The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-22
THE OLD MAS0NS HALL.
VIRGINIA'S MASONIC CRADLE.
A sketch OF Its Early History-How u Game
TO BE Built-John Marshall.
For the Dispatch.l

A sketch OF Its Early Hiaory-How it Came
to BE Built-John Marshall.
~''.-:- For the DispatchI
For several weeks past workmen have
been engaged in repairing the MasOns'
Hall on Franklin between Eighteenth and
Nineteenth streets, and now In new dress
Of paint II presents a handsome appearance
and Is an ornament TO that portion OF the
city. The rejuyenation OF this old build
ing, which has the distinction OF being the
first house erected for Masonic purposes In
America, has revived an interest IN and
stimulated inquiry as to its origin and his
tory. Richmond Lodge, No. 10. and Rich
mond Randolph Lodge. No. 10. had Jointly
occupied the building for nearly one hun
bred years, and up to few years ago,
when Richmond Lodge, No. 10, changed its
place o. meeting to 81. Adams Hall. The
old hall was held by the trustees OF these
two lodges. but the title to the ground on
which it stood was clouded, and for long
time there was tradition that the land
had been donated, and. as was once be-
lieved with respect to the Capitol Square.
that it would revert to the heirs OF the
original owner should It no longer be used
for the purpose intended.
Iod<o No. 10 hos Fnnnnfly sofa ~ y n III
all its interest in the property, md an in
yestigation OF the title has brought to light
some facts which may be Of interest not
only to Masonslbut to the general reader.
The Grand Lodge OF Masons IN Virginia
was organized ut a convention OF delegates
from the five lodges in the State, which as
sembled in Williamsburg on Tuesday the
9th day Of May, 17i7.
At a meeting held at the Raleigh Tavern
December %, 1880. "a petition was pre-
sented from Brothers Leighton Wood,
Thomas Smith, Gabriel Gait, and several
other brethren, inhabitants OF the Town
OF Richmond, In HenrcO County, praying
to be INDUCED with charter to constitute
and hold a Lodge i'm the Aforesaid Town;
which having been maturely considered
the question was put and unanimously
passed in the Affirmative The lodge
thus chartered was known as Richmond
Lodge, No. Is, and was the first III Rich
mOnd. This was the last meeting OF the
Grand Lodge in Williamsburg, and 1t was
then resolved that the next meeting should
be held at Richmond on the 10th day OF
April, 1871. But this meeting was never
held.
Tie war Of the Revolution was being
fought, and the cause OF freedom demanded
the services and sacrifices OF the Masons
OF those days. Phillips and Tareton were
raiding the country, Arnold burnt the town
OF Richmond, the Governor and Legisla-
ture fled at the approach OF danger, and
disorder and confusion pervaded through
out the State. The Grand Lodge did not
therefore, again assemble until November
II. 1884. This meeting was held at the
"Iodge.roOm i'm the city OF Richmond
and Edmund Randolph appeared a. the
representative OF the Richmond Lodge.
Where this "iOdge-room" was we can
only conjecture. 1t may have been over
some store, but it was most probably in
McGuire's schoOl-hOuse, then next to the
present site OF the MasOns' Hall.
A building which would serve as suit
able lodge-room and also as permanent
location for the Grand Lodge soon became
necessary, and accordingly, oil the 18th OF
August. 1885, Gabriel Gait sold to "George
Anderson, Alexander Nelson, Foster
Webb, Jr., Alexander McROheIt, Patrick
Wright, Sam'l Scherer, and John Grooves,
committee from Lodge No, 13, lot
o, ground fronting so feet on the bnck
street. opposite Mrs. Warrock's," and he
engaged, "under q penalty OF 600, to
convey the above ground in fee-Slmple.
and make a deed for the same whenever
required to do so." Steps were then taken
TO erect hall upon this lot, The Grand
Lodge assembled in Richmond on Friday
the 18th Of October, 1885, and on the after
noon OF the next day-Saturday, October
90. 17S5-the cornerstone was laid "by
Most Worshipful James Mercer, grand
master, assisted by Right WOrshipful Ed.
Randolph. deputy grand master pro tenn. ;
| Thomas Matthews, senior grand warden
Dro ten. and Benjamin Day, Junior grand
warden pro tenn"
| On December u, 11S5, the Legislature
passed an act authorizing " the Society OIL
| Free MaSons OF the city OF Richmond to
raise. under the direction OF the Common
| Halt OF said city, a sum OF money not eX-
ceeding Gl 800, by way OF lottery, for the
purpose Of erecting aud completing Il
| Free Nason's Hall in said city" The Com
mon Hall, at a meeting held January :.
1-s6. appointed committee, consisting oil
John Marshall, recorder, Gabriel Gait, Fos-
fer Webb, Jr., David Lambert, and John
Beckiey, to form scheme OF lottery agree
abIy TO the above act. The committee re-
rorted. January 9th, scheme which was
adopted, and Messrs. James Buchanan,
Turner Southall, David Lambert, Edward
| Randolph, Gabriel Gait, Robert Mitchell,
and Foster Webb were appointed mana
ger:. This scheme for raising money did
not appear to meet with much success, and
nj tine expiration OF nearly one year the
managers reported that but few tickets had
beap sold. To inspire confidence and
guarantee ihd payment OF prizes in hard
money, the Common Hall, ut meeting
held October II, 1856, required the mana
GERS to give bond in the sum OF $1,000,
and ordered that the money should be paid
- ir epecie and not in indents.'
I'm the mean time the Lodge had pro-
cepded with the wola, and the building
was so far advanced towards completion
that \ meeting OF the Grand Lodge was
held therein October q, l1S6. Al this
meeting John Marshall appeared as repre-
sentative Of the Richmond Lodge, and du,
ring the same session he was appointed
Deputy Grand Master by Edmund Ran
dolph, the Grand Master.
About this time the Common Hall, 1t APP
pears, bad abandoned the hope OF raising
money by the lottery scheme. There was
tfiur4i COMPLAINT on the part OF those VINO
ina nufcIiased li1hetg, ana the managers
desired to he relieved - .
At a meeting held April 10, 17SI, 1t was
"Resolued, That the Society OF Free ,, M~
sons be requested to nominate coiall', uo,,
TO call upou the lottery-managt,> :" w
der an account ana ~ receive the money
for tickets SOLD that they De required 10
give security in the sum OF E5,OOO, ano
that thew n6e committee from the Lodge
he aupointed managers of said lottery ac
cording to the following one th'ru Vi '"'
original scheme"
This scheme provided Tor Inc raising o.
e5OO instead Of El,5OO, as was al hfsl pro-
posed.