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03 LC 19 5633
House Resolution 95
By: Representatives Heard of the 75th, Watson of the 60th, Post 2 and Hill of the 81st
By: Representatives Heard of the 75th, Watson of the 60th, Post 2 and Hill of the 81st
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free
and Accepted Masons of Georgia and the Order of the Eastern Star and inviting
the members to appear before the House of Representatives; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS, on June 24, 1791, a general assembly of Black Masons met in Mason´s Hall Water Street in Boston, Massachusetts, and formed the African Grand Lodge with Prince Hall as its first Grand Master, which office he held until his death in 1808; and
WHEREAS, on June 24, 1808, the name of the African Grand Lodge was changed to the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F&AM of Massachusetts in honor of Prince Hall; and
WHEREAS, today there are 46 Prince Hall Masonic Grand Lodges in the United States and one each in Ontario, Canada, Liberia, and the Bahama Islands, all the direct descendants of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS, at the close of the Civil War, Prince Hall Masonic Grand Lodges began to appear in the southern states and on June 24, 1870, the Reverend J. M. Simms organized the Prince Hall Masonic Grand Lodge of Georgia and was elected as its first Grand Master; and
WHEREAS, since that historic date, the Prince Hall Masonic Grand Lodge of Georgia has grown from the three original lodges which comprised it to include 223 lodges which have been guided by a succession of Grand Masters as follows: J. M. Simms, Louis B. Toomer, John H. DeVereaux, Alexander Harris, A. K. Desverney, W. E. Terry, John D. Campbell, W. E. Terry, H. R. Butler, J. W. Dobbs, X. L. Neal, Neal A. McQueen, Benjamin Barksdale, and Willie L. Williams, the present Grand Master; and
WHEREAS, Freemasonry is the oldest and largest world_wide fraternity dedicated to the Brotherhood of Man; and
WHEREAS, in the spirit of helpfulness and brotherly love and guided by strict moral principles, the Prince Hall Masonic Grand Lodge of Georgia seeks to encourage good will toward all mankind and its rituals are designed to dramatize a philosophy of life based on morality; and
WHEREAS, the members of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Georgia are dedicated to practicing in their daily lives the principles of brotherly love, charity, and truth and the benefits of their dedication inure to the entire State of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, the Order of the Eastern Star was formally organized on August 29, 1899, in Savannah, Georgia, and for the ensuing 104 years has steadily grown in strength and service to the principles of Freemasonry.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body honor and commend the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Georgia for their magnificent contributions to the State of Georgia and more than 134 years of outstanding service.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Georgia and the Order of the Eastern Star are invited to appear before the House of Representatives on a day and a time to be determined by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Honorable Grand Master Willie L. Williams.
WHEREAS, on June 24, 1791, a general assembly of Black Masons met in Mason´s Hall Water Street in Boston, Massachusetts, and formed the African Grand Lodge with Prince Hall as its first Grand Master, which office he held until his death in 1808; and
WHEREAS, on June 24, 1808, the name of the African Grand Lodge was changed to the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F&AM of Massachusetts in honor of Prince Hall; and
WHEREAS, today there are 46 Prince Hall Masonic Grand Lodges in the United States and one each in Ontario, Canada, Liberia, and the Bahama Islands, all the direct descendants of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS, at the close of the Civil War, Prince Hall Masonic Grand Lodges began to appear in the southern states and on June 24, 1870, the Reverend J. M. Simms organized the Prince Hall Masonic Grand Lodge of Georgia and was elected as its first Grand Master; and
WHEREAS, since that historic date, the Prince Hall Masonic Grand Lodge of Georgia has grown from the three original lodges which comprised it to include 223 lodges which have been guided by a succession of Grand Masters as follows: J. M. Simms, Louis B. Toomer, John H. DeVereaux, Alexander Harris, A. K. Desverney, W. E. Terry, John D. Campbell, W. E. Terry, H. R. Butler, J. W. Dobbs, X. L. Neal, Neal A. McQueen, Benjamin Barksdale, and Willie L. Williams, the present Grand Master; and
WHEREAS, Freemasonry is the oldest and largest world_wide fraternity dedicated to the Brotherhood of Man; and
WHEREAS, in the spirit of helpfulness and brotherly love and guided by strict moral principles, the Prince Hall Masonic Grand Lodge of Georgia seeks to encourage good will toward all mankind and its rituals are designed to dramatize a philosophy of life based on morality; and
WHEREAS, the members of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Georgia are dedicated to practicing in their daily lives the principles of brotherly love, charity, and truth and the benefits of their dedication inure to the entire State of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, the Order of the Eastern Star was formally organized on August 29, 1899, in Savannah, Georgia, and for the ensuing 104 years has steadily grown in strength and service to the principles of Freemasonry.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body honor and commend the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Georgia for their magnificent contributions to the State of Georgia and more than 134 years of outstanding service.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Georgia and the Order of the Eastern Star are invited to appear before the House of Representatives on a day and a time to be determined by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Honorable Grand Master Willie L. Williams.