Celebrating its 170th anniversary, members of the Universal #1 Lodge gathered in City Hall council chambers on Tuesday evening, Feb. 10, to receive a proclamation. The Lodge began as the Prince Hall Free Masonry on Feb. 5, 1845 in what was then Alexandria, D.C. It was created by three seaman, William Dudley, Sandy Bryant and Benjamin Crier who had been initiated Masons at the St. George Lodge #32 Liverpool, England. They settled in Alexandria in 1838 and became members of Social Lodge #7 of Washington, D.C.
The lodge began to function on Aug. 26, 1845 with George Sims as Worshipful Master. Charter members included Ephraim Bancroft, Dennis Bourbon, Pete Costin, Edward Evans, James Evans, Richard Garrett, Joseph L. Gibson, Alfred Hamilton, the Rev. Robert H. Robinson (P.G.M.), and George Sims.
Universal Lodge held regular meetings on the second floor of a house at 424 S. Royal St. in a section of Alexandria known as Hayti.