Full Text of SR0860 103rd General Assembly
SR0860 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY | | | SR0860 | | LRB103 39965 LAW 71133 r |
|
| 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION | 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to | 3 | | congratulate John C. Ellis Lodge #17, Free & Accepted Masons | 4 | | of the Illinois Prince Hall Freemasonry on the occasion of its | 5 | | 150th anniversary; and | 6 | | WHEREAS, Prince Hall Freemasonry is the oldest recognized | 7 | | and continually active fraternal organization founded by | 8 | | African Americans in the United States; the fraternity was | 9 | | designed to make good men better through service to mankind, | 10 | | and members, or masons, serve many communities across the | 11 | | nation today in order to invest in a better tomorrow; and | 12 | | WHEREAS, The Illinois Prince Hall Freemasonry is | 13 | | recognized as a pillar for perpetual improvement in | 14 | | communities throughout the State, promoting a way of life that | 15 | | binds like-minded men in a worldwide brotherhood that | 16 | | transcends all religious, ethnic, cultural, social, and | 17 | | educational differences; and | 18 | | WHEREAS, John C. Ellis Lodge #17, originally known as | 19 | | Decatur Lodge #17, was established in Decatur on July 18, | 20 | | 1874; the lodge holds the distinction of being the only lodge | 21 | | in the State that has had four duly elected grand masters for | 22 | | the State of Illinois and its jurisdiction, and they were the |
| | | SR0860 | - 2 - | LRB103 39965 LAW 71133 r |
|
| 1 | | Most Worshipful Brothers James J. Hollinger, Dr. John C. | 2 | | Ellis, Dr. F. C. Rogan, and James E. Gavin; and | 3 | | WHEREAS, John C. Ellis Lodge #17's namesake comes from the | 4 | | Most Worshipful Brother Dr. John C. Ellis, the first African | 5 | | American medical doctor in Decatur who was also the | 6 | | longest-serving grand master of the State and its | 7 | | jurisdiction, serving for 20 years from 1924 to 1944; the | 8 | | lodge was renamed in honor of his dedication to the Decatur | 9 | | community and his commitment to masonry in January 1966; and | 10 | | WHEREAS, John C. Ellis Lodge #17 will celebrate its 150th | 11 | | anniversary in the summer of 2024; therefore, be it | 12 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL | 13 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate John | 14 | | C. Ellis Lodge #17, Free & Accepted Masons of the Illinois | 15 | | Prince Hall Freemasonry on its 150th anniversary; and be it | 16 | | further | 17 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 18 | | presented to John C. Ellis Lodge #17 as an expression of our | 19 | | esteem and respect. |
|