The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-22


member that on the 9th OF January, 1887,
most disastrous fire had destroyed be-
tween thirty and forty houses in Richmond
and swep. away property Of the value Of
more than E130,00O.
But there were some members OF the
lodge who had determined the enterprise
should succeed John Marshall came TO
the front to awaken enthusiasm and restore
harmony.
The Lodge was revived as Richmond
Lodge, No. 10, and on the Goth OF October,
1877, Richmond Randolph Lodge was
chartered, with William Waddill as mas
ter. John Dixon. senior warden, and David
Lambert, junior warden.
The members OF the two lodges then
went earnestly to work. the remainder OF
the tickets in the lottery were sold, and
the drawing took place in the hall June 10.
1873, when over E400 were realized. This
amount served to satisfy the clamors OF the
workmen for time, but there was still a
large sum due on the building. May %,
1871, William Booker, the contractor, filed
his bill in the County Court OF HenrlcO,
praying sale OF the building for the pay
ment to him OF the balance due OF G247,
49,, I'd. This sum was. however, advanced
to the lodges by Joseph Darmstadt, and the
suit dismissed.
The hall was now completed, and the
lodges were receiving numerous ace essIons
to their membership. and among them
were many OF the most influential citizens
Of Richmond. The debt which had en-
barrassed them was gradually reduced,
and several years OF prosperity followed
All the business OF the Lodge was then
tPa, tod to- Ia 4. n -,
Masonry. and lodge on the fourth degree
was opened whenever 1t became necessary
Tor the purpose OF raising a master-eect to
the degree Of past master. The Stewards
Committee were the almOners OF the Lodge,
and made regular reports at every meeting.
The annual festivals OF St. John the
Baptist and st. John the Evangelist were
occasions OF much interest, and the follow
ing extracts will show how they were cele.
brated:
From the Gazette, June %, 1871
"By appointment OF and before the societies of
Free and Accepted MsSOns, the Richmond Lodge,
no. 10. and the Manchester Lodge No. IA. on the
anniversary Of ~. John the Baptist SUNDAY the
24th inst,) charity sermon was prcac he'd at the
| church In his city by the Rev. John Buchanan,
their chaplain. :Or the benefit Of the INDECENT poor
| In this neighbOrhOod, and f33 collected
(Janulry 4. 1881
e
| val Of 81 John the Evangelist, the ancient and
honorable society Of Free and Accepted Masous of
| The Lodges In lhis city went I'm procession from
| their hall, with 4 band Of music, 10 the church,
where their chaplain delivered very suitable dis
course, after which they returned In the same or
der, and IN the evening they concluded with a
The Masons' Hall was now the most
popular place in the city. With the eX-
ception OF the courthouse (Main and
/ ru.onfy-sgaon1 ufrantaA II tho only
building east Of ShOckOe creek in which
public meetings could be held The large
room on the ground floor was in frequent
Use rs place OF amusement. for public and
political meetings, and for religious wor-
snip. Here. three evenings in each week.
| Monsieur CapuS instructed the "yOuth Of
both sexes in the most approved court
| dances. and in the latest and most popular
| figures and steps y; here the citizens as
sembIed to instruct their delegates TO the
convention on the absorbing topic OF the
adoption or rejection OF the Federal Con-
stituti0n: here grand balls were given on
| the 4th OF July, and "On the 18th OF Feb
ruary, the anniversary Of the birth OF the
| illustrous General George Washington,
whose cxertions, under the smile OF IIea-
ven, have been productive OF freedom,
happiness. and glory TO grateful people" ;
here the Hastings Court OF the city was
held when the General Court was sitting
in the courthouse, and John Marshall. as
recorder, was having his first Judicial eX-
perience: and here on sunday afternoons
dissenting ministers" proclaimed the
new era OF religious freedom and preached
the gospel Of Christ.
A bell, loaned by the Governor to thu
CITY, was by order Of the Common Hall
hung in the belfry OF the building. Fol
many years its clangOr aroused the citizens
to the alarm OF fire and called out fhe mem
bers OF the Fellowship Fire Company {
fight the flames.
In 1892 the question OF title to the pro-
perry was agtated. Gabriel Gait had dice
in 17SS without having made deed to The
property, and the original trustees, witt
two exceptions. had died or removed from
the city.
At the August, 1892. tenn Of the County
Court OF TIenricO the surviving trustees
filed their bill IN chuncery against the
widow and hers-at-law OF Gabriel Gait
PRAYING that they might be required spc'
officially TO perform the contract OF said
Gait with them, and make deed convey
ING the properly. This cause remained on
the docket until the August, 1904, term
when decree was rendered requiring the
defendants "within thirty days to execute
A deed conveying the property to John
Marshall, Joseph DarmStadt, John Moody
Alexander Yuile. Thomas Nicolson,
Julius Il. cambridge, Jacob |. Cohen
Jacob Eye. John Stewart, William II
FitZwhylsOn. John X. Read, John Craw
ford, John Dixon. and Samuel McCraw
in trust for the sole use and benefit Of the
Richmond Lodges, No. 10 and No. 10. anC
their legal representatives and successors
forever"
This deed was doubtless executed, but
it Is no longer In existence. AT that time
there was much doubt az to the proper
Office in which deeds to property IN the
city OF Richmond should be recorded
Some were recorded in the County Cour'
OF Henrico, some in the Hastings Court o
the city, Others in the District Court, anC
many IN the office OF the General Court II
is presumed from q recital In deed tC
another lot OH the same square that th'
deed to this property was recorded III th'
General Court, the records OF which have
all been destroyed. The record in the sun
IabOye referred to Is, however, sufficient Il
show that Lodges No. 10 and No. 10 have
an indefeasible title TO the property.
The history OF the old hall. il fully writ
ten, would be Of much interest. Patriots
warriors, statesmen, and philanthropists
IwLo53 fame was not confined 10 one hemi
sphere, nave been seated around its lodge
altar, From the Grand Lodge assembled
within it, walls have emanatcd the charter'
Of nearly all the lodges in the State. while
in !. true that the Grand Lodge had it
h;rth elsewhere, yet here it was nourlsheC
to sjgor end manhood, and the "Masons
U.iiV in this CITY may Justly be regarded