Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-01-16
LOCAL.
Stanton lodge No. l3. A. T. & A. NJ


OFFICIALLY RECEIV ES TIE SIXTH GRAM
MASTER SHE HAS GIVEN THE MA
SONS OF VIRGINIA.
A Masonic event Of unusual interest
took place last Friday night. Stauntor
Lodge No. Is, A. T. Il A. M. gave a hand
some reception to Most Worshipful Grand
Master John. Howard Wayt, the sixth
Grand Master she has given the Masonic
fraternity of the State The lodge is one
hundred and four years old, having been
charter ed ON the 9th day OF October, 17s6.
at Williamsburg, then the capital OF the
State Of Virginia. The charter is signed
by Edmund Randolph the Grand Master,
who was the first Attorney General under
President Washington administration,
and was afterwards Secretary of War IN
der the same administration. John Mar
shall was the Deputy Grand Master at the
time.
The first Grand Master that this lodge
gave to the Grand Lodge of the State was
David w. Patteson, elected in 1925. He
was State Senator from Augusta county,
and resided on the farm on which Maj.
John A. Hartman, Stonewall Jacllson's
famous Quartermaster, later lived and
died. 1t was While Grand Master Patteson
was in office that our venerable fellow
citizen George Fuller, now in his Ssth year
was made Mason.
The second Grand Master furnished by
old No. Il was Levi L. Stevenson, in 1886.
Hewas one of the most prominent Masons
in the United States. He was for seven
teen years Grand Lecturer for the Grand
Lodge and Chapter. After resigEing his
position in Virginia, he went to North
Carolina and was chosen Grand Lecturer
there.
The next was J. Worthington Smith, in
1913. He was at the head of a large female
school in Staunton when he resided here.
He afterwards moved to Missouri where he
was at the head Of another school. He was
also prominent in Masonic affairs in that
State. He died and was buried in Clarke Co.
in Virginia. In honor of his memory. Worth
ington Smith Lodge No. 46, at Mt. Scion,
in this county, was called after him.
The next was James Poynts who was
Grand Master in 1913. He was prominent
citizen of this section, was appointed U. S.
Marshal early in the century and
held the position through all administra-
tions up to his death in 1853.
The next was Gen. VIM. II. Hartman.
elected in 1868, and who was killed in bat
tie at Waynesboro in March, 1865. His
unexpired term was filed by the Deputy
Grand Master, Judge Edward H. Lane OF
Day Lodge, Of Louisa.
The sixth Grand Master is John Howard
Wayt. He is also the Grand High Priest
OF the Royal Arch Chapter. He is one of
the most prominent citizens Of Staunton
and one of the most popular of men in and
out of the Masonic fraternity. His popu.
larity is not confined to his section of the
State, and his election to his present posi-
ton has been followed by a hearty and
enthusiastic endorsement by Masonic
members of the press in every quarter
Of the Commonwealth.
1t was but natural therefore, that on Fri
day night the reception given him by Staun-
Z ton Lodge should have been marked by en-
thusiasm. There were over ninety Masons
present-from the Oldest down to the young
est member of the lodge. Among the Older
members who took the Most Worshipfu]
Grand Masters hand in the Grand Honors
wereGeorge Fuller. aged eighty Weight; A. NJ
Simpson, eighty-one; VIM. Stevenson Ia
son of the former Grand MASTERY aged sew
enty-five; JOS. Andrews, of Rockingham
Union lodge, No. %; Geo. A. Armentrout
Jas. H. Van Pelt and other veterans, who
have passed the line of three score.
Participating in the reception We're th,
following Past Masters-E. NJ. Gushing
District Deputy Grand Master, w. H. Fl
Lynn, VIM. B. McChesney, Arista Hoge
Judge Jos. L. S. Kirby, J. J. Foster, VIM
T. Rea of King Soloman lodge No 1911, il
Albemarle, and J. e. Whitlock.
There were three Chaplains present
Chaplain j. Fl. Waugh, D. D., Presidin;
Elder of the Rockingham District Of tn
NJ. E. Church, South, Chaplain w. G
Hullihen rector of Trinity P. E. church
of the Baptist church.
There was a considerable representation
from Lee Lodge No. 200 of Waynesboro
including Worshipful Master Jno. Z
Smith, Past Master Robert G. Wright
Benz. F. Smith, A. G. Fry, W. B. Gala
her, w. Cary Smith, DR.. Austin, Dl
Myers, and others, and G. A. Loud of Ill
nois, and II. II. Spindle Of Warrento
lodge.
The Most Worshipful Grand Master wa
introduced and presented to the lodge b
Past Masters w. II. II. Lynn of Staunto
lodge, j. I. Smith of Lee lodge, and W. 7
Rea of King Soloman lodge.
The address Of welcome was delivere
by Chaplain Nelson, who had been selecte
for this purpose. 1t was one Of the mos
eloquent and beautiful addresses that ha
been delivered within this centurv-ol
lodge and the members unanimousl
requested that it should be trans
cribed and spread upon the records
the lodge. Its striking Illustrations draw
from Masonic lore were particularly capt
waiting.
In reply the Most Worshipful Gran
Master made an address in which he gay
a history of Staunton Lodge from the dat
OF its charter, and an interesting sketch {
each of its members who had preceded hit
in the position of Grand Master.
After the conclusion Of these ceremonie
the company adjourned to the refectory fC
refreshments. The spacious room VIZ
tastefully decorated with ported plants b
Messrs. Burke & Croghan who furnishe
the supper. The supper itself was super
and was highly complimented. The oyster
elected perhaps the most praise, as the