SR 305: Prince Hall Freemasonry; recognize

This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia Senate honoring Prince Hall Freemasonry, a fraternal organization founded in 1784, and specifically the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia, formed in Savannah in 1870. The resolution recounts the organization's history, its 181 lodges and more than 5,000 members statewide, its scholarship giving, and its community service hours in 2024. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It simply states the Senate's recognition and commendation of the organization and its affiliated groups, including the Order of the Eastern Star and the Knights of Pythagoras youth program, and wishes them continued success. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to the Grand Lodge.

• Formally states the Georgia Senate's recognition and commendation of Prince Hall Freemasonry and the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia.
• Recounts the history, membership size, scholarship contributions, and community service hours of the Grand Lodge and its affiliated organizations.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the Grand Lodge.
• Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement, since it is a commendatory resolution rather than a bill amending the Georgia Code.

The resolution directly names the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia, its more than 5,000 members and 181 lodges, the Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star, and the Knights of Pythagoras youth organization. It also involves the Secretary of the Senate, who must distribute a copy.

Because this is a commendatory resolution rather than a law, it carries symbolic rather than legal weight. It gives the Grand Lodge and its affiliated organizations formal, public recognition from the state Senate for their history of scholarships, community service, and youth mentoring.

• The whereas clauses detail the Grand Lodge's 1870 founding in Savannah, its 181 lodges, over 5,000 members, and more than $100,000 in scholarships awarded over five years.
• The whereas clauses note over 20,000 hours of community service performed in 2024.
• The resolving clause states the Senate's recognition and commendation of Prince Hall Freemasonry and the Grand Lodge.
• A further resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy for distribution to the Grand Lodge.

1. 2025-02-28Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
2. 2025-02-27Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Brian Strickland (R, SD-42)Primary sponsor
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-2)
• Rick Williams (R, SD-25)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-50)

• Prince Hall Freemasonry
• Georgia Senate resolution
• community service
• fraternal organizations