Gregory Ian Darrisaw feels surrounded by history as the presiding officer of Hobson Lodge No. 23 F&A Prince Hall Masons, the largest Prince Hall Masonic lodge in the city’s South Side.

“I’m honored and humbled to serve as we are marking our 150th year of operation,” says Mr. Darrisaw, a 46-year-old New York native who is winding down his tenure as the lodge’s worshipful master or president.

A large man with the build of a football tackle, Mr. Darrisaw says that amid COVID-19, the lodge did not stage a big event. Instead, the milestone anniversary was marked with a low-key, wreath-laying at a nearby cemetery to remember those who paved the way for him and others to carry on the traditions of the lodge founded in 1871, just six years after the Civil War ended.

Black Masons living south of the James River founded Hobson Lodge to be closer to home in what was then the town of Manchester, which was annexed by Richmond in 1910. A full-time project manager for the Virginia Lottery, Mr. Darrisaw says the lodge has long been a lodestar for community-minded men who wanted to improve themselves and make a difference in the larger community.

Mr. Darrisaw stands in the lodge’s long line of worshipful masters that started with Ballard T. Edwards, a champion of public education who was among the first Black delegates elected to the General Assembly during Reconstruction.

Others who have held the post during the past century and a half include Dr. James H. Blackwell Jr., son of the educator for whom a nearby city elementary school is named, political activist St. Elmo Reid and the late Dr. W.L. Ransome, pastor of First Baptist Church of South Richmond, who launched the annual Jan. 1 service commemorating the Emancipation Proclamation.

Among fraternal groups, Masonry is among the few that remain just for men; women can belong to the Order of the Eastern Star.

Mr. Darrisaw says that networking is among the major benefits of being a part of the organization.

“If I have a problem or a need, usually there is a member who can help,” he says. “Our members come from all walks of life.”

As worshipful master since 2019, he says one of his goals has been to continue showcasing the lodge’s efforts to be community focused.

“We try to have at least one project a month, whether it’s cookouts in the summer, school supply distribution in the fall or Thanksgiving turkey distributions in the fall,” he says.

“We want people to see Hobson as a place that serves m them and where they feel comfortable. We want them to see us and understand we are an important part of this area. We want them to feel welcome to participate in our events or to hold their own events here.”

Mr. Darrisaw views the effort to build a strong relationship with surrounding neighborhoods as one way to attract new members. Recruiting new members is a no-no for Masons, he says, with the organization leaving it up to individuals to approach a member to gain a recommendation.

“To be one, you have to ask one,” he says.

He learned about the Masons years ago and admired the contributions they made. He credits his membership to a friendship with a Mason he worked with, Mark J. Moyler, now a city police officer. Mr. Moyler sponsored him after he asked.

That was five years ago.

Since 2016, Mr. Darrisaw says he has been fortunate tor rise quickly through lodge’s ranks of elected positions, such as junior steward, senor deacon and junior warden to reach the top post.

As he prepares to step down and hand over the leadership to Wilktion Shaw, the lodge’s next worshipful master, Mr. Darrisaw says he will continue to take part in a lodge that has an impact both on its members and on the area where it is based.

“What we do makes everyone proud to be a member,” he says.

Meet a community-minded leader and this week’s Personality, Gregory I. Darrisaw:

Date and place of birth: Sept. 1 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, ITT Technical Institute; master’s in information technology, Virginia Commonwealth University.

Family: Wife, Tanyea Darrisaw, and five children, ages 15 to 27.

Occupation: Project manager, Virginia Lottery

Where I live now: New Kent County

No. 1 Volunteer Position: Worshipful master (president) of Hobson Lodge No. 23 Prince Hall Masons.

When Elected:May 2019 for one year, term extended one year. Term ends in June, with Wilktion Shaw elected to succeed me.

Previous positions:Since joining in 2016, I have risen through the ranks of elected positions.

Top event:Celebration of founding of Hobson Lodge 150 years ago, which included laying wreaths at Mount Olivet Cemetery to our forebearers.

Founding date: Hobson Lodge was founded on May 10, 1871. A group of Masons who had been members of Social Lodge No. 6 received a charter on that date to start a new lodge south of the James in what was then the town of Manchester, the seat of Chesterfield County.

Where lodge name originated:The lodge is named for one of the charter members, Robert Hobson.

Lodge's importance: Since its founding, Hobson Lodge has been a fixture in community service and been a place where men of good standing and good character can become better. Freemasonry is one of the oldest fraternal groups, and its seeks to instill in its members a moral and ethical approach to life based on integrity, honesty, and fairness and to care for the less fortunate and those in need.

What are Prince Hall Masons: We are named for our founder, Prince Hall, who became a Mason during the Revolutionary War and established a separate organization for Black men in 1784 after white American Masons made skin color a test of admission. Our founder was attracted to Masonry because it espoused the ideals of liberty and equality.

Membership:Across the state, the Prince Hall Masons have about 5,000 members. Our lodge has about 96 members.

Noteworthy members:We are proud of all of those who have been members of our lodge since its founding. Among them was one of the Black men elected to the House of Delegates in 1869, Ballard T. Edwards who was our first worshipful master, and Dr. James H. Blackwell Jr., a longtime physician and son of the educator for which a school and the surrounding neighborhood in South Richmond are named. Our members include many other physicians, police officers, teachers, business people, political activists and others who have made a difference, including Dwight C. Jones, a past city mayor and senior pastor of First Baptist Church of South Richmond.

Hobson Lodge's current home:Since our founding, we have had four homes, including our current one at Broad Rock Road and Prince Hall Drive, which we have occupied since 1991.

Lodge’s community role: We are among the largest Masonic buildings in South Side. At May 20-22, 2021 B3 this time, we are the meeting place for 10 other Prince Hall lodges and three Order of the Eastern Star chapters. We also strive to be a place for the community. We deliver Thanksgiving meals, distribute school supplies to students and hold a variety of events that are open to the community such as cookouts, dances, and an Easter egg roll. We also offer our building and grounds for use by other community groups. Public service is part and parcel of our mission.

Biggest challenge: Rebuilding our membership. Prince Hall Masons across Virginia now number about 5,000 men, well below the 14,000 members of years ago. Our lodge, too, has seen a decline as age takes its toll. Bringing in new members is a challenge as we do not recruit. To be a Mason, you have to ask a Mason to recommend you. That is why we are so involved. We want people to see what we are and what we do and seek to join us.

Perception of Masons: Too often we are seen as some kind of secret society.

How I want Masons to be viewed: As a group of caring and concerned men who are focused on improving them- selves and on contributing to community betterment. Yes, we have rituals and other things unique to our organization, but all of it is aimed at helping us become the best version of ourselves.

How I start the day: With a positive outlook, ready for the next challenge.

Next goal: To make Hobson the best lodge and to ensure our fraternity can continue.