Bill Text: NY J00384 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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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

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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.