On November 6, 2008, the Worshipful Master of Benjamin B. French Lodge No. 15 presented the COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD, which was established by the Lodge to recognize those individuals providing outstanding volunteer service at Historical Congressional Cemetery.

Below is the speech that he had delivered during that ceremony:

“Good afternoon and thank you, Mr. Crowley, for the kind introduction.

I wish Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton were still here so that I could have mentioned that I voted for her on Tuesday.

I am a member of the oldest fraternity in the world. My fraternity predates the founding of this country and certainly predates the founding of this city. It is also because of my fraternity that every single fraternity or sorority uses Greek letters and also why so many of our buildings in Washington DC look Greek or Roman, or why the Washington Monument is an Egyptian obelisk…and why there are so many headstones in this cemetery which are in that exact same style.

There are many Freemasons buried in this cemetery.

In fact, the man who laid the cornerstone of the Washington Monument

– in Masonic fashion of course — was Benjamin B. French and it is after him that my Lodge is named.

Benjamin B. French was Clerk of the U.S House of Representatives in the 1830s and 1840s and later, under President Abraham Lincoln, became Commissioner of all public buildings and grounds in the city. He was charged with taking care of the Capitol, the President’s House, and — this was all before “home rule” — the city’s streets, public squares and bridges. He administering the Capitol policeman and was put in charge of the Capitol extension and the new Capitol dome, which was completed during the time of Lincoln. Brother French was also responsible for the day-to-day maintenance and repair of the White House and other public structures in his charge. He even made sure there was enough firewood and coal to heat the buildings at all times, which is no small responsibility.

Over time, Benjamin B. French became very close to Lincoln. He even served as Marshall in Chief at the dedication of the Gettysburg Cemetery and wrote the “Consecration Hymn” preceding the famed Gettysburg Address, which is probably the most famous speech ever given in American history. He was also there with President Lincoln as he lay dying after being shot at Ford’s Theater.

As a Freemason, Benjamin B. French served as Grand Master of the District of Columbia for seven consecutive years. While Grand Master, he laid the cornerstones of the east extension of the U.S. Capitol Building, the Smithsonian Castle and the Washington Monument. It was also because of Benjamin B. French that Prince Hall Masonry, for African-Americans, was born.

In fact, the first Prince Hall Lodges first met in the barn on his property and it is directly because of Brother French that African- Americans in this city first became Masons.

When Benjamin B. French — whose gravesite is just over there – - died, his obituary appeared on the FRONT page of the New York Times.

Brother John Philip Sousa, whom we honor today on his birthday, was also a Freemason. In fact he was a member of Hiram Lodge No. 10 here in the District of Columbia. Of course he wrote many pieces that all of us know, and some that we will hear later, but what most of you are not aware is that he also composed many pieces specifically for the members of our fraternity.

However, each year for the past five years, to honor our namesake and his final resting place, Benjamin B. French Lodge No. 15 awards a volunteer at Congressional Cemetery for their outstanding service.

Masons take pride in being “builders”, however, we also believe in preserving what has already been built…and today we honor Ms. Sandra Schmidt for her outstanding service to the cemetery. I realize that there is no amount of money that can compensate for the countless hours of volunteer work you’ve given over the years but please accept this small token on behalf of our Lodge (presented check). Of course we all know that money comes and goes but hopefully this will last forever (presented plaque).

Thank you very much for all that you do.”