--- title: "HR 317. Fort Benning Lodge #579; commend" collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr317 cite_as: HR 317, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr317 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr317.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr317/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70543 date: 2025-02-19 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr316.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr318.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr317.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 317 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-19 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Vance Smith - Carmen Rice text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR317/2025 upstream_id: 1976301 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - ceremonial resolution - Fort Benning - Freemasonry - Columbus Georgia - Muscogee County --- # HR 317. Fort Benning Lodge #579; commend ## Text House Resolution 317 By: Representatives Smith of the 138th and Rice of the 139th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Fort Benning Lodge #579; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, on January 10, 1924, in Columbus, Georgia, 53 Masons from Fort Benning Military Base and surrounding lodges came together to organize Fort Benning Lodge #579, Free & Accepted Masons; and WHEREAS, on October 29, 1924, these Masons sought dispensation and were granted a charter from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Georgia, leading to the constitution of Fort Benning Lodge #579 on November 3, 1924; and WHEREAS, during the 100 years since Fort Benning Lodge #579 was constituted, many of the officers and members of the lodge have faithfully served the citizens of the United States and the State of Georgia in Columbus, Muscogee County, Chattahoochee County, Harris County, the Valley of Columbus Scottish Rite Bodies, and York Rite Bodies of Georgia; and WHEREAS, the contributions, leadership, support, and fraternal affection that members of Fort Benning Lodge #579 have provided to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Georgia during the lodge's more than 100 years of operation are undeniable; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this remarkable lodge be appropriately honored during this special time. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize and commend Fort Benning Lodge #579 for its dedicated service, leadership, and fraternal contributions over the past 100 years as well as extend best wishes for its future growth and success. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Fort Benning Lodge #579. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution commends Fort Benning Lodge #579, a Masonic lodge in Columbus, for reaching 100 years of operation and community service. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives, not a change to state law. It honors Fort Benning Lodge #579, a Masonic lodge chartered near Columbus, Georgia in 1924, for over a century of service. The resolution recounts the lodge's founding by 53 Masons from Fort Benning and nearby lodges, its charter from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Georgia, and the service its members have provided across Columbus, Muscogee, Chattahoochee, and Harris counties. It formally recognizes and commends the lodge and directs the Clerk of the House to give the lodge a copy of the resolution. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Fort Benning Lodge #579 for 100 years of service, leadership, and fraternal contributions. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the lodge. - Extends the House's best wishes for the lodge's future growth and success. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory change; it is a ceremonial statement by the House. ### Who it affects Fort Benning Lodge #579, its Masonic members, and the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Georgia, along with communities in Columbus, Muscogee County, Chattahoochee County, and Harris County where the lodge and affiliated bodies have operated. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or financial effect; it is a symbolic honor from the Georgia House recognizing a century of community and fraternal service by a local Masonic lodge, giving the lodge formal public recognition and a keepsake copy of the resolution. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses recount the lodge's founding on January 10, 1924, its charter on October 29, 1924, and constitution on November 3, 1924. - The resolving clause has the House recognize and commend the lodge for over 100 years of service and fraternal contributions. - A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to provide a copy of the resolution to Fort Benning Lodge #579. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-19) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-19) - Sponsors: Vance Smith, Carmen Rice - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70543 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr317.md?full=1