Trenton, NJ Most Worshipful Jimmy Barnes, the Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of New Jersey, brings a powerful blend of personal experience, community service, and leadership to his role. A retired deputy warden with over 31 years of service in corrections, Barnes draws on his life’s trials and triumphs—including the loss of his first wife and daughter to breast cancer—to inspire his vision for Masonry as a force for benevolence, unity, and empowerment. Under his leadership, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge is committed to engaging communities across New Jersey through humanitarian efforts, voter education, and youth development programs.
In an exclusive interview with the nation’s premier faith-based and professional newspaper for winners, Anointed News Journal, Most Worshipful Jimmy Barnes shares his perspective on service, community collaboration, and the enduring legacy of Prince Hall Freemasonry.
Collins:
Who is Most Worshipful Jimmy Barnes?
Barnes:
Well, Jimmy Barnes is the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, State of New Jersey. I’m a retired Deputy Warden from the New Jersey Department of Corrections, with over 31 years of civil service. I grew up in the city of Trenton, New Jersey, and that’s my home. I’m a member of King David Lodge No. 15, which is situated in Trenton, New Jersey, again under the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, State of New Jersey.
I’m married to Mrs. Lacretia R. Barnes. We’ve been married for eight years. She’s my second wife, and we have a daughter—her name is Ahmari S. Barnes. Ahmari is nine months old. So, there’s a story for you.
I’m also a father to five other children—actually six. One of them, my oldest daughter, is deceased. She passed away from breast cancer at the age of 37, back in 2016. That leads to the story of my first wife. Her name was Tracey C. Barnes. She also passed away from breast cancer, at the age of 44. As I sit here, I’m getting goosebumps, because every time I think about her, I get a little choked up—even to this day. She passed away in 2006. So, my journey into Masonry—my travels—have really been focused on and shaped by the loss of my first wife.
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Collins:
Okay, so let me just ask the question. You’ve had a stellar career with the Department of Corrections, and you retired as a Deputy Warden. Which facility?
Barnes:
The last facility I retired from was Albert C. Wagner, which is commonly known as Bordentown. But the majority of my time—when I first started in corrections—I started with the county at the Mercer County Detention Center in Trenton. Then I went to what was known as Trenton State Prison, which is now New Jersey State Prison.
Collins:
Yes, sir. What motivated you to pursue an opportunity with Freemasonry? And how long has this been? Was this something that you came into while working with the Department of Corrections, or did it come after retirement?
Barnes:
Yes. I was influenced early on within the Department of Corrections by a certain group of officers who carried themselves differently. Even though we were all professionals, there was a distinct group that stood out in the way they carried themselves—with discipline and professionalism. I noticed they were often teamed or partnered together. When things needed to be done, those were the guys you went to, whether they were senior correction officers or supervisors.
I later found out it was because they were members of Prince Hall Freemasonry. People would say, “Those guys are Masons.” And I was like, “What is a Mason?” That’s when I discovered there were different categories of Masons. When they said “Prince Hall Masons,” that referred to the lineage of our progenitor—the history. Because there are International Masons, and then there are Prince Hall Masons.
Collins:
So let me ask you—when you think back on the deaths of Tracey and your daughter as well, was there something there that pushed you to really grab hold of Freemasonry?
Barnes:
When I first joined, there were certain things we call “working tools” that we apply to everyday life. There’s operative Masonry and speculative Masonry. For example, the common gavel—it was used in operative Masonry to break off the corners of rough stones; operative refers to the hands-on, physical work—the actual use of the gavel or tools. But speculatively speaking, we use that same tool as a metaphor—to break off the rough corners of a man’s character, to smooth ourselves, to become better, more refined individuals. This makes us more fit to be part of the temple—which we consider either our bodies or something higher. That actually leads to another story.
Collins:
You got involved early on through this group of gentlemen who appeared to be a little different—a little more disciplined.
Barnes:
Yes. There was one individual in particular I went to high school with—we graduated together—and he became what we call my petitioner. He was the person who vouched for me. I would see him carrying a particular item, a book, and I’d ask, “What’s that book for?” And he’d say, “You’re not ready for this,” or, “You don’t want to know anything about this.”
It actually took me a few years to build up the courage to ask him seriously about that book because of the secrecy and mystery surrounding it. Finally, he said, “If you really want to know what that book is, fill out this paper”—which was a petition—“and I’ll get back to you.” Now, mind you, it took me three years just to ask him that question.
Once I returned the paperwork to him, he said, “I’ll let you know. We’ll get back to you.” I still didn’t fully understand what he meant. A couple of months later, he asked, “Would you be interested in coming down to what we call the lodge?” I said, “Yeah, I know where the lodge is—I can come down there. I thought y’all didn’t let anyone in there.” He replied, “No, we want you to come down. We want to show you a couple things and ask you some questions.”
That really piqued my curiosity. When I got there, they started asking, “Why do you want to know about that book?” I felt kind of intimidated. I said, “I didn’t mean any trouble. I just always saw him with that book.” Then they asked, “Why do you want to be a Mason?”
I told them I wanted to be a Mason because of how the officers carried themselves—not just within the facility, but outside of it as well. The camaraderie, the unity, the respect they received at work, in their families, churches, and communities—they were well-known and dignified men. I wanted to emulate that. I didn’t want to just get off work and hang out at the local spot, then go home. No, I had a family. I wanted to take myself and make myself better. And it was through that process that I discovered Freemasonry is about taking good men and making good men better.
Collins:
So, the public at large may not be too familiar with Masonry. You mentioned earlier—when you asked about the book—you used the word “secrecy” or “mystery.” What is Masonry?
Barnes:
Masonry is one of the oldest organizations—if not the oldest fraternity in the world. What Masonry does is take good men and make them better by molding their character, shaping their personalities, and teaching them about humanity—what’s good in society, culture, and the world.
It teaches benevolence. It teaches charity and good works toward others. When it speaks to humanity, charity, and benevolence, it emphasizes giving and the blessings that come with it. But you have to learn how to become a humanitarian—a person of that character. Those are the teachings we go through at different levels of Masonry.
Collins:
And when it comes to Masonry, does it represent a certain faith or belief, or is it comprised of individuals from various backgrounds?
Barnes:
Yes, Masonry is universal. It is not a religion. It is a universal fraternity—built on friendship, morality, and love—composed of good men of good character.
Collins:
So, when you think back to the beginning, when you first asked about that book—what that book was—and now you look at where you are today as the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, State of New Jersey… There’s a lot in between. That’s a huge accomplishment. What does it mean to be the Most Worshipful Grand Master for the state of New Jersey?
Barnes:
Wow. That’s a good question. We actually talked about that on the way down here. The honor of representing our founder, the Most Worshipful Prince Hall, who in 1775 joined the brigade of British soldiers along with 14 other men—it’s profound. If you think about 1775, that was before the Declaration of Independence was even signed.
To be a free man, an abolitionist, an educator, and someone who stood for freedom and equality during a time of slavery, before the Emancipation Proclamation, before the Civil Rights Movement—that speaks volumes. He stood out in a time when doing so was incredibly dangerous, and he did it with dignity and purpose. He is our founder.
When I think about the opportunity to represent such a historical figure and what he meant—not only to African Americans but to the history of the United States in general—it’s truly an honor. I can’t even begin to describe all the teachings, degrees, and experiences I went through to reach the title of Most Worshipful Grand Master, but I can say it is a tremendous honor and privilege—beyond words—to sit in what we call the Oriental Chair.
Collins:
And Prince Hall, as you mentioned, joined the British Army with 14 individuals. When you look at Prince Hall Masonry today, how large has it grown?
Barnes:
Well, I can’t give you the exact numbers, but I know we are worldwide. I don’t know how many hundreds of lodges there are throughout the world, but we are global. Within Prince Hall Freemasonry, there are different bodies and levels.
Myself, I’m what we call a Blue House Mason, which means I’m a Master Mason. But I’m also a member of the Holy Royal Arch Masons, which we refer to as the Red House. Then there’s what we call the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliated, which takes you from the Third Degree all the way up to what we call the 32nd Degree Mason.
There are teachings, stories, and historical lessons at each level as you ascend. Finally, to become what I am—a Grand Inspector General—is to become a 33rd Degree Mason, which is an honorary degree.
Collins:
What are some of the benefits for an individual—or more specifically, a young man—who might be interested in becoming a Mason? To my understanding, Masonry is for gentlemen, and there’s also a sister component as well, correct?
Barnes:
Yes, that’s right. The benefits include unity, brotherhood, and being part of an organization grounded in positivity and humanitarian service to the community. When you think of the younger generation—and I’ll speak directly to the millennials—we do face challenges. Millennials often want everything here and now. Like many other social organizations, we’re seeing a decrease in numbers, and we’re asking ourselves: What can we do to spark the interest of this group of young men?
Many of them associate Masonry with their grandfathers or uncles, not realizing it’s still very relevant. But as we said earlier, we take good men and make them better. We teach them what we call our “working tools” and provide structure that helps them build upon themselves—internally. It’s about building their own temples within.
Young men go through changes. They can either go left or right. Drawing from my correctional background, I often say: You can either be on the right side of the gate or the left side of the gate. I believe—and I know—that Prince Hall Freemasonry helped me stay on the right side of that gate, so to speak. It helped me become a better person—respected by my family, my community, my coworkers, and everyone I come in contact with as a Mason.
Collins:
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many of the Masons in Camden County, maybe even Burlington County—let’s just say South Jersey. I also had the pleasure of being introduced to the former Grand Master, Michael Wiggins.
Michael shared his vision with Anointed News Journal about two or three years ago. Today, we have you—Jimmy Barnes—Most Worshipful Grand Master. What is your outlook today for the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, for the State of New Jersey? What is it that you would like to see under your leadership?
Barnes:
What I would like to see is this—and I’ll start with my motto.
My motto for this administration is: “Be the example of service to others.”
And my scripture comes from the Book of Habakkuk, chapter 2, verse 2:
And the Lord answered and said, “Write the vision and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run who reads it.”
I’m getting a little choked up just thinking about it.
Be the example of service to others.
I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be in this organization and to have made it through the trauma I’ve endured—from childhood to now. I just want to give back.
But I also want the Prince Hall brand to be associated with benevolence, charity, and goodwill toward men—not just within our families, communities, and churches, but across the world. I want to give back what’s been given to me.
I want us to focus on the struggles of African Americans and others of descent who have endured slavery and racism. I want our brand—the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New Jersey—to become more engaged in the community, to collaborate with civic and political leaders, because we must. When it comes to voter registration, voter education, and what’s happening on Pennsylvania Avenue, when it comes to the struggles around diversity, equity, and inclusion, we must be part of that. We have to stand up for what is right—because people have died fighting for these causes, long before Martin Luther King.
Collins:
That’s the importance of community collaborations. And what are the benefits of other community groups partnering with your organization?
Barnes:
The benefits of collaboration speak to a broader understanding of what Freemasonry is really about. I’ll speak specifically about my lodge in Trenton. The building itself stands out in the community—our neighbors know it as King David. They know we host what we call Amen Feeding, which is the feeding of the less fortunate. We do that about once a month. I believe we’ve served close to, if not more than, 100,000 people since its inception.
We also participate in National Night Out with a large cookout. The local prosecutors, police officers, and first responders all come through. We do bookbag giveaways, voter registration, voter education—it’s become a hub of resources for the community.
It’s interesting you mentioned collaboration, because that speaks directly to our Prince Hall Community Day Festival. This year will be our 10th annual festival, held at Cadwalader Park in Trenton, New Jersey. It’s a day when we again provide a haven of resources: voter registration and education, housing and health services, first responders, and more. We have bike rides for the kids and a variety of family-friendly activities.
So when we collaborate with Human Services and other agencies, it shows the community that the brothers at King David Lodge are also professionals—law enforcement officers, nurses, engineers. We’re everyday people, too. And for the community to see us out there—actively serving—it really matters.
Collins:
And so the community understands—you don’t necessarily have to be a Mason to participate in these activities?
Barnes:
No, not at all. Again, the word collaboration means to join. Let us join with you. How can we help you—and how can you help make us better—by being out in the community and being visible on different levels, not just inside the lodge? You’ll see us at Cadwalader Park, in Trenton, New Jersey. You’ll see us in parades. You’ll see us at festivals hosted by other ethnic communities. We’re visible—not just walking the streets in black suits, but actively involved.
Collins:
And for those organizations out there that may want to collaborate with your organization, what is the best way for them to get in contact with you?
Barnes:
That’s a good question. The best way to get in contact with someone from our Grand Lodge is to reach out to me directly. Once I receive the message, my chairperson will be sure to follow up or respond.
Learn more
Collins:
And the contact information?
Barnes:
Yes. My contact information is:
Phone: (609) 658-4092
Email: jimbarnes013@gmail.com.
Collins:
Okay. What words of advice or encouragement would you give to a young man who may be searching—someone looking for leadership, mentoring, or who wants to step outside the box of his peers and pursue his destiny?
Barnes:
I would tell that young person: Be the example of service to others.
If you have a vision, stay focused on that vision. It may take time, but if you stay committed and remain an example of service to others, all those blessings will come back to you.
Collins:
And I would assume your lodges have regular weekly or monthly meetings. If someone is interested in learning more about Freemasonry, how can they do that?
Barnes:
Yes, we have approximately 42 lodges throughout the state of New Jersey. They’re divided into eight districts. If someone wants to learn more, they can simply Google “Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New Jersey”—our website will come right up.
We also have a Charity Foundation, which can be found through the same website or searched separately. Once on the site, there are icons that explain our history, information on membership, and a calendar of past and upcoming events.
If you know of a lodge in your city, you can literally knock on the door—or just visit our website to get started.
Collins:
And coming soon is the Prince Hall Community Festival. Can you give us the date and time for that?
Barnes:
Yes, the Prince Hall Community Festival will be held on September 13, 2025, at Cadwalader Park in Trenton, New Jersey, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Collins:
And are you currently looking for vendors or service providers?
Barnes:
Yes, we are still looking for vendors. We’re seeking services that want to partner or collaborate in providing a haven of resources for the community and surrounding areas. Again, this year marks our 10th anniversary—and I wanted to have it in Trenton, New Jersey, where I grew up. I actually grew up around Cadwalader Park, in the West Trenton neighborhood.
Another important thing to note is that on Sunday, September 14th, we celebrate what we call Prince Hall Day. That program will be held at the War Memorial Building in downtown Trenton, starting at 3:00 p.m. It’s our annual event where we honor our progenitor.
Collins:
Let me ask a big question. You mentioned your wife, you mentioned your daughter—how can women support the brothers, the men and young men in Masonry? Is there something for women to be involved in? And how can women be supportive?
Barnes:
Yes. In that regard, we have subordinate chapters under the Oziel Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall affiliation for the jurisdiction of New Jersey. These are our sister lodges—our wives, our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, our aunties—who support us. And I’m proud to say that we could not be as successful as we are without them. They play a very important and intricate part in our success.
As I serve as the Most Worshipful Grand Master, my counterpart in the Eastern Star would be the Grand Worthy Matron. Her name is Sister Paulette M. Thomas. She is the Grand Worthy Matron of Oziel Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star.
Collins:
Now, you mentioned the community day. You also mentioned a book bag giveaway for young people. Within your community outreach initiatives, is there a component that focuses on youth?
Barnes:
Yes, I’m glad you asked. For young men, we have what we call the William H. Pop Moss Order of the Knights of Pythagoras. This group is for young men ages eight to about eighteen. They are our younger brothers and are structured and organized similarly to a Third Degree Mason. The teachings differ, but they wear regalia, have a formal structure, and use titles that mimic ours.
On the female side, in the Order of the Eastern Star; these young women take after the Eastern Stars and serve as the youth group for the Oziel Grand Chapter of the Eastern Star.
Collins:
So, Most Worshipful Jimmy Barnes, Anointed News Journal has 180,000 readers weekly. In conclusion, what would you like to say to the readers of The Anointed?
Barnes:
Wow, that’s a good one. To the readers of The Anointed, I say, continue to support the publication and continue to get the information it provides to our communities.
If it’s okay, I would also like to say thank you for the services you provide to the community and throughout the world. Thank you. Please show your love and appreciation for the work that the Anointed News Journal does.
We also have a breast cancer foundation named after my wife. The name of the foundation is the Tracey C. Barnes Scholarship Fund Incorporated, and it is a 501(c)(3) breast cancer awareness program. You can visit tcbsf.org for more information.
Conclusion:
Most Worshipful Jimmy Barnes exemplifies the true spirit of Prince Hall Freemasonry by emphasizing service, leadership, and community engagement. His vision for the Grand Lodge centers on uplifting families, educating voters, and collaborating with civic organizations to create lasting positive change. Through events like the annual Prince Hall Community Festival and ongoing outreach, Barnes and his brothers continue to build a stronger, more united New Jersey.
By Chris Collins
