The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-04
MASONS OF VIRGINIA.
THE ANNUAL COHMUyICATTON OF
THE GRIND LODGE.
The brethren VIII Assemble la the Tenn
pie Next Tuesday and DO such Work
as Is the Duty of the Graft.

"A
Tuesday, December 9th, at o'clock T. NJ
A brief sketch of the history of this
venerable body will be read with interest
on the eve Of its meeting.
The first lodge of Ancient York Masons
chartered by Virginia was In l1S3' by the
name Of the Royal Exchange Lodge NO.
l72. in the village Of Norfolk.
The second lodge was chartered py tue
Grand Lodge OF Scotland for Port royal
Caroline county, Va, by tne mother
name OF Kilwinning Cross In l'oo
rho third was chartered by the same for
pfersburg. Va, by the name of Blandford
Lodge, No. SO. in 1157. 49,
The fourth was chartered by K. w. u.
Lodge, of Massachusetts, for frederlcks-
burg. Va. on the 2lst Of July, IioS' rms
lodge. having been working under dis
pensation for some time previous.
The fifth was chartered by the Grand
Lodge Of England for Hampton va on
November 6, 1913. by the name OF ot' IAN
many. and the same day by the same NO
/ & was chartered for Williamsburg, Va, by
the name OF Williamsburg.
The seventh was chartered by the same
for Gloucester, on November o. No. py
the name Of BotetOurt
The eighth was chartered by the Grand
Lodge of Scotland for Cabin Point, April
3. 1775. by the name Of Cabin Point Royal
Arch.
These were the Oldest lodges, and the
work of organization Of them went on
steadily after these.
There were many travelling military
lodges up to ard during the Revolutionary
war.
The great paucity of Masonic records,
the chariness Of writing too much which
characterized the older Masons, and the
fact that the British burned so many
towns and buildings during the war; de-
prived posterity of valuable documents
which might throw light on this interest
ing period.
Nav 6. 1777, number of Masons met
at Williamsburg, representing five out OF
the eight lodges then in Virginia.
They addressed their brethren through
out the world, declaring why they severed
their allegiance from all foreign Masonic
governments and their intention to con-
stitute a Grand Lodge Of Virginia.
Laws and regulations were drawn up
and verbal ritual was sanctioned at an
adjourned meeting Of the convention Octo-
Der IS, ITS
At the first meeting of this convention
they presented the name of Brother
George Washington to be the lrst grand
master of Masons for Virginia.
He declined the honor because he had
never been master Of a chartered lodge,
and because his time was then taken up
by his duties in the field.
In Fredericksburg Lodge. No. 4, the
records show that George Washington
was made apprentice November 4, 1882"
and again George Washington was
Passed Fellow Craft, March 8, 1885," and
finally, George Washington was raised
Master Mason August 4, 1888 "
The decision of Washington becoming
known, the Grand Lodge at the next
meeting elected Worshpful Brother John
Blair. p. VI. OF Williamsburg Lodge, No.
6. as the first NJ w. Grand Master of
Virginia.
The ritual as far as could be written,
was made up Of Prestons illustrations, In
1871
Dermotts Altman Rear was reprinted
as the constitution.
These have continued with iaodifca-
lions, 10 the present time. The ritual has
undergone great changes.
After the close Of the Revolution Ma
sonic work went on steadily and surely
There was. of course great interruption
during the late war between the States
to the work, and meetings Of lodges. as
Virginia was the scene Of so much con-
filct. and took such prominent part in
that great struggle of the South.
Space does not permit the names OF the
prominent Virginians who have been
proud to call themselves Masons.
Nowhere in the state or in the Union
are the beautifully impressive Masonic
degrees conferred with more dignity or
their teachings more fully exemplified
and lived up to than in Richmond
The Times presents below a list of the
grand masters Of Virginia from the or
ganization of the Grand Lodge, in ITS, to
the present grand master, w. II. Pleas
ants, who was elected in 1890:
John Blair, IT'S; James Mercer, 1884;
Edmund Randolph, 1856; Alexander Mont
gomery, 1883; Thomas Matthews. 1890;
John Marshall, 1888: Robert Brooke. 1895;
Benjamin Day. 1887; Alexander McRae,
1901 James Byrne, 1903; William w Hen
ing 1905; David Robertson, 1907; John H.
Foushee, 1903; Solomon Jacobs 1910; Ro-
bert Braugh 1873; Charles II. Graves,
1915; Archibald Magill 1917; John II. Pur-
die. 1873; Samuel Jones 1921; Charles Yam
cey, 1922; Mordecai Cooke 1894; d. W.
Patteson 1896; Robert JG. Scott, 1928;
George c. Dromgoole, 1890; William II.
Fitzwhysown 1892; William Mitchell. Jr.,
1894; Levi i. Stevenson, 1886; William A.
Patteson 1898; Oscar NJ. Crutchfeld, 1871;
- w. plAAAii, 4oiSi ~. hANiN, 10TH
Sidney S. Baxter. 1916; James Points,
1913; James Evans, 1850; Edmund p. Hunt
er, 1852: James A. Leitch, 1854; John S.
Caldwell, 1856; Powhatan B. Starke 1858;
John Robin Mcdaniel, 1859; Lewis B.
Williams, 1851: William H. Harman 1868;
Edward II. Lane. 1865; William Terry.
1867: Thomas +. Owens, 1863; Robert Il.
Withcrs, 1871; William II. Lambert, 1873:
William Il. Taliaferro 1874; Richard
Parker, 1876; B. r. Wexford. Jr.. 1871;
Peyton S Coles 1873: Reuben NJ. Page.
1881. Henry w. Murray, 1883; Francis II.
HIM., 1851; William +, Drinkard. 1856:
Robert \. Craighrl, 1888; J. Howard
Wayt, 1890. and w. IL. Peasants. 1890 the
present grand master.
The grand working committee OF the
Grand Lodge Of Masons OF Virginia, the
names of members Of which were pub
lished in The Times of Saturday, met
again yesterday.
This Is most important committee in
the economy Of the Grand Lodge.
1t is meeting on the fourth floor of the
Masonic Temple. in the room called the |
Emergency Blue Room"
Grand Master w. H. Peasants arrived |
on Saturday, and Is being entertained by |
Mr.. Montgomery West. who lives in |
Grace near Laurel street
1t Is expected that at this session, the |
one hundred and fifteenth OF the venera-
bic Grand Lodge OF Virginia, there will
be seen an unusually large number OF
the brethren present
Temple Lodge No. g. held its regular
monthly communication Friday night, and
the work was done in the finished and
excellent style of this lodge one Of the