Senate Resolution No. 482

BY: Senator PARKER

COMMENDING the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand
Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New
York upon the occasion of hosting its Celebration of
Women Luncheon, in conjunction with the observance
of Women's History Month

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 the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted
Masons of the State of New York upon the occasion of hosting its
Celebration of Women Luncheon, in conjunction with the observance of
Women's History Month on Saturday, March 25, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Each year New York State officially sets aside time to
recognize the unique contributions that New York women have made to New
York State and beyond; and

WHEREAS, New York State has a distinguished history of monumental
achievements in the area of women's rights; and

WHEREAS, In 1826, New York State opened one of the first public high
schools for girls resulting in a future for women in which they were no
longer confined to the home, a future in which they were educated and
able to use this education to better their social and economic status;
and

WHEREAS, In 1848 in New York, the first women's rights convention
was held at Seneca Falls to secure for all women the right to vote; and

WHEREAS, In 1903, The Women's Trade Union League of New York was
formed to represent working women, later becoming the nucleus for the
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union; and

WHEREAS, In 1917, New York guaranteed women the right to vote in all
elections and in the following year the first two women, Ida Sammis and
Mary Lilly, were elected to the New York State Legislature and became
the first women to then serve in 1919; and

WHEREAS, In 1955, Bessie Buchanan was the first African-American
woman to serve in the New York State Legislature; and

WHEREAS, In 1967, Muriel Siebert became the first woman to own a
seat on the New York Stock Exchange, opening the door for women to gain
positions of greater economic power; and

WHEREAS, In 1968, New York State Assemblywoman Shirley Chisholm
became the first black woman elected to Congress and in 1972, she ran
for President of the United States, another first for black women; and


WHEREAS, In 1970, New York City was the site of the first Women's
Strike for Equality in which 50,000 people marched for equal rights; and

WHEREAS, In 1978, Olga Mendez became the first Latina woman to serve
in the New York State Legislature; and

WHEREAS, In 1983, New York State women legislators established the
Legislative Women's Caucus to improve the participation of women in all
areas of government, support issues that benefit women and provide a
network of support for women in the State Legislature; and

WHEREAS, In 2007, Ellen Young was the first Asian-American woman to
serve in the New York State Legislature; and

WHEREAS, In 2009, New Yorker Sonia Sotomayor became the first
Hispanic Justice appointed to the United States Supreme Court; and

WHEREAS, In 2015, New Yorker Loretta Elizabeth Lynch was appointed
as Attorney General of the United States, becoming the first
African-American woman to serve in this esteemed position; and

WHEREAS, New York has been the home of many extraordinary women who
have led society to a better future: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B.
Anthony led the campaign for women's suffrage; Sojourner Truth spoke out
for the abolition of slavery and for suffrage for all women; and

WHEREAS, Carrie Chapman Catt became the first president of the
League of Women Voters; Emma Willard opened the first endowed
institution for the education of women; Civil War surgeon Dr. Mary E.
Walker was the only woman ever awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor;
Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist who led slaves to freedom by way of
the Underground Railroad in the 19th Century; and

WHEREAS, Elizabeth Blackwell and Belva Lockwood were the first women
in the fields of medicine and law; pioneer birth control educator and
advocate Margaret Sanger established a research center in New York City;
and

WHEREAS, Emma Goldman founded the Free Speech League which led to
the American Civil Liberties Union; humanitarian Eleanor Roosevelt
served as United States Delegate to the United Nations; and

WHEREAS, New Yorker Edith Windsor fought to expand marriage equality
in the United States prior to the Marriage Equality Act of New York
which became law in 2011; and

WHEREAS, Civil rights lawyer and New York State Senator Constance
Baker Motley became the first black woman to sit on the U.S. District
Court in New York, and there have been so many more known and unknown
women who championed rights and opportunity for all; and

WHEREAS, New York State has hosted many conventions, campaigns and
events of the Women's Rights Movement from the 1848 convention at Seneca
Falls to the 1999 Berkshire Conference of Women Historians, which was
held to improve the status of women in history and in the historical
professions; and

WHEREAS, 50% of statewide elected officials are women and for the
first time, a woman has been elected Attorney General in the State of
New York; and

WHEREAS, 2023 marks the 103rd Anniversary of the 19th amendment,
which guaranteed women the right to vote in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The dedicated Masons of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall
Grand Lodge of New York are men with a social conscience and a
charitable perspective, who are also known as Freemasons; they are part
of a fraternal organization that shares common moral ideals and esoteric
values which are based on the doctrine of Brotherly Love, Relief and
Truth; and

WHEREAS, The oldest fraternity in the world, Freemasons come from
all walks of life and are actively involved in their community; they
march in parades, dedicate buildings, visit the sick and shut in, and
feed the less fortunate; and

WHEREAS, The success of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge,
Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York is in direct
correlation to the efforts of its Grand Master Gregory Robeson Smith Jr.
and its members, whose involvement is, and always has been,
characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and
an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of
the institution and the community it serves; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proudly moved to honor and commend
the members of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New York,
Free and Accepted Masons, 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 the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted
Masons of the State of New York upon the occasion of hosting its
Celebration of Women Luncheon, in conjunction with the observance of
Women's History Month; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Grand Master Gregory Robeson Smith Jr., Most Worshipful
Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New
York.