[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 129 (Wednesday, November 15, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A TRIBUTE TO AFRICAN LODGE 459 NO. 63

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 15, 2006

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of African Lodge 
459 No. 63, ardent supporters of the community. It behooves us to pay 
tribute to this outstanding organization and I hope my colleagues will 
join me in recognizing their impressive accomplishments.
  African Lodge 459 No. 63 was founded in 1921 from a group of 
Brooklyn's outstanding young men: Bro. Francis F. Giles, Widow Sons' 
No. 11, Mr. A.P. Portias, J. Francis Mickens, W.R. Lee, William Odell, 
Cornelius Moore and Samuel W. Green. Due to their success in Masonic 
circles, African Lodge 459 No. 63 was granted bona fide Lodge status 
and on November 19, 1921, they became an integral part of the Masonic 
Fraternity of the State of New York and the nation. The Lodge is 
appropriately named after African Lodge 459, the original lodge of the 
illustrious founder of Masonry among men of color in the United States, 
Prince Hall.
  Down through the years, the Lodge has achieved and maintained a very 
prominent place in the jurisdiction. It has furnished the fraternity 
with numerous officers and is currently represented in the Grand 
Cabinet by R.W. Richard A. Grady, Judge Advocate, R.W. Elwood E. 
Gregory, District Deputy Grand Lecturer.
  With 13 living members and 9 honorary members, their mission as 
Prince Hall Masons is to serve God through selfless service to others. 
They strive to give our youth a positive direction and high self-
esteem; our elderly the love, respect and attention they deserve; and 
our poor and down trodden brothers and sisters whatever assistance they 
can provide. Over the past 84 years, they have raised funds for college 
scholarships, summer camps, reading clinics, community feeding 
programs, Christmas gifts for needy and/or hospitalized children, and 
their Knights of Pythagoras youth group.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on this body to recognize 
the accomplishments of African Lodge 459 No. 63. This groups' deep 
commitment to love, support and assist one another makes them most 
worthy of our recognition today.

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