Past Master Wright, Chief Earl Cook, Most Worshipful Prince hall Grandmaster Shelton Riddick, Mayor Euille, Universal Lodge 1 Prince Hall Worshipful Master Al-Haddid Rollins and Past District Grand Master Richard L Williams. Second Row Past Masters Jacobs, Banks and Funderburke. Also Senior Warden Jamie Flores and Junior Stewart McArthur Myers. Lawrence Robinson
Virginia Universal Lodge #1 of Alexandria and the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Virginia Free and Accepted Masons Incorporated held an Occasional Ceremony at the Magnus Temple Fort Belvoir on April 26 to make Mayor William E. Euille and Police Chief Earl L. Cook Master Masons.
The ceremony was presided over by the Most Worshipful Grandmaster Shelton Riddick and his Cabinet. Also presiding was Universal Lodge Worshipful Master Al-Hadid Rollins. Many in attendance were from various lodges in the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge 31st District. Universal Lodge #1 is the oldest Prince Hall Lodge in the state having received its charter on Feb. 5, 1845.
Euille said he "had Masons in his family and was friend of men he later found out to be Masons." He added he "was proud to be part of this esteemed organization."
Cook too said he was honored, adding "when I was young I knew men who were Masons and upstanding in their character." He also said he was "proud to be part of the Brotherhood."
Many of the Master Masons in attendance came from all walks of life, vocations and distances. Some representatives came from as close as Washington, D.C., both Arlington and Prince Georges counties. Virginia Lodges from Newport News, Hampton, Richmond, and other parts of Virginia as well Baltimore, Md., were represented. The furthest Masonic representatives came from West Virginia and Brooklyn, N.Y.