Honoring Our Past, Inspiring the Future
Early Leadership
The first officers of the lodge were: Thomas Dulaney – Worshipful Master, I. W. Williams – Senior Warden, and Thomas Proctor – Junior Warden. The names of the other officers are unavailable due to misplaced records.
Current and Historical Meeting Places
For the past several decades, Acacia has met at 112 E. Oxford Avenue in the Del Ray section of Alexandria, Va. The building is owned by the Harris Masonic Memorial Association, which is home to three Masonic entities: Acacia Lodge #32, Universal Lodge #1, and Esther Chapter #23 OES. Previous meeting locations included the Odd Fellows Hall and the Elks Lodge in Old Town Alexandria.
Membership and Community Pillars
Acacia has had some very talented members of this lodge, who have given their time and talent for the progress of the lodge, the building of each other's individual character, and the uplift of the community in Alexandria. Lodges often reflect their community, and over the years Acacia has had all types of men as members, representing a variety of talents and professions. Many of the pillars of the African American community of Alexandria have been members: doctors, lawyers, teachers, businessmen, military leaders, and most notably ministers and church leaders. As the times changed, so did the membership. The lodge made history when it elected its first Caucasian Worshipful Master in 2007 when the members elected Patrick Bailey as Master.
Leadership at the Grand Lodge Level
The lodge has had three members elected to the Grand Lodge and four appointed. H. L. Harris was elected and served as Right Worshipful Grand Secretary, Roswell A. Taylor, Sr. was elected as Most Worshipful Grand Master, and most recently Leo A. Brooks, Sr. was elected Right Worshipful Grand Director. Samuel A. Tucker, Jr., was appointed as District Deputy Grand Master; William H. Skinner, Jr., was appointed as Grand Junior Steward; James H. Boyd was appointed as Grand Pursuivant and later as Grand Chaplain; most recently Ronald E. Blakely was appointed as District Deputy Grand Master; and Joseph C. Edwards served on the Committee on Work.
Past Right Worshipful Grand Director Leo Brooks Sr
Past District Deputy Grand Master Ronald Blakely
Community Service and Outreach
The current membership of Acacia regularly conducts community service activities, including sponsoring a scholarship for Alexandria City High School, an annual children’s coat drive, and participating in the Grand Lodge Scholarship Raffle program, annual veterans' visitation, and the 31st Masonic District annual Seniors Cookout.
Fraternal Relations and the Future of the Lodge
As Masonry has overcome the nation’s history of segregation, Acacia has developed a regular fraternal relationship with Acacia Lodge #16 of Clifton, VA, a subordinate lodge in the traditionally white Grand Lodge of Virginia. As the community changes and becomes more transient, the membership changes with it, but Acacia #32 continues to uphold the values of the Craft, and works to make good men better.