the First Black Police Office in the City of Champaign and an Honorary Past Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois, his efforts and accomplishments not only broke racial barriers but also contributed positively to the reputation of Prince Hall Freemasonry as a whole. As such, his example is certainly worthy of emulation and definitely qualifies him as a Man Among Men. In memory and honor of his service, the Prince Hall Grand Commandery of Knights Templar honored HPGM Rivers as the namesake of Knights Templar Commandery #66. Sources: Submitted by Right Worshipful Brother Daryl L. Andrews Retired Police Raise Money for Gravestone for First Black Officer in Champaign, The News- Gazette, June 24, 2011 by Tim Mitchell Alan A. Rivers, September 28, 2007 by David Godwin, Champaign Police Department www.findagrave.com (retrieved February 19, 2014) Proceedings of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois, 1929-1930, Worshipful Masters Listing Proceedings of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois, 1942-1955, Appointed Grand Lodge Officers Proceedings of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois, 1969, Elected Grand Lodge Officer Listing 1867-1968 Proceedings of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois, 1969-1981, Elected Grand Lodge Officers
Background on Gravestone Effort: Prior to 2011, the gravesite of HPGM Rivers was on an unmarked grave. He was preceded in death by his two sons. At the time of his death, the family members that were available did not have the funds to procure a headstone for the site. The current headstone was donated by retired police officers of the City of Champaign after identifying that a headstone had never been procured. Their efforts to uncover the social and civic affiliations of HPGM Rivers led them to contact the Grand Lodge in 2011. As the editor of the Journal, I provided some information relative to his designation as an Honorary Past Grand Master, Grand Lodge offices and subordinate Lodge affiliation. The officers took this information and other historical information obtained from other sources, procured a headstone and worked to have the headstone installed on the gravesite of HPGM Rivers in September of 2011. The officers raised all of the funds themselves. This was a great feat. Their efforts to uncover the history of HPGM Rivers also revealed a piece of history that was not recorded by the Grand Lodge. HPGM Rivers was the First Black Police Officer for the City of Champaign. As we continue to dig deeper into our history, we continue to uncover items like this which speak to the character of some of our most decorated members. We seem to find that a number of First Blacks were a part of our ranks at one time or another. I will keep you posted on additional findings.