[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 5, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E755-E756]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE ASCENSION OF REVEREND DR. GREGORY ROBESON SMITH AS THE 
  55TH GRAND MASTER OF THE MOST WORSHIPFUL PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE OF 
           FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 5, 2010

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise with great pride to pay tribute to 
my dear friend, Lodge brother, and pastor of Harlem's historic Mother 
African Episcopal Methodist Church, the Reverend Dr. Gregory Robeson 
Smith, Sr. as the 55th Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall 
Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York.
  Rev. Dr. Gregory Robeson Smith, Sr., a Thirty-third Degree Mason, is 
the grand nephew of Paul Robeson, the late great American hero, 
athlete, singer, actor, and advocate for international civil rights and 
social justice. A

[[Page E756]]

graduate with honors from Livingstone College in Salisbury, North 
Carolina, Dr. Smith also earned two masters and two doctoral degrees. 
He has an MBA in Marketing and Finance, a Master of Divinity degree, a 
Doctorate in Higher Education Administration and Finance; and a 
Doctorate in Ministries.
  Grand Master Smith is the Senior Pastor of the Mother African 
Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, a major stop on the Underground 
Railroad, located in Harlem New York, which is the oldest African 
American institution in the State of New York, founded in 1796 and 
chartered in 1799. Dr. Smith is very proud of the history of Mother AME 
Zion, which was one of the earliest and most vocal opponents of slavery 
and a constant champion of abolition. Slaves who escaped north in 
search of freedom, knew they could find refuge and assistance at Zion 
Church, which became affectionately known as ``Freedom's Church.'' In 
fact, Mother AME Zion became an important stop on the ``Underground 
Railroad,'' hiding runaway slaves behind the pulpit in a secret 
passageway. Abolitionist and women's rights activist Isabella Baumfree 
transferred her membership from the John Street Methodist Episcopal 
Church to Zion Church in 1827. It was at the altar of Mother AME Zion 
in 1843 that she changed her name to ``Sojourner Truth'' and there she 
was also reunited with her sisters, who had been separated during 
slavery.
  Sojourner Truth became one of the foremost voices for women's and 
equal rights and the abolition of slavery in America. Throughout its 
long history, Mother AME Zion has had many illustrious members who were 
leaders in the historic fight for freedom, including Harriet Tubman, 
Frederick Douglass, Paul Robeson, Madame C.J. Walker and many others 
who fought so valiantly to free African Americans socially, politically 
and spiritually. The legacy of this historic church is difficult to 
surpass, as it has always been a promoter of education and racial self-
help for African Americans in this great city, playing a role in many 
of the social organizations that were founded to assist and improve the 
condition of the Negro. Reverend Dr. Smith holds and has held several 
major positions in the AME Zion Church, including Presiding President 
of the Elder's Council, and he serves on the Connectional Budget Board 
Executive Committee.
  In 1976 at the age of 26, he was elected Director of Public Affairs 
and Convention Manager of the denomination, the youngest person to ever 
be elected to a worldwide office. In the past, he has served as 
Executive Secretary of the AME Zion Church Ministers & Lay Association, 
and, as pastor of the Mt. Hope AME Zion Church located in White Plains, 
New York, where in 5 years he transformed that congregation from 85 to 
635 members, built and furnished a new multi-million dollar worship 
center and a pre-school program. Dr. Smith was also responsible for 
directing worldwide international relief assistance and other aid for 
the National Council of Churches' (NCC) 30 Protestant denominations. 
While at the NCC he raised more than $200 million in program support.
  Dr. Smith is a true ``renaissance man,'' successfully integrating a 
successful career in business, public service and ministry. He has a 
proven track record of success leading non-governmental, private, 
voluntary and religious agencies, with a strong expertise in the 
development of strategic alliances between public and private sectors. 
He has 20 years of marketing, finance and managerial experience in 
Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies, with responsibility for over $2 
billion in revenue.
  In December 1990, he was appointed by President George H.W. Bush as 
President and Chief Executive Officer of the African Development 
Foundation, an independent Federal agency located in Washington, D.C., 
with offices in 25 African nations and a staff of more than 300. He 
continued to serve in this capacity under President William J. 
Clinton's administration until May of 1995. He also serves as an 
officer and member of numerous boards of directors. Dr. Smith was 
interviewed by ``The History Makers'' on January 24, 2007, who 
designated him as one of the ``Outstanding Men of America,'' and he was 
also the first African American in New York State to be selected by a 
major political party as their mayoral candidate. He continues to be 
active in local, State and national politics, as well as serving as 
President of Prince Hall Temple Associates, Inc. He is a member of 
Sigma Pi Phi--Beta Zeta Boule, and is very well traveled, having 
visited all but five countries throughout the continent of Africa and 
over 30 other nations across the globe.
  Madam Speaker, since our founding in 1812, The Most Worshipful Prince 
Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons has followed in the 
Christian principles that were established in God's Holy Book, the 
Bible, of ``Making Good Men Better''--which the foundation is 
character, the purpose is service and the measure is giving. As the 
grand nephew of our beloved spirited hero Paul Robeson, Reverend Dr. 
Gregory Robeson Smith was destined in his development to embody the 
principles, truths and heritage set forth by our founding fathers of 
the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons. Dr. Smith takes over the 
leadership of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge at a crucial 
time in the history of the organization, and faces the daunting task of 
translating the historical usefulness of this ancient and honorable 
institution to meet the several challenges of its more than 10,000 
members in today's ``Information Age.'' His philosophy of life and 
service is stated in the words of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, 
Jr., who said in 1948 on his application to Crozer Seminary, ``I have 
an inescapable urge to serve society, and a sense of responsibility, 
which I could not escape.''

                          ____________________