Bill Text: NY J00384 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Commending Oriental Royal Court No. 5, Order of Cyrene upon the occasion of hosting its Prayer Breakfast on February 12, 2023
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2023-02-03 - REFERRED TO FINANCE [J00384 Detail]
Download: New_York-2023-J00384-Introduced.html
Senate Resolution No. 384 BY: Senator PARKER COMMENDING Oriental Royal Court No. 5, Order of Cyrene upon the occasion of hosting its Prayer Breakfast on February 12, 2023 WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute to those organizations of high purpose and worthy accomplishment whose endeavors have faithfully served the welfare of the citizens of the State of New York; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Oriental Royal Court No. 5, Order of Cyrene upon the occasion of hosting its Prayer Breakfast on Sunday, February 12, 2023; and WHEREAS, The Order of Cyrene is composed of members of the Temp Sir (Knights Templar), their wives, widows, mothers, sisters and daughters; and WHEREAS, In 1884, John Elezy, Sr., John Elzey, Jr., and Isaac L.W. Holland established the Order of Cyrene in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which order adopted the giving name "The Order of Cyrene, Auxiliary to the Knights Templar"; and WHEREAS, Between 1884 and 1904, two other Courts were established in Philadelphia, and a governing body for then Cyrenes, known as the Supreme Grand Court of America was subsequently organized; in 1904 the United Grand Commandery of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania accepted the Order of Cyrene as the Auxiliary; and WHEREAS, In 1878, Ivanhoe Commandery No. 5 was warranted as a subordinate Commandery of the Prince Hall Grand Commandery, Knights Templar of the Jurisdiction of New York; and WHEREAS, In 1881 at 114 West 54th street in New York City, the wives, widow, mothers, sisters and daughters of the Ivanhoe Commandery organized Helping Hand Auxiliary to assist in the members of the Commandery; Sister Nanny Jones was elected its Presiding Officer and Sir Knights James McCadden its Chief Advisor; and WHEREAS, The members of Helping Hand Auxiliary soon affiliated with the Order of Cyrene, Auxiliary to the Knights Templar in Pennsylvania, and in 1914, the Supreme Grand Court of America established the members of Helping Hand Auxiliary as Helping Hand Royal Court in Manhattan, the first in the State of New York; and WHEREAS, During the next four years, the Grand Court of Pennsylvania established two other Cyrene Courts in the State of New York, Nazarene Royal Court in Brooklyn and Bethany Court in Manhattan; and WHEREAS, On October 31, 1918, the three Cyrene Courts in New York surrendered their warrants and with the assistance of the Supreme Grand Court of America, with the Most Royal Grand Commandress, Elizabeth Banks and Most Royal Grand Chief Engineer, John W. Elezy presiding and assisted by Grand Secretary A.E. Robinson constituted and established the Most Royal Prince Hall Grand Court, Order of Cyrene for the State of New York; Royal Lady Betty DeToscano was selected as the first Most Royal Grand Chief Engineer and Royal Eva A. Green was selected as the first Right Royal Grand Secretary; and WHEREAS, On May 31, 1948, the Prince Hall Grand Commandery, Knights Templar for the Jurisdiction of New York, Most Eminent Clarence A. Miller, Grand Commander at the time presiding, officially adopted the Most Royal Prince Hall Grand Court Order of Cyrene for the State of New York as its Auxiliary; and WHEREAS, In 1995, the Most Royal Prince Hall Grand Court Order of Cyrene of the State of New York, under the administration of Most Royal Grand Commandress Bobbie O'Garro and Most Royal Grand Chief Engineer, Sir Percy Purdue the three Cyrene Courts in the State of Connecticut, who at the time were under the jurisdiction of the most Royal Prince Hall Grand Court Order of Cyrene of the State of New York, Miriam Royal Court in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Faith Royal Court in New Haven, Connecticut, and Mary Magdelene Royal Court in Hartford, Connecticut, surrendered their warrants and requested to be established as a Grand Court Order of Cyrene for the State of Connecticut; and WHEREAS, With the blessing of the Most Eminent Prince Hall Grand Commandery, Knights Templar of the State of New York, Most Eminent, Sir Ludwick Hall at the time presiding as the Most Eminent Grand Commander, permission was granted; and WHEREAS, Most Royal Grand Chief Engineer Sir Percy Purdue and the Most Royal Grand Commandress and the Officer and Members of the Grand Court assisted in establishing the Most Royal Prince Hall Grand Court Order of Cyrene for the State of Connecticut, and Royal Lady Anne M. Bolden was elected as its first Most Royal Grand Commandress and Sir William Randolph its first Most Royal Grand Chief Engineer; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proudly moved to honor and commend the members of Oriental Royal Court No. 5, Order of Cyrene, past and present, who have labored so conscientiously to secure and improve the quality of life for the community it serves; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Oriental Royal Court No. 5, Order of Cyrene upon the occasion of hosting its Prayer Breakfast on February 12, 2023; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to RC Joy Grant, RCE Franklin Marhsall, MRGC Brenda J. Simons, and MRGCE Richard Bourne.