WM ANTHONY DUCKETT, SR.
Email: aduckett24@gmail.com
ELECTED OFFICERS
SENIOR WARDEN
Leonard Minus
JUNIOR WARDEN
Kahil Brooks
TREASURER
David D. Baker
SECRETARY
Paul Cotton
WARRANTED & CHARTERED
December 21, 1917
MEETING DATE & TIME
3rd Friday of each Month at 7:30 pm
ABOUT DORIC LODGE NO. 19
The illustrious history of Doric Lodge #19, F. & A.M., P.H.A., began on December 21st, 1917, when a charter established its existence under the guiding light of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia. Warranted at the time, as the Union Grand Lodge for the District of Columbia, by the Grand Lodge of the State of Pennsylvania, chartered and set apart on December 21, 1917, a newly formed Lodge to be known thereafter as Doric Lodge No. 19, F&AM. As evidenced in the Charter, Most Worshipful Grand Master William Henry Jackson (10) bestowed the honors and installed Oscar L. Hayes as Worshipful Master (1917 – 19), Levi M. Collins, Senior Warden and James H. Wells, Junior Warden.
The sacred band of friends and Brothers grew and contributed to the greater good of the Grand Lodge, with the elevation of PM Rev. Melvin Jefferson Key, a charter member, to the exalted position of Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia in the years 1947–1949. While faithfully serving in this office, he applied the philosophy of fomenting and encouraging Brotherly harmony and collective pride by making the dream of reclaiming the edifice that was once the Masonic Temple, back into the reality of being the property of Prince Hall Masons.
At the 1948 Centennial Grand Lodge Session, on July 31st, the Temple was reclaimed due to the fundraising efforts of the Prince Hall Family and MWPGM Key’s vision.
Doric Lodge #19 continues to produce Brethren in high leadership positions. In 1988, Reverend Bro. Ronald Boykin served as GWP of the GTGC O.E.S. (District of Columbia) and as Worshipful Grand Chaplain until 2017. In 2003-2004, another distinguished Brother, PM John T. Doles, Sr. served as GWP of the GTGC O.E.S, and in 2013-2014, John T. Doles, Sr. was duly elected as the 83rd MWGM. During his tenure, many initiatives were realized and manifested at the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Grand Masters and Grand Matrons held at L’Enfant Plaza Hotel (DC). Some of these initiatives included: 1) The Inaugural Prince Hall Masonic Classic which resulted in the awarding of two (2) scholarships to students from Howard University, 2) The 5K Prostate Cancer Walk held in the District of Columbia with proceeds donated to the Howard University Research Center, and 3) The first Thanksgiving dinner for seniors of the Shaw Community and surrounding areas which was held at the Center for Performing Arts. These are just a few, in a long line of many, of the outstanding contributions and advancements made by these exemplary leaders of Doric Lodge #19.
“We cannot stand still, we refuse to go backwards,
Therefore, we must go forward.” ~ MWPGM Melvin J. Key