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.
