In his day job, Roger Cornelius Brown is a computer specialist who helps keep banking information fl owing smoothly.

Off the job, the 58-year-old Henrico County resident is the leader of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Virginia, one of the oldest African-American groups in the state.

He proudly bears the title of most worshipful grand master — equivalent to president and chief executive offi cer — of the independent, Richmond-based Grand Lodge of Virginia, Free and Accepted Masons.

He is the 78th leader of the Virginia Grand Lodge that dates to 1875. But he notes the roots go far deeper, back to the American Revolution a century earlier, specifically to Boston in 1775.

The organization’s mission and values are just as noteworthy today as they were at the start.

“Our purpose as Masons is to dispense charity, promote family values and endeavor to signifi cantly aid in uplifting humanity,” he says.

“We’re a fraternal group that takes good men and makes them better,” he says. “Our members are people of good moral character who love their families and are involved in their community.”

Mr. Brown can recite the history like a college professor: British troops garrisoned in Boston took the unusual step of admitting Prince Hall and 14 other black men into a military Masonic lodge — in contrast to the rejection that Prince Hall and the other men received from all-white colonial lodges.

After the English force was driven out, the history lesson continues, Prince Hall led the founding and eventual chartering of African Lodge No. 1, the fi rst lodge with a predominantly black membership in America.

Prince Hall became the fi rst grand master. Later, after his death, the lodges and organizations that grew out of the original lodge adopted his name.

Mr. Brown and others have carried on the tradition and ignored the bigotry of their white Masonic counterparts. It took more than two centuries for most of the predominantly white Masonic lodges to accept African-American members or recognize Prince Hall Masons. Virginia’s white Masonic organization, whose members describe themselves as ancient, free and accepted Masons, did not fully recognize Prince Hall Masons and the Grand Lodge Mr. Brown leads until 2003.

For Mr. Brown, the big challenge for the Grand Lodge he heads is h

ow to attract young men. Like many fraternal groups, membership in the Prince Hall Masons is waning. Today membership in the Grand Lodge is less than onethird of the peak membership of 18,000 of 30 years ago.

“We hope to turn this around,” Mr. Brown says.

One way, he says, is for Prince Hall Masons to tell people in their respective communities more about the good that Masons do.

Meet Roger C. Brown, the new leader of the Prince Hall Masons in Virginia, who is striving do just that:

Birth date and place: June 14 in Charlottesville.

Current home: Henrico County.

Alma maters: Louisa County High School, 1974; Randolph- Macon College, in Ashland, bachelor’s degree in psychology, 1978.

Family: Wife of 30 years, Brenda Coleman Brown, a nurse, married 30 years; two daughters, Stacie L. Brown, 28, a singer, and Stefany L. Brown, 22, a chef.

When elected most worshipful grand master and length of term: Elected and installed as the 78th on Sept. 20, 2014, at the 139th Annual Grand Lodge session in Falls Church for a two-year term.

Grand Lodge position before election: Right worshipful deputy grand master for two years, the second highest position in our organization.

Grand Lodge’s total membership: Approximately 5,200 master Masons in Virginia.

Grand Lodge’s largest total membership and when: 18,000 in the early to mid- 1980s. Grand Lodge’s Richmond area membership: There are 22 lodges with seven lodge halls in Richmond and surrounding areas, including Varina, Ashland and Mechanicsville. These lodges comprise the 26th Masonic District. There are approximately 1,200 Masons in Richmond, including our very own Mayor Dwight C. Jones.

When Virginia Grand Lodge was founded: Dec. 15, 1875, at First Baptist Church in Petersburg. The state lodge was formed from the merger of two previous grand lodges, the National Grand Lodge and the Union Grand Lodge. After the merger, the new name was Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Virginia (Prince Hall Affiliation). In 1959, that organization was issued a charter of incorporation from the Virginia State Corporation Commission as the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Virginia, Free and Accepted Masons Inc.

Top Grand Lodge accomplishments: During the past six years, the Grand Lodge has donated more than $500,000 in college scholarships to graduating high school seniors and to college sophomores, juniors and seniors. The Grand Lodge and its auxiliary, the Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star also provided more than $300,000 in charitable donations just in 2013.

Why is the lodge still relevant: We’re assisting our youths to gain a higher education and providing charity to those in need within our communities. That’s why in 2010, the Virginia’s House and Senate jointly recognized the work of our forefathers and of our Masonic brothers of today.

When and why I became a Mason: On April 21, 1984, I was inducted into the Lord Hannibal Lodge #327 at the RAML Temple at 25th and Leigh streets. I became a Mason because of the principles of brotherly love that the lodge promoted and the amazing amount of charitable work the members did in the community. And my father is a Mason. He is currently a member of Louisa Temple Lodge No.113.

No. 1 objective as Grand Master: To level off the decline in membership, with a high emphasis on reclaiming inactive members.

Kind of members the lodge seeks: We seek men of high moral character who have respect for others and for themselves. At the close of the day, we would like for our brothers to “live respected and die regretted.”

What’s expected of a Grand Master: To preserve order by maintaining peace and harmony. He is expected to be just and fair in all of his rulings and decision-making. He is expected to rule according to the Masonic Constitution without waiver.

How the public perceives Masons: As members of a secret organization that some believe is a cult.

How Masons want to be perceived: As a fraternal organization for men of high moral character and ethics who love their families and their community.

The name of the Masons’ women’s auxiliary: Order of the Eastern Star. There are approximately 3,500 Eastern Stars in Virginia.

How I start the day: With prayer and thanks to God.

Best late-night snack: Pound cake and ice cream.

Person who influenced me the most: My father, William E. Brown Sr.

The book that influenced me the most: “A Leader After God’s Own Heart” by Jim George.

What I’m reading now: “Let It Go” by Bishop T.D. Jakes.

Best time of my life: The birth of each of my two daughters.

My next goal: My first goal was to become grand master. Now it is to become the best grand master that I can be. And in doing so, I hope to leave the Grand Lodge a little bit better than when I first came into office.