[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 79 (Wednesday, May 18, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E735-E736]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF THE MOST WORSHIPFUL PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE OF 
  VIRGINIA, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS, INC. AND ITS SUBORDINATE LODGES

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 18, 2016

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Virginia, Free and Accepted 
Masons, Incorporated and its subordinate lodges, who will be 
celebrating Founder's Day on Sunday, May 22nd in Petersburg, Virginia. 
This organization has worked in continuous and faithful service for 140 
years within the Commonwealth of Virginia.
  Prince Hall lodge has a long history in the Commonwealth, tracing its 
own history to 1775, when Prince Hall and fourteen other free blacks 
joined a British army lodge of Masons stationed in Boston, 
Massachusetts and, following their departure, formed their own lodge: 
African American Lodge Number 1. Prince Hall became the lodge's first 
Grand Master.
  By establishing this organization, Prince Hall and his compatriots 
were, in 1775, taking some of the first steps to form one of American's 
first formal African-American institutions.
  Established in Virginia in 1875 as Universal Lodge Number 1 in 
Alexandria, countless members of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand 
Lodge of Virginia, Free & Accepted Masons have served in community and 
elected leadership positions.

[[Page E736]]

  Through their service to the Commonwealth of Virginia and our nation, 
members of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Virginia, 
Free & Accepted Masons and its subordinate lodges have sought to 
``inspire noble principles, moral values, and profound convictions in 
the lives of each individual'' their work touches. They have sought to 
teach the principles of family, the values of philanthrophy through 
charity and volunteer work, and the convictions of acceptance and 
compassion through honor, integrity, and respect.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my enthusiastic congratulations 
to Roger C. Brown of Richmond, Virginia, who currently serves as the 
78th leader of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Virginia 
and to all its Grand Lodge Officers, Worshipful Masters, Worshipful 
Past Masters and members on their celebration, on December 16th, 2015, 
of 140 years of continuous service in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and 
on the celebration of Founder's Day on May 22, 2016 in Petersburg, 
Virginia. It is my profound hope that through their work, members of 
the Grand Lodge will continue to inspire and provide support and 
service to communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

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