Grand LodgeLifetime Membership Awards

At the close of the 174th Annual Grand Lodge Session, the Honorable Noel C. Osborne, Sr. stated it is long overdue for our varying levels of leadership to identify and honor those who long held the banner of Prince Hall Freemasonry. If these members were homebound, he advised, it is our duty to go to them to say thank you for their service and honor them while they are still here in labor. Additionally to this, at the start of the 2022-23 Masonic Year, our very own RW Willie S. Godfrey introduced the idea for our lodge to take a moment to honor our Grand Lodge Lifetime Members. At the time of discussion, our lodge had two Grand Lodge Lifetime Members where we decided it was best to provide them with a token of appreciation in respect to their dedication as Master Masons and our jurisdiction. The token of appreciation consisted of a finely engraved plaque provided to the brother, or their family representative, in May 2023, and it is more than befitting to start our news article with them.

The visitation to Past Master Johnson consisted of prayer, conversations on his experiences in the organization, his guidance on how we can build good relationships with newer generations of men coming into the order, and his input on the topics from our fatherhood forum. Prior to leaving, we presented his lovely wife with gifts. During our conversation, we were presented with many of their Masonic and OES gems, pieces of history, and artifacts.■

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Top pictures: Dues card of Past Master Raymond Johnson from 1957.

Middle picture: Myra Grand Chapter paraphernalia of Past Matron Gloria Johnson from 1995.

Bottom left picture: Myra Grand Chapter paraphernalia of Past Matron Gloria Johnson from 1994.

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