One of the great legendary Imperial Potentates in PHA history was Ceasar Robert Blake. Born in 1886 in Winnsboro, South Carolina, he served as a clerk with Norfolk and Southern Railway for 19 years and worked as a real estate broker in Charlotte, North Carolina. He later devoted his life to fraternal societies and was associated with numerous fraternal organizations being a member of the Blue Lodge Masons, Royal Arch, Knights Templar, American Woodmen, Good Samaritans and Grand Deputy of Elks. Notably, Ceasar R. Blake served as Worshipful Master of Paul Drayton Lodge #7 from 1911-1912. He later went on to serve as the Grand Senior Warden for the Prince Hall Jurisdiction of North Carolina. In 1919, at the age of 33 he became the Imperial Potentate of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Prince Hall affiliated (A.E.O.N.M.S.) He served in the role of Potentate until his death in 1931.

In 1904 predominately white leaders of the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent Order of Elks and the Shriners launched a legal campaign accusing parallel African American orders of fraud and copyright violations in Georgia, New York and Mississippi. The legal battles would manifest for over a 30 year
period in 29 states. Attempts to prevent “non-sanctioned” groups from forming were very common amongst fraternal orders. However, this campaign was partially motivated by racism.

Blake argued that Prince Hall Shrine’s defense of their “rights to exist as a Body of the Mystic Shrine” was their duty as members of a victimized race. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Prince Hall Shrine in 1929. Suddenly Cesar Blake died 2 years later at the age of 45 after a brief illness. His death was attributed to a nervous breakdown he suffered due to the extraordinary stress placed upon him navigating both the legal and physical oppression placed upon black fraternal orders.

Today we salute PIP Ceasar Robert Blake.
Always Remembered and Never Forgotten!