[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22964]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO MASONIC LODGE #135 OF LENEXA, KANSAS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 27, 2008

  Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to salute the 
Masonic Lodge of my hometown, Lenexa, Kansas. Masonic Lodge #135 is 
celebrating the 135th anniversary of its founding this October.
  In reading documents compiled by Lenexa Historical Society member and 
Masonic Lodge leader Angelo Mino, it becomes clear that the history of 
this lodge is intertwined with the history of Lenexa. The Masonic Lodge 
was the fIrst fraternal or civic organization of Lenexa, and city 
leaders were often leaders of the lodge as well. Lodge members included 
the fIrst mayor of Lenexa, the fIrst police judge, the fIrst postmaster 
and the fIrst physician in the city.
  In 1873, the lodge received offIcial recognition from the Masonic 
organization, and the fIrst Eastern Star chapter was also established. 
In 1922, the fIrst DeMolay group in Johnson County, Kansas, received 
its charter, and in 1953, the Rainbow Girls Assembly #56 began.
  Madam Speaker, I congratulate the members of Lenexa Masonic Lodge 
#135 on this remarkable milestone, and thank them for 135 years of 
community leadership and service.

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