--- title: SR 305. Prince Hall Freemasonry; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr305 cite_as: SR 305, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr305 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr305.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr305/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70968 date: 2025-02-28 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-12 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/sr304.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr306.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr305.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 305 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-28 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Brian Strickland - Derek Mallow - Ricky Williams - Bo Hatchett text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR305/2025 upstream_id: 1987897 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Prince Hall Freemasonry - Senate resolution - community service recognition - Georgia Masonic organizations --- # SR 305. Prince Hall Freemasonry; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 305 By: Senators Strickland of the 42nd, Mallow of the 2nd, Williams of the 25th and Hatchett of the 50th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Prince Hall Freemasonry and the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Prince Hall Freemasonry, founded in 1784, in Boston, Massachusetts, has a long and distinguished history of promoting leadership, education, community service, and social justice, serving as a pillar of strength and upliftment within African American communities; and WHEREAS, the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia was formed on June 24, 1870, in the City of Savannah, Georgia, under the leadership of Grand Master James R. Simms, along with three lodges, Eureka No. 1, Hilton No. 2, and Banneker No. 3; and WHEREAS, the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia, together with its 181 constituent lodges and over 5,000 members statewide, has awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships to deserving students over the past five years; and WHEREAS, in 2024, the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia collectively dedicated over 20,000 hours to community service by collaborating with established organizations and causes, feeding and clothing the less fortunate, and providing vital youth mentoring services; and WHEREAS, the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia has upheld the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth, contributing to the spiritual, moral, and civic development of its members and the greater community; and WHEREAS, for generations, Prince Hall Masons have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to philanthropy, youth mentorship, scholarship programs, and public service, including partnerships with local organizations to address issues of health, education, and economic empowerment; and WHEREAS, the contributions of Prince Hall Masons to the social fabric of Georgia reflect the enduring legacy of Prince Hall himself, a visionary leader who sought equality, justice, and unity in the face of adversity; and WHEREAS, it is fitting to recognize and honor the invaluable impact of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia and its affiliated bodies, including the Order of the Eastern Star and Masonic Youth Organizations, in shaping a brighter future for all citizens; and WHEREAS, the Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star, a distinguished and vital organization made up of our Sisters, has long provided a foundation of faith, service, and philanthropy, working to support charitable causes, promote education, and enrich the lives of families throughout our state; and WHEREAS, the youth organization sponsored by the Georgia Prince Hall Masons, the Knights of Pythagoras, provides young men with invaluable leadership, community service, and character-building opportunities; and WHEREAS, the Knights of Pythagoras has enriched the lives of many young men in Georgia, instilling in them the principles of integrity, honor, and community service. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend Prince Hall Freemasonry and the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia as well as extend best wishes for continued growth and success. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia. ## 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 Senate resolution formally recognizes and commends Prince Hall Freemasonry and the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia for their history of community service and charitable work. ### Plain-language summary This resolution does not change any law. It is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia Senate honoring Prince Hall Freemasonry, a Masonic tradition founded in 1784, and specifically the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia, which was formed in Savannah in 1870. The resolution recounts the Grand Lodge's history, its more than 5,000 members and 181 lodges statewide, over $100,000 in scholarships awarded in the past five years, and more than 20,000 hours of community service logged in 2024. It also recognizes affiliated groups like the Order of the Eastern Star and the Knights of Pythagoras youth program. The Senate resolves to commend the organization and directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to the Grand Lodge for its records. ### What it does - Formally states the Georgia Senate's recognition and commendation of Prince Hall Freemasonry and the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia. - Extends the Senate's best wishes for the organization's continued growth and success. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the Grand Lodge. - Creates no new statutes, funding, penalties, or legal requirements, since it is a commendatory resolution rather than a law. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia, its 181 constituent lodges and over 5,000 members, the affiliated Order of the Eastern Star, and the Knights of Pythagoras youth organization. It creates no obligations for the general public. ### Why it matters Because this is a ceremonial resolution rather than a law, it does not change anyone's rights, duties, or funding. Its practical effect is limited to an official Senate acknowledgment and a commemorative copy given to the Grand Lodge. ### Key provisions - The resolution's preamble (whereas clauses) recounts the founding of Prince Hall Freemasonry in 1784 and the Georgia Grand Lodge's formation in Savannah in 1870. - It cites specific figures: over $100,000 in scholarships awarded over five years and more than 20,000 hours of community service in 2024. - The first resolving clause has the Senate recognize and commend the organization and wish it continued success. - The final resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to the Grand Lodge. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-28) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-02-28) - Sponsors: Brian Strickland, Derek Mallow, Ricky Williams, Bo Hatchett - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70968 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr305.md?full=1